The launch of the 2025 Chambers Europe Guide has provided crucial insights into the evolving legal landscape across multiple European jurisdictions, including Spain, Romania, the Benelux region, Austria, and Switzerland, as well as highlighting significant trends in competition law.
Ranking Statistics: Key Figures Across Jurisdictions
Spain demonstrated an 8% increase in ranked departments, bringing the total to 684. The rankings expanded to include 11 new firms, with 1,539 individual lawyer rankings, including 63 star associates. Additionally, there was a notable 9% rise in junior partners ranked, bringing the count of up-and-comers to 85.
Romania increased to 134 department rankings and 246 lawyer rankings. The country now leads Europe in female lawyer representation, with 53% of its ranked lawyers being women.
The Benelux region saw department rankings rise from 720 to 778, and the number of ranked firms grew from 188 to 200. Austria’s department rankings expanded from 228 to 253, while Switzerland’s rankings increased from 209 to 223.
Competition law rankings saw slight growth, with 649 submissions, 445 departments across 298 firms, and 877 ranked lawyers, including 83 new individuals entering the rankings.
Spain and Romania: Market Growth and Notable Developments
Key market trends in Spain include growing interest from Latin American investors, evolving regulatory developments, and Barcelona’s rise as a technology hub, although Madrid remains the country’s dominant legal market. Significant structural updates to the rankings were also introduced, including the separation of arbitration and litigation tables in dispute resolution, the launch of the first-ever ESG rankings table, and the opening of submissions for a new transportation table.
Romania’s legal market has seen notable expansion in corporate M&A, competition law, and dispute resolution, reinforcing its growing regional influence.
Benelux, Austria, and Switzerland: Regional Market Shifts
In the Netherlands, standalone tables for arbitration and litigation were introduced, while mass torts emerged as a significant trend, highlighting the increasing prominence of collective actions. ESG litigation, particularly greenwashing claims, is gaining traction in the Dutch market.
Belgium, despite some uncertainty linked to political changes, remains relatively stable. In Austria, the introduction of a new TMT Data Protection section reflects a growing area of legal focus. However, Austria’s market has been affected by the insolvency of Signa, signaling deeper economic concerns. Luxembourg’s real estate sector faced challenges, although fund financing and fund litigation experienced growth.
Switzerland reflects cautious optimism in its transactional market despite underlying concerns. The country also saw the introduction of a dedicated Sports table.
Competition Law Trends: Evolving Legal Challenges
Competition law remains a dynamic area, with significant growth in contentious competition-related work, particularly follow-on damages claims. The enforcement of the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) regime and foreign subsidies regulation is gaining prominence, with potential shifts expected depending on the outcome of the U.S. presidential election.
The EU’s Digital Markets Act enforcement is a key area to monitor, while ESG-related competition work remains limited, except for cases linked to greenwashing. The food and retail sectors are seeing an increase in competition investigations due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. Additionally, ‘no-poach’ agreements are becoming an increasingly relevant topic for competition law specialists.
Upcoming Webinars and Further Engagement
To assist firms in navigating the evolving research landscape, Chambers will host the following upcoming webinars:
- Europe Research Webinar – Hosted by Thomas Morton Green on April 8, 2025.
- Spain Research Webinar – Hosted by Camilla Russo on April 10, 2025.
