Ranking tables
UK London (Firms) Corporate/M&A: £800 million and above
Senior Statespeople
Adam Signy Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Charles Martin Macfarlanes LLP- James PalmerHerbert Smith Freehills
Eminent Practitioners
Band 1
Band 2
Band 3
George Knighton Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP- Iain Fenn Linklaters
Jeremy Parr Allen & Overy LLP
Nicholas A Cline Latham & Watkins
Nick Rumsby Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
Tihir Sarkar Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
Will Pearce Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP- Stephen WilkinsonHerbert Smith Freehills
Band 4
Andrew Hutchings Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Ben Spiers Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Edward Barnett Latham & Watkins- Jeremy Kutner Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Katherine Moir Clifford Chance LLP
Melissa Fogarty Clifford Chance LLP
Oliver Lazenby Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Seth Jones Allen & Overy LLP- Simon Branigan Linklaters
- Thomas J MercerAshurst
Band 5
Bruce Embley Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP
David Avery-Gee Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP
Harry Coghill Macfarlanes LLP- Jannan Crozier Baker McKenzie
Jennifer Bethlehem Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
John Adebiyi Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP- Patrick Sarch Hogan Lovells
Philip Cheveley Sidley Austin LLP
Rebecca Cousin Slaughter and May
Richard Browne Allen & Overy LLP
Richard Butterwick Latham & Watkins
Richard Hough Allen & Overy LLP- Charles CurrierCMS
- Gavin DaviesHerbert Smith Freehills
- Mark BardellHerbert Smith Freehills
- Paul WhitelockNorton Rose Fulbright
Up and Coming
Associates to watch
Band 1
1 Allen & Overy LLPCorporate/M&A: £800 million and above2024 | Band 1 |Allen & Overy maintains a renowned practice with a strong pedigree in cross-border deals, assisted by an extensive network of offices across Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. It is frequently instructed on transactions in the TMT, energy and consumer goods sectors. The department demonstrates excellent strength in corporate financing work, drawing from a pool of financing and capital markets experts to offer a full M&A service. Its typical deal size ranges from the hundreds of millions to the multibillions.
1 Clifford Chance LLPCorporate/M&A: £800 million and above2024 | Band 1 |Clifford Chance remains a leading choice for transactional work. It often handles deals in the financial services, energy and retail sectors, among others. The transactions it advises on often carry a value of £1 billion or above. Its client base includes FTSE100 corporates and household name financial institutions. The department regularly assists with complex cross-border mandates, with a notable emerging markets practice in Africa. Clifford Chance's corporate service is bolstered by strong competition and regulatory compliance expertise.
1 Freshfields Bruckhaus DeringerCorporate/M&A: £800 million and above2024 | Band 1 |Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer houses a heavyweight M&A practice with a proven track record in complex domestic and cross-border transactions, calling upon a strong roster of expert transactional lawyers with deep experience in the field. It is considered the first port of call for a distinguished and international client base in industries including telecommunications, oil and gas, and food and drink. Freshfields has a strong presence across Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
1 LinklatersCorporate/M&A: £800 million and above2024 | Band 1 |Linklaters maintains a highly sophisticated corporate practice that enjoys an outstanding reputation for complex M&A work. It consistently acts on landmark cross-border deals, servicing industry-leading clients from the energy, healthcare and TMT sectors, among numerous others. Its clients also benefit from a market-leading borrower-side finance practice that can assist with high-value deal work. Linklaters' extensive international footprint covers Europe, the Americas and East Asia.1 Slaughter and MayCorporate/M&A: £800 million and above2024 | Band 1 |Slaughter and May maintains a commanding position for its skill in the most sophisticated and high-value transactional work. It can call upon a deep bench of lawyers capable of handling domestic and cross-border deals of the highest complexity. Its enviable roster of clients includes numerous FTSE100 companies operating across a range of sectors, including technology and financial services. The firm retains close relationships with investment banks and private equity sponsors.
Band 2
2 Latham & WatkinsCorporate/M&A: £800 million and above2024 | Band 2 |Latham & Watkins enjoys a strong platform for international deal work, with considerable strength in transactions involving Europe, Asia and the US. It assists clients on a range of matters, including distressed M&A and ECM, and its transactions often have values in the billions. The department's impressive client base includes notable names from a wide range of sectors. Latham & Watkins retains close relationships with private equity sponsors and investment banks.
2 Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLPCorporate/M&A: £800 million and above2024 | Band 2 |Skadden offers an exceptional platform for transatlantic corporate deals, with recognised strength in cross-border M&A and US inbound work. It demonstrates considerable strength on domestic and pan-European matters. The department's impressive bench covers numerous sectors, including pharmaceutical, telecommunications, insurance and financial services. Skadden's client base comprises numerous household-name corporations and financial sponsors.
Band 3
3 Macfarlanes LLPCorporate/M&A: £800 million and above2024 | Band 3 |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, including recent experience in the US, Europe and Australasia.
Band 4
4 Baker McKenzieCorporate/M&A: £800 million and above2024 | Band 4 |Baker McKenzie has extensive experience in cross-border transactions, aided by an impressive international presence that gives it access to the European, pan-American and Asia-Pacific markets. It is often instructed by leading names in the technology, industrial, consumer goods and healthcare sectors. The department is able to benefit from the firm's tax planning practice, merger control expertise, and dedicated post-acquisition units.
4 Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLPCorporate/M&A: £800 million and above2024 | Band 4 |Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton is often engaged in complex multi-jurisdictional transactions, with deep expertise in deals involving Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. It represents a broad range of clients, including financial institutions, private equity firms, public companies and private entities.
4 Hogan LovellsCorporate/M&A: £800 million and above2024 | Band 4 |Hogan Lovells has significant experience in international M&A, including transatlantic deals involving clients from the regulated industries. Its areas of focus include energy and natural resources, financial services, life sciences and media. It regularly works with well-known corporates, financial investors and institutions. The department has additional cross-border experience of deals involving Europe and Asia.
4 Sullivan & Cromwell LLPCorporate/M&A: £800 million and above2024 | Band 4 |Sullivan & Cromwell has experience of both UK deals and cross-border M&A, with expertise across a wide range of sectors. It maintains strong relationships with corporates and banks operating across Europe and the USA, and is often instructed by leading private equity houses and listed companies. The department is active on transactions occurring across a wide range of sectors.
Band 5
5 Davis Polk & Wardwell LLPCorporate/M&A: £800 million and above2024 | Band 5 |Davis Polk has a strong London offering whose UK and US-qualified lawyers handle a range of corporate transactions, notably those with transatlantic dimensions. Its client base of public and private companies and investment banks looks to the firm for counsel in high-end M&A. The department has demonstrable capabilities in the TMT, financial services and energy sectors.
5 Jones DayCorporate/M&A: £800 million and above2024 | Band 5 |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 US. The firm's areas of focus include transactions in the real estate, life sciences, industrial and defence sectors.
5 Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLPCorporate/M&A: £800 million and above2024 | Band 5 |Simpson Thacher & Bartlett concentrates on transactional work for well-known corporates and leading private equity firms. It houses both English and US-qualified lawyers who are adept at handling international work. The department is able to count on a leading sponsor-side financial institutions practice to advise on related practice areas.
5 Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLPCorporate/M&A: £800 million and above2024 | Band 5 |Weil, Gotshal & Manges is often called upon to advise on high-value international M&A, particularly with regard to transactions involving Europe, the USA and Asia. It maintains a broad sector coverage that includes companies in the TMT, retail, energy, healthcare, pharmaceutical and financial services industries. The department also retains connections with investment banks, financial advisers and major private equity houses.
5 White & Case LLPCorporate/M&A: £800 million and above2024 | Band 5 |White & Case is well placed to advise on cross-border matters, including M&A, joint ventures and disposals, supported by a strong network of international offices across the EMEA region, Asia and the USA. It is experienced in deal work across a range of sectors, including infrastructure, telecommunications and financial services. White & Case acts for corporates and financial institutions, including advising financial sponsors on M&A. It also represents clients in shareholder activism situations.