Beyond Law Group announces its most successful Legal 500 listing to date with four practice area rankings in the prestigious, independent guide to the UK’s legal industry.

Beyond Law Group has had a bumper half year, with the Group and its specialist legal practices experiencing their fastest growth rate since inception in 2017. Now in its sixth year of trading, Beyond Law Group brings corporate and consumer legal services together, a concept which has rarely been successful in the UK but which Beyond Law Group has achieved.

Beyond Law Group’s family and children practice, McAlister Family Law, has climbed the Legal 500 rankings over the years and this year retains prime position in Tier 1. The Group’s specialist corporate and commercial practice, Beyond Corporate, has climbed the rankings across three key practice areas; Commercial Property, Corporate & Commercial and Employment.

The Legal 500 are the industry’s most prestigious rankings, judged on the high standards of service provided by solicitors.

McAlister Family Law

Described by the Legal 500 as “the best team in Manchester for family law work”, Beyond Law Group’s specialist family and children practice, McAlister Family Law, , has climbed the prestigious rankings over the years to earn Tier 1 status in both 2022 and 2023.

The Tier 1 ranking comes following the niche practice’s most successful year to date, having won “Family Team of the Year” at the Manchester Legal Awards in both 2022 and 2023, as well as being named in The Times Top 200 Law Firms across England and Wales.

McAlister Family Law’s Managing Partner, Amanda McAlister, was named as a “Leading Individual” in this year’s rankings along with other ranked Partners: Liz Cowell, Fiona Wood and Ruth Hetherington.

Amanda McAlister comments: “We are thrilled to retain our Tier 1 status in this year’s Legal 500 rankings, cementing our reputation as the leading family and children law team in the North-West. This recognition is testament to the hard work, dedication and sheer talent of our incredible team, with particular mention to Liz, Fiona and Ruth who have each been ranked as key individuals this year. I’m immensely proud of the entire team, and it is so very well deserved.”

Beyond Corporate Law

Beyond Law Group’s specialist corporate and commercial practice, Beyond Corporate, has made the rankings in three key practice areas. In the last 18 months, Beyond Corporate has more than doubled its headcount and its teams are considered the go-to corporate and commercial practice for several high-profile national and international clients.

Beyond Corporate’s employment team, led by Partner Adam Pavey who joined the practice in January 2023, has been ranked for the first time since the practice’s inception in 2017. The employment team is described by the Legal 500 as “a hands-on, practical team with highly knowledgeable and experienced people”.

Beyond Corporate’s corporate and commercial team has moved up the rankings after their debut last year. They were described as providing “good all-round legal advice, flexible, with a rapid turnaround.”

Partner Jim Truscott heads up the practice’s corporate offering and continues to advise on M&A, private equity, management buyouts, joint ventures and regulatory issues. The arrival of commercial law expert James Corlett from Fieldfisher in 2021 significantly broadened the commercial team’s offering, making the Group well placed to assist high-profile clients operating in the retail, manufacturing and fashion sectors on a range of mandates, including supply chain agreements.

Beyond Corporate’s real estate team has been ranked for the second consecutive year, with their lawyers being described as “personable, approachable individuals whose expertise punches well above their size of firm.” In the last year alone, the commercial property team has advised on the construction of 1,700 hotel bedrooms, as well as the development of circa 600 care home beds. The team has also received instructions on over 1,200 residential units, over 50% from new clients of the firm.

In April of this year, James Corlett was promoted to Managing Partner of Beyond Corporate, which makes him responsible for the overall business strategy and direction of the practice.

James Corlett comments: “Beyond Corporate is a relatively new entrant to The Legal 500, this result is a significant milestone and an incredible achievement for us. I am very proud of the teams and the hard work and effort that they make every day to continue to build on the incredibly strong reputation of our practices. The ranking provides us with an elevated platform to continue to expand and bolster our expertise and strengthen our presence across the North- West and nationally as well as reiterating our commitment to delivering a high-quality collaborative approach, which has helped us to build trusted, longstanding relationships with our growing client portfolio.”

Matt Fleetwood, Founder and Chief Executive of Beyond Law Group, says: “This is a fantastic result for our practices and the teams at both Beyond Corporate and McAlister Family Law. It is particularly proud moment as the results are based on independent feedback and reiterates our approach to put clients first and deliver a quality, personal service across all of the Group’s teams.

In my view our people are deserving of this recognition. They are great people, best in class: committed  and enthusiastic about our plans for growth and all of them play a vital role in making the Group a vibrant and positive working environment. I am privileged to lead and work with such exceptional teams, team leaders and managing partners.”