HCR Law has achieved a record 131 rankings across individuals and practice areas in the Chambers and Partners 2027 guide, with recognition across all its regions in England and Wales.
This result represents an increase of more than 42% on last year and reflects our commitment to client excellence and continued strategic growth.
Highlights include seven new practice area rankings and 17 new lawyer rankings. In total, 87 HCR lawyers are ranked, including 12 in Band 1, the highest ranking.
HCR Law’s Education practice achieves UK-wide recognition once again, with Head of Education Kristine Scott also retaining her individual UK-wide Band 1 ranking. The firm’s Healthcare, Immigration and Partnership teams also receive UK-wide recognition.
Joint Head of Education and Charities Team Oliver Daniels maintains his UK-wide ranking, while Adam Cotterill in our Employment, HR and Immigration team achieves a new UK-wide ranking. Simon Cheverst, who recently joined our Healthcare team, is also ranked UK-wide in Mental Health: Providers, a new specialist area of recognition for the firm.
This year’s rankings reflect HCR Law’s continued growth across East Anglia, following the relocation of our Norwich office to larger premises in July 2026. The region secures a new Band 2 ranking for Planning and Environment, complemented by a new Band 2 individual ranking for Brendon Lee. Gemma Dudley also retains her Band 2 ranking in the practice area.
Across East Anglia, our teams maintain strong rankings in a further six practice areas, as well as 16 individual rankings. These include Band 1 rankings for James Simpson, Denise Wilkinson and Head of Norwich Office Frank Brumby, who also retains his UK-wide Band 3 ranking. James Frankland and Emma Elston-Carr are ranked individually for the first time.
Our teams across the Midlands continue to build on their success, with a new practice area ranking for Banking and Finance and improved rankings in three areas. Professional Negligence moves up to Band 1, Restructuring and Insolvency rises to Band 2 and Planning and Environment moves up to Band 3.
The Midlands teams also retain rankings in six practice areas, including Band 1 for Agriculture and Rural Affairs. There are 19 individual rankings, including a new Band 3 ranking for David Hall. Ally Taft retains her Band 1 ranking, while Dominic Hopkins is recognised in the Senior Statespeople category once again.
The West Midlands achieves Band 1 rankings in two practice areas: Corporate M&A (SME/Owner-managed Businesses) and Family and Matrimonial. Eight lawyers are individually ranked, including a first-time ranking for James Frost as Associate to Watch. James Osborne also moves up from Up and Coming to Band 3.
These results follow the integration of Wright Hassall in November 2025, which established HCR Law’s Leamington Spa office and further strengthened the firm’s Midlands presence.
In the Thames Valley, HCR achieves a host of new rankings, including in three new practice areas: Employment, Family and Matrimonial and Real Estate (up to £10m).
Five lawyers also receive new individual rankings. These include Real Estate Disputes Partner Tahlia Woollett in Band 2, Banking and Finance Partner Victoria Dingle in Band 3 and Head of Family, Thames Valley Kate Grant in Band 4.
The Thames Valley team also retains its Band 1 ranking in £5m+ Corporate M&A, with Head of Thames Valley Corporate Rachel Turner maintaining her Band 1 ranking for another year.
Our expertise and market-leading presence in the South West is also recognised. The Cheltenham office retains rankings across seven practice areas, with 15 lawyers individually ranked.
This includes a new Band 3 ranking for Rachael Reeves, Head of South West Corporate Team. Within the Employment team, Rowena Kay receives her first ranking, while Rachel Roberts moves up from Band 3 to Band 2.
Our Welsh office in Cardiff retains three Band 1 rankings in Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Information Technology and Intellectual Property. Head of Technology Services Nicola McNeely receives two Band 1 lawyer rankings in Information Technology and Intellectual Property.
Wales also retains its Band 3 rankings in Corporate M&A, Real Estate and Employment. Corporate Partner Theresa Grech and Development and Strategic Land Partner Justin Mason both receive new individual rankings.
There is also a new practice area ranking for Litigation, with Wayne Beynon and Laura Bufton individually ranked in the category for the first time.
Rod Thomas, Managing Partner, said: “This year’s Chambers and Partners results are our strongest to date and reflect the exceptional work delivered by our people across every region and sector.
“They are particularly meaningful because they reflect feedback from clients who trust us to support them through opportunities and challenges. That trust drives our success, and we’re grateful for the relationships that make achievements like this possible.”
The 2027 results follow the release of the Chambers and Partners High Net Worth Guide 2026 in July, which saw 25 of the firm’s Private Client lawyers recognised. The firm’s performance across both directories reflects its continued national growth, market-leading expertise and commitment to delivering exceptional client service.