CM Murray LLP is delighted to announce our rankings in the newly published Chambers and Partners UK 2023.
Partnership: Band 1
What the team is known for: CM Murray offers extensive expert coverage of partnership matters, with particular emphasis on contentious work. The firm’s key strengths are in the legal and financial services sectors, with long experience advising UK and US firms on individual and team moves, restrictive covenants and whistle-blowing cases. The team is active on cross-jurisdictional work and especially praised for its handling of partner discrimination issues. It also has notable expertise in representing individual partners during exit negotiations and investigations into allegations of misconduct.
Work highlights: CM Murray acted for Taylor Vinters LLP in relation to its combination with Mishcon de Reya LLP to create MDR Taylor Vinters, a separate business within the combined group providing legal and consultancy services to innovators and entrepreneurs.
“The team at CM Murray was very switched on and immediately grasped complex fact patterns and applied them in a partnership context.”
“The team always addresses legal issues within the context of the business issues that exist for the client.”
Partnership: Contentious (UK-wide)
Eminent Practitioner: Clare Murray
Clare Murray is founder and managing partner of CM Murray. She is a renowned partnership expert who advises on cross-border disputes and investigations, including cases concerning allegations of discrimination and restrictive covenant issues.
“Clare Murray is a superb solicitor.”
“Her legal knowledge is fantastic and her people skills are amazing. If I had a partnership dispute I would head to Clare.”
“She is a real inspiration and leads a fantastic team.”
Band 1: Sarah Chilton
Sarah Chilton’s expertise includes cases concerning alleged sexual harassment and discrimination as well as partner exit negotiations and related disputes. She is triple-qualified in England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
“She is very good and very analytical.”
“Sarah is sensible and pragmatic to deal with.”
Band 3: David Fisher
David Fisher advises individual partners on highly sensitive and contentious matters, such as harassment allegations and breaches of LLP agreements. He also handles matters surrounding team moves.
“David is very responsive and provides commercial advice.”
Band 4: Beth Hale
Beth Hale has extensive experience advising professional partnerships and individual partners on contentious matters such as partner exits, whistle-blowing claims and sexual harassment allegations. She currently also acts as general counsel for CM Murray.
Partnership: Non-contentious (UK wide)
Eminent Practitioner: Clare Murray
Band 2: Zulon Begum
Zulon Begum assists professional services firms from the legal and financial sectors with partnership restructuring and amendments to LLP agreements. She also advises on the non-contentious aspects of sensitive issues such as partner exits.
“Zulon is brilliant – she is incredibly smart, gets all the right points and is practical and commercial.”
Star Individual: Corinne Staves
Corinne Staves joined CM Murray in August 2022. She assists both domestic and international law firms, individual partners and high net worth clients with a wide range of partnership matters, including mergers, restructuring, team moves and succession planning.
“It’s a pleasure working with Corinne as complex matters are made simple, the advice is very clear and focused, and any problem solving is well framed and highly collaborative.”
“She is very knowledgeable and skilled in helping navigate sensitive discussions.”
“She is head and shoulders above everyone else and has incredible presence in the market.”
“She is among the very best and really knows her stuff on the regulatory side.”
Partnership: Large International Structures
Spotlight Table: Corinne Staves
Employment (Senior Executive): Band 1
Firm Ranking: Band 1
What the team is known for: CM Murray is a leading senior executives-focused firm, with notable expertise in whistle-blowing, discrimination claims, and restrictive covenants and their enforcement. The firm acts for clients from a range of sectors including technology and financial services. It also has expertise in dealing with cross-border employment law issues, drawing upon its extensive network of legal partners across Europe.
“CM Murray recruit talented individuals and their reputation is built on the image of their founding partner. The team, led by Merrill April, are strong and provide clear and concise advice.”
“They are very fast, highly skilled, efficient and always to the point with their answers. They are capable of translating the client’s needs into legal action.”
“They quickly gave advice and made themselves available for conferences as required and on short notice.”
Eminent Practitioner: Clare Murray
Clare Murray is the managing partner of CM Murray. She wins widespread acclaim for her work representing senior executives and equity partners in complex employment disputes.
“Clare is simply outstanding. She is at the top of her game and the go-to person for employment and partnership matters. There is no one else in the City or the wider UK market who comes anywhere close in terms of ability, acumen and commerciality.”
“Clare Murray is stands out. She is very sharp and very impressive.”
Band 3: Sarah Chilton
Sarah Chilton is recognised for her work representing individuals in investigations and disciplinary proceedings. She regularly advises clients on restrictive covenants.
“Sarah Chilton is a highly skilled employment law specialist. She is very solution-oriented, and gives clear and concise practical advice.”
Band 3: Beth Hale
Beth Hale is best known for advising senior employees in the financial services sector on discrimination and harassment claims. She also works with clients facing disciplinary procedures and investigations.
“Beth is also extremely reliable, practical and competent. She gives quick advice in the employment field.”
Band 4: Emma Bartlett
Emma Bartlett expertly advises clients from a range of sectors including professional and financial services and academia. She has considerable experience representing her clients in grievance investigations and exits.
“Emma is very supportive, empathic and attentive. She really cares about her clients and goes the extra mile to secure the right outcome for them.”
“She is an astute lawyer who navigates sensitive subject matters with apparent ease.”
Employment (Employers):
Band 5: Merrill April
Merrill April is noted for her work advising employers, with expertise handling matters including senior-level departures and day-to-day HR matters.
“Merrill has a keen eye and has the ability to identify issues quickly. She has the ability to impart information in a way that is accessible for me as a non-lawyer.”
“Merrill is extremely responsive and knowledgeable and also appreciates the reputational and personal issues as well as the legal ones.”
Find out more about our expertise in advising Senior Executives, Partnership & LLPs, Partnerships & LLP Members and Employers.
