FAQs

Below are the legal practice area definitions and regional variations used by Chambers to rank lawyers and law firms in the UK Guide.

Please note that the term “section” refers to a practice area that constitutes a chapter heading in the Chambers UK guide. A “subtable” is a specific table of rankings that exist within a section. Both terms are used throughout these definitions.

Administrative & Public Law    

Firms are ranked for their representation of ‘Mainly Commercial’ clients, ‘Mainly Public Sector & Charities’ clients and ‘Traditional Claimant’ clients. The claimant table highlights firms who represent individuals and organisations in public law challenges that are not privately funded. Firms can be listed in more than one of these sections.   

Individuals are recognised either under the main Administrative & Public Law ranking table or the Administrative & Public Law: Traditional Claimant table.   

Related sections: Civil Liberties & Human Rights, Local Government, Parliamentary & Public Affairs   

Agriculture & Rural Affairs  

This section ranks law firms and lawyers that specialise in advising landowners, farmers and other rural businesses on relevant legal issues, including property matters, estate management and niche areas such as equine and bloodstock law.   

Related sections: Private Wealth Law (in the HNW guide), Real Estate, Real Estate Litigation   

Art and Cultural Property  

This section covers a wide range of contentious and non-contentious work where art or other cultural property is the subject matter, and matters relating more generally to the art world. Work for collectors, dealers, auction houses, museums and galleries is included. Chambers also considers work for artists and their estates.   

Asset Finance    

This section covers lawyers who advise on finance linked to the purchase or construction of a distinct asset or set of assets (typically ships, aircraft or rolling stock).    

Firms and individuals are ranked under the three tables: Aviation Finance, Rail Finance and Shipping Finance. Firms can provide a separate submission and referee spreadsheet to each table.   

Aviation Finance: This table focuses on firms and individuals acting for clients such as leasing companies, banks, airlines and other financial institutions. This section covers financing, including ECA’s, EETC’s and government-supported financings. It includes bankruptcy, operating leases, including JOLCOs, as well as financing of commercial aircrafts, corporate jets and helicopters.     

Rail Finance: This table recognises firms and individuals representing clients such as rolling stock lessors, banks and train operating companies. Work in this section spans rolling stock financing deals for ROSCOs, rolling stock franchising, train procurement and leasing structures.    

Shipping Finance: This table ranks firms and individuals acting on behalf of shipyards, owners, operators and financial institutions. The work in this section covers financing structure, including asset sales, structured securitisations, and sale and leasebacks. It also includes operational and technical issues. Areas of expertise include offshore, yacht, cruise and LNG sectors.   

Related sections: Aviation, Banking & Finance, Shipping, Transport    

Aviation   

This section covers a broad range of work carried out by lawyers for clients in aviation and related industries. Specialists in this sector are ranked across the tables below:   

Insurance: Covers all insurance coverage disputes concerning the aviation industry.   

Regulatory: Covers lawyers with specialist expertise concerning the regulation of the aviation industry including proceedings involving the European Commission, UK Civil Aviation Authority, UK Office of Fair Trading and ABTA.    

Dispute Resolution: Covers non-insurance related disputes concerning the activities of aviation sector entities.   

Claimant: Covers lawyers who assist victims and their families in claims arising from both commercial and non-commercial aviation accidents.    

Related sections: Asset Finance, Travel, Commercial and Corporate Litigation, Insurance   

Banking & Finance   

This section covers advice provided to borrowers, sponsors and lenders (both traditional banks and private credit). Chambers UK considers a broad array of banking work for its purposes, with areas looked at including acquisition finance, syndicated lending, leveraged finance, ESG-linked financing, private credit, Islamic finance and refinancing. Outside of London, we will also consider Real Estate Finance work (London has a dedicated Real Estate Finance table).   

In London, firms are ranked in Lower Mid-Market, Mid-Market or Big-Ticket tables for their work for Borrowers and Lenders (A deal with a value of up to £99 million will be considered lower mid-market, a deal with a value between £100 - £499 million will be considered mid-market and any deal £500 million or above will be considered big-ticket). Additionally, there is a spotlight table that recognises individuals who specialise in Islamic Finance. 
We also recognise firms in a Fund Finance table. Here we rank law firms that represent both fund borrowers and lenders on fund finance transactions. Ranked firms will typically advise on subscription, asset-based, NAV-based and hybrid facilities, among other areas. 

The Banking & Finance tables do not cover Asset Finance, Restructuring & Insolvency, Capital Markets, or Financial Services work as these are covered by other sections. Furthermore, we won’t consider any contentious work as this is covered by a Banking Litigation table.  
Related sections: Asset Finance, Banking Litigation, Capital Markets, Financial Services, Real Estate Finance, Restructuring/Insolvency   

Banking Litigation  

This section principally focuses on litigation related to commercial banking activities. Types of matters include claims for the mis-selling of financial products, professional negligence, breaches of warranty, civil fraud and matters arising out of bank failures and state bailouts. All work should be on behalf of banks and other financial institutions, not individuals. For example, the defence of negligence claims against individual bank employees or financial advisers should be submitted to Professional Negligence.   

Our UK-wide section includes a 'Mainly Claimant' table, which highlights those firms that focus primarily on bringing claims against banks on behalf of individuals and companies. For both this and the main table you will still submit under the main heading of Banking Litigation.   

Regulatory investigations and enforcement in the banking sector may be included here however please note we have a separate Financial Services section for this as well. Work regarding sanctions can either be submitted to Financial Services or to the Sanctions table, please do not include it here.   

Related sections: Financial Crime, Financial Services, Fraud: Civil, Professional Negligence, Sanctions   

Capital Markets  

This section covers advice on the raising of funds on the capital markets. Our coverage is subdivided due to the UK market's high degree of specialisation. Firms can provide a submission for each of the following:   

  
Capital Markets: Equity: In these sections we recognise teams that assist clients in the raising of equity capital. Advice on Main Market IPOs is highly rated but we also consider rights issues, private placements or IPOs on foreign exchanges. Firms may also advise on SPAC IPOs (Advice on acquisitions should be included on a Corp/M&A submission). Clients include corporate issuers and investment banks.    

We don’t consider advice on AIM listings in this table and work of that type should be included on a Capital Markets: AIM submission. Similarly, we won’t consider work relating to listed funds as this is covered elsewhere.   

  
Capital Markets: AIM: This table features firms which advise on listing on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange. We favour work on AIM IPOs, but will also consider other listings. M&A work involving AIM listed companies should not be included on a submission to this section.    

  
Capital Markets: Debt: In this section we recognise teams that assists clients with matters relating to the issuance of investment-grade debt. Common types of work include stand alone corporate and sovereign bond issuances, debt programmes, green bonds, liability management and equity linked bonds. Work for underwriting banks and corporate and sovereign issuers is favoured, however we also accept work for trustees. Work relating to high yield bonds should be submitted to that practice area and won’t be considered here.   

  
Capital Markets: High Yield Bonds: This section covers advice on a full range of issues relating to non-investment grade bonds. Firms can act for sponsors, issuers or investment banks. Work can include stand alone issuances, sustainability-linked or green issuances, or issuances in the context of wider financings.   

Work relating to investment grade issuances won’t be considered here.   

   
Capital Markets: Structured Products: Encompasses wide range of deal types including repackagings, synthetic securitisations and risk transfer.   
  
Capital Markets: Derivatives: Includes regulatory and transactional legal advice regarding derivatives products such as: exchange-traded derivatives, OTC derivatives, securitised derivatives, interest rate, currency, equity, credit and commodity-linked products. Law firms advise on product development and regulation, structuring and documentation of transactions, related tax issues and derivatives litigation. Work involving derivatives related to physical commodities isn’t considered here.   

    
Capital Markets: Securitisation: Covers the entire range of asset classes, including residential and commercial mortgages, consumer loans, auto-loans and receivables. We also consider whole business securitisations and covered bonds. CLO work should also be included on a securitisation submission, for consideration in the CLO table.   

Related sections: Banking & Finance, Commodities, Energy & Natural Resources, Investment Funds, Private Equity, Tax   

Charities  

 
This section ranks law firms and lawyers who advise third sector clients on all types of contentious and non-contentious matters, ranging from sector-specific advice on constitutional and governance issues or public benefit requirements, to more general advice on corporate, property, employment and tax issues.  

The separate Legacy Disputes table recognises those who represent charities in disputes surrounding legacies left in a will. Please note, we do not accept work on behalf of individuals challenging legacies as this is covered in Private Wealth Disputes, a section in our High Net Worth guide.   

Civil Liberties & Human Rights   

This section covers issues relating to the Human Rights Act 1998 and the European Convention on Human Rights. It includes a Prison Law table, which highlights firms that specialise in prisoners' rights. The section also includes an International Human Rights table that recognises lawyers and law firms who represent claimants on human rights issues.   

Related sections: Administrative & Public Law, Immigration, Police Law   

Clinical Negligence  

This section covers claims for negligent acts committed by professionals working in the healthcare or pharmaceutical sectors. These cases usually arise from allegations that the defendant(s) did not follow accepted industry practices, leading to injury or death to the patient or claimant.  

Firms that represent defendants, including insurers, employers and medical professionals, are ranked on a UK-wide basis in our Mainly Defendant table. Firms that act for individuals, or groups of individuals, bringing claims are ranked on a regional basis in our Mainly Claimant tables.  

For claims related to faulty medical device or pharmaceutical products, please see the Product Liability and Life Sciences sections.  

Related sections: Court of Protection, Insurance, Life Sciences, Personal Injury, Professional Discipline.   

Commercial and Corporate Litigation  

This section ranks firms and lawyers advising businesses, high net worth individuals and other non-public sector entities on contractual litigation and other disputes related to commercial agreements. It also covers corporate litigation, including post-M&A disputes, corporate control issues, joint venture disputes and shareholder disputes. This section focuses on courtroom litigation, rather than alternative dispute resolution methods like mediation and arbitration.   

Contentious work that is well-catered for by other sections of the UK Solicitors guide should not be submitted here. This includes regulatory investigations or enforcement actions, such as those matters covered in the Competition Law, Financial Services, Health & Safety or Professional Discipline sections. It also does not cover public law work, such as those matters covered in the Administrative & Public Law, Civil Liberties & Human Rights, Local Government or Public Procurement sections.   

Criminal investigations and prosecutions should not be submitted, nor should private client work including contentious probate cases. In essence, all matters should have at their core a civil dispute over a commercial agreement or a corporate transaction/relationship.   

Other areas given less weight here include civil fraud, banking litigation, real estate litigation, contentious insolvency and tax disputes. International arbitration is covered extensively elsewhere and should also not be submitted.   

This is a London only section. For similar work in other parts of the UK, please submit to our regional Litigation sections.   

Related sections: Banking Litigation, Fraud: Civil, Group Litigation: Claimant, International Arbitration, Litigation   

Commercial Contracts  

This section covers practices that assist clients with agreements relating to the establishment and development of commercial activities between non-public sector entities. It primarily looks at co-operation agreements to carry out commercial activities, including ongoing supply, agency, distribution or manufacturing agreements relating to trading activities and commercial strategies, as well as joint ventures. Such agreements can be either domestic or cross-border in nature.   

Please note that IT services and IT-driven outsourcing contracts are considered separately under Information Technology & Outsourcing. However, outsourcing arrangements that are not IT-driven, such as legal services, property and maintenance, and other business process contracting arrangements are considered here. Supply and service agreements involving public sector bodies are considered separately in Public Procurement.   

Related Sections: Franchising, Hotels & Leisure, Information Technology & Outsourcing, Public Procurement   

Commodities   

This section covers the regulation and trade of commodities, and any related litigation. It does not typically include investing in a company that will eventually produce a commodity (eg investing in a coal mine) unless a clear link to commodities trading can be demonstrated. It is split into three tables:  

Derivatives & Energy Trading: This covers advice on commodities derivatives transactions and regulations, including trading relating to energy units such as electricity, gas, coal and oil.   

Trade Finance: This covers prepayment financing, receivables, structured commodity finance and export credit financing.   

Physicals: This covers disputes concerning the direct trade in commodities and related matters. Practitioners advise on a range of both 'soft' and 'hard' commodities, from cash crops to coal, metals, oil and gas. Typical clients include commodities trading houses, export credit agencies, financial institutions, freighters and insurers.  

We accept submissions to each of these three sections. 

Related sections: Capital Markets, Energy & Natural Resources, Insurance, Shipping    

Competition  

This section encompasses contentious and non-contentious matters arising under EU, domestic and international competition law, including cartels, abuse of a dominant market position, state aid and merger control. In London there are separate ranking tables for Competition Litigation and for Private Enforcement: Claimant.  

Please note that criminal cartel defence is considered under Financial Crime and public procurement work is considered under Public Procurement.   

Related sections: Corporate/M&A, Financial Crime, Group Litigation: Claimant, Public Procurement   

Construction   

Our construction sections cover legal advice provided to a range of industry clients, including both suppliers, such as developers, contractors, engineers and architects, and purchasers employing these types of companies.     

Firms are welcome to showcase both non-contentious and contentious matters. Non-contentious work can include contract negotiations and procurement strategy. Contentious matters we look for include claims arising from defects, such as cladding and fire safety disputes, delays and terminated contracts. We also consider development work here. We’re looking for firms and individuals who advise on the construction aspects of these developments, which can include single commercial blocks, as well as multi-building residential developments.    

Real Estate work, including land acquisition, option agreements and the sale of developments should be submitted to Real Estate. Planning work, including planning applications for the developments, should be submitted to Planning.    

Alongside our regional construction tables, we also recognise firms and lawyers in London in four separate ranking tables, focusing on contentious, non-contentious, international arbitration and professional negligence work within the construction space. 

We accept submissions to the Contentious, Non-contentious and Professional Negligence sub-sections. Firms and lawyers wishing to be considered for our dedicated International Arbitration sub-section should include this work on the Contentious submission.

Related sections: Environment, International Arbitration, Planning, Projects, Real Estate, Professional Negligence  

Consumer Finance  

The Consumer Finance section recognises firms and lawyers who advise clients that provide credit for personal or household use. Often, this will involve advice on regulatory or compliance issues relating to credit cards, business loans, personal loans, overdrafts, mortgages, point of sale financing, motor financing, hire purchase, buy now pay later products and peer to peer lending. It can also include transactional or disputes work involving consumer finance clients. Typical clients include banks, fintech companies, leasing companies, motor finance providers and mortgage providers.   

Related sections: Banking Litigation, Financial Services, Retail   

Corporate Crime and Investigations  

This section was formerly called Financial Crime: Corporates. Please see the practice area definition under Financial Crime below.  

Corporate/M&A  

This section covers both public and private company transactions. Typically, the most prestigious work here will involve advising the buyer or seller on an acquisition. Advising either of the main parties on a merger is considered strong work. Throughout, the size and complexity of the deal will be relevant. Advising parties that are not the buyer or a seller on a deal (eg advising the financial adviser) can be relevant, but generally not as desirable as advising the key parties. Advising a lender on a transaction is generally not considered here, and should instead be included on a Banking & Finance submission.  

Other forms of corporate work considered here include share acquisitions, dispositions, capitalisations, entity selection and formation, operating and partnership agreements, and governance matters. Takeover defence work is also welcome here. 

Some tables will have a monetary value attached to them, such as £100-800 million. In those tables the bulk of the best work demonstrated by these firms will fall into that range, but it is not necessary for all of it to. Some examples of work that falls below the range, yet are still complicated or interesting, are accepted. It is also expected that some firms ranked in a lower range will have a small number of outlying deals in the higher range. The research team will place each firm in the table that is most appropriate for it.  

Related sections: Capital Markets, Investment Funds, Private Equity, Partnership, Tax   

Court of Protection  

This section covers proceedings brought in the Court of Protection concerning individuals who are considered to have lost the capacity to make their own decisions according to the Mental Capacity Act. 

Work may relate to either the management of an individual's property and financial affairs, or to consideration of their health and welfare, via those with Lasting Power of Attorney, Enduring Power of Attorney, or an individual appointed by the Court as a deputy.  

Firms can submit separately for Property and Affairs and for Health and Welfare. We rank separately any firms and lawyers that specialise in handling Health and Welfare proceedings on behalf of public sector clients, such as NHS Trusts and local authorities. 

Related sections: Clinical Negligence, Healthcare, Personal Injury   

Crime   

This section focuses exclusively on the representation of individuals (not businesses) in general and serious crime cases. Representative matters include charges related to violent and sexual assault, the illegal drugs trade, homicide and terrorism as well as work concerning organised crime activity, such as people trafficking and modern slavery cases. You may also include appellate cases and matters relating to alleged miscarriages of justice.   

We will consider work at all levels, from initial police dealings and high street advisory matters all the way to the Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights. Matters may be privately funded or undertaken on a legal aid basis.  

Please note that charges of fraud, money laundering and bribery brought against individual defendants are all considered in the Financial Crime: Individuals section. Similarly, claims made concerning the conduct of serving police officers should be submitted to Police Law. We also have separate coverage for Extradition and Protest Law. All matters submitted here should also relate solely to the defence of individuals facing criminal charges – associated issues concerning civil liberties and human rights should be submitted to that section, where we also have a sub-table covering prison law.   

Related sections: Civil Liberties & Human Rights, Defamation/Reputation Management, Extradition, Financial Crime, Police Law, Protest Law   

Data Protection & Information Law   

This section covers all aspects of law surrounding the control of information by both public and private sector bodies. Many firms acting in this area advise clients on the development of binding corporate rules (BCRs) and other issues relating to international data transfers, consent compliance and contract support.   

Other areas of work include advising on responding to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, drafting privacy policies and guidance on evolving EU regulation in this area. Another significant type of work involves the defence of clients facing potential fines for data protection breaches and related investigations.   

Related sections: Information Technology, Financial Services, Media & Entertainment: Advertising & Marketing   

Defamation/Reputation Management  

This section ranks law firms and lawyers who handle defamation proceedings (i.e. libel and slander) on behalf of claimants and defendants, as well as advising media and corporate clients on risk management. Reputation management involves advising individuals and corporations on the legal aspects of protecting and regulating their reputation.   

Under the rubric of reputation management we consider: work concerning data privacy, the publication of allegedly inaccurate data, and the so-called ‘right to be forgotten’ in online searches and business intelligence databases. Also, injunctions to remove client data from international websites to prevent harassment, taking down imposter social media sites and data audits to guard against media intrusion.   

Related sections: Media & Entertainment, Data Protection & Information Law   

DEI Champions 

This is a spotlight table for individuals. Submissions are not accepted but peer nominations can be provided either via survey or via email (please email Al Marsh). The table is for lawyers who have dedicated their career to making the world a fairer place and by representing clients in an altruistic manner. Pro bono work is a large element of this, but paid-for work that demonstrates a strong focus on a particular area is accepted too. Just some examples of the kinds of work we have recognised in the past include: helping LGBTQI+ families; helping the victims of domestic violence; helping those subjected to unfair deportation (eg Windrush); promoting the cause of black women in maternity units.  

Please note that work relating to internal schemes in law firms is not included. For example, a scheme that helps give young people work experience in your firm. Lawyers who are put forward for this kind of activity will not be considered. 

Dispute Resolution Specialist Firms 

This section exclusively recognises firms specialising in dispute resolution and covers the full range of disputes. This includes (but is not limited to) commercial litigation, banking litigation, fraud and international arbitration. It seeks to highlight firms of varying sizes with broad-based yet specialised expertise in this field. We accept group litigation matters here, although please note that work for claimants should be submitted under our Group Litigation: Claimant table instead. Full service firms cannot be ranked in this section.  

Education  

This section is divided into Education: Individuals and Education: Institutions. In the UK-wide section, Education: Institutions is further split down into Schools and Higher & Further Education.    
  

Education: Individuals: Covers lawyers and law firms who act on behalf of pupils and their parents in matters such as special educational needs (SEN), admissions and exclusions, disability discrimination claims, judicial review cases, disputes with private schools, and transport to school issues. The firms ranked here may undertake either privately or publicly funded work.    
  

Education: Institutions (Schools): Covers lawyers and law firms who work on behalf of schools. This is a wide-ranging table covering the full range of school-related law, including pupil-related litigation and child protection issues, debt recovery, governance matters, school reorganisations, employment law, exclusions, policy and procedure reviews, and the establishment of academies.    
  

Education: Institutions (Higher & Further Education): Covers lawyers and law firms who work on behalf of universities, colleges and other higher education providers. The work can include constitutional and governance issues, employment matters, joint ventures between institutions, IP, student-related issues and litigation, data protection, governance, and charity law.    

Related sections: Local Government, Mental Health: Patients, Public Procurement   

Employee Share Schemes & Incentives   

Lawyers are ranked in this table for their expertise on employee benefits and share incentive plans. Work includes the creation, operation and governance of plans. We also recognise firms for their advice on the benefits and share plans aspects of corporate transactions. Firms that provide advice on Employee Ownership are recognised in a separate table.   

Related sections: Employment, Pensions, Tax   

Employment   

This section has a broad scope and firms can submit a wide range of workplace related matters, both contentious and non-contentious.   

In terms of disputes, work can include Employment Tribunal claims relating to discrimination, unfair dismissal, equal pay or employee status. It can also include litigation before the higher courts relating to team moves or restrictive covenant. Firms are also recognised for their advisory work on matters such as TUPE, redundancies, gig-economy matters, senior executive issues and policy and HR training. We also recognise firms for their employment work in the context of corporate transactions, however this work is viewed less favourably.   

Outside of London, firms can include work for both employers and employees/workers.   

In London, firms are ranked in separate tables covering work for Employers, Employees & Trade Unions, and Senior Executives. The Senior Executive table covers advice for all-types of employed senior professionals (including those working in the financial services industry, senior doctors and head teachers). The Employee & Trade Union table is focused on work for more junior employees, as well as actions brought by employees in conjunction with Trade Unions.   

In London we have specific tables that recognise firms and individuals for their expertise acting for third sector employers and healthcare providers (both NHS and private), as well as for their employer-side industrial relations work. We also have a table that recognises the expertise of firms and lawyers who excel at advising employers in connection with High Court Litigation.  

Partnership-related issues are not considered here as these are covered in a separate table.   

Related sections: Employee Share Schemes & Incentives; Pensions, Partnership   

Energy & Natural Resources  

This section focuses on a range of work arising from the energy sector, including project finance and development, corporate/ commercial, and advising on regulatory issues. Within this broad area, we rank firms and lawyers across multiple sub-sections. 
Firms and lawyers based in England and Wales have the option of providing two submissions and spreadsheets of client referees (comprised of 20 work highlights and 20 referees) to Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas and Energy & Natural Resources: Power, Renewables & Alternative Energy.   

Firms can showcase disputes work across both submissions. Any water-related work must be displayed on the Energy & Natural Resources: Power, Renewables & Alternative Energy submission.   

From the above submissions, we rank firms and lawyers across the following sub-sections:   
     
Oil & Gas: This sub-section covers all upstream, midstream and downstream work including exploration, infrastructure and pipeline developments, and service contracts, royalties, licensing and operation agreements. It also includes M&A transactions, capital raisings and regulatory compliance.    
   
Power, Renewables & Alternative Energy: This sub-section recognises firms and lawyers with expertise in relation to the financing and development of power, renewable and alternative energy projects, as well as those handling corporate transactions and regulatory issues in the sector. This section recognises firms and lawyers with expertise in relation to a range of power assets, including nuclear power stations, interconnector structures and battery storage facilities. 
   
Water: This sub-section covers a variety of work relating to the water industry, including regulation, pricing and aspects of competition law.    
   

Disputes: This sub-section covers all disputes (including litigation and international arbitration) in the energy & natural resources sector.    
     
Alongside our UK-wide tables, we also have two Scottish tables, Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas and Energy & Natural Resources: Renewables & Alternative Energy, as well as a general Energy & Natural Resources – Northern Ireland section. 
     
Mining: We also accept a separate submission and referee list for the UK-wide - Energy & Natural Resources: Mining section. Lawyers and firms are recognised for their expertise in either domestic or international work. The section focuses on legal matters surrounding the exploration, development and production of minerals through mining operations. The negotiation of royalty, streaming and supply agreements are relevant, as are M&A transactions, development financing, restructuring initiatives and regulatory issues.    

Related sections: Commodities, Environment, International Arbitration, Projects   

Environment & Climate Change  

This section features environmental litigation, as well as advisory and transactional support for clients. 'Traditional' environment work includes regulatory compliance, litigation and enforcement actions related to air, water, wetlands, waste and endangered species. We also include advice to corporate and financial clients on the environmental aspects of M&A, financings, securities offerings and other transactions that involve due diligence and environmental insurance issues.    

This section also covers a range of regulatory, transactional and litigation work in a specific climate change context. Regulatory work such as compliance program design and implementation, as well as operational and project-related compliance advice is a central aspect of work in this area. This area also covers representation of clients in proceedings before domestic and foreign government panels, agencies and regulatory bodies, including handling rulemaking challenges. Climate change-related government relations and policy advice work is also covered here. Climate change litigation and carbon markets transactions are also important in this practice area.   

There is also a UK-wide Environment: Claimant section which ranks firms and individuals.    

Firms can provide separate submissions and referee spreadsheets to Environment & Climate Change and Environment: Claimant. 

Please note that outside of London, we accept submissions to a single Planning & Environment section. There, we accept work related to both areas, including contentious and non-contentious matters. Work can include, for example, advice on planning applications or regulatory compliance matters as well as representing clients in disputes arising from planning- and environment-related issues. 

Related sections: Group Litigation: Claimant, Health & Safety, Planning, Real Estate   

Extradition  

This section ranks firms and lawyers on a UK-wide basis for their expertise in extradition law and procedure, as well as matters concerning European Arrest Warrants and Interpol Red Notices.    

Related sections: Civil Liberties & Human Rights, Crime, Financial Crime   

Family/Matrimonial and Family/Children Law 

These sections deal with issues surrounding the inception and breakdown of personal relationships. This includes the creation of nuptial, civil partnership and cohabitation agreements relating to financial and property assets, the resolution of divorces or separations involving financial and property disputes, and the handling of matters relating to child arrangements, maintenance and welfare.   

Rankings and submissions are slightly different if your firm is in London or in another part of the UK. We also have two tables to which you can submit regardless of where you are based. 

Please note that while submissions to London Matrimonial Finance are made to the HNW guide, all other submissions are made to the UK Guide as usual. 

London 

Family/Matrimonial Finance: In London, this table ranks firms for both HNW and UHNW finance matters and associated child arrangements. The research for this table is carried out by our HNW team and your submission and referees should be uploaded to the HNW guide. Please ensure that all work submitted is within a family/matrimonial context and does not include more general wealth management matters: these may be submitted in their own right elsewhere in the HNW guide.   

There is also a separate table recognising individual practitioners who specialise in acting as mediators in family disputes.  You may submit to this separately through the HNW guide. 

Family/Children Law: This table covers private law matters where the primary concern is the placement, maintenance and welfare of child dependents. Representative work includes disputes over contact and residence arrangements, leave to remove cases and applications for emergency injunctions such as non-molestation and prohibited steps orders. It also encompasses private law work relating to fertility treatments, surrogacy arrangements and adoption. 

All other regions 

In our regional tables outside London, all work concerning family and matrimonial matters may be submitted together under the heading Family/Matrimonial. This includes matrimonial finance and private and public children law cases. As in London, we have regional spotlight tables recognising lawyers who act as mediators; however, it is not possible to submit to these sections directly. All information regarding a lawyer’s mediation practice should be contained within your Family/Matrimonial submission. 

You also have the option to submit separately for our two UK-wide tables concerning children law (please see below). 

UK-wide 

International Abduction, Adoption and Surrogacy: This table (formerly known as Cross-border Disputes) ranks firms and lawyers who advise on cross-border disputes concerning the international abduction of children to both Hague and non-Hague jurisdictions. It also recognises work pertaining to international adoption and surrogacy agreements. Please note that it does not cover all international work related to children – only those types listed above. Any more general work related to international child arrangements may be submitted to Children Law (in London) or Family/Matrimonial (in all other regions). 

Public Law Matters: This table covers public care proceedings related to claims of child abuse, neglect or other welfare issues, as well as public law matters related to adoption, surrogacy or assisted reproduction. 

Related sections: Court of Protection, Education, Family/Matrimonial, Private Wealth (in the HNW guide) 

Financial Crime  

These sections encompass a broad range of financial crime offences, including (but not limited to) fraud, bribery and money laundering. Such matters should exclusively refer to criminal investigations and proceedings, any civil fraud matters will continue to be considered under the separate Fraud: Civil section.  

The practice area’s key focus is on financial crime allegations however we consider a broad spectrum of other kinds of regulatory and business crime, including modern slavery offences, corporate manslaughter and environmental crime.  

In London, coverage is subdivided as follows, with separate submissions for each:   

Corporate Crime & Investigations: This section ranks firms and individuals advising corporate clients on a wide range of criminal proceedings, investigations and related compliance matters.   

Financial Crime: Individuals: This section encompasses the representation of individuals charged with a broad range of financial and corporate criminal offences.  

Private prosecutions: This section ranks practices and lawyers that specialise in bringing private prosecutions relating to financial and corporate crimes.   

Submissions to The Regions and Scotland may include any/all of the above.   

Related sections: Banking Litigation, Crime, Financial Services, Fraud: Civil, Sanctions   

Financial Services   

This section covers contentious and non-contentious regulatory matters related to the financial services industry.  

On the contentious side, it encompasses Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)/ Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) investigations, selling practices, market misconduct, misuse of confidential information and complaints handling regarding retail products. In this area, firms are recognised for their advice to both corporate clients and individuals. Although there is obvious cross-over, submissions in this area should focus on the regulatory, rather than criminal, elements of work.  

Non-contentious regulatory matters may include the implications of and interactions between UK, EU and US regulations, and compliance advice. Areas covered include ESG related regulation and the Consumer Duty. Researchers will consider work on behalf of asset managers, banks, insurers, funds and alternative capital providers or any organisation governed by the FCA and/or PRA.  

The Payments Law table of the Financial Services section recognises those firms which advise on the procedures, regulation and technology required behind every purchase or cash withdrawal, drawing elements from practices such as financial services regulatory, consumer credit, IT and data protection and privacy. 

Related sections: Banking & Finance, Banking Litigation, Financial Crime, Sanctions   

Franchising  

This section ranks law firms and lawyers advising franchisees and franchisors in respect of both transactional and contentious work, such as setting up franchise agreements and disputes arising from such contracts.   

Related sections: Commercial Contracts, Hotels & Leisure, Retail 

Fraud: Civil    

This section ranks lawyers and firms advising on civil litigation and investigations concerning alleged fraud, along with asset tracing, recovery and injunctive relief including freezing orders. Clients may include companies, banks, trusts and high net worth individuals. We do not consider any criminal fraud work as this is instead covered by our Financial Crime section.   

Related sections: Banking Litigation, Commercial and Corporate Litigation, Financial Crime   

Gaming  

This table is for firms and departments that firms that specialise in gaming/gambling, which includes licensing matters as well as wider issues related to traditional and online gambling activities, including casinos.   

Related sections: Licensing   

Group Litigation: Claimant  

This section ranks firms and lawyers that have notable experience representing large claimant groups in litigation. We will accept matters brought via group litigation orders, representative actions and collective actions before the Competition Appeal Tribunal. Work may include claims related to consumer protection issues, financial mis-selling, data breaches and environmental or product liability, among others. The table is solely for firms representing claimant groups, we will not accept defence work to the section.   

Related sections: Commercial and Corporate Litigation, Competition, Environment, Litigation, Product Liability   

Health & Safety  

This section ranks firms and lawyers that advise corporations, executives and regulatory bodies on contentious and non-contentious health and safety matters, including regulatory and criminal investigations, public inquests, compliance and workplace training. It encompasses general health and safety at work, food safety, fire safety and issues affecting specific industries, including waste, utilities, nuclear and rail.   

Related sections: Insurance, Personal Injury   

Healthcare  

This section covers a wide range of concerns faced by clients in the healthcare sector, including NHS Trusts, private healthcare companies, GP surgeries, pharmacies, medical institutions and elderly and social care providers. Our coverage is split between firms that represent private sector clients and those that represent public and third sector clients: you may submit separately for each.  

Coverage of individual practitioners is then also divided between three tables:  

Corporate/Commercial: Includes general governance work, M&A, restructuring, procurement and commercial contracts.   

Contentious: Includes treatment disputes as well as Human Rights Act claims arising out of systemic negligence. It does not include clinical negligence or historic abuse claims.  

Regulatory: Includes all manner of regulatory matters, such as NICE and Cancer Drugs Fund issues.  

Please note that we have separate rankings for Mental Health and that we also rank firms and lawyers separately for their expertise in medical partnerships.  

Related sections: Clinical Negligence, Life Sciences, Local Government, Mental Health, Partnership, Public Procurement    

Hotels & Leisure  

This section is industry specific, covering the full range of legal services carried out for clients involved in the hotels and leisure industry, including hotels, restaurants, bars and casinos. The areas of legal advice that this section covers include real estate, hotel management agreements and branding. Please note that licensing work should not be included here, as there are separate Gaming and Licensing sections. 

Related Sections: Franchising, Real Estate, Retail 

Immigration   

Chambers UK covers Business, Personal and Human Rights, Asylum and Detention related Immigration work. The UK guide does not consider work for high-net-worth individuals or family offices - work for those clients should be submitted to our High Net Worth guide.   

Business: Law firms featured in this section provide advice on all aspects of inbound and outbound immigration, such as work permits and visas, workforce mobility and other legislative and regulatory changes. Clients for this section will typically be companies and their sponsored staff, but may also include charities, education institutes and individual senior employees.    

Human Rights, Asylum & Deportation: This section covers both privately funded matters, as well as work funded by Legal Aid. It is focused on immigration issues that have human rights, asylum or deportation at their heart.    

Personal: This section covers privately funded personal immigration work. Clients will tend to be families, overstayers and people who’ve been refused indefinite leave to remain.   

Related sections: Administrative & Public Law, Civil Liberties & Human Rights   

Information Technology & Outsourcing  

This is primarily an industry-specific section focusing on firms and individuals advising technology-based businesses. Researchers consider legal advice given to suppliers and purchasers in relation to significant IT supply and services contracts. Work in this sector may include outsourcing and IT-driven business transformation projects, infrastructure projects and product launches, as well as litigation. We also consider early-stage investment, M&A, and share listings concerning emerging tech companies.   

Outsourcing arrangements that are not IT-driven, such as legal services, property and maintenance, and other business process contracting arrangements are now considered separately under the Commercial Contracts table.   

This definition also applies to UK regional Information Technology sections as well, although all of these except those for London and Scotland continue to be known as Information Technology: Name of region (East Anglia, Midlands etc.).   

Related sections: Commercial Contracts, Data Protection, Public Procurement, Telecommunications   

Infrastructure  

The Infrastructure UK-wide section ranks those firms and lawyers who advise on transactions relating primarily to assets that have already been completed and are operational. Infrastructure assets can include (but are not limited to) airports, ports, transmission lines, pipelines and (resources) storage. Secondary market transactions, where operational infrastructure is the underlying asset, form a crucial aspect of the work recognised, while equally, contract variation, asset management and other legal issues that arise over the course of the operation of an asset are also relevant.   
The Infrastructure PFI/PPP section is a separate sub-section which recognises those undertaking the aforementioned work primarily in the context of operation PFI/PPP assets. As well as assets structured on a PFI/PPP basis, other non-traditional models such as Regulated Asset Base (RAB), Mutual Investment Model (MIM), Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) and Direct Procurement for Consumers (DPC) are relevant for this section. Submissions for this sub-section should be included in the Infrastructure UK-wide section and any work highlight relating to any project structured on a PFI/PPP (or similar) basis should be clearly labelled as relating to this type of asset.    
Any work relating to the financing and development of projects for assets which are not yet operational should be included in a submission to Projects – UK-wide.   

Related sections: Projects   

Inquests 

The Inquests table recognises lawyers who have deep expertise in representing clients in high-profile and contentious inquests. These inquests typically arise in the context of mental health, police contact and domestic terrorism but are by no means limited to these areas. Lawyers ranked here represent bereaved families, organisations and individual staff members.   

Related sections: Administrative & Public Law, Civil Liberties & Human Rights, Police Law   

Insurance   

This is a UK-wide section ranking firms for both contentious and non-contentious work in the insurance sector. Firms may submit separately to each of the tables listed below. 

Contentious Claims & Reinsurance: This table covers contentious matters handled on behalf of the insurance industry, including claims defence, coverage disputes, brokers' negligence claims and reinsurance disputes. 

Mainly Policyholder: For firms handling similar work to the above on behalf of policyholders. It is possible for firms to be ranked in both this table and in Contentious Claims.  

Volume Claims: This spotlight table features firms (not individuals) that provide regular representation to insurance companies and other organisations on high-volume claims. This includes personal injury as well as employers', public and motor liability, among others. 

Non-contentious: Representative work here includes M&A transactions, business transfers, capital raisings and demutualisations, as well as alternative risk transfers, reinsurance transactions and insurance-linked securities. We also consider regulatory work, such as advice on the Solvency II directive. 

Firms in Scotland are ranked separately for Insurance. All work listed above may be included on a submission to the Scotland section. 

Related sections: Aviation, Clinical Negligence, Financial Services, Health & Safety, Personal Injury, Product Liability, Professional Negligence, Shipping    

Intellectual Property  

This section covers disputes related to patent, copyright, design, database rights and trademark infringement, litigation concerning trade secrets and related issues such as licensing, IP commercialisation and audits. A separate Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys ranking also features in this section, concerned with mark registration, registry proceedings, patent and trade mark searches and specialist IP advice to innovator companies and IP lawyers.   

Related sections: Information Technology, Life Sciences, Media & Entertainment   

International Arbitration  

International Arbitration is a UK-wide section that recognises firms and individuals with expertise in international arbitration, a private and binding form of dispute resolution determined by an arbitrator or panel of arbitrators. Individuals are ranked in a single table and we also have separate rankings for those who sit as arbitrators. Our firm rankings are split between Commercial and Investor-State:   

Commercial Arbitration: This table focuses on firms representing clients in commercial disputes between companies who have international contracts or agreements, usually as a result of contractual breaches or terminations. Both institutional and ad hoc arbitrations will be considered.   

(Please note that commercial and corporate litigation is covered in its own submission. Any corporate litigation work, such as joint venture and shareholder disputes that are settled though the courts will not be considered here.)  

Investor-State Arbitration: This table focuses on firms representing clients in investment arbitrations, i.e. disputes arising between a sovereign state and an investor. This includes claims brought under bilateral or multilateral investment treaties, as well as those arising out of contractual agreements between an investing party and a sovereign state. ICSID, ad hoc and institutional arbitrations are all considered. This table ranks firms which primarily represent investors, those which primarily represent states, and those which represent a mixture of the two.    

Arbitrators: This table features highly regarded non-barrister or non-practising barrister arbitrators based in the UK. A list of London-based barristers who are respected arbitrators also features in the UK Bar guide.    

This table does not invite separate submissions, but examples of an individual's work as an arbitrator can be included on either/both of the submissions for Commercial Arbitration and Investor-State Arbitration.      

Related sections: Commercial and Corporate Litigation, Litigation, Mediators, Public International Law  

Investment Funds   

This section recognises firms and individuals for their investment funds expertise. Firms can provide work relating to the entire life cycle of a fund, from formation to close, although fund formation work is especially highly rated. A firm can upload separate submissions for each of the following areas: Private Equity, Real Estate, Hedge Funds, Secondaries, Investor Representation, Open-ended Funds and Closed-ended Listed Funds.   

Chambers also has tables that recognise expertise in Credit Funds and Venture Capital Funds. Those seeking recognition in these areas should include their work highlights on their submission for Investment Funds: Private Equity.  

Work relating to private equity buyouts or real estate transactions is not considered here and should be included on a submission for either of those sections. Similarly, regulatory or compliance advice should be submitted to Financial Services: Non-contentious Regulatory.    

Related sections: Capital Markets, Financial Services: Non-contentious Regulatory, Private Equity, Real Estate   

Licensing  

This section ranks firms and lawyers advising on both contentious and non-contentious work related to licensing, including new licence applications, variations to existing licences and any related disputes or reviews. We also have a dedicated UK-wide Gaming table for those firms that specialise in this area, which includes licensing matters as well as wider issues related to traditional and online gambling activities.   

Related sections: Gaming   

Life Sciences  

This section focuses on the commercialisation of life sciences products (pharmaceuticals, medical devices and biotechnology programmes etc) as well as the regulation of these products and the defence of product liability challenges. Patent litigation concerning life sciences products and technologies is also covered.   

Related sections: Intellectual Property   

Litigation  

In all regions outside of London, this section ranks firms and lawyers advising on civil litigation, primarily on behalf of businesses, financial institutions and other organisations. It also considers work on behalf of private individuals, albeit still within a business context: disputes concerning private wealth or probate should be submitted separately to the HNW guide.  

The core focus of this section is contractual litigation and litigation arising out of corporate and commercial arrangements, including shareholder, joint venture, post-M&A and boardroom disputes. Banking litigation and civil fraud disputes may also be included.    

Other litigation types will be given less weight if they are covered on a regional basis in their own right: this includes sections such as professional negligence, real estate litigation, construction and IP. Other kinds of work not considered as part of the section include criminal litigation, inquests, public inquiries, tribunals, regulatory investigations and related enforcement actions.   

This section focuses on courtroom litigation, rather than ADR methods such as mediation and arbitration. In particular, International Arbitration is covered extensively elsewhere and so should not be included on a submission to Litigation.  

This applies to regional sections only. Firms in London should refer instead to the definition for Commercial and Corporate Litigation.   

Related sections: Banking Litigation, Commercial and Corporate Litigation, Fraud: Civil, Group Litigation: Claimant, International Arbitration, Mediators, Private Wealth Disputes (in the HNW guide)   

Local Government  

This section ranks lawyers and law firms who advise local authorities in connection with local government issues, including planning, environment, education, community care, highways, housing, health, compulsory purchase, public procurement, freedom of information, rating, licensing and elections.   

Related sections: Administrative & Public Law, Parliamentary & Public Affairs, Planning, Projects, Public Procurement   

Media & Entertainment  

The section caters to clients in the media industry in respect of contentious and non-contentious matters. We rank firms by specialist expertise in tables for Film & Television; Advertising & Marketing; Music, Theatre & Live Events; Publishing; and Games, Interactive Entertainment and Social Media. Individuals are ranked relative to one another by specialism.   

Non-contentious work as covered by this section may include production, financing and distribution arrangements, as well as IP, licensing and supplementary rights planning.   

Types of disputes in this area are many and may include copyright and contractual litigation (eg on behalf of studios, producers, publishing houses or talent), matters arising from film finance, comparative advertising and ASA disputes.   

Please note that defamation actions are not considered in our publishing rankings; please submit such matters to the Defamation/Reputation Management section. The Publishing rankings do however consider matters concerning pre-publication clearance, reporting restrictions and press regulation.   

Related sections: Defamation/Reputation Management   

Mediators  

This section ranks the UK's leading mediators, all of whom are successful resolvers of a wide range of disputes. We only rank individual mediators in this table, not organisations.   

For submissions to this section, we advise using the Bar submission template – there is a separate sole practitioner template for mediators submitting on an individual basis.   

Please note that we have separate spotlight tables for family mediators in London and all other UK regions.  

Related sections: Commercial and Corporate Litigation, Litigation   

Mental Health  

We rank firms and individuals in two sections, one for providers and one for patients.  

Providers: This section covers the provision of advice to mental health service providers, including both NHS and private care organisations. We also accept work for other non-patient stakeholders, such as national bodies or investors. Work considered here includes regulatory compliance, investigations, tribunals and judicial reviews. We also accept inquests and health and safety work, though please note that we do also have dedicated rankings elsewhere for both.   

Patients: This section covers the provision of advice to mental health patients on issues such as deprivation of liberty and mental capacity. It covers advice that pertains to legislation such as the Mental Health Act and the Mental Capacity Act. Matters that are brought before the Court of Protection may also be included, though this is also an area that we provide separate rankings for.  

Please note that this practice area does not include clinical negligence or historic abuse claims.   

Related sections: Clinical Negligence, Court of Protection, Healthcare  

Offshore   

We rank individuals based on the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey across a range of different areas including Corporate, Investment Funds, Property and Employment. Firms/individuals are recognised for their advice on the Isle of Man/Jersey/Guernsey aspects of transactions, as well as for their advice on local matters.   

We also recognise London-based lawyers who have specific expertise on matters relating to Bermuda, BVI and Cayman Islands. Lawyers in these tables are ranked for their expertise in a range of disciplines.   

Related sections: Capital Markets, Corporate/M&A, Investment Funds, Real Estate, Restructuring & Insolvency 

Parliamentary & Public Affairs  

This section has three tables: Electoral Law, Parliamentary Agency and Public Affairs.   

Electoral Law includes advice on local and parliamentary elections, rules relating to the conduct of Members of Parliament and the legislative reform of electoral law.  

Parliamentary Agency ranks lawyers and law firms who advise on political process and the drafting or opposing of Private Bills.   

Public Affairs covers those involved in campaigning and lobbying, and media relations.   

Related sections: Local Government, Planning, Public Procurement   

Partnership  

This section ranks firms advising primarily professional services clients - such as architects, surveyors, accountants and lawyers - on both contentious and non-contentious work.   

Representative non-contentious matters include M&A transactions, LLP conversions and the creation of partnership vehicles for corporate or investment purposes. It also includes advice on establishing overseas offices, the drafting of partnership agreements and regulatory matters. Contentious work includes disputes regarding partner exits and team moves, remuneration and retirement issues and investigations into discrimination and harassment.   

We also feature a separate table for those specialising in the representation of medical partnerships, including GP, dental and veterinary surgeries.   

Work submitted to this section should relate specifically to partnership law. For instance, employment law matters more generally are not to be included if they do not relate specifically to partners within a firm. Similarly, medical matters should relate to the creation and operation of medical partnerships themselves; more general work in the healthcare sphere should not be submitted.   

Related sections: Corporate/M&A, Employment, Healthcare, Investment Funds, Professional Discipline, Professional Negligence   

Pensions  

This section ranks lawyers who provide non-contentious advice on pensions issues for employers, schemes, fund managers, trustees and the state. Issues looked at are varied, but may include pension liabilities, debt restructuring, scheme mergers and demergers, investment management, risk transfer and funding negotiations. 

Related sections: Employee Share Schemes & Incentives, Professional Negligence, Pensions Litigation   

Pensions Litigation  

This section ranks law firms and lawyers who advise on a wide range of contentious issues concerning pensions, including rectification claims, recoveries in the event of insolvency, determinations of liabilities, judicial review and allegations of wrongdoing.   

Related sections: Professional Negligence, Pensions   

 Personal Injury  

This section covers the full scope of litigation arising from injuries sustained outside of a clinical context. This includes litigation arising from workplace accidents, motor accidents and abuse claims. We have a separate table for industrial disease claims.  

Firms that represent insurers and other defendants are ranked in our Mainly Defendant category, which covers firms separately in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland alongside a UK-wide table. Firms that act for individuals, or groups of individuals, bringing claims are ranked on a regional basis in our Mainly Claimant tables.  

Certain niche areas of international work are also covered by this section, such as injuries and abuse resulting from wars and corporate negligence, although purely travel-related injuries are covered in a separate section within the Travel section of the guide entitled International Personal Injury.   

Related sections: Clinical Negligence, Court of Protection, Insurance, Travel   

Planning   

This section covers the area of law relating to the processes of planning applications for the development, construction or change of use of a building or buildings; compulsory purchase orders (CPO); and s106 agreements.    

The work in this section can be contentious – for example, judicial reviews, inquiries and appeals; and non-contentious – for example, planning and CPO strategies relating to development projects and urban regeneration schemes. 

Please note that outside of London, we accept submissions to a single Planning & Environment section. There, we accept work related to both areas, including contentious and non-contentious matters. Work can include, for example, advice on planning applications or regulatory compliance matters as well as representing clients in disputes arising from planning- and environment-related issues. 

Related sections: Environment, Local Government, Real Estate   

POCA Work & Asset Forfeiture  

This section ranks firms and individuals who advise on all aspects of the Proceeds of Crime Act, from restraint and receivership to confiscation. The section concerns recovery in both the criminal and civil courts.  

Related sections: Crime, Financial Crime, Fraud: Civil  

Police Law   

This section is split into Mainly Claimant and Mainly Defendant sections. Mainly Claimant covers actions and judicial review proceedings against the police, the IPCC and coroners, including issues relating to unlawful arrest, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, treatment in custody and inquests. Mainly Defendant focuses on lawyers and law firms who defend police forces against matters of the type listed above.   

Related sections: Administrative & Public Law, Civil Liberties & Human Rights, Crime   

Private Equity   

Buyouts includes firms and lawyers that advise private equity investors on the purchase or disposal of their investments. Advice to companies being acquired or disposed of by investors is considered, but the most highly ranked firms will be able to demonstrate client rosters that include multiple private equity investors. Beyond this, secondary transactions and advice to management teams are considered.   

Firms included in £500 million and above may not exclusively advise on deals in this range, but they will have plenty of experience on the largest deals and be comfortable advising at these values. It is expected that many firms will provide a submission containing a mix of transaction sizes: the research team will decide which table is the most appropriate for your firm.  

Please note that firms may advise on the occasional large deal yet still be included in the Up to £500 million table. Firms that advise management teams on large deals may also be placed in this table.  

Venture Capital Investment covers advice on investments into venture capital targets. This can include the representation of either the investor or the target company, though the most highly ranked firms will most likely demonstrate the representation of multiple investors.  

Related sections: Capital Markets, Corporate/M&A, Investment Funds   

Product Liability   

This section encompasses legal claims in which an injured party or parties seek to recover financial compensation from the manufacturer or seller of a faulty product. Examples include faulty appliances, emissions defeat devices, contaminated food and unsafe consumer products.   

Firms and individuals who represent those bringing a claim are ranked in the Mainly Claimant table. We consider claims brought on behalf of individuals as well as those brought via group litigation.   

Those who represent defendants are ranked in the Mainly Defendant tables. These firms advise manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, retailers and others who make the product available to the public. Please note that this section does not consider the defence of claims concerning pharmaceuticals and medical devices: this is covered separately in the Life Sciences section which has its own product liability rankings.  

We also have a table called Product Liability: Food that encompasses advice given by firms with regard to product safety in the food industry. Work considered may include regulatory compliance, product recalls and litigation concerning issues such as food poisoning outbreaks or incorrect allergen labelling. Firms may represent food manufacturers and ingredient suppliers as well as distribution companies and food retailers.  

Related sections: Insurance, Life Sciences, Personal Injury   

Professional Discipline  

This section ranks firms and lawyers who advise individuals, corporations or professional bodies in relation to professional regulatory matters, including fitness-to-practice investigations, disciplinary proceedings and the development of codes of practice. Matters most frequently concern medical, legal and financial professionals, however work concerning any individual regulated by a professional body may qualify.   

Related sections: Education, Employment, Healthcare, Partnership, Professional Negligence   

Professional Negligence   

This section covers firms and lawyers that specialise in disputes arising over loss suffered as a result of negligent advice given by professionals. A wide range of professionals are covered, including architects, surveyors, financial advisers, insurance brokers and solicitors or barristers.   

We don’t accept work involving medical professionals as these are covered in our Clinical Negligence tables. Representation of construction professionals in London can be found in our Construction: Professional Negligence table too. 

Related sections: Clinical Negligence, Construction, Insurance, Professional Discipline   

Projects   

The Projects UK-wide section ranks those firms and lawyers who advise on the financing and development of large projects that arise from the capital-intensive infrastructure and energy markets. Projects covered include, but are not limited to, transmission lines, pipelines, resources storage, telecommunications infrastructure, airports, ports and bridges, as well as various assets including hospitals, schools, housing, roads and rail developments.  

Although our coverage of Projects is split into two sections: Projects: Mainly Domestic and Projects: Mainly International, we accept a single submission to the overall projects section. 

Please note that any work related to an asset that is operational, such as contract variation and management related to an existing and operational piece of infrastructure, should be included in a submission to Infrastructure: UK-wide. 

Related sections: Banking & Finance, Construction, Energy & Natural Resources, Infrastructure 

Protest Law  

This section covers cases involving the right to protest. Cases considered under this practice area include criminal cases involving protestors who are facing prosecution or sentence, as well as civil matters such as injunctions to prevent occupations, judicial reviews of state actions to prevent protest, or civil claims for protesters who have been wrongly treated by state bodies.   

Related sections: Administrative & Public Law, Civil Liberties & Human Rights, Crime   

Public International Law  

This section covers state-to-state disputes such as those governed by the law of nations and the law of the sea, as well as by international agreements and conventions. It includes matters traditionally held to constitute the core of public international law practices, such as land and maritime boundary disputes, sovereign immunity, state succession and claims to statehood. Investment arbitrations are also covered in this section (as well as in International Arbitration: Investor-State Arbitration) but should not make up the majority of any submissions in this area. Matters relating to Business and Human Rights issues are covered in the International Human Rights section.   

Related sections: International Arbitration, International Human Rights, Sanctions   

Public Inquiries 

The Public Inquiries table focuses on lawyers who act for a range of clients in connection with statutory inquiries. Clients of these lawyers include inquiry chairs, government witnesses and other core participants. At present, this table predominantly focuses on statutory inquiries, as opposed to independent reviews and non-statutory inquiries.   

Related sections: Administrative & Public Law, Civil Liberties & Human Rights, Police Law   

Public Procurement  

This section ranks law firms and lawyers who advise corporations and government bodies on the acquisition of goods or services by governmental entities. Challenges to tenders awarded by procuring authorities are also treated here. Areas covered may include education, healthcare, social housing, transport and infrastructure.    

Related sections: Education, Healthcare, Information Technology, Projects, Transport  

Real Estate  

This section covers all aspects of non-contentious real estate work relating to both commercial and residential property, including investment transactions, development, corporate structuring, acquisitions, portfolio management, and landlord and tenant matters. We consider work done on behalf of institutional landlords, property companies, developers and commercial tenants, as well as private landlords and tenants.   

In London, firms are subdivided into three tables by average transaction value as follows: £150 million and above, £50-150 million, £10-50 million.   

We also subdivide certain regional sections into two tables for firms handling work up to £10 million and those where work is more commonly £10 million and above. In all cases, you will still upload your submission via the main Real Estate heading, it is not possible to provide a separate submission for any of the subdivisions.    

Please note that we do not accept real estate finance work within this practice area: such work should instead be submitted to the Real Estate Finance section, or you may also include it on submissions to Banking & Finance sections in regions excluding London. Similarly, contentious property work should be submitted to the one of our Real Estate Litigation sections. Submissions also should not contain matters that exclusively concern planning law or construction.   

Related sections: Agriculture & Rural Affairs, Construction, Environment, Hotels & Leisure, Planning, Real Estate Finance, Real Estate Litigation, Social Housing   

Real Estate Finance  

This section covers advice on the spectrum of debt products, structured products and CMBS, loan origination, restructuring and refinancing transactions, loan portfolio sales and purchases. Researchers look at work on behalf of banks, private equity funds and other non-bank lenders, as well as investors.   

Related sections: Banking & Finance, Capital Markets, Real Estate   

Real Estate Litigation  

These sections rank firms and lawyers advising on contentious property issues for landlords, landowners and tenants. The section covers development disputes, including those regarding rights of way, boundary lines, rights to light and party walls, as well as contentious landlord and tenant work such as rent reviews, lease terminations and dilapidations claims. We primarily consider work concerning commercial real estate assets, however development disputes affecting residential property can also be included.   

Disputes regarding planning law or construction should not be submitted here, but to the appropriate Planning or Construction section.   

Related sections: Construction, Environment, Litigation, Planning, Real Estate, Social Housing   

Restructuring/Insolvency   

This section covers work on behalf of creditors, debtors, bondholders and insolvency practitioners.  Work examples may include debt restructuring, formal insolvency procedures, contingency planning, debtor advisory work and insolvency disputes. 

In London we also have a Restructuring/Insolvency disputes table in which we rank firms that advise on contentious matters.  

In additional to corporate work, we also recognise those firms and individuals that advise on personal insolvency in a standalone ranking table.   

Related sections: Banking & Finance, Capital Markets.   

Retail  

This is an industry-focused section that ranks law firms that have developed a track record in serving the needs of large, national retailers. A retailer sells goods (not services) to consumers online or in person. Please note that any work for brands (drinks, toiletries etc) should be clearly linked to the sale of those brands to the consumer. Advice on IP to a consumer brand that is not a retailer is not considered here, neither is M&A in the retail sector. 

Firms may also advise retailers on their real estate and planning needs, as well as logistics, franchising and technology matters. They may also demonstrate aptitude in assisting with a retailer's employment, tax and regulatory requirements, along with consumer protection issues and disputes. Please note that we do not rank individuals in this table.   

Related sections: Commercial Contracts, Franchising, Hotels & Leisure, Real Estate   

Sanctions  

This section recognises the expertise of law firms and lawyers who represent clients in litigation challenging international sanctions designations imposed by the UK, EU and UN – both for individuals and corporates. It also covers advisory work related to corporates on the impact of sanctions imposed on countries. Matters involving breaches of sanctions will be considered here as opposed to the Financial Crime section.   

Please note: advising financial institutions on compliance with international sanctions may also be included under the Financial Services section.    

Related sections: Commercial and Corporate Litigation, Financial Crime, Financial Services, Fraud: Civil    

Shareholder Activism: Activist Representation 

This section is for the representation of shareholder activists. It considers corporate work on behalf of activist investors, such as M&A, proxy contests and other kinds of campaign. Please note that the representation of companies under threat from activists is not considered here. 

Related sections: Corporate/M&A 

Shipping  

This section covers both contentious and non-contentious work. The contentious side involves breaches of charter-party disputes, cargo and bills of lading claims, the arrest of vessels and cargoes, marine insurance claims, collision, salvage and environmental liabilities. On the non-contentious side, law firms advise on contractual arrangements for construction, registration of vessels, customs and licensing, and documentation relating to charter-parties and bills of lading.    

Related sections: Construction, Insurance   

Social Housing  

This section encompasses work relating to the development, provision or occupation of social housing. Representative matters include corporate work, such as governance and joint ventures (including housing stock transfers), antisocial behaviour matters, construction or redevelopment financing, property issues and defending social housing tenants against legal proceedings brought by the providers.   

We have a separate table that focuses exclusively on the financing of social housing developments and another for those firms that solely represent social housing tenants.   

Related sections: Construction, Local Government, Projects, Public Procurement, Real Estate, Real Estate Finance, Real Estate Litigation   

Sport  

This section ranks the firms and lawyers that demonstrate standout expertise in the sport sector. Regulatory work for sport organisations and governing bodies is highly rated, as is commercial work, when it is related to the sport in question. Work for non-sports clients who are active in the sector may be considered, but will be given less weight.   

Advice to sport professionals that does not pertain to sport is not considered. For example, family law or reputation management issues for sports clients should not be included.   

Chambers recognises firms that specialise in horse racing and equestrian law in a specialist table.   

Related sections: Commercial Contracts, Intellectual Property, Media & Entertainment   

Tax  

This section covers a broad range of work relating to the tax efficient structuring of business operations, assets or transactions. Among other areas, we recognise teams for their tax advisory work as well as for their advice in relation to M&A and financing transactions, fund structuring and real estate related tax issues. In London, we rank individuals for their general tax expertise, as well those who specialise in Investment Funds, Real Estate and VAT.  

We don’t consider disputes work in this section. Disputes work should be included on a Contentious Tax submission.   

Related sections: Corporate/M&A, Capital Markets, Employee Share Schemes & Incentives, Investment Funds, Tax: Contentious, Tax: Contentious: Fraud   

Tax: Contentious   

We cover tax disputes in this table and recognise firms defending clients in actions brought by HMRC relating to VAT, PAYE and NI contributions, among other areas of taxation.   

Tax: Contentious: Fraud   

In this section we recognise those firms that defend clients accused of committing tax fraud.   

Telecommunications  

This section relates to matters concerning telecommunications companies and their activities, and covers contentious and non-contentious work spanning transactional, regulatory and competition matters concerning telecommunications companies.   

Clients may include telephone service providers, ISPs, wireless operators, TV and/or radio broadcasters and a range of government and regulatory bodies. Examples of work include spectrum auctions, procurement agreements and M&A, as well as contractual disputes, investigations and compliance proceedings.   

Mobile telephony patent litigation is not covered in this section; work highlights of this kind should be submitted under Intellectual Property.   

Related sections: Corporate / M&A; Outsourcing; Intellectual Property; Information Technology   

Transport   

This section is subdivided into Logistics, Rail and Road sections. 

Logistics: Covers all work relating to disputes and issues arising from the commercial transportation of goods, including multi-modal transportation.   

Road (Regulatory): Covers advice relating to the actions of regulatory bodies, including public inquiries, operator licensing, compliance and due diligence. 

Rail which is further divided into four subsections: 

Rolling Stock relates to advice on all transactions concerning the procurement, leasing and maintenance of rolling stock. 

Projects & Infrastructure includes all work relating to the development and maintenance of rail infrastructure, including routes, stations and depots. This covers financing, commercial contracts, joint ventures, PFI / PPP, construction and real estate. 

Franchising covers all work concerning the rail franchising system, including bids and mobilisations, migrations and open access rights. Planning & Authorisation covers advice on planning and parliamentary procedures concerning new routes, stations and depots, including related environmental impact assessments and consultations.   

Related sections: Asset Finance, Local Government, Planning, Projects, Infrastructure 

Travel  

This section is focused on a range of legal issues affecting the travel industry. Rankings for both firms and lawyers are split into three separate tables.   
   
Travel: International Personal Injury (Claimant) focuses on firms and lawyers that specialise in representing individuals pursuing overseas accident claims, including those involving catastrophic injury, severe illness, fatality cases and terrorist attacks. We will also consider international cases of clinical negligence. 
   
Travel: International Personal Injury (Defendant) focuses on firms and lawyers involved in defending insurers, travel companies and tour operators against the kinds of claims listed above.   
   
Travel: Regulatory & Commercial recognises firms and individuals providing advice on a range of sector-specific matters. Work covered includes advice to tour operators, travel agencies and other key businesses operating in the travel sector on various regulatory matters, with a particular focus on the Package Travel Regulations and ATOL Regulations. We also take into account legal advice involving a broad array of commercial operational matters for such businesses.   

Please note that you are able to provide a separate submission for Travel: Regulatory and Commercial and another for International Personal Injury. We ask that you do not include any personal injury work on a submission to Regulatory and Commercial and vice versa.