Ranking tables
Employment | Global
Global: Multi-Jurisdictional
Rankings overview for Departments
All Departments profiles
Band 1

1 Baker McKenzieEmployment2026 | Band 1 | 5 Years RankedBaker McKenzie is noted for its exceptionally broad coverage, with top-notch employment departments across the UK, Europe, Asia-Pacific, including China and Australia, and the USA. The law firm offers:
• Considerable expertise in advising on group restructurings, mass redundancies, integrations, restrictive covenants and mobility issues.
• Special expertise in handling employment aspects of cross-border transactions.
• Proficient handling of complex employee benefits mandates, advising on pensions and share plans
• Experience in acting for clients across a range of sectors, including automotive, industrial, energy, mining, financial institutions, healthcare and communications.
Band 2

2 A&O ShearmanEmployment2026 | Band 2 | 5 Years RankedA&O Shearman is recognised for its notable practice advising on international employment law issues. It has a particularly strong European presence, with recognised offices across the continent, as well as active teams in Hong Kong and China. The law firm offers:
• Regulatory expertise that supports the firm's strength in employment matters.
• Experience in advising clients from a range of sectors, with a particularly strong following among banks and pharmaceutical and technology companies.

2 CMSEmployment2026 | Band 2 | 5 Years RankedCMS is experienced in advising across a wide range of employment law matters, and is recognised for its considerable strength across the UK and Europe, as well as displaying a growing presence in Asia. The law firm offers:
• Experience in acting for clients from an array of industries, including TMT, financial services and transportation.
• Expertise in advising on senior and collective contract termination as well as restructuring, employee transfer and remuneration matters.

2 DLA Piper LLPEmployment2026 | Band 2 | 5 Years RankedDLA Piper is noted for its broad network across Europe, Asia and the UK, and has additional strengths in the USA and Latin America. The law firm offers:
• Experience in advising on the labour aspects of corporate restructurings and post-acquisition integrations
• Proficiency in assisting with cross-border HR policy alignment and compliance, pensions and globality issues.
• Expertise in global investigations and employment litigation, such as cases concerning allegations of workplace discrimination.
• Experience in advising clients from the technology, life sciences, aviation, financial services and retail industries.

2 Eversheds SutherlandEmployment2026 | Band 2 | 4 Years RankedEversheds Sutherlands has a strong reputation for its global reach and international approach to employment matters. The firm has a broad spread of offices across Europe, with notable strength in the UK. The law firm offers:
• Integrated and expert service across multiple jurisdictions.
• Expertise in advising clients from a range of industry sectors, including finance, tech, manufacturing and retail.
• Experience in assisting clients with cross-border HR, employment litigation and contractual matters.

2 FreshfieldsEmployment2026 | Band 2 | 5 Years RankedFreshfields has a highly regarded employment and employee benefits practice that has a strong presence in the UK, Europe and Japan. The law firm offers:
• Advice regarding bonus plans, terminations and a variety of other HR legal queries.
• Excellent capability in contentious employment matters, including litigation, boardroom disputes and industrial relations.
• Considerable experience in whistle-blowing cases, including for the finance industry.
Band 3

3 Clifford Chance LLPEmployment2026 | Band 3 | 4 Years RankedClifford Chance has a market-leading employee benefits team and a robust employment offering, benefiting from a widespread network of offices that is led by a well-regarded team in London. The law firm offers:
• Expert advice on collective employee savings plans and share schemes, and in-depth knowledge of remuneration and incentive arrangements for senior executives
• A multidisciplinary team of experts, covering legal, regulatory and tax advice on large-scale global share plans and incentives issues.
• Skill in advising an array of clients from the financial services, aerospace, retail, technology, energy and real estate sectors on contentious and non-contentious employment matters.

3 Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLPEmployment2026 | Band 3 | 5 Years RankedHerbert Smith Freehills Kramer has a well-regarded practice with strength across a range of employment and employee benefits issues. It is particularly noted for its leading teams in Australia, Singapore and the UK. The law firm offers:
• Experience in advising on litigation and regulatory investigations, including discrimination claims and whistle-blowing procedures.
• Expertise in assisting with boardroom and executive matters, as well as employment law advice during corporate transactions, such as sales, restructurings and acquisitions.
• Further considerable skill in drafting employee and executive share and incentive plans and transfer agreements.

3 Jones DayEmployment2026 | Band 3 | 5 Years RankedJones Day is well regarded for assisting clients with both non-contentious and contentious employment law mandates. It has notable strength in the USA and impressive offices across Europe and Asia. The law firm offers:
• Special strength in advising on the employment law aspects of transactions, particularly cross-border restructurings and M&A matters.
• Experience in representing clients in employment litigation and investigations, including wage and hour class actions.
• Expertise in acting on executive compensation and employee benefits mandates, as well as health and safety issues.

3 LinklatersEmployment2026 | Band 3 | 5 Years RankedLinklaters is recognised for its outstanding employee incentives and share schemes and employment teams, which are highly esteemed by global clients, and boasts particular strength in London. The law firm offers:
• Considerable expertise in advising clients from the pharmaceutical and financial services industries.
• Experience in advising on employment benefits issues related to M&A and other transactions, such as investor buyouts and business sales and separations.
• Proficiency in acting on regulatory matters concerning executive pay and benefits.

3 Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLPEmployment2026 | Band 3 | 5 Years RankedMorgan, Lewis & Bockius is respected for its considerable strength in employee benefits plans and general employment law compliance, and is particularly noted for its significant USA expertise. The law firm offers:
• Expertise in advising startups and public companies on cross-border executive compensation matters.
• Considerable experience in acting for clients from the pharmaceutical, technology, hospitality and food industries.
• Knowledge of handling of litigation, including strike-related disputes and claims of sexual harassment and discrimination.

3 Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLPEmployment2026 | Band 3 | 1 Years RankedOrrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is a global law firm with a strong employment practice across Europe. Japan and, most notably, in the US. The firm offers:
• Expertise advising clients on a wide range of employment mandates, including discrimination class actions, trade secrets and compliance related matters.
• Experience in advising clients from major finance and technology clients.

3 Simmons & Simmons LLPEmployment2026 | Band 3 | 5 Years RankedSimmons & Simmons enjoys a leading reputation for advising on contentious and non-contentious employment matters in the UK and Hong Kong, as well as notable strength in continental Europe. The law firm offers:
• Experience in representing clients from the financial services, TMT and life sciences industries.
• Expertise in handling compliance investigations and employment disputes, including non-competition and business protection litigation.
• Further skill in assisting clients with restructuring, outsourcing and remuneration regulatory matters.
• Knowledge of advising on policy reviews, corporate mandates and executive recruitment.