Haynes Boone earned expanded recognition in the Legal 500 UK 2027 guide, with nine London-based practice areas ranked, including one in which Haynes Boone was named a “Firm to Watch,” three practice areas advancing in the rankings and Private Funds earning its first tier ranking, with no practice area declines from the 2026 guide.
Six Haynes Boone lawyers were individually ranked by Legal 500, including three Hall of Fame honorees. London Office Managing Partner Nick Davis and Partner Lesley Gregory were recognized in the Hall of Fame for Equity Capital Markets: Small-Mid Cap, while Partner Melanie Willems was recognized in the Hall of Fame for International Arbitration.
Additionally, Partner James Tinworth was ranked as a Leading Partner for Hedge Funds, Partner Emily Fuller was recognized as a Next Generation Partner for Fund Finance and Associate Christopher Orford was recognized as a Leading Associate for Hedge Funds.
Legal 500 praised Haynes Boone’s London Capital Markets team for its work in the AIM market, including IPOs, complex fundraisings and public takeovers, as well as its activity in energy transition, mining and sustainable technology. The guide also highlighted the firm’s Venture Capital practice for its work with growth companies, venture capital houses and entrepreneurs, particularly in the technology and fintech sectors.
The firm’s Private Funds practice was recognized for its work on fund formation, particularly for venture capital clients, while the Hedge Funds practice was praised for advising start-up and small to mid-sized hedge fund managers on fund formation, structuring and compliance.
Legal 500 also recognized Haynes Boone’s London Shipping practice for its work involving sea transport, offshore oil and gas and complex engineering, construction and charter projects, including its representation of Golar LNG in a US$2.2 billion FLNG conversion project.
The Legal 500 guide assesses law firms based on feedback from clients, submissions from law firms and interviews with leading private practice lawyers. The 2027 guide covers nearly 1,200 firms and approximately 600 practice areas.
Below is a list of the ranked Haynes Boone practice groups:
- Investment Fund Formation and Management – Hedge Funds
- Transport – Shipping
- Corporate & Commercial – Equity Capital Markets: Small-Mid Cap
- Investment Fund Formation and Management – Fund Finance
- Projects, Energy & Natural Resources – Oil and Gas
- Corporate & Commercial – Venture Capital
- Dispute Resolution – International Arbitration
- Real Estate – Construction: Contentious
- Investment Fund Formation and Management – Private Funds (Debut)
- Projects, Energy & Natural Resources – Mining & Minerals (Firm to Watch)
Haynes Boone’s London office continues to build momentum following its relocation to a larger space in the City of London at the end of 2025 to support continued growth. Now in its second decade, the office has expanded both headcount and capabilities while driving increased deal activity across key practice areas, including real estate, finance and energy.
