UK London (Firms) Corporate/M&A: £100-800 million

DLA Piper offers a strong platform for mid-market deals, frequently acting for companies from sectors such as energy, infrastructure and technology. It calls 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.

Macfarlanes 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 include recent experience in the USA, Europe and Australasia.

Travers Smith maintains a highly respected corporate group advising 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.

Addleshaw Goddard represents an array of FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 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.

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner 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, with other sectors covered including energy, healthcare and retail. BCLP benefits from a stable of dual English- and US-qualified lawyers.

Eversheds Sutherland houses a dedicated team that is often instructed by household names on complex cross-border transactions, with notable strengths acting for major multinationals. Its sector expertise covers real estate, energy, natural resources and financial services, among others. The department boasts additional international expertise advising on transactions in Asia and EMEA. Eversheds Sutherland has recognised expertise in competition and regulatory compliance.

Greenberg 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 USA to assist on cross-border work.

Jones 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 USA. The firm's areas of focus include transactions in the real estate, life sciences, industrial and defence sectors.

Dechert 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.

Dentons is proficient in cross-border deals in mature and emerging markets, with geographic expertise in Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. It is active in a range of sectors, and especially strong in energy and hospitality transactions. The department works closely with a clientele of major corporates, sponsors and financial institutions.

Mayer 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 going-private transactions. Mayer Brown offers considerable skill in cross-border matters, with strengths in deals involving North America and Asia.

Osborne 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.

Shearman & Sterling maintains a respected practice that focuses on cross-border transactions, usually in the hundreds of millions, drawing from a pool of US-qualified lawyers and experts in European and Asian transactions. It often works with clients from the telecommunications, healthcare, financial services, energy and transport sectors. Clients also benefit from a strong multi-jurisdictional regulatory practice.

Taylor 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.

Cooley advises a diverse client base of FTSE 250 companies, startups 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.

Covington & Burling enjoys notable 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 a London-based US team to advise on US law aspects of cross-border transactions.

Fieldfisher handles domestic and cross-border transactions, with experience advising on deals involving companies in the CIS and USA. It is particularly strong in the energy, technology and media sectors, where it acts for both corporate clients and institutional investors.

K&L Gates' key areas of focus include real estate, energy, infrastructure and natural resources transactions. It provides a strong international offering, regularly handling transactions involving continental Europe and the Middle East. The department is particularly proficient in advising US companies on cross-border acquisitions into the UK and Europe, as part of a broad client base of corporate entities and financial sponsors.

Paul Hastings enjoys extensive international reach and is particularly prominent in transactions with a US dimension. It is proficient in the handling of public and private M&A and joint venture work across a number of sectors, including technology, infrastructure and entertainment. Its cross-border expertise extends across deals involving Asian and European jurisdictions.

Squire 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 niche expertise in football club takeovers. The department acts for numerous corporates and investment banks.