'The result of many months of research': 30 Northern Ireland law firms and 239 lawyers feature in latest Legal 500
Carson McDowell and Tughans have the highest number of practice area rankings, while three firms make their first appearance in the 2027 edition
The Legal 500 UK rankings for 2027 have been published, with 30 Northern Ireland firms and 239 individual lawyers recognised.
The latest rankings follow research carried out throughout 2026, with the legal market in Northern Ireland described as remaining a “stable economic environment”.
Existing trends have continued across the region, with the energy sector attracting investment from domestic and international clients exploring projects involving wind, solar and anaerobic energy.
International investment has also continued, particularly from the Republic of Ireland and the US, with private equity groups prominent. However, practitioners reported that the market has been less fluid around the mid-market.
The real estate sector remained busy, with hospitality, retail and healthcare continuing to attract investors.
The build-to-rent market has also remained strong, alongside high demand for student accommodation, despite economic headwinds contributing to an increase in litigation and shareholder disputes.
Of the 30 Northern Ireland firms included in the 2027 rankings, Bangor’s Adamson Rice Law, Edwards Solicitors in Belfast and Caldwell & Robinson Solicitors in Londonderry are new additions, all featuring in the family law rankings.
The firms with the highest number of rankings are Belfast’s Carson McDowell and Tughans, which both ranked in 13 practice areas. Arthur Cox follows with 12 rankings, and A&L Goodbody and Cleaver Fulton Rankin hold 11.
A total of 239 individuals achieved rankings across Northern Ireland, up from 226 in last year’s edition.
The individual rankings span the Hall of Fame, Leading Partner, Next Generation Partner and Leading Associate categories.
Cameron Purse, London editor of The Legal 500, said the latest edition followed “many months of research” across the UK and London legal markets.
He said: “We’re delighted to announce that the Legal 500 UK 2027 rankings are now live, following their publication on 30th September 2026.
“The 2027 guide is the result of many months of research, covering regions across England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Offshore Britain, and the London legal market. And after evaluating more than 12,000 submissions, contacting almost 180,000 referees, and conducting thousands of interviews with solicitors across the country, the results are in.
“This year’s guide sees nearly 1,200 firms achieve more than 10,000 firm rankings across 600 practice areas. It also features more than 13,000 ranked solicitors, including nearly 2,000 members of the Hall of Fame, more than 6,500 Leading Partners, nearly 3,000 Next Generation Partners, and more than 2,300 Leading Associates.”