The Legal 500 rankings for 2025 have been released and teams and individuals across Farleys have once again been recognised in their respective fields, among the best in the UK.

The Legal 500 has been analysing and ranking law firms across the world for over 33 years for inclusion in their exclusive guides. The guides cover 150 jurisdictions across the world and are revised each year to reflect the current offering in the legal market.

The Legal 500 rankings highlight teams and individuals “who are providing the most cutting edge and innovative advice to corporate counsel”.

The latest rankings for 2025 have seen numerous departments ranked among the best in the country.

Our criminal defence team has maintained its Tier 1 ranking in the category of general crime and fraud with head of the team Paul Schofield and partner Bridgette Hibbert receiving recognition as a Leading Partners.

Amongst the feedback received about the team, one noted,

“Farleys have a unique blend of client care and overall commitment to the case. They are a diverse department who strive to do their best for the client at all times. Their commitment to the client is second to none. This ethos exists from partner level to all aspects of the team. The function as a team and provide a formidable service.”

Our corporate, personal injury, and family law teams have all been placed into Tier 2 once again. Tier 3 sees our commercial litigation (elsewhere in the North West) and our sports law teams maintain their rankings, while our insolvency and commercial litigation (Manchester) teams have been placed in Tiers 5 & 6 respectively.

Our corporate team were described as “extremely professional and reliable” while our personal injury team were noted as “dedicated and go above and beyond their roles.”. Our family team were positively marked for being “responsive and compassionate in the way that they deal with sensitive and stressful matters. The knowledge base has been clearly demonstrated throughout my experience of the practice and there is always the drive to seek a reasoned solution.”

Our commercial litigation teams in Manchester and ‘elsewhere in the North West’ received the following feedback,

‘The team are extremely professional but still manage to make you feel at ease.’

‘The team is dynamic, responsive and solutions focused.’

‘An outcome focussed team, with particular expertise in shareholder and director disputes.’

Individual Recognition

Alongside Paul Schofield and Bridgette Hibbert, Jonathan Bridge, head of our abuse claims department has received recognition as a Leading Partner, as has Daniel Draper, managing partner and commercial litigation solicitor.

Kelly Darlington, head of our inquests team has been recognised as a Next Generation Partner.

Other team members recognised as key lawyers include Alice Wood (Inquests), Angharad Bentley (Family), Antonia Love (Family), Debbie King (Corporate), Ella Holden (Insolvency and Commercial Litigation), Emma Procter (Family), Garry Leaver (Crime), Jonathan Taylor (Crime), Kieran O’Connor (Commercial Litigation), Lorraine Eccles (Crime), Mark Hague (Insolvency and Commercial Litigation), Michael Corrigan (Personal Injury and Medical Negligence), Nick Molyneux (Personal Injury and Medical Negligence), Olivia Cooper (Insolvency and Commercial Litigation), Richard Bell (Corporate), Samuel Hinds (Crime), and Tony Rebello (Family).

Alongside the rankings, Farleys has been recognised for its client satisfaction, achieving a high score from the Legal 500’s client research marking it as a leading firm.

Farleys’ managing partner Ian Liddle commented,

We’re really pleased to have been recognised in the Legal 500 rankings once again. These rankings recognise the hard work and excellent service provided to our clients by individuals and teams within the firm. To have also been ranked highly for our client satisfaction is something we’re particularly proud of.

We’d like to thank the Legal 500 research team for their work and our clients and contacts for the brilliant comments they took the time to provide.

You can read the full rankings and comments on the Legal 500 website.