Ranking tables

Investigations & Enforcement (International & Cross-Border) | Global

UK

The Investigations & Enforcement (International & Cross-Border) rankings table below has been designed to provide the most in-depth insights and reviews of the top ranked lawyers and law firms. The firms included in our rankings have been recommended by in-house counsel, other third-party experts and private practice lawyers. Our comprehensive research ensures you have all the information needed when looking to purchase legal services across UK.

All Departments profiles

1

Band 1

  1. Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
    1
    Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
    Investigations & Enforcement (International & Cross-Border)
    2024 | Band 1 | 5 Years Ranked
    The law firm's investigations practice consists of an impressive international team exclusively focused on cross-border work, which provides an integrated transatlantic offering due to the firm's prominence in the USA. The London office represents UK clients with issues overseas, as well as non-UK clients with issues related to UK or US regulators. The team is additionally sought after by clients for multi-jurisdictional investigations and global compliance reviews. For cross-border cases in jurisdictions beyond its office coverage, the firm typically coordinates with local counsel chosen through a bespoke selection process based on personal relationships and recommendations.
  2. Freshfields
    1
    Freshfields
    Investigations & Enforcement (International & Cross-Border)
    2024 | Band 1 | 5 Years Ranked
    The law firm has a first-class international investigations practice that features a premier London offering, combined with strong teams throughout continental Europe, as well as notable presences in Hong Kong and Singapore. Freshfields is highlighted for its ability to globally coordinate multi-jurisdictional investigations and is particularly active in mass claims stemming from high-profile scandals and global antitrust actions. The firm's cross-border strategy is realised with an impressive global footprint, allowing for effective cross-office collaboration in many key jurisdictions.
  3. Herbert Smith Freehills
    Investigations & Enforcement (International & Cross-Border)
    2024 | Band 1
2

Band 2

  1. A&O Shearman
    2
    A&O Shearman
    Investigations & Enforcement (International & Cross-Border)
    2024 | Band 2 | 5 Years Ranked
    The law firm is widely recognised for representing financial institutions, public sector bodies and multinational companies in investigations concerning money laundering and corruption, with an additional fraud offering. In addition to its premier London team, the magic circle firm is noted for its strength across Europe and boasts an impressive global footprint. Recent cross-border work has involved cross-office collaboration with its Shanghai, New York and Brussels teams. The firm is also highlighted for being instructed on a variety of corruption and bribery investigations in India.
  2. Clifford Chance LLP
    2
    Clifford Chance LLP
    Investigations & Enforcement (International & Cross-Border)
    2024 | Band 2 | 5 Years Ranked
    The law firm's highly rated investigations practice is highlighted as a key player in the cross-border space, renowned for representing financial institutions in complex, multi-jurisdictional investigations concerning money laundering, market manipulation and sanctions. Additionally active in high-profile civil fraud claims before the UK courts concerning international freezing orders. Its cross-border strategy is driven by the prominent London office and reinforced by an impressive global footprint, with offices situated across the world. The firm is particularly strong for investigations involving European investigators and clients, and has an established presence in China.
  3. Hogan Lovells
    2
    Hogan Lovells
    Investigations & Enforcement (International & Cross-Border)
    2024 | Band 2 | 5 Years Ranked
    The law firm's market-leading international fraud practice comprises a strong bench of lawyers and is regularly instructed by global financial institutions and sovereigns. Particularly adept at asset tracing and additionally focused on multi-jurisdictional anti-corruption investigations, global compliance programmes and sanctions. The firm's cross-border capacity is realised by its impressively broad global office coverage, which houses dedicated litigation and investigations teams in key jurisdictions across Europe, the USA, Asia, Australia, the Middle East and Africa. It has also built up a network of non-exclusive relationships in the offshore jurisdictions, including the Cayman and Channel Islands, to assist in enforcement proceedings.
  4. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP
    2
    Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP
    Investigations & Enforcement (International & Cross-Border)
    2024 | Band 2 | 5 Years Ranked
    Skadden has a premium global practice which has built widespread coverage and expertise across regions and areas of law on the foundation of its longstanding, market-leading reputation for US law advice. The firm has strength in depth across UK and European teams in transactional and contentious areas, which makes the firm a leading choice for sophisticated transatlantic matters. It has an excellent presence in key Asian markets, plus a São Paulo office, which also boosts the firm’s global offering. The firm is a dominant force on international M&A, finance and energy transactions. It also regularly navigates clients through cross-border disputes, investigations and arbitration as coordinating counsel.
  5. Slaughter and May
    2
    Slaughter and May
    Investigations & Enforcement (International & Cross-Border)
    2024 | Band 2 | 5 Years Ranked
    Slaughter and May is an elite UK law firm which is revered for its ability to orchestrate global mandates from London and has carved out a high level of influence worldwide. The firm's stellar cohort of blue-chip corporate clients regularly choose to instruct the firm as lead counsel across transactional matters and disputes. Slaughter and May's independent lockstep model has also proved appealing when forging close relationships with firms of a similar style and status in jurisdictions outside the UK, ensuring that the firm can provide clients with a team of market-leading firms to add foreign law expertise on international work to fit the client's requirements.
  6. Simmons & Simmons LLP
    Investigations & Enforcement (International & Cross-Border)
    2024 | Band 2
3

Band 3

  1. Dechert LLP
    3
    Dechert LLP
    Investigations & Enforcement (International & Cross-Border)
    2024 | Band 3 | 5 Years Ranked
    Its international investigations practice is noted for its involvement as global coordinating counsel on large and high-profile, multi-jurisdictional investigations. Dechert utilises its impressive global network, with offices across Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. A key component for clients of the London office is the ability to get joined-up expertise with the US practice, which includes a strong investigations and white-collar team in New York.
  2. Linklaters
    3
    Linklaters
    Investigations & Enforcement (International & Cross-Border)
    2024 | Band 3 | 5 Years Ranked
    Recognised as one of the most internationally-focused law firms in the UK, Linklaters offers an outstanding full-service practice in London, which is renowned for the quality of its international work throughout its wide-ranging scope of expertise. The London team holds an elite reputation for coordinating both transactional and contentious cross-border matters, and often acts as the driving force behind strategic advice in global mandates. The firm's distinguished global platform is also noted as a key attraction to clients, extending the firm's reach across Europe, the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Africa and various emerging markets.
  3. Stephenson Harwood LLP
    3
    Stephenson Harwood LLP
    Investigations & Enforcement (International & Cross-Border)
    2024 | Band 3 | 5 Years Ranked
    With a clientele comprising financial institutions and sovereign states, the law firm's London office is frequently instructed on cross-border cases concerning fraud, money laundering and bribery allegations. The law firm is highlighted for its coordination of fraud-related litigation originating in Russia, the CIS, Africa and India. Additionally experienced in the enforcement of arbitral awards and allegations of fraudulently obtained awards.
  4. WilmerHale
    Investigations & Enforcement (International & Cross-Border)
    2024 | Band 3
4

Band 4

  1. Addleshaw Goddard LLP
    4
    Addleshaw Goddard LLP
    Investigations & Enforcement (International & Cross-Border)
    2024 | Band 4 | 1 Years Ranked
    Addleshaw Goddard houses an esteemed international practice, handling a diversified range of matters in banking litigation, fraud, financial crime and white-collar crime. The firm is also adept in advising on sanctions-related matters. With a robust global network and a spread of offices across mainland Europe, Asia and the Middle East, the firm is equipped to take on complex cross-border investigations and advise clients on their multi-jurisdictional issues.
  2. Baker McKenzie
    4
    Baker McKenzie
    Investigations & Enforcement (International & Cross-Border)
    2024 | Band 4 | 5 Years Ranked
    Baker McKenzie offers one of the most expansive and established international footprints in the legal industry and its global reach is frequently referenced by multinational clients as one of its primary assets. The London office acts as an important hub of lawyers with international experience and expertise across multiple areas, offering a full-service scope. The law firm enjoys an excellent reputation for its international and cross-border capabilities, being able to draw upon the local expertise of a wide array of countries due to its impressively vast global network, and is often praised for the smooth execution and collaboration clients experience across the firm's network.
  3. Norton Rose Fulbright
    4
    Norton Rose Fulbright
    Investigations & Enforcement (International & Cross-Border)
    2024 | Band 4 | 5 Years Ranked
    Norton Rose Fulbright has an extensive network of offices distributed throughout North and Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region. The law firm is structured in alignment with global industry sectors, which, combined with the geographic spread of its lawyers, makes it a popular choice for global clients seeking a full-service offering. It focuses on building teams with sector-specific multi-jurisdictional expertise to meet the needs of clients with global businesses.
  4. White & Case LLP
    4
    White & Case LLP
    Investigations & Enforcement (International & Cross-Border)
    2024 | Band 4 | 3 Years Ranked
    A well-respected law firm headquartered in New York, White & Case is renowned for its excellent white-collar practice. The law firm is a favourite for investigations with an international dimension and routinely deals with complex cross-border cases. Its UK offering benefits from a large global network, with White & Case offices in key jurisdictions across Europe, America and Asia. Noted for its particular expertise in SFO and DOJ matters, the London team is experienced and well equipped to handle government investigations. Additionally highlighted for its bribery and corruption capabilities and facilitation of tax evasion risk assessments. Clients appreciate the law firm's expert knowledge of financial crime and its practical, strategic legal advice.
  5. Mishcon de Reya LLP
    Investigations & Enforcement (International & Cross-Border)
    2024 | Band 4