Ranking tables

Corporate/M&A: High-end Capability | Europe

UK

The below Corporate/M&A: High-end Capability rankings table provides market-leading insights on the top ranked lawyers and law firms whose advice and legal services can be purchased in UK. The rankings are the result of extensive research by our internal research team, who conduct interviews with in-house counsel, other third-party experts and private practice lawyers who have worked alongside them. Use our table and ranking system to identify the most suited provider of legal services for you.

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1

Band 1

  1. A&O Shearman
    1
    A&O Shearman
    Corporate/M&A: High-end Capability
    2024 | Band 1 | 21 Years Ranked
    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.
  2. Clifford Chance LLP
    1
    Clifford Chance LLP
    Corporate/M&A: High-end Capability
    2024 | Band 1 | 15 Years Ranked
    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.
  3. Freshfields
    1
    Freshfields
    Corporate/M&A: High-end Capability
    2024 | Band 1 | 15 Years Ranked
    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.
  4. Linklaters
    1
    Linklaters
    Corporate/M&A: High-end Capability
    2024 | Band 1 | 15 Years Ranked
    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.
  5. Slaughter and May
    1
    Slaughter and May
    Corporate/M&A: High-end Capability
    2024 | Band 1 | 15 Years Ranked
    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.
2

Band 2

  1. Latham & Watkins
    2
    Latham & Watkins
    Corporate/M&A: High-end Capability
    2024 | Band 2 | 13 Years Ranked
    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) LLP
    2
    Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP
    Corporate/M&A: High-end Capability
    2024 | Band 2 | 14 Years Ranked
    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.
3

Band 3

  1. Herbert Smith Freehills
    3
    Herbert Smith Freehills
    Corporate/M&A: High-end Capability
    2024 | Band 3 | 15 Years Ranked
    Herbert Smith Freehills has a well-regarded practice that is often instructed on high-value cross-border transactions and prominent acquisition and disposal deals, earning a strong reputation for its abilities in public M&A. Its client base includes numerous well-known blue-chip companies, leading investment banks and sovereign wealth funds. The department's broad sector expertise spans financial services, technology and real estate.
  2. Ashurst
    Corporate/M&A: High-end Capability
    2024 | Band 3
  3. Macfarlanes LLP
    Corporate/M&A: High-end Capability
    2024 | Band 3
4

Band 4

  1. Baker McKenzie
    4
    Baker McKenzie
    Corporate/M&A: High-end Capability
    2024 | Band 4 | 10 Years Ranked
    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.
  2. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
    4
    Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
    Corporate/M&A: High-end Capability
    2024 | Band 4 | 14 Years Ranked
    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.
  3. Hogan Lovells
    4
    Hogan Lovells
    Corporate/M&A: High-end Capability
    2024 | Band 4 | 15 Years Ranked
    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 LLP
    4
    Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
    Corporate/M&A: High-end Capability
    2024 | Band 4 | 10 Years Ranked
    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.
5

Band 5

  1. Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
    5
    Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
    Corporate/M&A: High-end Capability
    2024 | Band 5 | 2 Years Ranked
    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.
  2. Jones Day
    5
    Jones Day
    Corporate/M&A: High-end Capability
    2024 | Band 5 | 9 Years Ranked
    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.
  3. Norton Rose Fulbright
    5
    Norton Rose Fulbright
    Corporate/M&A: High-end Capability
    2024 | Band 5 | 12 Years Ranked
    Norton Rose Fulbright is well known for its expertise in complex cross-border transactions, including deals in Europe, the Americas and Africa. It is highly regarded for its expertise in the energy and commodities fields, and has experience of acting for clients in the technology, healthcare and transport industries. The department's client base is composed of significant corporates and investment banks.
  4. Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP
    5
    Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP
    Corporate/M&A: High-end Capability
    2024 | Band 5 | 14 Years Ranked
    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 LLP
    5
    White & Case LLP
    Corporate/M&A: High-end Capability
    2024 | Band 5 | 13 Years Ranked
    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.
  6. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
    Corporate/M&A: High-end Capability
    2024 | Band 5