Ranking tables
Corporate/M&A: £5 million and above | UK
West Midlands
Rankings overview for Departments
Band 1
DLA Piper UK LLP 2 Years Ranked
Gowling WLG (UK) LLP 2 Years Ranked- Eversheds Sutherland
Band 2
Senior Statespeople
Eminent Practitioners
- Keri ReesEversheds Sutherland
Band 1
Band 2
Chris Towle Gowling WLG (UK) LLP3 Years Ranked
David Vaughan Gowling WLG (UK) LLP23 Years Ranked
Lee Clifford Freeths LLP11 Years Ranked
Mike Jackson Browne Jacobson LLP7 Years Ranked- Nicole Livesey Pinsent Masons LLP5 Years Ranked
Noel Haywood DLA Piper UK LLP17 Years Ranked
Ragi Singh Gowling WLG (UK) LLP3 Years Ranked
Tim Lake DLA Piper UK LLP8 Years Ranked- Catherine EleyEversheds Sutherland
- Nigel CookeEversheds Sutherland
Band 3
- Adam McGiveron Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP8 Years Ranked
Alistair Hammerton Shoosmiths LLP3 Years Ranked- Andrew Glaze Squire Patton Boggs5 Years Ranked
- Andrew Hornigold Pinsent Masons LLP19 Years Ranked
Ben Turner Shoosmiths LLP2 Years Ranked
Edward Dawes Keystone Law24 Years Ranked- Emma Bryant Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP1 Years Ranked
- Geoff Perry Squire Patton Boggs17 Years Ranked
- Julian Smith Mills & Reeve LLP20 Years Ranked
Kavita Patel Shakespeare Martineau14 Years Ranked
Paul Cliff Gateley Legal23 Years Ranked
Richard Wrigley Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP23 Years Ranked
Robert Newman DLA Piper UK LLP2 Years Ranked- Simon Wright DLA Piper UK LLP1 Years Ranked
- Steven HackingEversheds Sutherland
Up and Coming
All Departments profiles
Band 1
1 DLA Piper UK LLPCorporate/M&A: £5 million and above2025 | Band 1 | 2 Years RankedDLA Piper UK has an integrated national practice together with an unrivalled global presence. The team is distinguished by its ability to resource high-value and strategically important transactions involving public companies and the equity capital markets. The firm provides corporate counsel to a substantial client base of high-profile businesses both locally and around the world. Its recent work includes significant M&A for engineering, aerospace and life sciences companies.1 Gowling WLG (UK) LLPCorporate/M&A: £5 million and above2025 | Band 1 | 2 Years RankedGowling WLG has deep roots in the region as well as strength in cross-border transactions. The group is knowledgeable about automotive industry transactions, as well as high-value real estate deals, along with a range of matters affecting local entrepreneurs. The firm's client list includes many high-profile global property owners and private equity firms. The team continues to advise clients on high-profile M&A, joint ventures and restructurings.
Band 2
2 Browne Jacobson LLPCorporate/M&A: £5 million and above2025 | Band 2 | 2 Years RankedBrowne Jacobson is a well-regarded Midlands firm with traditional strengths in M&A and private equity, and healthy specialisms in public company and investment funds work. The group is respected for its ability to lead transactions with a cross-border element. The team has further capabilities in business restructurings and disposals.2 Gateley LegalCorporate/M&A: £5 million and above2025 | Band 2 | 2 Years RankedGateley Legal is regularly instructed by a range of clients including local entrepreneurs, national private equity houses and overseas corporates. The group is broad in focus but especially prominent in the retail and real estate sectors. The team handles a varied portfolio of work, tackling highly complex national and cross-border deals. The firm possesses particular expertise in advising management teams on transactions, including buyouts and sales.
2 Pinsent Masons LLPCorporate/M&A: £5 million and above2025 | Band 2 | 2 Years RankedPinsent Masons has a leading international practice with a sizeable presence in the region. The firm takes a sector-led approach, with many significant clients in energy, technology, healthcare and manufacturing. The group is well versed in advising businesses on a comprehensive array of growth-oriented functions, including complex, high-profile cross-border acquisitions. Its lawyers are particularly skilled at advising on transactions involving complex regulatory issues.
2 Shoosmiths LLPCorporate/M&A: £5 million and above2025 | Band 2 | 2 Years RankedShoosmiths has deep roots in the local area and a loyal following of clients in the private equity sector. The team is also known for its M&A work and public company expertise. The firm continues to be active in the venture capital sector both regionally and nationally, and is frequently involved in transactions with a cross-border element.
2 Squire Patton BoggsCorporate/M&A: £5 million and above2025 | Band 2 | 2 Years RankedSquire Patton Boggs has a strong mid-market practice with expertise in private equity, equity capital markets and M&A. The group has notable sector specialisms in manufacturing, healthcare and retail. The team offers expertise in counselling public and private companies of all sizes. Lawyers at the firm possess significant capability in relation to transactions with cross-jurisdictional elements.
Band 3
3 Freeths LLPCorporate/M&A: £5 million and above2025 | Band 3 | 2 Years RankedFreeths has a team of private equity specialists in the West Midlands who frequently act for both investors and management teams, while also retaining strength in M&A transactions. The group is supported by experts in a range of complementary disciplines including pensions, tax and competition law. Its work portfolio includes due diligence, corporate restructuring, MBOs and MBIs, and sales. The department evidences continued activity on corporate transactions with international elements.
3 Mills & Reeve LLPCorporate/M&A: £5 million and above2025 | Band 3 | 2 Years RankedThe Mills & Reeve corporate team in the West Midlands has a strong healthcare focus. The team is regularly instructed by large and publicly listed corporates to undertake M&A, private equity and equity capital markets work. The entire group demonstrates capabilities in the private sector business world. The firm also possesses the ability to advise on transactions with cross-jurisdictional aspects.
3 Penningtons Manches Cooper LLPCorporate/M&A: £5 million and above2025 | Band 3 | 1 Years RankedPenningtons Manches Cooper is recognised for servicing mid-market clients in the region on a range of corporate deals. The team is recognised for its domestic and international transactional work and particularly recognised for assisting clients on acquisitions, sales and funding rounds. It services clients in a range of sectors including automotive and technology.
3 Shakespeare MartineauCorporate/M&A: £5 million and above2025 | Band 3 | 2 Years RankedShakespeare Martineau has strength and depth across the region and the capacity to lead significant transactions, including those with a cross-border element. The group is regularly instructed by investment funds and corporates in the energy sector. The firm benefits from extensive European and global outreach and networking in facilitating deals of high value and complexity. It also possesses a strong practice advising clients on employee ownership structures.