The Legal 500

Within Corporate tax, tier 5

With expertise in tax structuring and transfer pricing work, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP’s service is ‘excellent’. Clients include Citigroup Global Markets, Goldman Sachs, BSkyB, A G Parfetts & Sons, Credit Suisse First Boston and Orange. Nicholas Noble is ‘one of the sharpest and most pragmatic tax lawyers in the City’, and Graeme Nuttall is also recommended.

Within EU and competition , tier 7

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP’s ‘highly professional’ and ‘first-rate’ department rises in the ranking thanks to its growth in London and Brussels, its appearance in a series of CAT cases for Orange, and its defence of a major airline in the European Commission air cargo cartel investigation. Charles Whiddington provides ‘sound leadership’ to a multi-skilled department.

Within Financial services, tier 5

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP’s ‘knowledgeable’ Kirstene Baillie advises financial services institutions on retail and institutional investment funds, insurance and pension products, and related financial services regulatory issues.

Within Flotations - small and mid-cap, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP is a second tier firm,

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP advised Mirabaud Securities and Strand Partners on the £15m AIM IPO of Iofina. Led by Anthony Brockbank, the team also acted on a number of secondaries in the oil and gas, and mining sectors. Dominic Gurney-Champion is recommended.

Within M&A - lower mid-marketdeals, £50m-£250m, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP is a third tier firm,

Transport and media are key sectors for the 13-partner corporate team at Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP, with clients including the BBC, although the firm is perhaps best known for its international practices; Russia and the CIS in particular is a source of work. Andrew Blankfield heads the group.

Within Outsourcing and procurement, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP is a first tier firm,

‘One of the premier legal advisers on procurement matters faced by government’, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP’s core outsourcing and procurement team of around 50 lawyers had an outstanding year. It advised the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority on an appointment to manage Sellafield, the largest public procurement in Europe, as well as continuing to act in connection with the national identity cards project. David Gollancz has ‘excellent understanding of public sector issues’, while head of EU competition and procurement Charles Whiddington provides ‘exceptionally intelligent insight’. The outsourcing component of the technology group has a growing reputation in the private sector, a focus of the ‘professional and knowledgeable’ Simon Briskman. This has led to new instructions from BP and Orange. Public sector outsourcing is another key strength, with Paul Barton, Tim Davies and Hamish Sandison all highly recommended.

Within Overview,

New to the chapter this year is the Outsourcing and procurement section, which spans both private and public sector work and covers business services outsourcing in addition to more traditional IT and telecoms work. Baker & McKenzie LLP, Bird & Bird LLP, DLA Piper UK LLP, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP and Pinsent Masons LLP have set the bar as the firms to beat.

Within Partnership, tier 4

Nicholas Thompsell at Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP is advising the Secretary of State for International Development in relation to investments in the developing world.

Within VAT and indirect tax

Within Venture capital, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP is a third tier firm,

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP partners Andrew Blankfield and the ‘unflappable’ Neil Foster enjoy the firm’s TMT strengths, gaining a good range of company-side VC work. 2008 highlights include advising G24 Innovations on a US$50m second round funding.

Within Banking litigation, tier 5

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP enters the ranking this year thanks to its impressive work in the structured finance and derivatives sectors. It represents many European and second-tier banks, and has litigated against many of the leading investment banks. The immensely experienced Andrew Lafferty works alongside Kit Jarvis.

Within Commercial litigation, tier 6

Peter Stewart’s team at Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP rises in the ranking on the back of several impressive hires and instructions. The recent partner arrivals include Kit Jarvis from Howrey LLP; Tony Lewis from Peters & Peters; Duncan Black from Dechert LLP; and Derek Hill from Herbert Smith LLP, who significantly add to the firm’s strengths in areas such as fraud, financial services, insolvency and tax disputes. A recent highlight was representing American Reliable Insurance and Bankers Insurance in a US$250m case against Willis.

Within Defamation and privacy

Within Professional discipline, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP is a first tier firm,

Providing ‘excellent all-round service coupled with key regulatory players’, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP’s disciplinary practice has historically had a strong healthcare focus. 2008 saw the firm appointed by the GDC to prosecute illegal dentistry cases, as well as undertake an audit of the General Osteopathic Council’s fitness-to-practise procedures. Practice head Matthew Lohn draws praise for his ‘broad knowledge of professional regulatory matters’, as does ‘solid and dependable advocate’ Tom Rider. Clients also recommend healthcare regulatory expert MaryTimms.

Within Asset finance and leasing, tier 6

Despite the loss of Simon Chamberlain to Bird & Bird LLP, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP maintains an active presence in the corporate jet and yacht finance market, recently advising JPMorgan on the pre-delivery financing of a Gulfstream G550 aircraft. Andrew Evans and Jon Fife head up the practice.

Within Commodities and futures - futures, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP is a third tier firm,

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP offers transactional and regulatory advice to the likes of Banca IMI, Danske Bank, Gartmore, Mitsui Bussan Commodities Limited, and Sanctum. Guy Usher is ‘tried and tested’ and ‘very commercial’.

Within Corporate restructuring and insolvency, tier 7

Robin Tutty at Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP ‘has a good grasp of the technicalities of his field’.

Within Derivatives and structured products, tier 4

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP acts for many institutional asset managers, banks and investors, and its ‘business acumen and industry knowledge are very good’. The outstanding Guy Usher is ‘very practical, has an excellent understanding of all things ISDA, and provides imaginative solutions to complex problems’, and Edward Miller is ‘competent, thorough and dependable’.

Within Investment funds, tier 4

First choice for several major institutional clients, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP also has an excellent reputation for retail funds. The firm has experience in property funds, and the recruitment of Duncan Black from Dechert LLP has added weight to the hedge funds side. The ‘very knowledgeable’ Kirstene Baillie heads the team, whose clients include Fidelity Investments, Société Générale, and Citibank.

Within Securitisation, tier 5

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP offers ‘very good, personal service at reasonable rates’. Guy Usher is ‘a distinctive banking and capital markets lawyers with broad expertise, keen perception and precise advice’. Ronit Grant’s work on ABCP deals, and the contentious regulatory skills of Duncan Black (who joined from Dechert LLP) reinforce its credentials.

Within Trade finance, tier 4

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP’s team displays ‘very good industry knowledge’ and its partners ‘cut through legalese without dropping attention to detail’. Andrew Evans, Jon Fife and Guy Usher are recommended. Clients include Bank of Ireland Global Markets and Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander, as well as traders such as Openfield plc.

Within Employee share schemes, tier 4

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP has a strong and growing AIM-listed client base, and is noted for its ‘exceptionally high’ levels of service. Unlisted clients include John Lewis Partnership and Hammer Films Holdings. Graeme Nuttall is singled out for his ‘outstanding knowledge of his subject’.

Within Employment, tier 6

2008 saw Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP win Wm Morrisons Supermarkets as a client, bolstering its stable of retail clients that also includes YSL Beauté Ltd and Lush. Clients praise ‘star partner’ Richard Kenyon and the team’s ‘great industry knowledge and commercial advice’. The practice continues to receive numerous instructions from the Department for Work and Pensions.

Within Health and safety,

Also of note are: Clyde & Co LLP (‘very impressive under pressure’); Crowell & Moring, for ‘enormous experience and quality Crown Court work’; Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP, which recently acted for a mainstream tour operator following a double fatality; Irwin Mitchell LLP, for its solid national capability; and Kingsley Napley, where the ‘house style never fails to impress’.

Within Health and safety,

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP recently acted for a mainstream tour operator following a double fatality.

Within Pensions (incl pensions dispute resolution), tier 5

David Gallagher, Michael Calvert and Corinne Merla at Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP combine 'excellent turnaround times' with 'clear thinking from an early stage' of any transaction. Clients recognise the team’s ‘sound grasp of the Regulator’s likely attitude’ to ‘key matters’.

Within Clinical negligence - claimant, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP is a second tier firm,

A real ‘star in the field of clinical negligence’, Paul McNeil leads Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP’s ‘excellent’ team, which includes Samantha Critchley who is consistently praised as ‘one to watch’; she ‘has all the makings of a star performer, she is clever, brave and knows each of her cases inside out’. Richard Earle is singled out for his ‘smooth and thorough’ approach. Successful cases for the team included Munday v Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, in which the highest reported settlement in an Erb’s Palsy case was awarded.

Within Insurance - corporate and regulatory, tier 6

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP advised the Scheme Trustee of Electricity Supply Pension Scheme on setting up investments with insurance companies; Kirstene Baillie is the prime contact.

Within Personal injury - claimant, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP is a third tier firm,

A ‘true leader in the field’, Rodney Nelson-Jones leads the ‘extremely approachable, professional and efficient’ five-partner team at Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP, which ‘cares for its clients’ welfare and adds the personal touch’. It is ‘in a class of its own for disease cases’, recovering more than £16m in 2008 for asbestos claims alone. It also has an ‘excellent’ catastrophic injury practice, acting on complex cases often involving an international element. The ‘approachable’ and ‘tremendously supportive’ Jill Greenfield is ‘exceptional’; Paul McNeil is ‘highly regarded’; and Andrew Morgan has ‘an intellectual curiosity and will take novel points’.

Within Charities and not-for-profit , tier 5

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP assists a spectrum of clients ranging from health regulatory bodies, NHS charitable trusts, Royal Charter bodies, and housing trusts. Practice head Graeme Nuttall is ‘very knowledgeable in the field, subtle in his approach, and avoids antagonisms, very often securing the desired outcome’.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, tier 5

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP assists domestic and international clients including celebrities and entrepreneurs on tax-structuring issues and the establishment of trusts, as well as on wills and probate issues. Penny Wotton is the key partner.

Within Oil and gas,

The team at Osborne Clarke recently worked in conjunction with the firm’s Cologne office and the Osborne Clarke Alliance to advise Gasunie on its €1bn acquisition of the German gas transportation business of BEB Transport & Speicher Service and ExxonMobil Gastransport Deutschland. Richard Temple left in 2009 for Field Fisher Waterhouse.

Within Administrative and public law, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP is a first tier firm,

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP has ‘excellent knowledge of regulatory public law’ and is a strong choice for judicial review work; it is ‘efficient, friendly and good value for money’. The practice is led by Matthew Lohn, ‘a rainmaker’ with ‘high standards of client care’, while Martin Smith displays ‘attention to detail and real expertise in difficult inquiry work’. Caroline McMann left for the London Development Agency. The team recently advised the Department of Health on forming the Care Quality Commission, and worked on the Baha Mousa public inquiry.

Within Education - institutions, tier 4

At Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP, Tom Rider and Tim Davies jointly head a practice whose clients include the UK Commission for Education and Skills, LSE and the Architectural Association School of Architecture.

Within Education - schools, tier 4

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP acts for many of the overarching bodies in the sector in relation to schools’ funding and property portfolios. Tom Rider and Tim Davies are the practice heads.

Within Healthcare, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP is a third tier firm,

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP has a ‘terrific healthcare team’ advising both commercial and public sector operators. Former practising doctor Matthew Lohn heads the practice and is praised as ‘absolutely tenacious and with a very good instinct’. Tom Rider, Judith Chrystie and Rosemary Rollason are ‘absolutely brilliant’.

Within Commercial property, tier 4

Clients are ‘extremely impressed’ with Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP, particularly for its ‘deeply caring attitude’ and ‘terrific team spirit’. The group’s broad-based practice has particular strength in public sector work, which should serve it well during the lull in private sector work. Highlights included advising Southwark Borough Council on the redevelopment of Potters Field at London Bridge. The team, led by Paul Houston, is regarded as ‘pragmatic, calm and fair’, with Edward Bannister also recommended. Former lead partner Martin Barrett left the firm to head up Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP’s property team in 2008.

Within Construction, tier 5

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP has repositioned its construction team under consultant Laurence Fryer and the development-focused Edward Bannister; the ‘excellent and easily understandable’ team is targeting complex work for organisations with construction needs. Multinational clients include the Bank of Ireland, AstraZeneca, and Philip Morris International Management.

Within Environment, tier 5

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP recruited Karen Cooksley and Colette McCormack from Bevan Brittan LLP, although former practice head Sarah Youren has left. The ‘responsive’ practice’s staple diet includes regeneration projects, such as advising Quadrant Estates on a mixed-use development with contamination issues.

Within Planning,

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP sets a ‘high standard’, and notably recruited Karen Cooksley and her planning team from Bevan Brittan LLP, including fellow partner Colette McCormack. The practice will leverage the firm’s property and energy strengths, and target growth in local government, regeneration and renewables.

Within Property finance, tier 4

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP’s property finance practice acts for a number of banks, including Citigroup, Bank of Scotland and Europe Arab Bank. It also has niche expertise in healthcare finance, with highlights including advising Bank of Ireland on a £93.5m syndicated secured term and credit facility for the Richmond Care Villages, a major healthcare organisation. Andrew Evans acts with ‘professionalism and good humour’, while John Nelmes is ‘unflappable and good at spotting banana skins’. Clients also recommend Jon Fife.

Within Property litigation, tier 4

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP welcomed rent review specialist Lesley Webber from Reed Smith. The practice advised on the reversal of the sale of a football ground and the buyout of a related overage agreement. Injunction expert Antony Phillips is ‘great for difficult points of law’.

Within Property litigation, tier 4

Reed Smith’s Lesley Webber departed for Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP but Katherine Campbell has moved from Birmingham to London. The practice acts as sole adviser for the Land Securities Trillium Royal Mail portfolio on review disputes, dilapidation cases, and specific performance claims. Andrew Jenkinson is recommended.

Within Brand management, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP is a first tier firm,

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP has a ‘market-leading’ franchising practice ‘where the depth of knowledge is second to none’. Mark Abell and Chris Wormald advised Waitrose on its first international expansion deal, which will see stores open throughout the Middle East. Newly promoted partner Victoria Hobbs handles franchising litigation. The ‘customer-focused, realistic and innovative’ Lewis Cohen - also newly promoted to the partnership - handles sponsorship work, where a key client is Tottenham Hotspur FC. David Bond advises advertisers and advertising industry bodies, including the Advertising Association.

Within Intellectual property, tier 4

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP has lost trade mark filing partner John Olsen, his team and some substantial trade mark filing clients to Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge UK LLP. Trade mark partner Simon Chapman has also moved, to Lewis Silkin LLP. However the firm has made up three new IP partners internally - including the ‘quick reactive and pragmatic’ France Delord, who focuses on trade mark filing - and won new clients including Agent Provocateur and Mothercare. Nick Rose has been advising Vestergaard Frandsen on one of the largest trade mark actions ever to take place in the UK.

Within Intellectual property, tier 4

Reed Smith has an industrial IP and media-focused practice. Head of IP Michael Skrein is ‘very clever and very good at lateral thinking’, while Carolyn Pepper is ‘very personable, bright and doesn’t panic’. Patent litigator Alison Dennis has moved to Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP, while brands and copyright litigator Emma Lenthall has been made up as a partner.

Within IT and telecoms, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP is a first tier firm,

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.

Within IT and telecoms, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP is a first tier firm,

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.

Within Media and entertainment, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP is a first tier firm,

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP’s expanding team, commended for its ‘good commercial sense and knowledge’, was boosted by the arrival of film financing specialist Tim Johnson from SJ Berwin LLP and the acquisition of new client Ingenious Media, Lionsgate and Lakeshore Entertainment. The ‘intelligent, calm and measured’ Hamish Porter advises author Derek Landy and Warner Bros. Studios. Corporate partner Andrew Blankfield advised the BBC on the sale of its outside broadcasts division. New media expert David Naylor advises UK VOD, the groundbreaking video-on-demand joint venture between BBC Worldwide, Channel 4 and ITV. Other clients include Digital UK, DMOL, MTV/Viacom, computer games business Square Enix, and publishers William Reed and Pearson.

Within Overview,

Among the UK firms whose reputation is built on technology and media clients rather than life sciences, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP lost some ground with the high-profile departure of trade mark filing partner John Olsen and his team to Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge UK LLP. The firm has, however, made up three new IP partners internally, grown its IT and telecoms team, and hired a life sciences regulatory partner and a film financing partner.

Within Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, tier 4

Reed Smith’s ‘responsive, commercial’ practice has lost partner Alison Dennis to Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP and senior associate George Pickering, who moved in-house at GSK. Regulatory and product liability partner Paul Llewellyn has relocated from Birmingham to London. He has been advising a US pharmaceutical company on claims related to the development of pathological gambling habits allegedly attributable to prescribed medication.

Within Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, tier 4

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP has hired a new regulatory partner, the ‘personable, courteous’ Alison Dennis from Reed Smith, and associate Julian Hitchcock, who specialises in stem cells and regenerative medicine, from the Cambridge office of Mills & Reeve LLP. Dennis brings clients including Alliance Healthcare.

Within Sport

Within Rail, tier 5

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP continued to strengthen its position for European operational rail work last year, advising Deutsche Bahn on its acquisition of John Laing plc’s portfolio of UK railway interests. Nicholas Thompsell and Nigel Taylor are the standout figures of the practice.