Holmes & Hills Solicitors has once again been recognised by Chambers and Partners in its 2026 legal directory, celebrating further annual success for the firm’s specialist departments after receiving recognition from the Legal 500 in early October.
Holmes & Hills’ Planning, Construction, and Commercial Property Departments have maintained noteworthy rankings, showcasing a sustained dedication to delivering expert and proactive legal services across the firm’s specialist areas of law.
Holmes & Hills’ Planning Law Department and Construction Department remain Band 2 ranked in the 2026 Chambers and Partners rankings, whilst the firm’s Commercial Property Department maintain a Band 4 ranking.
Moreover, following the appointment of Partner, Matt Downing as head of Holmes & Hills’ Corporate & Commercial Department in May 2025, the Chambers & Partners researchers have recognised Holmes & Hills as having the potential for a ranking for Corporate and M&A in 2027.
Notably in the 2026 edition, Partner Michael Harman received a Band 2 ranking for the first time. Michael heads up Holmes & Hills specialist Compulsory Purchase and Development Consent Division, and his extensive experience received high praise with many commenting on his client centred approach: “Mike is a highly impressive professional. He is seemingly indefatigable and always goes the extra mile to defend his client's interests, even in difficult cases” and he “is the most client-centred lawyer I know. He is extremely focused on generating the best outcome for clients and has a particular knack for understanding what really matters to the client”.
The 2026 rankings see Holmes & Hills Planning Law Department boast three Band 2 ranked team members, with Steven Hopkins and Jo Lilliott maintaining their Band 2 rankings for the second year respectively. Jo Lilliott was previously recognised as a Star Associate for many years. Jo has been praised for her “incredible wealth of knowledge with regards to planning law” , as well as her ability to “quickly and easily explain complex matters and negotiates solutions and routes forward in a pragmatic and friendly way”.
Head of Holmes & Hills Construction Department, Sam Bawden, also maintains a Band 3 ranking with clients praising his Construction Law expertise noting he is “ very attuned to the commercial complexities of the industry". Lawrence Pearce is noted as an ‘Up and Coming’ Partner with clients commenting on his “forward thinking” and “excellent level of service”.
Chris Milner, Partner, and Head of the firm’s Land and Development Division rises to be ranked as an ‘Up & Coming’ Partner in 2026. Chris has been praised for being “very proactive, knowledgeable and unflappable”. Senior Associate Laura Gale, also from the Land and Development Division, is recognised as an ‘Associate to Watch’. Laura has received high praise from clients who describe her as “exceptionally knowledgeable and proactive”.
Furthermore, Matt Downing brings with him a maintained Band 1 ranking in Corporate and M&A. This appointment of a new Head of Corporate & Commercial, along with his established ranking, sets Holmes & Hills apart as a leading provider of specialist legal services to businesses across Essex and East Anglia bolstering a dynamic, client focused corporate and commercial offering with a recognised head of Department.
Overall, in the 2026 Chambers & Partners rankings, Holmes & Hills has maintained six of its individual lawyer rankings and improved on three, with enhanced rankings seen for Chris Milner, Michael Harman and Rosanna Clarke.
Chambers & Partners reported that Holmes & Hills attracted five times more peer and client feedback than the market average during its latest research cycle. This level of engagement highlights the firm’s standing within the profession and affirms our growing reputation for legal excellence.
Commenting on the firm’s continued success, Managing Partners Rebecca Mason and Steven Hopkins said: “We are incredibly proud of what Holmes & Hills as a firm, has achieved in the 2026 Chambers and Partners rankings. To break another firm record in Chambers and Partners, by receiving a record number of individual rankings - is a true testament to the hard work and dedication of our solicitors.”
These rankings reflect more than just recognition, they demonstrate the trust our clients place in Holmes & Hills and the esteem in which our lawyers are held by their peers. Being consistently ranked by Chambers and Partners confirms that clients across the region benefit from advice that is not only technically excellent, but also practical, responsive and commercially focused.
At Holmes & Hills, we see these rankings as affirmation of our continued investment in people, training and expertise, ensuring that clients across the region receive specialist legal advice from trusted experts who work in partnership to achieve their goals.
Chambers and Partners, the prestigious independent legal research organisation and publisher, released its latest insight into the legal industry on 16th October 2025.
Chambers and Partners undertakes extensive research into law firms, interviewing peers within the legal industry, clients, and professional contacts with a view to identifying the leading specialists across several fields of legal practice.
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The content of this article is provided for general information only. It does not constitute legal or other professional advice. The information given in this article is correct at the date of publication.
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