What the Legal 500 said and where the firms stand:

DICKINSON DEES is the region's largest law firm, with expertise in more than 30 practice areas.

The firm has seen rapid growth in its national workload in areas such as pensions, private finance initiative (PFI), local government and corporate finance.

New client wins include J Sainsbury, Monstermob Group and Croydon Borough Council.

EVERSHEDS LLP offers expertise in a broad range of practice areas, including corporate and commercial, shipping, commercial litigation, clinical negligence and employment.

It is a national firm, but works in purely regional teams and offers a regional focus and expertise to national teams.

WARD HADAWAY has wide expertise and is increasingly active in PFI projects.

Despite axeing its corporate finance advisory service, its commercial department had a strong 2004, particularly in private equity deals.

The arrival of Ralph Wrighton from Eversheds was described as a major coup and he now leads the construction department.

ROBERT MUCKLE provides corporate and commercial advice, mainly to small and medium-sized businesses and owner-managed businesses.

It also has expertise in commercial litigation, employment and commercial property. Legal 500 editors praised the leadership of the youthful and dynamic Stephen McNicol, and the firm's good legal education for its trainees.

WATSON BURTON was described as an ambitious and progressive law firm with dramatic turnover growth. The firm recently opened an office in Leeds to give it a broader reach, concentrating on banking, insolvency and corporate work.

HAY & KILNER's 2003 merger with Wallers has enabled the firm to offer a highly streamlined and efficient service. Owner-managed businesses remain the lifeblood of the firm.

CRUTES law firm continues to expand its reach in the region and the merger with Teesside firm Doberman Horsman - to create Dobermans (A Division of Crutes) has helped it broaden its services to include claimant personal injury and immigration advice.

MINCOFFS Solicitors' commercial property team continues to excel, Legal 500 editors said. It was involved in more than 200 transactions last year, with a total value of £300m.

SINTONS, which recently moved to offices opposite St James' Park, had its personal injury department singled out for praise by editors, as was its corporate, property and family divisions.

BLACKETT HART & PRATT has a good reputation for corporate, dispute resolution and commercial property, The Legal 500 said.

With offices in Newcastle, Darlington and Durham, it has a substantial reach in the region.

Claimant personal injury firm BROWELL SMITH & CO was also commended for its immigration and employment work.

IRWIN MITCHELL set up an office in Newcastle in 2002 and is making inroads in claimant work in clinical negligence and personal injury.

SAMUEL PHILLIPS was praised for its senior partner Barry Speker, who has a high profile and strong local connections.

SHORT RICHARDSON & FORTH is excellent in employment work, with partner Michael Short being described as a practitioner of outstanding ability.

DAVID GRAY's family work and immigration law was praised

THOMPSONS offers expert advice, predominantly to trade unions, in claimant insurance cases and employment matters.

Tees Valley: JACKSONS COMMERCIAL AND PRIVATE LAW LKLP offers a high quality service in commercial and private client work. The firm has a more focused team since it was divided from the insurance group in 2003, which went on to merge with Berrymans Lace Mawer.

TILLY BAILEY & IRVINE, with its head office in Hartlepool, provides commercial and corporate advice. Its Tees Valley office is gaining local recognition among the business community as a firm that offers a first class service.

THE ENDEAVOUR PARTNERSHIP, which offers a purely commercial service, has established a reputation of offering good quality advice to Teesside businesses.

ARCHERS LAW, known predominantly for its personal injury work, was recently rebranded and incorporated as a Limited Liability Practice (LLP) - changes that have brought new vitality to the firm.