Traditionally, the largest law firms in the UK are based in the City of London, but with the recession of 2009, clients began looking for lawyers outside the capital to act on their behalf. Although the top law firms in the UK continue to be Allen and Ovary LLP, Clifford Chance, Slaughter and May, Herbert Smith, Linklaters, Freshfields Bruckhaus Derringer and DLA Piper LLP, more clients are moving to the Bristol firms of Burges and Salmon LLP and Osborne Clarke. Customers also move along the M4 corridor towards Newport and Swansea in South Wales, but the capital city, Cardiff, is lost due to its relatively inaccessible geographical position, and customers in North Wales and central Wales. Wales often receive legal advice from English law firms.
Allen and Ovary have 26 offices around the world, and Clifford Chance is, of course, an international firm, as is DLA Piper. Bristol, in the southwest of England and a stone’s throw from South Wales, is reaping the fruits of the recession, with Burges and Salmon acting for the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, and the Foreign Office and Home Office. the Commonwealth, and Osborne Clarke has clients such as Vodaphone and Motorola.
If you live in South Wales and are looking for a family lawyer then your best option might be the old established firm of Harding Evans, which is ranked in the top tier of family lawyers in South and Central Wales. Ceri Price leads the department and the team is dedicated to getting the best possible deals for their clients.
Gabb and Co, based in Abergavenny, has one of the best insolvency lawyers in the country, John Price, serving clients in North and Central Wales. Pemberton’s LLP is a renowned firm with specialists in family law and they have offices in Bristol, Swindon, London and Bath.
Of course, the city practices have the best attorneys and silks in the country dealing with business and commercial law, both globally and locally. However, there are excellent lawyers across the country who work outside of the City of London.
DLA Piper is among the best firms in Britain for law dealing with technology, media law and litigation specializing in business and commerce, with main offices in the USA.
If you live and work in Great Britain, you should consult the law firm directories to view their profiles and see what areas of law they specialize in before choosing a firm to represent you.