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The firms recommended in this chapter range from the Magic Circle firms to niche practices handling high-volume work and international firms with specialist practices in the City.

London is a global hub for the insurance/reinsurance industry. Some lawyers are reaping the benefits of the challenging economic conditions; the upheaval in the financial markets has led to significant claims activity and insurance companies are now more likely to contest an insurance claim. While there has been a slow down in deal activity, strategic deals are still being done, with Part VII transfers continuing to dominate this area. On the regulatory side, Clifford Chance, Lovells LLP and Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP are among the leading firms. Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP, Clyde & Co LLP and Ince & Co remain strong on the insurance/reinsurance litigation front, with Herbert Smith LLP and Mayer Brown International LLP also having made considerable strides in this sector. The separate table for policyholder work reflects the fact that some law firms have a dedicated practice representing corporate entities on insurance matters.

Leigh Day & Co dominates the ranking for claimant clinical negligence, with Capsticks and Hempsons leading the market on the defendant side. As well as rising in the ranking for clinical negligence work, Stewarts Law LLP stands out for claimant personal injury, with its focus on high-value catastrophic injury work. Defendant personal injury remains a stable market, with Beachcroft LLP, Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP and Greenwoods Solicitors leading the way.

The demand for product liability advice has shown no signs of being adversely affected by the economic downturn; current EU and UK initiatives to facilitate consumer claims, together with the countercyclical increase in litigation, have led to a rise in clients’ instructions. Firms ranked in the top two tiers handle matters for insured companies, mainly in the tobacco, asbestos, consumer and pharmaceuticals industries. Beachcroft LLP, Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP, Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP and Kennedys tend to represent insurance companies.

Our professional negligence ranking includes firms handling high-value, complex work, alongside others handling higher-volume work and smaller, niche firms. Many saw an increase in instructions in 2008, and further growth is anticipated for 2009, as recession - and Madoff-related claims filter through.

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