The Legal 500

Within EU and competition

Within Financial services, tier 5

Salans ‘provides high levels of industry knowledge’. Robert Courtneidge is rated for e-money matters, and Jonathan Denton for FSA regulation and treasury matters. The practice recently advised two new entrants to the UK market on becoming FSA authorised.

Within Flotations - small and mid-cap, Salans is a third tier firm,

Paul Salmon leads the emerging markets focused practice at new entrant Salans. The team is particularly strong in Africa, recently advising African Medical Investments and BioEnergy Africa on their respective IPOs (£5.6m and £13.1m).

Within M&A - lower mid-marketdeals, £50m-£250m, tier 4

Central and Eastern Europe and Russia remain a leading source of deals for Salans, which is a leader in those regions and regularly acts on multimillion-pound transactions. Deal sizes on UK-only deals tend to be smaller, often for AIM-listed companies. Paul Salmon heads a nine-partner team.

Within Licensing, gaming and betting, tier 4

Salans was involved in a number of negotiations concerning casino licences and regulatory issues regarding lotteries in 2008. Clients include Betfair.

Within Banking litigation,

Other practices deserving of mention include: Bird & Bird LLP, for its knowledge of the structured finance sector and ‘what makes banks tick’; Fladgate LLP’s ‘knowledgeable’ and ‘practical’ team, notably Paul Howcroft (‘calm’, ‘knowledgeable’) and Stephen Hayes (‘meticulous’ and ‘quick to react’); Glovers Solicitors LLP, for retail banking litigation; K&L Gates, where Anne McCarthy represents both retail and commercial banks, and hedge funds; Masseys LLP, which is ‘excellent’, ‘responsive’ and ‘helpful on all fronts’), and noted for its willingness to litigate against banks and the expertise of the ‘tenacious and ‘analytical’ Jane Colston and Sean Upson; Mishcon de Reya, for its retail work; Salans, where Kevin Heath is a ‘no-nonsense and straight-talking litigator’ with ‘in-depth knowledge’ of the asset finance and consumer credit sectors; and TLT LLP, for its rapid emergence in the City and its increasing exposure to the financial markets.

Within Commercial litigation

Within Debt recovery, Salans is a second tier firm,

Salans opened a new office in Bromley in 2008, in addition to its existing Thetford office. Headed by Caroline Havers, the team acts for numerous local authorities, car manufacturer backed motor finance businesses, and government departments. New clients in 2008 included Peverel OM and two mutual building societies. The firm ‘can always be relied on, do not waste money, and are always available to offer assistance’.

Within International arbitration

Within Bank lending - investment grade debt and syndicated loans , tier 5

Philip Prowse at Salans advised Stemcor Holdings on a US$750m syndicated revolving credit facility.

Within Corporate restructuring and insolvency, tier 7

Bryan Green who heads a team at Salans that is ‘aggressive where required but also highly commercial’.

Within Emerging markets, Salans is a third tier firm,

Salans efforts to build on its commanding presence in Russia and the CIS have seen it act on deals across Asia and the CEE, such as advising Ascom on a series of transactions totalling US$3bn, including its IPO and sale of assets. The firm rises in the ranking as key banking partner Philip Prowse and ‘client-focused’ corporate head Paul Salmon continue to make their mark in and beyond Russia.

Within Trade finance, tier 4

Salans represents banks such as BNP Paribas and Natixis on oil and energy trade financing. Trader clients include Stemcor, for which the practice closed a US$400m syndicated facility in May 2009. Mark Wilson and Philip Prowse lead the practice.

Within Employment, tier 6

Salans’ team is headed by the ‘first-rate’ Michael Bronstein, who is ‘highly experienced and tenacious’. It continues to act for international literary and talent agency PFD, defending it in over 20 highly publicised claims, and also advised on a high-profile retail administration. Clients value the ‘tactically astute and commercially aware’ advice provided. Andrea Nicholls is also recommended.

Within Commercial property, tier 6

Salans’ practitioners are ‘prompt, timely and constructive’. The group, led by Daniel Polden, is recommended for its experience in the property aspects of retail industry insolvency, such as advising Kroll, as administrators of MFI. The group also possesses international expertise, recently acting for Amstar Global Partners on a joint venture with Renaissance Construction for retail developments in Turkey.

Within Property finance, tier 5

Salans advises a good balance of lender and borrower clients. Highlights included acting for Upper Spring Property on the refinancing of a mixed-use and residential portfolio, and advising leading names such as Bank of Ireland, ING and Abbey National. Daniel Polden, who leads the property practice, is ‘commercial, clever and proactive’. The group recruited Nick Ellis from Fladgate LLP.

Within Shipping , tier 6

Salans’ Michael Lloyd has over 30 years of specialist shipping experience. The practice acts on major loss arbitrations and shipbuilding contractual disputes.