The Legal 500

Within Commercial contracts, tier 4

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP provides IP and IT related outsourcing services for financial, commercial and industrial clients across the communications, media, consumer products, healthcare and financial services sectors. Andrew Craig has experience in high-profile multi-jurisdictional outsourcing and offshoring deals, and has assisted on joint venture, licensing and other commercial arrangements. Avril Martindale acted for the organising committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games on brand protection and other commercial issues in preparation for the London 2012 events.

Within Corporate tax, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP’s ‘responsive, committed’ and ‘business-savvy’ team is ‘as good as you will find anywhere in the world’. It advises across international primary and secondary offerings, mergers and acquisitions, reorganisations, capital markets transactions, private equity, energy and insurance, and is increasingly active in real estate matters. It advised Rolls-Royce on the restructuring and sale of its 32.5% share in the International Aero Engines (IAE) joint venture to Pratt & Whitney for $1.5bn, plus the right to receive future payments based on the use of IAE’s V2500 engines. It also advised Capita in its role as servicer, special servicer and agent of NHP’s senior lenders in NHP’s £1.17bn senior financing arrangements and NHP’s participation in the restructuring of Southern Cross Healthcare Group. Other clients include London Stock Exchange and EMI. Sarah Falk, Richard Ballard, Murray Clayson, and Colin Hargreaves are all recommended.

Within Equity capital markets: UK capability, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP has a ‘fantastic ECM practice’ – ‘one of the best’. With ‘great knowledge’, Steven Revell is ‘the standout star, hands-on and very user friendly’. Tim Jones advised JP Morgan Cazenove as sponsor and bookrunner on a £466m rights issue by DS Smith plc to fund a £1.6bn acquisition; Julian Makin represented Vallares plc on its IPO; and Mark Austin assisted Lamprell plc on a $225m rights issue.

Within Equity capital markets: US capability, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

‘A standout firm for US advice’, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP has partners who ‘deliver consistently excellent technical and commercial advice’. The ‘well-respected’ Sarah Murphy is ‘technically superb’ and recently advised Nord Gold on its $1bn IPO. She also advised Perform Group on its IPO, together with the newly promoted Doug Smith, who is ‘a “go-to” lawyer for difficult US securities law questions’.

Within EU and competition, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is ‘as good as it gets’, with ‘excellent technical knowledge’ and a ‘proactive approach’. The 16-partner team acts for clients including BP, BT, and Tesco. On the non-contentious side, it advised London Stock Exchange, as a third party, on the anti-trust and merger controls issues arising from the proposed Deutsche Börse-NYSE/Euronext merger. In contentious matters, it acted for ABB in its defence of a £230m claim by National Grid Electricity Transmission. Recommended individuals include team head Rod Carlton; David Aitman; the ‘technically sound and pragmatic’ Simon Priddis; Nicholas French; Alex Potter; and contentious specialist Bea Tormey. James Aitken, Alastair Chapman and Mark Sansom were promoted to the partnership in 2011, while Nicholas Spearing left for Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP.

Within Financial services, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP ‘stands out for the effort it makes to understand retail banks, as well as corporate and investment banks’. The team advised on the regulatory aspects of the disposal of Northern Rock to Virgin Money. Michael Raffan and Guy Morton are key figures, along with David Scott, Ali Sallaway and Sarah Parkes on the contentious side. Piers Reynolds joined from Stephenson Harwood, while Jonathan Rawlings moved to the firm’s Dubai office.

Within M&A: mid-market, £50m-£250m Leading individuals: M&A

Within M&A: premium deals, £250m+, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP advised on 80 deals totalling $79.8bn in 2011, placing it at the vanguard of UK M&A advisers in terms of both volume and value of deals. Highlights for the ‘first-rate’ corporate team included advising a consortium led by Nordic Capital and Credit Suisse on its sale of Nycomed Group to Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, which was notable as the largest private equity exit to a trade buyer in Europe to date. The 54-partner corporate group is split into four teams, each with a specific sector focus. Julian Makin and Piers Pritchard-Jones provide ‘prompt, innovative and commercial advice’.

Within M&A: smaller deals, up to £50m Leading individuals: M&A

Within Overview,

On the private equity side, the lack of liquidity continued to constrain market activity. Alternative debt providers stepped in to provide some of the debt required to push deals through, and high yield also took up some of the slack, with robust targets still proving attractive propositions. The decline in mega-deals caused even the larger sponsor clients to look to the increasingly congested mid-market for transactions, with legal advisers following suit; private equity powerhouses such as Clifford Chance and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP saw more activity on this front. Deals continued to fall at the last hurdle due to buyers’ and sellers’ expectations not marrying, and the pick-up in deal flow at the beginning of 2011 was stymied by the unfolding eurozone crisis. Sponsor portfolio management was the order of the day, and distressed M&A also continued to feature in 2011’s transactional flow.

Within Private equity: transactions, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP has well-established relationships with a number of the most prominent sponsors in the market, including CVC and Warburg Pincus. David Higgins and Adrian Maguire recently advised core client Cinven on its acquisition of legal process outsourcer CPA Global. Team head Chris Bown has an excellent reputation, and advised CVC on its acquisition of Ahlsell. Edward Braham and David Sonter are also recommended.

Within VAT and indirect tax, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP’s team acts for a range of high-profile clients including Ferrovial, Bank of England, EMI and British Land. It acted for Rolls-Royce on the restructuring and sale of its 32.5% share in the International Aero Engines joint venture to Pratt & Whitney; and for UK Financial Investments and Northern Rock on HM Treasury’s disposal of the bank to Virgin Money. Richard Ballard is active in the sector, but Robert Kent retired from the partnership.

Within Fraud: civil, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

The team at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is led by the well-regarded Raj Parker. The London and Hong Kong offices continue to assist Brunei Investment Agency in enforcing a settlement agreement to recover significant assets in various jurisdictions from companies previously associated with Prince Jefri. James Kennedy is highlighted for his tenacity in ‘digging into cases’, and Philip Croall stands out for his ‘zen-like calm’.

Within Fraud: corporate crime, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP has the ‘very calm and clever’ Paul Lomas, and head of department Geoff Nicholas and Raj Parker are also recommended. This team has an excellent reputation for advising corporations in relation to sanctions against Iran, Libya and Syria. It has recently been advising a FTSE 100 company on its duties under the Proceeds of Crime Act and resulting SFO self-reporting obligations arising out of a cross-border internal investigation.

Within Fraud: white-collar crime Leading individuals: Fraud

Within Gaming and betting, tier 4

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP advises clients including bookmakers, casino companies and internet betting companies.

Within Banking litigation: investment and retail, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP has a banking litigation team in London but can also bring in specialists from its foreign offices when necessary. The firm is representing Deutsche Bank in its dispute with Sebastian Holdings; and also acted in the KSF litigation, before the Supreme Court. Ian Taylor ‘makes order out of nonsense’; Simon Orton ‘has the ability to translate complex issues into readily understandable counsel’, and Andrew Hart is ‘very proactive, always thinking ahead and of all the different angles’. Sarah Parkes and David Scott are also highly recommended. The team as a whole ‘understands the issues and challenges and can overlay a keen commercial awareness’.

Within Commercial litigation, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP increasingly leveraged its international practice when handling cases in the English courts, and was involved in several high-profile investigations globally. The practice advised Vasily Anisimov, a significant shareholder in Metalloinvest, in relation to Boris Berezovsky’s claim for billions of dollars against the estate of the late Georgian oligarch, Badri Patarkatsishvili, fund management firm Salford, and Anisimov. Department head Geoff Nicholas’ ‘attention to detail is impressive’, Christopher Pugh is the global practice group leader, and Paul Lomas is widely praised. Matthew Bruce was promoted to partner.

Within International arbitration, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

A go-to firm for oil super majors in significant disputes, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP produces ‘outstanding-quality work’. The practice successfully prosecuted a claim for approximately $2bn in damages and a claim under a contractual stabilisation clause. Constantine Partasides is department head, and Sylvia Noury is an ‘exceptional lawyer’. Jan Paulsson and Christopher Pugh are also highly rated.

Within Public international law, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP acts for international oil super majors in significant investment arbitrations, and has advised various corporations in relation to sanctions against Iran, Libya and Syria. The practice assisted Bahrain with the establishment of an independent commission of inquiry to investigate the unrest of 2011, and also acted in an ICSID arbitration following Venezuela’s takeover of a client’s land and cattle farming business. Constantine Partasides heads the team, which includes Jan Paulsson, who has represented states in land and maritime boundary disputes; and Sylvia Noury, who was promoted to partner.

Within Tax litigation, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP’s team acts in complex, high-value tax disputes and investigations for local and international clients. It acted for Eclipse Film Partners in a dispute with HMRC in relation to the availability of tax relief for interest on loans, while other clients include Scottish Power and Air Berlin.

Within Acquisition finance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a third tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP continues to do well in the market, in particular advising corporates and sponsors on big-ticket, cross-border financings. Sean Pierce and Christopher Davis advised Cinven on the financing of its acquisition of Guardian Financial Services, and Ian Frost represented Sun European Partners on the financing of its purchase of Consumer Goods Europe. While the firm may lack the bank-side focus of some of its higher-ranked peers, it picks up a steady stream of bank mandates, including advising the arrangers on the senior facilities supporting BC Partners’ £1.5bn acquisition of Com Hem. David Trott heads a ‘strong team’ that includes highly regarded partners Sean Lacey and, on the high yield side, Gil Strauss and Simone Bono.

Within Asset finance and leasing, tier 4

Led by the ‘hugely experienced and very dependable’ Robert Murphy, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP provides a ‘premier service’ to clients engaged in complex deals, often requiring a multi-disciplinary approach. Recent highlights include advising Avolon on its acquisition of nine aircraft from GECAS, and representing Ryanair on its first bond issuance, guaranteed by US Ex-Im Bank. The ‘excellent’ Richard Phillips is a prominent figure for rail finance, and continues to advise the Department for Transport on the Intercity Express project. Clients include Aercap, Deutsche Bank and Etihad Airways.

Within Bank lending: investment grade debt and syndicated loans, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

The ‘first-rate’ team at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is ‘very knowledgeable and efficient’, with lawyers who give ‘prompt and clear commercial advice’ to a host of blue-chip corporate clients. Practice head David Trott acted for Associated British Ports and its holding company in relation to the establishment of a 25-year £5bn secured bank/bond financing platform; Edward Evans advised the Xstrata Group on the refinancing of its existing bank facilities into a new $6bn five-year syndicated revolving credit facility; and Martin Hutchings advised Zurich Insurance on a new €2.5bn revolving credit facility.

Within Corporate restructuring and insolvency, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

Headed by the ‘experienced’ Ken Baird, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP’s 11-partner team has been ‘very visible in the market’ across a range of complex matters. Led by ‘very good up-and-comer’ Adam Gallagher, the firm advised the National Car Parks group on its restructuring, a matter which involved a fresh injection of capital by the sponsor and a debt-for-equity swap by key creditors. The ‘excellent’ Richard Tett is praised for his ability to find ‘innovative’ solutions, and recently advised in relation to the English scheme of arrangement to restructure Spain’s La Seda de Barcelona’s €1bn debt. Other clients include Barclays, Blackstone and KPMG. Nick Segal is recommended.

Within Debt capital markets, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

Steven Revell’s team at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP has ‘excellent partners who have done amazingly well building the bank-facing practice’, and handles a range of matters spanning standalone issues, MTN programmes, liability management, retail bonds and sukuks. Duncan Kellaway is highly rated, and Peter Allen is a ‘“go-to” man who stands out from his peers’. Also recommended are Doug Smith and the ‘first-rate’ Julian Makin, who are ‘excellent transaction managers – prompt, clear and commercial’; and the US-qualified Don Guiney and Sarah Murphy. The practice advised the lead managers on Evraz Group’s $850m notes issue, and Xstrata on a $3bn Yankee bond issue.

Within Derivatives and structured products Derivatives and structured products

Within High yield, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a third tier firm,

At Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, practice head Gil Strauss has ‘truly outstanding knowledge of the market and the relevant law’, and is ‘always available’. Highlights included acting for RBS, Barclays Capital, HSBC and Lloyds Bank on the £1.2bn refinancing and development financing solution for Center Parcs; and advising Aston Martin on a £304m high yield bond issue, with Deutsche Bank, UBS and Credit Suisse as joint bookrunners.

Within Investment funds, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP focuses on complex, high-end platforms. It advised Blackstone Real Estate Partners on forming a vehicle via which to acquire Valad Property Group; and also advised the sponsors and bookrunners on Bilfinger Berger Global Infrastructure SICAV’s IPO. Practice head Mark Watterson, Jonathan Baird, Karen Fountain and David Rouch are recommended.

Within Overview,

Able to leverage its impressive roster of blue-chip corporates, Slaughter and May has the most impressive borrower-side practice in the market, and scores particularly highly for bank lending and restructuring work, where it continues to excel at high-profile matters emanating from the financial crisis. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP also stands out for borrower work, and is able to leverage this for top-quality debtor-side restructuring instructions, as well as acquisition finance and investment grade lending matters. High-ranking practices outside the Magic Circle include Hogan Lovells International LLP, which has a strong showing across restructuring, investment funds, asset finance, Islamic finance, and trade finance; Ashurst, for debt capital markets, acquisition finance and investment funds; Norton Rose LLP, for asset finance, Islamic finance and emerging markets; SJ Berwin LLP, for investment funds; and Simmons & Simmons LLP, for investment funds and derivatives. As well as having strong asset finance practices, Clyde & Co LLP, Holman Fenwick Willan LLP and Reed Smith also all feature in the top tier of the commodities (physicals) ranking.

Within Securitisation, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is ‘a top-tier practice with the strength in depth to execute major transactions’. Its ‘undoubtedly talented people in a well-resourced practice’ include Simeon Rudin, for advice on embedded-value securitisations such as the Mutual deal for SBC Warburg; Christopher Barratt, especially for infrastructure deals; Ian Falconer, for big-ticket restructurings; and Flora McLean, whose clients include Barclays Capital and CIBC. Marcus Mackenzie is ‘a standout lawyer in this space – his breadth of knowledge and lateral vision allow for good structuring’. Highlights included an $850m securitisation of energy-related receivables.

Within Employee share schemes, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

The two-partner team at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is ‘technically very strong’ and ‘worth every penny’. It advised Edwards Group on share plan arrangements, including an LTIP and a savings-related share option plan covering 15 countries; and advised Wolseley on establishing a new restricted share plan to operate in a number of countries around the world. Recommended figures include Simon Evans and the ‘superb’ Jocelyn Mitchell.

Within Employment: employers and senior executives, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a third tier firm,

’Clearly ahead of the game’, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is another firm at the cutting edge of City remuneration and regulatory work, and acted for Northern Rock on its disposal to Virgin Money, the first Tier 1 bank to undergo a change of control since the introduction of the FSA remuneration code. The ‘superb’ Kathleen Healy, ‘great communicator’ Caroline Stroud and department head Nicholas Squire (’the lawyer of choice for lots of leading plc boards’) are cultivating a strong reputation for contentious work, and ‘really know how to get on and prepare a case’.

Within Health and safety, tier 5

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP provides health and safety advice and assistance on risk assessment to major energy clients. Andrew Austin was recently promoted to partner.

Within Pensions, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is appreciated for its ‘very high-level advice and strategic thinking’, and ability to ‘get to grips with the issues unique to a client organisation’. The firm advised the UK government on the proposed private sector investment in Royal Mail Group and subsequent transfer of £28bn pensions liabilities to the government. Other clients include ConocoPhillips, Goldman Sachs and Rothesay Life. On the contentious side, the firm acted in Cattles Limited and Kaupthing. David Pollard is ‘a top-class professional’, and pensions de-risking specialist Charles Magoffin is ‘a profound thinker’. Counsel Dawn Heath is also recommended.

Within Insurance and reinsurance litigation, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a third tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP’s dispute resolution group deals with complex and high-value insurance cases. Highlights included acting for a Bermudan insurer regarding hurricane damage in the Caribbean, and for a global retailer under its business and property interruption policy in claims arising from the London riots. Head of department Raj Parker is recommended along with Ali Sallaway and Simon Orton.

Within Insurance: corporate and regulatory, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

Noted as allowing ‘plenty of partner involvement’, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP acts in challenging and high-profile transactions, drawing on its lawyers’ expertise in a variety of disciplines. The team advised Aon on its move from Chicago to London, while remaining listed on NYSE. James Smethurst and Julian Long acted for Admin Re, a business unit of Swiss Re, in relation to its acquisition of 300,000 life and health policies and £1.6bn assets from the American Life insurance Company.

Within Insurance: insolvency and restructuring, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

2011 was a strong year for Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP in restructuring and run-off work. The team handled a number of high-profile and substantial life insurance transfers and pan-European group restructures. Neil Golding, Robert Stirling and Matthew Cosans are recommended.

Within Product liability: claimant Leading individuals: Product liability

Within Product liability: defendant, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP handles risk-critical, cross-border advisory and defence litigation for multinationals in a variety of industries, but is best known for its tobacco expertise; it continues to advise JTI and affiliates, as international co-ordinator of multibillion-dollar smoking-related claims. The expanding practice, led by the well-respected John Blain, won a number of key mandates in the past year, as well as handling ongoing work for AB InBev, Tesco, and Smith & Nephew.

Within Professional negligence, tier 5

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP’s ‘superb’ nine-partner team is led by Andrew Hart. It has experience assisting leading financial institutions and professional advisers, including accountants and solicitors, in high-profile, complex matters.

Within Infrastructure, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Among several high-profile international mandates, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is advising the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure of British Columbia on the Evergreen Line Rapid Transit Project, an extension to the existing Vancouver Skytrain system. On the domestic front, it is advising DEFRA on access to private finance in relation to the Thames Tunnel sewage management project. Alex Carver heads the London infrastructure group.

Within Mining and minerals, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a third tier firm,

2011 highlights for Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP included advising on the completion of Bumi plc’s premium listing on the LSE, having previously assisted on its acquisition of majority shares in two of Indonesia’s largest coal-mining companies. Julian Makin and Graham Watson co-head the practice.

Within Oil and gas, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a third tier firm,

Mark Rawlinson and Graham Watson at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP ‘provide an exceptional level of service’. Active in corporate matters and disputes, recent work includes advising the Karachaganak consortium on a settlement agreement with the Republic of Kazakhstan in relation to a production sharing agreement. Chris Pugh and Constantine Partasides are highly rated on the litigation side. John Inglis joined Shearman & Sterling LLP in July 2011, and Devika Khanna left for Clyde & Co LLP in May 2012.

Within Overview,

In the UK, new PFI projects were few and far between, with new projects signed in only a few sectors, notably waste, street lighting and social housing. Many law firms have taken the strategic decision to concentrate on international work, and the largest mandates remained overseas. The Western High Speed Diameter toll road is one example of the PPP model being used in its infancy in another country, in this case Russia; both Linklaters LLP and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP are advising.

Within PFI and PPP, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP boasts a healthy mix of lender and public sector clients. London team head Alex Carver and global infrastructure and transport group co-head Nicholas Bliss are advising the Department for Transport on the contractual structure of the Thameslink Rolling Stock Project. Carver is also advising the lending consortium on the Western High-Speed Diameter project in St Petersburg, one of Russia’s first public/private partnership deals.

Within Power (including electricity, nuclear and renewables), Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Particularly active in renewables, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is ‘very experienced and provides excellent advice’. Paul Bowden and Sally Roe advised URENCO on its acquisition of land at the Capenhurst nuclear site in Cheshire; and Alex Carver is advising the European Investment Bank on the financing of the offshore transmission assets of six offshore wind farms.

Within Administrative and public law, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is particularly noted for ‘coping well with the interaction between EU and English public law’. It regularly handles international instructions, recently representing A4a in challenging the EU’s carbon emissions trading scheme, and advising JTI on tobacco display regulations. Paul Bowden heads the department, and William Robinson is ‘peerless in judicial reviews’. Tom Snelling is ‘calm and accomplished’, and associate Deba Das is also highly rated.

Within Healthcare, tier 5

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP recently advised Worcestershire Hospital SPC on a PFI monoline replacement.

Within Commercial property, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Forsters LLP ‘runs its department in a far more client service oriented way than most’. It has a strong institutional investor client base that includes BA Pension Fund and the Crown Estate. It also advised Realis Estates on the £350m East West Centre development in Stoke-on-Trent, and continues to act for Rocco Forte Hotels and Soho House Group. Group head Howard Gill has ‘very detailed knowledge’, Smita Edwards is ‘an exceptional lawyer’, Eugene McMahon has an ‘excellent ability to grasp deals’, and Victoria Towers is ‘hardworking and committed’.

Within Construction, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP has a ‘highly professional’ team. The ‘efficient’ Tim Jones and ‘enormously experienced’ Sally Roe were appointed by The Supreme Committee for Qatar to advise on procurement issues relating to the 2022 FIFA World Cup; and team head Jane Jenkins advised a consortium of banks (including RBS) on the construction of a new Center Parcs site. Counsel Jane Davies Evans’ background in accountancy is ‘invaluable for forensic work on claims’. Other notable clients include Almacanter, DEFRA, and Land Securities, which the group is advising on the redevelopment of Victoria, London. The team’s experience includes energy projects, particularly nuclear power.

Within Environment, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a leading firm for environmental litigation matters, and is currently involved in a number of global cases, including acting for BP in an environmental damage matter brought by a group of landowners in Colombia. It continues to represent Airline 4 America in its challenge to the EU’s extension of its carbon emissions trading scheme to certain flights under US jurisdiction, which was argued before the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Justice. John Blain and Benedikt Wolfers lead the highly rated six-partner team.

Within Planning, tier 5

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP’s planning team works within the firm’s real estate department, assisting with infrastructure, transport, energy and natural resources mandates. It is advising Westfield Shoppingtowns on its development proposals for Bradford town centre. Jonathan Isted leads the group, which recently recruited senior associate Anita Rivera from SNR Denton.

Within Property finance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is ‘consistently ahead in terms of bench strength and quality of lawyers’, and advises on the full spectrum of real estate finance. The team advised French Properties Holdings on the structuring and implementation of its mezzanine financing of Blackstone’s £450m acquisition of the Chiswick Park office site. Simon Johnson and associate Jonathan Birks adopt ‘a constructive approach to problem-solving’.

Within Intellectual property, tier 5

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP’s Richard Lister focuses on transactional matters. Avril Martindale handles commercial work, and Justin Watts has acted for clients such as Johnson & Johnson in patent disputes.

Within IT and telecoms, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a third tier firm,

At Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, TMT co-head Ben Spiers has acted for clients such as Vodafone and Hewlett-Packard on M&A and transactional matters; Natasha Good focuses on telecoms-related corporate deals; and Richard Lister leads on outsourcing arrangements.

Within Media and entertainment, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a third tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP handles big-ticket, cross-border media deals. Ben Spiers’ team advised EMI on the Universal and Sony ATV deals, and Simon Marchant advised Reed Elsevier, Pearson Media and Financial Times Group on acquisitions. Marchant and Spiers co-head the M&A practice. Anti-trust partner David Aitman is recommended, as is computer games specialist Justin Watts.

Within Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a third tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP advises life sciences companies on high-value transactions and product liability matters. It acted for India-based JB Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals on the sale of its over-the-counter (OTC) business to Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Cilag. Jonathan Isted was appointed as co-head of the consumer and healthcare group, replacing Julian Long, who leads the corporate practice.

Within Sport, tier 5

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP’s Christopher Mort advises on sports finance.

Within Aviation, tier 4

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP’s ‘experienced’ aviation practice is noted for its expertise across corporate, finance and competition. The team advises high-profile clients such as Avolon Aerospace Leasing, Ryanair and Alpha-LSG. Key individuals include the ‘focused’ Robert Murphy and the ‘exceptional’ David Aitman, who is ‘approachable, far-sighted, strategic and commercial’.

Within Rail, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

The ‘knowledgeable’ team at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is ‘always available’, and ‘responds to questions promptly and acts in a proactive manner’. It continues to advise the Department for Transport on the Thameslink rolling stock project, and also advised Credit Agricole on the €600m financing for the next generation of high-speed trains for Eurostar. Sally Roe and Berlin-based Marcel Kaufmann co-head the practice, and Richard Phillips is also recommended.