UK London (Firms) Corporate/M&A: £800 million and above

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 FTSE 100 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.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer hosts 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.

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 assisting with high-value deal work. Linklaters' extensive international footprint covers Europe, the Americas and East Asia.

Slaughter and May maintains a commanding position for its skill in the most sophisticated and high-value transactional work, calling 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 FTSE 100 companies operating across a range of sectors, including technology and financial services. The firm retains close relationships with investment banks and private equity sponsors.

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 in domestic and pan-European matters. The firm's impressive bench covers numerous sectors, including pharmaceutical, telecommunications, insurance and financial services. Skadden's client base is composed of a number of household-name corporations and financial sponsors.

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.

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.

Cleary Gottlieb 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.

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.

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 counts upon a leading sponsor-side financial institutions practice to advise on related practice areas.

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.

Davis Polk & Wardwell has a strong London offering whose UK and US-qualified lawyers handle a range of corporate transactions, notably those with transatlantic cross-border dimensions. Its client base of public and private companies and investment banks look to the firm for counsel in high-end M&A. The department has demonstrable capabilities in the TMT, financial services and energy sectors.

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.

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 which 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.

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 deals. It also represents clients in shareholder activism situations.