Charles Russell Speechlys grows its rankings in the latest Legal 500 EMEA directory with 20 key practice areas ranked

Charles Russell Speechlys has solidified its position with rankings in 20 key practice areas, including three as a “Top-Tier Firm” across Europe, Middle East and Africa in the 2025 edition of The Legal 500 EMEA guide.

More than 50 lawyers have been individually mentioned for their outstanding contributions and legal experience in their respective fields, including 12 ranked lawyers: 6 partners recognised as “Leading Individuals", four listed as “Next Generation Partners”, and two as “Rising Stars.”

Europe

For the first time the Firm has been ranked for Private equity: venture/growth capital in France, while also maintaining its strong rankings in Employment for the fifth year running as well as its recognition as a ‘Firm to Watch’ for Litigation for the second consecutive year.

Frédéric Jeannin, Partner and Head of Paris, comments:

We are honoured to see the hard work and commitment of our teams recognised. In particular, we are very proud to see that our Corporate team made their way into the guide in the “Private equity: venture/growth capital” Chapter, which shows our innovative approach and the strategic value they deliver. These rankings underscore our commitment to legal excellence and client service. We thank our clients for their unwavering support and trust, which inspire us to continually raise the bar.

Feedback included: “Beyond their  responsiveness and availability, the team provides high-quality answers, both from a technical and practical point of view. Indeed, the advice provided is perfectly adapted to our needs, the context of the company and its culture. The team has perfectly adapted to our company's mode of collaboration, in particular by taking ownership of our applications. Finally, the team is of a kindness and sympathy that must be underlined, as it is so enjoyable to work with them.” “Speed, responsiveness, advice and proactivity.”

In Luxembourg, our Investment Funds team made its debut in the directory and the team received praise for maintaining strong rankings in Banking, finance and capital markets; Commercial, Corporate and M&A; and Tax.

Yacine Diallo, Partner and Head of Luxembourg, comments:

The latest edition of Legal 500 EMEA recognises the continuing growth of our Luxembourg office, and we are particularly thrilled to see the new Investment Funds practice ranking as well as the new individual ranking of Alexis Urbin-Choffray. Our sincere appreciation goes to our clients and peers who have recommended us, and we remain committed to honouring the trust they have placed in us.

Feedback included: “'The Luxembourg tax team at Charles Russell Speechlys distinguishes itself through its deep expertise in both domestic and international tax law and is known for its proactive approach to tax planning and ability to provide tailored solutions.” “The team is efficient and results-driven.”

In Switzerland, we received praise for maintaining our rankings in Private Client, Dispute Resolution and Sports.

Michael Wells-Greco, Head of Swiss operations, comments:

We are delighted to maintain our strong presence in the latest Legal 500 EMEA rankings, a testament to another truly exceptional year for our team across Geneva and Zurich. We are immensely thankful for the trust and feedback from our clients and peers, which is invaluable to our continued success and growth.

Feedback included: “The team has real strength in depth, from top to bottom, and an ability to combine practice areas and jurisdictions seamlessly. An outstanding international reach that makes them the natural port of call in the most complex of cross-border matters.” “Very personal approach, fast and straightforward advice, solutions oriented, pragmatic, excellent network to find the right person for the client and issue.” 

Middle East

In the Middle East, the Firm's core practices in Bahrain (Dispute Resolution, Real Estate and Construction, and Commercial, Corporate & M&A) have been ranked in Tier 1 for the sixth consecutive year, underscoring our status as a leading international firm in this jurisdiction.

In Dubai, the team has maintained its strong UAE rankings across Real Estate, Intellectual Property, TMT, Compliance and Investigations, as well as Arbitration and International Litigation. We have also achieved an improved ranking for Commercial, Corporate & M&A.

The Qatar team continues to be ranked for Projects, Real Estate, and Construction, demonstrating our strong market position in this sector.

Patrick Gearon, Partner and Head of the Middle East, comments:

These impressive rankings highlight the robust expansion of our team and expertise across the Middle East, reflecting our commitment to delivering exemplary legal services and building strong client relationships. We extend our appreciation to our clients for their ongoing support and confidence in our expertise.

The Legal 500 EMEA is a leading guide to law firms across Europe, Middle East and Africa. The rankings are based on a series of criteria that highlight the practice area teams who are providing the most cutting edge and innovative advice to corporate counsel and is based on interviews.

For more information on each practice area and individual rankings, please see The Legal 500 website.