Ranking tables

Corporate/M&A: £100-800 million | UK

London (Firms)

This section covers both public and private company transactions, particularly M&A. Typical work includes company and share acquisitions, dispositions, capitalisations, entity selection and formation, operating and partnership agreements, securities and governance matters. Priority is placed on those acting for buyers and sellers. There are three tables in this section: for deals worth over £800 million, for deals worth between £100 million and £800 million, and for deals of under £100 million. Please note that a firm or lawyer being ranked in one table does not preclude them from advising of a deal of a higher or lower value. These tables are arranged to enable clients to find the firm or lawyer most suited to their matter. Firms are arranged in the category where the bulk of their work highlights fall. It is the value that they are most commonly seen on, not the only value they act on. Please note that departments with expertise of private equity deals are ranked separately, in Private Equity.

Rankings overview for Departments

All Departments profiles

1

Band 1

  1. CMS
    1
    CMS
    Corporate/M&A: £100-800 million
    2025 | Band 1 | 3 Years Ranked
    CMS boasts a high-quality practice housing a substantial pool of corporate specialists. It is routinely engaged by leading names in the energy, infrastructure and technology fields to advise on mid-market transactions, with additional sector focus on media and financial services deals. CMS has an extensive global footprint that includes particular strength in the CEE region.
  2. DLA Piper LLP
    1
    DLA Piper LLP
    Corporate/M&A: £100-800 million
    2025 | Band 1 | 3 Years Ranked
    DLA Piper maintains a strong platform for deals across a range of sizes, but is especially recommended for transactions with values in the hundreds of millions. It frequently acts for companies from sectors such as energy, infrastructure and technology. It is able to call upon a strong global network of international offices to bolster its skill in cross-border work, with particular expertise across Asia and the EMEA region.
  3. Macfarlanes LLP
    1
    Macfarlanes LLP
    Corporate/M&A: £100-800 million
    2025 | Band 1 | 3 Years Ranked
    Macfarlanes boasts a leading practice that is able to advise on deals of both under and above £1 billion. It has experience of advising high-profile names on a range of transactions, including acquisitions, disposals and joint ventures. It is well versed in high-end deals, often acting on international mandates for corporates and financial institutions. The department is also regularly called upon to advise management and director teams on M&A. It has broad international capabilities and has experience of deals involving the US, Europe and Australasia.
  4. Travers Smith LLP
    1
    Travers Smith LLP
    Corporate/M&A: £100-800 million
    2025 | Band 1 | 3 Years Ranked
    Travers Smith maintains a highly respected corporate group that advises sponsors and corporates on the full spectrum of transactional work, with significant sector strengths in financial services, infrastructure, retail and technology. It is regularly involved in deals with a global footprint, including those involving European and North American interests. The firm possesses significant expertise in deals with a value in the hundreds of millions, but also maintains the capability to advise on transactions worth over £1 billion.
2

Band 2

  1. Addleshaw Goddard LLP
    2
    Addleshaw Goddard LLP
    Corporate/M&A: £100-800 million
    2025 | Band 2 | 3 Years Ranked
    Addleshaw Goddard represents an array of FTSE100 and FTSE250 corporates, with notable expertise in energy, real estate, retail and financial services transactions. Its private equity strength is also noted. The department handles a wide range of domestic and international work, with a wealth of expertise in matters concerning India and Africa.
  2. Dentons
    2
    Dentons
    Corporate/M&A: £100-800 million
    2025 | Band 2 | 3 Years Ranked
    Dentons is proficient in cross-border deals in mature and emerging markets, with expertise in Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. It is active in a range of sectors, and is especially strong in energy and hospitality transactions. The department works closely with a clientele of major corporates, sponsors and financial institutions.
  3. Jones Day
    2
    Jones Day
    Corporate/M&A: £100-800 million
    2025 | Band 2 | 3 Years Ranked
    Jones Day has an established practice that is frequently engaged on high-end and mid-market transactions such as acquisitions, disposals and joint ventures. Its international network enables it to maintain strength in international deals, particularly in Europe, Asia and the US. The firm's areas of focus include transactions in the real estate, life sciences, industrial and defence sectors.
  4. Eversheds Sutherland
    Corporate/M&A: £100-800 million
    2025 | Band 2
3

Band 3

  1. Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP
    3
    Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP
    Corporate/M&A: £100-800 million
    2025 | Band 3 | 3 Years Ranked
    BCLP houses a high-quality corporate team with substantial expertise in domestic and international deal work, calling upon a strong international network for cross-border deals. It has notable strength in mid-market real estate transactions, as well as those involving energy, healthcare and retail. BCLP benefits from a stable of dual English and US-qualified lawyers.
  2. Greenberg Traurig, LLP
    3
    Greenberg Traurig, LLP
    Corporate/M&A: £100-800 million
    2025 | Band 3 | 3 Years Ranked
    Greenberg Traurig regularly advises on transactions for clients in the pharmaceutical, chemicals, telecommunications, and manufacturing sectors. It fields expertise in a broad range of areas, such as M&A, joint ventures, real estate deals and shareholder agreements. The department counts a number of significant corporates and financial institutions among its client base and leverages strong resources in the US to assist on cross-border work.
  3. Mayer Brown International LLP
    3
    Mayer Brown International LLP
    Corporate/M&A: £100-800 million
    2025 | Band 3 | 3 Years Ranked
    Mayer Brown regularly works with well-known names from the media, chemicals, energy, healthcare and real estate arenas. Its areas of expertise include acquisitions, joint ventures and take-private transactions. Mayer Brown offers considerable skill in cross-border matters, with particular strength in deals involving North America and Asia.
  4. Osborne Clarke LLP
    3
    Osborne Clarke LLP
    Corporate/M&A: £100-800 million
    2025 | Band 3 | 3 Years Ranked
    Osborne Clarke has a strong offering in domestic upper mid-market deals and is increasingly involved in transactions arising in the Middle East and Asia to add to its cross-border experience across Europe and the USA. It is considered to be a go-to practice for many in the digital business sector and it acts for a number of household names in the media and communications industries. Osborne Clarke is also active in other fields, such as real estate, life sciences and energy.
  5. Taylor Wessing LLP
    3
    Taylor Wessing LLP
    Corporate/M&A: £100-800 million
    2025 | Band 3 | 3 Years Ranked
    Taylor Wessing acts on the full spectrum of corporate issues, including take-private transactions and M&A. It is particularly active in the mid-market and often advises on international matters relating to the Middle East or Asia. Its sector strengths include life sciences, retail and consumer. The department's corporate offering is complemented by strong growth capital and financing groups, with a dedicated focus on corporate technology.
4

Band 4

  1. Bird & Bird
    4
    Bird & Bird
    Corporate/M&A: £100-800 million
    2025 | Band 4 | 3 Years Ranked
    Bird & Bird leverages its impressive talents in technology and IP-rich industries, including media, energy and retail, to advise on a wide range of corporate matters, with solid expertise in mid-market deals. It is experienced in cross-border mergers and overseas transactions more generally.
  2. Cooley LLP
    4
    Cooley LLP
    Corporate/M&A: £100-800 million
    2025 | Band 4 | 3 Years Ranked
    Cooley advises a diverse client base of FTSE250 companies, start-ups and financial sponsors on a broad suite of corporate transactions. It has particular industry expertise in technology, media, life sciences and telecommunications. Cooley is well positioned to assist on international deals, especially those involving US and Asian interests.
  3. Covington & Burling LLP
    4
    Covington & Burling LLP
    Corporate/M&A: £100-800 million
    2025 | Band 4 | 3 Years Ranked
    Covington & Burling has considerable strength in life sciences transactions, and also handles matters in the media, technology and communications sectors. It advises across the spectrum of corporate transactions, with particular experience in deals with significant IP implications. The department can draw on the London-based US team to advise on US law aspects of cross-border transactions.
  4. Dechert LLP
    4
    Dechert LLP
    Corporate/M&A: £100-800 million
    2025 | Band 4 | 3 Years Ranked
    Dechert is regularly engaged on domestic and international deals, including matters in emerging markets. It has notable sector strengths in financial services, life sciences and TMT. The team is a mix of both UK and US-qualified lawyers, offering a full service to a range of corporates and financial institutions. The corporate offering is bolstered by ancillary expertise in investment funds and financial services regulation.
  5. Fieldfisher
    4
    Fieldfisher
    Corporate/M&A: £100-800 million
    2025 | Band 4 | 3 Years Ranked
    Fieldfisher handles domestic and cross-border transactions, with experience of advising on deals involving companies in the USA. It is particularly strong in the energy, technology and media sectors, where it acts for both corporate clients and institutional investors.
  6. Goodwin
    4
    Goodwin
    Corporate/M&A: £100-800 million
    2025 | Band 4 | 1 Years Ranked
    Goodwin has extensive experience of advising clients on both UK and cross-border M&A transactions. It is able to call upon its strong global presence to counsel on matters with US and European interests. The firm boasts notable expertise in the life sciences, technology and real estate sectors. The department is able to assist high-profile clients on divestitures, joint ventures and asset deals, among other matters.
  7. K&L Gates
    4
    K&L Gates
    Corporate/M&A: £100-800 million
    2025 | Band 4 | 3 Years Ranked
    K&L Gates' key areas of focus include transactions in the real estate, energy, infrastructure and natural resources spaces. It provides a strong international offering, regularly advising on deals involving continental Europe and the Middle East. The department is particularly proficient in representing US companies on cross-border acquisitions into the UK and Europe, as part of a broad client base of corporate entities and financial sponsors.
  8. Pinsent Masons
    4
    Pinsent Masons
    Corporate/M&A: £100-800 million
    2025 | Band 4 | 3 Years Ranked
    Pinsent Masons handles both domestic and international deal work for FTSE250 and AIM-listed clients. It continues to grow its profile in cross-border work, with a particular focus on the Asia-Pacific and EMEA regions, and has advised on numerous UK inbound transactions. It has a strong focus on transactions in the energy, technology, infrastructure, healthcare, retail and life sciences fields. The department has additional capabilities representing investment banks and other financial sponsors.
  9. Reed Smith LLP
    4
    Reed Smith LLP
    Corporate/M&A: £100-800 million
    2025 | Band 4 | 3 Years Ranked
    Reed Smith is active on a wealth of corporate matters, including cross-border, public and private transactions. It draws from an extensive global platform across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the USA to offer an integrated service on corporate deals. The department is well known for working with companies from the technology, energy, life sciences and defence sectors, among others.
  10. Sidley Austin LLP
    4
    Sidley Austin LLP
    Corporate/M&A: £100-800 million
    2025 | Band 4 | 1 Years Ranked
    Sidley Austin boasts notable experience advising clients in the life sciences, technology and financial services sectors on complex M&A transactions. The firm leverages its strong global offering to counsel on deals across the US and Europe. The firm regularly works with notable corporates and financial investors on significant mid-market deals.
  11. 4
    Simmons & Simmons LLP
    Corporate/M&A: £100-800 million
    2025 | Band 4 | 3 Years Ranked
    Simmons & Simmons has recognised strength advising corporates and financial institutions on domestic and international deals with values in the hundreds of millions. It is highly skilled in a number of areas, including public takeovers, joint ventures and private sales. The department has sector-specific capabilities in life sciences, technology and the media. It exhibits strength representing clients in shareholder activism situations and has a growing presence in fintech.
  12. Squire Patton Boggs
    4
    Squire Patton Boggs
    Corporate/M&A: £100-800 million
    2025 | Band 4 | 3 Years Ranked
    Squire Patton Boggs is adept at both domestic and international deals, supported by regional and global offices, with a particular focus on deals involving continental Europe, China and the USA. It is particularly active in media, energy, utilities and financial services M&A, alongside specialist expertise in football club takeovers. The department acts for numerous corporates and investment banks.
  13. Stephenson Harwood LLP
    4
    Stephenson Harwood LLP
    Corporate/M&A: £100-800 million
    2025 | Band 4 | 1 Years Ranked
    Stephenson Harwood assists a host of clients with domestic and international deal work, and is experienced in working with acquirers and sellers. It is particularly strong on transport, energy, consumer goods and real estate transactions. The department is able to call upon a roster of sector experts to advise on transactions in highly regulated industries, including healthcare and financial services.
  14. Watson Farley & Williams
    4
    Watson Farley & Williams
    Corporate/M&A: £100-800 million
    2025 | Band 4 | 1 Years Ranked
    Watson Farley & Williams is noted for its capabilities in maritime, energy and infrastructure transactions. It works with a diverse range of clients, including private equity houses and AIM-listed corporates. The department is frequently engaged in cross-border work, with strengths in transactions involving Europe and Asia.