Your Partners in Law
Recommendations
Knights Solicitors' performance is assessed annually by Chambers UK, partners, and the Legal 500, on the basis of feedback from clients, professional contacts, and other solicitors. A number of recommendations are detailed below:
Legal 500 - 2021
Knights is known in the South East for its litigation work on a broad spectrum of contentious matters regarding agriculture and estates, including environmental, real estate and rural sport issues. Practice leader Matthew Knight is an expert litigator in a wide range of matters, frequently working alongside Simon Bell. Jonathan Manser was promoted to partner in August 2019.
Knights has an 'excellent' local government offering and leverages its public law team to handle an assortment of matters for local authorities and political lobby groups. Jointly led by Tunbridge Wells-based pair Matthew Knight and Simon Bell, the practice has expertise across litigation, administrative law and real estate work and acts for clients in the agricultural sector.
Legal 500 - 2017
South East, Private client – Agriculture and Estates
Matthew Knight is listed in elite "Leading Lawyers" list, the Legal 500 United Kingdom 2017's guide to outstanding lawyers nationwide.
Matthew Knight is recommended in the Legal 500 United Kingdom 2017 editorial:
Knights has 'a good following amongst landowners in the South East and nationwide' and has 'a strong and tenacious commitment to the interest of the client'. Recent work includes representing two individuals in a dispute over a lapsed access to adjoining fields, and assisting several clients with planning, judicial review claims for listed buildings and development rights issues. The Principal Matthew Knight has achieved many successful outcomes thanks to his 'tough negotiating manner' and 'willingness to go the extra mile'.
Legal 500 - 2015
Leading Individual: Private Client, Agriculture and Estates - Matthew Knight
"Knights Solicitors is an excellent niche practice that understands the imperatives of the farming industry, and has an excellent understanding of animal welfare law. Matthew Knight is recommended."
Legal 500 - 2014
South East, Private client – Agriculture and Estates
We are fully recommended in seven practice areas. These include:
• Crime, Fraud, and Licensing - Crime - General - (Band 4)
• Insurance - Professional Negligence - (Band 2)
• Private Client - Agriculture and Estates - (Band 2)
• Real Estate - Environment - (Band 3)
• Real Estate - Planning - (Band 4)
• Real Estate - Property Litigation - (Band 3)
• TMT (Technology, Media, and Telecoms) - Sport - (Band 2)
A Recommended Firm
Knights Solicitors are recommended for Agriculture and Rural Affairs (Band 2). We are known for extensive work in a variety of fields including possession proceedings and freehold property disputes, heritage property concerns, and rural employment issues. Our team are also trusted to take care of public rights and planning appeals, as well as being experienced in regulatory concerns relating to firearms, food safety, and land management. Here are some comments on our strengths from impressed clients:
"They have a strong agricultural bench – they're very sound, have very good judgement, and are always on top of things."
"Head and shoulders above anyone in litigation."
"Matthew Knight continues to impress clients with his professionalism and leadership, both of the team and in the field."
"Thank you very much, we are very grateful to you and your team. We would have had to close the organisation down has it not been for everyone involved at Knights." - Trisha Young, Chief Executive Officer, Crossroads Care Slough
RECOGNISED PROFESSIONALS
Knights Solicitors is a niche, private client criminal firm with a recognised countryside law and wildlife crime practice. The strength of our Crime (Band 2) services has been documented by our clients:
"They provide a great sense of reassurance when dealing with them."
"They are responsive and available 24 hours a day."
"Richard Atkins is a key contact."
Respected Lawyers
As a nimble pair of senior lawyers, we advise professionals from the traditional sectors associated within the discipline of Professional Negligence (Band 2). We possess a growing specialism in litigation surrounding rural issues and veterinary professionals. Our Principal Matthew Knight, admired by peers for his knowledge in the field, has been described as a "fine lawyer".
Strong Recommendations
At Knights Solicitors, our clients fully recommend us for our impeccable services. Some of our testimonials include:
"The practice has a very good understanding of the rural community and the associated issues that are presented to it."
"Matthew Knight has a very sound understanding of the industry and the approaches that can be made to somewhat challenging and complex situations."
"Knights have a very in-depth knowledge of the shooting world. They were also very well informed and prepared for dealing with our problem. The team worked extremely well together and all members of staff were ready to help me on a daily basis and when it was coming towards the end on an hourly basis. To have this kind of strength from a team of people was superb."
"As I have mentioned before, we could not be happier with the service you gave us on the … case. I was over the moon with the ease that I was able to contact you by mobile, office, and letter."
"We had Simon Bell assigned to us. He sourced the best national expert in the related field on very short notice, they reassured us at every step of the way and explained our options in a generous manner. He was exceptional and I would certainly recommend him to others."
"The partner handling my affairs is Simon Bell. I have found him extremely attentive and quick to respond to new matters as they have arisen. I have experience with
many types of lawyers, property, construction, dispute etc but none have been as attentive as Simon Bell."
"Simon Bell is very well placed for judicial review claims against the government, after many years as a senior lawyer for the Government Legal Department defending some of the Government’s most high profile commercially oriented claims. He has taken all of that experience into his private practice, and has a spectacularly good understanding of how to litigate against the Government effectively and economically. Highly recommended."
"Knights acted with great skill and diligence, always available for immediate consultation on weekdays and weekends, often several times a day... Knights enjoys, and deserves, a high reputation in litigation."
"Absolutely excellent service and charges were very reasonable, very happy client, will definitely use Knights Solicitors again."
"Would recommend to friends and family. Service was excellent, they updated us well, and nothing could be improved upon. Generally excellent."
Affiliate Promotions
One of the reasons we are so thoroughly recommended is the limited free legal advice we deliver to members of our affiliate organisations. When you are part of one of the reputable associations we work alongside, we’ll gladly offer a 30-minute consultation via our legal helpline.