20 leading lawyers in Civil Law 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 | Civil and contractual litigation |
| Andrew Austin | Freshfields | Civil liability and damages |
| Antony White KC | Matrix Chambers | Property and commercial disputes |
| Cat Greenwood-Smith | Freshfields | Complex proceedings and enforcement |
| Christopher Pugh | Freshfields | Civil and contractual litigation |
| Clive Greenwood | Lewis Silkin | Civil liability and damages |
| Craig Montgomery | Freshfields | Property and commercial disputes |
| Emily Knight | Freshfields | Complex proceedings and enforcement |
| Emma Probyn | Freshfields | Civil and contractual litigation |
| James Kennedy | Freshfields | Civil liability and damages |
| James Raeside | Freshfields | Property and commercial disputes |
| James Roberts | Freshfields | Complex proceedings and enforcement |
| Janet Kentridge | Matrix Chambers | Civil and contractual litigation |
| Matthew Hodgson | Linklaters | Civil liability and damages |
| Nicholas Frey | Freshfields | Property and commercial disputes |
| Piers Reynolds | Freshfields | Complex proceedings and enforcement |
| Rebecca Burton | Linklaters | Civil and contractual litigation |
| Richard Marshall | Penningtons Manches Cooper | Civil liability and damages |
| Sarah Parkes | Freshfields | Property and commercial disputes |
| Teresa Laboucarié-Polak | Linklaters | Complex proceedings and enforcement |
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.
