Fast-growing law firm FBC Manby Bowdler has secured its first Birmingham rankings in the UK’s leading guide to the country’s top lawyers, just a year after opening a dedicated office in the city centre.
The Legal 500 2027 rankings, published last Thursday, recognise the firm’s family and commercial property teams in Birmingham for the first time, while its Birmingham litigation team has been named ‘one to watch’ for civil fraud.
The recognition comes after the firm, which is the founding member of the private equity-backed Adeptio Law Group, celebrated its first anniversary in Birmingham city centre, where it is now based at St Philip’s Place.
Neil Lloyd, chief executive of FBC Manby Bowdler and Adeptio Law Group, said: “To secure our first Birmingham rankings within a year of opening in the city centre is a fantastic achievement and a real testament to the talented teams we have built here.
“The rankings are partly based on feedback from clients, so to hear our teams described as ‘exceptional’ and ‘client-focused’ is the best endorsement we could ask for.”
The Birmingham family team is led by Shelley De’Worringham, who retained her ranking as a Next Generation Partner. The guide highlights her experience representing high-net-worth individuals, military personnel and senior professionals.
Claire Cooper, who joined the firm in December 2025, heads up the Birmingham commercial property team and advises on commercial and mixed-use developments, insolvency-related property work and corporate transactions. Led by David Grove, the wider team was also ranked for the first time for its work across the wider West Midlands.
Led by Charlotte Clode, the firm’s litigation team is described by the guide as ‘already engaged in complex, high-value matters’. The Birmingham litigation team has been strengthened by a series of senior hires, including partner Chris Recker from Kingsley Napley, who one client said was among the few lawyers who ‘do actually understand’ crypto assets.
Neil added: “FBC Manby Bowdler isn’t a new name. We have been looking after clients across the West Midlands and Shropshire for more than 200 years and have been highly ranked in the Legal 500 year after year. Coming into Birmingham city centre has been about bringing that depth of expertise, and the stellar service we pride ourselves on, to businesses and individuals right in the heart of the city.
“Alongside our new Birmingham rankings, it is great to see so many of our people recognised and promoted across the directory.”
Across Shropshire and the wider West Midlands, the firm retained its top rankings for agriculture and estates, led from Shrewsbury by Sarah Baugh, and for family law, where Telford-based Elizabeth Harris-Clark moved up to Leading Partner – the highest ranking a lawyer can achieve in the guide. Philip Cowell was named a Next Generation Partner for the first time.
Wolverhampton-based Tim Gray received a new Leading Partner ranking for clinical negligence, with one client describing him as ‘the best clinical negligence lawyer in the region’, and Megan Price was named a Leading Associate in agriculture and estates for the first time. The firm’s planning team, led by Next Generation Partner Suzanne Tucker, also climbed the rankings.
Guy Birkett and Charlotte Clode retained their Leading Partner rankings for commercial litigation, as did Susan Todhunter for personal injury, Graham Fuller for personal tax, trusts and probate, and Sarah Baugh and Tom Devey for agriculture and estates.
Elisabeth Glover and Christopher Bate retained their Next Generation Partner rankings, and Kimberly Mears retained her ranking as a Leading Associate in contentious trusts and probate.
Published annually, the Legal 500 is based on independent research, including interviews and feedback from clients, and highlights the practice area teams who are providing the most cutting edge and innovative advice. The results are available to view free of charge at www.legal500.com/rankings.
