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Howells Solicitors Awards

At Howells, we pride ourselves on delivering a high quality service and responding to our customers on an individual level to ensure your needs are met. Over the years, we have received many different awards to recognise the standard of practice that we provide.

As a firm and as individual solicitors we have achieved many awards and recognition, here they are all in one easily accessible location.

The Legal 500 2019
The Legal 500 2019

Family Law – Cardiff
2nd Tier firm

Howells Solicitors' two-partner team handles a wide range of family law matters, from public/private child law matters through to high-net-worth divorces. The team is also one of the few firms in south Wales with a legal aid franchise for family work and is therefore also able to handle publicly-funded mandates. Team head Gerard Griffiths has a particular niche representing police officers in their divorces and has developed true insight into the peculiarities and complexities inherent in police pensions.

Practice head(s): Gerard Griffiths

Other key lawyers: Jayne Hunt

Contentious Trusts and Probate
2nd Tier Firm – Leading Individual Laith Khatib

Benefiting from the expertise of two partners with a real focus on contentious trusts and probate work, Howells Solicitors has an excellent reputation in the market, as is reflected by the amount of third party referrals it receives, in addition to standalone mandates from many high-net-worth south Wales-based individuals. 'Very well-respected' team head Laith Khatib has expertise across the gamut of contentious probate matters, and represents both claimants and defendants on cases involving will validity. Paul Lindsey also has a thriving reputation in the market and is appreciated for his ability 'to put clients at ease and to explain the process without recourse to unnecessary legalese'.

Practice Head(s): Laith Khatib

Other key lawyers: Paul Lindsey

Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate
3nd Tier Firm - Leading Individual Laith Khatib

Regularly referred work from other law firms, as well as local accountants/financial advisers, Howells Solicitors excels in providing a bespoke service to clients seeking to protect their assets through effective estate planning and in the subsequent administration of their trusts and estates. Both Laith Khatib and Paul Lindsey are 'held in high regard among the south Wales private client community' and regularly provide contentious and non-contentious advice to many wealthy families in the region.

Practice Head(s): Laith Khatib

Other key lawyers: Paul Lindsey

TESTIMONIALS

'The team is equivalent in both size and technical ability as some of the larger firms in Cardiff'
'Laith Khatib is unfailingly polite and courteous and always gets excellent results for his clients'
'Paul Lindsey has always been able to strike a perfect balance between handling matters from the straightforward, to the very complex, while maintaining an unrivalled level of client care'

Employment
5th Tier Firm

Appreciated for its 'customer service and attention to detail', Howells Solicitors remains best-known for its very effective service on behalf of claimants across a range of contentious matters in the south Wales region. The departure in August 2018 of former team head David Lewis to Capital Law Limited was somewhat of a setback for the firm, however, this was offset to a large degree by the arrival in July 2018 of Bethan Southcombe from NewLaw Solicitors, who has effectively developed the firm's growing respondent practice through the reintroduction of a monthly retainer service aimed at local SME businesses.

Practice head(s): Bethan Southcombe (non-contentious); Gemma Bailey (contentious)

TESTIMONIALS

'The very empathetic and skilled Gemma Bailey is excellent at claimant contentious work.'

WORK HIGHLIGHTS
  • Successfully represented the client in a case brought against her former employer for constructive unfair dismissal.
LFS Awards 2019
LFS Awards 2019

Highly Commended – Best Direct Conveyancing Firm in the UK

Read more

Conveyancing Firm of the Year
Bridgend Business Forum Awards 2019
Bridgend Business Forum Awards 2019

Winner – Professional Services

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Bridgend Business Forum Awards
Finalists in 2019
Finalists in 2019 for the following Awards:-

Although we were not successful, we were very proud to be shortlisted and finalists in the following awards in 2019:-
  • Modern Law Conveyancing Awards – Conveyancing both Regional and National categories
  • Cardiff Life Awards – Professional Services Category
  • South Wales Law Awards – Employment Law and Conveyancing categories
  • Wales Legal Awards – Conveyancing category
  • Cardiff Business Awards – Professional Services category, Employer of the Year category


South Wales Law Awards 2019
South Wales Law Awards 2019

Howells Solicitors were thrilled to win the Personal Injury Law Services of the year award. We were also shortlisted in the categories Conveyancing firm of the year and the Employment firm of the year.

Click here to find out more...
South Wales Law Awards
The Legal 500 2018
Legal 500 2018

Family Law – Cardiff
2nd Tier firm

Howells Solicitors provides a 'highly professional and personable service' across the panoply of family law matters from public/private child law matters through to high-net-worth divorces. Team head Gerard Griffiths has a particular niche advising police officers on their divorces and has developed true insight into the peculiarities and complexities inherent in police pensions. A good deal of Scott's work in this respect comes from instructions derived from the firm's position on the South Wales and Gwent police federations' approved panel. In addition to his police force work, Scott also handles a wide spectrum of family law matters including cases relating to complicated financial proceedings involving foreign assets, children cases and prenuptial agreements. Based in the firm's Caerphilly office, Jayne Hunt is also recommended.

Contentious Trusts and Probate
2nd Tier Firm – Leading Individual Laith Khatib

'A very credible outfit in the Cardiff market for contentious trusts and probate matters', Howells Solicitors has an 'historic strength in this area of work but appears to be strengthening with a growing caseload'. 'Highly regarded among the south Wales private client community', team head Laith Khatib 'achieves excellent results for his clients' across a range of contentious probate matters including representing both claimants and defendants on cases involving will validity. Khatib is well regarded for his 'dealings with opponents but is also unfailingly polite and courteous'. Active on both the non-contentious and contentious front, the 'very approachable' Paul Lindsey 'has always been able to strike a perfect balance between handling matters from the straightforward, to the very complex, while maintaining an unrivalled level of client care'. As well as handling claims under The Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 Act, Lindsey also advises clients in connection with contentious Court of Protection matters and trust disputes.

Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate
3rd Tier Firm

Howells Solicitors continues to thrive in the local private client market and is 'equivalent in size and technical ability to some of the largest Cardiff-based firms'. Active across the spectrum of non-contentious and contentious work, the team generates a significant amount of mandates from third party instructions, and therefore offers a very bespoke service, as opposed to one relying on volume commoditised work. Team head Laith Khatib 'is held in high regard amongst the south Wales private client community', particularly in relation to contentious probate matters, where he is recognised as one of the market leaders. Paul Lindsey is 'something of a rarity in the field, in that he is able to advise clients on both contentious and non-contentious matters', and picks up a significant amount of work for many wealthy south Wales families including business owners and agricultural clients. 'Able to strike a perfect balance between handling matters from the straightforward, to the very complex, while maintaining an unrivalled level of client care', Lindsey is well regarded for his ability to advise on high-value Court of Protection cases, as well as handling estate planning work.

Commercial Property Cardiff
4th Tier Firm

Although it remains best known for its residential conveyancing expertise, led by Rhidian Hobbs, Howells Solicitors also has significant capability across a range of commercial property work, including advice on landlord and tenant matters, development issues and business transfers.

Employment
5th Tier Firm

Howells Solicitors retains a strong presence in the south Wales market for handling claimant employment work and has also begun to develop a growing respondent offering on behalf of a broad range of SMEs and charities. Associate Gemma Bailey advises both individual and company clients on employment disputes in all aspects of employment law.

Personal Injury
Howells recently appointed Sue Edwards to head up the Personal Injury and Medical Negligence department Sue was mentioned in the Legal 500 2018 in her previous job at Slater Gordon –

“The 'excellent' Susan Edwards heads the office's serious injury department and has significant experience handling spinal injury and brain injury cases.”
LFS Awards 2018
LFS Awards:
  • Winner – Best Direct Conveyancing Firm in the UK

  • Silver – Best Overall Conveyancing Firm in the UK

  • Highly Commended Best Conveyancing Firm Wales and the West Midlands
Read more >

Best Direct Conveyancing Firm in the UK
Overall Conveyancing Firm in the UK
Best Conveyancing Firm Wales and the West Midlands
Modern Law Conveyancing Awards 2018
Modern Law Conveyancing Awards 2018
  • Modern Law Conveyancing Awards 2018 – Highly Commended in Wales
  • Modern Law Conveyancing Awards 2018 – Highly Commended National Firm of the Year
On Thursday 12th July, Howells Solicitors were Highly Commended in both the Best Conveyancing Firm in Wales and the Best National Firm of the Year at the Rum Warehouse in Liverpool. Read about the awards here.
awards
awards
Cardiff Regional Awards Winner – Professional Services Category 2018
Regional Awards Winner Professional Services Category 2018
    awards
  • Winner – Professional Services Award 2018
On April 18th Howells Solicitors were delighted to win the Professional Services Award at the Cardiff Regional Awards finals. Read about the awards here.
The Legal 500 2017
Legal 500 2017

Family Law – Cardiff
2nd Tier firm

Fielding two practitioners in Cardiff and one in Caerphilly, Howells Solicitors ‘really does punch above its weight’ and provides an ‘excellent service’ on everything from public/private child law matters to high-net-worth divorces. ‘Standout lawyer’ Gerard Griffiths provides ‘sensible, realistic advice and is able to quickly identify what the case is about and what the objectives for the client should be’. Griffiths has a particular niche advising police officers in divorce proceedings and regularly handles matters on behalf of the South Wales and Gwent Police Federations. As well as his police force work, Griffiths also handles work covering the waterfront of family law including cases relating to complicated financial proceedings involving foreign assets, children cases and pre-nuptial agreements.

Contentious Trusts and Probate
2nd Tier Firm – Leading Individual Laith Khatib

At Howells Solicitors, ‘very knowledgeable’ and ‘technically sound’ team head Laith Khatib is ‘one of the leading contentious practitioners in Wales’ and has significant experience in all manner of estates, including those involving commercial issues. As well as handling direct instructions, Khatib often receives referrals from other law firms. Recent work has included prosecuting and defending numerous claims brought under The Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.

Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate
3rd Tier Firm

The ‘responsive and commercial’ team at Howells Solicitors has a ‘real ability to think outside the box’, enabling it to provide particular value to clients on complex estate planning matters. Although he is perhaps best known for his contentious probate expertise, the ‘very knowledgeable and calm’ Laith Khatib also provides ‘practical and sensible solutions’ to clients across the gamut of estate planning work, including the preparation of complex wills and lifetime trusts designed to protect assets and/or reduce IHT exposure. Consultant John O’Connell has vast experience in the private client field; in addition to advising on wills and lifetime trusts, he is also involved in a professional deputy capacity to help look after the property and financial affairs for clients who lack capacity. ‘Helpful and supportive’ solicitor Hayley Rees has significant private client experience, including advising unmarried couples on the protection of their assets in the event of the breakdown of the relationship or death of one of the parties.

Commercial Property Cardiff
4th Tier Firm

Howells Solicitors acts for its impressive roster of private clients on high-end residential conveyancing work, and also handles standalone commercial property matters. Rhidian Hobbs leads on the commercial property front and has expertise across a range of matters including landlord and tenant, owner-occupier work, development and business transfers.

Employment
5th Tier Firm

Howells Solicitors’ employment group includes associate David Lewis, who joined from Harding Evans LLP and brings experience advising local businesses across a range of HR issues, employment disputes and contract and policies drafting. Lewis also has niche expertise in sports issues and has handled exit and contract negotiations for numerous well-known sporting individual

To read more about the awards and accreditations awarded to Howells please click here.
LFS Awards 2017
LFS Awards:
  • Wales & West Midlands Conveyancing Firm of the Year 2017

  • Overall Conveyancing Firm of the Year 2017 Highly Commended
Read more >

Regional Firm of the Year 2017 - Gold
Overall Conveyancing Firm of the Year 2017 - Bronze
Best in Wales – Modern Law Conveyancing Awards 2017
Modern Law Conveyancing Awards 2017
    awards
  • Best in Wales – Modern Law Conveyancing Awards 2017
On Thursday 13th July, Howells Solicitors won the Best Conveyancing Firm in Wales at the Rum Warehouse in Liverpool for the 2nd year running – Read about the awards here.
Cardiff Life Awards 2017
Cardiff Life Awards 2017
    awards
  • Winner: Property
“A forward-thinking business investing smartly in tech who clearly value their employees, with an excellent reputation in the property sector”

See more about the award here >
Times and Sunday Times Awards 2016
Times and Sunday Times Awards 2016:
Howells Solicitors were delighted to win this award to cap of an excellent year of award wins.

Read more >
LFS Awards 2016
LFS Awards:
  • Overall Conveyancing Firm of the Year 2016 (2nd year running)

  • Direct Conveyancing Firm of the Year 2016

  • Wales & West Midlands Conveyancing Firm of the Year 2016 (3rd year running)
Howells Solicitors have achieved a first for any UK law firm and won the three categories above at the conveyancing prestigious annual Law Firm Services Awards (For the 2nd year running!).

Read more >

Overall Conveyancing Firm of the Year 2016 - Gold
Direct Conveyancer Firm of the Year 2016
Regional Firm of the Year Wales & West Midlands 2016
Best in Wales – Modern Law Conveyancing Awards 2016
Modern Law Conveyancing Awards 2016
    awards
  • Best in Wales – Modern Law Conveyancing Awards 2016
On July 14th, Howells Solicitors won the Best conveyancing Firm in Wales Award at the Rum Warehouse in Liverpool – Read about the awards here.
Cardiff Regional Awards Winner – Professional Services Category 2016
Regional Awards Winner Professional Services Category 2016
    awards
  • Winner – Professional Services Award 2016
On April 7th Howells Solicitors were delighted to win the Professional Services Award at the Cardiff Regional Awards finals. Read about the awards here.
The Legal 500 UK 2016
The Legal 500 UK 2016
  • Our Cardiff branch was placed 2nd for Contentious Trusts and Probate with Laith Khatib mentioned as a leading individuals
  • At Howells Solicitors, the ‘intelligent, sensible and practical’ Laith Khatib provides an ‘exemplary level of service’ and is ‘well liked by clients, lawyers and courts alike’
  • Leading Individuals: Laith Khatib – Howells Solicitors
    http://www.legal500.com/c/wales/private-client/contentious-trusts-and-probate
Family: Cardiff
Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate
  • Under Personal Tax, Trust and Probate our Cardiff branch was awarded 3rd place.
  • Co-headed by the ‘patient and understanding’ Laith Khatib and John O’Connell, Howells Solicitors ‘performs exceptionally well in this area’.
Commercial Property : Cardiff
Employment: Cardiff
Gold Winners of Large Conveyancer Estate Agency of the Year 2015
Large Conveyancer Estate Agency of the Year 2015
    awards
  • Gold Winners
The top Industry Judges described Howells as “A stand out business and clear winners of the Large Conveyancer in the UK category. There is a focus on proactive communication, compliance, transparency and their claims record is exemplary.”

Read More >
LFS Awards 2015
LFS Awards:
    Our 3 Awards
  • Overall Conveyancing Firm of the Year 2015

  • Direct Conveyancing Firm of the Year 2015

  • Wales & West Midlands Conveyancing Firm of the Year 2015 (2nd year running)
Howells Solicitors have achieved a first for any UK law firm and won the three categories above at the conveyancing prestigious annual Law Firm Services Awards.

Read more >

Overall Conveyancing Firm of the Year 2015 - Gold
Direct Conveyancer Firm 2015
Regional Firm of the Year Wales & West Midlands 2015
The Legal 500 UK 2015
The Legal 500 UK 2015:
    awards
  • Our Cardiff branch was placed 2nd for Contentious Trusts and Probate with Laith Khatib mentioned as a leading individuals

    “Howells Solicitors’ team is led by Laith Khatib; he specialises in estate issues, and clients are ‘lucky to have him’ on side.”

  • Howells achieved 2nd place for Family Law Cardiff

    Gerard Griffiths is an ‘excellent choice for matrimonial finance’ at Howells Solicitors; the ‘no-nonsense negotiator’ has expertise in ancillary work involving police pensions. Jayne Hunt is well regarded for children law cases with international elements.”

  • Under Personal Tax, Trust and Probate our Cardiff branch was awarded 3rd place.

    “Howells Solicitors provides a ‘second-to-none’ service. John O’Connell highly regarded for estate, trusts and deputyship matters.

  • 4th Place was awarded to Howells for Commercial Property Cardiff

    “Howells Solicitors handles landlord and tenant, investment and development matters. Practice head Rhidian Hobbs advised a marketing heavyweight on relocating its headquarters.”

Read More >
Global Awards Winner (Corporate LiveWire 2014)
UK Family Law Firm of the Year
awards This annual award was presented to Howells based on how the family law department managed complex cases over the last 12 months. It is the first time in the history of this award that a Welsh law firm has been awarded the accolade – recognising our skill and expertise.

Read More >
LFS Awards 2014
LFS Awards:
    awards
  • Wales & West Midlands Conveyancing Firm of the Year 2014

  • Direct Conveyancing Firm of the Year 2014 Runner up

Read More >
The Legal 500 UK 2014
The Legal 500 UK 2014
    awards
  • Margaret Philips named in elite “Leading Lawyers" list from the Legal 500 UK 2014 Guide.

    Four of our Lawyers are recommended in Legal 500 UK 2014 Guide:


    Gerard Griffiths at Howells Solicitors has a strong reputation in the region; he and Margaret Phillips act in cases involving substantial assets, including offshore trusts. The firm also has expertise in ancillary work involving police force pensions.

  • Margaret Philips – Family Law

  • Gerard Griffiths – Family Law

  • John O’Connell – Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate
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Law Society Excellence 2014
Law Society Excellence 2014
    awards
  • Shortlisted for CQS Award for Excellence in Conveyancing Practice in the Law Society Excellence Awards.
Read More >
Bronze Winners of Large Conveyancer Estate Agency of the Year 2013
Large Conveyancer Estate Agency of the Year 2013
    awards
  • Bronze Winners
This prestigious award, sponsored by the Times and the Sunday Times, ranks Howells as the highest placed solicitor in Wales and across Southern England. This is a true testament to the excellent standard of conveyancing that Howells provide.

Read More >


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With effect from 15th February 2015 EU Regulations on Consumer Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) allow consumers who bought our services online to submit their complaint via an online complaint portal.

We are required under the regulations to provide our clients the following information:-
  1. Link to the ODR platform - please follow the following link for further information (http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr).
  2. Our contact email address in case of a complaint under the ODR regulation – Amanda Barrett amanda.barrett@howellslegal.com
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