Top litigation firms of 2024: Volume, high-value and courtroom heavyweights
Solomonic’s annual law firm rankings, featured in the recently published Year in Review 2024, showcases the leading firms across commercial litigation, insolvency matters and serious injury cases - ranked by caseload, high-value matters and courtroom dominance.
As a professional services industry constrained by a finite set of human resources and rules regarding conflicts of interest, even the biggest law firms are unable to dominate the market. What we have seen is the top 30 firms consume 24.2% of the work on claims issued in 2024; this figure is about 3.4% down on the 2023 figure but these portions are pretty consistent. The data is consistent as you move down in firm size.
However, when you look at the volume of claims, while small in percentage terms, the numbers can still be meaningful. Markedly, the top 15 firms handled 491 claims fewer than they did in 2023, that’s around 33 fewer disputes per firm. Firms in the other segments saw a much smaller difference compared with 2023. This suggests that a fair chunk of the decline in new disputes seen in 2024 (4.4%) comes at the expense of the top 15 firms. It may be because those firms are heavily engaged in disputes issued in previous years and have less capacity, or it may be that participants seek alternate advisors, perhaps in consideration of costs.
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Find this analysis, the following rankings and additional exclusive insights into litigation trends in the full annual report. Access it here.
The numbers behind the biggest litigation firms - Top firms by new claim volume
Given the distribution of work, it is helpful to explore who makes up the top 30 firms and how that work has been shared. Our ranking table highlights the leading firms based on claim volumes, tracking changes in rank and revealing a mix of established powerhouses and ambitious challengers shaking up the leaderboard.
The law firms handling the highest volume of new claims in the civil courts of England and Wales, as well as the Competition Appeal Tribunal.
#1 Clyde & Co retains its position as the undisputed all-rounder, securing the top spot for another year. While slightly more defendant-oriented, the firm still leads in claimant-side representation.
#2 DAC Beachcroft litigation heavyweight maintains its position as the second most active firm. With a strong defendant-side focus (67.7%), the firm remains a key player in high-stakes disputes.
#3 DWF solidifies its place as the top defendant-side firm of 2024, acting for defendants in 70% of cases.
#4 RPC remains a disputes powerhouse, with a strong defendant-side focus (73.4%). The firm’s dominance in professional negligence claims continues, particularly in litigation involving solicitors and barristers.
#5 Kennedys retains its position in the top five, with an 82.7% defendant-side weighting, making it one of the most defence-heavy firms in the rankings.
#6 Weightmans had another strong year, climbing two spots and coming within just a few claims of breaking into the top five. The firm remains defendant-heavy (72.9%), with a growing focus on public sector disputes.
#7 CMS climbed the rankings in 2024, with a 55.8% claimant-side focus. The firm is a great all-rounder and continues to perform strongly across both sides of disputes.
#8 Eversheds Sutherland saw a particularly active year, handling a higher claim volume than in 2023 and reinforcing its reputation as a formidable litigation force. The firm was especially dominant in the financial sector, representing many of the major UK banks, including HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds and Santander.
#9 Mills & Reeve experienced a busy year, with breach of contract and negligence amongst the most frequently handled legal matters. Notably, professional negligence and claims against solicitors emerged as a top area of focus.
#10 Hill Dickinson remained consistently busy, handling a claim volume nearly identical to 2023, demonstrating its continued strength and steady caseload.
Top claimant firms by new claim volume
These top-ranked firms are the powerhouses of claimant litigation.
The law firms handling the most new claimant-side claims in 2024.
#1 Clyde & Co takes the top spot for 2024, rising from third place in 2023, when Barings and Leigh Day took the top spots. This shift reflects an increase in claimant work, from 31.7% in 2023 to 44.2% in 2024.
#2 Hamlins continues to be a dominant force in the music and entertainment industry. The firm remains the go-to representative for UK music performing rights bodies, handling 52.5% of their claims in 2024. These claims and parties lead year-on-year for case volume, reinforcing Hamlins’ role in safeguarding the rights of musicians and record companies.
#3 Rothley Law has cemented its dominance in the Property, Trusts, and Probate List, ranking as the number one firm in claim volume for the second consecutive year. The firm more than doubled its caseload from 2023, seeing them enter the top 15 claimant rankings for the first time. The bulk of its 2024 work revolved around inheritance disputes, contentious probate and estate administration.
#4 GSC Solicitors also maintains a strong holding in intellectual property and copyright enforcement as a panel firm for performing rights bodies. The firm’s 2024 litigation focused on copyright licensing disputes.
#5 Shakespeare Martineau saw a significant rise in the rankings, driven by a diverse portfolio of work.
#6 Scott + Scott established as a go-to firm for consumer litigation, enters the top 15 firms representing a string of luxury brands, adding to the interchange litigation versus Visa and Mastercard.
#7= DAC Beachcroft saw a slight increase in claim volume compared to 2023, largely handling contractual issues.
#7= CMS makes a strong entrance into the top 15, significantly increasing its claimant-side work from 26.7% to 55.8%. Claim volumes nearly doubled as the firm handled major intellectual property and commercial disputes, representing clients such as Amazon, Discovery, TNT Sports and IBM.
#9 Fieldfisher made a significant leap up the rankings, with the majority of work concentrated in the Business List, highlighting its expertise in complex commercial disputes.
#10 DWF secured a spot as a top 15 claimant firm, driven by a notable increase in claim volumes and having taken on slightly more claimant-side work.
Top defendant firms by new claim volume
Trusted guardians in managing complex disputes and minimising legal risk, these are the leading defenders.
The law firms handling the most new defendant-side claims in 2024.
#1 DWF claims the top spot as the leading defendant firm in 2024, representing a wide range of clients including major insurers. The firm played a key role in high-value business interruption cases, with contractual issues among its most frequent matters.
#2 DAC Beachcroft holds firm in second place, maintaining its strong defendant-side presence. The firm continued to handle a high volume of professional negligence claims, alongside aircraft leasing disputes on behalf of insurers.
#3 Clyde & Co saw a slight reshuffle as the firm attracted more claimant work in 2024 but remained a leading defendant firm. The firm was involved in defending some highly contentious real estate and professional service matters through 2024.
#4 RPC leads in defendant-side professional services litigation, handling a high volume of professional negligence claims.
#5 Kennedys holds its top five position as one of the most defence-heavy firms in the ranking.
#6 Weightmans maintains a strong presence in public sector litigation, frequently representing police forces, including the Metropolitan Police. The firm also saw significant work in aircraft leasing disputes.
#7 Mills & Reeve climbed the rankings with a strong showing in professional services litigation, handling cases related to cybercrime, professional negligence and conveyancing disputes, to name a few.
#8 Eversheds Sutherland increased its defendant-side work in 2024, seeing the firm move into the top 10, driven largely by its presence in the financial sector.
#9 Browne Jacobson saw steady growth in defendant work, particularly in professional services litigation, helping secure its rise in the rankings.
#10= CMS remained a strong player in the rankings, handling a diverse range of cases across its core sectors.
#10= TLT had a strong year in financial litigation, representing major banks such as Barclays, NatWest and Lloyds, reinforcing its presence in the sector.
Top insolvency firms by new claim volume
The Insolvency and Companies List operates as a distinct and specialised court that remains busy as insolvency volumes continue to rise. While insolvency-focused firms and those with strong insolvency teams continue to lead, several commercial firms are also making a strong showing. The ongoing increase in insolvencies across sectors has created more competition, with firms vying for a share of the work. Many firms have maintained their standing, taking on more cases to support clients through these uncertain economic times.
The law firms handling the most new Insolvency and Companies List claims in 2024.
#1 Freeths’ Insolvency and Restructuring team lead for another year as the most active insolvency firm by volume. With over 100 more claims than the next firm and surpassing their own 2023 volumes, this demonstrates the calibre and breadth of the firm’s experience.
#2 Pannone Corporate’s insolvency and debt teams continue to contribute significantly to insolvency matters, maintaining their top position and demonstrating growth on 2023 claim volumes.
#3 Coltman Warner Cranston held strong in third position, showcasing their consistent performance and expertise in debt recovery and insolvency.
#4 Irwin Mitchell remained highly active, a powerhouse with a strong insolvency team, securing fourth place again. The firm is renowned for its comprehensive insolvency services, assisting both corporate and personal clients. They also rank in the top 15 for overall claim volumes outside of insolvency, demonstrating their versatility.
#5= Ward Hadaway rose in the rankings, handling almost 50 more actions than last year. Their insolvency team is one of the largest in the North of England and the firm is known for its technical expertise.
#5= Silverback Law maintained a strong footing in insolvency cases, seeing more cases than in 2023. Their expertise in both corporate and personal insolvency has been key.
Top firms by hearing days
While the volume of hearing days (days in court) is not attributable to the law firm, they reveal which firms handle cases that most often go to trial or demand significant court time. This ranking spotlights the courtroom heavyweights of 2024 based on hearing volume, covering not just trials but all types of court hearing proceedings.
Unsurprisingly, firms running more claims see a high proportion of their disputes progress to hearings, reinforcing their presence in the courtroom. However, the data also reveals firms who have been entrusted with thorny disputes which are more likely to end up being decided in court.
Of course, trials are only part of the picture – significant time is often spent in pre-trial proceedings. That said, 2024 saw major high-profile and explosive trials through the year.
The law firms with the highest volume of days in court (hearing days) in 2024.
The major AerCap aircraft leasing dispute made headlines, with Herbert Smith Freehills representing the claimants, while RPC, Clyde & Co, HFW and Kennedys defended the insurers. CMS was heavily involved in multiple aviation-related trials as well.
In another major case, Pogust Goodhead led the claimants in the BHP Brazil dam litigation, which began in October. The firm also played a key role on the claimant side of the Pan-NOx litigation, with Hogan Lovells, Herbert Smith Freehills and Freshfields representing some of the defendants. Meanwhile, Quinn Emanuel acted in a dispute between IBM and Swiss software company LzLabs, where IBM alleged the Zurich-based company had reverse-engineered one of its foundational technologies.
The Intellectual Property List also saw significant actions, with RPC representing Illiquidx in a dispute over a business opportunity involving Venezuelan sovereign debt. In the pharmaceutical sector, Pinsent Masons, long known for its work with drug manufacturers, helped secure major victories for Sandoz and Accord Healthcare in a high-stakes trial against Bayer.
Finally, in one of the year’s most notable consumer collective proceedings, Mishcon de Reya represented the claimants in Justin Le Patourel v BT Group Plc.
Top firms involved in high value disputes
Assessing claim value by law firms provides critical insight into market performance, highlighting which firms are securing the most high-stakes cases. While case volume is important, the value of claims handled offers a nuanced measure of a firm’s influence and ability to navigate complex, high-value disputes. This ranking tracks the volume of £1 million+ claims that firms handled throughout 2024. Familiar commercial heavyweights dominate.
The law firms involved in the highest volume of £1 million claims handled in 2024.
Clyde & Co tops this list, handling litigation across insurance, shipping, construction and financial services. The firm is heavily involved in critical insurance disputes, representing the insurers in the €403m Nord Stream AG gas pipeline case. DWF is involved in major disputes in the insurance, professional services and construction sectors, including Covid-19 business interruption, fraud and defective cladding cases.
Negligence cases lead DAC Beachcroft’s count, along with some valuable real estate-related disputes.
Financial claims account for Mishcon de Reya’s position, alongside pharmaceutical patent cases, while RPC is involved in several high-stakes professional negligence claims against solicitors and barristers. Construction-related and real estate claims drive Kennedys’ count for high-value cases, including defective building and property development issues.
A&O Shearman is a go-to firm for high-value complex litigation in the pharmaceutical & life sciences sector, particularly for companies facing IP and patent challenges, representing Bayer and Regeneron in several disputes. The firm is also acting in a £10 million+ claim involving Dish Technologies LLC. Simmons & Simmons frequently represents companies in the tech, pharma and finance sectors. Several cases involve multinational corporations, and they represent Waterside Class in a large-scale group action against seafood companies.
CMS has a wide mix of cases, concerning financial matters and real estate, as well as food supply and TMT cases. Pinsent Masons’ cases span construction, financial and pharmaceutical intellectual property cases. The firm is the defendant representation for Qatar Airways Group in a major aircraft leasing claim.
Mills & Reeve have been called upon for their expertise in professional negligence and defective building cases across the construction and professional services sector.
Financial-related claims, oil & gas and shipping claims lead for Stephenson Harwood, with major clients such as Ryanair and KPMG.
DLA Piper represents a diverse range of corporate and institutional clients across multiple industries, particularly in TMT, finance and the public sector. HFW has had a strong presence in shipping & maritime, oil & gas cases, including some luxury yacht, cargo and negligence cases. They are also acting in some of the biggest aviation leasing claims.
Herbert Smith Freehills represents major financial institutions, insurers, energy firms and multinational corporations in high-profile disputes. Its clients include banks, insurers, energy companies (Nord Stream AG, Gravis Solar) and global brands (Boohoo, Formula One, F. Hoffmann- La Roche). The firm is also acting for the largest aircraft leasing companies in their aviation insurance disputes.
Osborne Clarke represents pharmaceutical, technology and real estate clients across high-value disputes, showcasing its expertise in corporate, property and commercial litigation.
Weightmans has a strong presence across the public sector and insurance in a mix of cases spanning property development, human rights and claims against solicitors and barristers.
The law firms with the highest median claim value, along with their total claim value for 2024.
When assessing claim value, averages provide insight into the scale of work handled by different firms. This year, the ranking focuses on median claim value, which offers a more accurate reflection of a firm’s typical caseload compared to the mean, as it is not skewed by extreme cases. This approach eliminates the need to ‘exclude’ exceptionally high-value claims, resulting in a more complete picture.
Unsurprisingly, Herbert Smith Freehills dominates, testimony to its place at the heart of very high-value aviation leasing claims.
Top serious injury firms by new claim volume
A new set of rankings for 2024, following the launch of our Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence Module, reveals the firms that are most active across personal injury, clinical negligence and asbestos-related claims.
This breakdown distinguishes between claimant-side firms, which typically represent individuals, and defendant firms, often acting for insurers and organisations in high-stakes serious injury litigation.
The law firms handling the most new personal injury claims in 2024.
Irwin Mitchell leads for claimants, followed by Slater & Gordon. Keoghs, DWF, Clyde & Co, Kennedys, DAC Beachcroft, Horwich Farrelly and Weightmans for defendants.
The law firms handling the most new clinical negligence claims in 2024.
Irwin Mitchell sweeps claimant-side representation for clinical negligence cases, nearly five times more than any other firm. DAC Beachcroft, Clyde & Co, Hill Dickinson and Kennedys are the amongst the busiest defendant firms.
The law firms handling the most new asbestos-related claims in 2024.
Irwin Mitchell, Thompsons Solicitors, Leigh Day and Hugh James are the leading claimant firms. Keoghs, Weightmans, Kennedys, Clyde & Co and DWF are the leading defendant-side firms.