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May Delaney and Richard Hoggart named in 2026 eprivateclient NextGen Leaders list

Posted on by Julia Krol

May Delaney and Richard Hoggart have both been ranked in the 2026 eprivateclient NextGen Leaders list.

This list recognises leading young private client practitioners across the UK and UK Crown Dependencies, highlighting outstanding professionals who are shaping the next generation of the private client advisory profession.

Those included were selected from hundreds of nominations, with judging based on individual qualities, achievements and contributions to the profession, as well as trajectory of promotion and any mentoring or advocacy within the industry.

May is a managing associate who advises UK and international individuals and families on succession planning, capital taxes, wills and trusts, with a growing focus on philanthropy and charitable giving.

Richard is a managing associate who specialises in contentious trusts, advising trustees, beneficiaries and personal representatives across trust, probate and charity disputes, with particular experience in trustee removal, breach of trust claims and contentious probate matters.

The full 2026 eprivateclient NextGen Leaders list can be found here.

Spear’s Tax & Trust Indices 2026: Four partners recognised as leading advisers

Posted on by Sophie Goodall

Four of our partners have been recognised by Spear’s as leading tax and trust advisers in the 2026 Spear’s Tax & Trust Indices 2026, released today.

Chris Moorcroft has once again been recognised as Top Flight in the Tax Lawyers Index for advising on wealth planning and preservation, whilst Zoë Camp has been named for the first time by Spear’s in the same index as Recommended with reference to her work on wealth and succession planning. In addition, Sofie Hoffman and Charles Lloyd continue to be recognised in the Contentious Trust Lawyers Index, with Sofie Hoffman Top Recommended for advising international clients on tax disputes and Charles Lloyd Top Recommended for advising family business held in complex structures.

The indices showcase the leading legal and accounting advisers trusted by high net worth individuals, families and family offices to provide expert guidance on complex tax, trust, estate and succession planning matters. The indices are curated by gathering data from and about the advisers through client feedback, nominations and interviews with the advisers themselves, as well as data gathered by the Spear’s Research Unit.

This recognition is a testament to the strength of our private wealth offering, through which we provide innovative and comprehensive advice to UHNW and HNW individuals and their families across all of their business and personal needs. Our wide range of expertise allows us to assist our clients in solving complex problems and pursuing strategic opportunities by delivering pragmatic and commercially-focused advice.

Read the full index here.

2026 eprivateclient Top Law Firms: Tier 1 recognition

Posted on by Sophie Goodall

We have once again been featured as a tier 1 firm by eprivateclient in its 2026 Top Law Firms rankings.

The 2026 eprivateclient Top Law Firms rankings provide a comprehensive analysis of the leading UK law firms and departments specialising in private wealth. The results are based on an extensive survey of over 100 firms.

The rankings assess firms across a range of criteria, including the number of private client fee earners and partners, private client revenue as a percentage of total firm income, and wider market knowledge from eprivateclient.

This accolade recognises the strength of our private wealth offering, through which we provide a holistic service to UHNW and HNW individuals and their families across all of their business and personal needs. Our deep sector expertise puts us in a unique position at the intersection of private wealth and the creative economy. We combine the more traditional private client advice with our experience in advising talent, artists, influencers and entrepreneurs, whose wealth is tied to IP and creative rights, on the wider commercial exploitation of their assets.

The full rankings can be accessed here via eprivateclient with a subscription.

Chambers UK Guide 2027: Increased recognition across multiple practice areas

Posted on by Sophie Goodall

Chambers has today released its UK guide for 2027, in which we have received an increased total number of rankings for our people and our teams across numerous practice areas.

This year, we have received 36 individual rankings and 16 departmental rankings, several of which are new or improved when compared to last year’s guide.

We have achieved a band 1 ranking in five departmental categories, with 17 individuals and five departments earning new or elevated rankings this year.

These results reflect the firm’s continued growth and its increasingly wide range of expertise across diverse practice areas. This allows us to provide holistic, well-rounded advice to our clients on all aspects of their business and personal requirements.

The Chambers UK guide is known for its comprehensive and independent analysis of the legal sector, drawing on extensive research conducted through interviews and surveys with in-house and legal industry experts.

View the full rankings here.

Harbottle & Lewis advises StandardX on £10m seed round

Posted on by Luke Brazier

Harbottle & Lewis has advised StandardX, a UK-based deeptech company, in connection with its £10m seed round.

The round was co-led by Vsquared Ventures and EastX Ventures, with participation from firstminute capital, UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund (UKI2S), Brevan Howard Macro Venture and Geometry.

StandardX, co-founded in 2025 by Richard Pearson and Ross Allen, is building the world’s first isotope refinery, an accelerator system capable of scaling supply of the full portfolio of isotopes wherever it is deployed. Isotopes underpin innovation across healthcare, energy and other critical sectors, but global production is constrained, reliant on a limited number of ageing facilities. StandardX is unlocking a scalable and reliable supply of isotopes, starting with isotopes for cancer medicine where shortages are most acute.

On working with Harbottle & Lewis, StandardX co-founder Richard Pearson said:

“Having Tony, Rosie, Kate and the whole Harbottle & Lewis team alongside us from the start of our journey has been invaluable. They have been a joy to work with, and have helped us navigate multiple fronts, and to move quickly with eyes open. We are excited to continue working together on the road ahead!” 

Harbottle & Lewis has advised StandardX since its incorporation in 2025. The team was led by co-managing partner and co-head of the firm’s venture capital practice, Tony Littner and managing associate Rosie Marston, with support from associate Kate Merry.

Commenting on the transaction, Tony Littner said:

“Richard and Ross are exactly the types of entrepreneurs we love to back at Harbottle. They are building a platform to address a real world need. We feel proud and privileged to have been able to support them on their journey so far and are looking forward to the next chapter”.

Harbottle & Lewis launches financial crime practice for corporates and individuals

Posted on by Alex Molyneux

Harbottle & Lewis has announced that it is extending into a new service area with the launch of a white-collar and corporate crime practice, spearheaded by partner Steve Smith who arrives from Eversheds Sutherland.

Co-managing partner Tony Littner said:

“We are delighted to welcome Steve to Harbottle & Lewis to launch and, over time, grow our white-collar and corporate crime practice. Steve’s arrival enables us to enter into a strategically important business area which complements many other areas of our practice. We pride ourselves on being there to support our clients through every step of their journey, whether they are individuals, early-stage businesses or global corporations, and adding this new specialism will further enhance our offering to them. This addition reflects our concerted strategy of broadening our expertise to meet the evolving needs of our clients.”

Steve Smith commented:

“I am excited to be joining Harbottle & Lewis and establishing its first financial crime practice. The firm’s reputation, client base and sector focus make it an ideal environment for my white-collar and corporate crime offering. Harbottle provides a genuinely compelling platform for me to build my practice and work alongside the firm’s high calibre clients, and I can’t wait to get started.”

Steve advises both individuals and corporate clients on regulatory and criminal issues, from compliance through to enforcement. His work includes defending regulatory and criminal investigations as well as supporting clients with the design, implementation and review of financial crime compliance frameworks.

Steve arrives with a wealth of experience in white-collar and corporate crime, including both defending and prosecuting, having worked in various senior compliance roles in industry at the likes of the FCA, Barclays and Nomura International. He spent nearly eight years as a partner at Eversheds Sutherland before joining Harbottle at the start of this month.

2026 eprivateclient Top Family Law Firms: Harbottle recognised as a tier 1 firm

Posted on by Sophie Goodall

We have been featured as one of the 2026 eprivateclient Top Family Law Firms, preserving our status as a tier 1 firm.

These rankings provide an in-depth look at the leading firms delivering family law advice across the UK.

Firms are ranked based on various factors, including revenue generated, number of family partners and fee earners and broader market reputation.

This accolade reflects the strength of our family practice and its reputation for navigating the most complex and sensitive family law matters for a range of UHNW and HNW clients.

The full rankings are available here via eprivateclient with a subscription.

British Legal Awards 2026: Harbottle named as a finalist in two categories

Posted on by Sophie Goodall

We have been shortlisted for UK Law Firm of the Year (Mid-Sized Firm) and Best Business Support Team at this year’s British Legal Awards.

Now in their 17th year, the British Legal Awards celebrate outstanding achievements across the legal industry, recognising firms for their involvement in, among other things, landmark deals, innovative strategies, impactful advocacy, and exceptional client service.

The UK Law Firm of the Year category celebrates law firms who are leaders in their chosen fields, demonstrating significant progress over the past 12 months. For Harbottle & Lewis, our most recent financial year marked an important milestone in our long-term growth story. We continue to make significant progress with our disciplined, client-led strategy, embedding innovation in everything we do, investing strategically in our people and maintaining unwavering commitment to client service.

The Best Business Support Team category recognises business services teams that have made a tangible impact on their firms’ performance, from improving operational efficiency to contributing directly to delivering excellent client service. Our business services function plays a central role in helping to shape the firm’s strategy and and drive its success. Using our Client Sight framework, we ensure that every aspect of our business, from recruitment and people strategy to innovation, business development and marketing, is designed with client experience in mind. This integrated approach pushes us outside the more restrictive lines of a traditional law firm, setting us apart and enabling us to deliver enduring value to our clients.

The awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday 25 November, at City Central at the HAC in London.

See the full shortlist here.

Legal 500 UK Guide: Recognition across multiple practice areas

Posted on by Sophie Goodall

Legal 500 has published its 2027 UK Guide, in which we have received rankings across multiple practice areas, with 28 firmwide and 47 individual rankings.

We have been ranked as Tier 1 in five categories and as Tier 2 in six categories. Eight individuals have been awarded Hall of Fame status, which Legal 500 describes as those “at the very top of the profession”. We also have 15 Leading Partners, 9 Next Generation Partners and 11 Leading Associates.

These outcomes showcase the extensive scope of our expertise across numerous practice areas, allowing us to deliver outstanding support to our clients in both their business and personal matters.

The Legal 500 Guide identifies leading law firms and lawyers in the UK for their exceptional client service and proficiency in diverse areas. Its rankings are based on independent analysis and feedback gathered from clients, lawyers and law firms.

View the full rankings here.

Finalist in three categories at the Spear’s Awards 2026

Posted on by Alex Molyneux

We have been named as a finalist in three categories at this year’s Spear’s Awards:

  • Law Firm of the Year
  • Woman of the Year: Catherine Bedford
  • Lawyer of the Year – Family: Mark Irving

The Law Firm of the Year category, newly introduced this year, recognises law firms that have demonstrated outstanding legal expertise and service to UHNWs and family offices by handling a range of complex, high-value and high-profile matters, showing innovation in the way they serve their clients, and exhibiting a genuinely distinctive offering from their competitors.

This recognition reflects the firm’s unique position at the intersection of private wealth and the creative economy; its practice spanning from traditional private client work including estate planning, tax structuring, succession and trust advice, to advising talent, artists, influencers and entrepreneurs whose wealth is tied to IP, digital assets and creative rights on the commercial exploitation of their assets.

The Woman of the Year category, for which senior partner Catherine Bedford is shortlisted, focuses on female leaders in UK private wealth who have been instrumental in shaping the direction of their firm and/or the wider industry.

Lawyer of the Year – Family, for which Mark Irving is a finalist, recognises the leading family lawyers providing an excellent service to their clients on the most complex, sensitive and precedent-setting cases.

The Spear’s Awards bring together all sections of the private wealth ecosystem to celebrate excellence and the most significant achievements over the previous year. These awards recognise the individuals and firms who lead the way through the service they provide to family offices and UHNW individuals.

The awards ceremony will take place on 3 November 2026 at Raffles London at The OWO. See the full shortlist here.