Set for release on June 20, 2024, Best Lawyers is pleased to unveil the much-anticipated 13th edition of The Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom™ and the third edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in the United Kingdom™.
These annual editions continue the Best Lawyers’ tradition of recognizing the most accomplished and skilled legal professionals across the United Kingdom. This year's edition encompasses a broad array of data, showcasing the vast talent within the UK's legal sector.
A Year of Adaptation and Evolution
The past year marked an era of adaptation and evolution in the UK legal market, characterized by technological advancements, diversity initiatives and regulatory adjustments aimed at meeting the changing needs of clients and society at large. These changes have not only influenced how legal services are delivered but also highlighted the importance of staying current with emerging trends and regulations.
Through these developments, exceptional lawyers who have demonstrated unparalleled dedication and expertise in their fields continued to stand apart from their peers. Their ability to adapt, innovate and maintain high standards of professional ethics has been a key factor in their recognition.
Top Legal Practice Areas
The 13th edition of The Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom highlights:
- 35 Metropolitan Areas
- 6,458 Recognized Lawyers
- 85 Practice Areas
- 221 "Lawyer of the Year" Honorees
Additionally, London continues to top the list as the metropolitan area with the highest number of recognized lawyers, reflecting the city's dynamic and robust legal community.
With that, according to data pulled directly from the Best Lawyers website, the most searched practice areas within the UK legal market are as follows:
- Banking Law
- Capital Markets Law
- Construction Law
- Corporate Law
- Finance Law
- Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Private Equity Law
- Project Finance and Development Practice
- Litigation
- Real Estate Law
Most searched aside, Employment Law emerged as the largest practice area (by number of awarded individuals) in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom. This field will have had an extremely busy kickoff to 2024, as several new employment regulations came into force, with the first taking effect January 1.
These regulations cover a wide range of employment concerns including workplace sexual harassment protections, increased flexibility for employees and added leave for employees with dependents who have long-term care needs. Employers looking to revise their practices and policies to comply with these rules will have needed legal advice in the run-up to the law taking effect and will likely continue to need guidance as they navigate these updated regulations.
Ones to Watch
Interest in our awards reached record heights, with hundreds of voters supplying over 11,663 evaluations of their peers, which were used to determine this year’s results. Ones to Watch, a recognition dedicated to recognizing the top newly emerging legal talent in the the United Kingdom, highlights 12 metropolitan areas, 500 honorees, 52 practice areas and 152 firms with honorees.
Why These Editions Matter
Best Lawyers rankings are the result of exhaustive peer-review surveys, ensuring that only the most respected legal talent are recognized. For more than 40 years, Best Lawyers has been the gold standard for legal excellence, providing a reliable and trustworthy resource for both clients and legal professionals alike.
The meticulous methodology and unwavering commitment to integrity mean that being listed in Best Lawyers is not just an accolade but a testament to a lawyer’s professional competence and ethical standards.
Visit Best Lawyers to explore the full rankings for the United Kingdom and see who has earned a spot in this prestigious list.