Cumbria’s top-level rankings in the prestigious Legal 500 has been described as “outstanding”.

Peter Stafford, managing director of Cartmell Shepherd, said the multiple inclusions for his firm, Baines Wilson and Burnetts, in the Who’s Who of the legal industry showed a strength and depth in the county that can rival counterparts in the big cities.

Law firms are included in the annual legal index on merit alone, and the rankings are the culmination of research and interviews with law firms and their clients.

“There is a bigger picture here and I believe the focus should be on the county as a whole,” he said.

“Cumbria has a vibrant, professional and high-achieving legal sector which across many sectors, equals the services offered by big city firms. As a collective professional services industry, we should be celebrating what we have achieved in the Legal 500, and what that means for the clients we advise and represent every day.”

Mr Stafford himself was one of the 16 members of the firm to be recognised in the guide, with another, Mark Jackson, receiving the next-generation lawyer an accolade for individuals thought to be future leaders in their field.

Cartmell Shepherd was also recognised across nine areas of law, ranging from commercial and HR to property and probate.

Sean Logue, head of commercial property at Carlisle-based Baines Wilson, was the only Cumbrian lawyer to appear in the “Leading Individuals” list of outstanding lawyers in the North.

The firm – described as “one of the best in the Carlisle and Cumbria area” – saw its corporate and commercial, commercial property and dispute resolution teams placed in the top tiers.

Partner Joanne Holborn said: “To have four teams recognised and 11 lawyers highly recommended, plus Sean recognised as an outstanding individual is fantastic and a testament to the excellent results achieved by everyone at Baines Wilson on behalf of clients.”

A total of 24 lawyers at Burnetts were recognised. They included Tracy Stainton – a specialist in wills, trusts and probate who re-joined the firm in 2012 to lead the development of the West Cumbrian office – along with Lynne Hall and Jayne McCluskey, who both specialise in medical negligence.

The firm’s corporate and commercial, commercial litigation, commercial property, and education teams also achieved the highest ranking for their specialisms.

Managing partner Nick Gutteridge said: “Clients rightly demand accessibility and responsiveness and a lawyer that will go the extra mile for them. We’re extremely grateful to the clients who took part in the Legal 500 research and shared their positive experiences of Burnetts.”

There was also praise for Napthens, with its corporate and commercial, rural, leisure and licensing, litigation and dispute resolution and commercial property teams all selected in the top tier. There was also praise for individual lawyers, including the firm’s head of wills and estate planning, Kathryn Harwood.