United Kingdom > London > Transport > Rail
Index of tables
Rail
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Leading individuals
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- Jonathan Bevan Allen & Overy LLP
- Raymond Beven Pinsent Masons
- Mary Bonar Stephenson Harwood
- Mark Brunton Eversheds LLP
- Adrian Clough Herbert Smith LLP
- Simon Coppen Burges Salmon LLP
- Gordon Hall Norton Rose LLP
- Anne Harris Eversheds LLP
- Christopher McGee-Osborne SNR Denton
- Nick Olley Burges Salmon LLP
- Richard Phillips Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP
- Mark Swindell DLA Piper UK LLP
- Gavin Teague Clifford Chance
- Tom Winsor White & Case LLP
Burges Salmon LLP is best known for its work in the TOC space, but has a growing reputation in rolling stock, finance and construction. The group acted for Eurostar International on the procurement of its high-speed train fleet, and advised First Great Western and First Capital Connect on the HLOS agreement packages. Nick Olley is ‘an expert in his field’; Simon Coppen is a ‘clear leader in the market’; and Ann Metherall is ‘particularly recommended’. Philip Beer joined from Simmons & Simmons.
Clifford Chance focuses on advising on investment into the rail industry and large, complex transactions, with a strong presence domestically and internationally. The group acted on three separate bids on HS1; advised Eurostar on the implementation of the £1bn Futur Eurostar project; and represented a consortium on its bid for the Brazilian high-speed rail infrastructure project. Gavin Teague is recommended for finance work, while Alex Nourry is highly rated for regulatory work.
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP advised HSBC Rail UK on the restructuring and refinancing of its UK rail leasing business; acted for Siemens regarding Eurostar’s procurement of high-speed trains; and assisted the DfT on the Thameslink rolling stock programme. Richard Phillips and Sally Roe co-head the practice, which is most often seen on large transactions and rail procurement matters, and handles rail work for clients such as Deutsche Bahn, Amey and Russian Railways.
Adrian Clough’s team at Herbert Smith LLP displays ‘strength in depth and is able to cover all requirements to demanding time scales’. The group acted for the vendor on the sale of HS1; Arriva on its takeover by Deutsche Bahn; and Al Shoula Consortium on its bid to serve as contractor on Phase 2 of the €10bn Haramain High Speed Rail Project. Patrick Mitchell ‘stands out for his overall legal knowledge and leadership in health and safety’. Martin Kavanagh and Matthew Job joined from Linklaters LLP.
Linklaters LLP is noted for its infrastructure, rolling stock and finance expertise. The group acted for the staple lenders on the £2.1bn purchase of HSBC Asset Finance’s train-leasing business, and represented Borealis Infrastructure and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan on the purchase of HS1. The team suffered the loss of Simon Gwynne and Robert Fugard to Hogan Lovells International LLP, but still has the expertise of Stuart Rowson, Ian Andrews and Fiona Hobbs.
Gordon Hall’s team at Norton Rose LLP covers a wide range of work, with expertise in construction, finance and leasing, regulatory and infrastructure, and acts for a wide variety of industry players, including operators (Go-Ahead), financiers (Lloyds TSB), ROSCOS (Eversholt Rail), manufacturers (Siemens), sponsors (Hochtief), railway operators (Tube Lines), regulatory bodies (the Office of Rail Regulation) and government (the DfT). The group acted for a bidder on the privitisation of HS1, and also advised on the restructuring of Ascendos Rail Leasing.
SNR Denton’s team is valued for its ‘responsiveness, acumen and in-depth knowledge’. Highlights included advising Bombardier on its bid for the Thameslink rolling stock programme, and acting for DB Regio on the successful mobilisation of the Tyne and Wear Metro, the only concession to complete in 2010. Matthew Hanslip Ward ‘can always be depended on for cogent and timely advice’, and Tammy Samuel ‘provides thorough and well-considered advice’. Christopher McGee-Osborne heads the team.
Allen & Overy LLP tends to appear in large-scale projects, and is prominent in rolling stock transactions. The group acted for Eversholt Investment Group on the acquisition of HSBC Asset Finance’s rolling stock business; represented the lenders in the HS1 transaction; and continued to advise the Bombardier consortium on the Thameslink rolling stock programme. The practice is led by leading individual Jonathan Bevan.
Ashurst LLP’s lawyers ‘benefit from working on both the client and contractor sides’. The group acted for Crossrail in relation to rolling stock and depot procurement; and advised Hitachi on its bid for the Intercity Express Programme. Lee McDonald is ‘commercially astute, pragmatic, and approachable, and has a wealth of knowledge’. Naomi Horton, who recently returned to practice, stands out as ‘providing real risk solutions’.
DLA Piper UK LLP was appointed to advise Merseytravel on the vertical integration project for the Mersyrail Electrics network; is acting for Agility Trains as the preferred bidder to replace the existing fleet of high-speed trains on the East Coast Main Line; and is advising the Olympic Delivery Authority on the upgrade at Stratford Regional Station. Mark Swindell heads the practice, which has ‘extensive knowledge of urban transit schemes’.
Highlights for Network Rail panel firm Eversheds LLP included closing Project Evergreen III (the upgrade of the London to Birmingham Chiltern Main Line and the creation of a new London to Oxford main line); and being appointed as legal adviser to East Coast Main Line Company. Mark Brunton provides ‘excellent advice in a timely manner, and pays particular attention to detail’. Anne Harris is highly recommended.
Simmons & Simmons’ work for Network Rail keeps the team involved in some of the largest projects in the market, and has seen the firm advise in relation to HS1, Thameslink, the West Coast Main Line upgrade project, the East London Line project, and the Chiltern Railways Evergreen project. Carol Hewson is ‘positive, supportive, strong willed and knowledgeable’, and Juliet Reingold is also recommended.
Stephenson Harwood’s Martin Fleetwood and rail adviser Mary Bonar have ‘extensive knowledge of the light rail market’, and Graeme McLellan is recommended for his ‘expertise, knowledge and service levels’. The group was appointed to act for a consortium on its bid to provide the rolling stock and depot facilities for Crossrail. The recruitment of Nick Avery from Ashurst LLP added greater depth on the finance side.
Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP has been very active on behalf of new client Angel Trains, including advising on the commissioning project for its new-build procurement and leasing of Class 390 Alstom Pendolino trains to Virgin West Coast. Other clients include Beacon Rail Leasing and East Midlands Trains. Russell Clifford ‘provides clear technical advice, balanced with commercial pragmatism’. Real estate partner James Knox joined from Linklaters LLP.
CMS Cameron McKenna LLP represented the DfT on the sale of HS1 and on the restructuring of the Eurostar business; London Underground on the sub-surface lines signalling upgrade project; and the government of India and the Ministry of Railways on the proposed redevelopment of New Delhi Railway Station on a PPP basis. Jonathan Beckitt leads the team.
Pinsent Masons LLP continues to act for Córas Iompair Éireann and Ianród Éireann on the procurement for the DART Underground project, and also counts the Railway Procurement Agency, Balfour Beatty and Siemens as clients. Raymond Beven is recommended for PPP work, and Jonathan Hart is noted for his knowledge of light rail.
Go-Ahead is a key client for David Rewcastle’s team at Dickinson Dees LLP. The group advised Nexus on the tendering of a new operation concession for the metro light railway system and £300m in infrastructure improvements in Tyne and Wear; and acted for Southeastern Railway on the procurement of modifications to the Class 465 rolling stock fleet.
Hogan Lovells International LLP acted for Tube Lines on the periodic review of the London Underground PPP contract, and represented Alstom on its bid to provide the newly designed fleet for the Thameslink rolling stock programme. It gained significant strength on the finance side with the recruitment of Robert Fugard and Simon Gwynne from Linklaters LLP.
Osborne Clarke has historically acted for train operators such as Arriva UK Trains, First Capital Connect and Eurostar, which the group advised on its reorganisation and outsourcing of its catering logistics operation. It also increasingly acts for infrastructure and open-access players such as Amey and Grand Central. Lara Burch heads the practice.
White & Case LLP’s team is headed by Tom Winsor, who spent five years as the UK Rail Regulator. The group is advising the transport authority of the UAE on setting up economic and safety rail regulations, and acting for Serco on amending the DLR contract. Phillip Capper is highly rated for contentious rail work.
Blake Lapthorn’s Peter Barber and Stephen Murfitt were appointed to the Access Disputes Committee of the rail industry, which has already resulted in instructions. The team continued to advise Stagecoach on its South Western and East Midlands passenger franchises.
Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP largely focuses on pensions, corporate and technology work, for clients such as Arriva and Go-Ahead, and boosted its technology offering with the recruitment of John Worthy from SNR Denton. Nigel Taylor left to join Clyde & Co LLP.
Kennedys largely handles contentious work for major rail players, and is noted particularly for health and safety matters. ‘There isn ’t much about rail legislation that is unknown’ to Richard Crockford or Daniel McShee, and Andrew Gilbert has ‘unparalleled knowledge of rail contracts’.
Wragge & Co LLP’s infrastructure and real estate expertise stands the firm in good stead in the rail sector, in both the UK and overseas (particularly Africa). Michael Whitehouse has ‘enormous experience, and great respect in the industry’.
Robbie Owen’s team at Bircham Dyson Bell LLP is advising Treasury Holdings on its proposals to extend the Northern Line of the London Underground, and Network Rail on three proposed upgrades. It has ‘great experience in industrial action in the rail industry’.
Two-partner practice Hollingworth Bissell focuses exclusively on serving rail industry clients, such as London Overground and Chiltern Railways. Both Helen Bissell and Sara Hollingworth, whose ‘opinion carries a lot of weight’, are recommended.
Reed Smith’s appointment to Angel Trains’ panel brought in numerous instructions, including negotiating contracts for maintenance and overhaul. Other highlights included advising ECML on the Wakefield Westgate and King’s Cross station redevelopment projects. Jon Pike and Philip Taylor lead the practice.
Thomas Eggar LLP is noted for its rail-related property work, for clients such as Docklands Light Railway, the DfT and BRB (Residuary). Consultant Guy Clements is recommended.
Winckworth Sherwood regularly advises on key strategic work for clients such as Network Rail, Crossrail and various government bodies. Paul Irving and Alison Gorlov advised the Secretary of State in relation to the Crossrail Act 2008, and on subsequent matters as its provisions came into force.
Greenberg Traurig Maher LLP has an impressive rail team led by former DLA Piper UK LLP partner Andrew Herring. The group advised Birmingham City Council on the £650m redevelopment of New Street station.
K&L Gates regularly handles operational, projects and contentious work for London Underground, which it successfully represented in a £37m dispute with Tube Lines regarding timetabling and rolling stock issues. Matthew Smith leads the practice.
Keith Wallace’s team at Lee Bolton Monier-Williams focuses on rail-related property work for clients such as Network Rail Infrastructure, Transport for London and DB Schenker Rail (UK).