Irwin Mitchell named third-busiest claimant firm as litigation activity reaches record high

Irwin Mitchell was the third-busiest claimant law firm in England and Wales during the third quarter of 2026, according to new litigation market data.

Figures published by Solomonic show that Irwin Mitchell’s claimant-side caseload has increased in each quarter of 2026. The firm is also joint fourth in the claimant rankings for the year to date, with 49 claims issued during the first nine months.

The ranking comes as litigation activity across the High Court and Competition Appeal Tribunal reaches record levels. A total of 2,306 claims were issued during Q3, 3% more than in the previous quarter and 8% higher than in the same period of 2025. It was the busiest quarter recorded by Solomonic since before 2019.

The report said banking and finance was the most active sector in Q3, with claims rising by 22% year on year. Professional services claims increased by 16%, with professional services firms named as defendants in 60% of those cases.

Katie Byrne, partner and Head of Commercial Dispute Resolution at Irwin Mitchell, said: 

 

“We are delighted to see Irwin Mitchell’s claimant work recognised in the Solomonic rankings. This achievement reflects the exceptional strength and scale of our litigation practice and the breadth of expertise across the firm.

 

“Alongside our recognised claimant capabilities, our commercial and business disputes team has the experience and depth to handle complex, high-value disputes for both claimants and defendants across a wide range of sectors."

Tracey Storey, managing partner for Irwin Mitchell’s personal injury team, added:

 

“Acting for claimants has been at the heart of Irwin Mitchell for many years. Across our personal injury and medical negligence practices, we support people and families facing life-changing and sometimes life limiting circumstances, combining specialist legal expertise with the wider support needed to rebuild their lives.

 

“This recognition reflects not only the scale of our claimant work, but the commitment of teams across the firm to securing the best possible outcomes for clients, however complex the case.”

The Solomonic ranking follows further recognition for Irwin Mitchell’s litigation practice. The Lawyer recently named it the UK’s fourth-largest litigation practice by lawyer headcount.

Irwin Mitchell has 735 litigation lawyers, including 142 partners, and increased its litigation headcount by 13% during the 2025/26 financial year. The firm has also promoted 33 litigation lawyers to partner over the past three years, more than any other firm included in The Lawyer’s UK Litigation 50 report.