Latest Legal 500 list praises city centre practice for its expertise in complex fraud and general crime. Tony McDonough reports.

Liverpool law firm MSB solicitors has been singled out for praise for its work on fraud and crime in Britain’s top guide to the legal profession.

The Legal 500, which every year highlights the best of the UK’s law firms and lawyers, has placed the city centre-based practice in the top tier in the North West for its work on financial crime – the only one in Liverpool to get into the top bracket.

MSB was also praised for its general crime work, being placed in the second tier of firms in the region and making it the highest-ranked crime firm in the city.

It follows on from last year’s Legal 500 in which MSB partner Sean Sexton was described as a ‘powerhouse’ for his work in complex fraud cases.

This year’s Legal 500 states: “MSB Solicitors adopts a ‘very hands-on approach’. Team head Sean Sexton is praised for ‘always having a firm grasp of difficult issues.

“The team regularly defends the most complex fraud cases and is noted for its ‘compassionate understanding of clients’ needs, which is essential in protracted fraud cases.”

Of MSB’s work on general crime, the Legal 500 adds: “MSB Solicitors has a team of ‘bright and hardworking lawyers’ under the leadership of the ‘razor-sharp’ Sean Sexton.

“The team advises on all facets of criminal law.”

Mr Sexton said: “It is very pleasing to have been ranked number one firm for crime in Liverpool – the city in which we were founded, have grown and continue to operate today.

“Over the years, we have appointed a number of first rate lawyers to our team and these rankings are testament to their collective hard work and the quality of support and expertise we are able to offer to all our clients.”

Mr Sexton has long been recognised as a trailblazer in the legal world, earning renown for his work both in Liverpool and across the UK.

Early in his career he was dubbed the ‘loophole lawyer’ by the national media when he successfully argued that the standard wording used in many drink driving cases was flawed.

He was also among the first solicitor advocates to address the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg when he made submissions as to the rights of victims on behalf of Denise Fergus, the mother of murdered toddler James Bulger.

Sean’s speciality is defending people charged with serious fraud.