THE licensing team at Harrison Clark Rickerbys has been named among only seven law firms shortlisted for one of the industry’s leading accolades.

It has been nominated in the regional firm category of the Legal 500 Awards.

Heath Thomas, head of licensing at HCR, which is based in High Street, Worcester, said: “We were absolutely delighted to be shortlisted. It’s a real testament to our dedication and expertise in this area. My colleague James Lowe and I have worked very closely together to develop our specialisms and this recognition is very welcome.”

The Legal 500 awards - backed by the Legal 500, the UK’s key guide to the legal profession - reward law firms and in-house teams equally, and bring the cream of the profession together. The awards are based on the opinions of 250,000 in-house lawyers and in-depth research conducted into law firms throughout the year.

The publication has also recognised the licensing team’s expertise in its rankings. The firm has been granted top-tier status in four practice areas: licensing; dispute resolution (commercial litigation); corporate and commercial, and family law. The guide also recommended the firm in 20 other practice areas, and 40 of the firm’s lawyers have been individually recommended. The guide ranks law firms for their expertise and performance and aims to help clients identify the best advisors for their needs. The listing is based on firms' achievements, the quality of their teams and customer feedback.

The Legal 500 rankings describe Mr Thomas as a "cutting-edge practitioner'" and Mr Lowe, who joined the team as a senior associate in April 2013, as an "expert in regulatory law who ‘works tirelessly and thinks laterally to find the most positive angle". The firm’s long list of clients includes, Frankie and Benny’s, Chiquito, Coast to Coast, Garfunkel’s, Aston Villa FC, Worcestershire County Cricket Club and Birmingham City Council as well as a host of independent operators.