Almost 1,200 firms have secured spots in the most recent UK Legal 500 Solicitors research, which provides law firms, in-house counsel and individuals with accurate and in-depth analysis of the best firms and lawyers working across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Between them the firms, roughly half of which are in London, share almost 10,000 practice rankings, around 4,500 of which are in the capital. In addition to the practice area rankings, there are also more than 12,300 individual lawyer rankings – almost half of which have been awarded to London-based lawyers.
The 2024 rankings, which were published earlier this autumn, are the result of months of extensive research by the Legal 500’s dedicated team of researchers, which canvassed the opinions of tens of thousands of partners and clients.
Pinsent Masons, DLA Piper, Eversheds Sutherland, and Shoosmiths top the table for rankings outside London, with more than 120 practice rankings apiece. Pinsents also has the most Tier 1 rankings outside the capital.
Herbert Smith Freehills continues to lead in the London tables, followed by DLA Piper, CMS, Hogan Lovells, and Pinsents. Clifford Chance, meanwhile, holds the most Tier 1 rankings in the capital.
The latest rankings include 600 promotions up the tiers across the whole of the UK, with Shoosmiths, Pinsents, CMS and Weightmans gaining the most ground. In London, Mishcon de Reya and Simmons & Simmons made the most marked improvement in the rankings.
The latest research also includes close to 300 Firms to Watch rankings, which recognise more recently established firms and practices, as well as others with notable niche expertise. Firms which performed well here include new model providers include Keystone, gunnercooke, and Spencer West, as well as elite US firms such as Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Harrison and Cravath, Swaine & Moore, both of which made high-profile English law launches in the City earlier this year.
More than 300,000 clients are surveyed and interviewed globally every year as part of The Legal 500 Series research, with more than 55,000 clients taking part in UK research alone.
To view the editorial commentary of the rankings go to: legal500.com