Press Release

Data: HFW Highest win rate among top 30 litigation firms in English commercial court

Independent data reveals that HFW has the highest win rate among the top 30 litigation firms in the English Commercial Court over the past decade, and that it consistently and significantly outperforms other leading law firms.

HFW succeeded in 68% of its Commercial Court cases between 2014 and 2023, compared to an average of 55% for the 30 other law firms with the highest caseload during the same period, according to data from litigation analytics platform Solomonic.

Success Rate: English Commercial Court Litigation, 2014-2023

Source: Solomonic

Solomonic's data also shows that HFW acted on more of the highest-value cases in the English Courts in 2023 than any other law firm; that it was one of only two law firms to be involved in more than 30 "higher value" claims in the English Courts in 2023; and that it had the third-highest average claim value of any law firm during that period, at £80 million – more than 100-times the market average, of £750,000.

Solomonic CEO Edward Bird says the data "reveals HFW’s exceptional record: they are kings of the Commercial Court".

Separate independent data reveals that HFW handled more commercial litigation in the English Commercial Court than any other law firm over the past nine years.

HFW acted on 74 commercial litigation cases in the Commercial Court between 2015 and 2023 – equivalent to more than one in every 12 cases heard in the Court during that period.

In total, almost 500 law firms acted on commercial litigation in the Commercial Court between those dates. Other than HFW, just 17 had more than 20 cases and only two had more than 50, according to The Lawyer's Litigation Tracker, which records cases and judgments in English courts.

Source: The Lawyer Litigation Tracker

Damian Honey and Brian Perrott, Co-Heads of Commercial Disputes, EMEA, HFW:

"We are pleased to see our position as one of the market's top litigation practices reinforced by independent data. While HFW is best known for its sector focus in aerospace, commodities, construction, energy, insurance, and shipping, we are at our core a disputes firm, with contentious work accounting for around 70% of our entire business globally. We pride ourselves on our experience and expertise as commercial litigators, and frequently appear on behalf of clients in court – in England and around the world."

HFW has more than 450 disputes lawyers across the Americas, Europe the Middle East, and Asia Pacific, specialising in high-value, complex, multi-party, and multi-jurisdictional disputes, with a particular focus on commercial litigation, fraud and asset recovery, insolvency, investigations, and enforcement actions.

The firm has continued to strengthen its global disputes practice with senior hires across its international network, including in Australia and Hong Kong, and launched in the British Virgin Islands in 2022 with the acquisition of a leading disputes team. It is now uniquely positioned among global law firms to assist clients with litigation in every major international disputes hub, including London, Hong Kong, Shanghai and the BVI.

HFW is ranked as one of the UK's top commercial disputes practices by the Times, which noted that the firm "is regularly instructed on complex and high-value matters".

About HFW

HFW is a leading global law firm in the aerospace, commodities, construction, energy, insurance, and shipping sectors. The firm has 700 lawyers, including 180 partners, based in offices across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific. HFW prides itself on its deep industry expertise and its entrepreneurial, creative, and collaborative culture.

For further information, please contact:

Chris Johnson
Head of Communications
D +44 (0)20 7264 8159
M +44 (0)7976 939864
E chris.johnson@hfw.com

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