Professional services leads H1 2026 High Court activity
Q2 claim activity eased from record Q1 levels but remained significantly high, with the professional services sector continuing to dominate claim volumes.
With the first half of 2026 now complete, we take a closer look at litigation activity across the High Court, Competition Appeal Tribunal and insolvency landscape in England and Wales during Q2.
Following a particularly strong Q1 2026, claim activity eased slightly in Q2, with more than 2,100 claims issued, a 4% decrease compared with Q1. Despite this, it remained a highly active period, making it the second busiest Q2 period since before 2019, surpassed only by Q2 2021 (2,185).
June recorded the highest monthly claim volume during the quarter, with 743 claims, followed by April (737) and May (700). The increase in claims during June may signal another busy quarter ahead. Historically, Q3 has outperformed Q2 in claim volume every year except 2021. The coming months will reveal whether the pattern holds true this year.
Claims issued in the High Court and CAT 2019–Q2 2026
Professional services leads H1 despite softer Q2 activity
Sector activity broadly mirrored the slight slowdown in overall claim volumes during Q2. Of the five busiest sectors, real estate saw the largest quarter-on-quarter decline (17%), while construction and infrastructure remained comparatively stable, down by just 2%.
Professional services recorded 290 claims, followed by banking and finance (254) and the public sector (243). Compared with the same period last year, all top sectors recorded increases in claims issued, with the professional services sector seeing the largest year-on-year increase rising from 233 to 290 claims, a 24% increase in claims filed.
More than half (56%) of professional services claims involved a professional services firm as defendant, with Manolete Partners, Slater and Gordon, EY, White & Case and Clarke Willmott all named as defendants in multiple cases.
Aviation stood out as one of the few sectors to record an increase in claims (from 17 in Q1 to 27 in Q2). The rise was in part driven by multiple claims brought by STA Travel against several of the world's largest airlines as it seeks to recover funds following the company's liquidation in 2020.
Top sectors by claim volume 2024–Q2 2026
Insolvency volumes ease slightly
New insolvency applications declined by 4% compared with Q1. Despite this modest decrease, Q2 2026 was the busiest second quarter on record, with more than 3,900 actions issued, highlighting the continued pressures facing businesses.
However, winding-up petitions reached another all-time high with the highest recorded levels with 2,214 petitions filed, accounting for 55% of all insolvency filings in Q2.
Insolvency applications issued 2020–Q2 2026
Law firm rankings H1 2026
The top 30 showcase the firms with the highest volume of claims issued during the first half of 2026.
Usual leaderboard frontrunner, Clyde & Co returned to the top position with 86 claims. Based on Q2 filings, DWF and Clyde & Co were the most active, each recording 35 claims issued, followed by Kennedys with 32. Kesar & Co retained a top five spot, albeit recording a quieter second quarter compared to the first.
Top law firms by number of claims issued in H1 2026
On the claimant side, Kesar & Co leads as a result of a particularly active first quarter. Clyde & Co are second with 47 claimant-side claims total and Rothley Law in third, with its position driven largely by multiple probate claims. Shakespeare Martineau had a busy second quarter with its involvement in several claims brought on behalf of STA Travel against multiple airlines.
Top law firms representing claimants by number of claims issued in H1 2026
On the defendant side, several notable firms feature in the rankings. DWF leads, also recording the highest volume of the second quarter with 29 claims, followed by Kennedys with 24 claims in Q2, many of which related to construction and infrastructure matters. Rounding out the top positions are RPC, DAC Beachcroft and Clyde & Co (all recording 17 claims each in Q2).
Top law firms representing defendants by number of claims issued in H1 2026
The highest value cases of H1 2026*
Collective proceedings continue to account for some of the highest value claims, with the top four cases all comprising opt-out proceedings in the Competition Appeal Tribunal. The cases have attracted significant public interest and received widespread media coverage.
A recently filed claim, HOCR Limited v (1) Barratt Redrow plc and others has become the highest value case of H1, valued at over £4.5 billion. The claim arises from alleged anti-competitive practices in the real estate sector.
The second highest value claim issued so far this year is AGC Collective Actions Limited v Alphabet Inc, a multi-billion-pound claim against Google's parent company alleging an abuse of its dominant market position.
A diverse range of factual subject matters are represented among the highest value claims including real estate, consumer products, logistics and finance. Many of the largest claims are concentrated in the technology sector and involve some of the world's largest technology companies.
| # | Claim number | Claim title | Value sought | Law firm(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1782/7/7/26 | HOCR Limited v (1) Barratt Redrow plc, (2) Redrow Limited (formerly Redrow plc), (3) Bellway plc, (4) The Berkeley Group plc, (5) Bloor Homes Limited, (6) Persimmon plc, (7) Taylor Wimpey plc, (8) Vistry Group plc, and (9) Countryside Partnerships Limited | £4.5bn |
Geradin Partners Ltd and Hausfeld & Co LLP (Claimant) |
| 2 | 1773/7/7/26 | AGC Collective Actions Limited v Alphabet Inc., Google LLC, Google Ireland Limited & Google UK Limited | Between £1.8bn and £3.1bn | KP Law Ltd (Claimant) |
| 3 | 1771/7/7/26 | Mr Jeremy Newman v (1) Rightmove PLC, (2) Rightmove Group Limited | £1.6bn | Scott+Scott LLP (Claimant) |
| 4 | 1761/7/7/26 | James Daley Class Representative LLP v Apple Inc | Between £591m and £1.5bn | Milberg London LLP (Claimant) |
| 5 | CL-2026-000104 | MARKET FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS LIMITED (in administration) v RAJA | At least £1.2bn |
Kirkland & Ellis International LLP (Claimant) Mishcon de Reya LLP (Defendant) |
| 6 | HT-2026-000006 | ABM Facility Services UK Limited v Transport for London | Up to £775m |
Brodies LLP (Claimant) Burges Salmon LLP (Defendant) |
| 7 | HT-2026-000174 | Mitie Care and Custody Limited v Secretary of State for Justice and another | £464m |
Osborne Clarke LLP (Claimant) Pinsent Masons LLP (Defendant) |
| 8 | 1763/7/7/26 | Haulage Customer Claim Limited v (1) Scania (Great Britain) Limited, (2) Scania Aktiebolag (Publ), (3) Scania CV Aktiebolag (Publ), and (4) Scania Deutschland GmbH | £436m | Edwin Coe LLP (Claimant) |
| 9 | CL-2026-000280 | Smarter Applications Limited v Aktiebolaget Electrolux | £201m |
Kingsley Napley LLP (Claimant) Shoosmiths LLP (Defendant) |
| 10 | HT-2026-000168 | TotalEnergies Charging Solutions UK Limited v Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead | Up to £100m | CMS (Claimant) |
*Claims as of 8 July 2026 and values obtained from available public documents
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