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Index of tables
Flotations: small and mid-cap
Leading individuals
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- Robert Boyle Macfarlanes LLP
- Peter Bradley Stephenson Harwood
- Anthony Brockbank Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP
- David Collins Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP
- Mark Curtis Simmons & Simmons
- Giles Elliott Jones Day
- Andrew Gillen Travers Smith LLP
- Lesley Gregory Memery Crystal LLP
- Jon Harris Pinsent Masons
- Nicholas Holmes Ashurst LLP
- Iain Newman Nabarro LLP
- Richard Sheen Norton Rose LLP
- Tim Stocks Taylor Wessing LLP
- Spencer Summerfield Travers Smith LLP
- Martin Thomas Chadbourne & Parke (London) LLP
A ‘market leader’, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP retains one of the standout practices of the mid-market, and handled eight IPOs in 2010. Alex Latner advised Liberum Capital as NOMAD and broker on Squarestone Brasil’s £28m IPO in 2010; Benjamin Lee represented Cenkos Securities as NOMAD and broker on CSF Group’s IPO; and Jonathan Morris advised Seymour Pierce on the $10.4m IPO of Indian film company Photon Kathaas Productions. David Collins is practice head.
The ‘first-class, timely and accurate’ team at Norton Rose LLP has a ‘fantastic practice’, with clients praising the ‘competent and tactful delivery of advice’. The firm is active in the oil and gas arena, and in 2010, Raj Karia advised Liberum Capital as NOMAD and bookrunner on Zanaga Iron Ore Company’s $750m IPO. On the issuer side, the ‘very good’ Simon FT Cox represented Petro Matad in its $54m secondary fundraising on AIM, and Richard Sheen advised Ludgate Environmental Fund on a secondary placing. Elsewhere, Julian Stanier advised Jeffries and Cenkos as joint bookrunnners in a £70m placing by Avanti Communications.
Providing ‘rapid response times and innovative solutions’, Ashurst LLP is rated as ‘technically very strong’. Highlights of 2010 included advising RBS Hoare Govett on Sherbourne’s £105m IPO; and JP Morgan Cazenove as bookrunner of Aberforth Geared Income Trust’s £75m IPO. Issuer clients include EnQuest, Helical Bar and RPC Group. Nicholas Holmes, Nick Williamson, and Nick Bryans are recommended. Jonathan Parry made partner in 2010.
DLA Piper UK LLP handles large deals for an impressive roster of clients, including Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank. On the issuer side, Jon Hayes led in advising Better Capital in its move from AIM to the Official List and a £67.6m fundraising. Head of capital markets Alex Tamlyn recently advised Investec Bank.
Lawrence Graham LLP has a ‘very good’ mid-market practice. John Reed and Oliver Riley advised BlackRock Frontiers Investment Trust on its admission and £95m placing on the London Stock Exchange; and Tom Nicholls advised Indian company KSK Power Ventur on its Standard Listing on the London Stock Exchange and subsequent £62.5m fundraising. Jeffrey Elway is recommended.
Iain Newman leads the ‘very capable’ team at Nabarro LLP. Highlights of 2010 included advising Cenkos as NOMAD and broker on the £130m IPO of SKIL Ports & Logistics, and Sportingbet in its move from AIM to the main market. Alasdair Steele advised Arden Partners as financial adviser and broker on KSK Power Ventur’s secondary listing on the London Stock Exchange.
The ‘very good’ Max Audley and ‘unflappable and thorough’ Paul Blackmore lead the ‘first-class’ team at Olswang. ‘Well above the average in terms of legal talent and knowledge’, the team is valued for its ‘straightforward advice’ and ‘imaginative and innovative approach’. Paul Guite is a ‘very good all-rounder’; Tony Leifer has ‘strong technical knowledge’; and Simon Morgan is ‘extremely diligent’. Recent clients include Information Technologies and Chrysalis, and brokers Winterflood Securities and Jendens Securities.
Renowned for its focus and expertise in Asia, Stephenson Harwood has a strong offering in the mid-market, regularly representing issuer clients. Peter Bradley recently advised Malaysian data centre company CFS Group on its IPO on AIM, and also acted for Indian company iEnergizer on its £36m IPO. Tony Edwards is currently advising Petrolatina on its proposed IPO.
Travers Smith LLP is a ‘top-class outfit’ rated for its ‘high level of partner input’. The ‘excellent’ Spencer Summerfield recently advised NBNK Investments on its £50m IPO; Neal Watson advised Fairfax as NOMAD and Promethean Investments as shareholder on the £50m IPO of Cambria Automobiles; and Aaron Stocks advised Metric Property Investments in its £190m IPO and admission to the main market. Andrew Gillen is ‘very measured and commercial’. The firm added US capability to the team in March 2011 with the hire of Charles Casassa from Clifford Chance.
Addleshaw Goddard LLP is recommended for mid-market matters, with Simon Griffiths at the helm of the practice. In 2010, the team advised Rockhopper Exploration on its £206m share placing on AIM. Newly promoted partner Nick Pearey advised Betfair’s founder and chairman in the selling of his stake in the £1.3bn IPO. Macquarie Capital and Execution Noble are also clients.
CMS Cameron McKenna LLP has seen some changes of late, with the departure of Michael Jones, who joined a client as general counsel, and the strengthening of its US component with the hire of Daniel Winterfeldt from Simmons & Simmons. Gary Green advised Russian and Ukrainian dairy producer Milkiland on its PLN236m IPO on the Warsaw Stock Exchange.
Charles Russell LLP has experience advising issuer clients. Highlights of 2010 included practice head Simon Gilbert advising Origo Partners on a $30m placing and a $60m placing and listing on AIM, and also acting for Mwana Africa on two cash placings totalling £16.8m. Clive Hopewell acts for clients including Centamin Egypt.
The ‘extremely good’ team at Covington & Burling LLP advised Baltic Oil Terminals on a £4.1m placing on AIM in 2010, and Piper Jaffray on the placing and open offer of Vernalis. Simon Amies provides ‘solid and commercial legal advice’; and Peter Laveran-Stiebar handles US matters. Paul Claydon, Natalie Diep, James Halstead and James Gubbins joined from Morrison & Foerster (UK) LLP, significantly boosting the practice.
With ‘very good industry knowledge’, Eversheds LLP advises both issuers and broker clients on AIM transactions. The ‘experienced and dependable’ Neil Matthews acted for Ilika on its £20m IPO in April 2010; and Chris Halliday advised Libertas Capital as NOMAD and broker in three IPOs on AIM totalling £83m. Stephen Nash is also recommended.
Energy and natural resources remain a key focus for Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP. The ‘innovative’ Dominic Gurney-Champion advised RBC Capital Markets on Kea Petroleum’s £40m flotation, and Anthony Brockbank advised KPMG Corporate Finance and Mirabaud Securities on the $60m flotation and placing of Central Asia Metals. The ‘first-class and readily accessible’ team is rated for its ‘commercially sound approach’. Amerjit Kalirai joined from Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP.
Giles Elliott leads the capital markets team at Jones Day. The group acts for banks including JP Morgan Cazenove and Jefferies & Co, as well as a number of issuer clients.
K&L Gates has a solid reputation for advising issuer clients. Jeremy Landau acted for HaloSource on its $80m placing and IPO on AIM, and also advised Brady on a £15m secondary offering. The team also represented the Minister of the State Treasury of the Republic of Poland as selling shareholder in the $2.6bn IPO of PZU. Paul Tetlow and James Green joined from Hunton & Williams in 2011.
Robert Boyle leads the team at Macfarlanes LLP, and notably advised Vallar on its £707m IPO in 2010. Elsewhere, the ‘fantastic’ team advised JP Morgan Securities on a £140m rights issue and warrant placing by Imperial Innovations Group. Graham Gibb is recommended.
Providing ‘contextual and concise’ advice, Mayer Brown International LLP has substantial experience in the oil and gas sector. ‘Best in class for the price range’, the team advised Entertainment One in its move from AIM to a standard listing on the London Stock Exchange, and also advised Imperial Innovations in a £140m rights issue. ‘Excellent in every way’, Robert Hamill is a ‘sector specialist in global energy’. Kate Ball-Dodd has a ‘solid grasp on the minutiae’, and Stephanie Bates and William Charnley are also recommended.
Lesley Gregory heads up the team at Memery Crystal LLP, which has expertise in the mining, and oil and gas sectors. In 2010, Nick Davis advised new client African Mining & Exploration on its £4.3m IPO. The team also acts for broker clients, including XCAP Securities, Collins Stewart and Fairfax.
‘Very cost effective and capable’, Osborne Clarke has the ‘commercial and pragmatic’ Ray Berg and Patrick Graves, who is also recommended. In 2010, Jonathan King advised Evolution Securities as NOMAD and broker on the £70m IPO of Argos Resources on AIM, and also Digital Barriers on its admission to AIM and £25m placing. TalkTalk Telecom, French Connection and Tribal Group are also key clients.
Pinsent Masons ‘pulls out all the stops’ for clients. It acted for Horizon Acquisition Company on its £417.7m IPO and admission to the main market in 2010. The ‘knowledgeable and pragmatic’ Jon Harris is ‘one of the most effective lawyers in the AIM market’. Rob Hutchings and Stephen Levy both relocated to the firm’s London office in 2010, from Leeds and Manchester respectively.
Shepherd and Wedderburn’s team is recommended for its energy sector expertise, and is noted for its ‘consistently excellent service’ and ‘calm, methodical manner’. ‘Particularly good in the investment funds arena’, Michael Wylie advised Aberdeen Latin American Income Fund on its £50m IPO and fundraising on the main market. Walter Blake has a ‘prodigious work rate’; and Philip Knowles and Robert Lyons are also recommended. Bank clients include Numis Securities and Collins Stewart.
Simmons & Simmons fields a ‘very good’ team featuring the highly recommended Chris Horton. It has a depth of expertise advising NOMADs and brokers, acting for Evolution Securities and RBS Hoare Govett. In 2010 the team advised Powerflute Oyj on a £25m placing and rights issue.
‘Excellent across all areas’, Beachcroft advises issuer clients on AIM and PLUS transactions. Nick Gibbon is recommended, and Matthew Darling is an ‘excellent commercial lawyer and problem solver’. Associate Michelle Jones is an ‘absolutely safe pair of hands’.
John Turnbull at Bircham Dyson Bell LLP advised BWA Group on its admission to PLUS in 2010. The team continues to advise AIM-listed clients including Quadrise Fuels and Metrodome Group.
‘Outstanding in all respects’, the team at Bird & Bird expanded in 2010 with the hire of ‘excellent negotiator’ Richard Eaton and Struan Penwarden from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (Europe) LLP. The team advised blinkx on a share offering to raise £19.5m. Simon Allport is a ‘technical expert’.
The ‘extremely good’ team at Cobbetts LLP is highly rated for its knowledge of the oil, gas and mining industries. Charles Bond acted for Strand Hanson and Mirabaud Securities on Caparo Energy’s admission to AIM and a £50.2m placing. Daniel O’Gorman also advised healthcare IT company EMIS Group on a £50m fundraising and £175m admission to AIM. Andrew Wright is praised for his ‘commercial strength and practical advice’, and Sefton Collett is ‘thorough and efficient’.
Fasken Martineau LLP has expertise across the oil and gas, mining, telecoms and life sciences sectors. June Paddock and Abayomi Akinjide advised Sinclair Pharma on a £19m placing and open offer; and David Smith acted for Kea Petroleum on its incorporation, three equity fundraising rounds and its admission to AIM. Catherine Moss joined from Halliwells in 2010.
Ashley Reeback at Finers Stephens Innocent LLP advised Cenkos Securities as NOMAD and broker on a £7.75m placing of shares on AIM. Issuer clients include Mirada and Jelf Group.
Fladgate LLP provides ‘fully considered solutions’, and recently advised PeerTV on its IPO and admission to AIM. David Robinson is ‘highly knowledgeable and proactive’, and Avram Kelman is a ‘superior lawyer’.
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP fields an ‘outstanding’ team rated for its ‘consistent quality’. Notable mandates included assisting Vallar on its IPO on the London Stock Exchange. Kenneth Lamb is ‘among the best’, and Selina Sagayam is also recommended. Jefferey Roberts joined from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP in 2010.
Howard Kennedy’s team features the recommended Dov Katz and Keith Lassman. A highlight of 2010 was advising Hurlingham (now Manroy) on its admission to AIM and subsequent £6m fundraising. The team also acts for NOMADs, brokers and sponsors.
Simon Charles leads the team at Marriott Harrison, which acted for 3D Diagnostic Imagine on its IPO on AIM. Broker and NOMAD clients include Merchant Securities and Ambrian Partners.
Mishcon de Reya recently advised MP Finance on a Eurobond issuance on the Channel Islands Stock Exchange. Other clients include Bonjour Europe and Sky Alliance Resources. Ross Bryson has an ‘amazing eye for details’. Saul Sender joined from Reed Smith, bringing substantial mining sector knowledge.
Delphine Currie at SJ Berwin LLP led in advising Zimbabwean company Masawara on its IPO and placing on AIM raising $25m. Also active in underwriter deals, Victoria Younghusband acted for Cenkos Securities as sponsor on the £460m IPO of Fidelity China Special Situations.
Speechly Bircham LLP provides ‘expert advice on complex issues’. Tom Shaw advised Avation on its admission to the Official List in 2010. Chris Putt provides ‘prompt responses’, and Nick Janmohamed is an ‘extremely able lawyer’. Clients include Ecclesiastical, Arbuthnot Securities and Kryso Resources.
The merger of Squire Sanders Hammonds significantly boosted the capital markets team in London, adding three partners to the group. Jane Haxby heads the team from Manchester, and advised GB group on its move to AIM from the Official List. Other clients include Rurelec, K3 Business Technology and Panmure Gordon.
Taylor Wessing LLP’s ‘strong team’ features Tim Stocks and new partner Tandeep Minhas, who joined from SJ Berwin LLP. The team advised Guggenheim Global Infrastructure Company on a sale of assets to Infrastructure India and related $52m placing.
Watson, Farley & Williams LLP is known for its work in the oil and gas sector. Notable mandates of 2010 included advising Madagascar Oil on its £50.5m IPO on AIM, a transaction led by Chris Kilburn. Jan Mellmann advised Equatorial Palm Oil on its £6.5m IPO on AIM.
Also recommended are: Chris Godfrey at Burges Salmon LLP; Martin Thomas and Dearbhla Quigley, who joined Chadbourne & Parke (London) LLP from Hunton & Williams; Philip Rogers at Clyde & Co LLP; Dechert LLP’s David Vogel; the ‘exceptional’ Melanie Wadsworth at Faegre & Benson LLP; the ‘very good’ Jonathan Brooks at Maclay Murray & Spens LLP; Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (Europe) LLP’s Hilary Winter; the strong issuer practice at Reed Smith, led by James Wilkinson; Jon Lovitt at Rosenblatt Solicitors; Neil Vickers and Jeremy Cohen at SNR Denton; Paul Salmon at Salans; and ‘very good communicator’ Richard Hildebrand at Trowers & Hamlins LLP.
Chris Godfrey at Burges Salmon LLP is recommended.
Martin Thomas and Dearbhla Quigley joined Chadbourne & Parke (London) LLP from Hunton & Williams.
Philip Rogers is recommended at Clyde & Co LLP.
Dechert LLP’s David Vogel is recommended.
Melanie Wadsworth at Faegre & Benson LLP is ‘exceptional’.
Jonathan Brooks at Maclay Murray & Spens LLP is ‘very good’.
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (Europe) LLP’s Hilary Winter is recommended.
Reed Smith has a strong issuer practice led by James Wilkinson.
Jon Lovitt at Rosenblatt Solicitors is recommended.
Neil Vickers and Jeremy Cohen at SNR Denton are recommended.
Paul Salmon is recommended at Salans.
Richard Hildebrand at Trowers & Hamlins LLP is a ‘very good communicator’.