Ranking tables
Corporate/M&A: £100-800 million | UK
London (Firms)
Rankings overview for Departments
Band 1
Band 2
Addleshaw Goddard LLP 3 Years Ranked
Dentons 3 Years Ranked
Jones Day 3 Years Ranked- Eversheds Sutherland
Band 3
Band 4
Bird & Bird 3 Years Ranked
Cooley LLP 3 Years Ranked
Covington & Burling LLP 3 Years Ranked
Dechert LLP 3 Years Ranked
Fieldfisher 3 Years Ranked
Goodwin 1 Years Ranked
K&L Gates 3 Years Ranked
Pinsent Masons 3 Years Ranked
Reed Smith LLP 3 Years Ranked
Sidley Austin LLP 1 Years Ranked- Simmons & Simmons LLP 3 Years Ranked
Squire Patton Boggs 3 Years Ranked
Stephenson Harwood LLP 1 Years Ranked
Watson Farley & Williams 1 Years Ranked
Senior Statespeople
Eminent Practitioners
Band 1
Band 2
- Andrew Edge Taylor Wessing LLP17 Years Ranked
- Benjamin Lee Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP8 Years Ranked
Fiona Adams Greenberg Traurig, LLP14 Years Ranked
Leon N Ferera Jones Day14 Years Ranked- Michael Goldberg Taylor Wessing LLP17 Years Ranked
Rob Salter DLA Piper LLP14 Years Ranked- Spencer Summerfield Travers Smith LLP25 Years Ranked
Band 3
Howard Corney Macfarlanes LLP13 Years Ranked
Louise Wallace CMS17 Years Ranked
Michal Berkner McDermott Will & Emery UK LLP11 Years Ranked- Neil Nicholson Dentons8 Years Ranked
- Paul Tetlow K&L Gates13 Years Ranked
Richard Page Mayer Brown International LLP12 Years Ranked
William Charnley King & Spalding International LLP24 Years Ranked- Robin JohnsonEversheds Sutherland
Band 4
- Ben Shribman Cooley LLP1 Years Ranked
- Christopher Taylor Addleshaw Goddard LLP1 Years Ranked
Henrietta Walker Greenberg Traurig, LLP9 Years Ranked- Jinal Shah Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP8 Years Ranked
Louise Nash Covington & Burling LLP15 Years Ranked- Matthew Bonass Bird & Bird16 Years Ranked
Matthew Poxon Paul Hastings (Europe) LLP2 Years Ranked
Michael Young Reed Smith LLP1 Years Ranked- Neil Blundell Bird & Bird19 Years Ranked
Philip Taylor Reed Smith LLP9 Years Ranked
Robert Bishop DLA Piper LLP9 Years Ranked
Sarah Moyles Greenberg Traurig, LLP2 Years Ranked- Chris HallidayEversheds Sutherland
All Departments profiles
Band 1
1 CMSCorporate/M&A: £100-800 million2025 | Band 1 | 3 Years RankedCMS boasts a high-quality practice housing a substantial pool of corporate specialists. It is routinely engaged by leading names in the energy, infrastructure and technology fields to advise on mid-market transactions, with additional sector focus on media and financial services deals. CMS has an extensive global footprint that includes particular strength in the CEE region.
1 DLA Piper LLPCorporate/M&A: £100-800 million2025 | Band 1 | 3 Years RankedDLA Piper maintains a strong platform for deals across a range of sizes, but is especially recommended for transactions with values in the hundreds of millions. It frequently acts for companies from sectors such as energy, infrastructure and technology. It is able to call upon a strong global network of international offices to bolster its skill in cross-border work, with particular expertise across Asia and the EMEA region.
1 Macfarlanes LLPCorporate/M&A: £100-800 million2025 | Band 1 | 3 Years RankedMacfarlanes boasts a leading practice that is able to advise on deals of both under and above £1 billion. It has experience of advising high-profile names on a range of transactions, including acquisitions, disposals and joint ventures. It is well versed in high-end deals, often acting on international mandates for corporates and financial institutions. The department is also regularly called upon to advise management and director teams on M&A. It has broad international capabilities and has experience of deals involving the US, Europe and Australasia.
1 Travers Smith LLPCorporate/M&A: £100-800 million2025 | Band 1 | 3 Years RankedTravers Smith maintains a highly respected corporate group that advises sponsors and corporates on the full spectrum of transactional work, with significant sector strengths in financial services, infrastructure, retail and technology. It is regularly involved in deals with a global footprint, including those involving European and North American interests. The firm possesses significant expertise in deals with a value in the hundreds of millions, but also maintains the capability to advise on transactions worth over £1 billion.
Band 2
2 Addleshaw Goddard LLPCorporate/M&A: £100-800 million2025 | Band 2 | 3 Years RankedAddleshaw Goddard represents an array of FTSE100 and FTSE250 corporates, with notable expertise in energy, real estate, retail and financial services transactions. Its private equity strength is also noted. The department handles a wide range of domestic and international work, with a wealth of expertise in matters concerning India and Africa.2 DentonsCorporate/M&A: £100-800 million2025 | Band 2 | 3 Years RankedDentons is proficient in cross-border deals in mature and emerging markets, with expertise in Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. It is active in a range of sectors, and is especially strong in energy and hospitality transactions. The department works closely with a clientele of major corporates, sponsors and financial institutions.2 Jones DayCorporate/M&A: £100-800 million2025 | Band 2 | 3 Years RankedJones Day has an established practice that is frequently engaged on high-end and mid-market transactions such as acquisitions, disposals and joint ventures. Its international network enables it to maintain strength in international deals, particularly in Europe, Asia and the US. The firm's areas of focus include transactions in the real estate, life sciences, industrial and defence sectors.
Band 3
3 Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLPCorporate/M&A: £100-800 million2025 | Band 3 | 3 Years RankedBCLP houses a high-quality corporate team with substantial expertise in domestic and international deal work, calling upon a strong international network for cross-border deals. It has notable strength in mid-market real estate transactions, as well as those involving energy, healthcare and retail. BCLP benefits from a stable of dual English and US-qualified lawyers.
3 Greenberg Traurig, LLPCorporate/M&A: £100-800 million2025 | Band 3 | 3 Years RankedGreenberg Traurig regularly advises on transactions for clients in the pharmaceutical, chemicals, telecommunications, and manufacturing sectors. It fields expertise in a broad range of areas, such as M&A, joint ventures, real estate deals and shareholder agreements. The department counts a number of significant corporates and financial institutions among its client base and leverages strong resources in the US to assist on cross-border work.
3 Mayer Brown International LLPCorporate/M&A: £100-800 million2025 | Band 3 | 3 Years RankedMayer Brown regularly works with well-known names from the media, chemicals, energy, healthcare and real estate arenas. Its areas of expertise include acquisitions, joint ventures and take-private transactions. Mayer Brown offers considerable skill in cross-border matters, with particular strength in deals involving North America and Asia.
3 Osborne Clarke LLPCorporate/M&A: £100-800 million2025 | Band 3 | 3 Years RankedOsborne Clarke has a strong offering in domestic upper mid-market deals and is increasingly involved in transactions arising in the Middle East and Asia to add to its cross-border experience across Europe and the USA. It is considered to be a go-to practice for many in the digital business sector and it acts for a number of household names in the media and communications industries. Osborne Clarke is also active in other fields, such as real estate, life sciences and energy.
3 Taylor Wessing LLPCorporate/M&A: £100-800 million2025 | Band 3 | 3 Years RankedTaylor Wessing acts on the full spectrum of corporate issues, including take-private transactions and M&A. It is particularly active in the mid-market and often advises on international matters relating to the Middle East or Asia. Its sector strengths include life sciences, retail and consumer. The department's corporate offering is complemented by strong growth capital and financing groups, with a dedicated focus on corporate technology.
Band 4
4 Bird & BirdCorporate/M&A: £100-800 million2025 | Band 4 | 3 Years RankedBird & Bird leverages its impressive talents in technology and IP-rich industries, including media, energy and retail, to advise on a wide range of corporate matters, with solid expertise in mid-market deals. It is experienced in cross-border mergers and overseas transactions more generally.4 Cooley LLPCorporate/M&A: £100-800 million2025 | Band 4 | 3 Years RankedCooley advises a diverse client base of FTSE250 companies, start-ups and financial sponsors on a broad suite of corporate transactions. It has particular industry expertise in technology, media, life sciences and telecommunications. Cooley is well positioned to assist on international deals, especially those involving US and Asian interests.4 Covington & Burling LLPCorporate/M&A: £100-800 million2025 | Band 4 | 3 Years RankedCovington & Burling has considerable strength in life sciences transactions, and also handles matters in the media, technology and communications sectors. It advises across the spectrum of corporate transactions, with particular experience in deals with significant IP implications. The department can draw on the London-based US team to advise on US law aspects of cross-border transactions.4 Dechert LLPCorporate/M&A: £100-800 million2025 | Band 4 | 3 Years RankedDechert is regularly engaged on domestic and international deals, including matters in emerging markets. It has notable sector strengths in financial services, life sciences and TMT. The team is a mix of both UK and US-qualified lawyers, offering a full service to a range of corporates and financial institutions. The corporate offering is bolstered by ancillary expertise in investment funds and financial services regulation.4 FieldfisherCorporate/M&A: £100-800 million2025 | Band 4 | 3 Years RankedFieldfisher handles domestic and cross-border transactions, with experience of advising on deals involving companies in the USA. It is particularly strong in the energy, technology and media sectors, where it acts for both corporate clients and institutional investors.4 GoodwinCorporate/M&A: £100-800 million2025 | Band 4 | 1 Years RankedGoodwin has extensive experience of advising clients on both UK and cross-border M&A transactions. It is able to call upon its strong global presence to counsel on matters with US and European interests. The firm boasts notable expertise in the life sciences, technology and real estate sectors. The department is able to assist high-profile clients on divestitures, joint ventures and asset deals, among other matters.4 K&L GatesCorporate/M&A: £100-800 million2025 | Band 4 | 3 Years RankedK&L Gates' key areas of focus include transactions in the real estate, energy, infrastructure and natural resources spaces. It provides a strong international offering, regularly advising on deals involving continental Europe and the Middle East. The department is particularly proficient in representing US companies on cross-border acquisitions into the UK and Europe, as part of a broad client base of corporate entities and financial sponsors.4 Pinsent MasonsCorporate/M&A: £100-800 million2025 | Band 4 | 3 Years RankedPinsent Masons handles both domestic and international deal work for FTSE250 and AIM-listed clients. It continues to grow its profile in cross-border work, with a particular focus on the Asia-Pacific and EMEA regions, and has advised on numerous UK inbound transactions. It has a strong focus on transactions in the energy, technology, infrastructure, healthcare, retail and life sciences fields. The department has additional capabilities representing investment banks and other financial sponsors.4 Reed Smith LLPCorporate/M&A: £100-800 million2025 | Band 4 | 3 Years RankedReed Smith is active on a wealth of corporate matters, including cross-border, public and private transactions. It draws from an extensive global platform across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the USA to offer an integrated service on corporate deals. The department is well known for working with companies from the technology, energy, life sciences and defence sectors, among others.4 Sidley Austin LLPCorporate/M&A: £100-800 million2025 | Band 4 | 1 Years RankedSidley Austin boasts notable experience advising clients in the life sciences, technology and financial services sectors on complex M&A transactions. The firm leverages its strong global offering to counsel on deals across the US and Europe. The firm regularly works with notable corporates and financial investors on significant mid-market deals.4 Simmons & Simmons LLPCorporate/M&A: £100-800 million2025 | Band 4 | 3 Years RankedSimmons & Simmons has recognised strength advising corporates and financial institutions on domestic and international deals with values in the hundreds of millions. It is highly skilled in a number of areas, including public takeovers, joint ventures and private sales. The department has sector-specific capabilities in life sciences, technology and the media. It exhibits strength representing clients in shareholder activism situations and has a growing presence in fintech.4 Squire Patton BoggsCorporate/M&A: £100-800 million2025 | Band 4 | 3 Years RankedSquire Patton Boggs is adept at both domestic and international deals, supported by regional and global offices, with a particular focus on deals involving continental Europe, China and the USA. It is particularly active in media, energy, utilities and financial services M&A, alongside specialist expertise in football club takeovers. The department acts for numerous corporates and investment banks.4 Stephenson Harwood LLPCorporate/M&A: £100-800 million2025 | Band 4 | 1 Years RankedStephenson Harwood assists a host of clients with domestic and international deal work, and is experienced in working with acquirers and sellers. It is particularly strong on transport, energy, consumer goods and real estate transactions. The department is able to call upon a roster of sector experts to advise on transactions in highly regulated industries, including healthcare and financial services.4 Watson Farley & WilliamsCorporate/M&A: £100-800 million2025 | Band 4 | 1 Years RankedWatson Farley & Williams is noted for its capabilities in maritime, energy and infrastructure transactions. It works with a diverse range of clients, including private equity houses and AIM-listed corporates. The department is frequently engaged in cross-border work, with strengths in transactions involving Europe and Asia.