At Clifford Chance LLP the team leverages its strength across sectors and jurisdictions to achieve success in a wide range of complex, often high-profile disputes. At international leadership level, Jeremy Kosky is a name to note, along with Julian Acratopulo, notably acting for Airbus in the highly-publicised Qatar Airway proceedings. In London, Helen Carty leads the litigation and dispute resolution team, with specialist knowledge of financial institutions, regulatory investigations, and disciplinary proceedings. Maxine Mossman is another recommended practitioner, as is Chris Yates and Jeremy Sandelson. James Cranston is ‘terrifically clever‘ and ‘massively tactically astute‘, and is noted along with ‘excellent solicitor‘ senior associate Christina Schuetz.

The team at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP is the ‘top choice for litigation of significant value, strategic importance or complexity’, covering the whole gamut from general commercial disputes to more specialist areas, including insurance disputes, with a dedicated international arbitration practice. The firm is particularly well placed to see clients through the energy transition, and provides a comprehensive service for its clients through alternative legal services businesses within the firm’s international offices. Paul Lewis, previously the head of the insurance disputes practice at the firm, has recently replaced Damien Byrne Hill as managing partner of the disputes practice, with the latter returning to full-time practice. Alan Watts is another key name at leadership level, acting as the head of both global class actions, and UK commercial litigation. The ‘excellent technical knowledge’ of the team is thanks in part to dual-qualified Julian Copeman, Natasha Johnson, Andrew Cooke, and solicitor advocate Rachel Lidgate. Of counsel Catherine Emanuel is another key figure in the team, with specific expertise in class actions.

The widely lauded team at Hogan Lovells International LLP advises on high-profile, complex, and precedent-setting cases with ‘outstanding experience and capabilities.’ The team consists of a number of ‘innovative and creative thinkers’ including Michael Roberts who leads the team, with extensive experience in the commercial court. Senior partner Chris Hardman continues to act on many precedent-setting matters undertaken by the team. ‘Real heavyweight’ Kevin Lloyd is a standout practitioner in the team, commended for his ‘great judgement and unmatched tenacity’. ‘First class’ Alex Sciannaca is another key name in the team, having acted recently for the London Metal Exchange on a high-profile judicial review. ‘Pleasure to deal with’ Neil Mirchandani, ‘outstanding lawyer’ Ivan Shiu, and Akima Paul Lambert are all also noted.

The team at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP is described by a client as ‘by far the best London litigation team we have worked with’, with the firm’s experience ensuring it is frequently instructed on many of the most high-profile and complex disputes in the jurisdiction. Founding partner Richard East leads the team, with an extensive litigation and arbitration practice. Ted Greeno and Nick Marsh are both key names at senior level, with the latter commended for providing ‘extensive strategic advice’. Co-managing partner of the London office Alex Gerbi is noted in the team, for his vast experience acting for major corporates and high net-worth individuals. Aidan O’Rourke is ‘destined to become one of the litigation heavyweights in London’, with ‘excellent technical skills’. 

Complex, cross-jurisdictional corporate litigation and group actions are mainstays of the ‘impressive and hard-working’ team at Slaughter and May that routinely acts for FTSE 100 clients. Recent successes of the team include its representation of Shell in the highly publicised ClientEarth matter, and acting for Credit Suisse in the ‘tuna bond scandal’. Richard Swallow leads the ‘first class’ team that is a ‘pleasure to deal with’. Peter Wickham is a key name in the team, advising across commercial litigation, investigations and regulatory matters, and commercial arbitration, with expertise in energy and natural resources, as well as group litigation. Smriti Sriram is noted as an ‘excellent lawyer and very good to work with’. 

 

The team at Allen & Overy LLP is ‘very commercially astute and responsive’, acting routinely for top-quality clients and blue-chip corporates. For one client, the team has ‘unsurpassed strength in depth‘, with the varying expertise of the department allowing it to act across all sectors. Calum Burnett leads ‘one of the top-tier litigation teams in London’, specialising in investigations and contentious regulatory work, alongside Arnondo Chakrabarti who has expertise in banking and finance. Susanna Charlwood has a practice covering shareholder and joint venture disputes, with specific expertise in navigating cyber incident responses, as well as civil fraud litigation. Noted practitioners within the team include ‘outstanding, client-focused litigators’ Jonathan Hitchin, counsel Sarah Garvey, and senior associate Sophie Pringle.

 

Described by a client as a ‘disputes powerhouse’, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is well-versed in handling complex high-stakes matters for large blue-chip multinationals. ‘Great advocate and cross examiner’ Lord Peter Goldsmith KC leads the team that has particular experience in funds and private equity related work. Widely lauded Patrick Swain is key to the team, with extensive experience in shareholder disputes alongside commercial fraud claims and professional negligence litigation. ‘Brilliant commercial litigator’ Christopher Boyne is a 'trusted commercial advisor' to many of the clients of the practice. At associate level, ‘exceptionally smart, diligent, and creative’ Luke Duggan is recommended.

Linklaters LLP has ‘expertise across a broad range of specialisms’ with a team of almost 300 litigators internationally allowing the department to handle complex multijurisdictional disputes. Large corporates, leading banks, and government bodies instruct the department on a wide range of cases, with clients ‘in safe hands for the highest profile and most challenging commercial cases’. Alison Wilson leads the ‘outstanding partner team with real insight and commercial approach’. Tom Cassels is a key figure in the team, and ‘provides a calm but decisive hand on the tiller’. Marc Harvey is, for one client, ‘one of the best litigators in London’. 

The highly regarded practitioners at Simmons & Simmons have ‘real expertise on almost any matter’, advising prominent corporates, professional service firms, and financial institutions on complex multi-jurisdictional disputes. Head of the team Patrick Boylan ‘provides excellent service’ for his industry-leading clients, and is noted for being ‘very hard-working with fabulous judgement’, while Ian Hammond is acting in the highly publicised Hewlett Packard proceedings, in the largest fraud claim to date brought against individual defendants in English courts. Other names to note within the team include Kirsten Kitt, who is ‘on top of the detail of any matter’, and TMT specialist Minesh Tanna, recognised for his specific expertise in AI. At associate level, ‘absolutely indispensable’ Eleanore Di Claudio is commended for her ‘approachable, affable, and very hard-working’ nature.

 

The widely lauded team at Stephenson Harwood is described as ‘really experienced and technically excellent’ by one client, with the practice fielding particular strength in cross-border disputes. Large corporate, joint venture, and partnership disputes across the energy, financial services, shipping, aviation, and real estate sectors are mainstays of the practice. At leadership level, ‘knowledgeable’ head of team Richard Garcia routinely ‘seeks to go the extra miles for his clients’. ‘Force of nature’ Sue Millar is a key name to note, as are ‘absolute star’ Genevieve Quierin and ‘extremely clever and astute’ Stephen Ashley, with Millar recognised for her impressive sanctions-related expertise. The team has grown significantly with the arrival with Dan Smith from Latham & Watkins in June 2022, Michael Bywell from Hausfeld & Co LLP in January 2023, and Peter Dalton from Herbert Smith Freehills LLP in February 2023.

Being described by clients ‘excellent in all ways, and a real pleasure to work with’, the full-service dispute resolution practice at Travers Smith LLP is equipped to handle highly complex cases. Cases with a cross-border component are regularly undertaken by the team, as are high-profile cases, with the team notably having been entrusted to act on the high-profile Hewlett-Packard tech-related fraud trial. Rob Fell brings his ‘fantastic knowledge and experience’ to lead the ‘absolutely first-rate’ team that consists of financial services expert Caroline Edwards, who also co-heads the firm’s competition litigation practice. Also of note is ‘very reliable, accurate, and clever’ Alexa Day, ‘up-and-coming star’ Stephanie Lee, and the ‘exceptional team’ of Toby Robinson, Andrew King, and Polly Richard.

Offering a ‘top notch Rolls-Royce dispute resolution service’, White & Case LLP is acting for household names and blue-chip global corporates on precedent-setting cases. The team’s work for UK Finance in the landmark Philipp v Barclays Bank case in the Supreme Court is indicative of their strength. ‘Very sure and experienced’ Lawson Caisley leads the team, having been involved in the most high-profile corporate and commercial disputes for years. Also of note is Charles Balmain, with expertise in private and public company litigation, as well as a wide range from shareholder disputes to contentious corporate and sovereign debt restructurings. Swati Tripathi and Will Corbett-Graham are recognised for their ‘exceptional legal knowledge, sound judgement, and deep commitment to their clients’. 

 

 

The ‘stellar’ team at Addleshaw Goddard consists of ‘brilliant lawyers,’ who are also ‘practical and pragmatic’. The team acts on high-value complex disputes, often internationally, with expertise across an array of sectors, including telecommunications, banking and financial services, retail, oil and gas, and retail. For one client, the ‘agile and innovative way in which the team acts’ is commendable. ‘Experienced, measured, and calm under pressure’ Mark Molyneux leads the team as global head of disputes, advising corporates, financial institutions, and high net-worth individuals on disputes related to fraud, competition, contract termination, warranty claims, and disputes with subcontractors and suppliers. Natasha Winter ‘punches above her weight’ and is integral to the practice, as is Lauren Hamilton. Also of note are ‘trust adviser’ Jon Tweedale, ‘outstanding lawyer’ Alex Hogarth, and ‘stand-out associate’ Tom Walmsley.

Ashurst has an ‘excellent litigation team’ that specialises in acting on complex commercial disputes, with litigation spanning ESG, data privacy, group litigation, and crypto matters. The ‘Rolls Royce commercial litigation team’ is led by Jon Gale, notably acting on one of the largest claims related to the high-profile Trucks cartel case. ‘Star of the future’ Sophie Law is a key senior associate in the team, and is integral to the development of the firm’s commercial litigation practice, particularly in the areas of data breach and ESG litigation.

‘Good old-fashioned client service’ is provided for clients by Baker McKenzie‘s commercial litigation practice, described by one as ‘technically brilliant with real depth of strength at all levels’.  The multi-jurisdictional capabilities of the team allow it to act frequently on cross-border disputes, with ‘multinational experts across numerous jurisdictions’. Leading the team is ‘phenomenally tactically astute’ Hugh Lyons, who acts for corporates, financial institutions, and insolvency practitioners. Marc Thorley leverages his experience working in both London and Hong Kong to provide comprehensive advice for clients. Noted practitioners within the team include Marc Florent and Francesca Richmond.

The much-lauded team at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton delivers ‘real partner experience and expertise’, with an integrated practice across Europe, US, Latin America, and Asia allowing the team to handle complex multijurisdictional matters. Major corporates, financial institutions, and sovereigns rely on the team. Jonathan Kelly leads the department, with expertise in antitrust and competition, banking and financial services, regulatory enforcement, and private equity complementing his pure commercial disputes knowledge. ‘Very experienced’ Sunil Gadhia has vast experience in domestic and foreign courts, and is integral to the team along with ‘incredibly pragmatic’ Naomi Tarawali, and ‘super bright, super efficient, and highly energetic’ James Brady-Banzet.

The widely esteemed practitioners at CMS form a ‘first-class team packed with talented individuals at all levels of seniority’. The ‘lean, efficient, and highly professional outfit’ has particular TMT expertise, notably advising IBM UK and Microsoft Corporation. ‘Dynamic, charismatic and brilliant‘ Ben Trust leads the team, along with Steven Corney. ‘Heavyweight commercial litigation partner’ David Bridge routinely handles complex M&A and shareholder disputes, with ‘strong litigator with good judgement’ Kenny Henderson playing a important role in the team. Also of note is ‘highly experienced master strategist’ Guy Pendell, ‘pragmatic and strategically astute’ Jeremy Marsh.

The practice at DLA Piper has ‘strong experience and knowledge across industry sectors’, with a particular strength in handling large-scale, complex disputes. The London office works seamlessly with other offices of the firm internationally, allowing it to provide multijurisdictional solutions for clients. Under the guidance of Jamie Curle, the ‘incredibly talented’ team also includes ‘class act’’ Jeremy Andrews and Charles Allin, who ‘works unbelievably hard in tenaciously fighting his client’s corner’. Described by one client as a ‘beast of a litigator‘, managing director Jean‑Pierre Douglas‑Henry is noted for his expertise in ESG issues.

Boutique Enyo Law LLP is ‘the premium disputes only practice’, with particular strength in energy, financial institutions, and increasingly blockchain and crypto-related disputes. The team frequently advises on high-value, complex corporate commercial litigation matters, and often receive referrals from leading firms due to their c0nflict-free nature. George Maling heads up the practice, that notably includes Edward Allen, ‘very bright’ Tim Elliss, and ‘star partner’ Lucinda Orr. ‘Experienced litigator’ Jonathan Brook is key to the team, with particular experience in high-profile matters for high-net-worth individuals, banks, and private equity houses. At associate level, Alex Mobbs and Phoebe Dean are noted.

The ‘responsive and tactically astute’ practice at Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP advises global conglomerates and leading corporates on a wide range of commercial disputes. Mark Davenport leads the team of ‘very serious heavy-hitting partners‘ whose experience spans a broad range of sectors, including consumer goods, industrials, healthcare, and TMT. The ‘superb’ Neville Byford is a key member of the team, with one client describing him as a ‘real fist of iron in a velvet glove‘. Also of note are Phillip Richardson, Sheena Buddhdev, Richard Little, and Tim Browning.

Fieldfisher’s department is ‘excellent for premium commercial litigation’, often acting on high-profile cases. The team boasts regional and international expertise, with particular strengths in corporate, shareholder, and post M&A disputes. Colin Gibson  is for one client ‘the best solicitor in the city to work with’, and leads the ‘phenomenal team of hard working, intelligent, and diligent individuals’. The team continues to grow significantly, with Priyanka Kapoor joining from PCB Byrne LLP in July 2022, Natalie Quinlivan from KWM Europe LLP in December 2022, and Ania Farren from Omnia Strategy in January 2023.

The team at Jones Day boasts a ‘incredibly impressive marriage of fastidious attention to factual detail and carefully thought out litigation strategy’ and routinely acts on commercially sensitive, complex disputes. ‘Hugely charismatic and confident practitioner’ Sion Richards heads up the team, advising on multijurisdictional investigations and high-value civil litigation. Also of note are ‘top class litigation partner’ Rhys Thomas, ‘exceptionally talented partners’ Ben Larkin and Adam Brown, and ‘very bright’ Daniel Travers. At associate level, Sarah Batley is commended for her ‘good litigation instincts’.

Described by one client as a ‘top outfit for international commercial litigation’, Latham & Watkins is frequently handling ‘bet the company’ disputes regarding ownership and viability of several companies. The practice notably represents Meta in a number of complex, cross-jurisdictional investigations, related to data protection, competition, and consumer laws, showcasing the strength of the team in data privacy and cybersecurity issues. Head of the team Martin Davies is ‘not only one of the very best competition litigators in the market, but also one of the very nicest’. At associate level, ‘great to work with’ Hayley Pizzey is noted.

The ‘first rate commercial team’ at Macfarlanes LLP continues to grow, acting on high-value, cross-border disputes, often with precedent-setting elements. The litigation practice is able to rely on the strong competition litigation, financial services, and tax departments at the firm, as well as the much-lauded private client practice. Matt McCahearty is ‘totally on top of his cases’ and is responsible for leading the team, within which the ‘particular feature is the level of partner involvement’. Iain Mackie is integral to the team, specialising in large-scale corporate and financial services litigation, as is ‘ferociously bright’ Lois Horne. At associate level, Fred Snowball is ‘tenacious in fighting his clients’ corner’.

Norton Rose Fulbright’s ‘first-class, top-quality team’ act on disputes for major blue-chip clients across all key industries of the firm, including financial institutions, energy, infrastructure, transport, tech, life sciences, and healthcare. Mandates acted on by the firm are often high-value, complex, and cross-border, and involve the likes of HSBC and Shell. Patrick Bourke and Ruth Cowley form the leadership of the practice, both with expansive domestic and international experience. Key to the team is Harriet Jones-Fenleigh, who ‘offers unparalleled strategic insight’, ‘top class litigation heavyweight’ Antony Corsi, and ‘hardworking and pragmatic’ Holly Stebbing.

Litigation-only firm Stewarts Law LLP acts on large scale, complex, cross-border disputes, and is ‘one of the best in the market’. The team consists of a ‘great selection of top-quality but nice and happy lawyers’, with Clive Zietman leading the team that consists of ‘complete package’ Ian Gatt KC, and ‘highly organized and efficient’ Lorraine Lanceley. Lucy Ward is integral to the team, with specific expertise in complex securities litigation – a mainstay of the work undertaken by the team. The bench strength of the team continues to develop, with the arrival of Alex Leitch from Paul Hastings LLP.

The London team at Akin is described as ‘extremely adept for big-ticket litigation’. The group has significant experience in disputes in the energy, tech, and financial sectors, having acted on high-profile energy disputes, investment disputes on behalf of banks, and crypto-related disputes. ‘No-nonsense, pragmatic and commercially minded‘ Richard Hornshaw leads the London disputes team as well as the firm’s wider international disputes practice, acting frequently for financial institutions. Other noted practitioners include ‘stand-out partner’ Justin Williams, and Kambiz Larizadeh, commended for his ‘searing insight combined with an unassuming manner’ 

The 'friendly, hardworking, and experienced' team at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner act on high-stakes contractual disputes, with impressive multi-jurisdictional capabilities. 'Very experienced' Graham Shear leads the litigation and investigations practice at the firm, alongside the business and commercial disputes practice. Shear is praised for 'thinking deeply and laterally... considering multiple different aspects simultaneously from several perspectives to develop powerful strategies'. 'Intelligent litigator' Oran Gelb is integral to the team, as is 'seasoned litigator' Joby Davies, and 'brilliant technical lawyer' Rachel Ziegler. The team was strengthened with the arrival of Ravi Nayer from Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP in July 2022 - he handles both commercial and group litigation.

The 'forward-thinking, client-friendly and efficient practice’ at Clyde & Co benefits from the expertise of 400 litigation partners internationally, with expertise across a wide range of sectors. IT disputes continue to keep the team busy, particularly for team head Chris Burdett, who also specialises in corporate disputes and procurement litigation, along with commercial disputes for large corporates and PLC. Ian Birdsey 'goes above and beyond to service the needs of clients in challenging situations', specialising in high-profile contentious data protection matters. Tom White is recognised for his 'technical litigation and insurance advice'. 

Covington & Burling LLP’s team ‘has a wealth of expertise and experience’, acting for clients including financial services and Fortune 500 companies, and household telecoms, tech and life sciences sectors. The expertise of the team largely lies in tech, financial services, and energy, with class actions and insolvency-related litigation also strengths of the team. Louise Freeman and Ian Hargreaves lead the team that includes ‘one of the best litigators in London’, Craig Pollack. Special counsel Eddy Eccles is also noted.

The ‘well coordinated and extremely efficient’ team at Dechert LLP is particularly skilled at handling litigation that spans multiple jurisdictions, regularly acting for multinational corporates, sovereign states, hedge funds, and other financial institutions. Solicitor-advocate Dorothy Cory-Wright leads the team, acting on a wide range of complex commercial litigation and contentious regulatory issues. ‘Litigation heavyweight’ Stephen Surgeoner  is key to the team, with a particular focus on financial services, insurance, energy, and telecommunications-related litigation. ‘Very diligent’ Daniel Natoff is highly recommended by clients, with a financial services sector focus.

The team at Dentons - described as an ‘outstanding international litigation department with a specialism in maximum complexity banking cases’ - is well-regarded for its expertise in financial services and energy disputes. The team can draw on support from the wider firm's huge global platform, and acts for long-established clients both domestically and internationally. Louisa Caswell, known as as a ‘great leader’, has extensive experience in commercial and corporate disputes, particularly in relations to M&A, joint ventures and shareholder actions. Caswell, along with Dan Bodle and Thomas Leyland lead the team. ‘Likeable, shrewd, and experienced’ Adrian Giles is also noted.

HFW has the ‘knowledge and competence to operate at the very highest level on multi-jurisdictional cases’, acting for high-value clients across a wide range of sectors. ‘Hard worker with excellent commercial nous’ Andrew Williams leads the team, with a practice spanning director and shareholder disputes, banking, fraud, and general contract disputes. Damian Honey is key to the team, with expertise across commodities, trade finance, banking, energy, and fraud. At associate level, Gordon Rieck and Roxanne Johnson are noted.

Mayer Brown International LLP fields a ‘highly diligent and effective outfit’ that acts across the gamut of sectors and jurisdictions. Shareholder, joint venture, and partnership disputes are part of the core work of the team that advises a range of clients, from global mass media companies to international casinos, to established charities.  Ian McDonald leads the team that includes ‘fiercely intelligent and great strategist’ Miles Robinson, ‘relaxed and engaging’ Mark Stefanini, and ‘extremely diligent, detail oriented, open minded, and pragmatic’ Airlie Goodman.

The ‘diverse and experienced team’ at Mishcon de Reya LLP have experience in areas such as group litigation, director and shareholder disputes, advising high-net-worth individuals, and acting on high-value proceedings. The firm’s merger with Taylor Vinters in January 2023 added to the bench strength of the team and expands the offering provided to clients. Kasra Nouroozi leads the team, alongside Richard Leedham, Janet Tobin, and ‘hard-working and extremely focused’ Nicola Bridge. ‘Tactically very astute’ Mark Davis is also recommended.

Pinsent Masons LLP has a ‘great litigation team with a wealth of experience’ according to one client, and are ‘very effective at holding their own against Magic Circle and American law firms’. Michael Fenn leads the team in London, frequently acting on multi-million pound breach of contract and tort cases, with expertise in international private law matters. ‘Superb litigator’ Michael Fletcher offers expertise across the range of commercial disputes, with specialist knowledge of procurement challenges and professional negligence. Key to the team is ‘very astute commercially’ Stuart McNeill, and ‘emerging talent’ Daniel Gardiner. At associate level, Charlotte Evenden and Oliver Tapper are recommended.

Financial services, technology, retail, commodities, and energy are key industry sectors of the ‘extremely client-focused, responsive, easy to work with and industrious’ practice at Reed Smith LLP. The London-based team is able to rely on the international network of the wider firm to offer a cross-border service to a wide array of clients. Standout partners include ‘proactive and very bright’ Oliver Rawkins, and ‘excellent’ Simon Greer. At associate level, Thomas Morgan is a ‘very strong performer’, and Marcus Price is considered by one client as a ‘star of the future’. Associate James Stockman is also recommended. Ben Summerfield left for Morrison Foerster in October 2023.

RPC is for one client, ‘an excellent choice for heavyweight and complex commercial litigation’ acting on work related to shareholders, joint ventures, complex financial instruments, warranty breaches, insolvency, and professional negligence. The team frequently acts on matters stretching across multiple jurisdictions, and benefit from the established non-contentious practices of the firm. ‘Veteran litigator’ Geraldine Elliott leads the team alongside Tom Hibbert who has ‘real insight and strategic flair’. Charlotte Henschen is ‘an outstanding litigator’ and specializes in joint venture, financial markets, and civil fraud related disputes.

The ‘cohesive, experienced, and effective team’ at Signature Litigation LLP acts for multi-party, multi-jurisdictional disputes, benefitting from support provided by a Paris office of the firm. The ‘hard-working, diligent and able’ team is led by ‘leading player’ Graham Huntley, who regularly acts for banks, fund managers, and life assurers. ‘Intelligent and skilled lawyer’ Daniel Spendlove is key to the team, alongside ‘stand-out individual’ Abdulali Jiwaji  and ‘bright and careful litigator’ Simon Fawell.

With ‘smart, savvy, and creative’ Sophie Eyre  and ‘excellent and experienced’ Jonathan Speed at its helm, the team at Bird & Bird LLP is committed to acting on  precedent-setting data and tech-related disputes, and is frequently involved with complex and innovative IT projects and their related disputes. The recent high-profile Tulip Trading case, a key case in the cryptocurrency and blockchain space, is indicative of the team’s strengths, with Eyre leading the team that included associate Priyan Meewella. At associate level, Simona Peter and Russell Williamson are both also noted.

Boutique firm Cooke, Young & Keidan LLP specialises in commercial, corporate, and financial related litigation, acting for a roster of clients which includes a number of FTSE 100 companies. Tech related work is an increasing focus for the team, including many high-profile matters in the fintech and cryptocurrency area. The practice has continued to grow on the back of the arrival of Jon Felce and Natalie Todd from PCB Byrne LLP in April 2022. Other key practitioners in the team include Sinead O’Callaghan, Lydia Danon and Stephen Elam.

The litigation practice at ‘top tier firm’ Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher handles the full gamut of commercial litigation, including complex-cross border disputes. Group litigation is a particular strength of the team, with Osma Hudda and Doug Watson both key names in this area, along with team head Philip Rocher. Rocher, along with Allan Neil and Susy Bullock all have extensive experience in offshore disputes. The in-house trial advocacy ability of the team is a key differentiator, led by Lord Charles Falconer KC, ‘absolutely one of the best litigators and counsel in London.’

Litigation boutique Hausfeld & Co LLP fields a ‘very focused, efficient, and on the ball’ team, acting for a vast range of longstanding premium clients. ‘Polished operator’ John McElroy is the head of the ‘always collaborative’ team, recently acting on Covid-19 related matters. Noted practitioners include the ‘excellent’ Lianne Craig, who is the managing partner of the firm, ‘super responsive’ Ned Beale, and Anna Gilbert, who has ‘one of the sharpest legal minds’.

King & Spalding LLP's London litigation practice is widely lauded for its track record of high-value and complex work, advising clients across sectors including real estate, energy, aviation, financial services, tech and commodities. The in-house advocacy abilities of the team are demonstrated by presence of four KCs, including Thomas K. Sprange KC, who leads the team alongside 'smart, charming, and responsive' Sarah Walker.

Kirkland & Ellis International LLP has one of the ‘very top commercial litigation practices on both side of the Atlantic’, consisting of ‘experienced partners, and enthusiastic and diligent associates’. Of these, Rajinder Bassi leads the team, and is commended by one client for bringing ‘a clear head to provide practical solutions’. Noted practitioners include ‘bright and creative lawyer’ Noah Stewart-Ornstein, ‘committed litigator’ Jonathan Newman, and ‘commercial litigation superstar’ Richard Boynton.

‘Brilliant litigation boutique’ Seladore Legal acts on high-value multi-jurisdictional disputes, with specific expertise in fraud, asset tracing, and enforcement disputes. ‘Tenacious lawyer’ Simon Bushell leads the ‘strong legal team with excellent technical capabilities’, regularly acting for large corporates, private equity houses, and financial institutions. Also of note are ‘immensely hard-working, able, and insightful litigators’ Gary Milner-Moore, Gareth Keillor, and Kevin Kilgour.

The London practice at Sidley Austin LLP acts across a wide range of sectors, advising high-profile clients in industries including media and events, retail, pharma and insurance. Sanctions related work is a mainstay of the team led by Matthew Shankland; a solicitor advocate who handles a steady stream of complex high-profile litigation, with experience in the High Court as well as international arbitration tribunals worldwide. Andrew Fox is key to the team, with particular knowledge of commodities brokerage, oil and gas logistics, and branding and licensing.

Elite US firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP is known for its ‘exceptional team of litigators for the largest cases’ – the team has a track record of work on landmark disputes for multinational companies and major domestics, handling contentious matters concerning M&A, joint ventures, shareholder agreements, and directors’ duties. Kate Davies KC leads the team that consists of David Kavanagh KC, ‘one of the best litigators in the City of London’, ‘heavyweight litigator’ David Edwards and Bruce Macaulay, who ‘stands out for his fantastic judgement and cool, calm presence’. Daniel Gal KC is noted.

The ‘formidable’ practice at Taylor Wessing LLP acts for large UK and international organisations on leading commercial disputes, regularly handling complex, multijurisdictional matters. Andrew Howell is the head of the disputes and investigation practice, with expertise in the financial and professional services sectors, as well as professional negligence. ‘Unique lawyer‘ Katie Chandler has ‘outstanding legal skills, fully understands the client’s needs and has a good sense of humour‘, and is noted alongside ‘out of the box thinker‘ Richard Viegas. At associate level, ‘superb’ Lucy Waddicor is noted.

Jamie Maples sits at the helm of the ‘focused, elite commercial litigation practice‘ at Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP; the team regularly advises global corporates and private equity sponsors on complex litigation, investigations, arbitrations, and regulatory matters. Restructuring litigation is also within the expertise of the ‘extremely able high-quality team of technically proficient lawyers‘. Noted practitioners include ‘star junior partner’ Christopher Marks, with expertise in complex cross-border insolvencies, and ‘proactive and responsive’ Hayley Lund.

Arnold & Porter has a widely lauded practice, with impressive multijurisdictional capabilities as well as in-depth experience in commercial and corporate disputes related to the pharmaceutical sector. Hilton Mervis leads the team; he has decades of experience litigating high-value, complex disputes for corporations, private equity firms, and high-net-worth individuals. Also of note are Jane Wessel, with complementary competition experience, and Charlotte Mallorie, along with commercial barrister William Paris.

Bracewell (UK) LLP's practice has a 'specialist expertise in energy sector disputes', acting on high-profile matters across the wind, solar, battery storage, and carbon capture industries, assisting companies in their transition towards alternative energy forms. 'Strategic thinker' John Gilbert is the head of the team, advising on a wide range of disputes related to oil and gas exploration and production, with 'standout operator' Alistair Calvert also integral to the team.

Ultra-high net worth individuals, multinationals, and major financial institutions all turn to Brown Rudnick LLP to handle multi-jurisdictional, complex disputes. The London litigation and arbitration practice group is co-led by Neill Shrimpton and Jane Colston; other key names include Jessica Lee, who was recently promoted to partnership.

Under the leadership of James Wareham, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP's offering focuses on M&A, finance, and investment disputes, with impressive in-house advocacy capabilities furthered by a team of barristers who primarily practised at the Bar before joining the team. 'Hardworking and dedicated' James Barratt is one such member of the team, along with 'standout partner' James Kitching. The team grew at associate level in June 2022, with the arrival of Daniel McCarthy from Joseph Hage Aaronson LLP.

Goodwin has a ‘dynamic and growing litigation team‘ with vast expertise across the private equity, funds, venture capital, and financial service industries. The practice was launched in April 2020 with the arrival of ‘first class litigator‘ Oliver Glynn-Jones from Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, who works across corporate and financial litigation. The bench strength of the team continues to expand, with the firm adding Sarah McAtominey from Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner in early 2023.

The litigation practice at Greenberg Traurig, LLP has expertise across financial services, civil fraud, asset recovery, and contentious regulatory work. The team, which is headed by European litigation chair Masoud Zabeti , regularly advises on multijurisdictional matters.

Milbank has a ‘growing team of commercial litigators, with a particular emphasis on fraud claims’, and are seen as ‘great at large team litigation’. The team's strengths are exemplified by its work for Visa on significant interchange litigation over the last decade. Julian Stait does a ‘huge proportion of the work for Visa’ and leads the team that consists of ‘incisive, results-oriented’ Mona Vaswani and ‘future star’ Conrad Marinkovic.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP has a ‘dynamic and effective’ litigation practice, and for one client, is ‘up there with the best of the magic circle firms.’ Melanie Ryan, a ‘great litigator’, represents clients across disputes in banking, financial services, and energy, and leads the team. Chris Warren-Smith, co-chair of the firm’s white collar and corporate investigations practice, is key to the team, along with ‘clever, shrewd litigator’ Peter Sharp  and ‘highly experienced’ David Waldron.

Morrison Foerster‘s team has the ‘capability to deliver on high-value and complex litigation’, representing multinational public companies in disputes across the high court and court of appeal, with particular expertise in tech and finance related litigation. Jonathan Wheeler – ‘a litigator at the top of his game’ – leads the team, with a focus on complex cross-border disputes. The team was boosted by the arrival of Holly Bambury from Herbert Smith Freehills LLP in mid-2022, as well as the arrival of Ben Summerfield from Reed Smith LLP in October 2023.

Litigation boutique Pallas Partners LLP has ‘taken the legal world by storm’ since its inception in 2022, and is commended by one client for its ‘vast experience, tactical nous, and legal expertise’. Head of team Natasha Harrison is ‘very driven, innovative, focused’ and is responsible for the ‘bespoke and personalised service’ offered by the firm. Key to the team is ‘committed and clever’ Fiona Huntriss, ‘first-rate lawyer‘ Tracey Dovaston, and ‘razor sharp, efficient and effective‘ counsel Alessia de Quincey.

Dorothy Murray and Steven Baker are the key names for litigation in Proskauer Rose LLP‘s London base, with experience in a wide range of disputes concerning M&A, employment, contractual matters, partnerships and joint ventures. Asset managers, private equity firms, investment banks, and major corporates all rely on the expertise of the team. At associate level, Alexis Namdar, Julia Bihary and Charles Bishop are noted.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher (UK) LLP houses 'an impressive team with expertise in managing complex disputes'. The practice's expertise covers shareholder disputes, fraud cases, restructuring litigation, and insurance-related cases. It also has notable cross-border litigation credentials, particularly in relation to parallel UK-US matters. Peter Burrell focuses on complex cross-border matters, along with disputes involving financial fraud, securities, insider dealing, tax evasion, and financial reporting issues; and Simon Osborn-King is 'a highly talented lawyer'. Recently elevated partner Jerry Healy acts in a range of commercial disputes, while the experience of associate Giles Harvey also incorporates large-scale commercial litigation cases.

Winston & Strawn LLP has a 'outstanding team of international litigators' that has a 'depth of experience and judgement that sets them apart', with experience representing major clients on complex international litigation. The practice is particularly skilled in the aviation, shipping, energy, and technology sectors. 'Extremely knowledgeable and sharp' Ben Bruton heads the team; he works alongside Daniel Meagher, who 'brings a deep understanding of litigation to his clients', and 'extremely promising associate' Jake White.