Slater Heelis celebrates continued success with Chambers Rankings announcement

Three teams have been recognised in the rankings with the firm’s family division leading the way having bolstered its position to a Band 1 ranking for the first time, with five of its team now also recognised individually for their outstanding performance. 

Family partner, Charlotte Beck, is ranked for the first time while fellow family partner, Phillip Rhodes, has climbed to Band 2. 

Partner and head of the family team, Mark Heptinstall said: “We are incredibly proud of our achievements and to have this recognised with a solid Band 1 ranking is testament to every member of the team who work tirelessly for their clients and with unwavering support for each other.” 

Slater Heelis’ Crime team has made an explosive entrance with their first submission appearing straight in at Band 2, with partner and head of crime, Rachel Fletcher, also making her list debut in the top Band 1 recognition; a huge coup for Rachel who only set up the team in 2019.  

Rachel said: “To enter as Band 1 with my first submission is very humbling and is an incredible honour; and for the team to be recognised with Band 2 after just four years is a fantastic accomplishment.  With so much competition in this area of law, to be recognised for our continued achievements and the positive outcomes we get for our clients makes me fiercely proud.” 

Rachel has unrivalled results for her clients with 100% success rate of cases reaching Crown Court trial and her acquittal rates at Magistrate Court is also significantly higher than competitors.  

Commenting on the announcement, managing partner of Slater Heelis, Chris Bishop, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled with the results of this year’s Chamber Rankings. Our teams work incredibly hard day in, day out and so to receive such prestigious recognition for their efforts is a real career and company highlight and testament to their individual and collective efforts.”  

This year’s Chamber Rankings also saw two of the firm’s employment associates, Helen Harradine and Sally Tomlinson ranked as ‘associates to watch’, in their first submission which is in recognition of their work in the background of major deals and its construction consultant solicitor, Ken Salmon, retain his ‘senior statesperson’ title for the ninth year in a row.  

2023 marks 250 years in business for Slater Heelis and has seen the firm reach the major milestone of 250 employees and launch ‘The Academy’ - an in-house centre of excellence offering a range of learning and development opportunities via both legal and non-legal pathways for all of its employees.  

Chris continued: “At Slater Heelis we always pride ourselves on our people first approach and now more than ever we are investing in the best talent, the best training and creating the best workplace for our team to thrive in. All of this is then reflected in the happiness of our clients, the increased demand for our business and these all-important rankings that recognize true excellence in our field.  

“I want to take the opportunity to thank every member of the firm for their continued commitment, it’s amazing what the company has achieved in 250 years and I for one feel incredibly excited for the future of Slater Heelis.”