The litigation market is entering a strong cycle. Firms are moving early to reinforce their disputes benches, particularly at partner level, in anticipation of increased client spend on contentious work. The UK remains a leading global litigation hub, supported by the quality of its courts, legal expertise and international reputation. At the same time, competition is intensifying as firms position themselves to secure both talent and projects in a crowded disputes market.
Why disputes feels energised
Disputes has re-established itself as a strategic practice. Litigators are increasingly involved earlier, advising on risk, shaping strategy and helping clients manage uncertainty before issues escalate.
The work spans regulatory investigations, shareholder actions, commercial disputes, sanctions matters and cross-border litigation. The range and significance of these matters make the practice demanding but highly rewarding. Litigators are not just resolving disputes, they are protecting value, reputation and long-term positioning.
Opportunity, intensity and unpredictability
Demand in disputes is rarely predictable. Work often arrives in sharp bursts, driven by regulatory change, economic pressure or geopolitical events.
For litigators, this brings early responsibility and meaningful client exposure. For firms, it raises resourcing challenges. Teams must absorb pressure quickly and maintain quality when workloads spike. Disputes rewards calm judgement and decisiveness as much as technical ability.
Experience matters
Experience is critical in contentious work. Clients expect procedural confidence, strategic thinking and sound judgement when financial, regulatory or reputational risk is at stake.
Where experience is thin, partners are drawn into execution and junior lawyers are stretched. Well-balanced teams, particularly at mid and senior levels, are far better placed to manage unpredictability and deliver consistently.
Why litigators are optimistic
Despite the pressure, many litigators are positive about their career prospects. Disputes offers:
- Sustained relevance, even in slower markets
- Intellectually demanding and varied work
- Strong client and leadership visibility
- Early exposure to responsibility
For lawyers with developing judgement and clear expertise, disputes remains a strong long-term career platform.
The firm-side reality
Many disputes teams are stretched following years of attrition and uneven internal pipelines. Lateral hiring has therefore become essential, not to drive unchecked growth, but to protect quality, capacity and client confidence.
Firms are increasingly selective, prioritising litigators who can contribute immediately and perform under pressure. Counsel hiring has also grown, adding leadership and stability without expanding partnership ranks.
Selectivity over scale
Hiring priorities have shifted from numbers to capability. Firms are focused on litigators with:
- Experience on complex or high-stakes matters
- Sector or regulatory expertise
- Evidence of responsibility beyond tenure
- Sound judgement in uncertain situations
Generic profiles are less attractive in a market where the cost of mis-hiring is high.
Contact us
If you would like to discuss your 2026 recruitment requirements, please get in touch:
Email: james.lavan@wearebuchanan.com