Addleshaw Goddard‘s diverse commercial contracts work, much of which is cross-border, regularly includes drafting complex commercial contracts for joint ventures in a range of areas, including the public sector and the automotive sector. In particular, the work for major clients, including a leading automobile manufacturer, is illustrative of the team’s ability to advise on supply, purchase and other agreements relating to large-scale projects and corporate transactions. The firm fields a large group of dedicated commercial contract lawyers, including practice head Michael Lowry, who stands out for his work in the IT sector; Damon Rosamond-Lanzetta, who is a key adviser on commercial contracts relating to outsourcing matters; and Jonathan Davey, who brings clients commercial nous in the retail sector. Oliver Millerchip provides support in commercial matters, notably recently advising on goods and service contracts.

Baker McKenzie has an extremely broad commercial contracts practice, acting for long-term clients in sectors ranging from banking to healthcare and retail, but is especially strong in heavily regulated sectors. The team’s workload spans specialist areas such as consumer protection, data protection, advertising and marketing, sponsorship, data privacy and e-commerce, as well as cyber-security. Helen Brown is notable for her work in the retail industry, and is a go-to team member for distribution arrangements. Brown leads the team alongside Julia Hemmings and Sue McLean, who both focus on the technology sector, and are instrumental in the group’s work on the full range of commercial agreements, including outsourcing agreements and joint ventures in the technology sector – a strength of the practice as a whole. Maulik Mittal is another key name.

As well as its ability to advise on a variety of commercial contracts, such as marketing contracts, supply chain matters, and joint venture agreements, Bird & Bird LLP stands out for its innovative use of technology and cyber solutions. The group utilises the firm’s global reach and access to knowledge across a range of practice areas to advise on multi-jurisdictional commercial contracts and regulatory issues related to these contracts. Simon Shooter, who is based in the UAE, heads up the team and specialises in data protection and cybersecurity matters, while Graeme Payne is regularly active in the retail and consumer industries. Nick Green combines expertise in the technology, retail and consumer sectors.

Dentons leverages its global reach to advise on large-scale, international commercial matters, in which its team members have years of experience, and is highlighted for its ability to ‘secure additional expertise and weave this together for complex commercial contracts‘. An additional element which distinguishes the group is its public sector expertise; most notably, it is the UK government’s counsel for IT and digital projects (and advising on innovative digital projects is also a wider area of strength for the team). TMT experts Henrietta Baker and Martin Fanning, who lead the team, have experience across the full range of commercial contracts, including distribution and outsourcing agreements. The wider team also includes retail expert Scott Singer, public sector expert Sarah Lima and Rachael Morris, whose clients include global transportation companies.

DLA Piper‘s commercial contracts practice stands out for its advice to the UK government, for which it is the lead legal adviser, utilising its ‘strong understanding of the requirements of public sector contracting’. The group is also notable for its ability to advise on contracts involving such elements as ESG and data protection; Mark Dewar, who heads the sizeable team, is an expert in the ESG field. Day-to-day work includes assisting with outsourcing and restructuring agreements, for which Chloe Forster is a key name to call upon. Sophie Lessar and Christian Keogh are go-to contacts in the technology and telecoms sectors, respectively, two areas on which the wider group focuses. Anthony Day is particularly skilled in advising on outsourcing contracts, while Chris Rennie advises on supply chain, logistics, IT and BPO arrangements.

Hogan Lovells International LLP is able to advise on large-scale, complex commercial contracts, particularly relating to supply chains and cross-border arrangements, drawing on its strength in the regulatory space to assist with any related regulatory issues. The group, headed by Richard Welfare and Penny Powell, is able to leverage its global network to assist major clients with contracts relating to international projects. The team is highlighted as ‘experienced in all aspects of food legal contracting‘, and also has deep expertise in contracts across a range of other sectors, including sports (where Oliver Wilson is instrumental in the group’s work), pharmaceuticals and life sciences (where Powell is especially active).

Pinsent Masons LLP's commercial contracts team is particularly noted for its strength in advising on partnership supply agreements. The group is commended for its ‘excellent sector knowledge and awareness‘, with significant expertise in the retail and robotics sectors, where it has advised household-name clients, including major grocery chains and automobile manufacturers. Global commercial head Samantha Livesey, who is based in Manchester, leads the team, and has recently been especially active in advising on contracts with respect to companies' digital transitions, utilising a deep knowledge in the technology sector. Clare Francis, Laura Ayre, Gayle Ditchburn (an expert in the retail sector), and Danielle Clifford are other key figures in the team, all with experience working on complex, global outsourcing contracts.

RPC houses a ‘dynamic team with in-depth knowledge across different sectors‘, which advises on the full range of commercial contracts, from franchise agreements to supply agreements. The team operates in both the private and public sectors, counting leading hospitals and technology, retail, media and financial services companies among its clients. The practice is led by Tom Purton, who advises on joint ventures and other collaboration agreements, and is heavily involved in the group’s outsourcing agreements. Oliver Bray; Paul Joukador, who is skilled in advising both customers and suppliers on contracts relating to service agreements, supply chains and operations, and digital transformation projects; Ciara Cullan; Charles Buckworth, who is extremely active in the financial services industries; and Eleanor Harley are other key team members.

Slaughter and May's ‘knowledgeable‘ and 'commercially focused' group is notable for its advice on complex commercial contracts in the retail sector, including recently advising on cross-border arrangements for a major UK retailer. Other key clients include large mobile phone networks. Leading the team are Duncan Blaikie, who advises leading clients in the financial services industry, and Oly Moir, whose practice revolves around complex, long-term commercial contracts in the infrastructure, energy and natural resource sectors. Richard McDonnell has a broad practice which covers contracts from joint ventures to supply agreements. David Ives is prominent in the group’s work in the technology and retail sectors.

Travers Smith LLP, praised for its 'strong commercial sense', is frequently instructed by household-name clients, including leading fast food restaurant and coffee shop chains, to advise on international commercial contracts, including agreements in relation to companies' international expansions. Significant areas of expertise include energy and payments infrastructure contracts, for which Richard Brown is a key name. Other standout practitioners include practice head Dan Reavill, the ‘pragmatic, intelligent and client-focused‘ James Longster, and Ben Chivers, who specialises in the leisure and hospitality sectors.

Ashurst, which is commended for its 'strength in depth, both in terms of practice areas and geography', fields team of multidisciplinary practitioners with experience in areas such as competition and regulation, data privacy, and IP to advise on commercial contracts, as part of the wider digital economy transactions group. Clients turn to the group for advice on complex, strategic contracts, including collaborative partnership, long-term supply agreements, and relational agreements. The team calls upon the knowledge of practice heads Christopher Bates and Nick Elverston when it comes to matters in the technology and telecoms sectors, with the former ‘standing out as a great technician in the IT and technology space‘.

Noted for its ‘significant experience‘ and ‘pragmatic advice‘, Bristows LLP is adept at handling day-to-day operational contracts, as well as contracts related to large commercial transactions. The group is prolific in the pharmaceutical and IP industries, calling upon the biochemistry knowledge of practice head Richard Dickinson, who brings significant expertise in commercial transactions to clients. Major clients include international conglomerates, indicative of the group’s cross-border expertise and strength in advising clients with large international portfolios which require advice on large-scale strategic collaboration. Other key contacts include Matthew Warren; Claire Smith, who assists with bespoke supply and distribution agreements; and Ellen Lambrix and Paul Jordan, who are notably skilled in advising on manufacturing agreements and logistics agreements, respectively, for large retailers.

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner‘s team has long implemented a multidisciplinary structure which enables the group to work on large commercial mandates for household-name clients, particularly in the retail sector. The group handles a range of strategic arrangements, including outsourcing agreements and commercialisation agreements, for which Kate Jeffery  is a key contact for clients. Marcus Pearl and Richard Shaw head up the team and are go-to practitioners for strategic contracts, and the former is particularly active in the technology and media space. In addition, Carol Osborne is well placed to advise on transatlantic commercial contracts.

Charles Russell Speechlys LLP hosts a specialist commercial contracts team which is noted for its work in the sports sector, as well as the retail and TMT sectors. The diverse group leverages its international network of offices to work on cross-border matters, sometimes stemming from the Middle East, collaborating with colleagues internationally on matters such as the drafting and negotiation service agreements and hosting agreements. Mark Bailey, Jason Saiban and Megan Paul lead the team, offering a wealth of commercial experience between them. Bailey’s experience of advising on data centre matters leaves him well placed to assist with outsourcing agreements, which is also one of Paul's areas of expertise, while Saiban stands out for handling marketing-related contracts. Caroline Young focuses on contracts in the intellectual property and technology sectors.

CMS provides ‘highly practical advice on all manner of commercial contracts‘, with particularly deep knowledge of sectors including retail and technology, handling contracts and manufacturing arrangements for leading FTSE 100 companies. At the helm is commercial law veteran John Enser. Other notable members of the practice are Matthew Bennett, who can advise on an array of strategic commercial contracts relating to outsourcing, offshoring and shared services; Laurence Kalman, who counts the technology sector as an area of strength; Dominic Dryden, who is key to the group’s technology and sourcing mandates; Sam Oustayiannis, who was promoted to partner in 2024 and handles commercial arrangements in the media and technology sectors; Ian Stevens, who plays an important role in the group’s matters in the telecommunications sector; and Suparna Bhattacharjee.

Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP‘s commercial contracts team is adept at handling strategic commercial contract matters, demonstrated by its work on a longstanding basis for a major transport hub. Specific areas of activity for the group include transformation projects, facilities management agreements and joint venture agreements. Peter McCormack, who heads up the team, also heads up the firm’s strategic contracts group, and has a wealth of experience in cross-border commercial matters for blue-chip clients such as leading international banks. Kelly Holmes leads the firm’s property and facilities management outsourcing practice, fostering longstanding relationships with FTSE 100 clients. Tom Bridgford is a key contact for clients’ outsourcing contract needs.

Gowling WLG stands out for its breadth of contractual work, which spans from procurement and sales contracts to outsourcing agreements. Franchising agreements are another key element of the group’s offering, and practice co-head Sarah Riding, who splits her time between Birmingham and London, and is singled out for her ‘strong understanding of franchising law and principles‘. Riding is also commended for her expertise in the automotive industry, a key area of expertise for the group alongside the real estate, retail and public sectors (where the group has experience of advising on contracts for government departments). Versatile practitioner David Lowe co-heads the practice and also leads the international trade group. Jocelyn Paulley and Rachel Pennell are other key team members.

K&L Gates LLP hosts a team which has fostered longstanding relationships with clients in the luxury goods, fashion and consumer goods sectors, with clients including luxury fashion brands. The group is particularly skilled in advising on large-scale projects, covering a range of types of agreements, including distribution agreements. Catherine Adam, who runs the team, is adept at providing clients with strategic commercial contracts advice relating to online retail, while Jennifer Marsh is especially knowledgeable when it comes to distribution agreements. This, combined with Arthur Artinian‘s recent experience of advising on sponsorship agreements, further demonstrates the breadth of expertise in the team. Georgina Rigg has a well-rounded commercial contracts practice, which includes advising large technology companies.

Lewis Silkin stands out for its work in the media and entertainment space, and is described as a ‘market leader in media law’, often working on brand partnership and sponsorship agreements. The team is overseen by James Gill, whose key strengths include data privacy, which is incorporated into his advice on agency and franchising agreements. Joint managing partner Jo Farmer has a niche in media buying contracts, evidence of the group’s wider expertise in this area. Alan Hunt, an IP law specialist, is adept at handling supply contracts work. Alex Meloy is also instrumental to the group’s work involving consumer law, including advising on marketing agreements.

Praised for its ‘exceptional‘ technical knowledge, Linklaters LLP is well versed in assisting customers and suppliers and advising on all stages of strategic projects, from inception to completion. The group often advises on commercial partnerships, and has a strong team of veteran commercial lawyers who ‘bring the level of experience that is needed’. At the helm is Marly Didizian, who often deals with supply chain contracts and whose clients include large technology companies; she has also been at the forefront of the group’s work on collaboration agreements in the life sciences and consumer sectors. Greg Palmer and Rich Jones, who were both promoted to partner in May 2023, are also key team members. Georgina Kon is a key contact for the group’s TMT matters.

Clifford Chance LLP‘s dedicated commercial contracts offering is largely focused on transitional agreements, but the team also often advises on outsourcing and sales agreements, with a client base that includes major energy companies. Heading up the team is André Duminy, whose technology and M&A expertise exemplifies the wider group’s strength in this area. Zayed Al Jamil is also an expert in the technology sector, particularly emerging technologies such as AI. Jenni Polson, a go-to name for outsourcing agreements, and Mark Fisher, who excels in the telecoms sector, are also key members of the team.

Stephenson Harwood is notable for its commercial contracts work in the pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors, balancing ‘commercial awareness with legal expertise‘. The team is overseen by Dan Holland, who is commended for his 'strategic and commercial advice', and counts life sciences companies as key clients; in this sector, Bobbie Bickerton is key to the team's work on product distribution agreements, while Kate Ackland is experienced in advising on outsourced manufacturing and supply agreements. Clients in the hospitality industry turn to Naomi Leach for advice on matters such as hotel management agreements.

TLT is well placed to offer sector-specific advice, with practitioners having extensive knowledge of industries such as financial services and food and drink. In particular, the group is set apart by its expertise in public sector contracts and familiarity with government departments. At the helm is Perran Jervis, a key figure for supply chain matters and distribution contracts. Eleanor McClelland, who has ‘great market knowledge and a sensible drafting approach‘, is another key team member, as is Pauline Cowie, who is the go-to lawyer in the team for outsourcing agreements.

BDB Pitmans‘ varied workload includes advising on commercial contracts in the health and charity sectors - such as contracts for the provision of complex clinical services over multiple hospital sites - but the group particularly stands out for its expertise in technology agreements. Practice head Duncan Walker is instrumental to the group’s advice on technology and IP contracts, and Hollie Gallagher is a key contact for contracts relating to commercial transactions. Olivia Mulvany is also a noted team member.

Browne Jacobson LLP is skilled in a wide array of commercial contractual work, advising on areas such as supply chain and other logistical agreements, as well as contracts relating to joint ventures and brand strategy. The group also stands out for its multidisciplinary approach and ‘effective coordination of different areas such as litigation, data protection and banking’, assisting clients in an array of industries, from technology and consumer goods to energy and infrastructure. Technology is an area of strength for Richard Nicholas, and practice head Declan Cushley is pre-eminent in the consumer and luxury beauty space. Cat Driscoll is a key name to note for supply chain, manufacturing and outsourcing arrangements.

The national commercial contracts team at Burges Salmon LLP, which operates cross-departmentally in combination with the wider commercial team, is often involved in advising on long-term logistics contracts. The group's core sector strengths include retail, sport, and food and drink; it also continues to expand further into the media contracts sphere, and is increasingly engaged to handle matters such as licensing agreements. Practice head Helen Scott-Lawler deals with all types of commercial contracts, and counts leading UK retailers as key clients. Richard Hugo is known for assisting clients with manufacturing, distribution, agency, franchising and purchase arrangements.

Farrer & Co‘s varied workload includes joint venture contracts, distribution agreements and international collaboration agreements. The team has extensive expertise in the media and arts sector – a key area of strength for David Copping – and counts major newspapers and arts institutions among its clients. In addition, the firm advises on contracts in the education and technology spheres. Paul Jones, who is highlighted as ‘an excellent drafter‘, heads up the team, and is skilled in assisting with key logistics contracts, as well as supply, agency, distribution and services agreements.

Fladgate LLP is a seasoned adviser in the commercial contracts area. The group demonstrates proficiency in assisting with complex outsourcing agreements, leveraging the firm's competition law and regulatory expertise to provide an end-to-end service to clients. The ‘client-centric, fast and pragmatic‘ team is headed up by Jan Hoppe, Alex Haffner and Tim Wright (who often advises on joint venture, collaboration and alliance agreements). Ben Milloy and James Earl, whose sports law background leaves him well placed to work on sports sponsorship agreements, are also key practitioners.

With a ‘good range of experience across the team‘, Freeths LLP‘s commercial contracts team sits within the firm’s wider commercial practice, and advises major household-name clients on contracts relating to day-to-day commercial work. Areas of particular expertise include logistics agreements, joint ventures and services agreements. Iain Bowler heads up the team, and the overall commercial group at the firm.

HFW is pre-eminent in the aviation, logistics and especially shipping spaces; according to one client, the group is the ‘clear leader in shipping commercial contracts'. In addition, the team acts for household names in the retail space. Sponsorship agreements are also a key part of the group’s work. Matthew Gore and Catherine Emsellem-Rope run the team, both possessing significant expertise in supply chain contracts. Another standout member of the team is Alistair Mackie, who is described as ‘an unrivalled expert in port terminal concessions’.

Howard Kennedy LLP, which excels in supply and distribution agreements, acts for a broad client roster of household names. The firm’s head of commercial and IP, Robert Lands, is often called upon to advise on commercial contracts viewed through an IP lens, such as franchise agreements, trade mark licensing and software agreements. Amy Cunliffe-Rowe, who is praised for bringing ‘clarity and perspective‘ to contracts advice, is prominent in the data protection sphere, assisting with matters such as software contracts. In addition, Alex Watt‘s broad expertise extends to advising clients on advertising agreements.

Praised by clients for its 'high-quality commercial advice', Macfarlanes LLP is a key choice for a diverse range of clients, including brands, private equity firms, banks, and hotel groups.  'A calm and reliable operator', practice head Will Hedges is noted for his focus on outsourcing, hospitality, and brand and franchising matters. Other key names include the 'fantastic' Rosie Duckworth, who focuses particularly on sport and advertising work.

Supply chain and logistics agreements form the cornerstone of the practice at Mishcon de Reya LLP, which is highly active in the manufacturing sector, but also acts for clients in the retail, fashion and luxury sectors, as well as property management and green energy companies. Lewis Cohen heads up the ‘commercially astute‘ dedicated commercial contracts team and is particularly adept at assisting clients looking to invest into the tech, hotels and retail areas, often working on manufacturing, supply and distribution agreements. Anne Rose is another key team member, who is extremely active in the technology, sport, media and retail sectors.

Shoosmiths LLP, described as ‘pragmatic with great breadth and depth of expertise‘, has a broad commercial contracts practice, but operates at the forefront of the logistics sector and is often active in the automotive sector, where it is regularly instructed by automotive manufacturers. Automotive industry expert Robin Webb and Michelle Craven-Faulkner are the duo leading the team; the latter is key to the group’s advice on supply chain agreements. Another growing area of strength for the group is contracts related to public procurement. Simon McArdle is active in the logistics space, including advising on outsourcing agreements. Joel Murphie ‘stands out for his technical ability’.

Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP, which is ‘pragmatic in its approach to contract drafting‘, divides its offering into commercial contracts and outsourcing, digital, and IP matters. As well as advising on supply chain and logistics contracts, the group is notable for its work in the energy sector, assisting clients with contracts associated with the energy transition in pursuit of net zero. The group is also active in the public sector and Stephen Anderson, who was promoted to partner in July 2023, specialises in government procurement and contracting. Paula Bartlett, who is head of the wider commercial team, oversees all the strands of the practice.