Business Details
Trusted Legal Services for Businesses and Individuals
Napthens is an award-winning independent law firm dedicated to delivering tailored legal solutions for businesses and individuals. With 25 partners and over 300 colleagues, we operate from offices in Preston, Liverpool, Blackburn, Kendal, Lytham, and Southport. Our collaborative approach prioritises understanding client needs, challenges, and aspirations to provide strategic legal support. We specialise in corporate law, commercial litigation, property, and private client services, combining sector-specific expertise with a commitment to excellence. Recognised in the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners, our team includes specialists in family law, probate, and rural affairs.We maintain strong ties with local communities and uphold values of trust, transparency, and inclusivity. Our client promises ensure clear communication, timely advice, and ethical standards. With a history of growth and innovation, we support clients through business and life transitions, from property purchases to succession planning. Our digital accessibility initiatives and office locations across the North West reflect our dedication to serving diverse client needs. As a regulated firm, we adhere to the highest professional standards set by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Services
Corporate Law
Commercial Litigation
Wills and Probate
Residential Conveyancing
Family Law
Employment Law
Rural Property
Intellectual Property
Dispute Resolution
Estate Planning
Highlights and features
- We have 25 partners and over 300 legal professionals with sector-specific expertise.
- Our offices across the North West provide accessible, locally informed legal support.
- Recognised in Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners for excellence in key practice areas.
- We maintain Solicitors Regulation Authority accreditation for professional standards.
- Client promises ensure transparent communication and timely, practical legal advice.
Associations and certifications
- Solicitors Regulation Authority
- Companies House
Services
Corporate Law
Our corporate law team advises on business formations, mergers, acquisitions, and governance. We support companies through all stages of growth with tailored legal strategies. Our expertise includes shareholder agreements, joint ventures, and regulatory compliance, ensuring businesses operate effectively and securely.
Commercial Litigation
We handle complex commercial disputes including contract breaches, debt recovery, and professional negligence claims. Our approach prioritises early resolution while preparing robust litigation strategies. Clients benefit from cost-effective solutions and experienced representation in court proceedings across the North West.
Residential Conveyancing
Specialising in residential property transactions, we manage purchases, sales, and remortgages with clear communication. Our conveyancing team ensures smooth processes for first-time buyers and investors, handling leasehold/freehold transfers and new build acquisitions efficiently.
Wills and Probate
We provide comprehensive wills, trusts, and probate services to protect assets and manage estates. Our specialists advise on inheritance tax planning, lasting powers of attorney, and contentious probate matters, ensuring client wishes are legally documented and executed.
Family Law
Our family law team handles divorce, financial settlements, and child custody arrangements. Recognised in Legal 500, we offer empathetic support for cohabitation disputes and pre-nuptial agreements, prioritising client well-being while achieving legally sound outcomes.
People
Matthew Taylor
Partner and Head of Family
Specialist in divorce finance and cohabitation cases, ranked in Legal 500. Former Stowe Family Law Liverpool office founder with media commentary experience on family law issues.
Stephen Mackellar
Senior Associate Solicitor
Expert in wills, trusts, and probate for high net worth individuals. Recognised in Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners for private wealth law expertise.
Helen Lucking
Partner
Head of family law team with strategic leadership in expanding Liverpool practice. Provides specialist support for complex family law matters and team development.
Andrew Holden
Partner, Head of Rural
Specialises in rural property and agricultural law across Kendal and Blackburn offices. Provides strategic legal advice for landowners and farming businesses.
Farida Isaji
Head of Wills, Trusts and Probate
Leads probate and estate planning team with focus on complex inheritance matters. Expands Liverpool office services for high net worth client base.
Questions
What areas of law does Napthens specialise in?
We specialise in corporate law, commercial litigation, residential conveyancing, family law, wills and probate, and rural property matters across the North West.
Are your legal services available outside the North West?
While our offices serve the North West, we provide legal support to clients nationwide through digital communication and strategic partnerships.
How does Napthens handle probate and estate administration?
Our specialist probate team manages estate administration, inheritance tax planning, and contentious probate cases with sensitivity and legal expertise.
Can you assist with commercial property transactions?
Yes, our commercial property team handles acquisitions, disposals, leases, and development projects for businesses across various sectors.
What makes Napthens different from other law firms?
Our collaborative approach combines 25 partners' expertise with local knowledge, delivering client-focused solutions while maintaining national accreditations like Legal 500 recognition.
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Reviews (6)
Joanne Moxham
Dec 21, 2021
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Critical: Professionalism An excellent Will writing service has been completely overshadowed. After 10 months of waiting Lasting Power of Attorney is not in place and communication is incredibly poor.
Rebecca Davis
Jun 18, 2021
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Absolute shambles! 6 months to complete on a sale! We were passed around through 5 different conveyancers! We had one who essentially told us we were going to lose our new house as they couldn't get our sale through in time. We were told "I have my own clients to deal with" as we were paying the company for a service I would assume we were their clients! They seem to forget that you are paying them for a service it's not a favour!
Towards the end I pointed out how long it had taken for our sale, in response I was told "would you rather nobody deal with your file" it felt like nobody was dealing with our file anyways! The communications through the whole process had been extremely thin, if it wasn't for our estate agent I fear our sale may not have completed at all!
Towards the end I pointed out how long it had taken for our sale, in response I was told "would you rather nobody deal with your file" it felt like nobody was dealing with our file anyways! The communications through the whole process had been extremely thin, if it wasn't for our estate agent I fear our sale may not have completed at all!
Jimmy Barry
Feb 20, 2021
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Very bad experience they over charge you amounts of money for silly stuff and are always trying to deal with other clients that are moving quickly in the Sales i am constantly chasing them costing me time and money
Emma Morris
Feb 19, 2021
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The service we received the whole way through was absolutely dreadful. We lost a significant amount of time and money due to the lack of both correspondences and effort on their side. On almost all the occasions of dealing with the solicitor we were always made to feel like they were doing us a favour and we were told they were basically too busy to even deal with our case. We asked our solicitor to provide updates on the vendor's onward purchase to understand where we were in the chain, to which we got told by Napthens that the response they had was "satisfactory" - however, they failed to mention these responses were in fact that the onward chain hadn't even started and as a result we lost a significant amount of money on searches and fees and also around 4/5 months of time. In the end our onward property fell through and we were left with a big bill and back at square one.
Doug Smith
Dec 15, 2020
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Martin Long was Captain of the ship and steered us through an arduous voyage in some very rough seas. A difficult sale through an extended and turbulent economic period he ensured things were calm when they needed to be and enthused us with great confidence when it mattered. Sally Calvert for the onward purchase was marvellous especially given the difficulties that Covid-19 threw our way. Really happy with the final bill and the service.
Elizabeth Sutton
Apr 23, 2020
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Shannon Thompson has been an excellent support during our house purchase. As a result of her approach and good customer service I placed a house sale with Napthens as well. Very happy with her work.
