Top 10 Law Firms in the UK

The UK has some of the world’s top influential law firms. These firms are leaders in their respective fields, renowned for handling complex, high-profile cases and transactions across industries such as corporate finance, tax, real estate, antitrust, and dispute resolution.

They are sought after by multinational corporations, governments, financial institutions, and high-net-worth individuals for their deep knowledge, strategic advice, and seamless cross-border services.

Top Ten Law Firms in the UK

Law is a thriving sector in the UK. In December 2023, TheCityUK published a report on UK-based legal services. It said that the legal industry generated over £43 billion in 2022/23, and over £33 billion of that revenue was generated by the top 100 law firms in the UK.

The top law firms in the UK typically belong to either the Magic Circle, a group of elite London-based firms specializing in banking and corporate law, or other prominent full-service firms recognized for their global reach and sector-specific expertise.

Below are the top ten law firms in the UK:

DLA Piper

• Founded Date: 2005, following a merger of UK-based DLA, US-based Piper Rudnick, and Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich.
• Headquarters: London
• Global Reach: 40 countries across the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East
• 2023 Revenue: £2.83 billion
• Practice Areas: Business Advisory, Corporate, Energy and Natural Resources, Mergers and Acquisitions, Private Equity, Real Estate, Regulatory and Government Affairs, Restructuring Tax, & Technology

DLA Piper is one of the top law firms not only in the UK but also around the world. It has seven offices in the UK alone: Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, and Sheffield. With operations spanning over 40 countries, it offers various legal services, often specializing in business advisory, corporate law, and other services to a diverse clientele, including multinational corporations, governments, and emerging enterprises.

Hogan Lovells

• Founded Date: 
  • Hogan Lovells: 2010
  • Hogan & Hartson: 1904
  • Lovells: 1899
• Headquarters: London
• Global Reach: 40 countries across the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East
• 2023 Revenue: £2.16 billion
• Practice Areas: Corporate Finance, Disputes, Intellectual Property, and Regulatory

Hogan Lovells is a leading global law firm that was created in 2010 by merging US-based Hogan & Hartson and UK-based Lovells. It has a substantial presence in both the US and Europe. It serves clients across many sectors, including financial services, healthcare, technology, energy, and real estate.

A&O Shearman

• Founded Date:
  • A&O Shearman: May 2024, the result of a merger between Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling.
  • Allen & Overy (A&O): January 1930 by George Allen and Thomas Overy.
• Headquarters: London
• Global Reach: 40 offices in 31 countries across Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, Latin America and the Middle East.
• 2023 Revenue: £2.1 billion
• Practice Areas: Banking and Finance, corporate and M&A, litigation and Dispute Resolution, Capital Markets, Intellectual Property, Real Estate, Tax, Pensions, Employment, and Restructuring & insolvency.

Allen & Overy (A&O) is one of the top law firms in the UK and globally. The UK law firm is among the “Magic Circle” members. The Magic Circle is an informal term for the five most prestigious law firms headquartered in the UK. In April 2024, A&O merged with the US-based firm Shearman & Sterling to bolster its presence in the American market.

Clifford Chance

• Founded Date: 1987, through the merger of Clifford Turner and Coward Chance.
• Headquarters: London
• Global Reach: 34 offices in 23 countries across Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America, Latin America and the Middle East.
• 2023 Revenue: £2.06 billion
• Practice Areas: Banking and Finance, corporate and M&A, litigation and Dispute Resolution, Capital Markets, energy and Infrastructure, Real Estate, Tax, Pensions, Employment, and Technology & Intellectual Property.

Clifford Chance, another firm listed in the Magic Circle, is a top law firm operating in the UK. It has over 34 offices across 23 countries and offers various corporate law, finance, litigation, and property legal services.

Linklaters LLP

• Founded Date: 1838
• Headquarters: London
• Global Reach: 30 offices across 20 countries throughout Asia, the Middle East, North America, South America, and Europe.
• 2023 Revenue: £1.9 billion 
• Practice Areas: Antitrust and Foreign Investment, Artificial Intelligence, Banking, Capital Markets, Corporate/M&A, Energy and infrastructure, Fintech, Intellectual Property, Litigation, Real Estate, and trade Law.

Linklaters LLP is one of the top law firms in the UK and a member of the “Magic Circle.” Established in 1838, the firm has grown to become a leading provider of legal services with a strong presence in global financial centers. Their work covers several legal areas, including Corporate/M&A, Banking, Trade Law, Fintech, Real Estate, and others.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

• Founded Date: 1743
• Headquarters: London
• Global Reach: 28 offices in 17 jurisdictions across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America
• 2023 Revenue: £1.84 billion
• Practice Areas: Banking and Finance; Corporate and M&A; Litigation and Dispute Resolution; and Competition Law.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is one of the most prominent global law firms, often considered part of the “Magic Circle” of top UK law firms. It is renowned for handling complex cross-border transactions, regulatory matters, and litigation. The firm’s key strengths lie in corporate law, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), competition law, and dispute resolution.

Norton Rose Fulbright

• Founded Date: 
  • Norton Rose: 1794 in London
  • Fulbright & Jaworski: 1919 in Houston, Texas
  • Norton Rose Fulbright: 2013
• Headquarters: London
• Global Reach: 58 offices across the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific
• 2023 Revenue: £1.64 billion
• Practice Areas: Antitrust and competition, Cybersecurity and data privacy, Litigation and disputes, Risk advisory, Banking and finance, Corporate, M&A and securities, Intellectual property, Restructuring, and Tax.

Norton Rose Fulbright is a global law firm with a significant presence in over 30 countries. It offers a wide range of legal services, specializing in corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, banking and finance, energy, and infrastructure, among other sectors. The firm is known for its expertise in financial institutions, energy, natural resources, and transport sectors.

CMS

• Founded Date: 1999 (through the merger of Cameron McKenna and other law firms)
• Headquarters: London
• Global Reach: 40 countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East.
• 2023 Revenue: £1.59 billion
• Practice Areas: Banking and Finance, Dispute Resolution, Tax, Antitrust, Corporate M&A, Intellectual Property, Insurance

CMS is an international law firm in the UK that offers legal and tax advisory services. It advises companies and organizations on a wide range of legal issues. CMS consists of 18 independent law firms with about 80 offices worldwide.

Herbert Smith Freehills

• Founded Date:
  • Herbert Smith:1882 in London
  • Freehills: 1852 in Sydney.
  • Herbert Smith Freehills: 2012
• Headquarters: London
• Global Reach: 26 offices in Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and the Middle East
• 2023 Revenue: £1.19 billion
• Practice Areas: Corporate; Dispute Resolution; Real Estate; Competition, regulation and trade; Corporate; Finance; Mergers and Acquisitions

Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) is one of the top law firms in the UK. The UK law firm is renowned for its expertise in complex, high-stakes legal matters and global reach. Formed in 2012 through the merger of Herbert Smith (UK) and Freehills (Australia), the firm operates in 25 offices across Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and North America. In November 2024, the US law firm Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel and global legal giant Herbert Smith Freehills announced a plan to merge into a single firm.

Ashurst

• Founded Date: 1822
• Headquarters: London
• Global Reach: 29 offices in 15 countries across Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and North America,
• 2023 Revenue: £879 million
• Practice Areas: Corporate; Structure Finance; Mergers and Acquisitions; Tax; Real Estate; Dispute Resolution, Antitrust

Ashurst LLP is a prestigious law firm in the UK. Established in 1822, the firm has a long history of providing comprehensive legal services to various clients, including multinational corporations, financial institutions, governments, and state-owned entities. The firm’s core practice areas include corporate law, banking and finance, dispute resolution, energy and infrastructure, real estate, and regulatory matters.