LAWYERS of York are united in their success.

No fewer than six law firms in the city appear in the latest Legal 500 report, the leading guide to the legal profession.

So many York firms are in the top ten per cent of practices in Britain that it is being regarded as national recognition of the city's growing reputation as a centre for professional excellence.

Professor Tony Robards, chairman of the newly-formed York Professional Initiative, said: "We are developing some outstanding science and technology-based businesses here and they need to be served by professional service providers of equal quality.

"The York Professional Initiative seeks to demonstrate that these services can increasingly be provided to the York community at a quality equivalent to that found anywhere else in the UK."

The Legal 500 report, launched in London on Thursday, features Harrowell Shaftoe which has four offices in York; Corries, which has three York offices and one in Glasgow; Pattinson Brewer, of York and London; Langleys of York and Lincoln; Rollitts of York and Hull; and Grays, which has one office in the city.

Specially singled out for their expertise by researchers were Ros Harwood, of Rollitts; Simon Black and Mark Tempest, of Harrowell Shaftoe; Jane Radcliffe, of Pattinson Brewer; and Christopher Goodway, of Grays.