Freeths filed 548 claims in the Insolvency & Companies List during 2025, dwarfing the second-ranked firm’s 231 claims. The gap places the national law firm in a league of its own within the UK’s insolvency legal market.
The figures come from Solomonic’s Year in Review 2025, released this month.
That 548 total marks a 36% jump from the 402 claims Freeths issued in 2024, when it also topped the rankings. In 2023, the firm filed 365 claims. The upward trajectory reflects both the firm’s expanding capacity and what appears to be surging demand for insolvency expertise as economic pressures mount on UK businesses.
No other firm comes close. The runner-up’s 231 claims represent less than half Freeths’ volume, a margin that has widened considerably over the past year.
Graeme Danby, national head of insolvency at Freeths, acknowledged the team’s sustained performance. “Being ranked number one for several years in a row says a great deal about the strength of our team, the trust of our clients, and the consistently high standards we set ourselves as a national practice,” he said. “I’m genuinely proud of what the team delivers.”
The firm’s restructuring and insolvency practice advises insolvency practitioners, lenders, corporates, creditors and other stakeholders across contentious and non-contentious matters. That breadth appears to be paying dividends as insolvency work intensifies.
“We continue to invest strategically in the practice and have the depth and capacity to support new matters where we can add real value,” Danby added.
The rising claim volumes across the sector tell a broader story about the state of UK business. While Freeths hasn’t disclosed what’s driving the 36% increase, insolvency specialists have pointed to persistent inflation, elevated interest rates and weakened consumer spending as key factors putting pressure on company balance sheets throughout 2025.
For Freeths, the numbers cement its dominance in a competitive legal market where rivals have struggled to match its scale. The firm has held the top position in Solomonic’s High Court rankings for several consecutive years, a stretch that began when it filed 358 claims in an earlier edition of the 2023 review.
Solomonic tracks litigation data and analytics across UK courts, providing one of the most comprehensive views of law firm activity in specific practice areas. The platform’s insolvency rankings have become a closely watched benchmark within the legal profession.
Beyond insolvency, Freeths has built a reputation for high-profile work. The firm secured a landmark High Court victory for 555 sub-postmaster clients against the Post Office, a case that exposed one of the most significant miscarriages of justice in British legal history. It continues to advise on the subsequent group litigation order and Horizon Convictions Redress compensation schemes.
Freeths operates as a top 50 commercial law firm, serving clients including Centrica, ENGIE, Aldi, Mercedes-Benz UK, Tarmac, Experian and Lloyds Bank. It holds B Corporation certification, reflecting commitments to environmental and social impact beyond purely financial performance.
The firm collected Law Firm of the Year honours at both the City AM Awards 2025 and Legal Business Awards 2024. It was runner-up for UK Firm of the Year at The Lawyer Awards 2025.
Whether competitors can close the gap remains uncertain. The 317-claim difference between first and second place represents a significant structural advantage—one built on team depth, client relationships and what Danby describes as consistently high standards.
For now, the numbers speak clearly. Freeths handled more than twice as many insolvency claims in 2025 as any other UK firm, a margin that shows no sign of narrowing as economic headwinds persist into 2026.
