Legal firms in Cumbria are celebrating after their inclusion in a prestigious industry guide.

Napthens, Burnetts and Baines Wilson are named in the Legal 500, which assesses lawyers across the country.

It uses research, interviews with law firms and testimonials from clients to compile the list.

Eleven teams and 32 lawyers from Burnetts have made it into the guide, which the firm says, is more than any other Cumbrian firm.

Four of its teams – corporate and commercial, commercial litigation, education and real estate – have been awarded the highest top tier ranking, while other departments were recognised for their expertise.

Michael Walby, corporate partner, Joanne McKenzie, agribusiness partner and Simon Mortimer, family partner, were named as leading individuals.

Ten lawyers from the firm were also named in the guide for the first time:

Jonny Coulthard, contentious probate solicitor; Tim Boardman, wills, probate and trust associate solicitor; Spencer Knaggs, medical negligence and serious injury senior associate; Caroline Redhead, corporate partner; Melissa McManus, corporate and commercial associate solicitor; Michelle Armstrong, clinical injury associate solicitor; Paul Brown, personal injury associate; Abigail Clucas, property associate solicitor; Nigel Crebbin, employment partner and Anna Lovett, employment associate solicitor.

Partners in the firm also got a special mention and are highly regarded in the legal guide.

Nick Gutteridge, managing partner, said: “This latest recognition backs up our message that Burnetts is a leader in the North, and that we offer specialist advice to rival any of the firms in the major regional cities.”

Teams at regional law firm Napthens were also singled out for praise.

The corporate and commercial, commercial property, commercial litigation and rural teams were all ranked in the top tier of the guide for their work.

Head of corporate Keith Melling, corporate consultant Gareth McIntegart, Malcolm Ireland, head of leisure and licensing and head of rural Andrew Holden were named as leading individuals.

Staff named as rising stars at Napthens included David Carr, Andrew Holden, senior associate solicitor in the commercial litigation team and solicitor James Stocker.

Shru Morris, chief executive of Napthens, said: “It’s great to see the quality of our work continue to be recognised not just by the guide itself, but by the clients the publishers approach for feedback."

Meanwhile, Baines Wilson saw its corporate, commercial property, dispute resolution and litigation departments recognised as top tier and its employment team was also praised.

Sean Logue, head of partnership and commercial property specialist, was the only commercial property lawyer to be named as a leading individual.

Elizabeth Black, the firm’s head of dispute resolution and litigation, was named for the first time as a leading individual in the Carlisle area.

This is the first time Elizabeth has made this prestigious list and she is the only Cumbrian specialist in this area to be featured.

Mr Logue said: “To see our key practice areas recognised by this prestigious guide is a reflection of the excellent work carried out firm-wide and testament to the excellent results we achieve on behalf of clients.”

North West law firm Harrison Drury was also included.

John Chesworth, executive chairman at Harrison Drury, said: “The Legal 500 has gained almost mythical status over the last three decades and to be included in it is every aspiring lawyer’s dream.

“We’re very proud that both the firm and a number of our team have been included in this year’s Legal 500 in the North West.”

The firm’s solicitors Sean Gibbs, Nick Booth, James Robbins and Helen Griffin were recognised for their expertise in commercial litigation.

Commercial property lawyers Simon England, Naomi Fell, Owen McKenna and Mike Fetherstone and solicitors Eve Carter, Ed Stanley and Jan Wright were also recognised.