The winning Three Crowns team with Michael Madigan and Stephen Benwell of Cogence Search

BOUTIQUE OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY COGENCE SEARCH

THREE CROWNS Constantine Partasides QC

CHALLENGING THE STATUS QUO OF THE record in some of the most high-profile global abitrations INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION MARKET has seen Three Crowns rapidly become one of the strongest Three Crowns has been one of the most-talked-about disputes international arbitration firms in the world, regularly taking boutiques in recent years, after launching to much fanfare in 2014. work away from or appearing opposite the . Established by a trio of market-leading arbitration specialists from Recent work includes representing ConocoPhillips in a Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, the firm continues to challenge $20bn arbitration (until recently, the largest known ICC case) the status quo of the international arbitration market. against the Venezuelan State-owned entity PDVSA and also The calibre of the individuals on o£er (notably its founding representing an oil and gas major in a $1bn arbitration with a partners), a flexible approach to pricing and a proven track former Soviet state.

HIGHLY COMMENDED

CANDEY Bank of America Merrill Lynch, record year as revenue climbed £3.1m Ashkhan Candey Centrica and Royal Bank of Canada. to £26.8m. Profits rose by 15% from Formed in 2009, this litigation £13.6m to £15.3m. boutique has become an established POWELL GILBERT player in a highly competitive market. Tim Powell; Penny Gilbert SIGNATURE LITIGATION The firm has average fees per Firmly established as the definitive Graham Huntley fee-earner of £700,000, and average IP boutique since its 2007 breakaway Signature Litigation has seen profits per equity partner of £2.5m, a from , Powell Gilbert has revenue soar by 36% to £10.2m for level of profitability achieved thanks to rapidly grown, currently billing close to the 2015/16 financial year, against a involvement in high-award cases on a £12m with a profit margin of over 50% 50% profit margin. Recent highlights contingency fee basis. on the back of work for clients such as include acting in the ongoing £4bn Huawei and Actavis. shareholder group action against the HUMPHRIES KERSTETTER Royal Bank of Scotland, as well as a Kristopher Kerstetter SACKER & PARTNERS major dispute against Credit Suisse Another disputes boutique that has Ian Pittaway on behalf of the investment fund of caught the eye acting on a number of A pioneering specialist law firm, Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili the most high-profile cases, including Sackers celebrated its 50th and his family. representing Tesco in its interchange anniversary in 2016. With clients that fee claim against Visa. An impressive include Lloyds Banking Group, HSBC, client list includes WH Smith, UBS, John Lewis and ITV, the firm enjoyed a

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