Pinsent Masons tops Acritas legal brands survey alongside DLA Piper, CMS, Linklaters, Allen & Overy, Eversheds Sutherland and Clifford Chance
An index of the leading UK legal brands has seen law firm Pinsent Masons take the top spot for the first time, beating Eversheds Sutherland into second place.
The biggest climber is CMS, which following its three-way merger with Olswang and Nabarro last year, has climbed to fourth in the rankings, from 13th last year.
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Global firm DLA Piper is ranked third while magic circle law firm Linklaters rounds out the top five.
The index is compiled by market researcher Acritas, based on data from Sharplegal which interviewed 295 senior legal counsel on their law firms of choice.
Director of Acritas, Jo Aitken, said: “This year’s biggest riser is CMS. The firm has disrupted the top 10 by climbing an impressive 9 ranks since their merger to claim 4th. The three-way merger with Olswang and Nabarro has created a platform which can offer UK clients deep sector specialism and access to a comprehensive pan-European offer.”
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Magic circle firms Slaughter and May, Clifford Chance and Allen & Overy are the next firms in the rankings, followed by Anglo-Australian firm Herbert Smith Freehills and then magic circle firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in tenth spot.
Aitken said: “Linklaters stands out as the number one firm with both financial institutions and London-based buyers while Herbert Smith Freehills remains untouchable for its top-level litigation consideration.”
Senior partner of Pinsent Masons Richard Foley said: “Our vision is to be recognised as an international market leader in the global sectors in which we operate, and this survey is a welcome validation from our clients of the progress we have made.”
Full rankings
Rank
Firm
Brand Index
1
Pinsent Masons
100
2
Eversheds Sutherland
98
3
DLA Piper
90
4
CMS
80
5
Linklaters
79
6
Slaughter and May
76
7
Clifford Chance
68
8 =
Allen & Overy
66
8 =
Herbert Smith Freehills
66
10
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
57
11
Baker McKenzie
45
12
Norton Rose Fulbright
43
13
Addleshaw Goddard
37
14
Clyde & Co
35
15
Hogan Lovells
34
16
Gowling WLG
33
17
Squire Patton Boggs
31
18
Ashurst
28
19
Osborne Clarke
27
20
Macfarlanes
25