Ranking tables
Corporate/M&A: High-end Capability | Europe
UK
Rankings overview for Departments
Senior Statespeople
- James Palmer Herbert Smith Freehills18 Years Ranked
- Adam SignySimpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Eminent Practitioners
Band 1
Band 2
Band 3
- George Knighton Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP6 Years Ranked
- Iain Fenn Linklaters5 Years Ranked
- Nicholas A Cline Latham & Watkins10 Years Ranked
- Nick Rumsby Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP8 Years Ranked
- Stephen Wilkinson Herbert Smith Freehills12 Years Ranked
- Tihir Sarkar Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP3 Years Ranked
- Will Pearce Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP9 Years Ranked
Band 4
- Andrew Hutchings Freshfields2 Years Ranked
- Edward Barnett Latham & Watkins2 Years Ranked
- Jeremy Kutner Sullivan & Cromwell LLP4 Years Ranked
- Katherine Moir Clifford Chance LLP4 Years Ranked
- Melissa Fogarty Clifford Chance LLP1 Years Ranked
- Oliver Lazenby Freshfields5 Years Ranked
- Seth Jones A&O Shearman1 Years Ranked
- Simon Branigan Linklaters1 Years Ranked
- Ben SpiersSimpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
- Thomas J MercerAshurst
Band 5
- Bruce Embley Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP2 Years Ranked
- Charles Currier CMS7 Years Ranked
- David Avery-Gee Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP1 Years Ranked
- Gavin Davies Herbert Smith Freehills1 Years Ranked
- Jannan Crozier Baker McKenzie1 Years Ranked
- Jennifer Bethlehem Freshfields1 Years Ranked
- Mark Bardell Herbert Smith Freehills1 Years Ranked
- Patrick Sarch White & Case LLP2 Years Ranked
- Paul Whitelock Norton Rose Fulbright2 Years Ranked
- Philip Cheveley Sidley Austin LLP11 Years Ranked
- Rebecca Cousin Slaughter and May1 Years Ranked
- Richard Browne A&O Shearman1 Years Ranked
- Richard Butterwick Latham & Watkins1 Years Ranked
- Richard Hough A&O Shearman15 Years Ranked
- Harry CoghillMacfarlanes LLP
All Departments profiles
Band 1
1 A&O ShearmanCorporate/M&A: High-end Capability2024 | Band 1 | 21 Years RankedShearman & 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.1 Clifford Chance LLPCorporate/M&A: High-end Capability2024 | Band 1 | 15 Years RankedClifford 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 FreshfieldsCorporate/M&A: High-end Capability2024 | Band 1 | 15 Years RankedFreshfields 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: High-end Capability2024 | Band 1 | 15 Years RankedLinklaters 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: High-end Capability2024 | Band 1 | 15 Years RankedSlaughter 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: High-end Capability2024 | Band 2 | 13 Years RankedLatham & 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: High-end Capability2024 | Band 2 | 14 Years RankedSkadden 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 Herbert Smith FreehillsCorporate/M&A: High-end Capability2024 | Band 3 | 15 Years RankedHerbert 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.
Band 4
4 Baker McKenzieCorporate/M&A: High-end Capability2024 | Band 4 | 10 Years RankedBaker 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: High-end Capability2024 | Band 4 | 14 Years RankedCleary 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: High-end Capability2024 | Band 4 | 15 Years RankedHogan 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: High-end Capability2024 | Band 4 | 10 Years RankedSullivan & 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: High-end Capability2024 | Band 5 | 2 Years RankedDavis 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: High-end Capability2024 | Band 5 | 9 Years RankedJones 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 Norton Rose FulbrightCorporate/M&A: High-end Capability2024 | Band 5 | 12 Years RankedNorton 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.5 Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLPCorporate/M&A: High-end Capability2024 | Band 5 | 14 Years RankedWeil, 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: High-end Capability2024 | Band 5 | 13 Years RankedWhite & 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.