Mishcon de Reya
A guide to the law firm Mishcon de Reya: what it’s best known for, recent work highlights, what it pays, and its revenue and profitability.
Last updated:
January 13, 2025
A guide to the law firm Mishcon de Reya: what it’s best known for, recent work highlights, what it pays, and its revenue and profitability.
Mishcon de Reya is a leading law firm based in London.
Founded in 1937 by the enterprising Victor Mishcon, Mishcon de Reya has evolved from a small, family-focused practice into one of the UK’s most recognisable mid-sized law firms, famed for its high-profile client roster and big-ticket litigation capabilities.
Mishcon’s story is best described as one of steady expansion, powered by a reputation for creative thinking and a willingness to push the envelope.
The firm has around 650 lawyers, including more than 200 partners, spread across various practice areas. Though it’s not the size of a Magic Circle giant, Mishcon’s brand is anything but understated, retaining a reputation for creative thinking.
While Mishcon is probably best known for its litigation prowess - particularly in commercial disputes and white-collar crime - it advises across a broad range of practice areas, with notable strengths in real estate and IP.
It’s also a go-to adviser for private client work, attracting a roster of high-net-worth individuals for family law and reputation management, and those looking to safeguard personal wealth and privacy.
Internally, Mishcon’s culture is generally considered to be more innovative than most - less stuffy than some of its City rivals, and proud of its entrepreneurial streak.
Though firmly rooted in London, Mishcon also has UK bases in Oxford and Cambridge thanks to its 2023 merger with technology client-focused firm Taylor Vinters. It has also branched out overseas in recent years, with offices in Singapore and Hong Kong to keep pace with the demands of clients who want seamless cross-border advice, be it contentious or transactional.
Mishcon might not be as large as some City heavyweights, but it’s carved out a unique niche with its mix of high-profile clients, knack for big wins in court, and a culture that leans more entrepreneurial than old-school.
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Recent work and industry highlights for Mishcon de Reya include:
LCF Investment Fraud Case: In November 2024, Mishcon secured a win for the joint administrators of collapsed investment firm London Capital & Finance (LCF) against the company’s former executives. LCF collapsed in 2019 leaving around 11,600 investors facing losses of £237 million. It is one of the UK’s biggest retail investment scandals.
£250m Group Action Against Uber: Mishcon is acting for over 10,500 London black cab drivers on a group action against Uber accusing the company of unlawful activity in the London taxi market between 2012 and 2018. The claimants are seeking £250 million in damages.
Successful Defence of O2: Mishcon acted for Telefonica UK Limited (O2) on its successful defence against claims made by the administrators of Phones 4u for breach of UK and EU competition law. The case was named by The Lawyer in its top 20 cases of 2022.
Hire of former NatWest boss: Mishcon recruited Alison Rose, the former CEO of NatWest Group, as an adviser on its equity, diversity and inclusion strategy in September 2024. Rose was forced to resign from NatWest earlier that year after her role in the Nigel Farage debanking scandal.
Acquisition of Flex Legal: In 2024, Mishcon acquired Flex Legal, the flexible legal resourcing business. The firm hailed it as a step forward “in executing its ambitious 10-year growth vision and strategy to build a world class consultancy with law at its heart”.
Planned London Stock Market Listing: Mishcon was planning to list on the London Stock Exchange in 2022 at a valuation of more than £750 million but pulled the float due to volatile market conditions.
Mishcon de Reya is a full service corporate law firm, with a strong focus on disputes and private client work. It is best known for its expertise in the following practice areas:
Corporate/M&A: Mishcon is a leading adviser on smaller-ticket M&A transactions, known for its advice to entrepreneurs and mid-market private equity clients, especially in the tech and real estate sectors. It has a Band 1 ranking by Chambers for advice on deals worth under £100 million.
Employment: Mishcon has one of the City’s leading employment practices, advising on the full spectrum of contentious and non-contentious employment law matters. It has Band 1 rankings by Chambers for its advice to employers, and senior executives.
Real Estate: The firm is highly-regarded for its transactional and contentious advice across a broad range of property-related matters. Mishcon says it has one of London's largest and most complete property teams, with corporate and private wealth clients. It is ranked in Band 2 by Chambers for high-value real estate transactions, and Band 1 for real estate litigation.
Intellectual Property: Mishcon has a large IP practice, advising on the full range of IP-related matters, including trade mark and patent registration, disputes and commercial transactions. It is ranked in Band 2 by Chambers for IP work.
We use Chambers rankings to demonstrate a firm's strengths. Chambers is the most highly-regarded provider of law firm rankings in the legal industry. Law firms are ranked in bands from 1 (highest) to 6 (lowest) across a range of practice areas.
It's important to note that being ranked in any band at all is still considered a significant achievement.
Mishcon de Reya positions itself as a high-profile, mid-sized firm that bridges the gap between boutique practices and global City giants.
Its competition typically includes firms with a strong focus on litigation, private client services, and a reputation for handling high-net-worth individuals and entrepreneurial clients.
These include Bird & Bird, Macfarlanes and Withers.
Here’s what Mishcon de Reya pays its London trainees and newly qualified (NQ) lawyers:
Trainee First Year: £47,500
Trainee Second Year: £52,500
Newly Qualified (NQ): £95,000
We have a list of salaries paid by all of the UK’s top law firms here.
Mishcon de Reya sits outside the top 25 biggest law firms in the UK by revenue. In 2023/24, its revenue was £302 million.
Mishcon does not disclose its profit per equity partner (PEP) figure.
Mishcon de Reya no longer discloses its its profit per equity partner (PEP).
Mishcon de Reya offers up to 30 training contracts each year.
Trainees complete four seats in different departments, each lasting six months.
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