Freeths

Freeths, a full-service UK law firm with twelve offices

Freeths is a full-service law firm operating from twelve offices across the United Kingdom: Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Oxford and Sheffield. The firm describes itself as one of the largest full-service practices in the country, with more than 1,300 colleagues, and states that it is over 200 years old.

Its client base, as presented on the site, spans household names such as Aldi, Tarmac, Experian and Lloyds Bank, alongside charities, universities, private individuals and more than 200 public sector bodies, including schools, education providers and NHS trusts.

Practice areas and sector coverage

The firm presents its teams as covering all aspects of law, from banking to family law to sustainability, and organises part of its offer around specific sectors. Its published work includes corporate transactions and acquisitions, pensions, financial regulation, employment, governance and probate matters.

• Corporate and M&A work, including cross-border acquisitions
• Employment law, including the reforms proposed under the Employment Rights Act
• Pensions and probate, including the tax treatment changes affecting personal representatives
• Financial regulation, with analysis of the FCA's approach to Annex 1 firms
• Real estate capital and investment
• Family law and private client work

The Post Office Horizon litigation

Freeths states that it secured the landmark victory exposing the Post Office Horizon scandal, described on the site as one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in British legal history. The firm highlights the work of James Hartley and his team, who won two landmark court cases on behalf of subpostmasters wrongly prosecuted by the Post Office, in the case known as Mr Bates v The Post Office. The site addresses people affected by the scandal and their families in relation to compensation claims.

Rankings, awards and certifications

The firm reports a series of recognitions. It was named Law Firm of the Year at the Legal Business Awards 2024 and again at the City AM Awards 2025, and is listed in The Times Best Law Firms 2026. In the 2027 Legal 500 it reports Tier 1 ranking in 24 categories and recommendations in 101 practice areas, with 14 individuals in the Hall of Fame, 47 Leading Partners, 29 Next Generation Partners and 37 Leading Associates. It also reports rankings in Chambers UK Legal Guide 2026 and Chambers High Net Worth 2026, with 13 teams in Band 1 and 23 individuals ranked top in Band 1, and a position at 43rd in The Lawyer magazine's Top 100 UK law firms 2024.

On the accreditation side, the firm lists ISO 14001, ISO 27001, ISO 22301 and ISO 9001, Cyber Essentials Plus certification, Gold accreditation from Investors in People (2025), Stonewall Diversity Champion status, Tommy's Champion status (2025) and inclusion in the Legal 500 UK Green Guide for the second year running.

Responsible business and B Corp status

Freeths describes itself as the largest B Corp law firm in the UK. Its responsible business programme, Freeths IMPACT, is structured around four areas: colleagues, communities, climate and clients. The firm also publishes a gender pay gap report and a modern slavery statement among its corporate documents.

Research and publications

The firm produces its own surveys and analysis. One example is the Corporate Conscience Index, based on a survey of 250 general counsels and chief legal officers on how organisations balance profit with purpose. It also publishes a timeline of the Government's proposed implementation roadmap for employment law reforms, and commentary on real estate capital, planning delays, funding structures and viability pressures affecting UK transactions.

Graduate scheme and careers

Freeths runs a graduate scheme aimed at people starting careers in law, presented on the site as a foundation for aspiring legal professionals. The firm frames its recruitment around training and developing talent within the legal sector.