Ranking tables
Employment | Global
UK
Rankings overview for Departments
Clifford Chance LLP 16 Years Ranked
Clyde & Co LLP 15 Years Ranked
Eversheds Sutherland 16 Years Ranked
Freshfields 16 Years Ranked
Linklaters 16 Years Ranked- DAC Beachcroft LLP
- Fox Williams LLP
- Littler
- Travers Smith LLP
Addleshaw Goddard LLP 14 Years Ranked
Bird & Bird 12 Years Ranked
CMS 17 Years Ranked
Dechert LLP 15 Years Ranked
Hogan Lovells 16 Years Ranked
Mayer Brown International LLP 16 Years Ranked
Reed Smith LLP 5 Years Ranked- Squire Patton Boggs 10 Years Ranked
Stephenson Harwood LLP 14 Years Ranked- BCLP
- Farrer & Co LLP
- Macfarlanes LLP
Charles Russell Speechlys 16 Years Ranked
DLA Piper LLP 13 Years Ranked
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP 7 Years Ranked
Pinsent Masons 3 Years Ranked
Taylor Wessing LLP 11 Years Ranked- Deloitte Legal
- Doyle Clayton
- Osborne Clarke LLP
Ashurst 3 Years Ranked
Constantine Law 1 Years Ranked
Dentons 7 Years Ranked
Norton Rose Fulbright 7 Years Ranked
Slaughter and May 12 Years Ranked- Withers 5 Years Ranked
- Howard Kennedy LLP
- Kingsley Napley LLP
- KPMG Law UK
All Departments profiles
Band 1
1 A&O ShearmanEmployment2026 | Band 1 | 16 Years RankedThe firm is a leading name in the employment space and enjoys an enviable reputation for the service it provides to major players in the financial services and media sectors. The team remains at the forefront of hot-button issues including data protection, privacy and whistle-blowing. It continues to be called upon by its high-profile employer client base to advise on business-critical issues, including a wealth of work relating to the enforcement of restrictive covenants following executive departures as well as workplace investigations. The firm is well placed to advise on cross-border employment matters, and also advises large multinational employers on general multi-jurisdictional compliance issues.
1 Baker McKenzieEmployment2026 | Band 1 | 16 Years RankedBaker McKenzie has a highly experienced employment team that covers the whole spectrum of employment law, with expertise in restrictive covenants, discrimination and transactional matters. It stands out for its expertise in industrial relations and European Works Councils. The firm frequently represents global employers, with regular work for those in the retail and financial services sectors. It is also widely recognised for its ability to handle complex international employment issues including multi-jurisdictional restructuring processes. Baker McKenzie is increasingly well known for expertise in equal pay matters, as well as its handling of sensitive investigations.
1 Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLPEmployment2026 | Band 1 | 16 Years RankedHerbert Smith Freehills Kramer's employment team is widely recognised for the strength of its employment litigation work and offers a wealth of experience in handling all manner of complex employment tribunal and High Court matters. The firm also works with employers on board-level disputes and investigations. It regularly advises large employers from the retail sector and financial services.
1 Simmons & Simmons LLPEmployment2026 | Band 1 | 16 Years RankedSimmons & Simmons has a leading employment law practice that advises employers across a wide range of issues, with strengths in complex litigation and transactional support. The firm also assists clients with the full spectrum of advisory matters, including investigations and sensitive disciplinary mandates. It provides a deep bench of skilled lawyers who are highly experienced in acting for high-profile clients from the financial services sector, especially investment banks, hedge funds and asset managers. The firm also advises TMT and public sector clients, as well as other law firms.
Band 2
2 Clifford Chance LLPEmployment2026 | Band 2 | 16 Years RankedClifford Chance houses a strong employment practice that is well known for advising high-profile corporate clients and financial institutions. It is adept at handling complex employment issues arising from large-scale transactions, employment litigation and investigations. The firm also provides advice on issues such as dismissals, whistle-blowing and senior exits. The firm's capabilities extend to matters with cross-border elements.2 Clyde & Co LLPEmployment2026 | Band 2 | 15 Years RankedClyde & Co is well known for helping insurance clients and financial services institutions with a full range of employment law issues, including regularly advising on team moves. It is able to leverage its international footprint to advise on multi-jurisdictional work. The firm demonstrates notable experience in handling contentious matters. It also has the capability to provide advice on large-scale corporate transactions.2 Eversheds SutherlandEmployment2026 | Band 2 | 16 Years RankedEversheds Sutherland is regularly instructed by financial institutions to advise on employment disputes, as well as to provide day-to-day counsel. The firm also offers highly regarded advice on industrial relations issues. It demonstrates additional strength in matters that span multiple jurisdictions and regularly advises on the employment aspects of large transactions. The firm's clients include large corporates, financial services groups and media organisations.
2 FreshfieldsEmployment2026 | Band 2 | 16 Years RankedFreshfields is noted for its work with large employers in complex employment matters such as remuneration disputes and whistle-blowing allegations. It has strong expertise in advising clients from the financial services sector. The firm provides additional expertise in transactional employment issues arising from corporate deals, including industrial relations resulting from M&A activity. Other areas of work include investigations and boardroom disputes. It has demonstrable expertise in cases involving cross-border and multi-jurisdictional issues.2 LinklatersEmployment2026 | Band 2 | 16 Years RankedLinklaters handles high-quality advisory work for an international client base, combined with renowned strength in employment litigation. The firm advises clients on remuneration regulations and senior executive exits, with experience acting on high-value employment tribunal and High Court cases. The department acts for an enviable roster of clients from the financial services sector. It is well suited to advise on cross-border matters. In addition, the team frequently handles sensitive investigations on behalf of employers.
Band 3
3 Addleshaw Goddard LLPEmployment2026 | Band 3 | 14 Years RankedAddleshaw Goddard has an established employment law practice with significant expertise in assisting financial services and retail clients, among others. The firm is experienced in handling challenging litigations and assists clients with defending whistleblowing claims and with conducting workplace investigations. It is also well equipped to advise on day-to-day and general HR matters, as well as the employment aspects of transactions, including those with multi-jurisdictional elements.
3 Bird & BirdEmployment2026 | Band 3 | 12 Years RankedBird & Bird houses an established practice offering high-quality employment advice to both employers and senior employees. The firm is widely recognised for its expertise in the technology sector, as well as for its work for retail and life sciences clients. It advises on both employment disputes and non-contentious matters. The team is able to draw upon the firm's global network of offices to advise on cross-border work.3 CMSEmployment2026 | Band 3 | 17 Years RankedCMS has a highly experienced team offering advice across all aspects of employment law. The firm has notable disputes expertise, particularly in relation to restrictive covenants and employment tribunal representation. It also advises on the employment aspects of corporate transactions, with the ability to assist large international corporations on issues across multiple jurisdictions. The firm works for a broad client base that includes groups in the media, technology and financial services sectors.3 Dechert LLPEmployment2026 | Band 3 | 15 Years RankedDechert has a broad employment practice that is known for its expert knowledge of issues affecting employers in the financial services sector. The firm is adept at handling multi-jurisdictional matters and noted for its expertise in both contentious and non-contentious employment law issues. It is also capable of advising companies on contract negotiations with employees as well as assisting them with senior exits.3 Hogan LovellsEmployment2026 | Band 3 | 16 Years RankedHogan Lovells has a strong employment practice that advises on all manner of sensitive employment law issues. It is noted for its advice on employment matters relating to corporate transactions, as well as for its work on investigations. The firm's international scope means the team is skilled at handling cross-border employment disputes. The team advises a range of clients, including large public companies and banks.3 Mayer Brown International LLPEmployment2026 | Band 3 | 16 Years RankedMayer Brown has deep knowledge and experience in assisting high-profile companies with complex contentious and non-contentious employment issues. The firm has demonstrable expertise in handling whistleblowing, discrimination and unfair dismissal claims. It is able to handle cross-jurisdictional employment issues for its international clientele. The firm regularly advises clients in the consumer goods, insurance and banking sectors.
3 Reed Smith LLPEmployment2026 | Band 3 | 5 Years RankedReed Smith has sector specialisms in media and financial services, advising on everything from Equality Act compliance to outsourcing and restrictive covenants. The firm is able to handle multi-jurisdictional projects including large-scale workforce restructuring and corporate transactions. It also demonstrates experience handling both employment tribunal and High Court disputes with expertise including discrimination and unfair dismissal claims.3 Squire Patton BoggsEmployment2026 | Band 3 | 10 Years RankedSquire Patton Boggs is adept at handling global workforce transformation projects and large cross-border employment disputes. The firm also advises on complex litigation matters including discrimination claims and restrictive covenant disputes, as well as internal investigations. Its clients hail from a range of industries including retail, distribution and healthcare. The firm has notable expertise in the increasingly prominent field of equal pay disputes.3 Stephenson Harwood LLPEmployment2026 | Band 3 | 14 Years RankedStephenson Harwood acts for employers on all types of employment law matters. The firm has extensive litigation experience, as well as knowledge of non-contentious issues, especially TUPE matters. It also has notable expertise in employment law issues arising in the rail industry. The firm is capable of handling cross-border matters for clients from a range of other sectors, including retail and hospitality.
Band 4
4 Charles Russell SpeechlysEmployment2026 | Band 4 | 16 Years RankedCharles Russell Speechlys provides expert employment advice to corporate groups and has particular experience handling severance negotiations, complicated exits and the employment aspects of large corporate transactions. The firm serves a broad range of clients including notable work for retail and sports organisations. It also has experience working with employers and senior individuals from the financial services sector.4 DLA Piper LLPEmployment2026 | Band 4 | 13 Years RankedDLA Piper has a strong employment practice with an international focus, offering advice to global companies. The firm advises across the whole gamut of employment law with recognisable strengths in multi-jurisdictional projects, including large restructurings. The firm's other areas of strength include advising on regulatory compliance, senior departures and worker status litigation. Its clients hail from a number of sectors including technology, financial services and transport.4 Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLPEmployment2026 | Band 4 | 7 Years RankedWell-known companies seek advice from Morgan Lewis on the full spectrum of employment mandates spanning from non-contentious advisory work through to employment litigation. The firm is also called upon to act as independent investigators on highly sensitive matters. It has a broad range of sector capabilities which includes particular knowledge of the life sciences market.4 Pinsent MasonsEmployment2026 | Band 4 | 3 Years RankedPinsent Masons handles a wide range of employment matters on behalf of its clients. The firm is particularly active in representing employers from the healthcare and financial service sectors. It is frequently sought out for its expert handling of employment tribunal claims arising from allegations of discrimination, unfair dismissal and whistle-blowing detriment. The firm also offers strong capabilities in advising employers whose former employees have committed confidentiality breaches and misused confidential information.4 Taylor Wessing LLPEmployment2026 | Band 4 | 11 Years RankedTaylor Wessing advises large employers from the technology, financial services and life sciences sectors. The firm is adept at handling highly complex litigations in the Employment Tribunal. It also regularly advises clients on the employment aspects of corporate transactions. The team is adept at frequently handling matters involving multiple jurisdictions.
Band 5
5 AshurstEmployment2026 | Band 5 | 3 Years RankedAshurst is a strong choice for domestic and international transactional support matters. The firm has particular expertise in the financial services sector. It is also called upon to handle grievances, misconduct and other employee-related matters.5 Constantine LawEmployment2026 | Band 5 | 1 Years RankedConstantine Law is a highly regarded firm which represents employees in cases of unfair dismissal. The group also demonstrates expertise across matters of gross misconduct, whistleblowing cases and senior executive exits.
5 DentonsEmployment2026 | Band 5 | 7 Years RankedDentons has an established practice that acts for financial institutions and multinational corporations on all employment-related matters. The firm has demonstrable expertise in large cross-jurisdictional projects, complex TUPE matters and employment issues arising from corporate transactions. It benefits from an impressive network of international offices.5 Norton Rose FulbrightEmployment2026 | Band 5 | 7 Years RankedNorton Rose Fulbright regularly advises large corporates from the technology, transport and energy sectors on a wide range of employment issues. The firm has significant experience handling contentious matters and has notable experience working on whistle-blowing and discrimination claims. Recent work the firm has handled included advising on large-scale redundancies and issues relating to outsourcing.5 Slaughter and MayEmployment2026 | Band 5 | 12 Years RankedSlaughter and May has a well respected practice that is known for its advice to major corporates on the employment aspects of complex transactions. The firm frequently assists clients on significant TUPE matters. It also regularly works with financial services clients on internal investigations.5 WithersEmployment2026 | Band 5 | 5 Years RankedWithers is renowned for its employment advice to senior professionals, including those working in media, technology and financial services. The team advises these clients on contract negotiations at the beginning of their employment, right through to exit negotiations. The lawyers at Withers are also highly capable when it comes to disputes resulting from breakdowns of those employment relationships. The team also works with employer clients, focusing on representing mid-sized financial services groups and high-end brands. It also has notable expertise in advising on regulatory employment matters.