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  1. Commercial contracts
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Baker & McKenzie LLP’s specialist commercial practice handles the full range of contractual and advisory work for an array of household names across a breadth of sectors. The ten-partner team has a wealth of experience in distribution and agency agreements, outsourcing and procurement, with a particular aptitude for international and cross-jurisdictional instructions. Ilana Saltzman, who is ‘reliable, very pragmatic and extremely knowledgeable’, and the ‘very impressive’ Duncan Reid-Thomas co-head a team that ‘gets actively involved to drive a transaction forward’. It acts as primary commercial counsel on a pan-European basis for Carlsberg, and advises Porsche UK on contractual and regulatory matters. Steve Holmes is ‘practical, highly responsive and collaborative’, and in 2011 advised Accenture, Arqiva and Google. David Halliday has experience negotiating particularly sensitive outsourcing transactions.

The 18-partner team at Bird & Bird impresses with ‘expert knowledge based on hands-on commercial experience’, and delivers a level of service ‘second to none’. It remains at the forefront of ITO and BPO projects, but commercial contracts spanning the health, communications, energy and defence sectors also account for a significant proportion of mandates. The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) instructed the firm in relation to the roll-out of 53 million smart meters across the UK. Recent highlights also include advising the Ministry of Justice on large-scale multiple-contract technology procurements, and advising seven NHS trusts on the renegotiation of complex IT hosting and support contracts. Practice head Mark Leach is ‘a very safe pair of hands’: ‘calm, measured and pragmatic’. Peter Elliott heads the public procurement group; and Christian Bartsch has outsourcing expertise in the financial services sector, and ‘looks at the big picture, maintains strong relationships and prioritises the interests of his clients’.

The size and expertise of the cross-practice commercial team at Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP continues to attract financial services institutions and FTSE 100 companies, alongside public sector and international government clients. The group of 23 partners is active in outsourcing work in the life sciences, telecoms and media industries, as well as in complex procurement projects. In 2011, the team acted for three of India’s largest software development companies, undertook a range of matters for longstanding clients Accenture and BBC Worldwide, and was appointed to the Vodafone panel. Robert Shooter led the advice to the FCO in the reprocurement of its desktop services. Michael Chissick heads the group; Paul Barton is highly regarded; and Simon Briskman’s advice ‘is user friendly, tailored and accessible’.

Addleshaw Goddard LLP’s team performs strongly across three core sectors – retail, financial services and the public sector – with high-profile work generated from strategic panel wins. It assisted Sainsbury’s on a range of commercial contract matters from logistics to payment processing, while non-contentious procurement work included advising a PCT in the North West in relation to a new general hospital. Up-and-coming associate James Falle acted in a variety of contentious procurement matters for public sector clients, both on the claimant and defendant side. Mike Lowry advised a major plc on the outsourcing of global IT services. Jonathan Davey leads the group, which was recently reappointed to the British Airways panel; other clients include Diageo, The Co-operative Group, Aviva, and new gain Reckitt Benckiser. Anna Rodbourne was recently promoted to partner.

The ‘outstanding’ group at Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is noted for its ‘prompt, succinct and practical advice, underpinned by not only sound legal knowledge, but also an in-depth awareness of the client’s industry’. Travelex, Thames Water and National Grid instructed the team across a full range of commercial contract matters, including facilities management arrangements and large-scale outsourcings. It advised longstanding client Tesco in relation to the installation and maintenance of computer equipment across 2,500 stores and distribution centres throughout Europe; and also acted for the Olympic Development Agency on all public procurement issues relating to the construction, development and sale of the Olympic Park. Mark Lewis ‘seems to know everyone and everything in the BPO space’, and acts for clients including Tata Consultancy Services. Richard Shaw, Richard Chapman and Craig Rattray are also recommended.

Kit Burden heads the UK technology, sourcing and commercial group at DLA Piper UK LLP and is ‘extremely experienced’, particularly in large-scale outsourcing mandates, and brings ‘insight and value to complex deal structures and troubled projects’. ‘Top practitioner’ Richard Bonnar leads on the public sector outsourcing side, which sits alongside the firm’s broader distribution, global logistics and facilities management work. In 2011, Iain Bowler advised OJSC Sollers in the negotiation and implementation of 32 commercial agreements that underpin Ford’s $4bn joint venture with the client in Russia. Tata Communications, Honda, Barclays and the Department for Work and Pensions are all clients.

Commercial contract and outsourcing work is a core area for RPC; following recent recruitment, the firm has a 12-partner team assisted by 17 associates, and as a unit it provides an ‘excellent, results-driven service’ and displays ‘great stamina on major deals’. David Meredith and Andrew Sutherland show ‘impressive strategic thinking’, and recently led the advice to SITA on a global managed cloud computing infrastructure. Longstanding clients include HMV, Sports Direct and the National Trust, alongside new gains HTC, CBS Interactive and Spectrum Brands. Tim Anderson handles a broad range of commercial work for clients in the publishing arena, notably Associated Newspapers. Oliver Bray is well respected by peers, and Sanjay Pritam is ‘a confident, reliable and commercial operator’.

The standalone commercial team at Travers Smith LLP, is led by the ‘cool and calm’ Tom Purton. ‘Very client focused’, ‘reliable’ and ‘a pleasure to work with’, it handles the full spectrum of outsourcing and procurement, manufacturing and distribution, and joint venture work. It advised NBNK Investments in relation to key outsourcing and supply arrangements for its £1.5bn bid for 632 Lloyds branches and other UK banking assets. It gained LK Bennett, You View and Immediate Media as new clients, and advised Macquarie Bank on its contractual arrangements with British Gas to purchase and install smart meters nationwide. The ‘methodical and accurate’ Richard Brown ‘provides clear, commercially focused advice, and is always available to help’.

The size and scope of Allen & Overy LLP’s commercial offering internationally means it is well placed to accommodate larger multi-jurisdictional matters requiring cross-border expertise. Jane Finlayson-Brown co-heads the outsourcing team with Claire Wright, who balances ‘legal robustness and commercial pragmatism’. It advised a global bank on a long-term outsourcing of technology, telecoms and network products in a transaction which spanned 47 jurisdictions and involved 21 of the firm’s offices. Jim Ford advised Shell on a complex IT separation and system cloning arrangement, and Colleen Keck has experience in joint ventures and distribution and supply agreements within the pharmaceutical industry. Honda and Citibank are among notable clients.

The 16-partner team at CMS Cameron McKenna LLP ‘represents good value for money, and delivers a high-quality, professional but personal service’. The firm’s pan-European capability was a contributory factor in securing panel appointments with global client BP as well as MetLife. Financial services, energy and privatised UK services clients are key to the practice, with Royal Mail Group recently instructing the team on a complex ten-year facilities management outsourcing agreement. Practice head John Armstrong acts for clients including Lloyds Banking Group and the National Grid. Ian Stevens is ‘focused and approachable’; Emma Burnett has ITO and data protection expertise; and David Marks is active in the life sciences and infrastructure space, recently acting for Transport for London.

At Herbert Smith LLP, specialists from key disciplines provide a full service to many FTSE 100, FTSE 250 and public sector clients; the cross-practice team is noted for its ‘excellent understanding’ of relevant markets and commercial risks. Mark Turner has BPO, offshoring and multi-jurisdictional outsourcing expertise, and recently advised Transport for London on the termination of its £1.5bn agreement with Cubic Corporation for its ticketing and fares collection system. Nick Elverston, a specialist in complex joint ventures, advised BSkyB on its venture capital equity investment in start-up Zeebox Limited, including its long-term commercial arrangements. Nick Pantlin acted in the team’s headline instruction of 2011, a two-phase $200m global outsourcing and IT project for Man Group.

Peter Watts’ core commercial team at Hogan Lovells International LLP is boosted by experts in areas of financial services and IT outsourcing, energy and infrastructure, and public procurement. It advises Nintendo and John Lewis/Waitrose on day-to-day commercial agreements, and assists clients such as SABMiller and Citibank on major outsourcing contracts. The ‘outstanding’ Paul Joukador, who displays ‘great drafting and masterful negotiating skills’, leads the advice to key client Ford. In 2011, procurement specialist Kate Rees joined as a consultant from Pinsent Masons LLP. The ‘knowledge, experience and negotiating skills’ exhibited by the team make it ‘excellent value for money’.

The commercial, outsourcing and technology group at Latham & Watkins LLP provides ‘nothing but exemplary’ service to its client base of financial institutions and blue-chip corporate clients. The four partners and nine associates are ‘experts in their field, always willing to assist, and really concentrate to understand the business principles and requirements prior to engaging’. Andrew Moyle advised on a major IT and BPO agreement for the Commercial Bank of Qatar; and Luke Grubb assisted airline Star Alliance with its digital media and IT procurement matters. Lloyds Banking Group, Sony Music and Yahoo! are other noteworthy clients of the team. Martin Cotterill chairs the global IT practice, and Justin Cornish’s knowledge of IT agreements in the context of South Africa is ‘uncontested’.

David Isaac heads both the outsourcing and public sector practices at Pinsent Masons LLP, and regularly leads on major procurements and renegotiations. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is a new client, and instructed the team in relation to a £1bn mixed infrastructure and services project to provide superfast broadband. Simon Colvin led a team advising the Ministry of Justice on several high-value public sector procurement matters. Chartis, AXA and BAE Systems are also clients. Marc Dautlich joined the team in September 2011 from Olswang, and contributes data protection and technology expertise. Peter Feehan enjoys an excellent reputation in the energy sector.

Slaughter and May has a dedicated strategic sourcing group, and also handles complex joint venture and contractual work for FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 clients. The ‘truly excellent’ Rob Sumroy heads the sourcing team, which is noted for its ‘first-class service all round’ and recently assisted Royal Mail, GE, Marks & Spencer, and Ladbrokes. Among its other highlights, it advised Lend Lease on contracts including telecoms and security arrangements for the Olympic Park; and Westfield Group in a joint venture to develop a €1bn shopping centre in Milan.

The 11-partner team at Wragge & Co LLP provides ‘timely, commercial and relevant’ advice and is ‘a pleasure to deal with’, and acts for clients as diverse as Transport for London, Citibank and NHS Midlands and East. It assisted Marks & Spencer in relation to an array of commercial and IT contracts with an overall value estimated at over £100m per annum. It also advised Premier Foods on a volume of high-value contracts, including supply of goods and distribution agreements, consultancy terms and large outsourcing transactions. Department head and ‘industry star’ David Lowe is ‘pragmatic, commercial and measured in everything he does’; and Sally Mewies is ‘a real people person’ and ‘always delivers on what she promises’.

During 2011, Ashurst consolidated various strands of expertise to form a cross-departmental outsourcing and procurement sub-group, which has already won instructions from new clients including WorldPay, Barclays and Grosvenor Estates. The ‘outstanding’ team is ‘particularly good at understanding specific concerns and tailoring teams to meet clients ’ needs’, and effective as a ‘driving force pushing negotiations forward’. ‘Tenacious’ new partner Christopher Bates advised Equitable Life and Thomson Reuters in relation to outsourcing agreements. Mark Lubbock acted for Digital Cinema Media and Healthcare at Home in supply matters.

Burges Salmon LLP continues to win instructions from notable new commercial clients, in areas such as outsourcing, joint ventures, agency and distribution, and manufacturing. Andrew Dunlop led the advice to Inchcape on its global IT outsourcing and offshoring arrangements with SAP and Tata Consultancy Services. John Houlden is particularly active on the public procurement side, and recently advised the MoD and the Home Office, as well as acting for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority in the transfer of a site to URENCO. The ‘efficient, practical and prompt’ Philip Davey heads the team, and Brioney Thomas was promoted to partner in 2011.

The ‘proactive and professional’ group at Eversheds LLP demonstrates particular expertise with ITO, FMO and middle office deals for the financial services sector, and is ‘continuously bringing new ideas to the table to fulfil customer needs’. Team head Simon Gamlin has an ‘uncanny balance of legal expertise, industry knowledge and an ability to provide commercially astute and practical, workable solutions’, and has a ‘proactive and easy-to-work-with personality’. The highly rated Peter McCormack advised longstanding client Centrica on a large-scale facilities outsourcing project, and Birmingham-based Charlotte Walker-Osborn acted on an award-winning outsourcing for Mitchells & Butler in relation to its IT, networks and hardware. RBS, Capital One and Flybe are other clients.

Fladgate LLP’s team specialises in operational matters and commercial agreements across a wide range of sectors, and is led by e-business and IT expert Eddie Powell. It assisted Cambridge Assessment with the transfer of its outsourcing for personalised print production, and acted for Hitachi Zosen Inova AG in the design and construction of energy-from-waste plants throughout the UK. The team also advised a leading medical professional body in negotiations with Premium Credit, a Bank of America subsidiary, relating to a multimillion-pound subscription credit scheme. Procurement and outsourcing specialist Anthony Lee is recommended, and Andrew Kaufman has an extensive international client base.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP provides IP and IT related outsourcing services for financial, commercial and industrial clients across the communications, media, consumer products, healthcare and financial services sectors. Andrew Craig has experience in high-profile multi-jurisdictional outsourcing and offshoring deals, and has assisted on joint venture, licensing and other commercial arrangements. Avril Martindale acted for the organising committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games on brand protection and other commercial issues in preparation for the London 2012 events.

The dedicated commercial team at Lawrence Graham LLP has ‘excellent knowledge in contract creation and IT’, and has forged relationships with many of the leading Indian technology suppliers. It recently advised NIIT on a global outsourcing contract to provide training services to Shell. Healthcare sector clients are another key source of work, and in 2011 Rosemary Choueka advised Circle Health, the first private company to be offered an operating franchise to run an NHS acute hospital trust, on procurement matters. The vastly experienced Peter Brudenall leads the team, which has also acted for McDonald’s and recently won a mandate relating to contractual agreements for the viewing gallery at The Shard.

The commercial practice at Linklaters LLP’s draws heavily on the firm’s TMT practice, of which John Crozier is the global head. The four-partner team advised the Post Office on its operational separation from parent company Royal Mail, and was instructed by a number of major financial services clients on a range of BPO and ITO matters. Richard Cumbley has contentious and non-contentious IT outsourcing expertise, and has been advising on a $400m global outsourcing project for major client BP. Julian Cunningham-Day is recommended for his IT procurement and offshoring expertise.

Macfarlanes LLP services UK and international clients, both on the provider and customer side of outsourcing arrangements, spanning the financial services, publishing, healthcare and charities sectors. It assisted ICAP Management Services with outsourcing arrangements for the provision of electronic trading platform ‘i-Swap’ and advised Air Liquide on the tender for outsourcing of the provision of home oxygen therapy services for NHS primary care trusts. Representative clients include Castle Trust Capital, Tech Mahindra and the Royal Parks Foundation. Commercial department head Jeremy Courtenay-Stamp and Rupert Casey are rated.

Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP’s strong global outsourcing practice combines commercial and litigation capability to provide technology-focused advice to prestigious private and public sector clients; it advises four of the top ten FTSE companies on outsourcing matters. It advised AstraZeneca on the termination of its £1bn IT infrastructure contract with IBM; assisted the NHS in renegotiations with BT; and advised Vodafone in relation to its global IT sourcing strategy. Practice head Laurence Jacobs has a ‘sharp mind that combines an aura of knowledge and experience’, and Sean Keaton is ‘energetic and engaging’.

End-to-end outsourcing is a mainstay of Morrison & Foerster (UK) LLP’s commercial practice, in line with the firm’s strong technology focus. Alistair Maughan heads the group and acts for leading Japanese technology company NTT Data as well as financial services clients such as Phoenix Group and Investec Bank, which in 2011 instructed the group on a card processing outsourcing transaction. The team also acted for longstanding client HMRC on its ‘real-time information’ project designed to improve the way in which UK employers submit tax information. Chris Coulter has been particularly busy in the entertainment sector, advising clients including Odeon & UCI Cinemas.

Norton Rose LLP’s cross-practice team impresses with its ‘depth of quality’, and has attracted instructions from clients such as PwC, Ernst & Young and HSBC. Its ‘knowledge in the outsourcing market and general business acumen is extremely valuable and really complements the team’s strong legal expertise’. Technology practice head Mike Rebeiro has ‘tremendous industry experience and is a top-flight negotiator’. He led the advice to Friends Life on a £1.4bn 15-year IT and customer service function outsourcing project involving the transfer of over 1,900 staff.

Many FTSE 100 clients turn to Olswang for advice on strategic sourcing transactions involving technology and business processes. The team enjoyed first-time appointments to the legal panels of BP and Vodafone, and advised BAE Systems on its second-generation HR business process outsourcing. Team head Dominic Dryden is ‘very pragmatic’ and ‘understands commercial pressures’; and Matthew Bennett is ‘thorough, astute and helpful’, and ‘indispensable in a large negotiation’.

SJ Berwin LLP’s standalone commerce and technology team has longstanding relationships with some major names. Practice head Jeremy Schrire has licensing and gaming expertise, and advised Ladbrokes on a range of key commercial contracts, including those relating to its online gaming business. The team also advised Associated British Foods in relation to a variety of procurement and manufacturing issues, and Marks & Spencer on the restructuring of its UK logistics supply chain. Andrew Shindler is ‘a key negotiator’, and a ‘good team player’.

SNR Denton handles a broad range of high-quality instructions. Team head Dan Burge has a focus on the energy sector, and advised EDF Energy in relation to its ambitious £1bn smart metering programme. Amanda Lewis has experience in a diverse range of outsourcing agreements, having advised financial services clients including Wells Fargo and public sector entities such as Cheshire Police and Bristol City Council. TMT specialist Scott Singer advised Sainsbury’s Bank in relation to the appointment of RBS Insurance as provider of branded motor insurance products. The MoD, EMI and Virgin Atlantic are also key clients.

The dedicated practice at Simmons & Simmons LLP provides ‘fantastic advice’, and is ‘very strong in both advising on discrete points, and in supporting and leading commercial transactions’. Mark Dewar’s team undertakes multi-jurisdictional outsourcing and supply chain work and has a strong sector approach, focusing on financial services, TMT, life sciences, and energy and infrastructure. It advised O2/Telefónica on all aspects of its sale, leaseback and hire agreements with Macquarie; and assisted Manganese Bronze on a sales and distribution agreement with Chinese car manufacturer Geely. RBS, the MoD and Strauss Water are active clients. Alexander Brown and James Cotter are noted for their negotiation skills.

Blake Lapthorn acts for clients ranging from start-ups to multinationals, in areas including business process outsourcing and human resource outsourcing. Simon Stokes has notable experience advising banking clients, and recruitment and resourcing specialist Bridget Wood advises suppliers and end users of staffing services in Europe and worldwide. CGI Information Systems is a longstanding client.

At Bond Pearce LLP, Southampton-based Nick Barwood heads the procurement, outsourcing and projects department, and has particular expertise in logistics, supply chain management and third party services contracts. Gareth Jones recently advised a consortium of NHS trusts in Wales on the re-procurement of financial and procurement services. Technology department head Julian Hamblin has acted for Ordnance Survey and English Heritage. Andrew Kimble is a key player for data protection work.

Jonathon Little, Elizabeth Robertson and newly promoted partner Rhys Thomas make up the team at Jones Day. The firm recently assisted Brit Insurance with major offshore ITO and BPO contracts, and counts Tech Mahindra, Legal and General and Ted Baker among its clients.

K&L Gates LLP’s team in London draws on the firm’s broader global platform to assist in IT, outsourcing and real estate related matters. Heading the group, Howard Kleiman has extensive experience in large-scale outsourcing projects, particularly in the financial services sector, and leads the advice to corporate information outsourcing specialist Williams Lea. CB Richard Ellis and Capgemini also instruct the team.

Commercial contracting work goes to the heart of Kemp Little LLP’s practice. As well as a being a ‘niche firm for IT outsourcing’, it handles procurement, supply and facilities management mandates, and is noted for its ‘good competitive rates’. The team advised FTSE 100 technology company Smiths Group, a longstanding client, on a strategic offshore outsourcing contract, and Accenture in relation to the provision of outsourced services to the Department for Work and Pensions, a deal worth more than $100m per annum. Richard Kemp and head of outsourcing Paul O’Hare are highly rated.

Peter Dickinson and Mark Prinsley co-head the team at Mayer Brown International LLP, which recently acted for Unilever in an IT outsourcing project across the Americas, Asia, Africa, Turkey and the Middle East, as well as the renegotiation of the terms of its master services agreement with Accenture. EMI Music and GE Capital are also clients. The team is ‘bright, capable and technically skilled’, and noted for its ‘clarity’ and ‘organisation’.

Mishcon de Reya combines its contentious and non-contentious commercial expertise to provide bespoke commercial contracts advice. Typical mandates range from multi-party collaboration and licensing agreements to agency and distribution agreements for clients across the life sciences, financial services, sports and digital/IT sectors. Lewis Cohen heads the team, and Martyn Hann ‘thinks outside the box’.

The UK-wide commercial group at Osborne Clarke is ‘willing and pleasant’ and has ‘a strong team ethos’. Led by Paul Gardner, it is sole legal adviser to Western Power Distribution and recently advised on procurements ranging from the purchase of helicopters to electricity distribution, with a total value in excess of £100m. It also advised The Environment Agency and Everything Everywhere. The ‘fantastic’ Lara Burch is recommended; she ‘listens, and tailors advice accordingly’.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP’s sourcing group undertakes the full range of BPO, ITO, facilities management and infrastructure outsourcing mandates, drawing on the firm’s global capabilities. It acts for prestigious clients in a range of sectors, including GlaxoSmithKline, Barclays, The Co-operative Group, and the Inland Revenue, which instructed it in relation to a complex second-generation IT outsourcing. Tim Wright and Ian Ferguson lead the pack.

Alex Hamilton, David Skinner, Andrew Giverin and Jason McQuillen are the founding partners of specialist outsourcing, technology and commercial contracts firm Radiant Law. Skinner advised on a 15-year agreement under which Friends Life is to transfer half of the IT and customer services functions of its UK Heritage business to Diligenta. The team also acted for key client Deutsche Bank in the rollout of its facilities management outsourcing programme across 47 countries. The London Stock Exchange and the Barbican are other active clients. Anna Cook recently joined the group from Wedlake Bell LLP.

Stephenson Harwood has a depth of experience in consumer brands, and expertise in the financial services and pharmaceutical industries, with high-profile clients including leading Indian healthcare company Piramal. John Buyers heads the team and recently advised on a major outsourcing for a UK insurer. Dan Holland has experience in supply chain outsourcing and manufacturing agreements, and recently assisted Guernsey Post. The team recently won appointment to Barclays Bank’s commercial panel.

The team at Taylor Wessing LLP is ‘practical, responsive’, ‘commercial as well as legal’, and ‘a pleasure to work with’. It has particular expertise in data centre, financial services and recruitment sector outsourcings, and draws on the wider firm’s strength in IT and real estate. Graham Hann’s team advised recruitment services provider Robert Walters in respect of projects with major banks, and acted for CMC Markets, the spreadbetting provider, on a major pan-European outsourcing project. Glyn Morgan is also recommended, along with telecoms specialist Tracey Sheehan, who joined from Squire Sanders LLP in April 2011.

At Trowers & Hamlins LLP, public sector commercial team head Helen Randall has ‘great knowledge of the law but also great understanding of the client’, and corporate partner Riccardo Abbate has outsourcing and technology expertise. The team advised West Midlands Police and Surrey Police on the procurement of back and middle office functions, and acted for Alliance Homes in the procurement of photovoltaic panels to be retro-fitted to the roofs of social housing.

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