Ranking tables

Private Equity: Buyouts: Up to £500 million | UK

UK-wide

Private Equity: Buyouts covers firms and lawyers providing mostly transactional advice for private equity investors or companies being bought or sold in a private equity deal. A range of work is considered but the most highly ranked firms will have a strong pedigree of advising private equity companies on buyouts. Other work considered includes direct investments into private companies, buyouts of public companies (MBO, MBI, BIMBO), secondary transactions, take-privates, PIPEs and pre-IPO investments. Firms included in £500 million and above will have extensive experience of advising on buyouts with a value of above £500 million, and will have experience of advising the buyers or sellers on transactions. Firms included in Up to £500 million will have extensive experience of advising on buyouts with a value of up to £500 million, and may also be able to advise on larger deals. Representing the management team on larger deals may be considered here, too. Venture Capital Investment covers firms and lawyers providing advice to investors or companies on venture capital transactions, including seed investment and Stages A, B, C and D.

Rankings overview for Departments

All Departments profiles

1

Band 1

  1. DLA Piper LLP
    1
    DLA Piper LLP
    Private Equity: Buyouts: Up to £500 million
    2025 | Band 1 | 2 Years Ranked
    DLA Piper is proficient in mid-market transactions in the healthcare, real estate and retail sectors, among others. It is regularly instructed on cross-border deals, supported by its wider network of regional and international offices. The group exhibits strength in portfolio company acquisitions, LBOs and growth investments. It is also frequently engaged to advise management teams on high-value transactions.
  2. Macfarlanes LLP
    1
    Macfarlanes LLP
    Private Equity: Buyouts: Up to £500 million
    2025 | Band 1 | 2 Years Ranked
    Macfarlanes is active on transactions in both the hundreds of millions and billions, with excellent credentials throughout the private equity field. It is noted for its multidisciplinary approach, which includes substantial regulatory and tax structuring expertise. The department frequently acts for management teams on high-value transactions, alongside a wider client base that includes lenders, sponsors and limited partners. It is also active in the secondaries market.
2

Band 2

  1. Baker McKenzie
    2
    Baker McKenzie
    Private Equity: Buyouts: Up to £500 million
    2025 | Band 2 | 2 Years Ranked
    Baker McKenzie is a strong choice for cross-border transactions, leveraging the firm's impressive global strengths to offer expertise in complex, multijurisdictional matters. It is particularly focused on upper mid-market deals, with strength in TMT, healthcare, natural resources and infrastructure. The department is complemented by expertise in ancillary practice areas, including pensions and tax.
  2. Goodwin
    2
    Goodwin
    Private Equity: Buyouts: Up to £500 million
    2025 | Band 2 | 2 Years Ranked
    Goodwin draws from a pool of established venture capital specialists to advise private equity sponsors, investment funds and emerging companies operating in the technology and life sciences arenas. It ably assists with initial fundraisings and all series financings. The firm's buyouts practice demonstrates proficiency in mid-market investments and exit transactions. Goodwin benefits from an extensive network of offices across the USA, which augments its cross-border strength.
  3. Proskauer Rose LLP
    2
    Proskauer Rose LLP
    Private Equity: Buyouts: Up to £500 million
    2025 | Band 2 | 2 Years Ranked
    Proskauer Rose houses a strong group with capabilities across a broad range of transactional matters. It routinely handles sophisticated private equity deals across a range of areas, with particular emphasis on the financial services sector. The department is sought after by prominent private equity houses for advice on cross-border deals.
  4. Travers Smith LLP
    2
    Travers Smith LLP
    Private Equity: Buyouts: Up to £500 million
    2025 | Band 2 | 2 Years Ranked
    Travers Smith is renowned for its capabilities in the mid-market, often undertaking work for well-known funds on complex and international deals. It also has a strong reputation on the management side. It offers a wide range of complementary strengths, most notably calling upon specialist sub-practice groups dedicated to portfolio companies and MBOs.
3

Band 3

  1. Addleshaw Goddard LLP
    3
    Addleshaw Goddard LLP
    Private Equity: Buyouts: Up to £500 million
    2025 | Band 3 | 2 Years Ranked
    Addleshaw Goddard focuses on mid-market transactions, acting on buyouts, restructurings and refinancings. It advises both private equity firms and management teams. The department benefits from its offices throughout the UK and also has significant expertise in transactions involving sub-Saharan Africa.
  2. CMS
    3
    CMS
    Private Equity: Buyouts: Up to £500 million
    2025 | Band 3 | 2 Years Ranked
    CMS is particularly strong on transactions involving clients from the energy, healthcare and TMT sectors. It maintains a strong international footprint and is considered the first port of call for many on Central and Eastern European deals. The group is regularly engaged for its strength in venture capital and growth investment work, where it acts for a number of specialist investors and start-ups operating in IP-intensive industries, including life sciences and technology.
  3. Jones Day
    3
    Jones Day
    Private Equity: Buyouts: Up to £500 million
    2025 | Band 3 | 2 Years Ranked
    Jones Day regularly takes on significant cross-border work, drawing upon its extensive global practice to advise on deals across Europe and the USA. It is known for its strong work on prominent real estate private equity deals, alongside wider strengths in infrastructure matters and portfolio transactions. Jones Day's clients include private equity houses, investment funds and management teams.
  4. Taylor Wessing LLP
    3
    Taylor Wessing LLP
    Private Equity: Buyouts: Up to £500 million
    2025 | Band 3 | 2 Years Ranked
    Taylor Wessing maintains a commanding position at the forefront of the venture capital market, calling upon a deep talent pool with a wealth of experience in the area. It advises the full spectrum of clients including start-ups, well-known technology companies and institutional investors on early-stage investments, financing rounds and exits. The department routinely engages in private equity transactions that are often cross-border and complex in nature. Its domestic offering is complemented by a network of offices across Europe and Silicon Valley to assist with international deals.
  5. Eversheds Sutherland
    Private Equity: Buyouts: Up to £500 million
    2025 | Band 3
4

Band 4

  1. Dechert LLP
    4
    Dechert LLP
    Private Equity: Buyouts: Up to £500 million
    2025 | Band 4 | 1 Years Ranked
    Dechert demonstrates proficiency acting for financial sponsors and investor clients on complex transactions. The group possesses the ability to advise on US legal matters out of the London office, making it an excellent choice for transatlantic deals. The group is particularly adept at advising on acquisitions, disposals, investments and take-privates.
  2. Hogan Lovells
    4
    Hogan Lovells
    Private Equity: Buyouts: Up to £500 million
    2025 | Band 4 | 2 Years Ranked
    Hogan Lovells is admired for its wide-ranging expertise, servicing numerous sectors including healthcare, energy, infrastructure, financial services and TMT. It acts for a broad spectrum of private equity houses and alternative asset managers, especially those active in the secondaries market. The group is noted for its strength in cross-border transactions, with experience in the US, EMEA and Asian markets.
  3. Mayer Brown International LLP
    4
    Mayer Brown International LLP
    Private Equity: Buyouts: Up to £500 million
    2025 | Band 4 | 1 Years Ranked
    Mayer Brown houses a high-quality private equity team that has significant expertise on domestic and international deals. It routinely advises on sophisticated private equity matters, with particular strength on acquisitions, disposals and portfolio company transactions. Mayer Brown's clients include private equity firms, investor clients and companies in the technology space.
  4. Osborne Clarke LLP
    4
    Osborne Clarke LLP
    Private Equity: Buyouts: Up to £500 million
    2025 | Band 4 | 2 Years Ranked
    Osborne Clarke is prominent in mid-market transactions, often advising on deals in the financial services, real estate, digital business and energy sectors. It is also highly adept in venture capital matters, acting for investee companies and investors on financing work and equity matters. The firm's offices in London and Bristol are complemented by others in Europe and the US.
  5. Pinsent Masons
    4
    Pinsent Masons
    Private Equity: Buyouts: Up to £500 million
    2025 | Band 4 | 2 Years Ranked
    Pinsent Masons specialises in mid-market transactions, advising private equity firms and management teams on domestic and international deals. It is noted for its extensive regional coverage, spanning London, the Midlands, the North West and Scotland. The firm offers exceptional capabilities in the energy, travel, retail and consumer sectors.
  6. Squire Patton Boggs
    4
    Squire Patton Boggs
    Private Equity: Buyouts: Up to £500 million
    2025 | Band 4 | 2 Years Ranked
    With offices in Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham and London, Squire Patton Boggs is able to draw upon a network of offices throughout the UK to advise on all aspects of private equity M&A. The team routinely handles sales, buyouts, strategic investments and portfolio bolt-on transactions. Besides its representation of financial sponsors, the group is also frequently called upon to act for management teams and shareholders.
  7. Stephenson Harwood LLP
    4
    Stephenson Harwood LLP
    Private Equity: Buyouts: Up to £500 million
    2025 | Band 4 | 2 Years Ranked
    Stephenson Harwood is a popular choice for mid-market private equity houses. The team is experienced in handling a variety of transactions including buyouts, disposals and portfolio bolt-on acquisitions. Market sectors in which the firm is particularly active include financial services, technology and education.