Seeking out the best up-and-coming private practice lawyers in the U.K. private equity industry was not an easy task. Legal Week spent months approaching many of the world's largest and most influential private equity firms to seek out recommendations before surveying a wide range of experienced partners for their views on who they rated.

Next, Legal Week approached the top U.K. and U.S. firms in the market, particularly the ones known for private equity work, to ask for their own recommendations.

Nominees were then assessed on the following criteria: quality of their client base; scale, significance and complexity of their deals; their client feedback and general market reputation; the standing of their mentor; and any other examples of career success and innovation.