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The West Midlands comprises Birmingham and the surrounding counties of Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire and Warwickshire.

Market conditions in the West Midlands remain challenging. Firms have been active on the contentious side, advising on diverse areas including shareholder and partnership disputes, and have been working with financial institutions to facilitate solvent restructuring. The energy sector continues to show steady signs of growth. Lending conditions, however, remain tight and large-scale M&A work has been sluggish. The traditional developer market remains quiet.

National player Wragge & Co LLP remains strong across the board, with strengths ranging from corporate and energy to corporate tax and construction. Its large commercial litigation practice is particularly recommended for its international work. 2010 saw the firm open affiliated offices in Paris and Abu Dhabi.

DLA Piper UK LLP continues to act for diverse national and international clients, with its recent high-profile transactions including advising Intertek Group on its £450m acquisition of Moody International. Its banking, commercial litigation and corporate restructuring and insolvency teams attract many plaudits.

Eversheds LLP’s corporate team has been involved in some of the largest deals in the region, and its commercial property department is very well regarded, acting for blue-chip clients such as Hammerson and Mitchells & Butlers. Its property litigation team is also highly rated.

Pinsent Masons LLP has a broad range of expertise in the region, and has been involved in some significant regeneration projects. Its banking and EU and competition practices remain very strong, and on the corporate front it has particular expertise in the technology and healthcare sectors.

Gateley continues to make progress across a range of practice areas. It recently added a Manchester office to its national network, acquiring the commercial practice of Halliwells.

Martineau stands out for its experience in the education and energy sectors, and has been increasingly active in cross-border work.

Shoosmiths maintains a key position in Birmingham, with a leading practice in social housing and strength in areas such as dispute resolution and insolvency. It also has a growing international practice.

Squire Sanders Hammonds’ merger completed in January 2011. The firm is recommended for its pensions and licensing expertise, in particular, and it also has a strong commercial property offering, acting for local authorities such as Wolverhampton City Council.

Areas of focus for Cobbetts LLP include the public sector and international work.

Irwin Mitchell LLP is a powerhouse in the insurance market, leading the rankings for claimant personal injury and clinical negligence, and continues to develop its offering in corporate and commercial litigation.

Mills & Reeve LLP has a good all-round offering with key areas of expertise in private client, professional negligence and health.

Shakespeare Putsman expanded through mergers with Needham & James and Nottingham-based Berryman; the firm is now known as Shakespeares.

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