When you are looking for a new electrical appliance, do you look at reviews before you buy? A lot of professional services websites, including ours, pull in reviews from various sources such as Google, Trip Advisor, CheckaTrade and more.

Most of these major review sites work hard to ensure reviews are genuine, but inevitably you will find a set of over-effusive reviews (and equally crushingly negative reviews) that just don’t ring true. It can often be difficult to sort the straight-talking reality from the superlative-laden ‘scripted’ reviews.

Sorting the genuine from the gushing

Gathering ethically-sourced and verified reviews is one of the main reasons we have a Profile in the two leading legal firms directories, namely the Legal 500 UK and Chambers and Partners. These long-established and internally recognised directories undertake detailed research into each law firm using their own teams of researchers, and criteria that covers all aspects of a firm’s activities.

To help them, each law firm is asked to send a list of referees that have given their consent to be contacted, and who will give a frank and honest testimonial (review) of our services.

Our Profiles for the 2024 editions

Here are our rankings and testimonials for the 2024 editions, and those all-important testimonials.

THE LEGAL 500 UK 2024

We are delighted that we have maintained our strong position as a Tier 3 firm, with both Directors as Recommended Lawyers. This shows once again how we can provide professional advice and action on a par with major players in family law in our area.

The Legal 500 also writes a short review of our firm, noting how we have:

“Carved out a niche specialism in cases regarding SEN children and post-separation abuse. “

“Having worked with them for years now I can honestly say it is the best set of solicitors I have worked with. They are dedicated to their clients, colleagues and associates. A highly personable boutique firm. Both directors are always on hand to deal with the problems ahead.”

“LGFL have a unique approach to family law that is both holistic and personalised, pragmatic yet determined, considered and contemporary. The directors are very much in touch with the latest national news and developments likely to impact on families, separating parents and those considering divorce. As a result, their clients benefit from an empathetic and informed approach to each and every case, which focuses on the emotional as well as the financial and legal aspects of divorce.”

“LGFL has an increasing reputation for complex cases involving SEN children, which in itself is an indication of how their personal and in-depth approach helps those for whom divorce is potentially both highly emotional and complicated.”

“Rita Gupta is a real live-wire, always crackling with new ideas, innovative approaches and fuelled by a deep-felt passion for the welfare of children caught up in separation and divorce. She is the driving force behind LGFL’s wide-ranging marketing and outreach activity, from blogs addressing key subjects and concerns to thought-provoking and practical articles for both legal and popular press.”

“Director Anne Leiper is a veritable powerhouse of information especially on financial matters. She is tenacious and determined, and very much the lawyer you want on your side in a divorce.”

“Together, Rita Gupta and Anne Leiper lead a dedicated team that enables this small boutique firm to truly punch above its weight. LGFL regularly take on major city law firms in the courtroom and achieve the right outcome for their clients.”

“LGFL are a boutique law firm who specialise in, among other areas family law where domestic abuse and children with special educational needs are involved. Their knowledge of these areas are outstanding, and this is a real strength when offering appropriate and realistic advice to their clients.”

CHAMBERS AND PARTNERS 2024

The only way is up this year, with our family law firm and our two directors all ranked in Band 2. It’s a major achievement for our boutique firm as we celebrate 15 years since Rita and Anne founded LGFL in Yateley with one phone, one desk, and just five client files!

“The whole team are on the ball, friendly, hard-working, helpful and efficient.”

“The team are very professional and diligent in all matters. Replies are always prompt and show laser-focused attention to details.”

“I have found that LFGL are able to pick apart the details of a very complex case and provide well thought through and balanced advice. The team have been able to identify the key facts and key pieces of evidence and also pick up on the nuances of the case.”

“Anne was very professional and calm with me.”

“Anne's experience, professionalism and acumen are impeccable.”

“Rita is a powerhouse and everything that I'd look for in a lawyer. She is smart, focused and has a real passion for client service.”

"I’d never have any hesitation in recommending Rita or the firm.”

“Dealing with Rita is effortless and she makes things so easy.”

“In the ten years that I've had dealings with Rita, she has always been extremely trustworthy and understanding of the situation I've been in.”

“Rita is very intelligent, quick to assimilate information and provides very pragmatic advice having taken everything into account. I also feel she always has time to listen to me and answer my questions.”

 

Is LGFL the right family law firm for you?

If you need timely, accurate and pragmatic legal advice, book your initial one hour consultation with us. You will have a full 60 minutes for the price of 30 minutes to discuss your circumstances, concerns and aspirations for your separation, divorce or family law issue. To book your appointment:

- Call us

- Email us

- Request a consultation online

Every autumn, we post our new rankings in Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500 UK. These two major publications rank lawyers in the UK through independently researched interviews with clients, partners and the firms themselves.

Given that these ranking were originally designed to help legal professionals find expert solicitors, why do we tell you, our prospective clients, all about them?

The answer is simply that these guides can help YOU find the expert family lawyer you need for your divorce or family issue, from an exclusive nationwide list of experienced and respected law firms.

Choosing the right family law firm

Choosing the right law firm for your family law matter or divorce can be difficult. If you’ve not needed a lawyer before, who can you ask?

• You might opt to look at third party review sites, but how accurate are they and can you trust them?
• Personal recommendations are always good, but what if nobody in your circle of friends or family has used a solicitor recently? Or if they had a bad experience themselves?
• Each area of the UK has several legal firms ranked, so how do they compare one to the other?

Choosing a Legal 500 or Chambers listed family law firm can help you review what they offer, and what professional researchers think about their services. So you can decide who might be right for your case, before you even contact them.

What are the Legal 500 and Chambers?

The Legal 500 and Chambers are long-established, highly respected guides to the best law firms in the UK. Originally published in book form, both guides are now online and free for anyone to view at any time. They are used extensively by the legal profession and also by private individuals to find the most suitable firm for a particular case.

Here's how it works.

The directory section gives details of the firm, such as contact details and location. It also includes how the law firms are ranked, which is different for Chambers and Legal 500. The editorial section is written by the guide, based on its extensive research (see below).

As Chambers and Partners explain:

“If you are buying legal services in the UK and need reliable and up-to-date recommendations on the best law firms and lawyers, (our) rankings and research will provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision.”

(Chambers and Partners)

Client feedback

Both guides also contact a selection of our clients and business connections requesting their honest feedback on LGFL and the lawyers they have instructed, namely Rita or Anne. (We check clients are OK to be contacted in advance, of course.)

How law firms are ranked

Each ranks a law firm and their individual lawyers according to their performance, strengths and the quality of their work. Legal firms can achieve higher rankings through sustained growth, excellent customer service, high quality casework and other factors. The same applies to individual lawyers.

Legal 500 Ranking and Editorial

In the Legal 500 guide, legal firms such as ours are ranked within a geographical area against other firms. So, in the 2023 edition:

• LGFL Ltd are a Tier 3 Private Client legal firm for the Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40 region. We entered at Tier 3 in our first ranking.
• Both Rita and Anne are Recommended Lawyers.

LGFL maintains its Tier 3 status as a Leading Firm in Family Law, and both Directors are once again Recommended Lawyers.

"The ‘one-of-a kind boutique firm’ Leiper Gupta Family Lawyers Ltd (LGFL Ltd) is led jointly from Reading by directors Rita Gupta and Anne Leiper. The 'formidable' Leiper is a specialist in financial settlements and an experienced litigator. In addition to her expertise in financial matters, Gupta advises on cases involving children and counsels clients through divorces - she is praised for her 'unique blend of empathy and passion."

The testimonials that the Legal 500 researched from our clients are exceptional. Here's just one example:

"Anne Leiper and Rita Gupta are a fantastic team. They dedicate themselves to their cases and are relentless in pushing a case forward to the benefit of their clients. They are incredibly detailed in their approach and, where appropriate, leave no stone unturned. They are excellent solicitors."

You can find all our testimonials in full on our LGFL Legal 500 profile page.

Chambers and Partners Ranking and Editorial

In Chambers and Partners, legal firms are ranked within the geographical area of Reading and surrounds, and in the category Family/Matrimonial, which is more specific than just Private Client.

The Chambers and Partners 2023 edition will be launched on Thursday 20 October 2022.

In the 2022 edition:

• LGFL Ltd is a Leading Firm in Band 2.
• Both Rita Gupta and Anne are a Band 3 Recognised Practitioners for Reading and surrounds.

Here’s how Chambers and Partners describe us for 2022:

One client praises our "Tenacious, robust and incredibly strategic" team who are "extremely meticulous in everything". Another client comments that Director Rita Gupta "Despite the ups and downs of the case she dealt with all manner of challenges, keeping a calm head and focusing on the best outcome."

 

Only the best are included

Many law firms apply year after year to these guides before they might be finally accepted and included. We were proud that we were accepted by both guides at our first submission, and have been included in subsequent editions since 2017.

So, when you choose a listed law firm like LGFL or individual lawyer such as Rita or Anne, the guides have already done the hard work of researching us, assessing our strengths, and ranking us in our respective fields and geographical areas.

New 2023 editions launch dates

The new editions of each guide will be launched on the following dates:

Legal 500 - 2023 edition now live

Chambers and Partners – Thursday 20th October 2022

Click on the links after these dates to see our new 2023 rankings and editorial.

All at LFL Ltd are proud and humbled that our “one-of-a kind boutique firm” is once again listed as a Leading Firm in this prestigious guide, in the Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40 region.

We’re thrilled that we have once again ranked alongside larger firms with multiple offices, maintaining our Tier 3 status in Family Law and with Directors Anne Leiper and Rita Gupta once again being Recommended Lawyers.

Our Legal 500 Ranking summary

Here’s what the Legal 500 UK Ranking summary says about us:

“The ‘one-of-a kind boutique firm’ Leiper Gupta Family Lawyers Ltd (LGFL Ltd) is led jointly from Reading by directors Rita Gupta and Anne Leiper.

 

The 'formidable' Leiper is a specialist in financial settlements and an experienced litigator.

In addition to her expertise in financial matters, Gupta advises on cases involving children and counsels clients through divorces - she is praised for her ‘unique blend of empathy and passion’.”

Praise for Directors Anne Leiper and Rita Gupta

There’s plenty of praise too for our Directors and their approach, including how they “Run a very tight ship which has one focus – namely the client”.

- “The reality is that Anne Leiper and Rita Gupta are a fantastic team. They dedicate themselves to their cases and are relentless in pushing a case forward to the benefit of their clients. They are incredibly detailed in their approach and, where appropriate, leave no stone unturned. They are excellent solicitors.”

- “Anne and Rita offer clear tactical direction from the outset – they think three steps head and plan accordingly. They do not fight needlessly, but when they are called upon they will fight harder than anyone. They are very good at cutting through nonsense and getting to the point.”

- “Rita Gupta has a unique and magnetic energy that inspires confidence. Rita’s input into the wider family law sector, with her articles and interviews, demonstrates her knowledge and passion for her area.”

Take a bow, team LGFL!

Our team are at the epicentre of a client’s LGFL experience, so we are especially proud of this team feedback.

- “The LGFL Team Members are extremely responsive to any questions or enquiries. I would not hesitate to recommend LGFL to contacts, friends or family.”

- “The team is very dynamic and hardworking. The practice is run very efficiently with queries answered immediately. The team is very diligent in their approach to every case. They take the time to deal with every issues excellently and fully. Thoroughly recommend this firm to anyone with a family/children/divorce case.”

- “The team at this practice are one of those rare groups of people who, it is clear, individually care genuinely about their area of law.”

Fixed one hour consultation with LGFL

As a leading Firm in the Legal 500, we offer a 1 hour fixed fee initial consultation. You will have a full 60 minutes to discuss your particular circumstances in complete confidence, without feeling rushed or that you are running out of time.

- Call us

- Email us

- Request a consultation now

As a boutique law firm, we are always excited when the rankings for the Legal 500 and Chambers are announced in September and October each year.

About the Legal 500 UK and Chambers & Partners UK

The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners are guides to the best lawyers and law firms in the UK (and beyond). Both guides can award ranking to individuals and firms. These prestigious rankings are awarded after extensive and independent research by the guides during the previous 9 months. The guides' researchers interview professional colleagues and clients to assess each firm, and publish selections of unique feedback from those interviewed.

Chambers and Partners

The latest 2022 Chambers UK edition sees our Director-led boutique law firm retains its position as a Band 2 firm in Reading and surrounds for Family/Matrimonial law. Directors Anne Leiper and Rita Gupta retain their prized position as Band 3 Ranked Individuals

The guide describes LGFL as a:

"Boutique firm assisting clients with a broad range of family law issues. Acts on financial remedy matters, representing clients in both contentious and collaborative proceedings. Offers additional expertise in complex Children Act matters and abduction cases."

"A tenacious, robust and incredibly strategic team."

The Directors are described as:

 "Extremely meticulous in everything they do and their approach is client-orientated."

Anne Leiper is described as:

"A formidable lawyer. She is incredibly knowledgeable, particularly when it comes to family finance cases."

Rita is praised as she:

"Fights really hard for her clients. She's very engaged and active throughout a case ... Despite the ups and downs of the case she dealt with all manner of challenges, keeping a calm head and focusing on the best outcome."

Click to read the LGFL 2022 Chambers and Partners entry.

Once again, these guides and our rankings place LGFL and Directors Anne and Rita amongst the very best boutique law firms in the country.

Call us if you’d like to discuss your situation and how we might help.

In a flurry of activity, both the Legal 500 and Chambers issue their new 2020 editions in a two week period. It’s an exciting time for LGFL Ltd, as we’ve risen up in the rankings in Chambers and have a truly amazing write-up in the Legal 500.

What are the Legal 500 and Chambers guides?

Just to remind you, the Legal 500 UK and Chambers UK are guides to the best lawyers and law firms. Rankings can be awarded to both individuals and firms, and are based on extensive and independent research by the guides themselves. Researchers contacts colleagues and clients to assess us on various criteria, and get unique feedback from those whom we have worked with.

The Legal 500

The Legal 500 ranks firms in tiers according to their location, and individual lawyers by their status within their specialist areas. So, for the 2020 guide:

Chambers and Partners

Chambers ranks departments within a law firm in Bands within their location, and individual lawyers by their status within their specialist areas. It’s a bit confusing, as a lawyer and a firm can be in a Band, and a firm can be a Recognised Practitioner!

For the 2020 edition:

Firm

LGFL Ltd is ranked in Chambers and has risen from Band 3 to Band 2 in the specialist category of Family/Matrimonial for Reading and surrounds. The guide notes our expertise in ‘cases involving cross-border arrangements’, and ‘complex Children Act matters’.

Testimonials for the firm include:

"The partners have complementary skills and a great personal touch, making them easy to work with.”

Individuals

Anne Leiper maintains her position as a listed individual, whilst Rita Gupta rises to become a Recognised Practitioner.

These awards place LGFL and our Directors amongst the very best in the country, as the UK Legal 500 says ‘on (a) par with any of the top City family law firms’. As a director-led boutique family law firm, we are very proud to be ranked with the best of the best.

Call us if you’d like to discuss your situation and how we might help.