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  1. Mining and minerals
  2. Leading individuals

Linklaters LLP is the ‘best in the market for corporate work’, with team head Charlie Jacobs ‘the name everyone knows’. Among the firm’s plentiful highlights, it advised Rio Tinto on the sale of a majority interest in its Alcan Engineered Products business, and also on the $1.35bn investment by Aluminium Corporation of China in Rio Tinto’s Simandou iron ore project in West Africa.

Mayer Brown International LLP is a ‘project finance powerhouse’ on the mining side, with Ian Coles highlighted as ‘probably the most experienced lawyer in this space’, and Rachel Speight recommended as ‘concise, reasoned in her analysis, and commercial’. The firm advised the lenders on an $823m project financing to fund the construction and development of the Boleo project in Mexico.

Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP is the ‘most sophisticated lender’s counsel for large mining finances’; ‘no other firm has the same track record in acting for lenders on big-ticket mine projects’. Cathy Marsh is an ‘immensely talented lawyer’, and is acting alongside project and asset finance head Phillip Fletcher in advising the lenders on the development of the $5bn Ambatovy nickel mine in Madagascar.

Norton Rose LLP is a ‘big team for project finance’, ‘far more commercial than other firms’, and valued for ‘genuinely structuring deals tailored towards the client’. Group head Martin McCann is in the ‘upper echelon of his peer group’, and is valued for his ‘first-class legal advice’ and ‘propensity to think laterally’. Raj Karia is recommended for corporate work. Highlights included advising the lead arrangers on the $300m European Goldfields project in Greece.

White & Case LLP continues to garner some of the biggest project finance instructions in the field under the leadership of Philip Stopford, who has ‘outstanding knowledge of project finance’, and corporate partner Peter Finlay. The firm is advising the sponsors on the development and financing of the $4bn Guinea Alumina refinery in the Republic of Guinea.

Allen & Overy LLP’s mining offering gets stronger every year, and handles a healthy mix of projects and corporate work. Projects head Anne Baldock advised Calik Holding on its investments in three precious metals licences in Turkey. Dominic Morris is very active on the corporate side.

Baker & McKenzie LLP is ‘very attentive and provides pragmatic commercial advice’. The firm’s major highlight remains its ongoing advice to Ma’aden on the development of an $11bn bauxite mine, alumina refinery and related infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. Mike Webster is recommended.

Clifford Chance’s practice is led by James Pay and David Lewis, and advises on finance, corporate and development work. Highlights included advising Vale on its $2.5bn acquisition of Simandou iron assets in Guinea from BSG Resources.

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP advised Vedanta Resources on its $1.34bn acquisition of zinc assets from Anglo American. Nabil Khodadad heads the team.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is ‘best in class’ for corporate work, with joint team heads Julian Makin and Graham Watson recommended for their ‘prompt commercial advice’. Representative clients include Alcan, Rio Tinto and Xstrata.

Jones Day was appointed to act for Base Resources on its Kwale Mineral Sands project financing in Kenya. Michael Pabst is the main contact.

Latham & Watkins LLP’s team is going from strength to strength under the leadership of Glen Ireland. Among the firm’s recent transactions, it advised Norsk Hydro on its $5.27bn acquisition of the majority of Vale SA’s aluminium business located in Brazil.

SNR Denton’s Tom Eldridge is recommended as ‘hardworking and commercial’, and heads a team with ‘market-leading capabilities’. It predominantly handles corporate work, and recently advised Lucara Diamond Corporation on its takeover of African Diamonds.

Shearman & Sterling LLP may be well known as ‘one of the world’s best project finance firms’, but it also packs a punch on the corporate side. It advised African Barrick Gold and Barrick Gold Corporation on African Barrick Gold’s £2.3bn IPO on the London Stock Exchange.

Slaughter and May’s client base is particularly impressive on the mining side. In 2011, the firm advised BHP Billiton, the world’s largest mining company, on its $40bn offer (eventually withdrawn) for Potash Corporation.

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP has ‘good mining industry knowledge’, with Jamie Logie singled out as a ‘very constructive and lateral thinker’. The firm advised the commercial bank lenders on the Boleo mining project on intercreditor issues and related commodities hedging.

Ashurst LLP has strength in both contentious and corporate work. In a major highlight, it advised the banks on Coal India’s $3.4bn IPO, notable as India’s largest-ever IPO.

Fasken Martineau LLP’s London team is strong on the corporate side under Al Gourley, and attracts praise for its ‘strong response times’. The firm advised the underwriters on Platmin’s $385m equity and debenture offering.

At Herbert Smith LLP, David Clinch has a ‘terrific grasp of mining’, and Craig Tevendale has ‘excellent communication skills’. The firm has a leading contentious practice, but also shines on the corporate side. It recently advised Lonmin on its £160m placing of new shares.

Hogan Lovells International LLP is establishing a solid record for mining work. Among its recent transactions, the team advised Eurasian National Resources Corporation on its $735m acquisition of the outstanding interest in Bahia Minerals from Ardila Investment.

Simmons & Simmons’ team is led by Yves Barratts, and handles project finance and corporate work. Sundance Resources continues to instruct the firm on the development of the Mbalam iron ore project.

Charles Russell LLP is ‘excellent on general corporate advice’, and team head Clive Hopewell ‘consistently pleases’. The firm acted for Centamin Egypt on a $135m fundraising in the UK and Canada. Tau Capital and Energybuild Group are also representative clients.

Gide Loyrette Nouel LLP is advising the national Moroccan phosphates company on the construction of an integrated chemical platform for phosphate treatment. François Krotoff heads the team, and divides his time between Paris and London.

Holman Fenwick Willan LLP represented Canadian Gold mining company before the European Commission on the assessment of the sale price of several goldmines in Greece, under EU state aid rules.

Lawrence Graham LLP has a strong AIM practice, and specialises in advising mining clients on corporate finance work. Recent highlights include advising AIM-listed Firestone Diamonds plc on its £51m takeover of Kopane Diamond Developments.

Maclay Murray & Spens LLP attracts praise for its ‘understanding of clients ’ needs’, with team head Jonathan Brooks noted as ‘very commercial’. The firm advised SAT & Co on its $50m investment in ShalkiyaZinc.

In a major coup, Memery Crystal LLP advised Petra Diamonds on its £205m AIM fundraising, one of the largest AIM fundraisings of the past year. Nick Davis heads the team and is recommended.

Mills & Reeve LLP has a strong domestic minerals practice under the leadership of David Brock. The firm continues to advise the Mineral Products Association and CBI Minerals Group on the implementation of the Mining Waste Directive in England and Wales.

Nabarro LLP provides ‘clear, strategic and relevant advice’ under group head Niall Logan. Contentious work is a strong area, and the firm is representing the Department of Energy and Climate Change in the £14bn Miners’ Knee Group Litigation, one of the largest group litigation claims in the UK.

David Ferris’ team at Osborne Clarke acted for Liberum Capital on London Mining’s £200m admission to AIM. Other representative clients include RAB Capital, CD Capital and Hanson UK.

Pinsent Masons LLP’s Sarah Thomas attracts praise for her ‘good negotiation skills’. The firm acted for a consortium of Chinese investors on a $185m investment in AIM-listed Oxus Gold.

TLT LLP’s ‘highly professional and pragmatic team’ is led by Katherine Evans. The firm specialises on the planning side, and is advising Western United Mines on a series of matters relating to the South Crofty tin mine.

Watson, Farley & Williams LLP’s team advised Brinkley Mining on Eurogold’s offer for the remainder of the shares in Brinkley. Corporate partner Jan Mellmann is the main contact.

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