Fieldfisher
Professional services
UnclaimedFieldfisher is a London-headquartered international law firm serving corporations, financial institutions and governments, with additional alternative legal services operations.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Fieldfisher is a multinational law firm headquartered in London and operating through a network of offices and affiliated structures in Europe, the United States and China. Its clients include national and multinational companies, financial institutions and public-sector bodies. Alongside conventional legal advice and representation, the firm has developed alternative legal services businesses focused on activities such as contract management, document negotiation, financial trading documentation and group litigation operations. The firm's historical roots extend across several nineteenth-century London practices. Edwin Wilkins Field founded Field Roscoe & Co. in 1835. Waterhouse & Co. was established by Theodore Waterhouse in 1865, while Charles Fisher began his legal career in 1897 with a practice that later became TF Peacock Fisher. Field Roscoe merged with Treherne Higgins in 1930, and Field Roscoe and TF Peacock Fisher combined in 1969 to create Field Fisher & Co. That practice merged with Martineau and Reid in 1972, becoming Field Fisher Martineau. The modern Field Fisher Waterhouse name was created in 1989 through the merger of Field Fisher Martineau and Waterhouse & Co. The firm broadened its capabilities in 1998 by merging with Allison & Humphreys, a media and communications practice. The transaction strengthened its technology, internet, media and communications work and brought the BBC among the significant client relationships associated with the incoming lawyers. In June 2006, the business converted to limited liability partnership status. International expansion accelerated from 2007. Field Fisher Waterhouse opened offices in Brussels and Hamburg in April of that year and added Paris later in 2007, followed by further German locations in Munich and Düsseldorf. It entered the United States with a Palo Alto office in September 2012. A merger with Manchester firm Heatons was completed in April 2014, and the firm adopted the shorter Fieldfisher name in May 2014. Further growth came through combinations and new offices. The firm merged with Italian practice Studio Associato Servizi Professionali Integrati in 2016, adding Milan, Rome, Venice and Turin. It also combined with Hill Hofstetter in Birmingham and Beijing-based JS Partners that year. Offices in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Luxembourg and Belfast followed between 2017 and 2018. In Spain, the 2018 merger with JAUSAS created Fieldfisher JAUSAS, later renamed Fieldfisher Spain in 2021. The firm also merged with Irish practice McDowell Purcell in 2019. Fieldfisher's service model includes alternative legal services under several sub-brands. CondorALS, launched in 2017, addressed document negotiation and contract management, particularly for regulated financial-services work. The firm subsequently expanded that activity through a relationship with Integreon. A separate partnership with Donaldson Legal Consulting provided financial trading documentation and related services. In 2018, Fieldfisher established Roscoe Reid, a consumer-facing practice focused on group litigation, including equal-pay claims. In 2022, it announced a Berlin office for Fieldfisher X, a mass-litigation and operations business. The firm's Chinese, Italian, Netherlands and Spanish operations are structured as Swiss Vereins.
History
Fieldfisher's lineage reaches back to several nineteenth-century legal practices. Edwin Wilkins Field established Field Roscoe & Co. in 1835. Theodore Waterhouse founded Waterhouse & Co. in 1865, and Charles Fisher began his articles in 1897 with Thomas Peacock, a practice that later developed into TF Peacock Fisher. Field Roscoe merged with Treherne Higgins in 1930. In 1969, Field Roscoe and TF Peacock Fisher joined to form Field Fisher & Co., which merged with Martineau and Reid in 1972 and became Field Fisher Martineau. The Field Fisher Waterhouse identity was created in 1989 when Field Fisher Martineau merged with Waterhouse & Co. In 1998, the firm added the media and communications practice Allison & Humphreys. That transaction complemented the firm's IT and internet capabilities and strengthened its media and communications work. The business converted to LLP status in 2006. Its international expansion began in earnest in 2007 with offices in Brussels, Hamburg and Paris, followed by additional German offices in Munich and Düsseldorf. A Palo Alto office, opened in 2012, marked its first US location. The firm combined with Manchester practice Heatons in April 2014 and shortened its name to Fieldfisher the following month. From 2016 onward, Fieldfisher pursued a mixture of mergers, affiliations and greenfield openings. Its Italian combination with Studio Associato Servizi Professionali Integrati brought offices in Milan, Rome, Venice and Turin. The firm also merged with Hill Hofstetter in Birmingham and JS Partners in Beijing. Amsterdam was added in 2017, while Frankfurt, Luxembourg and Belfast followed in 2018. A merger with Spanish firm JAUSAS created Fieldfisher JAUSAS in 2018; the Spanish operation later adopted the Fieldfisher Spain name. The firm expanded into Ireland through its 2019 merger with McDowell Purcell. A notable strategic development has been the creation of alternative legal services operations. CondorALS launched in 2017 to provide document negotiation and contract management, particularly for financial-services clients. It later developed a partnership with Integreon. Fieldfisher also partnered with Donaldson Legal Consulting for financial trading documentation and related services, and established Roscoe Reid in 2018 as a consumer-facing group-litigation practice. In 2022, it announced a Berlin office for Fieldfisher X, a business focused on mass litigation and legal operations. The firm's Chinese, Italian, Netherlands and Spanish businesses operate through Swiss Vereins.
- 2022
Fieldfisher X expands to Berlin
[1]The firm announced a Berlin office for its mass-litigation and legal operations business.
- 2019
McDowell Purcell merger
[1]The merger with Irish law firm McDowell Purcell took effect on 1 May.
- 2018
Roscoe Reid and further European growth
[1]Fieldfisher established Roscoe Reid and opened offices in Frankfurt, Luxembourg and Belfast; it also combined with JAUSAS in Spain.
- 2017
CondorALS launches
[1]The firm launched its alternative legal services platform for contract management and document negotiation.
- 2016
Italian, Birmingham and Beijing expansion
[1]Fieldfisher completed combinations involving Studio Associato Servizi Professionali Integrati, Hill Hofstetter and JS Partners.
- 2014
Heatons merger and Fieldfisher rebrand
[1]The firm merged with Heatons and then adopted the Fieldfisher name.
- 2012
First US office opens
[1]Field Fisher Waterhouse established a Palo Alto office, its first location in the United States.
- 2007
European office network begins
[1]The firm opened in Brussels and Hamburg in April and Paris in November, later adding Munich and Düsseldorf.
- 2006
Conversion to LLP status
[1]Field Fisher Waterhouse adopted a limited liability partnership structure.
- 1998
Allison & Humphreys merger
[1]The media and communications practice joined Field Fisher Waterhouse, reinforcing its technology, internet, media and communications capabilities.
Products and positioning
An international business law firm combining cross-border legal advice with specialist regulatory, technology, disputes and alternative legal services capabilities.
Alternative legal services · 2017
CondorALS
CondorALS is an alternative legal services platform launched by Fieldfisher in 2017. It focuses on document negotiation and contract management, with particular relevance to regulated financial-services work. The operation was later expanded through a partnership with Integreon, broadening the delivery model beyond traditional hourly legal advice.
Financial documentation services · 2017
Donaldson Legal Consulting
Fieldfisher's partnership with Donaldson Legal Consulting was designed to provide financial trading documentation, negotiation and related services to financial institutions, corporations and asset managers. The activity was incorporated into Donaldson Legal Consulting LLP, led by Alison Donaldson as managing partner.
Consumer and group litigation · 2018
Roscoe Reid
Roscoe Reid is a Fieldfisher-established consumer-facing law practice focused on group litigation. Its work has included equal-pay claims involving large UK retailers, including Morrisons and Boots. The practice represents an effort to develop a more operational and scalable model for collective claims.
Mass litigation and legal operations · 2022
Fieldfisher X
Fieldfisher X is an alternative legal services and operations business focused on mass litigation and related delivery processes. In 2022, Fieldfisher announced a Berlin office intended to house and support the business.
Controversies
2015
BES Utilities representation controversy
Between 2015 and 2016, Fieldfisher represented BES Utilities and its owner Andrew Pilley in proceedings that included threatened libel actions against former customers, employees and Cheshire West and Chester Council, which had prosecuted the matter. The claim ultimately failed. Pilley was later convicted on four fraud counts and sentenced to 13 years in prison; Fieldfisher partner Bill Lister was subsequently dismissed.
Brand decisions
2022
Establish a Berlin base for Fieldfisher XProduct launchBackground
The firm was developing a dedicated business for mass litigation and legal operations.
Action taken
Fieldfisher announced a Berlin office to house Fieldfisher X.
Aftermath
The move strengthened the firm's infrastructure for large-scale claims and operational legal services.
2018
Develop consumer and group-litigation operationsStrategyBackground
Fieldfisher pursued alternative structures for collective claims and consumer-facing legal work.
Action taken
The firm established Roscoe Reid as a consumer-facing practice focused on group litigation.
Aftermath
Roscoe Reid pursued equal-pay claims involving major UK retailers and later secured a significant tribunal decision in the Morrisons litigation.
2017
Launch CondorALSProduct launchBackground
The firm sought to complement conventional legal services with more process-oriented and scalable delivery models.
Action taken
Fieldfisher launched CondorALS for contract management and document negotiation, especially in financial services.
Aftermath
The platform received FT Innovative Lawyers recognition and was later expanded through an Integreon partnership.
2016
Expand through multiple law-firm combinationsM&ABackground
Fieldfisher aimed to extend its geographic coverage and local capabilities.
Action taken
It merged with Studio Associato Servizi Professionali Integrati in Italy and with Hill Hofstetter and JS Partners in Birmingham and Beijing.
Aftermath
The combinations added offices and local practices across Italy, England and China.
2014
Adopt the Fieldfisher brandStrategyBackground
Following the merger with Manchester-based Heatons, the firm reviewed its market identity.
Action taken
In May 2014, Field Fisher Waterhouse changed its name to Fieldfisher.
Aftermath
The shorter name became the firm's principal international brand.
2007
Begin international office expansionStrategyBackground
Field Fisher Waterhouse sought to develop a broader international platform for clients with cross-border legal needs.
Action taken
The firm opened offices in Brussels, Hamburg and Paris and later expanded elsewhere in Germany and Europe.
Aftermath
The initiative became the foundation for a network spanning multiple European jurisdictions and later the United States and China.
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