Highlights in client feedback saw the Dispute Resolution practice described as “essentially, the leading disputes team on the island” and the firm’s corporate team praised for doing an “excellent job in ensuring all role-players stayed fully informed” and in particular, that their Banking and Finance team “operate to incredibly high standards… and know how to walk in our shoes and deliver a best-in-class IoM legal service.”

Each year, the reputable legal directories rank law firms and lawyers following thorough and independent research which includes feedback from clients, private practice lawyers and in-house peers as well as the assessment of a law firm’s transactions and cases.

The Legal 500 UK has awarded Appleby Tier 1 status across all nine practice areas and has seen growth in individual recognitions, with more ranked lawyers than any other law firm on the Isle of Man. 19 of the firm’s lawyers have been recognised across a total of 32 individual rankings, up from 29 last year. The practice areas comprise Banking, Finance and Capital Markets; Commercial Property; Corporate and Commercial; Dispute Resolution; Employment; Gambling; Insurance and Pensions; Private Client, Trusts and Tax and Shipping and Aviation.

The Chambers & Partners UK 2026 edition ranked Appleby as the only Isle of Man law firm in the top band for each of its three practice areas (Corporate & Finance, Dispute Resolution and Employment). For its Employment practice, Appleby continues to be the only firm now ranked in Band 1. Seven of Appleby’s partners are recognised with a total of nine individual rankings.

The IFLR1000 remains the only international legal market guide dedicated to ranking law firms and lawyers exclusively on the basis of financial and corporate transactional work and has awarded Appleby a Tier 1 ranking in the Isle of Man for its ‘Financial and Corporate’ work. Additionally, nine members of the firm’s corporate team have been recognised.

Commenting on the latest legal directory results, Mark Holligon, Appleby Isle of Man Managing Partner, said: “We are proud to maintain Appleby’s position as the market leading law firm in the Isle of Man across all three legal directories. What is particularly fantastic to see, is the number of our lawyers who have been recognised for their expertise from Senior Associate to Partner level. These rankings demonstrate our team’s talent, dedication, and client-focused approach. We are grateful to our clients for their invaluable feedback, which has contributed to the results.”

Appleby’s individual lawyer rankings across the three legal directories are as follows:

LEGAL 500 UK

Hall of Fame: Charles Davies (Dispute Resolution), Mark Holligon (Dispute Resolution), Garry Manley (Corporate & Commercial; Commercial Property), Caren Pegg (Employment), Juan Thornley (Insurance & Pensions)

Leading Partners: Tom Brook (Shipping & Aviation; Banking, Finance & Capital Markets), Keira Gore (Dispute Resolution), Mark Holligon (Private Client & Trusts), Garry Manley (Insurance & Pensions), Claire Milne WS (Gambling), Caren Pegg (Dispute Resolution), Juan Thornley (Corporate & Commercial)

Next Generation Partners: Michelle Brook (Insurance & Pensions), Claire Corkish (Dispute Resolution), Katherine Garrood (Corporate & Commercial), Keira Gore (Employment), Eleanor Harding (Banking, Finance & Capital Markets; Shipping & Aviation)

Leading Associates: Greg Chambers (Dispute Resolution), Sophie Corkish (Shipping & Aviation, Banking, Finance & Capital Markets and Corporate & Commercial), Alexandra Dernie (Commercial Property), Sophia Howell-Evans (Banking, Finance & Capital Markets; Gambling), Darryl Jago (Corporate & Commercial), Erin Trimble-Cregeen (Dispute Resolution; Private Client, Trusts & Tax), Melissa Wong (Commercial Property; Private Client, Trusts & Tax)