IT and telecoms
The number of leading technology and telecoms companies that trust Baker & McKenzie LLP with their most complex work dwarfs all but a few rivals. The ‘unquestionable leader in his field’, Harry Small, and the ‘technically superb’ Christina Demetriades co-head the department. The wide scope of their expertise, combined with the group’s overall depth of specialist knowledge, delivered several panel appointments and roles on cutting-edge work for clients such as Apple, Yahoo!, HP, Fujitsu, Oracle and Cisco. The telecoms practice, headed by Peter Strivens, an ‘impressive and effective lawyer’, exhibits sharp regulatory know-how as well as transactional prowess. Recent highlights include advising Mobile Broadband Network on its purchase of backhand telecoms services from BT.
The ‘outstanding’ Bird & Bird LLP successfully augmented its substantial base of ongoing work - which includes advising BT on the NHS National Programme and a series of mandates for Becta - with a raft of new instructions. New roles include advising EADS Astrium on the acquisition of Surrey Satellite Technology, and Airwave Solutions on its deal to provide radio services to the London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. ‘Able to apply his vast experience with precision’, Roger Bickerstaff heads the IT practice, while telecoms practice head David Kerr is ‘one of the only lawyers you can trust to bring in on the high-stakes deals’. The ‘truly excellent’ Graeme Maguire is recognised particularly for his regulatory telecoms expertise, while Graham Smith is known for his ‘unmatched knowledge of e-commerce law’.
DLA Piper UK LLP’s national approach and ‘precise understanding of where the pinch points are on a large IT deal’ contributed to a series of significant roles, most notably in the public sector where it acted for the Pensions Regulator on a multi-vendor IT programme. ‘One of the top legal advisers available’, group head Kit Burden had a strong year, including advising RBS/ABN AMRO on the renegotiation of a large-scale ITO contract. Mark Critchard acts on a range of public projects, as well as advising leading financial services clients and providing ‘extremely competent and dedicated counsel’. However, litigation partner Julian Stait moved to Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP and UK telecoms head Purvi Parekh joined Olswang.
Already the largest group in this area, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP grew again in 2008 with the arrival of Katrina Dick from Lovells LLP and Andrew Dodd from DLA Piper UK LLP. A ‘class act’, Michael Chissick heads up a technology practice that balances firm public sector ties with a broad range of private sector user- and supplier-side IT clients. Stewart Room’s data protection and privacy prowess is recognised as being at the forefront of the field, while the ‘immensely skilled’ David Naylor has a strong focus on the digital media space. On the telecoms side, the firm was reappointed to the Orange panel and continues to act for China Telecoms, Liberty Global, NTT DoCoMo and COLT, among others.
Olswang has an IT and telecoms team that pairs ‘sharp technical insight’ with ‘commercial prowess’. Clive Gringras, a partner ‘capable of finding solutions to any technical or legal problem’, recently led the team advising Microsoft on its transaction with BT. Head of technology Nigel Swycher is highly recommended for his ‘excellent understanding of the industry’. ‘Telecoms law guru’ Robert Bratby heads a telecoms practice which has gone from strength to strength, bolstered recently by the arrival of Purvi Parekh, former practice head at DLA Piper UK LLP. 2008 saw the team appointed to Orange’s panel, as well as securing significant roles on telecoms outsourcing for, among others, Telstra. Regulatory engagements remain a feature, and Colin Long’s practice is key to the team’s capability here.
Allen & Overy LLP acted on many of Europe’s largest IT and telecoms deals in 2008, balancing corporate strength with a depth of IP and regulatory expertise. ‘Assured and reliable’, practice head Ian Ferguson leads a group that counts Sun Microsystems, Avnet, Blackberry, Sage and Toshiba among its prominent IT clients. The contentious side of the practice benefits from the presence of the ‘exceptional’ Nicola Dagg. For telecoms clients the team wields a ‘greatly respected bank of talent’ and recently acted for STMicroelectronics on the merging of Ericsson Mobile and ST-NXP Wireless into a joint venture.
Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP rises in the ranking this year after a strong 2008 that saw panel appointments on the IT user side and several major supplier-side mandates, such as work with Canonical and Blackbay. Practice head Adam Rose advised ITIS on its voice recognition services, while the ‘fantastic’ Vanessa Barnett and the ‘client-focused and responsive’ Richard Chapman are recognised for their wide-ranging work with Tesco. The team provides ‘great commercial advice’ covering a spread of convergence and IT outsourcing issues, and gives clients ‘innovative solutions and a real sense of good value’.
The IT group at Clifford Chance, led by the ‘very well-respected’ David Griffiths, specialises in large-scale international IT transactions. Recently, the team acted on several major IT infrastructure outsourcings for international corporate clients. The telecoms group includes the commercial talents of Joachim Fleury and Jenine Hulsmann’s regulatory and competition expertise. As well as strengthening relationships with Middle Eastern clients, such as Zain, the team advised Tele2 and Tiscali on regulatory matters.
‘Highly effective’ head of TMT Catherine Bingham and joint IT department head John Worthy at Denton Wilde Sapte LLP have enjoyed a significant flow of public sector appointments, as well as work for prominent financial sector clients, including advising NASDAQ on setting up its first trading platform in London; the team is noted for its mix of ‘legal skill and engagement with complex technological matters’. The ‘truly brilliant’ Rod Kirwan leads a telecoms group that continues to enjoy a plethora of work in the emerging markets, for example advising Vodafone on its work in Qatar, including major contract negotiations and network procurements.
Although Herbert Smith LLP is widely recognised for its disputes practice, non-contentious roles in 2008 saw the group acting for IBM, Infosys and HP on the supplier side, as well as representing Transport for London on the Oyster card project. Mark Turner acted on the latter and is ‘a sharp and diligent adviser’. He co-heads the practice with the ‘outstanding’ Christopher Rees. Global head of TMT Nick Elverston leads a telecoms practice that also contains ‘really talented’ regulatory specialist Amanda Hale. Recently, the team advised Aeromobile on the regulatory issues associated with its launch, as well as representing Telefonica on network sharing deals.
In the ‘extremely gifted’ Richard Kemp, ‘very impressive’ group head Calum Murray, ‘thoughtful and determined’ telecoms practice head Mike Conradi and outsourcing practice head Paul O’Hare, Kemp Little LLP has a team unsurpassed in the market for technical prowess. The department added Salesforce and Orange, among others, as IT clients in 2008. The telecoms practice also continued its progress, garnering new instructions from Colt and Dubai World Centre.
Large technology transactions and ITOs are the forte of the technology team at Latham & Watkins. Recognised as having a ‘skillset to meet every need’, the group advises several financial institutions, such as ABN AMRO, Deutsche Bank and HBOS, as well as a range of UK blue-chip corporates. London managing partner and practice head Andrew Moyle leads much of the work in the financial services sector. Alex Hamilton and Martin Cotterill are both recognised as ‘first-choice lawyers’, while Luke Grubb also comes highly recommended.
Linklaters LLP saw Christopher Millard depart to Bristows and TMT head Tim Schwarz retire. But the group acted on several large-scale telecoms projects in emerging markets, and a mix of contentious and non-contentious work elsewhere. Advising Harbinger on the regulatory aspects of its acquisition of Inmarsat is a recent highlight. New practice head John Crozier is ‘a perfect fit and wonderful to work with’ and recently advised a consortium of banks on renegotiating telecoms outsourcing deals. IT and business services co-head and ‘smart counsel’ Marly Didizian advised AT&T on all aspects of its data privacy compliance outside the US.
Lovells LLP added to its existing base of user-side IT clients, which includes Royal Mail and SABMiller, and rises in the rankings this year. Although Katrina Dick left for Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP, the group continues to handle significant telecoms work, including securing a recent role advising all UK telecoms operators on the establishment of a central telephone number database. Mark Taylor was promoted to partner in 2008, while the ‘efficient and hard-working’ Conor Ward is recognised for his wide-ranging practice, which encompasses contentious and non-contentious matters. Quentin Archer leads the group.
Global IT and telecoms outsourcing remains a specialism of the London team at Mayer Brown International LLP. 2008 saw it advise AT&T on multibillion-dollar telecoms outsourcing deals with Shell and IBM. Peter Dickinson, who heads the telecoms practice, advised on both deals, as well as handling complex supplier-side regulatory mandates. A ‘first-class’ provider of ‘high-quality work’, outsourcing head Mark Prinsley led the firm’s activity in the international ITO space, and also handled some notable large-scale technology advisory work.
‘A distinctly competent and trustworthy lawyer’, technology transactions group head Alistair Maughan continues to build a strong reputation at Morrison & Foerster (UK) LLP, particularly for acting on user-side IT outsourcing deals for leading banks and, notably, for HMRC. However, the team has depth: the ‘brilliant’ Jon Edgell was crucial to securing the reappointment to the Lloyds TSB panel and attracting new instructions from Investec, while Chris Coulter acted for Odeon UCI, and David Skinner advises both user and supplier-side clients.
Pinsent Masons LLP has ‘a sophisticated and dedicated’ team and an outstanding reputation for acting on IT transactions in the public and financial services sectors. In 2008, it also acted for supplier-side clients such as Siemens, which it advised on an implementation dispute with a central government department, and Fujitsu in relation to the termination of its contract with the Secretary of State for Health. The ‘very creative’ Clive Seddon heads the group, while Iain Monaghan is recommended for his ITO work in both the public and private sectors. Robert McCallough is a first-class litigator and led on the work with Fujitsu.
Taylor Wessing LLP had a strong year advising blue-chip clients, and UK and US technology clients on contentious and non-contentious matters. ‘One of the smartest partners around’, Glyn Morgan heads the group, while Graham Hann is ‘precise and thoughtful in everything he does’. Recent work for Tata on outsourcing Phones4U’s IT operations was a particular highlight. Ted Mercer leads a telecoms practice that handles disputes and extensive inbound work, including a notable recent appointment to Huawei’s panel.
Addleshaw Goddard LLP moves up in the ranking having further developed the presence of its technology practice in the financial services and public sector. ‘Good at delivering a targeted, efficient service at great value’, the team was appointed to the ITV and Wolseley panels, and acted on major projects for the NHS and IPCC. The ‘inspirational’ Margaret Harvey heads the practice.
Bristows had several big client wins in 2008, including Siemens, Orange, Cerner and Autodesk, which it added to a roster laden with large technology suppliers and users. It continues to add considerable experience in commercial IT work to strength in IP litigation. Dr Mark Watts heads the commercial practice and is ‘a terrific, multi-talented counsel’. Christopher Millard joined the team as of counsel from Linklaters LLP, while litigator Philip Westmacott is also recommended.
CMS Cameron McKenna LLP provides ‘really strong advice where it counts’, and has ‘a valuable base of experts on European issues’. The group cemented relationships with utilities and leading financial institutions, such as Lloyds TSB and RBS, and further developed its supplier-side presence. John Armstrong heads the practice, while Yuban Moodley is ‘very highly recommended’. Chris Watson’s telecoms practice is also well regarded in the market.
2008 saw Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP acting on several high-value emerging market telecoms deals, as well as advising on IT system separation issues and renegotiations for financial services clients. ‘The only team to trust with the most difficult transactions’, Ben Spiers and Richard Lister are both highly recommended for their international work.
Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP’s IT practice, headed by Laurence Jacobs, stands out for its ITO expertise. Advising primarily on the user side, both in conjunction with and separate from its US counterparts, the group recently acted on large projects for NYSE Euronext, Barclays and AstraZeneca. Julian Stait recently joined the practice from DLA Piper UK LLP, while Sean Keaton is also recommended.
Led by Mike Rebeiro, Norton Rose LLP’s ‘responsive and experienced’ team won several new user and supplier clients in 2008. The telecoms group continued to advise international operators, including new client Vodafone, on transactions in the emerging markets. Data protection and IP specialist Mike Knapper is recommended.
Osborne Clarke’s broad IT practice excels at handling IP and commercial aspects of supplier-side transactions. Paul Gardner heads the practice and has in-depth knowledge of the interactive entertainment industry. Simon Rendell is also recommended.
Simmons & Simmons acted for several major public sector clients this year. The ‘proactive and truly adaptable’ team, headed by Michael Sinclair, also advised Virgin Media and TfL on its congestion charging project.
Boutique firm Technology Law Alliance is ‘an outstanding example of cutting-edge IT expertise’. Led by Jeremy Newton and Gavin Wakefield, the group’s key clients include Capgemini, EDS and Sun Microsystems.
Wragge & Co LLP combines IT and regulatory experience on major IT projects, particularly in the financial sector. It also regularly undertakes major ITO work for user-side clients. Practice head Peter Hall is highly regarded for his work. The team also draws on the expertise of several IT dispute specialists.
Michael Ryan heads Arnold & Porter (UK) LLP’s telecoms team and has a raft of experience advising domestic and international operators, service providers and ISPs.
The ‘smart and resourceful’ Mark Lubbock is head of Ashurst LLP’s technology group.
Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP is new to the ranking this year.
At Beachcroft LLP, IT lawyer John Yates has an excellent reputation for contentious and non-contentious matters.
Simon Stokes is head of the the London IT group at Blake Lapthorn.
At Charles Russell LLP, Mark Moncreiffe has an excellent reputation for technology transactions.
Rex Parry is head of IT at Eversheds LLP.
At Harbottle & Lewis LLP, communications expert Tony Ballard is recommended.
Hunton & Williams outsourcing partner Bridget Treacy has an excellent reputation.
At Jones Day, Jonathon Little focuses on outsourcing and technology transactions.
Jonathan Riley is head of commerce and technology at LG.
At McGrigors LLP, Peter Cashmore is noted for his telecommunications expertise.
Tony Bailes is head of the technology team at Nabarro LLP.
At Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP, Jeremy Drew is head of the IP and technology group.
Michael Bywell is head of the contentious technology and telecoms practice at SJ Berwin LLP.
‘Outsourcing expert’ Robert Sumroy heads the technology and outsourcing group at Slaughter and May.
Speechly Bircham LLP is new to the ranking this year.
At Stephenson Harwood, the ‘dependable and intelligent’ John Buyers is recommended.
Paul Brisby is co-head of telecoms at Towerhouse Consulting.
At Travers Smith LLP, IT specialist Dan Reavill is recommended.
David Eisenberg is co-head of the TMT practice at White & Case LLP.