Q3 2026 litigation in numbers: record claim volumes as financial sector takes the reins
Claims are up 11% across the first nine months of 2026, with banking and finance surging in Q3 and winding-up petitions making up a record 64% of insolvency filings.
New litigation activity in England and Wales reached a new high in Q3 2026, with more than 2,300 claims issued across the High Court and Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT). The banking and finance sector took the lead, while winding-up petitions climbed to another record and Clyde & Co topped the law firm rankings for the first nine months of the year.
High Court and CAT Q3 new claim activity
Claim activity picked up again in Q3, with more than 2,300 claims issued (2,306), a 3% increase on Q2 and 8% higher than the same period last year. It is the busiest quarter in our data since before 2019, edging the previous high set earlier this year in Q1 2026 (2,283).
As suggested in our last update, the pattern has held: Q3 has outperformed Q2 in every year but one (2021) since 2019. Across the first nine months of 2026, more than 6,800 claims have been issued, 11% more than the same period in 2025. With 8,334 claims issued in 2025, which was itself a record year, 2026 needs only around 1,500 claims in Q4 to overtake it.
Claims issued in the High Court and CAT 2019–Q3 2026
Financial sector activity perks up
After three quarters in which professional services led the way, banking and finance took the top spot in Q3 with 315 claims, a 17% increase on Q2 and a 22% increase on Q3 2025. It is the sector's highest quarterly total since before 2024. There is no obvious driver with the sector appearing as claimant as often as it does defendant.
Professional services recorded 260 claims, down 10% on Q2 but still 16% higher than a year ago. Overall, the sector remains the most active over the year to date, with 864 claims across the first three quarters compared with 656 over the same period in 2025, a 32% increase. Banking and finance is very close behind with 861 claims. 60% of Q3 professional services claims involved a professional services firm as defendant.
Real estate sector disputes rose 13% quarter-on-quarter to 239 claims, whereas the public sector continued to dip, down 15% on Q2 and 17% on Q3 last year, with claims at their lowest level since Q2 2024. Construction and infrastructure also eased, falling 8% on Q2 to 213.
Consumer products quarterly volumes have stayed within a fairly narrow band since the start of 2024 and the sector is up 14% year-to-date (587 claims versus 516). TMT bounced back from an unusually quiet Q2.
Top sectors by claim volume 2024–Q3 2026
Winding-up petitions reach another record
New insolvency applications fell 13% compared with Q2, to just under 3,500 (3,494). That is the lowest quarterly total since Q2 2025.
The headline decline, however, masks a different story beneath it. Winding-up petitions edged up to over 2,230, another all-time high, and accounted for 64% of all insolvency filings, the largest share we have recorded.
Across the first nine months of 2026, 11,709 insolvency actions have been issued, 7% more than in the same period of 2025.
Insolvency applications issued 2020–Q3 2026
Law firm rankings Q1–Q3 2026
The top 30 rankings show the firms with the highest volume of claims issued over the first nine months of 2026, with Q3 highlighting who has been busiest most recently.
Clyde & Co leads the rankings with 140 claims, 20 clear of DAC Beachcroft in second (120). DAC Beachcroft overtakes DWF (115) for second place, after DWF recorded a quieter Q3 (23 claims, against 43 in Q2). Kennedys (106) and RPC (102) complete the top five.
Kennedys was the busiest firm in Q3 with 34 claims, and the most consistent of the leading firms (34, 38 and 34 across the three quarters). Clyde & Co, DAC Beachcroft and RPC followed with 33 claims each.
The standout mover is Hamlins. With 28 claims in Q3, up from 15 in Q2 and nine in Q1, it was the fifth busiest firm of the quarter and rises to joint 23rd for the year to date (52 claims). Almost all of this was claimant-side work. Seddons GSC and Keystone Law have also increased volume every quarter.
Top law firms by number of claims issued Q1–Q3 2026
Kesar & Co still leads the claimant-side rankings with 68 claims, but almost all of these (53) were issued in Q1. Rothley Law and Clyde & Co are tied for second on 62.
Hamlins was the most active claimant firm of Q3 with 27 claims, more than double its Q2 total (13), and moves up to joint fourth for the year (49) alongside Irwin Mitchell. Irwin Mitchell’s claimant-side volume has grown each quarter and was the third busiest firm for claimants in Q3. Hill Dickinson (46) and Mishcon de Reya (44) remain sixth and seventh. HCR Law and Fieldfisher, both on 15 claims in Q3, have also increased their claimant-side numbers each quarter.
Top law firms representing claimants by number of claims issued Q1–Q3 2026
DWF leads defendant-side rankings with 92 claims, three ahead of DAC Beachcroft (89). The gap could close quickly: DAC Beachcroft was the busiest defendant firm in Q3 with 27 claims. Clyde & Co (80), Kennedys (78) and RPC (71) complete the top five.
Weightmans (58) and Keoghs (55) hold sixth and seventh. TLT ties with Mills & Reeve in eighth (48 claims each).
Browne Jacobson, Eversheds Sutherland and Hill Dickinson also feature. Burges Salmon completes the top 15 with 26 defendant claims.
Top law firms representing defendants by number of claims issued Q1–Q3 2026
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