The Strait of Hormuz handles about a fifth of the world's oil supply. Right now it's generating something else at scale: legal work. Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM, and MSC have all suspended transits. Tankers have been struck by drone fire. QatarEnergy has paused LNG production. Over 400 vessels are anchored outside the strait waiting to find out what happens next.

Every one of those vessels represents charter party clauses, war risk premiums, force majeure notices, and cargo claims. The dispute pipeline heading toward London arbitration panels and P&I desks is enormous. The question is which law firms get the call.

We ranked 20 firms using Pirical Legal Professionals data across three dimensions. Here's what the numbers say.

How We Scored Them

The Rankings

Capacity builders

Wilson Elser, Kennedys, and DWF.

These firms have added the most lawyers in the relevant practices. They are not traditional maritime houses. But claims volume at this scale will overflow boutique capacity, and these firms exist to absorb it.

Relationship holders

Willkie, Freshfields, A&O Shearman, and White & Case.

These firms carry the strongest client matter records with the most exposed operators. They win mandates from existing clients. They are less equipped to capture new inquiries from operators with no prior connection to the firm.

Maritime specialists

HFW, Clyde & Co, Watson Farley & Williams, Stephenson Harwood, and Hill Dickinson.

These firms are the first call when a vessel is struck. Their expertise-driven reputations attract the most immediately activated work: war risk, P&I, LMAA arbitration, casualty response. Modest client matter records reflect how the practice actually works, not how much work these firms are likely to receive.