London and Leeds practices win top planning firm vote

City firm Berwin Leighton and Leeds-based solicitor Peter Wilbraham have been voted the country's top planning firm and lawyer respectively in an authoritative survey.The annual survey by Planning magazine saw City firm Berwin Leighton retain its top ranking in the league of law firms most highly rated by solicitors and planners.

But niche Leeds firm Wilbraham & Co moved up from fourth last year to second position, while senior partner Peter Wilbraham was voted the top individual.

They were followed by: Denton Wilde Sapte (third), Herbert Smith (fourth), and Ashurst Morris Crisp (fifth).

CMS Cameron McKenna moved up from 11th last year to sixth equal, Hammonds Suddards from 13th to ninth, and Norton Rose fell out of the top ten.Pat Thomas of SJ Berwin retained second position in the individual table, followed by Michael Gallimore of Lovells and Tony Kitson of Cameron McKenna, who both leapt from equal 12th position last year.Brian Greenwood of Norton Rose fell from second to fifth while Robert Jameson of Hertford firm Jameson & Hill rose from 18th to eighth.Mr Wilbraham said the results were 'a great achievement' for a firm only established six years ago.

Jeremy Fleming