HCR Law has retained its position as the UK’s leading legal adviser for mergers and acquisitions (M&A), according to Experian’s MarketIQ Q1 2026 rankings.
The firm again ranks first nationally, extending its lead in a market increasingly shaped by selectivity rather than volume, with a 37% margin over its nearest competitor.
UK M&A continues to reflect a ‘volume down, value up’ trend, with deal value driven by fewer, larger and more strategic transactions. Buyers remain disciplined, with enhanced due diligence and longer timelines, while core activity is supported by resilient SME-led and domestic deals, alongside sustained inbound interest, particularly from US investors.
Regionally, HCR Law continues to perform strongly across the UK. The firm holds first place in the South East and South West, while the East of England moves up to joint first.
The Midlands also climbs to the top spot year on year, and Wales records a standout performance, rising to first place. London ranks third this quarter.
These results reinforce HCR’s position as a national adviser for corporate transactions of all sizes, with the depth and scale to support clients navigating a market increasingly defined by fewer, higher-value opportunities.
Richard Wilkey, Head of Corporate, said: “It’s encouraging to see HCR remain number one nationally at a time when overall deal activity is down and the market has been more challenging, influenced by both international uncertainty and domestic pressures.
“Against that backdrop, not only have we held the top UK position, but in several regions we’ve moved into first place, reflecting the strength and consistency of our regional teams. Clients are approaching transactions with greater discipline, supported by more extensive due diligence and longer timelines, and our role is to help them manage that complexity, assess risk and support transactions through to completion.
“Our performance this quarter reflects the strength of our team and our regional reach, as the market continues to shift towards more selective, higher value transactions.”
Experian MarketIQ Q1 2026 rankings for HCR Law
United Kingdom – 1st
London – 3rd
South East – 1st
South West – 1st
East of England – Joint 1st
Midlands – 1st
Wales – 1st
