Addleshaw Goddard, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer and Sullivan & Cromwell were among the big winners at this year’s Legal Business Awards, which saw more than 30 prizes handed out to the top firms, chambers, in-house teams, and individual lawyers in the profession.
Hundreds of attendees from the very top of the legal industry flocked to the Grosvenor House Hotel on London’s Park Lane for this year’s ceremony, which was hosted by award-winning comedian, writer, actor and director Richard Ayoade.
Addleshaws took the UK Law Firm of the Year award after a strong year which marked the culmination of nine consecutive years of growth in both revenue and PEP, while HSF Kramer won International Law Firm of the Year on the back of its transformative transatlantic merger.
Sullivan & Cromwell took the Global London Law Firm of the Year prize after a major City push that included last year’s hires of former Weil London chief Mike Francies and Kirkland restructuring partner Kon Asimacopoulos, with the firm continuing its recruitment drive into 2026 with more big-name recruits.
Latham & Watkins was named M&A Team of the Year for its lead role on the landmark Anglo-Teck merger, valued at nearly $70bn.
Sidley was the winner in the new category of Client Service Firm of the Year, which recognises firms that perform exceptionally on key client service metrics in Legal 500’s London research.
This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award went to Quinn Emanuel founder John Quinn, who announced earlier this year that he is set to step down as head of the disputes powerhouse that he co-founded four decades ago. He remains chair of the firm, and in his acceptance speech, he stressed that he is not ready to slow down, saying ‘Quinn is an unfinished project – we’re not done’.
Other awards for individual leaders included Management Partner of the Year, which went to Shane Gleghorn of Winston Taylor – now Europe and Middle East managing partner of the merged firm as it targets $2bn in revenue – while Benedict Nwaeke of Soho House & Co took the GC of the Year prize.
Unilever was named In-House Team of the Year, while Sainsbury’s won the Most Transformative In-House Team of the Year award.
Rising Star In-House Counsel of the Year went to Suzy Lovell of Kier, who was recently promoted to deputy GC.
Other major practice awards saw Clifford Chance named Private Equity Team of the Year, Kirkland & Ellis take the Restructuring Team of the Year prize and Hogan Lovells Cadwalader win Finance Team of the Year.
Slaughter and May was named Capital Markets Team of the Year, while Stephenson Harwood won Disputes Team of the Year.
Freshfields was named Life Sciences Team of the Year, while Ashurst Perkins Coie and BCLP jointly won Real Estate Team of the Year. The newly merged Ashurst Perkins Coie also picked up the inaugural AI Initiative of the Year award.
Elsewhere, CMS, Venner Shipley and Altair IP won IP Team of the Year, while Osborne Clarke took Legal Technology Team of the Year.
The awards also recognised a strong showing from the Bar, as Fountain Court was named Chambers of the Year, while Sonia Tolaney KC of One Essex Court won Barrister of the Year on the back of a string of high-profile cases.
Legal Business Awards 2026 winners in full:
AI Initiative of the Year: Ashurst Perkins Coie
Barrister of the Year: Sonia Tolaney KC, One Essex Court
Boutique Law Firm of the Year: SDV Fenchurch
Business Services Team of the Year: DAC Beachcroft
Capital Markets Team of the Year: Slaughter and May
Chambers of the Year: Fountain Court
Client Service Firm of the Year: Sidley
Competition Team of the Year: Weil Gotshal & Manges
Disputes Team of the Year: Stephenson Harwood
Energy/Infrastructure Team of the Year: Pinsent Masons
ESG Programme of the Year: Mayer Brown
Finance Team of the Year: Hogan Lovells
GC of the Year: Benedict Nwaeke, Soho House & Co
Global London Law Firm of the Year: Sullivan & Cromwell
In-House Team of the Year: Unilever
International Law Firm of the Year: Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
IP Team of the Year: CMS with Venner Shipley and Altair IP
Legal Technology Team of the Year: Osborne Clarke
Life Sciences Team of the Year: Freshfields
Lifetime Achievement Award: John Quinn, Quinn Emanuel
M&A Team of the Year: Latham & Watkins
Management Partner of the Year: Shane Gleghorn, Winston Taylor
Most Transformative In-House Team of the Year: Sainsbury’s
Private Client Team of the Year: Howard Kennedy
Private Equity Team of the Year: Clifford Chance
Public Sector Team of the Year: Burges Salmon
Real Estate Team of the Year: Ashurst Perkins Coie and BCLP
Restructuring Team of the Year: Kirkland & Ellis
Rising Star In-House Counsel of the Year: Suzy Lovell, Kier
UK Law Firm of the Year: Addleshaw Goddard
