Ranking tables

Product Liability: Mainly Defendant | UK

UK-wide

Product Liability: Mainly Defendant encompasses the defence of legal claims that allow an injured party to recover financial compensation from the manufacturer or seller of a product. Examples include faulty appliances, emissions defeat devices, contaminated food and unsafe consumer products.

Firms may advise manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, retailers and others who make the product available to the public. 

We also consider litigation concerning pharmaceuticals and medical devices, though this is also covered separately in the Life Sciences section. 

Rankings overview for Departments

All Departments profiles

1

Band 1

  1. Cooley LLP
    1
    Cooley LLP
    Product Liability: Mainly Defendant
    2026 | Band 1 | 7 Years Ranked

    The team at Cooley is capable of advising on the full spectrum of product liability matters. The firm acts for an enviable roster of leading technology companies, as well as clients from the automotive and consumer product spheres. It is well equipped to handle multiparty litigation, product recall and regulatory matters, and is also called upon to advise at the policy level.

  2. Freshfields
    1
    Freshfields
    Product Liability: Mainly Defendant
    2026 | Band 1 | 21 Years Ranked

    Freshfields is highly regarded for its proficiency in handling substantial group actions, including those with cross-border elements. The firm is well versed in handling claims for key clients from a range of sectors, including the automotive, scientific and technology industries. It is also adept at providing advice and support to clients on product safety, recall and regulation, with notable expertise in novel areas including AI and autonomous vehicles. The team offers strong complementary expertise in environmental claims.

  3. Hogan Lovells
    1
    Hogan Lovells
    Product Liability: Mainly Defendant
    2026 | Band 1 | 21 Years Ranked

    Hogan Lovells has a market-leading product liability practice servicing clients in a broad array of sectors and jurisdictions. It handles large-scale contentious work and is a regular fixture in complex and high-profile automotive, telecommunications and tobacco-related cases. The firm offers additional expertise in regulatory matters. It also counts a number of household-name technology and retail companies among its clients. Its extensive global reach allows for deft handling of cross-border claims.

2

Band 2

  1. Addleshaw Goddard LLP
    2
    Addleshaw Goddard LLP
    Product Liability: Mainly Defendant
    2026 | Band 2 | 21 Years Ranked

    Addleshaw Goddard houses an experienced team known for defending product liability claims, particularly in the pharmaceutical and food and drink sectors. The firm assists clients with product safety matters, including risk assessment, regulatory compliance, pre-launch auditing and product recalls. It is particularly adept at representing large corporations, including household-name retailers and manufacturers.

  2. Baker McKenzie
    2
    Baker McKenzie
    Product Liability: Mainly Defendant
    2026 | Band 2 | 18 Years Ranked

    Baker McKenzie is a global firm that is adept at representing multinational corporations in the full range of product liability work. The firm regularly defends large-scale claims alleging product defects and safety issues, as well as advising on associated reputation and crisis management issues. It also provides advice on regulatory challenges and enforcement actions to manufacturing clients. The team has additional expertise in advising on product safety and labelling issues, and in handling product recalls.

  3. Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP
    2
    Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP
    Product Liability: Mainly Defendant
    2026 | Band 2 | 21 Years Ranked

    Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer attracts praise for its contentious product liability work, regularly handling big-ticket disputes and group actions. The firm is well versed in representing tobacco sector clients and also offers expertise to clients in a range of other industries, including automotive, consumer goods, and food and drink. It has noted international experience and the ability to coordinate matters around the globe. The team is regularly called upon to handle claims and recall matters for manufacturing clients.

  4. Kennedys
    2
    Kennedys
    Product Liability: Mainly Defendant
    2026 | Band 2 | 21 Years Ranked

    Kennedys demonstrates notable capabilities in a diverse range of areas, including pharmaceuticals and medical devices. The firm is particularly well versed in representing manufacturers and their insurers, and has strong expertise in handling cross-border mandates. It also provides a range of advisory services concerning reputation and risk management. It has notable success in significant group action litigation.

  5. Simmons & Simmons LLP
    2
    Simmons & Simmons LLP
    Product Liability: Mainly Defendant
    2026 | Band 2 | 7 Years Ranked

    Simmons & Simmons has a wide range of regulatory and litigation capability in the product liability space, with particular strengths in the insurance and life sciences sectors. The firm has considerable experience in assisting insurers and their insureds in relation to product liability claims. It also advises clients on an array of compliance matters as well as product recalls.

3

Band 3

  1. Ashurst
    3
    Ashurst
    Product Liability: Mainly Defendant
    2026 | Band 3 | 13 Years Ranked

    Ashurst's product liability team adeptly handles high-value work for an international roster of clients. The team is well regarded for both its regulatory compliance and litigation work, covering product launches, safety and recalls in sectors such as consumer goods, construction materials and medical devices.

  2. Clyde & Co LLP
    3
    Clyde & Co LLP
    Product Liability: Mainly Defendant
    2026 | Band 3 | 34 Years Ranked

    Clyde & Co routinely handles product liability disputes for clients from a diverse range of sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, automotive and retail. It is known particularly for its adept representation of insurers. It advises clients during multi-jurisdictional litigation, as well as on contamination and product recall issues.

  3. CMS
    3
    CMS
    Product Liability: Mainly Defendant
    2026 | Band 3 | 4 Years Ranked

    CMS has a solid depth of expertise regarding medical devices, consumer goods and automotive products, offering product liability advice to clients within these industries. The firm is also well equipped to handle large class and group actions, with both domestic and cross-border capabilities.

  4. Eversheds Sutherland
    3
    Eversheds Sutherland
    Product Liability: Mainly Defendant
    2026 | Band 3 | 21 Years Ranked

    Eversheds Sutherland advises on product liability disputes across a diverse range of sectors, including technology, automotive and aerospace. The firm is also adept at advising on product safety, crisis management and compliance matters. It offers clients significant international expertise owing to its network of offices in various locations across the globe. The team advises on claims and product recalls concerning consumer goods, industrial components and safety equipment. Its clients include manufacturers and insurers.

  5. 3
    Taylor Wessing LLP
    Product Liability: Mainly Defendant
    2026 | Band 3 | 4 Years Ranked

    Taylor Wessing operates a successful product liability practice covering a range of matters, including multi-jurisdictional litigation and product recalls in addition to compliance and regulatory work. Its work pertains to a broad spread of sectors, including technology, life sciences and automotive, as well as claims regarding consumer goods.