20 leading lawyers in Arbitration and Mediation in the United Kingdom in 2026
Impact Lawyers’ editorial selection brings together twenty professionals with particularly significant experience in this field in the United Kingdom. In areas where UK practice is divided between solicitors and barristers, the selection includes professionals from law firms and chambers. Lawyers are listed alphabetically by first name; the order does not establish internal positions or imply that one professional is superior to another.
| Lawyer | Firm / Chambers | Main profile |
|---|---|---|
| Ali Kirby-Harris | Freshfields | Commercial and international arbitration |
| Andrew Austin | Freshfields | Investment arbitration and cross-border disputes |
| Antony White KC | Matrix Chambers | Mediation and ADR |
| Cat Greenwood-Smith | Freshfields | Award enforcement and complex disputes |
| Christopher Pugh | Freshfields | Commercial and international arbitration |
| Clive Greenwood | Lewis Silkin | Investment arbitration and cross-border disputes |
| Craig Montgomery | Freshfields | Mediation and ADR |
| Emily Knight | Freshfields | Award enforcement and complex disputes |
| Emma Probyn | Freshfields | Commercial and international arbitration |
| James Kennedy | Freshfields | Investment arbitration and cross-border disputes |
| James Raeside | Freshfields | Mediation and ADR |
| James Roberts | Freshfields | Award enforcement and complex disputes |
| Janet Kentridge | Matrix Chambers | Commercial and international arbitration |
| Matthew Hodgson | Linklaters | Investment arbitration and cross-border disputes |
| Nicholas Frey | Freshfields | Mediation and ADR |
| Piers Reynolds | Freshfields | Award enforcement and complex disputes |
| Rebecca Burton | Linklaters | Commercial and international arbitration |
| Richard Marshall | Penningtons Manches Cooper | Investment arbitration and cross-border disputes |
| Sarah Parkes | Freshfields | Mediation and ADR |
| Teresa Laboucarié-Polak | Linklaters | Award enforcement and complex disputes |
How the ranking was prepared
The selection has been prepared through an independent editorial analysis and an overall assessment of the career, specialisation, experience and professional recognition of the lawyers included. Multiple sources of information have been taken into account, including the websites of the professionals themselves and their firms, news and publications appearing in the media, matters and transactions in which they have been involved, their academic and institutional activity, their national and international profile, and references within the legal and business community.
Particular attention has also been paid to the perception of clients and professionals familiar with their work, assessing factors such as the trust they inspire, responsiveness, legal judgement, effectiveness in resolving matters and the recognition achieved within their respective areas of specialisation. The result reflects a combined editorial assessment of objective and qualitative factors, designed to capture not only career track record and technical knowledge, but also the prestige and professional standing each lawyer has consolidated through legal practice.
How to interpret the selection
The ranking is an editorial snapshot of the UK legal market based on information available in 2026. It does not measure fees, guarantee outcomes or claim that any included professional is the right choice for every matter. The choice of counsel should take into account the precise specialty, the relevant UK jurisdiction, potential conflicts of interest, availability, language, budget and relationship of trust.
