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Corporate and commercial
- Overview
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- Flotations: small and mid-cap
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Finance
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Insurance
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Other
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Law Firms
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London
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Corporate and commercial
- Overview
- Commercial contracts
- Corporate tax
- Customs and Excise
- EU and competition
- Equity capital markets: UK capability
- Equity capital markets: US capability
- Financial services
- Flotations: small and mid-cap
- M&A: upper mid-market and premium deals, 250m+
- M&A: lower mid-market, £50m-£250m
- M&A: smaller deals up to £50m
- M&A: US law capability
- Partnership
- Private equity: transactions
- VAT and indirect tax
- Venture capital
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Corporate and commercial
- Crime, fraud and licensing
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London
- Dispute resolution
- Overview
- Acquisition finance
- Asset finance and leasing
- Bank lending: investment grade debt and syndicated loans
- Commodities: derivatives
- Commodities: physicals
- Corporate restructuring and insolvency
- Debt capital markets
- Derivatives and structured products
- Emerging markets
- High yield
- Investment funds
- Islamic finance
- Securitisation
- Trade finance
- Overview
- Clinical negligence: claimant
- Clinical negligence: defendant
- Insurance: corporate and regulatory
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- Personal injury: defendant
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- Product liability: defendant
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- Personal tax, trusts and probate: Kent, Surrey, Sussex
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- Personal tax, trusts and probate: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx
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The Bar
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Overview
With the ongoing lack of confidence in the markets and lack of liquidity, 2009 was very much a continuation of the dismal picture painted by the swift contraction of the global financial markets and the demise of Lehman Brothers in the latter stages of 2008. Corporate teams responded to the lack of activity for premium transactions by continuing to mine the distressed deals that arose over the course of the year, as well as leveraging their finance capabilities to take a role on restructuring mandates.
The start of 2010 nonetheless saw some renewed optimism that the corporate sector might wake from its slumber. Strategic M&A deals in key sectors such as energy and telecoms provided some much needed dealflow, and the takeover of Cadbury by Kraft Foods was a notable if controversial highlight at the high end of the market. Generally firms which have traditionally looked to the premium tranche of deals found themselves competing more heavily in the mid market for deals.The stagnation in the market is reflected in our corporate rankings this year, with little change at the top end of the M&A and equity capital tables. With conditions favouring firms with strong FTSE 100/250 client rosters, the City elite maintain their hold on the top positions; Allen & Overy LLP, Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, Herbert Smith LLP, Linklaters LLP and Slaughter and May collectively make up the top two tiers in both areas.
Strategic entrepreneurial deals continued to drive the sub-£50m category, although they also felt the effects of the depressed domestic marketplace. The newly opened London office of US firm Greenberg Traurig Maher LLP is a new entry into the smaller deals category.
Private equity continues to suffer in the current climate, with a continuing dearth of transactions. Work in 2009 was focused on restructuring existing portfolios, while 2010 saw a brief pickup in new-money deals before the sovereign debt crisis in Europe hampered further growth. The ranking remains largely unchanged, with the notable exception of the promotion of Weil, Gotshal & Manges, which benefited from its involvement on some significant deals and its corporate restructuring prowess. Clifford Chance remains the dominant player in the private equity space.
Equity capital markets remained flat, with very few IPOs pricing and firms relying heavily on secondary equity issues and private placements as a result. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP and Linklaters LLP remain at the forefront of the market.
Allen & Overy LLP, Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, Herbert Smith LLP, Linklaters LLP and Slaughter and May are also dominant in the non-transactional areas, where other notable performers include Ashurst LLP and SJ Berwin LLP, for EU and competition; and Hogan Lovells International LLP, Norton Rose LLP, Simmons & Simmons, and Travers Smith LLP, for financial services.
Search News and Articles
Press releases
Legal Developments in the UK
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No substitute for experience
If there is one part of the Localism Act 2011 about which local government lawyers have considerable concerns, it is the new standards regime.- 11KBW -
CONSULTATION AND LEGITIMATE EXPECTATIONS
Clive Sheldon QC- 11KBW -
Changes to list of approved English language tests are made by the UKBA
It has been announced by the UKBA that the list of approved English language tests for those individuals applying under tiers 1,2 and 4 of the points based system has been amended. One of the main changes is the lowering of the TOEFL points score against the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). TOEFL now includes scores for spouse and partner applications. -
Important information about London 2012 released by the UKBA
Important information about the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games has been published online by the UKBA. With the UKBA expecting to carry out security checks on more than 380,000 workers and participants, it has set out detailed information for those individuals who will be travelling to the UK for the event. The information is divided into the following categories: -
Premium sponsorship for tier 2 and tier 2 and 4 sponsors
As reported in our November 2011 Update the UKBA is planning to introduce a 'premium sponsor' category and we expect that this will be in April 2012. -
Arts Council England introduces new procedure for tier 1 (exceptional talent) applicants
From 3 January 2012, individuals applying under tier 1 (exceptional talent) of the points based system will need to follow new guidelines if they wish to have their application endorsed by Arts Council England (ACE). -
The UKBA contacts tier 2 sponsors regarding COS allowances
The UKBA has been contacting authorised officers at tier 2 sponsors in relation to the new certificate of sponsorship allowance which will become effective from 6 April 2012. Any COS issued from that date will come from the new allocation. -
The UKBA updates tier 4 sponsors on educational oversight
The UKBA has reminded all current tier 4 sponsors that if they are not already subject to inspection or review by the relevant educational oversight bodies, they must apply before the deadline stated in the current sponsor guidance. -
London 2012 visa applications open for spectators
From 1 January 2012 the UKBA will begin to process visas for non-UK spectators wishing to travel to the UK to watch the Olympic and Paralympic Games. -
10% Tax Rate for Intellectual Property Confirmed
On 6 December 2011, the UK Government published further details of a lower Corporation Tax rate for IP earnings which will come into force in April 2013.
Press Releases in the UK
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The Public Law Project Wales Conference 2012, 4th April 2012
Joanne Clement will be speaking at The Public Law Project Wales Conference 2012 on 4th April 2012. This is the fourth annual PLP conference in Wales which this year will be opening by John Wotton, President of the Law Society. The programme includes plenary sessions on The top ten judicial review cases in Wales, Litigating the cuts, and The tribunal system in Wales as well as a panel discussion on Public law in a future Wales. Seminar topics include:- 11KBW -
We’re all in it together says Bindmans medical negligence lawyer
RBS Chief Stephen Hester was offered a bonus of £963,000 on top of his annual £1.2million salary. We own an 82% share in this bank. Compare this to a family whose son was injured at birth, and finally 20 years later receives a £3.35m settlement payment to cover an injury that will last his life time. -
Bindmans partner Mike Schwarz featured in Big Issue
Bindmans partner, Mike Schwarz , gives interview to Big Issue in advance of Institute of Employment Rights talks in Liverpool and London. -
High Court to rule on Bindmans “locked-in syndrome” case – an issue of interest worldwide!
The case of a severely-disabled 57-year-old man who wants a judge to allow a doctor to “lawfully” end his life reached the High Court on Monday. -
Bindmans immigration lawyer Liz Barratt backs film about Aboriginal Elder
Bindmans client Francis Firebrace is one of Australia’s most original indigenous storytellers and an Aboriginal Elder. -
Penningtons boosts healthcare practice with key partner hire
London and South East law firm Penningtons Solicitors LLP is pleased to announce that it has recruited John Hargreaves to head its healthcare team. John joins Penningtons as a partner from Stephenson Harwood, where he had led the health and care group for the past five years. He will be based at Penningtons' City office. -
Penningtons partner speaks at key higher education event
Nichola Carter, partner and head of immigration at Penningtons Solicitors LLP, was one of the speakers at the Westminster Higher Education Forum on 2 February. The seminar was an opportunity to assess the role of UK universities in a rapidly changing global market for higher education. Nichola discussed the student immigration system including current Government policy and ways in which the UK's reputation as an international centre of education can be improved. -
Could Britain have tried Saif Gaddafi?
Geoffrey Bindman comments on the limits of universal jurisdiction -
Procurement update: Court of Appeal rules on service concessions and implied contract claims
In JBW Ltd v Ministry of Justice [2012] EWCA Civ 8 (16 January 2011), the Court of Appeal has analysed and applied recent Court of Justice case-law on the definition of “services concession” contract and made an important ruling on the availability in procurement litigation of claims based on an implied contract created by an invitation to tender.- 11KBW -
Bindmans partner Tamsin Allen achieves High Court victory for phone hacking victims
Tamsin Allen , who heads the firm’s media practice, has secured settlements against News Group Newspapers Ltd for the former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, Chris Bryant MP, Denis MacShane MP, journalists Joan Smith and Tom Rowland and Christopher Shipman.