Here We Recognise the Best In-House Counsel, Law Firms and Sets

The Legal 500 UK Awards 2014

Welcome to the second annual Legal 500 UK Awards, where we recognise the best in-house counsel, law firms and sets. Each year we carry out in-depth research across the whole of the UK legal sector; this gives us a unique perspective on the legal market.

The 2014 shortlists and winners are based on merit alone; we do not invite applications for the awards. Moreover, the awards do not recognise only the largest firms or sets, or those in the top tier. Every researcher working on the UK guide was asked a simple question: which in-house lawyers, law firms and sets stood out for you this year, and why?

For the in-house awards, we also took into account the research carried out for both our Corporate Counsel 100 series and our new magazine for in-house lawyers, GC – available in early December.

We hope that you enjoy the evening, and congratulations on your award.

JOHN READ HAYLEY EUSTACE EDITOR: SOLICITORS EDITOR: THE BAR THE LEGAL 500 UK THE LEGAL 500 UK

L500UK pp02-16.indd 1 18/11/2014 16:23:57 have been quick to point out that David Mercer’s IN-HOUSE (now part of the company’s executive leadership team) handling of the internal employment and restructuring issues have been ‘impeccable’ under WINNERS pressure from internal and external market forces.

TEAM OF THE YEAR BANKING Diageo, led by Siobhan Moriaty INDIVIDUAL OF THE YEAR It’s no secret that Daigeo has had to undergo a Richard Givens, HSBC major restructuring, and the employment aspects Richard Given has been deputy general counsel of that were potentially damaging. Feedback at the global bank, HSBC, since September from the market was full of praise for the way the 2011. He oversees the worldwide legal and legal team at Diageo has handled these issues, contract management teams responsible for with the minimum of problems and bad publicity. key supplier relationships. Richard is interested In just over a year at the helm, Siobhan has also in the way that legal teams can deliver value undergone a major panel review to ensure the for their businesses and as a result of this has external firm roster is lean and cost-efficient. radically restructured his department at HSBC to work across disciplines. A number of in-house ENERGY lawyers have praised the way that Richard has INDIVIDUAL OF THE YEAR reconfigured the legal department and his Grant Dawson, Centrica commitment to the use of technology to deliver Grant has received many accolades in the years legal services more efficiently. since Centrica demerged from British Gas, but the simple truth behind this award is that he TEAM OF THE YEAR continues to lead the way on how successfully he Virgin Money, led by Andrew Emuss works in tandem with the board and management As one of the challengers shaking up the UK’s committees. The past year has seen Grant at the banking landscape Virgin Money has a similarly forefront with two billion pound acquisitions, plus innovative approach with its legal department. his stepping down from the successful leadership The legal department was instrumental in the of the GC100 group. merger with troubled lender Northern Rock, taking it out of state subsidy. Since then the legal team TEAM OF THE YEAR of 20 lawyers has been working on a wide array EDF, led by Eric Thomas of projects culminating it its flotation on the stock Managing external counsel is key to the market earlier this month. However, it’s not just success of landmark projects of the magnitude deals and finance for the team as part of the of Hinkley Point C. The EDF team has tackled bank’s overall strategy is to overhaul how banks the numerous regulatory, environmental and do business and are seen by the public. planning hurdles one would expect from the development of a facility targeted to provide EMPLOYMENT up to 13% of the UK’s electricity, utilising a INDIVIDUAL OF THE YEAR veritable roll call of the best energy teams in the David Mercer, Balfour Beatty UK. Longstanding legal partner Herbert Smith Balfour Beatty has been under close scrutiny over Freehills and Clifford Chance are just two of the past 12 months, with offers for a takeover the firms that have relied on cohesive, concise coming from Carillion due to the weaker market instruction from one of the largest in-house position the company has found itself in. Peers energy teams in the world.

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ENVIRONMENT and private practice lawyers for its ability to INDIVIDUAL OF THE YEAR deal with all issues in a calm and effective Celia Gough, Veolia manner, especially at a time when the legal Celia Gough is chief legal officer and company resources of the institution have been under secretary at Veolia, where she oversees all legal greater pressure and scrutiny. Workplace and compliance issues for the company. Celia diversity advocates have also highlighted won praise from in-house peers for her focused Maria’s ability to balance work and home and diligent leadership of the legal team at a time life, and the positivity this brings to the entire of change for the water industry in the light of organisation is seen as a key driver to a better regulatory challenges in the UK as well as global working environment. issues such as climate change and water scarcity. Celia is also a strong advocate of diversity in the HEALTHCARE legal profession and has been active in Inspiring INDIVIDUAL OF THE YEAR Women the charity which seeks to give girls in Paul Newton, BUPA education more information about the range of Paul has been at BUPA for 17 years, and is widely career options open to them. respected not just for his own capabilities, but also for his management of the wider BUPA legal TEAM OF THE YEAR department (in 2013, The Legal 500 recognised Bristol City Council, led by Shahzia Daya this, naming BUPA as the winner of the Healthcare Bristol City Council is at the vanguard of team award). With a hefty legal spend, Paul is environmental work, and has been for several also adept with cross-border work, with lawyers in years – even before it was awarded ‘European 11 locations overseas. He keeps a keen eye on Green Capital’, a mantle it will assume in 2015. cost, according to external counsel, but is smart The legal team was widely commended during enough to look at what value is added, rather our research for its leading edge work in support than the price, ensuring the best legal service from of council projects in areas such as wind turbine, the premium firms he instructs. tidal energy and transport. TEAM OF THE YEAR FINANCE The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, INDIVIDUAL OF THE YEAR led by Mike O’Connell Tim Hailes, JPMorgan There has been a steady increase in healthcare In the past 12 months, Tim has been responsible claims in the UK, and this has put the legal for global regulatory reform, following a period departments under increased scrutiny and cost of increasing fines, for the financial services giant. pressures. Our researchers were repeatedly told The increased pressure on the company since the of the efficiency of this legal service, upheld as a GFC has raised Tim’s profile to be one of the key capable and productive manager of claims. Both drivers of risk reputation in the banking world. in-house and private practice peers also heaped Tim has also been a strong advocate for LBGT plaudits on the team for its sensitive handling of both within the bank and through the wider legal medico-legal matters. community, and for seven years was Chairman of the London chapter of PRIDE. INSURANCE INDIVIDUAL OF THE YEAR TEAM OF THE YEAR Robert Robinson, Amlin PLC Credit Suisse, led by Maria Leistner After a successful career as trial lawyer in During the course of our research, Maria the US and then opening and running Lord Leistner’s team has been widely praised by peers Bissell & Brook London office, Robert Robinson

L500UK pp02-16.indd 3 18/11/2014 16:24:05 took a change of direction when he stepped it won a case against Microsoft over trademark into his first in-house role at Liberty Syndicate infringement relating to Microsoft’s SkyDrive. The Management. In 2007 he took on the general six-year legal battle the company faced against counsel role at FTSE 250 insurer Amlin. During pub landlady Karen Murphy over the use of a the last few years Robinson has overseen a raft of Greek decoder to show premier league matches mergers for the insurer and navigated the increased was a headline grabber and one that pushed the regulatory landscape for financial institutions. Over boundaries of how courts think about IP issues. the past year Robinson has radically reorganized his legal department as a centralized function to LITIGATION drive greater efficiency and cohesion. INDIVIDUAL OF THE YEAR Will Luker, RBS TEAM OF THE YEAR As head of litgation at RBS, Luker has seen an RSA, led by Derek Walsh increase in litigation, due to an increased appetite With a team of 100 under his management, from the US regulatory authorities and investors to Derek’s role at RSA is a varied and challenging one. take on the banks in the wake of the GFC. During He has been at the forefront of reputational issues, our research, the bank’s efforts to use alternative an area that many GCs are beginning to have to dispute resolution has been noted by private practice learn about, and the speed with which modern legal as a smarter option in a period of increasing litigation departments have to move at. A successful rights costs. He has been at RBS for eleven years, and is a issue in early 2014 has drawn hugely favourable member of the legal executive management team. comments from inside the business and from peers in-house. His record on diversity, with 66% of his TEAM OF THE YEAR leadership team female, is to be applauded and ‘is ICAP, led by Duncan Wales something I feel very passionately about’. UK-based ICAP, the world’s largest interdealer broker, attracted much attention when it was INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY charged by the European Commission (EC) with INDIVIDUAL OF THE YEAR facilitating breaches of European Union (EU) Galit Gonen, Teva competition law by a cartel, which fixed yen interest In the past couple of years, Teva has been under rate derivatives. Standing out from a crowd of increased pressure from rising litigation cases and international banks and brokers that included UBS, costs, including the complex issues resulting from Deutsche Bank, RBS, JPMorgan, Citigroup and RP the purchase of Cephalon in 2011. Although the Martin, which admitted wrongdoing in exchange company has taken some hits in recent times, for reduced fines, ICAP boldly rejected the EC’s peers are unanimous in congratulating the skillful accusations. It continues to argue that it has not way that Galit has led the European team through breached any applicable EU competition law and is the litigation. She has been working in-house determined to defend itself against these allegations for Teva since 2007 and has been general vigorously. Moreover, ICAP is taking the fight to the counsel since 2013, and gained a doctorate European Ombudsman; it has complained about on the subject of secondary patents in the EU regulatory prejudice during 2013’s financial pharmaceutical industry in 2009. benchmark rigging probe, the antitrust case that it refused to settle with the EC via an EU Libor accord. TEAM OF THE YEAR BskyB, led by James Conyers PRIVATE EQUITY The BskyB legal team has faced a range of issues INDIVIDUAL OF THE YEAR in the last few years – some driven by the various Simon Cresswell, Apax acquisitions it has undertaken. On the IP front it has Simon Cresswell joined European private equity been at the front line of IP developments. In 2013 behemoth, Apax in 2010 as its first ever general

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counsel. He moved in-house at probably the evidence of his commitment to sharing best practice time of biggest change and consolidation for among local government legal teams. the private equity industry which was feeling the effects of the global financial crisis which slowed TEAM OF THE YEAR both fund raising and deal making down. His Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council, led by Jill Coule appointment also coincided with most concerted Jill Coule’s team is recognised by commentators for raft of global legislation aimed at the industry post the leadership role it assumed in the formation of Lehman. Cresswell has won praise from other the North West Legal Consortium a few years ago, lawyers in the field for his well thought leadership and its ongoing status as lead authority. Under of the fund manager’s legal function. Apax is one the guiding hand of the council’s legal team, of the largest European private equity houses with the consortium has entered into an innovative, funds of over £30bn in combined value. pan-regional procurement framework to meet the external legal needs for a range of public bodies, TEAM OF THE YEAR and plans further collaborative working. Actis, led by Paul Owers Actis emerged from what was the Commonwealth REAL ESTATE Development Commission (CDC) in 2004. Its INDIVIDUAL OF THE YEAR remit is to invest responsibly in emerging markets Vivienne King, Crown Estates and its portfolio companies span Asia, Africa and With a property portfolio worth around £9bn, the Latin America. The legal function in Actis is one of legal work from the estate is highly sought after. the most established in the community under the Earlier in 2014, the law firm roster was reduced to leadership of Paul Owers who joined the CDC in just two key firms in an attempt to make significant 1994. Over the years Paul has gathered together a cost savings. Vivienne oversaw a successful pitch legal team that sources described to us as one of the process, which came with some specific demands ‘most solid in the industry’. While contending with the regarding seniority. She has also overseen a shift increased raft of legislation that has been a feature in the portfolio with the investment into renewable of the industry in recent years, the legal team is energy projects, including a £350m joint venture also a key part of the balancing act that keeps Actis with Oxford Properties. investing profitably but also investing responsibly. TEAM OF THE YEAR PUBLIC SECTOR Tesco, led by Adrian Morris INDIVIDUAL OF THE YEAR The decision to give the award to Adrian’s Mark Hynes, Lambeth Council team came before the recent revelation from a Our research confirms that Mark Hynes is a whistleblower about the quarter of a billion profit towering figure in local government, having overstatement, adding more pressure to the worked in the public sector for over 20 years, since legal department. Our research had previously leaving Eversheds in 1990. He’s been director of highlighted the restructuring and strategy of the governance and democracy at Lambeth Council company’s property assets, that the team has been since 2005, and has overseen great changes in the involved in following a difficult few years, especially team – flexible working and IT advances, a reduction with the ever-changing nature of retail property. in external spend and growth in numbers in-house. But budgetary pressures necessitate a business brain, TAX especially for the beleaguered public sector, and INDIVIDUAL OF THE YEAR Mark is no stranger to strategic thinking, having Ken Hardman, British American Tobacco attained an MBA and a post-graduate diploma in This award is in recognition of Ken Hardman’s 20 business excellence. He is also the immediate past years as head of tax at BAT. Hardman has been president of Lawyers in Local Government; further at the forefront of much of the litigation against

L500UK pp02-16.indd 5 18/11/2014 16:24:07 HMRC, this year winning at both the Court of TELECOMS Appeal and the CJEU. Ken has been an innovator INDIVIDUAL OF THE YEAR and leader in the industry - the first to pay an FID Edward Smith, O2 (foreign income dividend) and first to reconstruct Having been in-house for 13 years, Ed is a widely for EUFT (eligible unrelieved foreign tax). Widely regarded and popular figure within the UK legal respected by his peers, his retirement will be a loss community, and he and his team have received to the company and the industry. numerous accolades over the years. What makes Ed stand apart is his continual demand to move TEAM OF THE YEAR the agenda forward and to empower his team to Amazon take on more personal responsibility. His drive for In the face of increased pressure on corporates to more cost-effective legal solutions while working in change their tax structure on the basis of media partnership with external law firms is widely praised hype, rather than facts or business reasons, by the firms he works with – in our experience this Amazon has stood firm. At the forefront of is extremely rare. criticism, it has refused to bow down, and is clear on what constitutes avoidance and what constitutes TEAM OF THE YEAR evasion. Amazon’s tax team have streamlined and Liberty Global, led by Jeremy Evans maximised the company’s business case. Liberty Global’s legal team has been kept incredibly busy with recent acquisitions of Ziggo TECHNOLOGY and Virgin Media to create the largest international INDIVIDUAL OF THE YEAR cable operator, and the accompanying regulatory Jonathan Pearl, Sony Europe and competition issues that follow it. With a recent Jonathan has been singled out by in-house counsel £481m investment into ITV, much of the smooth and private practice alike during the course of our success of the integrations has been laid at the research as one of a small number of GCs who truly feet of Evans’ team, both internally and through its have a healthy interaction with the board, and is adept management of its law firm roster. able to talk to just about the legal risks, but also the wider business implications. His team management TRANSPORT skills have attracted praise for demanding his INDIVIDUAL OF THE YEAR lawyers ‘spend time on the shopfloor’ to get a wider Robert Webb, Rolls Royce experience of the business (and life), rather than Robert has worked for two of Britain’s most focusing just on the legal issues. iconic brands; before joining Rolls-Royce, he was GC at British Airways. During the course of our TEAM OF THE YEAR research, Robert’s handling of recent legal cases Yahoo! UK, led by Simon Citron has attracted universal praise, with instructed firms Yahoo! has been been front and centre at talking of ‘a calm and assured approach to a ensuring that diversity means more than simple myriad of complex issues’. Due to our commitment gender or race, but over the past few years has to confidentiality, we can’t list them here, but actively pushed the agenda for social mobility, Robert’s leadership on this work has made him a and promoting the options that are available worthy winner of this award. at an in-house level. In an era where private practice has traditionally been seen as the primary TEAM OF THE YEAR starter to a career in law, the in-house team at Network Rail, led by Suzanne Wise Yahoo! has been bucking the trend, and also The pressures facing any company operating in encouraging the notion that legal should be a the rail transport sector are manifold – upholding greater part of the business. health and safety standards, coping with the

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vagaries of the season, which can range from SILK OF THE YEAR leaves on the track to acts of God. Not to David Perry QC – 6KBW College Hill mention supporting integration with high profile Perry consistently receives outstanding feedback, projects such as HS2. Our research states with many saying he is the best criminal advocate that Network Rail’s legal team has performed at the Bar. He has been particularly active in Hong admirably in a tough sector, notably restructuring Kong recently, and is currently prosecuting Rafael its service to mirror the organisation’s own Hui, the former Chief Secretary of Hong Kong, devolution into ten geographical ‘Routes’. and two of the most prominent land developers in the territory over high-profile bribery allegations.

EMPLOYMENT SET OF THE YEAR BAR AWARD Littleton Chambers Long seen as one of the leading employment sets, WINNERS Littleton Chambers remains very much in the spotlight. It has acquired two highly regarded barristers from COMMERCIAL LITIGATION Devereux in recent years (Suzanne McKie QC and SET OF THE YEAR Mohinderpal Sethi), and the set is also handling a 4 Stone Buildings good range of commercial employment work. This Chancery set is going from strength to strength in the commercial context, and has been SILK OF THE YEAR involved in some of the biggest cases of the past Thomas Linden QC – Matrix Chambers few years, including JSC BTA Bank v Ablyazov, Linden receives positive market feedback year after Deutsche Bank AG & ors v Unitech Global Ltd, year. However, 2014 has been a standout year and Constantin Medien v Ecclestone & ors. for this top-tier employment silk, thanks in part to the fact he won a three-year battle in the Supreme SILK OF THE YEAR Court determining that members of LLPs do have Sonia Tolaney QC – 3 Verulam Buildings the protection of whistleblowing legislation. Tolaney climbed the commercial litigation rankings in The Legal 500 UK 2014 edition and EU AND COMPETITION also maintains a strong reputation in banking and SET OF THE YEAR finance and civil fraud. She successfully defended Brick Court Chambers in Deutsche Bank v Sebastian Holdings, one of Members of this Magic Circle set have had a the largest claims in Commercial Court history. fantastic year, and have been involved in the major cases of recent times including Sainsbury’s CRIME v MasterCard and Visa, and BMI Healthcare v SET OF THE YEAR Competition Commission. In the EU context, the 25 Bedford Row set continues to handle headline cases relating Defence specialist 25 Bedford Row has had an to high-profile, politically charged international exceptional year in terms of the cases members events (Iranian sanctions and the Spanish have been involved in, and it also moved up to authorities’ hostility to Gibraltar being but two). tier one in The Legal 500 UK 2014 criminal fraud set rankings. This modern, progressive SILK OF THE YEAR chambers has some heavyweight silks defending Jon Turner QC – Monckton Chambers in the most serious and complex of cases and a In 2014, Jon Turner QC received outstanding strong junior arm too. market feedback. He was also involved in

L500UK pp02-16.indd 7 18/11/2014 16:24:07 one of the most of the high-profile cartel INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION cases of 2013 and in one of the leading SET OF THE YEAR competition damages claims in the Competition Thirty Nine Essex Street Appeal Tribunal. Building an increasingly strong presence in this area, Thirty Nine Essex Street’s offering was FAMILY AND CHILDREN bolstered by the high-profile recruitment of Peter SET OF THE YEAR Rees QC (the former legal director of Royal Dutch 4 Paper Buildings Shell). The set’s links with Asia also garner strong This set has been regarded as the leading praise and its recently opened offices in Singapore children set in London for some time, but it and Kuala Lumpur have further strengthened this never rests on its laurels and has had a great chambers’ commitment to international arbitration. year in both family finance and children law. Multiple members of chambers represented SILK OF THE YEAR parties involved in the three major children law Duncan Matthews QC – 20 Essex Street decisions in the Supreme Court, including the Combining a top-notch litigation practice with a first appeal to the Supreme Court in a Hague superb and highly versatile arbitration practice, Convention case. Duncan Matthews QC has recently been involved in several major arbitrations across a range of SILK OF THE YEAR sectors and regions. Lucy Stone QC – Queen Elizabeth Building (QEB) IP, IT AND MEDIA Stone maintains a strong international family SET OF THE YEAR finance practice, and continues to act in Blackstone Chambers disputes of the utmost complexity. Her 2013 This set has a long-established leading media workload included a case in the Hong Kong and sport practice, but is also strong in telecoms Court of Appeal. regulatory cases and in recent years the IP practice has also been gaining momentum. It INSOLVENCY is best known for soft IP work, and its presence SET OF THE YEAR in this area was boosted by the recent arrival of South Square Michael Bloch QC from Wilberforce Chambers. This insolvency behemoth includes a huge array of talent both at a silk and junior level and is the SILK OF THE YEAR first port of call for instructing solicitors on the Desmond Browne QC – 5RB headline cases in the market; as was evidenced A leader in defamation and privacy related work, by its involvement in four major restructuring and Desmond Browne QC recently represented Peter insolvency disputes in the Supreme Court in 2013 Cruddas in his case against The Times, and (including Eurosail). obtained a damages award of £180,000 against an offshore website for a Saudi businessman, SILK OF THE YEAR which was the highest award of libel damages Richard Snowden QC – Erskine Chambers since 2002. Snowden is a fixture in many of the highest- profile cases and since his market-leading PERSONAL INJURY AND work in issues surrounding the Lehman CLINICAL NEGLIGENCE Brothers collapse, he has handled a raft SET OF THE YEAR of matters in relation to MF Global – Crown Office Chambers another of the City’s largest and most This set receives exceptional feedback from highly publicised insolvencies. solicitors for the personal injury and industrial

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disease cases members undertake, and is often a SILK OF THE YEAR first port of call for this type of work. In addition, Lionel Persey QC – Quadrant Chambers chambers’ clinical negligence practice has also Persey is particularly strong in energy sector had a very strong year and its presence in the litigation, and was elevated to tier one in The market here continues to grow. Legal 500 UK 2014 energy rankings following another year of truly exceptional solicitor and SILK OF THE YEAR peer feedback. Andrew Ritchie QC – 9 Gough Square Ritchie has recently become head of PUBLIC LAW chambers at 9 Gough Square, which has SET OF THE YEAR been received extremely positively by solicitors Landmark Chambers who say his appointment has ‘energised’ Strong at both the silk and junior end, chambers. This, combined with his impressive Landmark Chambers’ members continue caseload, was reflected in a promotion to to handle high-profile cases both for claimants tier one in personal injury in The Legal 500 and the government. The set’s immigration UK 2014 edition. practice is also gaining momentum, evidenced by a promotion in The Legal 500 UK 2014 PRIVATE CLIENT: TRUSTS AND PROBATE immigration set rankings. SET OF THE YEAR Serle Court SILK OF THE YEAR With increasing strength both at silk and junior Nathalie Lieven QC – Landmark Chambers level, it is not surprising to find Serle Court active With a strong and varied public law practice, on truly major work such as Alan Boyle QC’s Nathalie Lieven QC’s recent workload includes continued advice on matters relating to the a number of Supreme Court cases, such as the Madoff fraud. challenge brought by local authorities to the decision to proceed with HS2. SILK OF THE YEAR Francis Barlow QC – Ten Old Square REAL ESTATE, ENVIRONMENT Head of chambers Francis Barlow QC has built AND PLANNING a supreme reputation for handling matters of SET OF THE YEAR great complexity and is regularly to be found FTB acting for high-net-worth families both off and Although FTB is lesser known on the real onshore. He has recently been particularly active estate side, the set’s environment and planning advising families on chattels settlements and practices have had an exceptional year, intricate variations. benefiting from a number of recent recruits including Simon Bird QC and Morag Ellis QC PROJECTS AND ENERGY from Cornerstone Barristers. SET OF THE YEAR Keating Chambers SILK OF THE YEAR The market-leading construction practice at Nicholas Dowding QC – Falcon Chambers Keating Chambers is the set’s core area, Dowding has established himself as the however the energy practice also continues to leading property litigator in the country, go from strength to strength, evidenced by an and is quite literally in a league of his own. elevation in The Legal 500 UK 2014 energy Not only did he maintain his tier one property set rankings. The set recently gained CEO and litigation ranking in The Legal 500 UK director of clerking Declan Redmond from 2014 edition, but he now appears in this Wilberforce Chambers. tier alone.

L500UK pp02-16.indd 9 18/11/2014 16:24:07 TAX CLERKING/PRACTICE SET OF THE YEAR MANAGEMENT – UK WIDE Temple Tax Chambers TEAM OF THE YEAR Members of this specialist tax set continue to 9 Gough Square handle high-profile cases in the corporate tax and Receiving consistently outstanding feedback for VAT context, and the clerking team also reaps the service it provides, 9 Gough Square is noted outstanding feedback. The set was bolstered by many for its modern approach and some say at senior level when David Southern QC was it has ‘the best clerking team in the business’. promoted to silk in 2014. Director of business development Michael Goodridge reaps particular praise, but also SILK OF THE YEAR singled out are chief executive Fiona Robb, Kevin Prosser QC – Pump Court Tax Chambers senior family clerk Gary Farrow and criminal Often a first port of call for complex tax clerk David Landa. cases, Prosser recently represented Bristol & West in the FTT, securing an important SENIOR CLERK/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR win for the taxpayer against HMRC. He also John White – Henderson Chambers successfully represented HMRC in its case Chief clerk John White has been at Henderson against Vaccine Research concerning an alleged Chambers for 40 years this year, and garners tax avoidance scheme involving LLP structures, exceptional feedback from solicitors who describe a particularly relevant subject matter in the him as ‘unfailingly helpful and courteous’. He current climate. successfully runs a ‘very approachable, friendly and flexible’ clerks’ room, which is continually REGIONAL/SCOTTISH singled out as being among the most down to SET OF THE YEAR earth and pleasant to deal with in London. No5 Chambers As winner of the regional set award for the second year running, No5 Chambers has continued to grow and develop its reputation as one of the leading national chambers. It has also led the way in public access work through setting up LAW FIRM NoVate Direct Legal Solutions, a not-for-profit standalone company that sources instructions. The set’s offices outside its roots in Birmingham WINNERS (Bristol, Leicester and London) are also going from strength to strength. CORPORATE AND COMMERCIAL FIRM OF THE YEAR SILK OF THE YEAR Slaughter and May Pete Weatherby QC – Garden Slaughter and May’s reputation precedes it in the Court North Chambers corporate and commercial arena, with a panoply of Winning plaudits for his expertise in public FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 clients. 2013 saw the M&A law, Pete Weatherby QC is recognised for his team advising Vodafone on the disposal of its 45% involvement in headline matters such as the interest in Verizon Wireless, while the competition Hillsborough inquest and the Vinter & ors v UK department’s lead role in the multi-jurisdictional case, where the European Court of Human merger control processes for Thermo Fisher’s Rights Grand Chamber considered the legality acquisition of Life Technologies demonstrated the of whole-life sentences without review. strength of its international ‘best friends’ network.

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L500UK pp02-16.indd 11 18/11/2014 16:24:09 FIRM (SPECIALISM) OF THE YEAR including Rank Group, Aspers and Ladbrokes. The Weil, Gotshal & Manges (Private practice is also at the forefront of developments equity: transactions) in gambling legislation, playing an active part Weil, Gotshal & Manges is a perennial fixture in forming the regulatory framework in which its on large-scale buyouts, where it acts for an clients operate. As one of William Hill’s panel intimidating roster of sponsors and pension funds. law firms, the team has a longstanding record of In addition to its deal-execution capabilities, the advising the group on projects and issues arising London office brings market-leading strength in across all of its business channels. finance, fund formation and restructuring, and also links up with its global network, making it a FIRM (REGIONAL) OF THE YEAR natural choice for high-value, complex cross- Bond Dickinson LLP (South West) border work covering the full fund lifecycle. Of Bond Dickinson LLP is a leading firm in the particular note, it advised Advent International licensing space, where it is renowned for and Bain Capital on their acquisition of RBS’s providing high-level advice to a wide range remaining interest in WorldPay. of high-profile multi-site operators across the UK. Demonstrating its national credibility, it FIRM (REGIONAL) OF THE YEAR handles all of the licensing requirements for Birketts LLP (East Anglia) Marks and Spencer across Scotland, England Birketts LLP has firmly established itself a lynchpin and Wales. Other clients include Coral Racing, of the East Anglian market. Six years ago it made Ambassador Theatre Group and Association of the bold move of opening an office in the highly British Bookmakers. competitive Cambridge market, and the continued growth of that office and the ongoing recruitment DISPUTE RESOLUTION of talented partners are a testament to the success FIRM OF THE YEAR of its regional strategy. Already a go-to brand for Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP some of the biggest regional deals, it is steadily Consistently advising on the largest, most moving into more cross-border transactions such complex and high-stakes litigation in the UK as the acquisition of sports car brand TVR from its market, Freshfields’ powerhouse dispute former German owners. resolution practice draws unanimous praise from clients and peers. Clients instruct the CRIME, FRAUD AND LICENSING firm when they have issues – frequently with FIRM OF THE YEAR multi-jurisdictional features – that impact Kingsley Napley LLP significantly on their business and are critical Stephen Parkinson’s team hasn’t been short of to the future of their industry sectors. involvement in blockbuster crime cases in the last 12 months. In perhaps the most publicised of those FIRM (SPECIALISM) OF THE YEAR – the politically charged phone-hacking trial at the Simmons & Simmons (Commercial litigation) Old Bailey – the team successfully defended both Simmons & Simmons’s commercial litigation Rebekah and Charlie Brooks. The team also pulled team impressed during our research with its off the coup of hiring Jo Rickards from DLA Piper. vast resources and scope of specialist sector expertise. Demonstrating the group’s ability FIRM (SPECIALISM) OF THE YEAR to handle business-critical commercial Pinsent Masons LLP (Gaming and betting) disputes that lead to critical judgments, Pinsent Masons’ gambling and betting team has the team acted for Patrick Dear and Reade an impressively diversity of clients throughout Griffith in the key Court of Appeal decision, the sector, advising some of the most significant Dear v Jackson, which overturned a High Court names in online and bricks and mortar gambling, decision on implied terms.

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FIRM (REGIONAL) OF THE YEAR at the forefront of the leading deals in the Stewarts Law LLP (Yorkshire and the Humber) market. It acts for both borrowers and lenders Stewarts Law is investing in its disputes practice, and has advised financial services clients on with new team leader Mo Bhaskaran leading facilities agreements. The insolvency team has the way to secure new clients in the retail and a varied practice representing administrators communications spaces. The firm also leverages and trustees in bankruptcy. Barclays Bank and its contentious competition strength to conduct Santander are among the list of prestigious impressive high-end cartel actions: Jonathan names on its client portfolio. Sinclair recently represented a slew of FTSE 100 and 250 companies in action against Mastercard HUMAN RESOURCES regarding interchange fees on payment card FIRM OF THE YEAR transactions. CMS CMS impresses for the breadth of its practice FINANCE across employment, pensions and share schemes, FIRM OF THE YEAR and further strengthened its practice as a result Latham & Watkins of its merger with Dundas & Wilson. During the Traditionally a heavyweight on the high-yield side, research period, the firm took a leading role on Latham & Watkins has succesfully bolstered its the employment aspects of Royal Mail’s IPO; banking credentials and is now seen as a leading and assisted on setting up an employee share player on both the bank and bond components of scheme for 150,000 employees, which included financing deals. Leveraging off a premier practice advice on employment compliance issues for in the US, as well as being assisted by a number listed companies and TUPE issues. The firm is of US-qualifed lawyers based in the London office, well-regarded for its cross-border expertise and the firm has benefitted from the recent willingness works closely with its international network on of borrowers to access the US bond market to global mandates. provide the shortfall in funding on the bank side. The firm’s representation of Goldman Sachs on FIRM (SPECIALISM) OF THE YEAR the private high-yield term loan in connection with Laura Devine Solicitors (Immigration) BC Partners’ acquisition of Springer Science is Laura Devine Solicitors has an impressively diverse emblematic of its ability to handle highly complex client list, and is able to work seamlessly with its and bespoke deals. New York office to assist its business clients. The firm has an exceptional array of media clients and FIRM (SPECIALISM) OF THE YEAR is well-regarded for its investor and entrepreneur Kirkland & Ellis International LLP (High yield) capability. The boutique firm is at the very top for While familiar names have traditionally dominated its human rights, appeals and overstay practice, the high-yield space, it is widely and openly and recent mandates include advising on acknowledge by clients and peers that Kirkland & indefinite leave to remain and Article 8 cases. Ellis has succeeded in building a market-leading presence, particularly as issuer counsel. The team FIRM (REGIONAL) OF THE YEAR regularly advises on major transactions such as Gordons LLP (Yorkshire and the Humber) the Trionista’s €875m combined notes issue for Gordons’ pensions team was established only in CVC Capital. June 2013 with the move of Terry Saeedi from Eversheds, but is already carrying significant FIRM (REGIONAL) OF THE YEAR charge. As well as pulling in new clients such Ward Hadaway (North) as Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc, the team Ward Hadaway’s team has a well-established continues to service the sizeable number of presence in The Legal 500 and continues to be existing clients that followed from Eversheds.

L500UK pp02-16.indd 13 18/11/2014 16:24:09 INSURANCE pursued claims on behalf of accountants, business FIRM OF THE YEAR owners and property developers. DLA Piper It has been a landmark year for DLA Piper, PRIVATE CLIENT demonstrating the potential of successful lateral FIRM OF THE YEAR hiring. Last year’s acquisition of the leading Macfarlanes LLP international insurance team at now-defunct Macfarlanes is a byword for quality in the private Dewey & LeBoeuf is paying enviable dividends, client sphere, boasting arguably the country’s top due to well-managed integration into the wider advisory practice for complex tax issues, headed DLA insurance practice. The firm won its first by Jonathan Condor, as well as Charles Lloyd’s strategic M&A and regulatory instructions for truly high-end contentious tax offering. The firm market-leading insurers such as Allianz and Zurich, also has an excellent agriculture and estates handling one of the largest UK run-off deals of practice, headed by Tristan Ward. the year for Zurich. The team also earned panel appointments to the Financial Conduct Authority FIRM (SPECIALISM) OF THE YEAR and Prudential Regulation Authority. On the Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co LLP contentious front, the firm gained impressive new (Contentious trusts and probate) panel memberships, and continues its work as Time and again, Catharine Bell’s team at Wragge court appointed lead solicitors representing PwC Lawrence Graham & Co LLP is found on the as scheme administrators of BAI and Independent major international matters. For example, the Insurance regarding asbestos-related liability issues firm is advising professional trustees in respect in the Supreme Court. of claims relating to the Kingate Funds, which together invested some $1.7bn into the Bernard FIRM (SPECIALISM) OF THE YEAR L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC Ponzi scheme. Baker & McKenzie LLP (Product liability: The firm also has a wide international reach, and defendant) recently acted for the Federal Republic of Brazil Baker & McKenzie has excelled in product defence and the Municipality of São Paulo in complex work for some time, but came to the fore this year cross-border trusts litigation. for its global product safety and recall capability. In an increasingly regulated world, big-name FIRM (REGIONAL) OF THE YEAR multinationals including Sony, Mattel and Hewlett- Charles Russell LLP (South West) Packard are turning to the firm to coordinate Charles Russell LLP stands out for the breadth and safety worldwide, where supply chains are more sophistication of its practice, advising on all aspects complex than ever. But the firm also competes of UK tax, trust, estate and succession planning, with the best in product litigation: it is defending often with an international dimension and usually a CR Bard and Stryker in headline class actions large amount of tax at stake. It also has a leading relating to medical devices, currently the hot topic charities practice, handling the full range of matters of product litigation in the UK. for charities clients, across property, employment, corporate and commercial, disputes and tax. FIRM (REGIONAL) OF THE YEAR Flint Bishop LLP (East Midlands) PROJECTS, ENERGY AND NATURAL A strong year for Ken Dixon’s team at Flint Bishop RESOURCES LLP saw it move up to the top tier for professional FIRM OF THE YEAR negligence. The firm stands out among its ranked Norton Rose Fulbright peers by acting mainly for claimants, as opposed With top-tier practices across nearly every to defendants and insurers. In 2013 the practice subcategory, Norton Rose Fulbright’s dedication to

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the projects and energy sectors, which has seen it cases. It enjoys a superlative reputation for its merge with major players in the US, Canada and inquest work; it was appointed as solicitors to Europe in recent years, is well-known. Standout the Hillsborough Inquest and is assisting the infrastructure mandates included advising the coroner into the inquest of Russian exile Alexander lenders on the restructuring of one of the largest Litvinenko. The firm is instructed in cutting-edge European PPPs, while in natural resources the matters for the Human Tissue Authority, and this firm advised a raft of lender and sponsor-side year advised on living donor transplants. New clients on a range of project financings, M&A client wins include the Legal Services Board and transactions and front-end procurement issues. The Macur Review. Prominent in both established and emerging markets, the firm also has leading renewable FIRM (SPECIALISM) OF THE YEAR energy and domestic PFI practices, the latter of Clifford Chance (Public affairs) which has seen it act on the closing of nearly all Clifford Chances public affairs offering draws of the few remaining UK waste-to-energy projects. on the significant expertise of lawyers both in London and across the firm’s European offices. FIRM (SPECIALISM) OF THE YEAR With recent clients including Bank of Scotland and Bracewell & Giuliani (UK) LLP (Oil and gas) Shell, the firm regularly advises the top end of the The firm announced its intentions in 2013 with market on their most important matters. the high-profile lateral hires of two of the most prominent energy lawyers in the market, and has FIRM (REGIONAL) OF THE YEAR continued this trend since with raids on the oil and Mills & Reeve LLP (East Anglia) gas departments of the both the Magic Circle and Mills & Reeve LLP is among the market leaders the London offices of US firms. Covering all the across all aspects of public sector work across traditional financing and M&A bases one would East Anglia, acting for universities on education expect, the team also has leading practices in matters, government departments on health reserve-based lending and is playing a prominent matters and London boroughs and district role in the nascent UK shale gas industry. With councils on local government issues. Whether it further high-profile hires strengthening the front- is advising the Department of Health on its review end construction and EPC side, the firm has made of procurement procedures or local authorities itself a fully fledged competitor to the main London on major construction projects, the strength of the players in an astonishingly short period of time. multi-disciplinary team is recognised throughout and beyond the region. FIRM (REGIONAL) OF THE YEAR Freeths (West Midlands) REAL ESTATE Freeths’ full service projects team has seen FIRM OF THE YEAR dramatic year-on-year growth since 2011. Practice Nabarro LLP head Catherine Burke is particularly experienced Nabarro puts real estate firmly at the heart of its in alternative energy, with clients including EGN practice. In recent years some City competitors Projects and Sun Credit, and the practice has have downsized, but Nabarro has grown its handled funding of large scale solar projects. capacity to a team of over 30 partners. Recent transactions include acting for an institutional PUBLIC SECTOR investor on the £1.7bn purchase of the More FIRM OF THE YEAR London estate, one of the UK’s largest-ever Fieldfisher real estate deals, and advising AXA Real Estate Fieldfisher is a first-rate name for public law Investment Managers on the £472m acquisition and continues to be instructed on high profile of Ropemaker Place.

L500UK pp02-16.indd 15 18/11/2014 16:24:12 FIRM (SPECIALISM) OF THE YEAR in personal information, including Microsoft, Mishcon de Reya (Commercial property) Facebook and GSK. The practice’s core strength Mishcon de Reya has pursued an ambitious growth lies in the ability to advise clients on relevant privacy strategy in recent years, and is reaping the rewards and data security rules worldwide, and to help them with an enviable client base which spans institutional structure globally valid compliance programs. investors and entrepreneurs. The team has worked on a number of London’s most exciting and high- FIRM (REGIONAL) OF THE YEAR profile projects, from Capco’s £8bn regeneration of Michelmores LLP (South West) Earls Court, including the £117m acquisition of a Michelmores LLP’s TMT practice has been 50% stake in the Empress State building, to Qatari going from strength to strength, acting for Diar and Delancey’s £557m investment into East a range of high-profile clients. Key examples Village, the former Olympic village. Investment, include assisting NHS IQ on a cross-border retail and hotels are all areas of strength. IP rights commercialisation project and advising British Transport Police in respect FIRM (REGIONAL) OF THE YEAR of non-performance by Northgate Information Eversheds LLP (West Midlands) Solutions in respect of case and custody Eversheds LLPs’ highly regarded Birmingham software solutions. team has made its name through strategic developments in the city, including the Bull TRANSPORT Ring, Mailbox and Rotunda. In 2014, it acted FIRM OF THE YEAR on flagship developments of New Street Stephenson Harwood station and the Pallasades shopping centre. It During the past year, Stephenson Harwood has has also been active in preparations for HS2 demonstrated its strong transport practice across and the relocation of Coventry City Council’s rail, shipping and aviation work. Attracting key headquarters. The full service team has diverse clients such as Hitachi Rail Europe, Abellio Greater specialist expertise and includes sector head Anglia, National Express, the strong international Gurjit Atwal and department head David Jones, shipping practice spans a range of matters from both highly regarded in the market. high-profile shipbuilding work to major disputes. With key lateral hires, the transport practice is TMT going from strength to strength. FIRM OF THE YEAR Bristows LLP FIRM (SPECIALISM) OF THE YEAR Bristows stands out for its excellence across a Ince & Co (Shipping) number of practice areas within the TMT sector, With true in-depth expertise, Ince & Co’s shipping advising industry leading clients such as Google, department is praised for its international outlook Spotify and British American Tobacco. With as well as domestic prowess. Its vast experience high profile hires of digital media and copyright across disputes, casualties, shipbuilding, finance specialist Theo Savvides and IT outsourcing expert and regulatory matters attracts headline clients Chris Holder, the firm is unbeaten for the level such as Gard, Norwegian Hull Club, Hoegh, of commitment it has shown to maintaining the Japan P&I Club and MSC. strength of its practice. FIRM (REGIONAL) OF THE YEAR FIRM (SPECIALISM) OF THE YEAR Shoosmiths LLP (South East) Covington & Burling LLP (Data protection) Another excellent year for Shoosmiths LLP’s transport Covington & Burling LLP enjoys a strong following practice saw Chris McClure’s team maintain its from a number of the largest, most well-known tier one aviation ranking in The Legal 500 UK. international companies that are deeply invested Illustrating the firm’s increasing international focus,

L500UK pp02-16.indd 16 18/11/2014 16:24:14 have been quick to point out that David Mercer’s IN-HOUSE (now part of the company’s executive leadership team) handling of the internal employment and restructuring issues have been ‘impeccable’ under WINNERS pressure from internal and external market forces.

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the team advised Swiss International Air Lines on the Strength in depth is its stand out quality; the lease of two Airbus aircrafts, a cross-jurisdictional partners know how business is done in Wales. matter that extended beyond the UK to Switzerland, France, Ireland and Canada. On the rail side, NORTHERN IRELAND the practice acted for Hitachi Rail Europe on the FIRM OF THE YEAR recently completed £2.7bn contract for new trains Carson McDowell on the East Coast Main Line. 2013 was a headline year for Carson McDowell, Recognition has which welcomed three highly respected partners SCOTLAND from Pinsent Masons Belfast LLP. The firm’s FIRM OF THE YEAR national reputation is going from strength to Brodies LLP strength, and in an example of the blue-chip its own rewards Brodies has had a stellar year, bolstering its offering work it is winning, it recently acted for Bord Gáis across a range of practice areas with high-profile Éireann on the sale of its Irish energy business. hires and building on its already enviable client roster. The firm’s dispute resolution and real OFFSHORE estate teams attracted particularly high praise, FIRM OF THE YEAR complementing what is a truly full-service offering. Carey Olsen In a strong and competitive market, Carey Olsen Proud to sponsor the WALES maintains a leading position in both Jersey FIRM OF THE YEAR and Guernsey, where it saw further expansion Legal 500 UK Awards Blake Morgan LLP throughout 2013. Sizeable departments allow its Blake Morgan’s dominance in the health sector partners space to specialise, which sets it apart continued in 2013, enhanced by the 2014 merger from smaller players in the Channel Islands. of Morgan Cole and Blake Lapthorn. The firm has Utilising its established brand reputation, the achieved an enviable balance of public/private firm established additional offices in the Cayman sector work in a country where the private sector Islands and BVI in 2012 and 2013 respectively, If you would like information about our services, economy remains sluggish; it benefits from a client cementing its place among the top law firms or to arrange a confidential meeting to discuss your base of dynamic Welsh and English businesses. operating across the offshore world. own asset or wealth requirements, please contact: Beverly Landais Marketing and Business Development Director T: 020 7315 6500 E: [email protected] www.saundersonhouse.co.uk

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