HFW achieves top-tier rankings in the 2025-26 edition of The Legal 500 UK
News
2 October 2025
5 MIN READ
Global, sector-focused law firm HFW has once again been recognised as a leading practice in the 2025-26 edition of The Legal 500 UK, a guide to the country’s best lawyers and law firms.
HFW achieved 21 practice rankings in the 2025–26 Legal 500 guide, including eight in Tier 1 or Tier 2, across a broad range of areas such as aviation, commodities, construction, energy, insurance, shipping, disputes, and finance. The firm continues to be recognised for its depth of expertise and consistent performance across its core sectors, with several practices maintaining strong positions and others gaining recognition. Notably, HFW’s International Arbitration practice improved its ranking, moving up from Tier 5 to Tier 4.​
Five of our Partners were ranked for the first time as Leading Partners: Edward Spencer, David Brotherton, Gudmund Bernitz, Alistair Mackie, and Richard Booth. Notably, Richard Booth and Gudmund Bernitz were promoted from Next Generation Partners to Leading Partners.​
Client testimonials include:
“The HFW team is extremely knowledgeable and experienced; they provide clear, practical and intelligent advice. The team is highly responsive and is a pleasure to work with at all levels.”
“Continue to provide us with exceptional service far exceeding our expectations. It’s their experience and knowledge of the industry which sets them apart from other law firms.”
“Very approachable, will bend over backwards to help, and they always deliver excellent practical, commercial advice.”
HFW Rankings in The Legal 500 UK 2025-26:
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: Regulatory and Commercial – Tier 2
Construction: Non-Contentious – Tier 3
Professional Negligence – Tier 3
Regulatory Investigations and Corporate Crime (Advice to Corporates) – Tier 4
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
International Arbitration – Tier 4 (From 5)
EU and Competition – Tier 7
Corporate Restructuring & Insolvency – Tier 7
HFW ‘Hall of Fame’ in The Legal 500 UK 2025-26:
(Nine lawyers)
Alistair Feeney (Commodities Disputes)
Brian Perrott (Commodities Disputes)
Paul Dean (Shipping)
Paolo Ghirardani (Shipping)
Jean Koh (Shipping)
Christopher Foster (Insurance and Reinsurance Litigation)
Barry Vitou (Regulatory Investigations and Corporate Crime)
Noel Campbell (Fraud: Civil)
Damian Honey (Commercial Litigation: Premium)
HFW ‘Leading Partners’ in The Legal 500 UK 2025-26:
(15 lawyers, six new additions)
Zohar Zik (Aviation) (new)
Edward Spencer (Aviation) (new)
David Brotherton (Aviation, Transport Finance and Leasing) (new)
Damian Honey (Commodities Disputes)
Judith Prior (Commodities Disputes)
Rory Butler (Shipping)
Andrew Chamberlain (Shipping)
Richard Neylon (Shipping)
Michael Sergeant (Construction: Contentious, Construction: Non-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)
Gudmund Bernitz (Transport Finance and Leasing) (new)
Alistair Mackie (M&A: Lower Mid-Market Deals, Oil and Gas) (new)
Richard Booth (Construction: Non-Contentious, Renewables) (new)
HFW ‘Next Generation Partners’ in The Legal 500 UK 2025-26:
(Seven lawyers)
Michael Buffham (Commodities Disputes) (new)
Alex Kemp (Shipping)
Michael Ritter (Shipping)
Claire Womersley (Shipping, Travel)
William MacLachlan (Travel)
Rupert Warren (Insurance & Reinsurance Litigation)
Rebecca Quayle (Transport Finance and Leasing)
HFW ‘Leading Associates’ in The Legal 500 UK 2025-26:
(Three lawyers)
Rosie Harrison (Commodities Disputes)
Jenny Salmon (Shipping)
David Chalcraft (Commercial Litigation: Premium)
Press Contact
Jamie Holt
Communications Senior Executive