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Finalist for Family Law Firm at 2026 eprivateclient Excellence Awards

Posted on by Sophie Goodall

We have been named as a finalist in the category of Family Law Firm (Full Service) at the 2026 eprivateclient Excellence Awards.

These awards celebrate outstanding achievements of leading firms across the private client professions over the past 12 months. Being named a finalist is a testament to our market-challenging and innovative family law team and the consistent high level of service we provide to our clients.

The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on Thursday 1 October at the Royal Lancaster London.

Find out more about the awards and the other finalists here.

Marian Derham recognised as leading employment lawyer by Spear’s

Posted on by Sophie Goodall

Employment partner Marian Derham has been ranked as Recommended for the first time in the 2026 Spear’s employment lawyers index.

Marian has a long-established reputation in acting for C-level executives, HNW individuals, family offices and high-profile celebrities. Her expertise spans the creative industries including sectors such as film and TV, theatre, fashion and retail, advertising and publishing.

This index highlights the leading employment lawyers that UHNW individuals turn to when an issue needs to be resolved swiftly, efficiently and with discretion. They are recognised for their legal acumen, judgement and tact. The Spear’s indices are compiled through nominations, client feedback and interviews with the advisers themselves, as well as data gathered by the editorial and research teams.

You can see the full index here.

Family Law Awards 2026: Finalist in two categories

Posted on by Nikhita Sagar

We have been named as a finalist in two categories at the LexisNexis Family Law Awards 2026.

The firm has been announced as a finalist for Family Law Workplace of the Year, recognising our commitment to supporting our people and delivering excellence in family law, while partner Mark Irving is a finalist for Family Law Partner of the Year, celebrating his outstanding leadership and significant contributions to the field.

The Family Law Awards are a prestigious celebration of outstanding achievements, unwavering dedication to justice and innovative contributions within the family law sector. They provide an opportunity to honour excellence, highlight the impact of work and showcase accomplishments to peers and industry leaders.

The awards ceremony will take place at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London on 18 November 2026.

Leaders in Tech Law Awards: Finalist in four categories

Posted on by Nikhita Sagar

We have been named as a finalist in four categories at the Legal Geek Leaders in Tech Law Awards 2026.

The firm has been announced as a finalist for Most Innovative Independent Law Firm, reflecting its commitment to fostering a culture of innovation powered by technology – one of the firm’s key strategic pillars.

In addition, two of our people are finalists in three individual categories. Our director of innovation, Michael Vasalos, is shortlisted for Change Management Leader and Rising Star of Legal Tech, whilst our director of IT, Kerry Angel, is a finalist in the category of Women Leaders in Tech.

The Legal Geek Leaders in Tech Law Awards shine a spotlight on the people and organisations at the forefront of legal innovation and transformation who are redefining how legal services are delivered, from pioneering new technologies to driving meaningful change.

The awards ceremony will take place at the Pan Pacific, London on 14 October 2026.

See the full shortlist here.

Harbottle & Lewis advises Kord on $6.4 million series A round

Posted on by Nikhita Sagar

Harbottle & Lewis has advised Kord, formerly known as Checkboard, on its $6.4 million Series A funding round.

The investment was led by Guinness Ventures, with participation from Beringea, SFC Capital and a group of angel investors.

Founded by James Owusu in 2019, Kord is a UK-based fintech company which provides an end-to-end platform for firms in regulated industries, enabling seamless client onboarding, identity verification, compliance checks, document management and payment processing. Its innovative modular system addresses the inefficiencies of traditional fragmented legacy systems, offering a streamlined and secure solution for businesses.

Kord’s platform is already trusted by estate agents, law firms, conveyancers and financial services companies, helping them to mitigate fraud risks and improve operational efficiency. The Series A funding will enable Kord to accelerate its growth, expand its team, enhance product development and acquire new customers.

The Harbottle & Lewis team was led by partner Tom Macleod and managing associate Rosie Marston, with support from associate Suzie Hamilton.

On working with Harbottle & Lewis, Kord founder and CEO James Owusu said:

“Harbottle & Lewis provided high-quality support during this pivotal stage for Kord. They clearly have great expertise in handling fast-paced venture capital transactions and combine this with a very pragmatic approach. The team’s dedication and collaborative approach around the clock made them an invaluable partner and we’re excited to move forward with their guidance as the business grows.”

Commenting on the transaction, Tom Macleod at Harbottle & Lewis added:

“Supporting innovative companies like Kord on their growth journeys is always incredibly rewarding. This funding marks an exciting milestone for Kord as they continue to transform client onboarding and compliance processes for regulated industries. We are proud to have worked alongside James and the Kord team on this transaction and look forward to seeing their continued success as they scale their platform and expand their reach.”

Harbottle & Lewis advises Poolhouse on $55 million series A round

Posted on by Nikhita Sagar

Harbottle & Lewis has advised Poolhouse on its $55 million growth equity investment led by Bluestone Equity Partners, a global private equity firm focused on the sports, media and entertainment industry.

This Series A round represents the next significant step in Poolhouse’s trajectory and the round will be used to fund the continued global rollout of Poolhouse’s venues, as well as to expand BillyQ, Poolhouse’s proprietary vision-processing platform.

Co-founded by long-standing Harbottle & Lewis clients Steven and Dave Jolliffe (the founders of Topgolf and co-founders of Puttshack) alongside CEO Andrew O’Brien, Poolhouse brings a new dimension to social entertainment. By fusing the timeless game of pool with cutting-edge technology and world class hospitality, Poolhouse has quickly established itself as a standout name in the leisure and entertainment space.

Harbottle & Lewis has advised Poolhouse since the company’s inception, including on its $34 million seed funding round in 2025. The seed funding round was led by Sharp Alpha (a US leisure-focused venture capital investor) and DMG Ventures (DMGT’s consumer venture capital fund) and paved the way for the opening of the company’s highly anticipated flagship London venue at Liverpool Street.

The Harbottle & Lewis team was led by partner Tom Macleod and managing associate Rosie Marston, with support from associates Elizabeth Compton and Suzie Hamilton, and trainee solicitor Hugo Carter.

On working with Harbottle & Lewis, Poolhouse CEO Andrew O’Brien commented:

“Harbottle & Lewis has been a trusted adviser to Poolhouse since the company’s inception and has supported us through each important stage of our development. Tom, Rosie and the wider team went above and beyond throughout this transaction, combining excellent legal judgment with a genuine understanding of what matters to us as a business. Their commitment was exceptional, and we are extremely grateful for their continued support as we enter the next phase of Poolhouse’s growth.”

Commenting on the transaction, Tom Macleod said:

“We are delighted to have supported the Poolhouse team once again on this significant milestone. Having advised the business from its very earliest days and through its seed round last year, it is incredibly rewarding to see the company’s continued growth and momentum. We are excited to see what comes next.”

Broadened recognition for private wealth expertise in Chambers High Net Worth 2026 Guide

Posted on by Nikhita Sagar

Chambers and Partners has today published its High Net Worth 2026 Guide, in which we have received an increased spread of individual and departmental rankings across multiple practice areas.

In total, seven departments and 20 individuals have been recognised, with many achieving rankings in the higher bands.

Our rankings this year build upon our strong performances in recent guides. Notably, we have been ranked in the Private Wealth Disputes category for the first time, reflecting the growth in size and prominence of our contentious practice in recent years. Other highlights include an array of new and improved individual rankings for lawyers across multiple categories.

These results reflect the firm’s leading reputation for advising high net worth and ultra high net worth individuals, families and their businesses on their increasingly complex personal and commercial affairs.

The Chambers High Net Worth Guide identifies the leading law firms and advisers serving high net worth individuals and families. Based on extensive independent research and client feedback, it is regarded globally as a benchmark of excellence in the private wealth sector.

View the full rankings here.

Shireen Peermohamed named among top 250 women in IP for 2026

Posted on by Dea Dragashi

Partner and head of our intellectual property group Shireen Peermohamed has once again been recognised by IP Stars across three categories in its latest rankings, including its global list of the top 250 women in IP for 2026.

This continued recognition reflects both Shireen’s long-standing international reputation and the strength of our IP practice.

Shireen is recognised in the following rankings:

  • Top 250 women in IP 2026
  • Trade mark star 2026
  • Transactions star 2026

IP Stars, part of the Managing IP media group, is a specialist guide covering legal practitioners who deal with contentious and non-contentious intellectual property issues. Its rankings assess and rank law firms and practitioners globally in a range of IP practice areas. Its list of top 250 women in IP recognises senior IP practitioners from more than 50 jurisdictions across the world, who consistently go above and beyond for their clients and firms.

Click here to view the full rankings on the IP Stars website.

Harbottle & Lewis announces hire of employment partner

Posted on by Alex Molyneux

Harbottle & Lewis has announced that partner Peter Finding will join the firm on Monday 13 July. He will join from US firm Pierson Ferdinand.

Peter brings extensive experience in employment and workplace matters, specialising in complex international projects, advisory work and litigation. He is known for his distinctive approach to cross-border employment issues, acting as a substantive strategic adviser to multinational businesses by delivering integrated, cross-jurisdictional advice. This aligns with the firm’s commitment to enhancing its international offering and continuing to provide exceptional service to clients on a global scale.

Peter’s client base is made up of multinational and domestic companies operating in a range of sectors, including technology, sport, financial services and the creative industries.

On joining the firm, Peter said:

“I am thrilled to be joining Harbottle & Lewis, a firm with a strong reputation for its high-calibre client base and a collaborative, forward-thinking approach to legal practice. The firm’s dynamism and ability to support businesses across a broad spectrum, from ambitious startups to established global companies, aligns closely with my own practice. Its existing international client base and the opportunity to contribute to its continued growth in this area provide the perfect platform for me to take my practice to the next level, in tandem with the elite lawyers I am joining. In addition, its focus on encouraging its lawyers to follow their entrepreneurial instincts and be innovative when shaping their practices will undoubtedly help mine reach its true potential. The firm has a clear cultural identity and strategy for sustained, long-term growth and I am excited to contribute to this, and to both my colleagues’ and our clients’ long-term success.”

Co-managing partner Charlie Leveque commented:

Peter has built a strong reputation in the market and we are extremely pleased to be welcoming him to the firm. He has substantial expertise delivering specialist advice to businesses at all stages of their growth and advises across many of our key sectors. His arrival is a natural fit with the firm’s broader international focus, and his experience will further enhance the support we provide to our existing clients while also broadening the scope of what we can offer to new clients. He is known for taking a relationship-driven approach with his clients which has enabled him to build long-term connections anchored in personal trust. This is exactly how we do things and we are certain he will be a valuable addition to the firm.”

Five partners recognised as leading family lawyers by Spear’s

Posted on by Nikhita Sagar

Five of our partners have once again been recommended by Spear’s as leading family lawyers for HNW and UHNW individuals in the 2026 Spear’s family law index, published today.

Senior partner Catherine Bedford has been recognised as Top Flight, Nicholas Westley and Mark Irving are Top Recommended, whilst Lidia Cantele and Alex Ward are Recommended. The index recognises the leading family lawyers advising on high value divorces, cohabitation disputes, child custody, nuptial agreements and mediation and is compiled using extensive data from advisers themselves, as well as submission forms, nominations, peer reviews, data from third-party sources, references, recommendations and hundreds of interviews.

You can see the index in full here.