| Up to date:
The Metropolis AM Awards are again and this yr our finalists are stronger than ever. Our judges now have the duty of voting for an total winner in every class, to be introduced on the Guildhall on Might 6. And the nominees are….
Persona of the 12 months
Greg Jackson CBE
The entrepreneur and CEO of Octopus Vitality has grow to be one of many UK’s most distinguished enterprise leaders, recognized for his straight speaking and punchy views throughout a spread of matters together with UK entrepreneurship, the enterprise setting, capital markets and, after all, power. In August 2025 he was appointed as a non-executive member on the board of the Cupboard Workplace, and his views on power safety and coverage achieved vital cut-through through the Iran oil disaster.
Daniel Priestley
The entrepreneur, bestselling writer and sought-after speaker has amassed a legion of followers for his no-nonsense recommendation and steering on constructing and rising profitable companies. He’s a passionate advocate of enterprise, wealth creation and progress, and his head-to-head debate in defence of those rules on the Diary of a CEO podcast has been considered effectively over 5 million instances. He’s earned an viewers, notably amongst youthful would-be entrepreneurs, whereas reaching business success world wide.
Rupert Soames OBE
The previous chairman of the Confederation of British Trade and former chief govt of Serco has been a robust advocate for enterprise, competitiveness and accountable capitalism. A bigger than life character, he helped to outline the enterprise neighborhood’s relationship with the Labour authorities, navigating uneven political waters throughout intense debate on key coverage areas. Soames is a real Metropolis grandee recognized for his candour, good humour and perception.
Shevaun Haviland
Shevaun Haviland has emerged as probably the most influential voices for British enterprise as Director Common of the British Chambers of Commerce. Representing tens of hundreds of corporations throughout the UK and internationally, she has grow to be a number one advocate for the sensible considerations of companies navigating inflation, labour shortages and contentious authorities insurance policies. With a background spanning authorities, trade and worldwide commerce, Haviland has helped place the BCC on the centre of the nationwide dialog on progress.
Kemi Badenoch
With British politics fracturing on the left and the proper, it’s not a simple time to be Chief of the Opposition, a job made tougher following a disastrous 2024 basic election end result. After a bumpy begin, Badenoch has discovered herself on firmer footing holding the federal government to account on financial coverage whereas making an attempt to rebuild the Conservative Social gathering’s relationship with enterprise. Armed with a string of pro-growth insurance policies she nonetheless faces an uphill battle to revive her social gathering’s fortunes, however alongside the way in which she has grow to be a robust voice in help of financial progress.
Enterprise of the 12 months
Tesco
Underneath CEO Ken Murphy Tesco has cemented itself as a powerhouse within the retail panorama and a favorite within the Metropolis, with spectacular share value progress underlining the company success story. In an intensely aggressive area the enterprise has maintained spectacular market share whereas pursuing portfolio enlargement. The UK’s largest non-public sector employer can be sharing the spoils, with greater than £130m being distributed to 22,000 staff by its investor scheme.
Babcock
David Lockwood, CEO of defence and engineering large Babcock, will retire by the top of this yr and he’ll accomplish that on a excessive, having pulled off a powerful multi-year turnaround. Whereas geopolitical realities and coverage selections have lifted the defence sector as a complete, Babcock’s relentless deal with operational effectivity, profitability and progress has paid off, with the corporate roaring again into the FTSE100 final yr since when it’s seen spectacular share value progress.
Subsequent
Retail large Subsequent started the yr by elevating its revenue forecast to north of £1bn following a very good Christmas, however years of exhausting graft have gone into one of many biggest transformation tales in British enterprise historical past. CEO Simon Wolfson has taken the share value from round £8 to effectively over £100 and overseen a powerful dividend report. By way of relentless headwinds Subsequent has emerged as a jewel within the crown of British retail by canny funding, persistence, self-discipline and foresight.
NatWest
Excessive road lenders have loved a very good yr however NatWest had an additional cause to rejoice because it lastly returned to full non-public possession in 2025, marking an finish to 17 years of state involvement following the monetary disaster. It marked the event by delivering report earnings, spectacular share value progress and bumper returns. It additionally snapped up wealth supervisor Evelyn Companions at the beginning of this yr for a cool £2.7bn. Whereas analysts will debate the deserves of the deal, it was taken as an indication that the group has obtained its mojo again.
Revolut
The fintech juggernaut continues to impress, touchdown a $75bn valuation on the finish of final yr, up practically 70 per cent on its 2024 price ticket. From a shiny new London HQ Revolut high brass are celebrating the arrival – eventually – of a full-fat British banking license as clients surge north of 65m and worldwide enlargement continues. Whereas the Metropolis holds out hope for a UK itemizing, founder Nik Storonsky has been a robust voice in debates concerning the UK tech scene and capital markets.
Financial institution of the 12 months
OakNorth
A decade on from its launch, OakNorth has grow to be one of many UK’s most profitable digital banks. Since 2015, it has offered $21bn of lending to entrepreneur-led companies throughout a broad vary of sectors, supporting progress, innovation and job creation. The financial institution boasts of supporting the creation of greater than 61,000 jobs and the event of over 38,000 new properties throughout the UK and US – nearly all of that are reasonably priced and social housing. OakNorth credit its success to combining expertise with skilled human judgment and it stays targeted on a progress trajectory, luring Virgin Cash’s CFO and making strategic acquisitions.
Commonplace Chartered
Whereas traders await a technique replace from long-running CEO Invoice Winters this summer season, analysts acknowledge his spectacular decade-long turnaround of one of many world’s largest banking giants. Shares have climbed north of 150 per cent for the reason that begin of 2024 thanks partly to disciplined costcutting and progress in wealth administration. Whereas final yr’s This fall outcomes undershot expectations underlying revenue earlier than tax was nonetheless up 19 per cent to $1.2bn, and shareholders welcomed a wholesome dividend whereas steering implies an improve on the horizon.
ClearBank
ClearBank claims to have redefined what a contemporary British financial institution may be, boasting sturdy monetary infrastructure with a transparent mission to allow competitors, innovation and progress throughout the UK monetary ecosystem. Because the UK’s first new clearing financial institution in over 250 years, ClearBank has delivered constant progress specializing in safe, scalable, and clear clearing and cost companies to fintechs and banks, in addition to to digital asset platforms and large-scale corporates. With deposits hitting £18bn at the beginning of this yr and a brand new London-based headquarters – hailed as a “vote of confidence” by the Metropolis minister – progress and enlargement plans present there’s no scarcity of ambition.
Zopa
The neobank has parked its tanks on the lawns of the UK’s high lenders with a brand new excessive curiosity present account dubbed Biscuit. The agency’s chief technique officer beforehand informed Metropolis AM they had been attempting to construct a financial institution that “offers the worth nobody else does”. And certainly they’re rivalling their friends on that entrance, launching Biscuit with a 7.10 per cent AER on financial savings through its common financial savings pot. But it surely’s not simply on the present account entrance, the agency has diversified its portfolio with the acquisition of Rvvup to make a crack of the retail finance market house. In Might final yr the fintech sealed a milestone elevating £80m in its first-ever London Inventory Alternate bond itemizing, which put the agency on observe for its checking account launch. And if all that wasn’t sufficient, Zopa did it whereas doubling its workplace footprint to a swanky new Canary Wharf headquarters the place it will likely be rubbing shoulders with the trade’s bigwigs. A brand new Manchester workplace can even grow to be residence to round 500 engineers throughout the subsequent couple of years.
Shawbrook
Shawbrook’s inventory alternate itemizing in October final yr was the largest IPO in two years and was seized upon as proof that there’s nonetheless life in our capital markets. Six months on and the share value has been on fairly a journey however stays above the 370p preliminary pricing. Mortgage e book and deposits have each grown over the course of the yr, and so have pre-tax earnings. The specialist SME lender continues to develop by strategic partnerships and acquisitions, and stands out as a profitable challenger that wasn’t afraid to embrace the general public markets.
Investor of the 12 months
Daybreak Capital
London-based Daybreak Capital – “a household of traders, entrepreneurs, strategists and operational specialists” – is Europe’s main specialist B2B software program investor. Final yr was one in all sturdy portfolio exits: Onum acquired by CrowdStrike for $290m, Vulcan Cyber acquired by Tenable for $150m, and OpenGamma acquired by Buying and selling Applied sciences. Daybreak additionally backed UK ambition at tempo, main three standout rounds: Runware’s $50m Collection A, inforcer’s $35m Collection B, and Doubleword’s $12m Collection A. They supported Flatpay, Denmark’s fastest-ever unicorn, because it expanded into the UK market and raised €145m at a €1.5b valuation. Daybreak additionally actively helps the broader UK ecosystem, establishing and funding ‘AI Engine’, which over the past yr introduced collectively tons of of hackers at a variety of occasions, together with at UCL and the Home of Lords. Daybreak’s present flagship fund, Daybreak V, sits within the high 10 per cent of funds globally.
Balderton Capital
This flagship European enterprise capital agency, headquartered in London, has a powerful observe report in figuring out and backing probably the most promising tech startups and progress companies together with Darktrace, Wayve and Revolut the place an preliminary seed of £1m in 2015 translated to a take-home revenue of round $2bn in latest months. Almost $6bn have been raised to take a position from seed to IPO with greater than 250 corporations backed. With a deal with supporting expertise and constructing long-term worth, Balderton continues to offer the gas for Europe and the UK’s tech revolution.
Artemis
Artemis – ‘the revenue hunter’ – has ramped as much as greater than £40 billion in belongings, up over £13 billion through the course of the final 12 months and is recognised as one of many high promoting energetic asset managers. In latest months the agency landed two funding trusts, together with the £940m Murray Revenue Belief. Their Artemis International Revenue energetic fairness fund is proving vastly fashionable, now standing at over £5.5bn having attracted practically £2.5 billion over the past 12 months. Metropolis watchers singled out fund supervisor Philip Wolstencroft as a very protected pair of palms; he created Artemis’ SmartGARP funding system working throughout a spread of areas and now accounting for £8.5bn.
W1M
A couple of of the Metropolis’s greyer and bushier eyebrows had been raised when Waverton Asset Administration – a darling of the West Finish funding scene – rebranded to the intimidatingly modern-sounding W1M, to mirror a recent identification after merging with London & Capital. It has overseen a profitable integration, and is in course to hit £25bn belongings beneath administration earlier than the top of the yr. A specific pocket of success has been its once-sleepy mounted earnings fund, which was early to take out a considerable lengthy place in gilts at a time when others had been shedding their heads, and shorting Japanese bonds when the extent of Takaichi’s stimulus bundle – and her subsequent election victory – had been removed from a foregone conclusion.
Janus Henderson’s Metropolis of London Funding Belief
At a time when debate continues to rage across the well being and way forward for UK equities, Janus Henderson’s Job Curtis has been probably the most credible and constant champions of the UK public markets. As supervisor of the £2.8bn Metropolis of London Funding Belief, he has spent a long time demonstrating and capitalising on the enduring energy of British corporations and the function of fairness markets on the coronary heart of the UK financial system. In 2026 the belief is on observe to ship 60 consecutive years of dividend will increase, one of many longest information anyplace in world fairness markets, reflecting a disciplined, long-term funding method targeted on resilient UK companies able to producing sustainable and rising earnings for shareholders throughout financial cycles. Underneath Curtis’ stewardship, the belief has grow to be a cornerstone holding for generations of savers and pensioners, displaying how public markets can reliably convert the success of UK corporations into reliable returns for traders.
Wealth Administration Firm of the 12 months
Rathbones
Boasting practically three centuries of heritage with a up to date, client-centric method, Rathbones is without doubt one of the UK’s oldest and largest wealth managers, with £115.6bn AUM (as at 31.12.25). Welcoming a brand new Group CEO, Jonathan Sorrell and a brand new Wealth CEO, Camilla Stowell, Rathbones has undergone vital inside repositioning while delivering spectacular efficiency – together with a 53.5% enhance in revenue earlier than tax. Rathbones says it prides itself on an funding functionality underpinned by a deep dedication to accountable investing – supported by lengthy‑standing stewardship and engagement. Its Votes Towards Slavery initiative – coming as much as its seventh yr – drives significant change by partaking UK‑listed corporations to enhance compliance with the Fashionable Slavery Act, utilizing investor affect to advertise transparency and accountability.
Quilter
Having bagged a dozen trade gongs in 2025, may they land a Metropolis AM trophy? Alongside final yr’s cupboard of awards, Quilter noticed core internet inflows of roughly £9bn in 2025, a considerable enhance on the earlier yr. The corporate’s complete belongings beneath administration and administration hit £141.2 billion on the flip of the brand new yr, a 5 per cent enhance from the earlier quarter and a close to 20 per cent soar year-on-year. In an extremely aggressive area Quilter’s share value progress has been strong over the previous 12 months. Alongside the day job, their Quilter Basis companions with charities tackling monetary schooling, social mobility and meals insecurity, with greater than £4m distributed in grants and over 100,000 younger individuals supported.
JM Finn
Representing the boutique finish of the wealth administration spectrum, JM Finn has a deal with non-public purchasers, charities and trusts. In their very own phrases, “our success is constructed upon relationships, belief and phrase of mouth. Lots of our purchasers have launched us to members of their household to the extent that we regularly handle funding portfolios throughout a number of generations.” In 2025 they reported full yr earnings up 17 per cent whereas complete belongings beneath administration and administration nudged up once more to simply beneath £12bn. With round 100 funding professionals taking care of round 18,500 purchasers throughout their London and regional workplaces, the agency prides itself on the energy of its consumer relationships. Their Web Promoter Rating – based mostly on asking purchasers how prepared they’re to suggest the agency – is 67, towards a UK wealth administration trade common of 39.
Hargreaves Lansdown
A sector heavyweight that’s seen a change of possession, Hargreaves Lansdown ended its long term as a London-listed agency following the £5.4bn acquisition by a consortium led by CVC. The change in standing hasn’t been with out a few bumps however new administration are eager to stress funding in new expertise and push for larger profitability. With greater than £172bn of belongings beneath administration – up by greater than 10 per cent on final yr – new enterprise has elevated together with underlying pre-tax earnings which surged north of half a billion by the top of final yr. A bump in consumer charges has precipitated some grumbling however for ambition and momentum – the platform handed the two million energetic consumer milestone – the enterprise will take some beating.
St James’s Place
St James’s Place kicked off the yr with funds beneath administration hitting a report excessive of £220bn, up 16 per cent on the yr. Gross inflows had been additionally up practically 20 per cent to £21bn and – impressively, for an organization whose charge preparations courted controversy just some years in the past – consumer retention remained excessive at practically 95 per cent. With a share value efficiency reflecting a profitable turnaround technique, the agency undertook a £123m share buyback at the beginning of the yr. CEO Mark FitzPatrick confirmed in February that the corporate had “efficiently” applied its new “easy, comparable charging construction”. Analysts famous after the newest outcomes that this wealth supervisor is firmly “on the highway to restoration” and that market insurgents have been unable to knock St James’s Place from its “main place in advice-led wealth administration”.
Analyst of the 12 months
Kallum Pickering
The Peel Hunt economist’s notes are a must-read for anybody curious about macroeconomics throughout the Metropolis, particularly after he revealed influential analysis in March final yr displaying how sky-high power costs had been the principle downside within the UK’s “productiveness puzzle”. Pickering affords evaluation with conviction, giving agency views on the trail rates of interest ought to take for Metropolis AM’s Shadow Financial Coverage Committee and offering contextualised opinions on the UK financial system in gentle of political developments at residence and overseas.
Ruth Gregory
Capital Economics’ deputy chief UK economist is named one of many nation’s most dependable and insightful analysts. Her earlier roles on the Treasury and OBR make her an authority on UK authorities coverage and the state of public funds. Her crew’s reviews on the dimensions of the Chancellor’s headroom and potential tax choices had been notably helpful forward of final yr’s Price range whereas her views and forecasts on rates of interest, as famous in Metropolis AM’s Shadow Financial Coverage Committee, have typically aligned with the Financial institution of England’s selections. Deep analysis mixed with expertise, perception and readability make Gregory a high Metropolis voice.
Kathleen Brooks
Few analysts have their finger on the heart beat in addition to Kathleen Brooks. When her prolonged emails drop, with neat sub-sections in tow and often accompanied with a compelling chart, journalists can breathe a sigh of aid for some sharp evaluation. Brooks will take you thru the total unfolding drama of market turmoil, while offering sturdy perception with each accompanying line. This notably shone by within the top of the battle within the Center East the place Brooks would offer a direct and clear breakdown of all the pieces from oil and equities to the Financial institution of England and macro penalties all in a neat bundle while maintaining political dramas in context.
Chris Beauchamp
Chris Beauchamp is a standout for sturdy firm evaluation throughout a mammoth portfolio of sectors. As chief market analyst at IG, Beauchamp has grow to be probably the most trusted voices in world finance. With a honed wit coupled with sturdy analytical instincts, Beauchamp will present the breakdown of an organization’s backside line or a macro pattern in modern time. On matters that may usually be dry to the typical reader, Beauchamp manages to offer a depth of perception with a punch that leaves you spoilt for alternative to select a favorite line.
Martin Beck
Whether or not he’s offering quick commentary on a 7am knowledge launch or essential chewing over thorny coverage points, WPI Technique’s in-house financial mega-brain is definite to offer deep, informative evaluation that clearly explains the issues going through the UK financial system. Beck, previously an economist at a number of consultancies and state establishments, has persistently offered distinctive evaluation on among the often-missed points of public affairs, together with amendments in parliament and ministerial speeches. His slight optimism bias can be a useful corrective to the doom and gloom.
Consultancy Firm of the 12 months
Kroll
Kroll, the worldwide monetary and threat advisory agency, operates its largest workplace with greater than 1,000 staff in Southwark, London. There have been round 200 new joiners in 2025. Notable, publicly disclosed Kroll assignments embody The Publish Workplace, Thames Water, Claire’s and legendary Simmons Bars within the Sq. Mile, along with the sale of a number of corporations on behalf of the British Progress Fund. Kroll is at the moment busy aiding companies as they navigate the Iran struggle with situational assessments and threat set off frameworks, as effectively state of affairs planning, enterprise continuity and disaster administration. Most lately, Kroll introduced innovation, transparency and precision to the non-public credit score market by the introduction of its ‘benchmarks’ platform, and London was the launch vacation spot for brand spanking new service strains Kroll Economics and Choice Intelligence. Kroll is the world’s main unbiased valuer of illiquid belongings however the outfit can be armed with a robust cadre of consultants in fraud, cyber, AI, investigations, digital belongings, gray zone warfare, status, fund options, restructuring, compliance and regulation, who function out of London. This can be a huge beast that finds itself on the coronary heart of many modern points.
Grant Thornton
Breaking away from the pattern of layoffs and consolidation within the skilled companies sector, Grant Thornton UK took a unique path following its landmark £1.5bn cope with non-public fairness agency Cinven in 2024. Flush with money, CEO Malcolm Gomersall launched a daring drive to carry on 160 new companions over the following two years. The advisory large additionally dedicated in January to a £500m funding programme to modernise its working mannequin, aiming to grow to be the fastest-moving participant within the mid-market.
Flint International
Flint International has cemented itself as one of many UK’s most revered and profitable advisory corporations, reaching a £190m valuation following its sale to buyout agency Cinven in 2025. Its nuanced and diverse providing – spanning advanced political, coverage and funding evaluation – has confirmed particularly enticing to corporates and traders navigating the macroeconomic and geopolitical “perma-crisis” of latest years. With its increasing world footprint and the backing of Cinven, Flint is effectively positioned to construct on this momentum within the years forward.
Sodali & Co
Fashioned following the mix of Powerscourt and Morrow Sodali the company has undergone transformation whereas rising its affect throughout the Metropolis’s company advisory panorama. The agency has advanced from a boutique London communications adviser into a world advisory platform of 400 colleagues serving greater than 2,000 purchasers in 70 international locations. Within the UK, the strategic communications crew now advises greater than 120 organisations throughout the FTSE 100, 250 and wider public markets. Within the newest Company Advisers Rankings Information (February), S&C strengthened its standing within the Monetary PR rankings, growing its consumer base and rising to sixth by complete consumer market capitalisation, up from tenth in 2025. S&C’s built-in mannequin combines strategic communications, proxy advisory and capital markets intelligence to ship outcomes that stretch past media protection. This method was demonstrated in Major Well being Properties’ contested takeover of Assura plc, the place S&C helped safe sturdy institutional and retail investor help. They cite disciplined technique, candid recommendation and measurable outcomes as the explanation why Sodali & Co has grow to be one of many Metropolis’s best company advisers.
Henham Technique
A start-up advisory to compete with larger gamers on this class, since finishing the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Enterprise programme in 2025 Henham Technique has gone from energy to energy. A public affairs and coverage consultancy specialising in place, funding and progress, Henham has focused progress markets, constructing its experience and client-base in matters together with financial improvement, knowledge centres, sports activities funding, fintech and the innovation financial system. Alongside near-100% consumer retention, Henham has grown its consumer base by 30% and seen earnings develop by greater than 50%. Notable consumer wins embody numerous Mixed Authorities, Commonplace Life, UK Non-public Capital, The Crown Property, Leeds United’s house owners, London Stansted Airport, and quite a few fintech corporations — the latter partly by Henham’s function working Fintech Founders, a free sector-wide membership organisation.
Metropolis Champion of the 12 months
Andy Briggs MBE
The affable and down-to-earth CEO of Phoenix Group has grow to be a number one voice in trade debates on pensions reform, funding and capital markets. Briggs has persistently argued for insurance policies that he believes will strengthen the UK as a world monetary centre and thru his advocacy for unlocking pension capital to help progress and infrastructure, Briggs has performed an essential function in selling the long-term competitiveness of the Metropolis of London.
Dame Amanda Blanc
An undisputed Metropolis grandee, Dame Amanda has had a stellar enterprise profession that’s taken her to the highest of the highest of her trade. As chief govt of Aviva she has led a decisive turnaround, restoring profitability and shareholder confidence. A former chair of the Affiliation of British Insurers and a broadly revered voice in monetary companies, she has performed a distinguished function in championing the UK insurance coverage sector and the Metropolis of London extra broadly. She stood down because the Treasury’s Ladies in Finance Champion on the finish of final yr.
Simon French
Few perceive the Metropolis and its wants and considerations higher than Simon French. The previous civil servant turned economist and columnist affords among the sharpest evaluation within the Sq. Mile, week after week. He’s all the time able to trumpet the success of the Metropolis, and maintain politicians to account once they threaten that success. In case you want somebody to transcend the headlines and clarify the true financial affect of occasions and traits within the UK and past, Mr French is your man. He brings nice perception, readability and originality to debates concerning the financial system and the Metropolis’s place in it.
Dame Susan Langley
Dame Susan is the 697th Lord Mayor of the Metropolis of London, the third lady to carry the workplace, and the primary to be styled “Woman Mayor”. A founding member of the Authorities’s Ladies’s Enterprise Council, she is a previous recipient of the Insurance coverage Institute of London President’s Award, the FS Ladies within the Metropolis Achievement Award. Born within the East Finish (the Pearly Kings and Queens Affiliation honoured her as the primary ever Woman Pearly Mayor of the Metropolis of London) she is captivated with social mobility and concerned in a variety of charitable and mentoring roles. Because the Metropolis of London’s Woman Mayor she is a world ambassador for the Sq. Mile and the main target of her time period is on guaranteeing the Metropolis makes a optimistic contribution to wider society whereas solidifying London’s place because the world’s premier monetary {and professional} companies hub.
Omar Ali CBE
EY’S International Monetary Companies Chief Omar Ali CBE has introduced power and verve to TheCityUK, the monetary {and professional} companies trade group that he’s chaired since July 2025. On this function he’s grow to be recognized throughout the Metropolis for his heat, perception and fervour for London’s function as a number one monetary establishment. In his day job he’s chargeable for over 60,000 individuals devoted to serving the monetary companies sector globally − an trade that makes up practically a 3rd of EY’s enterprise and which serves because the beating coronary heart of the Metropolis of London. Exterior of EY, Omar is Board Chair of TheCityUK, an advisor to the UK Authorities’s Division for Enterprise and Commerce, a member of the Metropolis of London Company’s Workplace for Funding: Monetary Companies, and a Board Non-Govt Director of The England and Wales Cricket Finance, Audit & Threat Committee.
Legislation Agency of the 12 months
Stewarts Legislation
Stewarts reported probably the most profitable monetary interval in its historical past, with income of £111.6m, a 22 per cent enhance on the earlier yr. The best-paid accomplice on the agency took residence £2.6m, placing Stewarts’ top-tier compensation on par with many “Magic Circle” and US-based corporations in London. Stewarts has maintained its place as probably the most energetic corporations within the London Excessive Court docket. The agency was concerned in a landmark divorce ruling final yr, after the Supreme Court docket upheld a Court docket of Attraction determination in Standish v Standish, ensuing within the largest-ever discount of a divorce award, from £45m to £25m. The agency represented the previous CFO of UBS, Clive Standish, towards his former spouse, Anna Standish.
Ashurst
British-Australian agency Ashurst grew to become the most recent to announce an enormous Atlantic merger, because the agency agreed to a cope with US agency Perkins Coie in November, marking the top of Ashurst’s decades-long seek for a high-calibre US accomplice. This merger creates a top-20 world legislation agency with mixed annual revenues of round $2.7bn to $3.4bn. This comes as Ashurst formally surpassed £1bn in income for the primary time in its most up-to-date monetary outcomes, marking the agency’s ninth consecutive yr of progress.
Hogan Lovells
Hogan Lovells additionally adopted the pattern of “mega-mergers” in 2026, saying its personal transformative tie-up that rivals these of Ashurst and A&O. Hogan struck a cope with Wall Road’s oldest legislation agency, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, in a merger that’s anticipated to create one of many largest legislation corporations on the planet by income. This comes as Hogan crossed the $3bn mark in its 2025 monetary outcomes, formally surpassing $3.28bn (£2.49bn). This marked the third consecutive yr of report progress, with revenue per fairness accomplice (PEP) growing by over 15 per cent to $3.52m.
Addleshaw Goddard
Addleshaw Goddard has undertaken a significant strategic transformation that noticed it break by the £500m income mark final yr, an eighth consecutive yr of progress bringing revenue per fairness accomplice as much as £1m. The agency has repositioned itself as a formidable power throughout the aggressive panorama of Metropolis legislation corporations with a renewed deal with monetary companies and worldwide enlargement. The agency moved into swanky new Metropolis workplaces from the place it boasts eye-catching consumer hospitality and occasions.
Gibson Dunn
Celebrating 135 years in 2025, Gibson Dunn has continued to see vital progress and improvement in an ever-changing world and authorized market. Over the course of the yr, the agency promoted 42 colleagues to accomplice, while additionally welcoming 31 lateral companions, together with over 350 associates and of counsel, globally. This progress can be mirrored within the work that the agency has finished, with greater than 1,150 introduced or closed transactional offers with an mixture worth exceeding $890 billion together with having a hand in Axel Springer’s acquisition of the Telegraph. Its restructuring crew led $80bn of legal responsibility administration workouts, incomes high rankings from Octus and Debtwire. The IP apply was named The American Lawyer’s 2025 IP Litigation Division of the 12 months, securing main wins for world tech and pharmaceutical leaders whereas its employment apply additionally stands out.
Insurance coverage Firm of the 12 months
Zurich
Zurich had a headline-dominating begin to 2026, pushed by a landmark acquisition of main UK-based speciality insurer Beazley, which positions the corporate as a “world speciality powerhouse.” Regardless of being turned down twice, Zurich’s board didn’t cease attempting to get its palms on this Lloyd’s syndicate jewel, paying out a whopping £8.1bn ($10.8bn) for the deal. And it wasn’t simply getting its toes into the cyber market; Zurich – which employs 5,000 individuals within the UK – additionally agreed to accumulate Generali’s property and casualty (P&C) operations in Eire, thereby increasing the Swiss large’s presence within the Irish market.
McGill and Companions
Based in 2019, the agency has grow to be the fastest-growing world specialty (re)insurance coverage dealer, scaling solely by natural progress and a novel expertise technique, quite than acquisitions. Now in its seventh yr, MGP employs over 580 colleagues throughout 10 worldwide workplaces and helps over 950 purchasers, with a big emphasis in London. In 2025 the agency materially outperformed wider market progress charges, delivering 23 per cent natural income progress to $266m whereas sustaining sturdy profitability and distinctive consumer retention. MGP has led digital transformation within the London market by proprietary platforms and AI-enabled instruments developed with companions together with Google and Salesforce, enhancing broking perception, velocity and productiveness. By way of sustained progress, market-leading innovation and differentiated options for advanced dangers, MGP continues to set a brand new benchmark for the way forward for specialty insurance coverage broking.
Aviva
Aviva steered one of many Metropolis’s true megadeals final yr, bagging Direct Line for a cool £3.7bn, strengthening its place in UK basic insurance coverage. Working revenue was up round 25 per cent in 2025, heading north of £2bn and marking the fifth yr of worthwhile progress. CEO Amanda Blanc has definitely made her mark as a multi-year turnaround pays off. Commenting on 2025’s outcomes she mentioned “We’ve achieved our 2026 monetary targets one yr early, highlighting the speedy and sustained progress we’re making.” Shareholders have been rewarded with an elevated dividend alongside a punchy share buyback programme.
Inigo
Nominated on this class in 2023 – simply three years after being based – Inigo kicked off 2026 by turning into a part of Radian after the US outfit acquired the specialist underwriter for $167bn. As a part of Radian, Inigo will function as a standalone enterprise unit in London, sustaining its construction and model identification. Its progress has been dramatic and spectacular with strong premium progress and an growing scale at Lloyd’s. The blockbuster acquisition of a enterprise that didn’t exist six years in the past proves they’ve been doing one thing proper.
Markel Worldwide
Markel Worldwide is powering its market progress by combining London-led efficiency with disciplined, worthwhile enlargement throughout its world footprint. In 2025 and 2026, London served because the launchpad for strategic strikes together with the restructure into 5 enterprise items and enlargement into Japan, Korea and Italy, strengthening Markel’s place as a world specialty insurer. Markel made 419 new worldwide hires in 2025 now standing at round 1,800 staff, and is rising its early careers cohort by 52 per cent for 2026 to proceed serving as a expertise engine for the Metropolis, together with a 60 per cent rise in graduate roles and a 233 per cent enhance in apprenticeships, with 100 per cent retention of apprentices and graduates since 2024. Not dangerous for a sector the place the typical age is getting older annually. In high-growth areas similar to Cyber and Fintech, Markel has expanded its worth add companies, together with pre-loss help and enhanced struggle cowl. Along with the acquisition of MECO and robust divisional efficiency, Markel’s disciplined technique and London-centred management place it as an actual class contender.
Entrepreneur of the 12 months
David Silver
David Silver has been on the forefront of AI improvement, having been concerned within the improvement of Google Deepmind because it was began in 2013. Now, the pc scientist has left Britain’s largest AI enterprise to start out his personal – Ineffable Intelligence. Silver is already searching for $1bn in funding for the agency’s inaugural spherical which, if full, would worth Ineffable at round $4bn. He stays a professor at UCL, an inspiration to teachers who need to attempt their hand at turning into an entrepreneur.
Barney Hussey-Yeo
Barney Hussey-Yeo secured unicorn standing for his AI monetary assistant Cleo within the final yr after a path of accelerated progress. An entrepreneur to his core, Hussey-Yeo additionally serves as an angel investor, which he describes as “writing $10k to $100k cheques to distinctive founders”. In September, he informed Metropolis AM he was impressed to launch Cleo by entrepreneur Matt Clifford, who instilled the mantra “the largest threat will not be taking the danger” into him. The straight-talking fintech chief has grow to be one of many Metropolis’s most vocal champions and sometimes critic – after he picked up his enterprise and moved it stateside following frustrations with regulation. However final yr noticed the massive return of Cleo to the UK and Hussey-Yeo pulled no punches along with his name to motion for the UK. Famed for his LinkedIn assume items the fintech maverick has had no hesitation in handing out lashings on the dearth of enthusiasm for a London itemizing or regulatory complications. Certainly, the Prime Minister discovered himself caught on this after Hussey-Yeo met Sir Keir Starmer at a Downing Road mixer. “Seemingly not getting invited again,” Hussey-Yeo wrote on LinkedIn after writing about his grilling on the PM.
Co-Founders, College AI
Dr Marc Warner, Dr Angie Ma and Andrew Brooks based one of many UK’s first AI startups, effectively earlier than the expertise grew to become mainstream, in 2014 “as a result of we thought that AI can be a very powerful expertise of our time.” Advance Abilities Initiative, or College as it might later grow to be, has discovered a candy spot out there – in a position to mix its superior software program with consultancy work for companies and authorities, each within the UK and past. In January, the corporate was purchased by consultancy large Accenture in a deal that resulted in a valuation of round $1bn. They outline their sole function as making AI “helpful to the world.”
Mia Drennan
From Metropolis temp to fintech famous person, Mia’s entrepreneurial story is as inspiring as it’s triumphant. She based GLAS in 2011 on a mission to remodel debt administration companies, an space historically the area of huge banks. With simply £6,000 she launched the enterprise and says she landed her first consumer after 400 conferences. The agency now administers greater than £550bn in belongings, producing income north of £100m. Earlier this yr Oakley Capital took a majority stake, valuing the enterprise at a minimal of £1bn. Her ambition nonetheless drives her; she mentioned earlier this yr that “our purpose is to be a £5 billion firm on the following exit.”
Alice Bentinck
Alice Bentinck has helped redefine how startups are created. As cofounder and CEO of Entrepreneurs First, she pioneered “expertise investing”, backing founders earlier than they also have a enterprise concept. In 2026 the corporate raised $200m at a $1.3bn valuation, reaching unicorn standing. Buyers embody LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, Stripe founders John and Patrick Collison, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Stripe company officer Claire Hughes Johnson, British angel investor Charlie Songhurst and Index Ventures accomplice Danny Rimer. Its portfolio corporations surpassed $16bn in mixed worth. By way of her imaginative and prescient, Bentinck has helped launch tons of of expertise startups and positioned Britain on the forefront of the worldwide startup ecosystem.
Progressive Firm of the 12 months
XTX
Whereas the corporate doesn’t shout it from the rooftops, XTX is without doubt one of the most superior expertise companies within the UK, if not the world. The Kings Cross-based enterprise turns an even bigger revenue, per head, than some other British agency, making £1.3bn revenue in 2024 regardless of having solely a pair hundred workers. Fiendishly intelligent algorithms and immense computing energy are key to XTX’s success, with the buying and selling agency reportedly gaining access to extra top-end Nvidia chips than even US tech giants like Meta. The corporate’s in depth charity work to encourage extra innovation can be laudable.
Engine
As the primary technology of the UK’s fintech expertise diversify their income streams, Starling has damaged from its friends to double down on its tech background. Led by the person who clicked publish on the Starling app, Engine is a subsidiary of the group that sells the financial institution’s core working system to different banks – and it has rapidly grow to be the quickest rising section of the enterprise. In 2024, Engine contributed an albeit modest £8.7m in earnings to the group, however that marked a 284 per cent year-on-year enhance. These within the fintech ecosystem have rapidly taken discover of Engine, and it led to Starling doubling down on the realm. Engine’s chief revealed to Metropolis AM final December that the neobank’s subsidiary was shifting into its personal workplace and set for a hiring spree throughout London. And the financial institution is firing all on all cylinders with its rising buyer base. Initially of November Engine signed Tangerine Financial institution – one of many “Massive 5” banks in Canada boasting $1.4trn in belongings – marking the primary buyer for the tech agency which is definitely larger than Starling.
Wayve
In case you haven’t heard of Wayve you’ve nearly definitely seen the corporate’s innovation in and round London. The enterprise develops autonomous driving expertise to rival the likes of Google-owned Waymo. In February Wayve raised greater than $1bn in a funding spherical at a valuation of $8.6bn, cementing its standing as one of many UK’s most beneficial tech companies. Wayve claims its expertise, which is targeted on software program over {hardware}, offers it the sting over rivals.
Nscale
Nscale has a reasonably quick historical past, having solely been arrange a few years in the past, which makes it much more spectacular that in March the corporate raised $2bn, the most important Collection C spherical in European historical past, valuing it at a whopping $14.6bn. The Nvidia-backed firm is important to the UK’s synthetic intelligence ambitions, offering the ability – through knowledge centres and supercomputers – that high AI methods are in determined want of. Founder Josh Payne, already a billionaire, is simply 32 years outdated.
Freedom
New for 2026, Freedom goals to remodel our relationship with our pensions by embedding banking and card infrastructure straight into the pension journey. Its platform permits suppliers to supply accounts, funds and card entry beneath their very own model, whereas maintaining belongings invested and compliant throughout the pension system. Reasonably than being pressured to maneuver pension financial savings right into a separate checking account simply to pay payments or withdraw money, Freedom’s tech permits members to handle retirement earnings straight from inside their pension. The agency has now secured a strategic partnership with Visa to embed regulated funds and card infrastructure straight into pension schemes and has simply signed its first pension fund at launch in March.
