Banking Litigation | UK

Clifford Chance has a superb track record of representing multinational banks and other financial institutions in their most complex and reputationally significant matters. It provides expertise across the full gamut of disputes work, with notable strengths in defending class actions, regulatory and criminal investigations, fraud and misrepresentation disputes. Clifford Chance can call upon a specialist forensic accounting team to assist on litigation and investigatory work. It has a strong bench of litigators, many of whom have experience of cases involving multiple jurisdictions, with additional strength in handling international arbitrations.

Freshfields has an impressive bench of associates and partners operating at the highest level in the banking litigation space, with stellar capabilities in mis-selling claims, investment disputes and contentious trading issues. It acts regularly on behalf of retail and investment banks, as well as private equity firms and hedge funds in complex litigation. It has notable ability in handling cross-border matters due to its well-established international network. Freshfields is adept at advising clients through every stage of sophisticated disputes, including representation in the highest courts in both the UK and abroad.

Herbert Smith Freehills has a pre-eminent banking litigation outfit with a standout track record of instructions in high-value cases. It boasts an enviable client roster that includes major players in the retail, corporate and investment banking sectors, which turn to the firm for its expertise in complex, bet-the-company disputes work. Herbert Smith Freehills offers additional expertise in insurance, white-collar crime and public law matters. It can advise on substantial multiparty litigation, including shareholder group actions.

Latham & Watkins demonstrates impressive capability in relation to complex, high-value banking disputes, including those featuring parallel proceedings in other jurisdictions. It calls upon wider skills in the firm's international arbitration, financial regulation and fraud practices to offer a well-rounded service. Latham & Watkins' impressive bench of litigators boast the ability to take on highly sophisticated disputes on behalf of major banks and financial institutions.

A&O Shearman has an excellent group of individuals specialising in the representation of financial clients. It is frequently instructed by hedge funds, private equity firms, and investment and retail banks, with notable expertise in handling claims relating to alleged manipulation of financial benchmarks. A&O Shearman draws from impressive wider strengths in related practice areas and also offers excellent international capability thanks to the strength of its global network. It employs regulatory and sector-specific knowledge on behalf of clients' businesses to identify and mitigate future risks.

Dentons is an extremely well-resourced firm which is highly proficient in a range of wholesale banking litigation claims, investment banking disputes and public law regulatory matters. It offers additional skills in corporate trustee advisory work, including issues pertaining to use of powers and transactional amendments. Dentons has notable experience in cases centred on allegations of swap mis-selling and misrepresentation with reference to LIBOR.

Hogan Lovells provides robust representation in multi-jurisdictional disputes in both the contentious regulatory and banking litigation arenas, with notable experience in the Financial List. It offers supporting expertise in fraud, insolvency and consumer finance issues, as well as a highly integrated global network. Its clients include a multitude of leading banks and financial institutions across a broad spectrum of industry sectors. The department adeptly handles litigation concerning mis-selling, benchmark manipulation and structured financial products.

Linklaters boasts a strong team of highly accomplished individuals handling significant cases in the financial industry. It is especially noted for its appearances in major banking litigation stemming from insolvencies, as well as disputes concerning derivatives and structured financial products. Linklaters leverages its impressive global platform to advise on international and multi-jurisdictional disputes. The department offers clients the benefit of top-level expertise in both contentious and non-contentious financial regulatory matters.

Simmons & Simmons has a well-integrated group of experts representing major clients in relation to banking litigation, contentious regulatory matters and financial crime issues. It houses particular skills in the asset management sector, with expertise in contentious work for hedge funds and institutional managers. Simmons & Simmons' wider client base includes a broad range of investment and retail banks, private wealth organisations and insolvency practitioners. It also has notable expertise in disputes arising from the sale of complex financial products.

Slaughter and May draws from a strong bench of distinguished sector experts to handle a full range of disputes in the banking industry, alongside considerable strengths in global regulatory investigations. The department is regularly instructed by major institutions in the retail, corporate and investment banking sectors. Slaughter and May also enjoys capability in the related areas of corporate crime and insolvency. It displays skill in handling complex matters relating to structured financial products and derivatives.

Addleshaw Goddard has an experienced team of litigators across the UK acting for a broad array of domestic and international financial institutions. It offers strong expertise in relation to disputes concerning derivatives and structured financial products, as well as shareholder litigation. Addleshaw Goddard has the depth and breadth necessary to offer robust capability in large-scale and complex cases, including those with an international dimension.

Ashurst boasts extensive experience acting for major banks and financial institutions in high-value disputes. It is especially adept in handling cases turning on issues of contractual interpretation, professional negligence and fraud within the financial industry. Ashurst also handles banking disputes relating to insolvency and distressed debt. It provides an integrated approach between its disputes group and other practice areas, such as financial services, derivatives and restructuring.

BCLP has strong sector expertise and integrates well with its transactional finance team. It is skilled in cross-border litigation, with strengths in disputes involving continental Europe, the USA and Asia. The department offers clients the benefit of its in-house forensic accountancy and fraud and money-laundering capability. It represents leading domestic and international institutions in both the investment and private banking sectors.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton has noted cross-border capability, as well as the expertise to handle complex disputes concerning a range of issues within the banking industry. It is particularly strong in relation to derivatives and national bond litigation, and is proficient in regulatory investigations and enforcement matters. Cleary Gottlieb represents a wide range of clients, including international financial institutions, individual investors, national governments and trade associations.

DLA Piper is a global firm that utilises its extensive international platform to assist clients facing complex, multi-jurisdictional disputes. It has particularly pronounced expertise in matters concerning allegations of fraud, with experience advising leading domestic and international financial institutions. The department represents clients during litigation and arbitration in the UK and abroad, as well as advising on enforcement proceedings and injunctions. It has notable expertise in matters concerning Middle Eastern and African jurisdictions.

Mayer Brown has a pronounced ability in relation to multi-jurisdictional disputes owing to an extensive global network across Europe, Asia and the USA. It has noted expertise in handling cases involving complex derivatives and financial products, as well as litigation involving elements of fraud. Mayer Brown advises a wide array of leading domestic and international banks, in both the retail and investment sectors.

Norton Rose Fulbright is regularly instructed by leading institutions in the retail, corporate and investment banking spaces. It offers strong technical expertise with respect to derivatives and securitisation disputes, commodities issues and Islamic finance litigation. The group is also highly adept in handling regulatory investigations and enforcement. Norton Rose Fulbright enjoys a particularly strong international capability owing to the strength of its global network.

Stephenson Harwood has a capable group of finance litigators with extensive experience handling a diverse range of issues within the industry. It is frequently called on by clients including investment companies, hedge funds, sovereign wealth funds and global banks to handle significant disputes. It draws from wider resources in its financial services and regulatory practices to offer a comprehensive financial litigation platform. The department advises on claims of alleged financial product mis-selling and manipulation of benchmark interest rates, as well as alleged fraud and breaches of contract.

Travers Smith has significant capability with respect to industry-wide regulatory investigations and litigation stemming from major insolvencies. It acts both on behalf of banks and against them and is also able to draw from significant wider strengths in its finance, corporate recovery and financial services departments. Travers Smith boasts notable experience in handling cases with significant cross-border aspects.

White & Case has an impressive team that is highly regarded for its representation of investment banks, especially with regard to financial products litigation, regulatory issues and restructuring matters. It draws on its ancillary expertise in capital markets, restructuring and project finance to field cross-practice teams on complex disputes in the banking sector, and also has experience in financial crime. White & Case represents clients at all levels of court in the UK, as well as in cases that span multiple jurisdictions.

Akin maintains a strong reputation for its representation of investment funds in contentious banking work, with strength in distressed debt disputes, sovereign debt litigation and shareholder activism issues. It offers additional expertise in restructuring disputes and the law applying to third-party litigation. The department is also experienced in international asset recovery matters.

Alston & Bird demonstrates strength in a wide range of banking disputes, regularly acting for international clients, investment banks, hedge funds managers, financial service corporations and more. It is an international firm with the ability to coordinate its advice to clients facing multi-jurisdictional matters.

Baker McKenzie is a well-regarded firm with excellent international reach, able to handle significant disputes with multi-jurisdictional elements. It advises a range of leading financial institutions on cross-border litigation and investigations, alongside roles advising public and regulatory bodies on public law matters. The department boasts further complementary expertise in relation to contentious trusts and white-collar criminal proceedings. Baker McKenzie offers ancillary abilities in international arbitration to help resolve financial disputes.

CMS is regularly instructed by leading institutions across a range of sectors, including domestic and international banks, hedge funds and asset managers. It offers strong technical expertise with respect to financial products and insolvency related litigation, among others

Fieldfisher boasts extensive experience acting for major banks and financial institutions in high-value disputes. The team is adept at handling matters across a range of areas, including fraud and judgment enforcement. The team has particular expertise in cross-border banking disputes, especially in relation to India.

Reed Smith demonstrates strength in banking disputes, regularly acting for a range of major financial institutions in litigation concerning complex financial products. It has experience defending claims of financial mis-selling and market manipulation, as well as complex matters involving fraud and insolvency. It is an international firm with the ability to coordinate its advice to clients facing multi-jurisdictional matters.

Sidley Austin represents large international financial institutions, funds and corporate clients in a wide array of financial litigation. Its areas of expertise include disputes relating to structured finance and product mis-selling, as well as those arising as a result of financial institutions becoming insolvent. The department is able to draw on the firm's international reach to handle high-profile, multi-jurisdictional cases, as well as the ancillary strength of the transactional and restructuring departments, to provide an integrated service.