The 2011 UK Legal 500 rankings, published last week, have once again ranked Anthony Collins Solicitors highly, Tier 1 rankings in four categories and several of its legal experts ranked as leaders in their specialist fields.  

The Guide, which is produced annually, gives an in-depth assessment of the UK's legal market awarding law firms and individuals rankings within their core business sectors.  

Despite the continued economic uncertainty and difficult trading conditions within the legal sector, Anthony Collins has not only maintained its current position in the top three tiers, but has continued to improve its rankings in many of its core sectors including: corporate and commercial, commercial litigation, employment, commercial property, intellectual property and IT. The highest ranking - Tier 1 - has been achieved in four categories in recognition of the firm's work within the charities, social housing, family law and licensing sectors.  

Within the "private client" category - Anthony Collins was the only West Midlands firm to achieve a Tier 1 position for their work in the charities sector, being described as providing 'high-quality and specific advice from a team that understands the needs of charities'. The Social Housing team are regarded as a 'strong team with a broad range of experience'.       

Maintaining its strong position in the personal injury and clinical negligence categories, Anthony Collins received two Tier 2 rankings. These recognise the firm's well established reputation (both locally and nationally) and the award of a personal injury legal aid contract, something which few firms have achieved. Anthony Collins' partners recognised by Legal 500 as 'Leading Individuals' in these sectors are Tony Hall and Rankeshwar Batta, who are described as being 'knowledgeable, uncompromisingly straight, kind and sympathetic'.      

Other sectors that maintained high rankings included: professional negligence education, personal tax, construction, trusts and probate, property litigation and local government.

Senior Partner Romaine Thompson said: "Once again we are delighted with the Legal 500 rankings. With the difficult conditions all law firms are facing, we are pleased to have maintained our position and improved in other core areas; it is a credit to the dedication and commitment of all our staff who have risen to the challenges of a constantly changing landscape.  

During the last year we secured some very significant new clients. We continue to build a solid reputation in our niche areas of law, as well as being recognised as one of the largest social housing, charities and community regeneration practices outside London.