The Legal 500

Mayer Brown’s ‘top notch’ 50-attorney practice is the acknowledged leader in this field, representing national and international clients in large scale outsourcing mandates. Led by Dan Masur in Washington DC, it handles onshore, near-shore and offshore information technology outsourcing (ITO) and business process outsourcing (BPO) transactions, from strategic out-tasking arrangements to multibillion-dollar, multi-tower global transactions. The group’s size and international scope make it first choice for clients, who commend its ‘excellent response times and business acumen’ and ‘deep global outsourcing expertise’. In 2010, mandates included complex, multi-source arrangements and renegotiating, restructuring and replacing existing arrangements to achieve cost savings and reflect technology advances. Cutting-edge design and build arrangements are deployed to drive innovation. Cloud computing has become a key component in many technology outsourcing deals. The practice handled the largest deals across a range of industries for longstanding clients including Procter & Gamble and Dow Chemical. The diversity of the work, both in terms of the industry and the specification of the appointment, underlines the group’s breadth of service on the customer side. ‘Superb negotiator’ Masur, together with the ‘responsive, knowledgeable, sharp, efficient’ Linda Rhodes and Paul Roy, advised new client LightSquared in a series of agreements associated with the design, construction, deployment, installation, operation and maintenance of the first-ever wholesale nationwide 4G wireless broadband network integrated with satellite coverage. In Chicago, data privacy and outsourcing expert Rebecca Eisner represented Williams Companies in the re-negotiation and extension of its finance and accounting outsourcing with IBM, and in the competitive re-sourcing of its IT infrastructure and application maintenance services. Kevin Rang, who has particular strength in facilities management is singled out for praise, as is Brad Peterson, who represented Walgreen in outsourcing its finance and accountancy operations to Genpact. David Hudanish in New York is also recommended. Other clients include TXU and VF Services.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP’s 15-partner outsourcing practice, led by global sourcing head James Alberg in Washington DC, offers integrated legal and consulting services to clients in the financial services, healthcare and retail sector. This unique service offering differentiates the firm from its rivals in the market, as does the size of the multi-disciplinary team, which has sufficient bandwidth to handle multiple big-ticket deals simultaneously. Work focuses on the customer side, guiding companies through the full outsourcing lifecycle, from strategy formulation and vendor analysis to negotiations and implementation. Joseph Kendall and John Barton led a team advising Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts on a $200m outsourcing transaction with IBM involving the responsibility for managing a large portion of the client’s mainframe, server, desktop and network infrastructure, as well as its software applications environment. The group is particularly strong in the financial services sector, with clients including Morgan Stanley, Discover Financial and Tesco Bank. Aaron Oser led a team representing American Express in business productivity online services (BPOS) contract negotiations. Global sourcing partner Michael Murphy in San Francisco, assisted Autodesk with the development of a sourcing strategy and a request for proposals for IT outsourcing and data center services. Robert Zahler maintains a superb market reputation. Other clients include Hertz, The Nielsen Company, Honeywell International, General Electric Company and Dun & Bradstreet.

Baker & McKenzie’s outsourcing practice is supported by the firm’s global presence and by the fact that it represents both service providers and customer organizations. The global practice group provides ‘extensive expertise coupled with a practical approach to projects’ and blends outsourcing expertise with other technology practices, such as data protection and privacy. In 2010, the New York practice was boosted by the arrival of Edward Hansen, David Jackson and Jessica Lipson from Morgan Lewis, bringing a wealth of experience, leadership and talent in complex technology and outsourcing transactions. Attorneys have an excellent market reputation for handling high-end, complex deals. Clients recommend them as ‘trusted professionals who can be relied on to deliver the highest quality advice and work product in a timely manner’. Practice head Michael Mensik in Chicago is ‘highly experienced in international vendor-related issues’, combining valuable expertise in outsourcing and data privacy. According to one client, he is ‘cooperative, collaborative and a valued partner and counselor’. Peter George routinely counsels providers and users in domestic and multijurisdictional outsourcing and offshoring transactions covering managed IT services and ERP-related deals. Clients recommend him as ‘succinct, controlled, extremely well versed on outsourcing deal subject matter, and focused on getting the best deal done’. Lothar Determann in Palo Alto specializes in software licensing and IP relating to technology transactions and contracts, and is commended for his ‘vast knowledge of the law and the industry’. A prestigious client list includes UBS, Cardinal Health, The Estée Lauder Companies, Universal Music Group and Oncor Electric Delivery.

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP’s ‘best in class’ international technology practice handles complex cross-border outsourcing deals. Led by global practice head Eric Reifschneider in Silicon Valley, commended for his ‘strength in legal/industry knowledge, business acumen and practicality, balanced and thorough advice’, it continues to gain ground in the hi-tech and healthcare sectors, notably with the hire of ‘fantastic outsourcing lawyer’ Robert Finkel in New York from Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP. John Brockland offers specialist expertise in cloud computing, clean energy technologies, open source software. John Kennedy in New York also works on the customer side, handling comprehensive outsourcing projects for large enterprises in the financial services and insurance sector. Highlights included advising MetLife on complex IT issues involved in its $16bn acquisition of American Life Insurance Company (ALICO) from AIG and advising utility and energy companies on IT procurement.

Gibson Dunn’s outsourcing attorneys ‘know the market: they helped to define it’. The ‘careful, focused’ team offers the combined strength of high-profile outsourcing attorneys William Peters in Los Angeles, Daniel Mummery in Palo Alto, and Stephen Nordahl in New York. The practice benefits from the firm’s blue-chip corporate client base and leverages institutional relationships and strategic alliances the US and Europe. A long and prestigious client list includes Tyco International, The Coca-Cola Company and Symantec. In 2010, the team handled sophisticated IT outsourcing projects, cloud computing and M&A support for hi-tech companies and global brands. Mummery assisted NetApp with outsourcing its finance and accounting services to Gen-Pact and its application development and maintenance services to IBM and Con-way with IT infrastructure deals, notably the outsourcing of IT infrastructure and related services to Hewlett-Packard. Healthcare clients include CareFusion, a spin-off of Cardinal Health. Peters assisted Marsh & McLennan to establish a vendor panel for the provision of application development and maintenance services, which included structuring and negotiating agreements with HCL, IBM, Patni, TCS, and Wipro; contracting for a cloud computing solution for the provision of certain training and HR management services and renegotiating and expanding its financing and accounting services agreement with WNS. Nordahl’s clients include Johnson & Johnson and Omnicom.

Hunton & Williams LLP’s 40-lawyer national and international outsourcing group is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, with support in Washington DC, Dallas, New York and London, and is integrated with the firm’s technology and privacy practices and its center for information policy leadership. Clients commend attorneys’ ‘understanding of industry practices and ability to balance guidance and client support’, handling large-scale transactions across multiple sectors with particular strength in retail and financial services. In 2010, the group handled a combination of systems integration transactions and build operate transfer (BOT) deals. Cutting-edge challenges relate to open source software, risk allocation and licenses with location restrictions. Highlights included assisting a large healthcare system to unwind a $130m IT and services transaction and re-allocate it to several single process providers, representing a large insurer in the comprehensive renegotiation of a $500m comprehensive IT transaction, and assisting a Fortune 300 automobile parts manufacturer in a long-term $80m SAP global integration project. In Richmond, Randall Parks, co-chair of the global technology and outsourcing practice group, specializes in BPOs, ITOs, licensing, systems acquisition and joint ventures. In Atlanta, co-chair James Harvey advises on IT, HR and BPOs, offshoring and data management. Clients appreciate his ‘excellent knowledge and expertise and great advocacy and negotiation skills’. Karen Sanzaro focuses on facilities and large-scale enterprise resource planning (ERP) deals. Jeffrey Harvey is also recommended. The group benefits from strong relationships with major sourcing consultancies, including Everest Group, TPI and EquaTerra as well as providers Accenture, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Fujitsu, Cognizant, Infosys and Genpact. An impressive client list includes Blockbuster Video, Meadwestvaco, The Hartford, Toys R Us and The Servicemaster Company.

Jones Day’s Dallas-based practice has a long history of acting for providers, and applies this knowledge and insight to customer side work. The team handle big-ticket and mid-market deals covering ITO and BPO, facilities, logistics and inventory management for banks, retail businesses, telecoms providers and utilities in the US and internationally, frequently advising the firm’s existing client base on complex transactions. Jason Krieser and Shawn Helms in Dallas and ‘outstanding privacy lawyer’ Mauricio Paez in New York represented Sprint Nextel Corporation in its acquisition of next generation wireless infrastructure equipment to upgrade Sprint’s nationwide wireless network. The transaction involved the purchase of equipment and implementation services from Samsung, Alcatel-Lucent and Ericsson as well as the purchase of multi-modal base stations capable of supporting advanced 3G and 4G technologies. Paez and Krieser represented Xcel Energy in outsourcing arrangements involving maintenance and capital project work at nuclear plants. Other instructions included advising Neiman Marcus Group on the outsourcing of its benefits administration. A prestigious client list includes Nokia Siemens Networks, Diversey, Pier 1 Imports, Blockbuster and Bunge.

Gregg Kirchhoefer in Chicago heads Kirkland & Ellis LLP’s 50-lawyer practice, which wins praise as ‘superior legal counsel’. 2010 saw increased activity, with instructions covering multi-tower deals and procurement initiatives as well as ITO and BPO initiatives that use outsourcing as a platform for strategic development and growth. The group is known for finding new and innovative ways of applying outsourcing principles to create more rigors in business processes and performance management, notably in relation to investment asset management. Kirchhoefer, who is acknowledged as a ‘leader in his field’ and commended for his ‘exceptional skills and client service’, handles outsourcing transactions and litigation. BPO and IP expert Neil Hirshman has extensive experience representing both customers and service providers. Stephen Johnson in California and Matthew Lovell in Chicago combine intellectual property and outsourcing expertise. The team’s international footprint enables it to handle global deals for key clients including XChanging, CIGNA, Kellogg, State Farm and Lawson.

Latham & Watkins LLP’s outsourcing lawyers provide ‘deep industry knowledge and effective advice and advocacy’. According to clients, they ‘assist in expediting the progression of any complex transaction’, advising on numerous big-ticket outsourcing and network deals. In addition to its work in ITO, it assists clients with specialist sectors of BPO, such as asset and fund management outsourcing, finance and accounting, tax compliance, medical records, human resources and assisted business transformation. The group’s strength is underpinned by the firm’s global platform and resources which enable it to handle large-scale, prestigious multinational deals supported by local offices and expertise in related practice areas, notably intellectual property. The firm’s advanced technology tools for structuring deals enable transactions to be completed quickly and cost-effectively. Clients recommend global practice chair Marcelo Halpern in Chicago for his ‘well-reasoned counsel and balanced analysis’. He handles complex multi-faceted deals, notably assisting Navistar with numerous outsourcings including truck design and development, contract manufacturing, logistics and IT. JD Marple in Silicon Valley represents service providers and customers in the life sciences, technology and transportation sectors who find him ‘knowledgeable, responsive, and easy to work with’ with ‘first-rate negotiating skills’. In 2010, he assisted Avery Dennison with the outsourcing of its worldwide data center, help desk and related services to Tata. Allen Klein and his Washington DC team impress clients in the technology, pharmaceuticals, financial services and health sectors, notably advising B2B publisher Advanstar Communications on outsourcing its pre-print production activities to HCL. Jeremiah Wolsk wins praise for his ‘pragmatic counseling and remarkable ability to maintain a professional demeanor and obtain preferred outcomes from highly contentious negotiations’. Clients include Old Mutual, Sirius XM and Ciena Corporation.

Morgan Lewis’ outsourcing team is led by Barbara Melby in Philadelphia, who is highly recommended for her ‘in depth knowledge of the outsourcing landscape for both IT and BPO transactions’. The team handled more than 35 major outsourcing deals in 2010, and is commended for its ‘exceptionally high-quality work and terrific work ethic’. Work focused on efficiency strategies, renegotiating existing arrangements and negotiating joint ventures for clients across the financial services, manufacturing, pharmaceutical and retail sectors. The group’s market-leading attorneys are recognized for their broad experience and excellent connections with providers and consultants. With ten offices globally, the group has developed a prominent international practice. Michael Pillion led a team representing leading global energy player BG North America in an IT outsourcing covering multiple IT functions in a five-year, $100m transaction with IBM. The outsourcing, spanning BG’s operations worldwide, included data center services, end-user services, network services, and server services. Melby and recently promoted of counsel Vito Petretti represented health benefits company WellPoint in the renegotiation and scope expansion of an IT outsourcing covering multiple IT functions in a five-year, $1bn transaction with IBM. Other clients include Abbott Laboratories, Del Monte, Eli Lilly, Starwood Hotels and Sunoco. The departure of John Funk to SNR Denton and Edward Hansen to Baker & McKenzie represents a significant blow to the team.

Morrison & Foerster LLP appointed Washington DC partner Chris Ford as head of its global outsourcing practice. Ford advises clients on joint ventures and telecommunications and licensing transactions, ERP and systems integration. Together with Scott Stevenson, he represented National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) in the $420m outsourcing of its information technology platform, which include an infrastructure portion that was awarded to IBM, and a network management portion that was outsourced to AT&T. In New York, John Delaney, who combines outsourcing, data privacy and IP expertise, Vivian Hanson and Gabriel Meister represented Warner Brothers Music in a series of outsourcing transactions. Hanson is recognized for her expertise in complex, large-scale transactions, as well as domestic and cross-border transactions, notably handling outsourcing deals for major clients in Japan. The ‘highly experienced’ Julian Millstein, whose clients include Novartis, is singled out for praise. On the West Coast, Russell Weiss in Los Angeles represented MediConnect Global, which is providing outsourced services to WellPoint in relation to the design, development, and maintenance of an online medical record retrieval system, online workflow management system, and other related functionality. Other key clients include Serco, the State of Georgia and Kaiser Permanente.

DLA Piper LLP’s outsourcing group, led by Vincent Sanchez in Chicago, who chairs the US technology, sourcing and commercial practice, includes Mark Radcliffe in Palo Alto. Supported by the firm’s global footprint and strength in technology transactions, the group represents high-profile clients, notably in the financial services, healthcare and hospitality sectors. In 2010, it saw an increase in instructions involving outsourcing to new markets, notably Eastern Europe, Ireland and Latin America. Clients include APL, Bank of America, Bay Medical, HCL Technologies and Hyatt Corporation. William Russell and Jim Nelson joined Venable LLP’s New York office.

Foley & Lardner LLP’s information technology and outsourcing practice, led by Jim Kalyvas in Los Angeles, comprises 47 attorneys in seven offices. Drawing on the firm’s strengths in intellectual property, technology and data protection, it handles a combination of big-ticket and mid-market deals. According to clients, ‘the service is top of the line: experienced, trustworthy, knowledgeable, and pays for itself’. The ‘knowledgeable’ Kalyvas, who ‘listens to customer and helps them achieve their goals’, advised BJ’s Wholesale Club on the structuring, procuring and negotiation of a complete IT services outsourcing transaction, including RFP development, mainframe services, applications, data security, print services and data entry. Mike Overly, who advises Charles Schwab, is also singled out for praise. Transactional lawyer Deepak Nanda is recommended for his negotiating skills. Key clients include 24 Hour Fitness, ADT/Tyco, Bradley Corporation, Exelon, Omron Electronic Components, Raytheon,TD Ameritrade, The Irvine Company and Union Bank.

Clients are ‘absolutely delighted with the work and business acumen’ of Loeb & Loeb LLP’s five partner outsourcing practice, led by Kenneth Adler, Akiba Stern and Steve Semerdjian, which in 2010 was strengthened by Michelle Gross from Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. and Rosa Walker from Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP. Walter Steimel in Washington DC joined from Greenberg Traurig LLP. Recent instructions have focused on software as a service, and application development and maintenance, benefits, finance and accounting, broker-dealer, treasury, facilities management and asset management outsourcings for global and national companies, notably advising clients with respect to managing the risks of cloud computing. Attorneys are recognized for their ‘contract innovation’. Adler represented Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare in a cutting-edge agreement for Oracle to develop a next generation, US-based version of its European healthcare claims processing software. Stern wins the respect of the market for ‘creating world-class contracts which the industry recognizes as benchmark’. Other clients include Dr Pepper Snapple, Société Générale, Hartford, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ and American Modern Insurance Group.

Venable LLP recruited William Russell and Jim Nelson from DLA Piper LLP. Based in New York, and recommended as ‘clear, direct, thorough and commercially reasonable’, they complement Nora Garrote and A J Zottola in Washington DC, who combine intellectual property and technology expertise. Clients value Nelson’s ‘responsiveness and adept knowledge of intellectual property law’. As well as representing longstanding client GE, recent instructions include representing Verizon in a deal with Johnson Controls Global WorkPlace Solutions involving integrated facilities management, project management, energy implementation, lease administration and transactional management services at over 7,000 of Verizon’s US properties. The group has particular strength in the real estate outsourcing space, as well as BPO and ITO outsourcing in the healthcare and energy sectors. Other mandates included assisting Wyndham Worldwide Corporation, a hospitality company spanning six continents, with outsourcing its international central reservation system and related back-office functions.

White & Case LLP recruited well-known outsourcing expert Trevor Nagel in Washington DC from Alston & Bird LLP, who along with Robert Hasty and Lee Van Blerkom complements the global practices of Adam Chernichaw and Daren Orzechowski in New York and furthers the firm’s long-term strategy of providing a unique global offering, advising major clients on global sourcing strategy and complex, large-scale infrastructure transactions. Nagel’s longstanding clients include Chevron. Together with Van Blerkom, he advised Coca-Cola Enterprises on dismantling a complex pan-Atlantic outsourcing transaction following The Coca-Cola Company’s purchase of the North American operations of Coca-Cola Enterprises. Other key clients include Nokia, Aramco Services, BNP Paribas and WellPoint.

Baker Botts L.L.P. represents suppliers and customers. Supported by a broad-based transactional practice, it is well placed to handle hybrid, multi-faceted transactions. Dallas-based John Martin was recently named chair of the firm’s technology sector committee. Work focuses on complex outsourcing transactions including BPOs and ITOs and offshoring deals, notably to India. An increasing number of instructions involve the disaggregation of multi-tower deals. The ‘extremely responsive and knowledgeable’ Martin and Brian Henchey are commended as ‘real pros who can take a transaction and run with it. They know what is important and explore creative alternatives’. Jordan Herman in Austin is singled out for praise. Recent highlights include representing a global management consulting company in the restructuring and expansion of one of the largest systems integration projects in the private sector. Clients include service providers Accenture, Alcatel, Cisco, CSC and Dell and customers in utilities, life sciences and financial services. The group also works closely with leading consulting companies including TPI, EquaTerra, Gartner, The Everest Group, UtiliPoint and Compass.

Nigel Howard’s two-partner outsourcing practice at Covington & Burling LLP in New York is supported by the firm’s key strengths in life sciences, transportation, broadcasting and media, and sports and commended as ‘excellent in all respects’. Outsourcing to the cloud is a major issue and the team is advising Microsoft on its cloud computing terms and conditions and other policy aspects related to cloud computing, including drafting speeches and federal legislative proposals. Howard, who clients rate as ‘efficient and good value’, has a particular specialism in advising the airline industry on mission-critical outsourcing arrangements, is acting for American Airlines on a significant IT development contract around unbundled packages involving multiple products and services. Other instructions included representing CBSInteractive, TouchTunes as well as pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca. New clients include CHEP USA and Brown Brothers Harriman.

Fulbright & Jaworski LLP’s outsourcing team focuses on the vendor side, representing service providers as well as some customers and is supported by its strength in technology transactions and information management. Michael Brito in Dallas, former in-house counsel for a global outsourcing provider EDS handles IT and BPO agreements in the automotive, financial services, industrial/manufacturing, insurance, retail, telecommunications and utilities industries and advises on restructuring and renegotiating existing outsourcing arrangements. Highlights included representing a global technology company in outsourcing its finance and accounting functions, and acting for a global consulting company in renewing its IT outsourcing contracts. The group also advises public sector and international institutions on outsourcing arrangements. Stacey Smotherman advises on large-scale, strategic transactions, including enterprise-wide licensing arrangements and offshore applications development and maintenance. High-profile clients include Capgemini US, EDS, CSC and Affiliated Computer Services.

Clients recommend Kaye Scholer LLP’s practice group head William Tanenbaum in New York as ‘an outstanding attorney with a deep knowledge and understanding of technology and outsourcing and a deeply principled and trustworthy colleague’. The group’s ‘brilliant attorneys collaborate well and provide fast, diligent responses’. The firm’s strength in financial services and defense industry work gives it valuable expertise in managing outsourcing transactions in heavily regulated industries. Green IT, cleantech, energy efficiency and water management are other core specialisms. Recent instructions include handling pharma BPO outsourcing for Novartis, financial services IT outsourcing for CLS Bank in highly regulated market for foreign exchange trading and technology litigation and transactional work for Axa Financial

Kelley Drye & Warren LLP represents outsourcing and technology providers and their clients. The practice is supported by the firm’s strength in financial services, healthcare, life sciences and telecoms. It is especially strong in offshoring, benefiting from an affiliate office in India, which enables it to advise on any outsourcing transaction involving India-based resources or assets. Practice head W Michael Ryan in Chicago represented a large real estate developer in its negotiations with one of the largest US computer equipment providers for the provision of technology services and equipment into one of the largest city-scale real estate developments in Asia in a complex transaction involving parties from throughout Asia and the United States. Clients range from large multinational corporations to early-stage companies looking to commercialize cutting-edge technologies and business practices, and cut across numerous industry sectors, including banking, insurance, healthcare, telecoms and IT.

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton’s outsourcing practice, headed by James Steinberg in Atlanta, advises national and international clients in the telecoms, financial, healthcare and technology industry. It provides guidance to companies at every stage of the sourcing process, from the formulation of the sourcing strategy through to the management of the outsourced function. It also advises on subsequent matters including the renegotiation, restructuring or termination of existing outsourced arrangements, in-sourcing or re-sourcing previously outsourced functions, monitoring compliance and enforcing contractual commitments. Steinberg represented a publicly held web hosting company in strategic marketing alliance with a leading telecommunications company and one of the largest US forest products manufacturers in outsourcing its finance and accounting functions. Although most of its work is on the customer side, the group also represents outsourcing providers. Wayne Elowe represented Neusoft Corporation, the largest outsourcing service provider in China, as global counsel in connection with Neusoft’s international expansion and in connection with its US acquisitions

Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP strategic outsourcing practice is supported by the firm’s corporate and IP strength and advises on all aspects of large-scale BPO and ITO transactions, ASP arrangements, systems integration and voice and data network procurements. David Klein in New York represents customers and providers, recently acting for Amgen in an $800m transaction whereby it outsourced its global information services infrastructure to IBM. He assists clients with insourcing and terminating existing outsourcing agreements, notably representing JPMorgan Chase in the highly complex termination of a check processing outsourcing agreement between Washington Mutual (WaMu) and Unisys. Other work includes representing represented a major teaching hospital in outsourcing all major hospital IT systems to Siemens.

Proskauer Rose LLP represents customers and vendors in evaluating, structuring, negotiating and managing projects ranging from single-sourced to complex, competitively-bid outsourcing transactions. Jeffrey Neuburger’s strong technology background supports his work with clients in the media, advertising, technology and telecoms sectors involved in outsourcing transactions. Recent instructions include representing business process outsourcers Arvato Solutions, a subsidiary of Bertelsmann, in transactions relating to the outsourcing of processing of customer orders, returns and other fulfillment operations, notably in connection with a BPO agreement with Cisco, and assisting BT with the restructuring and workout of a telecoms outsourcing agreement between BT and Cadbury relating to telecom services covering six continents. Other clients include Road Runner, Time Warner Cable’s broadband service.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP represents vendors and customers in large complex outsourcing agreements, often supporting M&A transactions with IP and asset transfer elements. It represents large blue-chip companies, notably in the financial services industry in IT and e-commerce-related matters, as well as broader outsourcing deals involving business support and other functions. Attorneys also assist with in-sourcing and the termination and renegotiation of existing outsourcing arrangments. The firm’s network of international offices supports its capacity to handle offshoring transactions, notably involving providers based in India and China. Stuart Levi, head of the global sourcing group, represented Citigroup in connection with outsourcing agreements related to payments processing and IT and software development services. Rita Rodin Johnston and Jose Esteves focus on the IP aspects of complex outsourcing deals.

Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP’s 20-strong outsourcing team handles customer side initiatives including BPO, ITO/infrastructure, ADM, software system acquisition and managed network and software as a service, shared services and joint venture initiatives, and M&A support. According to clients, the group’s ‘holistic approach goes much deeper than just contracts – it has provided significant strategic value’. Practice head Scott Hobby in Atlanta is commended for his ‘experience, innovation and responsiveness’ while John Miller wins praise for ‘maturity, business acumen and technical knowledge’. Charles Hollis and Sean Christy are also recommended. Clients include Hilton Worldwide, Equifax, TIAA-CREF and ScanSource.

Thompson & Knight LLP in Texas handles complex multi-process outsourcing transactions, notably representing energy, public utility/electric power, manufacturing and telecoms companies, retail businesses and banks. Attorneys represent service providers and customers in large and mid-tier outsourcing transactions. According to clients, ‘it is good at what it does – across the board’. The ‘top quality, fast, and efficient’ Jeffrey Andrews in Houston represents longstanding client Oncor Electric Delivery Company. Other representative clients include American Water Works Company and Intercomp Global Services.

Clients recommend Winston & Strawn LLP’s lateral hires Eric Cowan and Glynna Christian, recruited from Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, for their ‘business acumen, industry knowledge and experience, spot on advice and responsiveness’. Christian’s mandates included representing a leading financial services institution in a multibillion-dollar, multi-vendor outsourcing and a global supplier of automotive systems in connection with the acquisition of an ERP software system and the outsourcing of data facility services. Cowan advises on the outsourcing elements of litigation and transactional work, representing ITV, the UK’s largest broadcast network in the sale of Screenvision, and acting as seller’s counsel for a multinational media company in the disposition of its US assets, including three daily newspapers.