Noted for its ‘strong understanding of the regulatory landscape in both the UK and the US,’ the professional practices group at Addleshaw Goddard is equipped to handle both domestic and cross-border matters, with a focus on non-contentious mandates. The team has particular expertise advising on high-profile transactions, partnership structures, and regulatory compliance, and is instructed by notable clients from a range of professional services fields, including legal, financial services, and consultancy companies. At the helm of the department is William Wastie, who is adept at leading on mergers, governance, and investigations. On the international structuring front, Aster Crawshaw is a key contact in the practice, while the ‘standout’ Jonathan Cheney focuses on M&A and joint ventures in the financial services sector. Another notable name in the group is Jonathan Cakebread, whose capabilities span transactional, governance, regulatory, and structuring.

CM Murray LLP, regarded by clients as the ‘best partnership boutique in England,’ stands out for its robust offering, which covers both contentious, non-contentious, and advisory services. The group’s breadth of expertise, alongside its cross-border capabilities, makes it a popular choice for clients from the financial services, legal, and private equity sectors. Sarah Chilton co-heads the practice alongside Zulon Begum; Chilton is noted for her aptitude at handling contentious mandates, including disputes and investigations related to wrongdoing, misconduct, and discrimination. Begum is sought after for her experience advising on non-contentious matters ranging from international structuring and mergers to team moves and exits. Another key name in the team is Clare Murray, who is adept at leading on whistleblowing complaints and litigation regarding bullying, harassment, and sexual misconduct. On the compliance and regulatory front, Corinne Staves and Andrew Pavlovic are the primary contacts. The department also includes Beth Hale.

With contentious, non-contentious, and transactional expertise, the partnership practice at Farrer & Co is sought after by individual partners as well as professional services firms to assist with an array of high-profile mandates on both domestic and international levels. The team has extensive experience advising on mergers, litigation, and structuring, as well as amending LLP agreements, succession planning, and regulatory compliance, which, together with its cross-border capabilities, have garnered a strong client roster consisting of notable names. Heading up the group is ‘partnership specialist’ Jonathan Haley, who specialises in mergers, acquisitions, and disposals. On the regulatory front, Georgina Fraser is a key contact in the department, focusing on SRA authorisations, while Eleanor Rowswell concentrates on exits, appointments, and disputes. Other primary practitioners include the ‘tactically very able’ and ‘highly responsive’ Anna Birtwistle, Pooja Dasgupta, and Kathleen Heycock.

With a contentious and non-contentious offering, alongside its ‘encyclopaedic knowledge of the law’ and ‘razor-sharp analytical skills,’ Fox & Partners‘ partnership practice is noted for its advice on regulatory compliance, partnership transitions, and disputes related to discrimination, misconduct, and exits. The team has a particular focus on contentious mandates, and its experience representing partners and professional service firms in high-value disputes continues to attract new clients to its roster. Catriona Watt co-leads the department alongside Caroline Field and is sought after for her experience assisting with contentious arrivals and departures, team moves, and discrimination claims. Field specialises in disputes concerning rights and entitlements upon exit, performance issues, and post-termination restrictions. Other key contacts in the group include the ‘exceptional’ Ivor Adair and Shiv Raja, both of whom advise international legal and accountancy firms, and Ronnie Fox.

Regarded by clients as ‘one of the very best firms in the business,’ Fox Williams LLP has a longstanding reputation for advising clients on the full gamut of partnership mandates, including contentious, non-contentious, and transactional work. The practice has amassed deep experience handling a range of both domestic and cross-border matters, ranging from regulatory compliance and structuring to procedural representative actions and sex and disability discrimination allegations. At the helm of the department is Daniel Sutherland, who combines expertise in mergers with an aptitude for partnership to LLP conversions. On the contentious front, Gavin Foggo and Aron Pope are key contacts in the team and regularly handle litigation and arbitration proceedings related to misconduct, discrimination, and fraud, while Ed Livingstone focuses on regulatory enforcement, investigations, and compliance. Rebecca Richardson is another standout name in the practice.

With ‘a leading team for partnership and LLP disputes,’ Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP has amassed an impressive client base, which consists of notable names from the professional and financial services sectors. The group is sought after for its robust offering, which covers transactions, disputes, and regulatory compliance, both domestically and internationally. Co-leading the practice are Malcolm Lombers, who concentrates on advising international partnerships on structuring and governance, and Alan Watts, who specialises in partnership disputes. Tim Leaver is another key contact in the department and handles a mix of contentious departures, investigations, and High Court claims, while Nick Wright is well versed in claims concerning whistleblowing, discrimination, and bullying.

Kingsley Napley LLP, praised by clients for its ‘excellent coverage in the regulatory arena,’ is home to a well-experienced partnership team which offers assistance with both contentious and non-contentious matters to clients from the financial, legal, and professional services sectors. The group is particularly strong on the contentious front and has deep expertise handling harassment claims at domestic and international levels, although it is also adept at advising on exits, SRA regulations, and partnership disputes. Adrian Crawford, who is highly regarded for his aptitude for litigating, arbitrating, and mediating disputes, co-heads the department alongside Iain Miller, who stands out for his regulatory prowess, regularly leading on compliance mandates, reporting obligations, and investigations. Other key practitioners in the practice include Corinne Aldridge, Julie Norris, and Jessica Clay.

With vast experience assisting notable clients from the financial, legal, and professional services sectors, Lewis Silkin is sought after for its broad expertise, which encompasses contentious and non-contentious mandates ranging from partnership agreements and restructurings to team moves and investigations. Alongside its robust offering, the group is capable of handling matters at both domestic and cross-border levels, which continues to attract new multinational businesses to its roster. Heading up the department is the ‘superb’ Chris Hallinan, whose practice spans partner expulsions, litigation, and LLP establishments, among other areas. Specialising in disputes are Clive Greenwood and Frances Simm, both of whom have deep experience assisting with compulsory retirements, performance and management issues, and governance. Other key members of the team include Eleanor Diamond, Karen Baxter, and Michael Burd, as well as Fergus Payne.

Mishcon de Reya LLP maintains a strong position in the London market, regularly advising LLPs and individual partners on a wide range of contentious matters, including regulatory and remuneration disputes, whistleblowing, and allegations of misconduct. Drawing on the firm’s wider international presence, the team has extensive experience acting on high-profile and high-value cross-border mandates which, alongside its robust offering, has attracted a strong client roster comprised of businesses from the financial, accountancy, and professional services sectors. Spearheading the group is Daniel Naftalin, who specialises in litigation concerning restrictive covenants, team moves, and discrimination. The practice also benefits from Jennifer Millins, who is adept at representing clients before the Employment Tribunal and appellate courts in disputes arising from remuneration, rights and obligations, and unlawful competition issues.

Winckworth Sherwood LLP has a comprehensive partnership offering, allowing the team to advise on contentious, non-contentious, and transactional mandates ranging from allegations of misconduct and restrictive covenants to exits and joint ventures. The group has amassed extensive experience assisting real estate, financial, and professional services clients and individual partners with high-profile and high-value matters, leveraging the firm’s wider banking and finance and real estate practices to provide ‘high-level advice.’ Andrew Yule heads up the department and concentrates on reorganisations, hires and departures, and investigations. On the contentious front, Bettina Bender is a key contact, specialising in disputes arising from sexual misconduct, harassment, and bullying, alongside Louise Lawrence, who focuses on whistleblowing claims, remuneration disputes, and expulsions.

Specialising in contentious matters arising from allegations of misconduct, the professional practices group at Clyde & Co is sought after by accountancy, legal, and professional services clients to assist with malpractice litigation, SRA and internal investigations, and other disciplinary mandates. The team is co-led by investigations specialist Richard Harrison, discrimination expert Chris Holme, and Simon Vere Nicoll, whose capabilities span mergers, demergers, and conversions of traditional partnerships to LLPs. Robert Hill is another key member of the department and has extensive experience representing clients before the High Court in disputes concerning contractual breaches.

Recognised for its deep specialism in the financial services and investment management sectors, the partnership group at Dechert LLP is equipped to handle a range of contentious, non-contentious, and transactional mandates on behalf of asset management and private equity firms. The team offers assistance with litigation, regulatory issues, and transactions, although it has particular strengths on the contentious front and regularly represents clients in disputes arising from claims of harassment and discrimination. Spearheading the department is the ‘highly experienced’ Jason Butwick, whose practice spans partnership agreements, partnership disputes, and employee share schemes and incentives, among other areas. Other key members of the team include Jennifer Hill and Alexis Westwood.

Sought after for its ‘fantastic expertise and quality of service,’ Forsters LLP is a regular choice for legal, accountancy, and financial services firms and individual partners seeking assistance with both contentious and non-contentious partnership matters. The practice has particular experience advising on exits, team moves, and governance, as well as remuneration, restructuring, and partnership agreements, alongside its cross-border capabilities. At the helm of the practice is Jo Keddie, whose contentious expertise encompasses litigation, investigations, arbitration, and mediation. Other key practitioners include Danielle Crawford and Daniel Parker.

Howard Kennedy LLP‘s partnership practice is relied upon by financial, legal, and agricultural services clients to advise on contentious and non-contentious matters, both domestically and internationally. The group’s offering spans LLP formations, disputes, and rights and obligations, as well as regulatory, restructuring, and commercial contracts matters. Co-heading the department are Robert Craig and Jane Amphlett, both of whom bring a wealth of experience to the team; Craig concentrates on investigations, exits, and restrictive covenants, while Amphlett is adept at assisting with remuneration structures, whistleblowing claims, and partner appointments. Sam Murray-Hinde is another key member of the practice.

The partnership practice at Weightmans LLP is capable of handling both contentious and non-contentious matters for notable businesses from the legal, medical, and accountancy services sectors. Its robust offering encompasses litigation, regulatory, and compliance, as well as restructuring and general advisory which, together with its wide industry coverage, continues to attract new clients. At the helm of the department are the ‘commercially focused and tactically astute’ Andrew Cromby and Edwina Farrell; Cromby specialises in partnership disputes arising from joint ventures, contractual obligations, and terminations, while Farrell’s medical partnership expertise makes her well equipped to advise on GP partnership formations, retirements, and mergers.

Brahams Dutt Badrick French LLP has a robust offering which spans contentious, non-contentious, and advisory services ranging from litigation and investigations to exits and performance issues. The team is relied upon by a growing client base comprised of notable names from the financial, accountancy, and legal services sectors. Heading up the department is Gareth Brahams, who is regarded by clients as a ‘leader in the area’ and has a particular focus on whistleblowing allegations. He is supported by partnership experts Paula Chan, Claire Dawson, and Nick Wilcox.

Regarded by clients as a ‘top-flight multi-sector firm which offers heavyweight advice to a very high standard,’ the partnership team at Charles Russell Speechlys LLP leverages the firm’s wider practices – such as employment, corporate, and financial services – to provide a multidisciplinary offering which encompasses contentious and non-contentious mandates at both the domestic and cross-border level. Charlie Ring spearheads the department and specialises in governance and transactional matters within the financial services sector. He is supported by disputes specialist Nick Hurley and tax expert James Carter.

Law, private equity, and real estate firms regularly turn to Harrison Clark Rickerbys for assistance with the full gamut of partnership matters, including contentious and non-contentious, transactional, and regulatory issues. The group has deep experience advising on high-value and high-profile mandates, which, in tandem with its cross-border capabilities and robust offering, continues to attract new clients to its roster. Robert Capper co-leads the department alongside Rachel Khiara and specialises in disputes arising from the medical partnership space. Khiara stands out for her breadth of practice, which encompasses M&A, SRA regulatory compliance, and partnership structures.

Drawing upon disputes specialist Peter Garry, financial services expert Clive Howard, and contractual authority Emma Clark, the partnership practice at Keystone Law is well equipped to advise on both contentious and non-contentious matters for a growing client base. The team is adept at assisting with exits, litigation arising from whistleblowing and discrimination allegations, and partnership agreements, as well as M&A, restructurings, and regulatory issues. Other key practitioners in the group include Jane Wheeler and Simon Jackson.

Noted for its ‘extensive knowledge and experience,’ McCarthy Denning‘s partnership group is regularly instructed by property and law firms, as well as individual partners, to advise on LLP formations, international structuring, and mergers, as well as disputes, regulatory issues, and team moves. Spearheading the department is Tina Williams, who specialises in mergers, arbitrations arising from whistleblowing and discrimination allegations, and structuring. Williams is supported by James Froud, who concentrates on confidentiality obligations and restrictive covenants.

Specialising in the financial services sector, Simmons & Simmons is relied upon by hedge fund managers to support on domestic and cross-border contentious and non-contentious mandates. The group employs a multidisciplinary approach to bolster its capabilities, which span tax, litigation, and employment, as well as regulatory issues and funds work. Ania Rontaler heads up the practice and concentrates on establishments, reorganisations, and M&A, alongside conversions, exits, and incentivisation and retention plans. Other notable practitioners in the team include David Hicks, Patrick Boyd, and Martin Shah.

The partnership group at VWV is adept at advising medical partnerships, accountancy practices, and law firms, as well as alternative business structures and trading partnerships, on a wide range of contentious and non-contentious matters, including mergers, performance issues, and restrictive covenants. At the helm of the department is the ‘experienced, highly knowledgeable, resourceful, punctual, and personable’ Jos Moule, who stands out for his scope of expertise, which spans restructurings, partnership agreements, and conversions.

With experience assisting with conduct issues, exits, and disputes, the partnership practice at Wedlake Bell LLP is well equipped to handle both contentious and non-contentious matters domestically and internationally. The team benefits from the aptitude of William Granger, who is regularly instructed by clients from the financial services, professional services, and private wealth sectors to advise on mediation and arbitration. On the litigation front, Stephen Ravenscroft is a key member of the group, while Adam Grant is the go-to for non-contentious mandates. Other notable names in the department include Ravinder Mahal and Ed Starling.