Taylor Wessing’s claim to be named Law Firm of the Year at this year’s Legal Business Awards is underlined by its shortlistings in no less than five other categories, with its litigation, real estate, legal tech, marketing and private client teams all in the mix for honours.
The firm’s strong year saw it move a large step closer to its ‘ambitious but attainable‘ target to become a €1bn firm by 2028–29, with global revenues up 10% to €619m (£526m).
Much of that momentum was driven by the firm’s UK business, which saw revenues rise 15% to £283.7m, with growth now standing at 80% since 2020. UK PEP also surpassed £1m, climbing 20% to £1.1m.
UK managing partner and global co-chair Shane Gleghorn believes the firm’s success is down to ‘focus and disciplined investment in core sectors and practice areas’.
He told LB: ‘Our tech expertise has seen us become the top-ranked firm for AI transactions [based on PitchBook data]. We have the largest IP practice in Europe and we are the most active international firm in the Unified Patent Court.’
Gleghorn also highlighted the firm’s expanding global footprint, including a strong contribution from the firm’s the Dublin office, which he said has ‘become a market-leading force since it launched in 2021.’ He also pointed to the strategic alliance with Italian firm Orsingher Ortu, announced this March, which means Taylor Wessing now has a presence in each of the five major European economies.
The firm also impressed the awards judging panel across a range of other categories, with its nomination in the commercial litigation category down to its role as as global counsel to Pfizer in patent litigation over the BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
The real estate shortlisting was secured on the back of successfully advising real estate developer Comer Homes on its planning appeal for the Mast Quay Phase II residential development in Greenwich, while the firm’s private client team has been front and centre of a series of high-value cases, including successfully defending the first-ever appeal in a trust arbitration.
Other recent deal highlights have included advising AI-driven retail solutions firm Rezolve AI on the establishment of its $1bn Bitcoin treasury programme, and advising Vinted on its secondary share sale, which valued the company at €5bn.
Law Firm of the Year: full shortlist of contenders
Burges Salmon
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
Freshfields
Latham & Watkins
Osborne Clarke
Russell-Cooke
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Taylor Wessing
The LB Awards will take place on 30 September – for more information, see legalbusinessawards.com.
