The Legal 500

Arendt & Medernach is ‘the best’, according to clients. Its large team and group of senior practitioners, means that it is able to turn its hand to most cases of significance. The firm has represented a series of custodian banks in connection with the headline Madoff fraud case. Senior litigator François Kremer is widely acknowledged as being a leading white-collar crime and fraud expert. Christian Point is recommended for real estate and insurance cases.

Bonn Schmitt Steichen has a tremendous record in shareholder disputes, often those involving Luxembourg holding companies. In 2009, it represented a Russian conglomerate in connection with a shareholder dispute and temporary restraining order prohibiting the sale of shares in the holding company. Guy Arendt and Fabio Trevisan are two outstanding partners.

Elvinger, Hoss & Prussen has a tremendous track record in shareholder disputes and private equity-related cases. Recent cases have included acting for clients such as Crédit Agricole and Kredietbank, as well as for the minority shareholders of RTL Group. The firm was also engaged in the high profile Madoff litigation. Marc Elvinger and Pierre Elvinger are regarded as two of Luxembourg’s premier litigators.

Kleyr | Grasso | Associes is commended for its ‘industry knowledge’, ‘excellent quality’ and ‘to the point’ advice and for its ‘very proactive’ approach. The firm has a particularly strong reputation in contentious insolvency matters. Marc Kleyr is a ‘seasoned advisor with deep knowledge of the relevant law’, and was previously the court appointed liquidator of the infamous BCCI. He has since been engaged in many of the highest profile cases resulting from the global financial crisis. François Collot is ‘particularly reliable’ and ‘professional’.

Albert Moro heads Kremer Associés & Clifford Chance’s litigation and dispute resolution practice. The broad scope of the practice encompasses shareholder disputes, contentious insolvency cases, freezing injunctions, as well as arbitrations. It is particularly well known for financial sector, employment and real estate disputes.

Linklaters LLP remains a leading firm in shareholder disputes, with the immensely experienced Guy Loesch to the fore. The firm recently acted for SNS Property Finance in enforcing a pledge on shares held by Multiplan Group. The firm was also engaged in the headline RTL Group corporate litigation that went before the European Court of Justice.

Molitor Avocats à la Cour is frequently engaged in many of Luxembourg’s standout cases, in part thanks to the presence of senior figure Michel Molitor. The firm recently acted for a group of development companies in connection with a multitude of cases linked to a large ongoing real estate project in Luxembourg. Paulo Lopes da Silva is multi-lingual, ‘well reputed’ and ‘an excellent counsel’. ,

Allen & Overy Luxembourg is commended for being a ‘business-oriented firm’, which delivers ‘accurate advice’ from ‘very reactive and available lawyers’. Donata Grasso (‘great attorney’, ‘very professional in a trial’) and Vincent Naveaux (‘client focused’) were promoted to counsel in 2010. Much of the department’s recent workload has stemmed from the financial crisis, although it is demonstrating its expertise in the broader disputes environment.

DSM Di Stefano Moyse Avocats à la Cour is recommended for white-collar crime and fraud cases, as well as real estate and construction cases. Françoise Moyse is an experienced and highly regarded litigator.

Welter Wurth Kinsch is now considered to be one of the premier firms in the dispute resolution environment with the experienced and immensely knowledgeable Patrick Kinsch regarded as a formidable opponent by his peers. In recent years, he has been engaged as counsel in many of the headline cases relating to the global financial crisis.

Adam & Bleser has a strong litigation record, most notably in connection with labour and employment disputes. Claude Bleser has a tremendous reputation.

Brucher Thieltgen & Partners is a ‘helpful boutique practice’ that is commended for its ‘knowledge of the banking industry’ and the financial markets sector. The firm has been engaged by a number of parties connected to the Madoff scandal. Jean Brucher provides ‘timely advice’ and ‘grasps the issues’, while Nicolas Thieltgen is ‘very responsive’ and has excellent industry knowledge.

Chevalier & Sciales is a strong boutique practice with international connections. Much of its contentious work relates to the investment funds and structured finance environments.

Avocats associés ChristmannSchmitt is a small firm with dispute resolution at the core of its business. The firm receives many recommendations, with Arnaud Schmitt and Bertrand Christmann being the most renowned partners.

Noble & Scheidecker combines ‘excellent technical skills’, ‘availability’ and ‘speed of delivery’, thus making it ‘a fully valid alternative to the top international law firms’. Employment litigation is the mainstay of the practice, although shareholder disputes, banking litigation and contentious IP are growth areas. Marielle Stevenot is recommended.

Martine Gerber-Lemaire heads OPF & Partners’s broad dispute resolution practice that ranges from bondholder litigation and shareholder disputes to contentious insolvency and employment cases. Like many of its competitors, the firm is also involved in the Madoff fraud case.

Dispute resolution is at the core of Pierre Thielen Avocats’ practice, with Pierre Thielen having a fine reputation. Indeed, the firm often provides litigation counsel to international law firms with cases in Luxembourg. Fraud cases, insolvency litigation and shareholder disputes are at the heart of the practice.

For insurance litigation, there are few firms with the profile and record of boutique practice Schiltz et Schiltz. Jean-Louis Schiltz has a tremendous reputation.

Thewes & Reuter is yet another firm that is gaining even further recognition thanks to its legal engagements in the Madoff scandal. It is also known for its record in shareholder disputes. In this respect, Marc Thewes is highly recommended.

Wagener, Rukavina & Kettenmeyer’s Alain Rukavina was appointed as liquidator of a major Luxembourg investment fund linked to the Madoff affair and continues to play a high-profile role in this headline case.

Wildgen, Partners in Law recently acted for a major Iceland-based investment group, as one of the major creditors and debtors of Landsbanki Luxembourg, which went into liquidation in 2008. The firm is also known for its expertise in shareholder disputes. Franck Greff heads the department.