Cleary Gottlieb Earns Exceptional Recognition in Legal 500 UK 2027

Cleary Gottlieb continues to achieve exceptional recognition as a premier law firm in the 2027 edition of Legal 500 UK.

The firm received 19 practice rankings and 29 lawyers were recognized in their respective practice areas, both increasing from the year before. Cleary lawyers were recognized with 6 Hall of Fame, 12 Leading Partner, 6 Next Generation Partner, and 1 Leading Associate rankings.

Cleary received commendations from Legal 500 UK and clients as a recommended firm in the following practice areas:

• Corporate and Commercial: Corporate Tax: “Cleary Gottlieb’s tax team is compact but exceptionally capable, consistently demonstrating an impressive ability to quickly grasp complex tax law issues, including under foreign tax regulations. Their responsiveness is outstanding. The team’s collaborative approach and seamless integration into cross-border transactions set them apart. Working with Cleary is efficient and productive, and their ability to distill and address key tax challenges in a fast-moving deal environment is a major asset.”
• Corporate and Commercial: EU and Competition: “This is a highly engaged practice group. They collaborate across jurisdictions and play to each other’s strengths.”
• Corporate and Commercial: Equity Capital Markets: Mid-Large Cap: “The deep, hands-on involvement of its partners in every matter makes it our top choice. We are assured of senior-level attention and strategic oversight from start to finish. They are not just legal technicians but also true industry experts who bring profound commercial and strategic insight to their advice. The advice provided goes beyond black-letter law. It is commercially astute, strategic, and tailored to the specific business objectives. Partners work together seamlessly across the firm’s international offices and expertise - there is no issue involving a matter expert on a specific issue unlike other firms.”
• Corporate and Commercial: Financial Services: Non-Contentious/Regulatory: “They have a very good understanding of business models and needs in the financial industry and can connect those well with their legal analysis and input.”
• Corporate and Commercial: M&A: Upper Mid-Market And Premium Deals (£750m+): “From a client perspective, one of the practice’s defining strengths is its collaborative, partner-led model, where senior lawyers remain deeply involved and accessible throughout the lifecycle of a transaction.”
• Corporate and Commercial: Private Equity: Transactions – High-Value Deals (£500m+): “Excellent team, practical and commercial approach, very hands-on and always available.”
• Dispute Resolution: Banking Litigation: Investment and Retail: “I have worked extensively with the Cleary disputes team. They are small but highly efficient. They are intelligent throughout and extremely capable. One of the best teams on the market.”
• Dispute Resolution: Commercial Litigation: Premium: “An extremely able team that is very strategic in their approach and on the ball. They have real strength and depth.”
• Finance: Bank Lending: Investment Grade Debt and Syndicated Loans: “They have a clear consumer-centric approach as they build trust to deliver the best advice considering risks, opportunities, and restrictions.”
• Finance: Corporate Restructuring & Insolvency: “Billing is clear, and collaboration between the team seems great; the individuals in the team are great.”
• Finance: Debt Capital Markets: “CGSH provides a truly global debt capital markets footprint and significant depth of expertise to high projects in a commercial way that competitors simply do not. Impressively personable, always motivated, highly knowledgeable, and extremely competitive on cost. Their ability to efficiently navigate the politics of large bank groups and long-burning projects has been particularly valuable.”
• Industry Focus: Hospitality and Leisure: “There are two reasons why CGSH is unique in the market: (i) the team is highly experienced in hospitality and (ii) they are very commercial and efficient, allowing the legal documentation and negotiation process to proceed very quickly.”

Learn more about Cleary’s recognition in Legal 500 UK.