UK Medico-Legal Services Market Report 2026

Improved Financials for Most Larger Players but Margins Tough for Smaller Players

This is the tenth annual edition of a report analysing the Medico-Legal Services (MLS) market. MLS are a range of medical and medical-related services offered to legal services companies, insurers and possibly to employers. For this reason, MLS companies are often staffed and run by doctors, nurses and physiotherapists.

The range of services offered can be split into two broad categories:

• Medical evidence (ME)
• Rehabilitation and allied medical services (RAMS)

Market Insights

• Market value is estimated at £705m in 2025, an increase of 4.1% on 2024. While personal injury claims numbers have been falling and this has impacted revenues for many smaller players, market growth has been driven by improved performances from some of the larger players.
• Many of the leading players in the market are consolidating their position through acquisitions along with expansion into new service areas, IT investment (increasingly AI), cost savings and productivity improvements.
• Market growth of 4.4% is expected in 2026 and between 2026 and 2029, the analyst is forecasting a marginally higher growth rate, a CAGR of between 4.5% and 5%.
• The number of personal injury and clinical negligence claims is a key driver of demand for MLS services and total claims registered have been declining for a decade although the value of compensation paid has grown in the last few years.
• Total claims registered at the Compensation Recovery Unit (CRU) declined again in the year 2025/26 to 435,565 from 447,973 a year earlier. Claims registered decreased in all categories except employer liability claims.
• For the second-year running, total settlements recorded by the CRU fell in 2025/26 to 475,878 (508,160 in 2024/25). Claims may have fallen but the value of clinical negligence claims settled reached £172.9m in 2025/26 from £165.7m in 2024/25.
• Claims for clinical negligence reported to NHS Resolution (NHSR) increased in the latest year to April 2026 to 15,236 from 14,428 in the previous year. However, claims closed dropped by almost 18% to 11,841 from 14,431 and this was mainly due to operational delays as a new claims system was introduced.

This report looks at the market structure, recent developments and market drivers, the key players, the market size and historical trends, and the future.