Global, sector-focused law firm HFW has once again been recognised as a leading practice in the 2024-25 edition of The Legal 500 UK, a guide to the country’s best lawyers and law firms.
HFW achieved 22 practice rankings in the 2024-25 guide – including eight in Tier 1 or Tier 2 – covering a wide range of areas including aviation, commodities, construction, energy, insurance, shipping, disputes, and finance. We had new rankings in Power (Including Electricity, Nuclear and Renewables) and Renewables. We improved our rankings in International Arbitration and Corporate Restructuring & Insolvency, and all other rankings were maintained from last year.
HFW also had nine lawyers ranked in the ‘Hall of Fame’, eleven lawyers ranked as ‘Leading Partners’, ten ranked as ‘Next Generation Partners’ and a further four ranked as ‘Leading Associates’.
Client testimonials include:
‘The people are professionals in their field and gave sound advice. The team members can speak different languages and understand the client’s needs.’
‘The team’s key strengths lie in deep sector knowledge, expertise and skill in handling complex disputes, responsiveness and value for money.’
‘HFW’s service and assistance throughout the handling of legal cases is exceptional. We have been relying on the firm’s outstanding expertise throughout the years and can always count on unwavering commitment and tailor-made support. HFW very well balances the clients commercial perspective against the legal possibilities and probabilities. The first-class advice always allows us to make well-founded decisions, both strategically as well as pragmatically.’
‘Fast becoming one of the top international law firms in this arena, with a team that is strong in depth, flexible and which works very closely and effectively with clients and their experts and other consultants.’
‘Very strong collaboration and support ethic.’
HFW Rankings in The Legal 500 UK 2024-25:
Aviation -Tier 1
Commodities Disputes – Tier 1
Shipping – Tier 1
Construction: Contentious – Tier 2
Insurance and Reinsurance Litigation – Tier 2
Insurance Litigation: For Policyholders – Tier 2
Insurance: Corporate and Regulatory – Tier 2
Travel – Travel: Regulatory and Commercial – Tier 2
Construction: Non-Contentious – Tier 3
Professional Negligence – Tier 3
Power (Including Electricity, Nuclear and Renewables) – Tier 3 (new ranking)
Regulatory Investigations and Corporate Crime (Advice To Corporates) – Tier 3
Transport Finance and Leasing – Tier 3
Commercial Contracts – Tier 4
Commercial Litigation: Premium – Tier 4
Fraud: Civil – Tier 4
M&A: Lower Mid-Market Deals, £100m-£750m – Tier 4
Oil And Gas – Tier 4
Renewables – Tier 4 (new ranking)
International Arbitration – Tier 5 (was tier 6)
EU And Competition – Tier 6
Corporate Restructuring & Insolvency – Tier 7 (was tier 8)
HFW ‘Hall of Fame’ in The Legal 500 UK 2024-25:
Alistair Feeney (Commodities: Disputes)
Brian Perrott (Commodities: Disputes)
Damian Honey (Commercial Litigation: Premium)
Jean Koh (Shipping)
Paul Dean (Shipping) – NEW HoF
Paolo Ghirardani (Shipping)
Christopher Foster (Insurance and Reinsurance Litigation) – NEW HoF
Barry Vitou (Regulatory Investigations and Corporate Crime)
Noel Campbell (Fraud: Civil)
HFW ‘Leading Partners’ in The Legal 500 UK 2024-25:
Zohar Zik (Aviation)
Damian Honey (Commodities: Disputes) (Commercial Litigation: Premium – NEW)
Judith Prior (Commodities: Disputes)
Rory Butler (Shipping)
Jim Cashman (Shipping)
Andrew Chamberlain (Shipping)
Richard Neylon (Shipping)
Michael Sergeant (Construction: Contentious)
Bob Haken (Insurance: Corporate and Regulatory)
Anne-Marie Ottaway – (Regulatory Investigations and Corporate Crime)
Alex Kyriakoulis (M&A: Lower Mid-Market Deals, £100M-£750M)
HFW ‘Next Generation Partners’ in The Legal 500 UK 2024-25:
Alex Kemp (Shipping)
Claire Womersley (Shipping) (Travel – NEW)
Michael Ritter (Shipping)
Rupert Warren (Insurance & Reinsurance Litigation)
William MacLachlan (Travel)
Richard Booth (Construction: Non Contentious) (Renewables)
Gudmund Bernitz (Transport Finance and Leasing)
Rebecca Quayle (Transport Finance and Leasing)
Barbara Pansadoro (Transport Finance and Leasing)
David Savage (Fraud: White-Collar Crime)
HFW ‘Leading Associates’ in The Legal 500 UK 2024-25:
Mark Waters (Aviation)
Rosie Harrison (Commodities Disputes)
Jenny Salmon (Shipping)
David Chalcraft (Commercial Litigation: Premium)
See the full rankings here: L500 | HFW > England | Legal 500 law firm profiles | Rankings
