Ranking tables
Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas | UK
UK-wide
Rankings overview for Departments
Band 1
Band 2
Band 3
Senior Statespeople
Band 1
Band 2
Alexander Msimang Vinson & Elkins RLLP18 Years Ranked
Ben Sulaiman Hogan Lovells7 Years Ranked
Bob Palmer Mayer Brown International LLP17 Years Ranked
Graham Watson Freshfields3 Years Ranked
Jason Kerr White & Case LLP18 Years Ranked
Paul Stockley Fieldfisher18 Years Ranked
Russell Wells Clifford Chance LLP17 Years Ranked
Band 3
Ben James Bracewell (UK) LLP9 Years Ranked
Darren Spalding Bracewell (UK) LLP8 Years Ranked
Joe Levin Watson Farley & Williams2 Years Ranked
Marc Hammerson Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP15 Years Ranked
Mark Rowley Baker Botts UK LLP12 Years Ranked- Mark Russell Linklaters4 Years Ranked
Michael Burns Ashurst7 Years Ranked
Mukund Dhar White & Case LLP3 Years Ranked
Nina M Howell Reed Smith LLP10 Years Ranked
Rob Butler Akin3 Years Ranked
Steven Dalton Herbert Smith Freehills12 Years Ranked
Tom Bartlett Latham & Watkins11 Years Ranked
Band 4
Abayomi Akinjide Fasken1 Years Ranked- Adam Dann Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP22 Years Ranked
- Allan Taylor White & Case LLP7 Years Ranked
- Anna Nerush Clyde & Co LLP1 Years Ranked
- Daniel Tyrer Linklaters11 Years Ranked
David Baker White & Case LLP17 Years Ranked
Eimear Murphy Bracewell (UK) LLP3 Years Ranked
Graham Phillips Clifford Chance LLP2 Years Ranked
Huw Thomas Ashurst14 Years Ranked
James Atkin Reed Smith LLP5 Years Ranked- Jonathan Woolf Pinsent Masons3 Years Ranked
Julia Derrick Ashurst4 Years Ranked
Laura Hulett Herbert Smith Freehills4 Years Ranked
Lewis McDonald Herbert Smith Freehills3 Years Ranked- Michael Watson White & Case LLP1 Years Ranked
Olivia Caddy Bracewell (UK) LLP4 Years Ranked- Patrick Wallace Simmons & Simmons LLP22 Years Ranked
- Philip J A Thomson Baker McKenzie1 Years Ranked
Quentin Robinson Ashurst5 Years Ranked
Reza Dadbakhsh Herbert Smith Freehills1 Years Ranked
Sam Newhouse Latham & Watkins5 Years Ranked- Thomas Bethel Herbert Smith Freehills1 Years Ranked
- Jubilee EasoEversheds Sutherland
Up and Coming
All Departments profiles
Band 1
1 A&O ShearmanEnergy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas2025 | Band 1 | 20 Years RankedA&O Shearman boasts a highly impressive energy and natural resources team with experienced practitioners covering power, renewables and upstream, midstream and downstream oil and gas matters. The firm possesses stellar expertise in corporate issues as well as project construction and operation. It is able to draw on a powerful global network of specialists to offer some of the best service in the market to a broad spectrum of clients. Its energy lawyers frequently act on the most prominent deals in the energy industry, including high-value projects in emerging markets and headline-grabbing developments in the UK. The firm is often instructed by leading energy companies and financial institutions. It is active in various jurisdictions across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
1 AshurstEnergy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas2025 | Band 1 | 11 Years RankedAshurst is noted as a go-to firm for a wide array of energy and natural resources matters. Its lawyers regularly represent energy companies and lenders in domestic and international financing issues, and they offer expertise in a wide range of conventional and innovative financing strategies. The team is regularly involved in transactional, development and regulatory work across the power, renewables, and oil and gas markets. The firm also has the capacity to handle international oil and gas arbitrations on behalf of major players in the market. Its energy lawyers are frequently active in projects across Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
1 Bracewell (UK) LLPEnergy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas2025 | Band 1 | 10 Years RankedBracewell's London office has a renowned energy practice with a strong presence in the UK oil and gas market. The firm demonstrates particular strength in upstream oil and gas financing as well as the development of floating LNG projects. Its lawyers also regularly handle restructurings and a range of M&A work across the sector. Its clients include major financial institutions and energy companies, as well as private equity-backed new entrants. The firm's global reach extends to Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America. The team possesses additional dispute resolution capabilities, frequently appearing in energy-related High Court proceedings and arbitrations.
1 Herbert Smith FreehillsEnergy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas2025 | Band 1 | 11 Years RankedHerbert Smith Freehills possesses a diverse energy practice with a notable reputation for its work in power and oil and gas, as well as significant expertise in renewables work. The team frequently advises major energy companies, developers, governments and banks on project financings and M&A transactions. It also commands a stellar reputation for energy disputes work, including international arbitrations. Its energy lawyers are also adept at advising on newbuild nuclear, electricity transmission and upstream oil and gas developments. The firm frequently advises on interconnector projects between the UK and other jurisdictions.
1 Latham & WatkinsEnergy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas2025 | Band 1 | 11 Years RankedLatham & Watkins handles a range of corporate and commercial issues for clients across the world in the oil and gas sphere. The team offers expertise across the full life cycle of a project, from exploration to post-production, and possesses a strong knowledge of regulatory issues in the sector. It is capable of handling disputes relating to a broad range of energy developments, including upstream, midstream and downstream matters. The firm's clients include financial institutions and notable oil and gas companies. The firm also offers complementary expertise in human rights and environmental matters to provide clients with comprehensive advice.
1 White & Case LLPEnergy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas2025 | Band 1 | 11 Years RankedWhite & Case has an established group with the capacity to handle a range of transactional and contentious matters in the UK, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The team advises on an impressively broad range of power, renewables and oil and gas matters, with allied strengths in construction, banking and environmental issues. Its energy lawyers also oversee project financing and asset management, particularly in relation to upstream oil and gas, solar, battery storage and gas-fired CCGT projects. The firm also has a leading role in some of the largest developments relating to green hydrogen production.
Band 2
2 Baker Botts UK LLPEnergy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas2025 | Band 2 | 11 Years RankedBaker Botts has a noteworthy practice incorporating a global network of oil and gas experts. The team is frequently involved in high-profile corporate and project development transactions involving complex financing elements. The firm represents major clients in various overseas jurisdictions, often advising on upstream matters. The group is well-equipped to advise on major LNG project developments in Africa and the Middle East. The firm has additional experience in energy litigation and arbitrations.
2 Clifford Chance LLPEnergy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas2025 | Band 2 | 11 Years RankedClifford Chance has a go-to practice for financing, corporate and disputes work in the oil and gas, power and renewables sectors. The team acts for a wide array of high-profile clients, including oil majors, power developers, lenders and private equity companies. The firm is able to draw on an impressive international network of offices to provide an enviable level of service on complex matters. Its energy lawyers are also equipped to advise on matters involving infrastructure funds and joint venture platforms. The team enjoys a noteworthy reputation for advising on power transactions in Africa, particularly Egypt, Ghana and Nigeria.
2 LinklatersEnergy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas2025 | Band 2 | 11 Years RankedLinklaters draws on an extensive global network of energy lawyers to offer a stellar service to clients in power, renewables, and oil and gas matters. The team offers expertise across a range of areas, including project finance, development, corporate issues and disputes. The firm is also well respected for providing regulatory advice in the water and nuclear sectors. It frequently leads in big-ticket matters across the energy industry, including major waste-to-energy, LNG and offshore wind projects. The firm fields significant expertise in developments in Africa and CEE. Its lawyers are instructed by an array of impressive clients, including multinational oil and gas companies, export credit agencies and international financial institutions and investors.
2 Vinson & Elkins RLLPEnergy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas2025 | Band 2 | 11 Years RankedVinson & Elkins possesses a significant oil and gas practice with the ability to handle a range of complex corporate, regulatory and financing matters. The firm provides advice across the full oil and gas production chain, from upstream transactions and pipeline arrangements to downstream LNG matters. Its lawyers assist a roster of major international energy companies, as well as governments and banks. The firm draws on an extensive global network to offer a seamless international service and regularly handles matters involving the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.
Band 3
3 AkinEnergy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas2025 | Band 3 | 12 Years RankedAkin Gump offers an impressive depth of market experience in oil and gas matters, with significant expertise in upstream, midstream and downstream issues. The team advises clients on commercial and corporate matters and offers deep knowledge of restructuring issues. The firm also fields a leading energy disputes team capable of handling major litigation and international arbitrations. It frequently acts for oil and gas majors and other international energy companies on cross-border work.
3 CMSEnergy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas2025 | Band 3 | 11 Years RankedCMS has a powerhouse energy practice with an impressive breadth of experience in corporate oil and gas matters. The firm also fields an enviable power practice with regulatory expertise and a number of renewables experts, often handling offshore wind and carbon capture and storage matters. Its energy practice offers strength in the full spectrum of energy projects in numerous jurisdictions and stands out for its ability to handle North Sea oil and gas matters. The team acts for an enviable roster of clients, including oil majors and multinational energy companies.
3 DentonsEnergy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas2025 | Band 3 | 11 Years RankedDentons offers impressive strength and enviable depth of resources to clients across a wide range of energy issues, including power, renewables, and oil and gas projects. The firm tackles regulatory work as well as project development, financing, corporate and disputes work. The team demonstrates the ability to handle matters in numerous jurisdictions across the globe, including Africa and the Middle East, as well as domestic matters.
3 Hogan LovellsEnergy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas2025 | Band 3 | 11 Years RankedHogan Lovells has a substantial international oil and gas practice with noteworthy experience in both upstream and midstream project development. The team is adept at assisting clients with various financing and transactional matters, as well as regulatory compliance issues. The firm's typical clients include energy majors, developers and governments as well as financial institutions and investment funds. The team is particularly experienced in relation to transactions in Africa and the Middle East.
3 Milbank LLPEnergy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas2025 | Band 3 | 11 Years RankedMilbank is a well-known name in the world of project financing with significant experience dealing with large-scale projects in the oil and gas sector. The firm is frequently involved in upstream, midstream and downstream oil and gas project development. Its lawyers demonstrate an impressive track record in transactions across the world, with particular strength in emerging markets. It's a go-to firm for bank consortiums, export credit agencies and other lenders. Its energy lawyers are also active in advising clients on major debt restructurings and refinancings.
3 Norton Rose FulbrightEnergy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas2025 | Band 3 | 11 Years RankedNorton Rose Fulbright continues to advise on a host of complex power, renewables and oil and gas matters. The firm holds a commanding position within the renewables market, acting for borrowers and lenders in connection to some of the largest projects in the sector, particularly those relating to offshore wind. Its lawyers additionally assist with major solar projects, as well as waste-to-energy and battery storage developments. The firm regularly undertakes transactional work, including M&A and financings, in the oil and gas sector. It also has the capability to advise on the construction and operation of LPG infrastructure, LNG terminals and LNG-to-power plants. The team operates on an international basis with particular strength in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. It also fields an established energy disputes practice. The firm's clients include oil and gas majors, global investors, governments and lenders.
3 Pinsent MasonsEnergy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas2025 | Band 3 | 11 Years RankedPinsent Masons has a sizeable team that is well-established in the UK energy space. Its lawyers are well-versed in matters relating to both conventional and non-conventional energy sources, including offshore wind and onshore solar. The team also offers expertise in assisting with the development of CCGT power plants, as well as nuclear newbuild and decommissioning work. It has further strength in handling transactional, operational and contentious mandates in the oil and gas industry. The firm acts for a range of clients, including developers, financial institutions and contractors.
3 Slaughter and MayEnergy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas2025 | Band 3 | 11 Years RankedSlaughter and May has a comprehensive energy practice focusing on corporate and financing work. The firm's expertise includes power, renewables, and oil and gas matters. It receives particular recognition for advising on the acquisition and financing of upstream oil and gas assets in the North Sea and off the coast of Africa. The team regularly represents financial institutions, energy companies and governments. The firm's other areas of strength include advising on the decommissioning of nuclear power stations and the acquisition of onshore and offshore wind farms.
Band 4
4 FieldfisherEnergy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas2025 | Band 4 | 3 Years RankedFieldfisher possesses notable expertise across the oil and gas sector and adeptly handles a broad range of commercial transactions. The team is also experienced in negotiating joint ventures and decommissioning agreements. The firm's transactional expertise spans M&A, equity capital markets and financings. The team has considerable cross-border strength, handling mandates arising out of Europe, Central Asia and North America.
4 FreshfieldsEnergy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas2025 | Band 4 | 11 Years RankedFreshfields is a highly respected presence in the corporate energy market with particular experience in oil and gas issues. The energy group is well versed in advising on large-scale financings and both upstream and midstream M&A. The firm is also adept at handling a range of energy disputes, with a particular focus on investor-state arbitrations. It regularly represents major energy companies and private equity firms.
4 Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLPEnergy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas2025 | Band 4 | 4 Years RankedGibson, Dunn & Crutcher has a noteworthy energy team with a strong reputation handling oil and gas transactions in both established and emerging markets. The firm frequently assists with the acquisition and sale of upstream and midstream businesses and assets, in addition to handling the negotiation of decommissioning and terminal services agreements. Its lawyers are also adept at handling a range of contentious matters, including Energy Charter Treaty claims, annulment proceedings and both LCIA and ICSID arbitrations.4 King & Spalding International LLPEnergy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas2025 | Band 4 | 11 Years RankedKing & Spalding has a respected oil and gas team based in London as part of an extensive international network. The team is well versed in a range of corporate and commercial matters, as well as project development. The firm also possesses an experienced oil and gas litigation and international arbitration team. The firm is further capable of handling large-scale LNG projects in both Europe and Africa, including export and import projects.
4 Mayer Brown International LLPEnergy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas2025 | Band 4 | 5 Years RankedMayer Brown has a respected oil and gas team with growing experience in high-value international transactions. The firm is noted in particular for its experience in the acquisition and disposal of upstream assets. The team also assists with various corporate matters, including fund-raisings, restructurings and joint venture arrangements. The group regularly handles transactions involving North Sea assets, as well as developments in Africa and Latin America.
4 Watson Farley & WilliamsEnergy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas2025 | Band 4 | 6 Years RankedWatson Farley & Williams has a respected team with an enviable reputation for its expertise in relation to solar projects, as well as both onshore and offshore wind farms. The group handles the full breadth of issues relating to renewables projects, including transactional, commercial and financing matters. Its lawyers frequently represent lenders, sponsors and investors, among other clients, often advising on multi-jurisdictional projects and transactions. The firm possesses additional capabilities in upstream and midstream oil and gas transactions, including acquisitions and divestments.