The strength and depth of north Cumbria’s legal sector is underlined by the publication of the Legal 500 this week.

Carlisle law firms Baines Wilson, Burnetts, Butterworths and Cartmell Shepherd all appear in the annual directory, endorsed by the Law Society and famed for its accuracy and no-nonsense advice.

The volume lists the country’s top 500 law firms and is used by businesses to choose a solicitor with an expertise in a particular field.

It is also read avidly by lawyers to weigh up their rivals.

Baines Wilson, Burnetts and Cartmell Shepherd earn a mention in the corporate and commercial section.

Andrew Hill and the "highly regarded" John Wilson at Baines Wilson, Nick Hodgson at Cartmell Shepherd, and John Noctor, Michael Walby and Vaughan Jones at Burnetts are singled out for praise.

The year saw Mr Noctor advise Carlisle Leisure on its merger with GLL of London. 

The same three firms are recommended for commercial litigation.

Specifically Isobel Milburn at Baines Wilson, Peter Stafford at Cartmell Shepherd, and at Burnetts Patricia Hall, James Johnston and Sian Spencer "who has strong real estate litigation credentials".

In employment law, the guide picks out Kuba Strycharczyk, John Morris and Joanne Stronach at Burnetts, and Natalie Ruane for her expertise in the education sector. 

The "personal, efficient and prompt" Joanne Holborn at Baines Wilson also earns a mention, as does her colleague Tom Scaife for his "extensive employment law knowledge" .

Burnetts' Vicki Jagger and Victoria Watson are the sole Cumbrian entries under clinical negligence.

But Butterworths and Cartmell Shepherd both appear for personal injury claims.

The Legal 500 praises the "well-run team" at Butterworths, which is "highly competent for all types of cases, right up to those of the utmost severity". 

Andrew Kirkpatrick is a "standout litigator" and Jonathan Ditchburn is also recommended.

Carol Fish and Deborah Helen Flynn are picked out at Cartmell Shepherd.

Burnetts' Patricia Hall is recommended for professional negligence claims against solicitors.

Cartmell Shepherd has long figured in the Legal 500 for its expertise in agriculture and estates law. This year’s entry singles out department head Jonathan Carroll. 

Burnetts also figures for its expertise in the sale and purchase of farms, renewable energy projects, banking work, agricultural property issues and tenancies.

Practice head Richard Miller negotiated the sale of three agricultural tenancies to allow the development of Carlisle Airport. 

Simon Mortimer at Burnetts and Julian Nelson at Cartmell Shepherd are recommended under family law, and Joanna Jeeves' "sizeable team" at Cartmell Shepherd for personal tax, trusts and probate. 

Burnetts is listed under education where Joanne Stronach, Natalie Ruane and John Morris are mentioned, the latter described as an "exceptional employment lawyer and excellent on governance issues". 

For commercial property, Baines Wilson's "excellent team" headed by Sean Logue is "very knowlegeable". 

Burnetts' Tony Lake, Tracy Ellison and Robbie Mather acted for an £18.7m development in Cockermouth and the redevelopment of Dearham Academy. 

Meanwhile Cartmell Shepherd's team, led by Mike Little, was strengthened by the arrival of agri-property specialist Mark Jackson.