WHN strengthens Legal 500 presence

Lancashire law firm WHN Solicitors has strengthened its presence in one of the UK’s leading legal directories as it was recognised for the sixth consecutive year, including rankings across its commercial division.

The 2027 edition of the Legal 500 UK guide, a highly regarded guide to the best lawyers and law firms nationally, recommended five of WHN’s teams. Ten of the firm’s legal experts have also been recommended in the guide.

The corporate and commercial team has been promoted to tier 3 from tier 4, reflecting its standing in the market as one of the leading teams in the north west. This follows the team’s growth from two to five lawyers within the past two years. The latest edition recognised the team’s expertise in supporting SMEs and family owned and owner managed businesses.

WHN’s head of corporate and commercial Paul Matthews also gained personal recognition as a Leading Partner and was noted for his ‘experience in corporate transactions and commercial matters’ and for his specialism in ‘constitutional work for incorporated and unincorporated clubs and associations’.

Four other WHN teams also retained their rankings in this year’s guide. This included dispute resolution, ranked in tier 4, with Michael Shroot and Sara Beaumont personally recommended for their expertise in commercial litigation.

The firm’s specialist property litigation team was once again ranked, with the guide citing its expertise in commercial landlord and tenant disputes and Daniel Long recommended for his ‘expertise in handling litigation relating to commercial leases’.

WHN’s ‘very experienced’ commercial property team retained its Tier 3 position, noted as being ‘particularly well regarded for its expertise in development matters’ and with three members of the team recommended, director Nicola Phelps, associate Katie Hall and newly ranked director Alex Walsh, who joined the team in February.

WHN’s family team also maintained its tier 3 ranking, recognising it is ‘geared to support clients with a wide range of issues, including financial remedy cases involving TOLATA and pensions, as well as complex Children Act work’.

Director and head of family David Connor is recommended for his experience in divorce and separation matters, with Tanya Magell named as a Leading Associate for her focus on public and private Children Act proceedings. Newly recommended associate Alison Nolan also joined the rankings. 

Michael Shroot, chief executive of WHN Solicitors, said: “Over the past year, we have continued to invest in the growth of our commercial division in response to high demand from clients in the region for tailored, expert led legal advice, as well as maintaining our commitment to provision of first-class family law and other private client advice.

"Our focus is on hiring experienced solicitors who understand the markets our clients operate in and apply their expert legal judgement to deliver maximum value to clients.

“In two years, our Corporate and Commercial team has grown from two to five lawyers with over 70 years’ combined experience, which is reflected in the team’s improved rankings as it goes from strength to strength.  Our commercial property and litigation teams have also benefitted from significant growth in 2026 and we anticipate further growth across the division in the next 12 months. 

“WHN’s ethos is to put our clients at the heart of everything we do. We support them in both their professional and personal lives through the provision of expert legal advice by highly experienced lawyers. The latest Legal 500 rankings are a testament to the trust our clients place in us for their most important legal matters.

“A huge thank you to our clients and partners, not just for trusting us with their legal affairs, but for taking the time to share their experiences of working with WHN with the Legal 500 researchers. Their feedback plays an important part in the process and we’re incredibly grateful for their continued support.”

WHN employs more than 100 staff in offices in Accrington, Bacup, Blackburn, Bury, Clitheroe, Great Harwood, Haslington, Rawtenstall and Salford.