Rayden Solicitors, has once again been recognised as a leading family law firm in The Legal 500 2025 guide. In addition to retaining our coveted Tier 1 ranking in the Beds, Bucks, Herts and Middlesex guide, we are delighted that this year we have also been ranked in the Birmingham, Essex and London guides for the first time, a testament to the extent of the firm’s reputation across the country. The most recent edition of The Legal 500’s UK legal sector research provides an industry standard, featuring an annual list of the best firms nationwide, based on recommendations from both fellow professionals and clients.
The Legal 500 researchers note that the firm ‘provides a top-flight service to clients who might ordinarily feel that only a London firm can handle the complexity and challenges of their situation’.
Senior Partner Katherine Rayden has once again been recognised in the Hall of Fame, which highlights individuals who have received constant praise from their clients for continued excellence. The guide has recognised ‘Katherine Rayden is extraordinary. She is admired throughout the profession by judges and colleagues. She leaves no stone unturned in terms of fighting for her clients’ best interests’.
‘A gold standard firm where the leader of the firm, Katherine Rayden has built a superb team across offices based on maintaining a very high quality of solicitors and a universally good service to clients’.
Partner Emily Watson has once again been recognised as a Leading Partner for family law in the Beds, Bucks, Herts and Middlesex region. Emily is described as having ‘extensive experience of the many and complex financial issues arising from separation and divorce including those with an international dimension’.
Emily’s expertise as an arbitrator is particularly noted:
‘Emily Watson is calm and measured in her approach, carefully negotiating the need to be an independent arbitrator whilst also working directly with both parties’ representatives to ensure that the case could be determined in the extremely short timescales provided’.
Partner Rupi Rai has been noted as a Next Generation Partner in this year’s guide, an accolade reserved for ‘junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters’.
Our Epping team is acknowledged by industry peers as a ‘diverse team of first rate lawyers’ in the Essex guide.
Partner Stuart Clark, from our Epping office, also retains his ranking as a Next Generation Partner.
‘Stuart Clark steered me through the financial settlement process and I was able to reach an agreed settlement despite significant initial resistance to the process from my former spouse. He helped to reduce conflict while protecting my interests and ensured steady progress towards agreement.’
The team are commended for their work on cases where religion or culture are complicating factors. Partner Nazia Rashid, who heads the Epping alongside Stuart, is described as ‘a national expert in Muslim marriages and relationship breakdown, very well informed on this topic and a go-to person’.
Our Birmingham team have also been ranked in the guide for the first time, after being noted as ‘Firm to Watch’ in the prior year – a fantastic achievement following the office opening in 2022. Practice head Partner Mary Kaye is commended for leading ‘a formidable team at Rayden Solicitors in Birmingham. She leads by example, nothing is too much trouble for Mary. Mary stands alone in the Birmingham legal community’.
We are also delighted to have been ranked in the London guide this year, again after being on the list of ‘Firms to Watch’ in 2024.
Executive Partner Julian Bremner who heads the London Bridge and Hampstead offices, is considered ‘a go-to for nuptial agreements’. We are also thrilled that Partner Anna-Laura Lock has once again retained her Next Generation Partner ranking.
‘Anna-Laura Lock combines empathy and intelligence in equal parts: the perfect prescription for a family lawyer. Handles cases of complexity and well able to deal with difficult clients when the need arises.’
Across all four guides, members of the team have been recognised as ‘key lawyers’. In the London guide, Legal Director Jennifer Moore and Senior Associate Rory Laide are noted, while in Birmingham Senior Associate Lauren Parton and Solicitor Patrice Coughlin are mentioned. From our Epping team, Associate Solicitors Mehnaz Zanil, Sara Roddis and Beth Duffy receive recognition. Legal Directors Charlotte Southworth, Lehna Gardiner and Marc Etherington classed as ‘key lawyers’ in the Beds, Bucks, Herts and Middlesex guide.
Senior Partner, Katherine Rayden says “once again we are all absolutely thrilled to maintain our top tier ranking for the twelfth year running, and we are especially happy to have been recognised in the Essex, Birmingham and London guides for the first time, which is testament to the growth of the business and the high level of service we provide for clients across the country. We are particularly delighted that the researchers, and our peers, have reflected on the calibre of all our solicitors, noting that Rayden Solicitors undertakes ‘high quality work and a team focus. This is a happy and committed team with intellect and pragmatism a key strength at all levels – in short they are first class lawyers’. It is a remarkable achievement to have so many of our team members referred to within the directory and the endorsement of The Legal 500 rankings, and the testimonials from our peers and clients, are testament to the outstanding work ethic, commitment to client care and exceptional quality of work delivered by our whole team.”
