“It’s an exciting time to be a litigator”: Partner Mark Hastings comments in The Lawyer on the London litigation market

Commenting in The Lawyer, Partner Mark Hastings discusses the strength of the disputes sector heading into 2026, highlighting the UK’s continued position as a leading global disputes centre as well as the growing role of specialist firms in complex and high-value Commercial Court cases.

Mark’s comments were published in The Lawyer, 8 January 2026.

“The litigation market in 2026 is shaping up to be extremely strong. Toward the end of 2025, everything we were hearing from headhunters was that firms were racing to recruit litigation partners in anticipation of a significant uptick in client spending on disputes.

“Despite predictions to the contrary in recent years, the UK is set to remain a leading global disputes centre. High-stakes, bet-the-company litigation is now endemic. Billion-dollar disputes have become a familiar feature of the Commercial Court.

“At the same time, the market is becoming more competitive and more fragmented. When I began my career, major litigation was the preserve of large, traditional law firms. That is no longer the case. Today, it is commonplace for key roles on the biggest disputes to be taken by litigation-only firms, US firms or specialist teams.

“This is not a market for the cautious. More so than ever, in 2026, the London litigation market will favour the brave. It is already a cut-throat environment, and firms will need to pivot quickly, particularly as clients increasingly expect alternative pricing models and greater agility from their advisors.

“It is an exciting time to be a litigator, and 2026 will likely be a white-knuckle ride. Whether that excites or unnerves you ultimately depends on your perspective.”