Ranking tables

Litigation | UK

Midlands

In all regions outside of London, this section ranks firms and lawyers advising on civil litigation, primarily on behalf of businesses, financial institutions and other organisations. It also considers work on behalf of private individuals, albeit still within a business context: disputes concerning private wealth or probate should be submitted separately to the HNW guide.  The core focus of this section is contractual litigation and litigation arising out of corporate and commercial arrangements, including shareholder, joint venture, post-M&A and boardroom disputes. Banking litigation and civil fraud disputes may also be included.    Other litigation types will be given less weight if they are covered on a regional basis in their own right: this includes sections such as professional negligence, real estate litigation, construction and IP. Other kinds of work not considered as part of the section include criminal litigation, inquests, public inquiries, tribunals, regulatory investigations and related enforcement actions.   This section focuses on courtroom litigation, rather than ADR methods such as mediation and arbitration. In particular, International Arbitration is covered extensively elsewhere and so should not be included on a submission to Litigation.  This applies to regional sections only. Firms in London should refer instead to the definition for Commercial and Corporate Litigation.   Related sections: Banking Litigation, Commercial and Corporate Litigation, Fraud: Civil, Group Litigation: Claimant, International Arbitration, Mediators, Private Wealth Disputes (in the HNW guide)

Rankings overview for Departments

3

Band 3

  1. Elizabeth Beatty HCR Law10 Years Ranked
  2. Neil Warner
    Neil Warner Gateley Legal8 Years Ranked
  3. Richard Waugh
    Richard Waugh Fieldfisher6 Years Ranked
  4. Stephen Goodrham
    Stephen Goodrham Gateley Legal22 Years Ranked
  5. Timothy Speed
    Timothy Speed Shakespeare Martineau3 Years Ranked
  6. Adam FisherEversheds Sutherland
  7. Charlotte ClodeFBC Manby Bowdler LLP
  8. Guy BirkettFBC Manby Bowdler LLP
  9. Julia LoweHiggs LLP
  10. Morgan ReesGeorge Green LLP
  11. Rich LloydEversheds Sutherland

All Departments profiles

1

Band 1

  1. Browne Jacobson LLP
    1
    Browne Jacobson LLP
    Litigation
    2025 | Band 1 | 8 Years Ranked
    Browne Jacobson has a well-regarded commercial litigation team in Nottingham, supporting international and domestic clients in the manufacturing, government, construction, automotive and gaming sectors. The firm handles all aspects of disputes, from pre-action issues through to court proceedings and enforcement. It has wide-ranging expertise including contentious contractual and shareholder matters.
  2. DLA Piper UK LLP
    1
    DLA Piper UK LLP
    Litigation
    2025 | Band 1 | 8 Years Ranked
    DLA Piper has a comprehensive litigation offering in Birmingham, drawing on the firm's national and international prowess to offer a broad-ranging service. The firm handles contractual and manufacturing disputes as well as those concerning insurance, fraud and other financial matters. Its team represents domestic and multinational clients in sectors including hospitality, support services and banking and pharmaceuticals.
  3. Pinsent Masons LLP
    1
    Pinsent Masons LLP
    Litigation
    2025 | Band 1 | 8 Years Ranked
    Pinsent Masons has an established presence in the Birmingham market, with a well-resourced team of solicitors supported by in-house forensic accountants and other specialists. It is active on high-end, cross-border cases for multinational, blue-chip clients across a variety of sectors. The practice regularly acts for clients at all levels of court, including High Court and Supreme Court proceedings.
2

Band 2

  1. Fieldfisher
    2
    Fieldfisher
    Litigation
    2025 | Band 2 | 8 Years Ranked
    Fieldfisher has a commercial litigation team representing multinational corporate clients in the aerospace, banking and technology industries, among others. It also advises high net worth individuals, including foreign nationals. The Solihull-based team has experience handling contractual disputes and those concerning breaches of directors' duties, with notable expertise in cross-border litigation.
  2. Gowling WLG (UK) LLP
    2
    Gowling WLG (UK) LLP
    Litigation
    2025 | Band 2 | 8 Years Ranked
    Gowling WLG has a well-established litigation team in Birmingham, with the ability to handle high-value and multiparty cases. The firm represents a diverse national and international client base that includes manufacturers, healthcare companies, investment funds and energy groups. It advises on disputes arising from commercial contract issues as well as those relating to corporate transactions.
  3. Shoosmiths LLP
    2
    Shoosmiths LLP
    Litigation
    2025 | Band 2 | 8 Years Ranked
    Shoosmiths represents clients across the energy, banking and retail sectors. The Birmingham team's activity covers fraud claims, asset recovery, contractual cases, shareholder litigation and injunction proceedings.
  4. DWF
    Litigation
    2025 | Band 2
  5. Eversheds Sutherland
    Litigation
    2025 | Band 2
3

Band 3

  1. Flint Bishop
    3
    Flint Bishop
    Litigation
    2025 | Band 3 | 7 Years Ranked
    Flint Bishop Solicitors is active assisting national and multinational corporations with a variety of contentious matters. Its areas of expertise include complex contractual issues as well as insurance and professional negligence matters. The Derby team is also well versed in methods of alternative dispute resolution and is active across a broad range of sectors including energy, food and drink, and retail.
  2. Freeths LLP
    3
    Freeths LLP
    Litigation
    2025 | Band 3 | 8 Years Ranked
    Freeths has a notable litigation department across offices in Birmingham, Leicester and Nottingham. The practice provides advice on a wide array of disputes concerning areas such as directors' duties,trusts, commercial contracts, financial services and professional negligence. It also provides expertise in shareholder and partnership disputes. The firm is particularly active in the retail and food and beverage sectors.
  3. 3
    Gateley Legal
    Litigation
    2025 | Band 3 | 8 Years Ranked
    Gateley Legal has well-regarded teams in both Birmingham and Leicester that offer a broad range of commercial litigation advice. The firm assists with disputes over breach of contract and warranty as well as licensing litigation and misuse of information claims. It offers experience advising international clients on cross-border disputes.
  4. Mills & Reeve LLP
    3
    Mills & Reeve LLP
    Litigation
    2025 | Band 3 | 8 Years Ranked
    Mills & Reeve has a solid litigation practice in Birmingham with expertise in high-value commercial disputes. The team demonstrates expertise in shareholder litigation, breach of contract claims and arbitral proceedings, among other matters. It regularly advises blue-chip clients, predominantly in the sport, automotive and energy sectors.
  5. Shakespeare Martineau
    3
    Shakespeare Martineau
    Litigation
    2025 | Band 3 | 8 Years Ranked
    Shakespeare Martineau has a well-regarded litigation team in Birmingham that frequently represents national and international blue-chip organisations, including clients in the education, healthcare and energy sectors. The firm handles substantial contractual disputes, shareholder litigation and fraud cases. It also offers the benefit of significant experience in mediation and other methods of alternative dispute resolution.
  6. Squire Patton Boggs
    3
    Squire Patton Boggs
    Litigation
    2025 | Band 3 | 8 Years Ranked
    Squire Patton Boggs has a large international network, allowing representation of multinational companies on significant cross-border disputes. The team in Birmingham often advises on litigation concerning supply chain and distribution issues, particularly in the automotive and manufacturing sectors, as well as other commercial contract disputes.
  7. Trowers & Hamlins LLP
    3
    Trowers & Hamlins LLP
    Litigation
    2025 | Band 3 | 5 Years Ranked
    Trowers & Hamlins receives recognition in the market for its expertise in complex litigation mandates, including large group actions. The Birmingham-based team is able to advise on multi-jurisdictional issues, including civil fraud actions and asset recovery, as well as on shareholder and contractual disputes. It is active on contentious matters in a wide range of sectors, including manufacturing and healthcare.
  8. Wright Hassall LLP
    3
    Wright Hassall LLP
    Litigation
    2025 | Band 3 | 8 Years Ranked
    Wright Hassall has an established practice advising multinational clients on a wide range of commercial, corporate and financial disputes, along with fraud. The team in Leamington Spa handles litigation arising from insurance claims and breaches of contracts. It takes on matters in a broad range of sectors, including manufacturing, technology and construction.
  9. FBC Manby Bowdler
    Litigation
    2025 | Band 3
  10. George Green LLP
    Litigation
    2025 | Band 3
4

Band 4

  1. Hawkins Hatton Corporate Lawyers Ltd
    4
    Hawkins Hatton Corporate Lawyers Ltd
    Litigation
    2025 | Band 4 | 8 Years Ranked
    Hawkins Hatton Corporate Lawyers is a Dudley-based firm regularly instructed on a broad range of litigation including breach of warranty, contractual and copyright disputes. The team represents companies, investors and other corporate entities as well as individual business owners and shareholders. It has notable expertise in disputes arising in the IT, care and maritime sectors.
  2. HCR Law
    4
    HCR Law
    Litigation
    2025 | Band 4 | 13 Years Ranked
    HCR Hewitsons has a well-established practice across the Midlands, with key locations in Northampton, Worcester and Birmingham. The firm represents international and UK-based clients in markets such as industrial engineering, real estate and automotive. It handles complex disputes arising in relation to commercial, partnership and shareholder agreements, along with other kinds of litigation. It also often represents high net worth individuals.
  3. Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors
    4
    Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors
    Litigation
    2025 | Band 4 | 6 Years Ranked
    Lanyon Bowdler provides advice on contractual and shareholder disputes as part of a broad commercial litigation practice. The firm advises small to mid-sized businesses in a range of industries, as well as private individuals. The practice has a particular strength in the agricultural sector, advising on disputes arising from farming partnerships and land development, among other issues. The firm has offices across Shropshire and Herefordshire, with key locations in Shrewsbury and Telford.
  4. Higgs LLP
    Litigation
    2025 | Band 4
  5. mfg Solicitors
    Litigation
    2025 | Band 4