Howard Kennedy achieves outstanding Legal 500 UK 2027 rankings

Howard Kennedy has once again secured strong recognition in the Legal 500 UK 2027, achieving two new firm rankings, one newly ranked lawyer, and two individual promotions, while maintaining an impressive breadth of rankings across the firm.

The firm achieved a total of 37 practice area rankings, 25 individual rankings and a further 128 lawyers mentioned by name, reflecting the depth of expertise and strength of our teams, underpinned by a commitment to creating lasting value and outcomes for clients.

Ashley Reeback, Ian Ryan, Naomi O'Higgins, Emily Mailer and Mark Stephens CBE maintain their rankings in the prestigious Hall of Fame. Mark Stephens CBE secured an additional ranking in the Hall of Fame for Civil Liberties & Human Rights, further highlighting the firm's market-leading expertise and the outstanding individuals recognised across our specialisms.

Commenting, James Stewart, Managing Partner, said:

"Our strategy is focused on bringing together expertise across our seven specialisms, and aligning services, to create lasting value and outcomes for our clients. Our rankings reflect our focus on excellence, insight and impact at a firm, team and individual level. I am pleased to see so many colleagues recognised individually for their outstanding contribution to their respective fields. Above all, this reflects the work our teams do every day to give clients clear, commercially grounded advice while creating lasting value. "

Client feedback highlighted the firm's depth of expertise, commercial approach and commitment to delivering high-quality service, with clients describing Howard Kennedy as:

"The best of the best in all areas of law. Experts in every field on every floor and in every office."

"A team with an impressive footprint in the marketplace."

"Committed to providing a high-quality service to clients and having their clients' best interests at heart."

"Fantastic. Personable, experienced and tough."

"Excellent technically and commercially, with a strong ability to identify and explain relevant options and routes forward."

Headline results:

37 practice area rankings

25 individual rankings

128 lawyers mentioned by name

2 new firm rankings

1 new individual ranking

2 individual promotions

8 Hall of Fame acknowledgements (1 promotion ranking)

6 Leading Partners

8 Next Generation Partners (1 new ranking)

3 Leading Associates (1 new ranking)

The full highlights and rankings are as follows:

NEW – Firm Rankings

Financial Services: Contentious – Tier 5 (previously Firm to Watch)

Regulatory Investigations & Corporate Crime (Advice to Corporates) – Tier 5 (previously Firm to Watch)

NEW – Individual Rankings

Chloe-Jane Belton- Private Prosecutions – Leading Associate

PROMOTION – Individual Rankings

Mark Stephens - Civil Liberties & Human Rights - Hall of Fame (previously Leading Partner) 

Jennifer Harper – Private Prosecutions - Next Generation Partner (previously Leading Associate)

Other Firm Rankings

Art & Cultural Property – Tier 2

Civil Liberties & Human Rights – Tier 2

Commercial Litigation: Mid-Market – Tier 2

Construction: Contentious – Tier 2

Contentious Trusts & Probate – Tier 2

Media: Theatre, Publishing & Other Media – Tier 2

Personal Tax, Trusts & Probate – Tier 2

Private Prosecutions – Tier 2

Commercial Property: Corporate Occupiers – Tier 3

Family: Divorce & Financial Remedy – Tier 3

Fraud: White Collar Crime (Advice to Individuals) – Tier 3

M&A: Smaller Deals (£10m-£100m) – Tier 3

Power (Including Electricity and Nuclear) – Tier 3

Property Litigation – Tier 3

Reputation Management – Tier 3

Residential Property – Tier 3

Commercial Contracts – Tier 4

Crime: General – Tier 4

Employment: Employers – Tier 4

Family: Children – Tier 4

Hospitality & Leisure – Tier 4

Immigration: Personal – Tier 4

Media: Film & TV – Tier 4

Planning – Tier 4

Professional Discipline – Tier 4

Retail & Consumer – Tier 4

Partnerships – Tier 4

Commercial Property: Development – Tier 5

Construction: Non-Contentious – Tier 5

International Arbitration – Tier 5

Immigration: Business – Tier 6

Property Finance – Tier 6

Sport – Tier 6

Intellectual Property: Trade Marks, Copyright & Design – Tier 6

Corporate Restructuring & Insolvency – Tier 8

Hall of fame

Ashley Reeback - M&A: Smaller Deals (£10m-£100m) - Hall of Fame

Ian Ryan – Crime: General – Hall of Fame

Ian Ryan – Fraud: White Collar Crime (Advice to Individuals) – Hall of Fame

Naomi O'Higgins – Contentious Trusts & Probate – Hall of Fame

Emily Mailer – Contentious Trusts & Probate – Hall of Fame

Mark Stephens – Art & Cultural Property – Hall of Fame

Mark Stephens – Media: Theatre, Publishing & Other Media – Hall of Fame 

Mark Stephens – Civil Liberties & Human Rights – Hall of Fame (previously Leading Partner) 

Leading Partner 

Ian Ryan – Private Prosecutions – Leading Partner

Lois Langton – Family: Children – Leading Partner

Lois Langton – Family: Divorce & Financial Remedy – Leading Partner

Monika Byrska – Contentious Trusts & Probate – Leading Partner

Simon Malkiel – Personal Tax, Trusts & Probate – Leading Partner 

Victoria Tyson – Construction: Contentious – Leading Partner

Next Generation Partner 

Leading Associate

Jon Sharples – Art & Cultural Property – Leading Associate

Ayesha Salim – Commercial Litigation: Mid-Market – Leading Associate

Chloe-Jane Belton- Private Prosecutions – Leading Associate