The Legal 500

Within Corporate tax, Herbert Smith LLP is a third tier firm,

With expertise in M&A and real estate work, Herbert Smith LLP fields a ‘very responsive team, with good technical skills’. Clients are impressed with the firm’s ‘timely and pragmatic advice’ and ‘good industry knowledge’. It advised Tata Motors on its US$2.3bn acquisition of Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford as well as acting for EDF on its £12.5bn takeover of British Energy Group. Clients find Howard Murray ‘thoughtful and pragmatic’, while Neil Warriner and Bradley Phillips are also recommended.

Within Equity capital markets -UK capability, Herbert Smith LLP is a second tier firm,

The firm perhaps most likely to challenge the dominance of the leading pair, Herbert Smith LLP continues to progress. Led by ‘heavy hitter’ James Palmer, the team has close relationships with most of the leading investment banks including Citi, Deustche Bank, Merrill Lynch, JPMorgan Cazenove and UBS. Recent highlights include advice to Bradford & Bingley on its pre- and post-restructuring rights issues; and the underwriters on the IPOs of Germany1 Acquisition, Resolution and Global MENA Financial Assets. Martina Asmar and Chris Haynes are also recommended.

Within Equity capital markets -US capability, Herbert Smith LLP is a third tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP boasts three highly regarded US specialists: the ‘charming and hugely experienced’ Jim Wickenden, Adam Wells, and ‘pragmatic polyglot’ Alex Bafi. The firm enjoys close relationships with Credit Suisse, UBS, Deutsche Bank and Merrill Lynch, and recently advised the underwriters on the IPOs of Resolution (£660m), Global MENA Financial Assets (US$500m) and Cadogan Petroleum (£150m). The firm, which has a ‘very strong bench of US associates’, is praised for its ‘insightful and pragmatic advice’.

Within EU and competition , Herbert Smith LLP is a second tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP has created a mighty standalone practice praised for its ‘blue-chip’ and ‘proactive’ advice; it is ‘able to see the bigger picture’ and is ‘always on the mark from a business perspective’. In 2008, it deployed its competition and regulatory experience in representing Électricité de France on its recommended £12.5bn takeover of British Energy Group. On the behavioural front it advised BAA on the Competition Commission’s market investigation into UK airport markets, and Virgin Atlantic in connection with cartel investigations into passenger fuel surcharges. On the competition litigation side, it represented BSkyB in High Court proceedings against Virgin Media. Recommended individuals include Jonathan Scott (‘great manner with clients’, ‘a wise old head’, ‘imaginative’, ‘excellent smell for cases’); Elizabeth McKnight (‘intellectually impressive’, ‘pushes the envelope’); James Quinney (‘commercial’, ‘pragmatic’); competition litigation partner Stephen Wisking (‘calm’, ‘clever’); Veronica Roberts (‘practical’, ‘pragmatic’, ‘straightforward’); and Susan Black (an ‘extremely diligent strategist’, and ‘good all rounder’).

Within Financial services, Herbert Smith LLP is a third tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP’s highlights include complex regulatory advice for EDF on the £12.5bn takeover of British Energy, and an instruction by JJB Sports concerning an internal investigation connected to its chief executive. Patrick Buckingham is noted for regulatory matters, and Martyn Hopper for contentious work.

Within M&A - upper mid-market and premium deals, £250m+, Herbert Smith LLP is a second tier firm,

Financial crisis deals aside, acting for EDF on its £12.5bn purchase of British Energy was arguably the largest M&A mandate of 2008. Winning roles such as this helps to explain how Herbert Smith LLP regularly completes fewer deals than its Magic Circle competitors, but often has a higher average value - last year completing 38 UK deals for over £3bn each. Other standout deals were Tata Motors’ US$2.3bn acquisition of Jaguar and Land Rover, and Taylor Nelson Sofres’ £1.2bn acquisition by WPP. ‘The quality of people is consistently good’, but James Palmer, Malcolm Lombers, David Willis and David Paterson are most often cited.

Within M&A - US law capability, Herbert Smith LLP is a second tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP has three US partners in London as part of its international M&A team. Highlights of 2008 included advising EDF on the US aspects of its £12.5bn takeover of British Energy; Tata Motors on its US$2.3bn acquisition of Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford; and Resolution on its £5bn acquisition by Pearl Group. Alex Bafi is a ‘class act’.

Within Outsourcing and procurement, Herbert Smith LLP is a second tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP has several partners with extensive outsourcing experience, and continued to act for TfL on its significant PFI contract. Mark Turner and Christopher Rees co-head a group that ‘is capable of translating complex problems into simple negotiable terms’, and Nick Pantlin (now a partner) recently led on a number of large IT outsourcing products. The UK public procurement team is part of a wider European competition group, and recently acted for London Underground on various procurement issues.

Within Overview,

Against this background, our corporate rankings remain largely unchanged. The City elite - Allen & Overy LLP, Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, Herbert Smith LLP, Linklaters LLP and Slaughter and May - continue to dominate proceedings, and once again comprise the top two tiers of both Mergers and acquisitions and Equity capital markets: UK capability. However, with leveraged transactions one of the principle casualties of the credit crunch, Clifford Chance’s reliance on private equity has seen it fall back to the second tier in M&A following its promotion last year. These top firms are also increasingly dipping into the already fiercely competitive mid market.

Within Partnership, Herbert Smith LLP is a first tier firm,

In keeping with its reputation as a premier litigation firm, Herbert Smith LLP provides clients with a ‘first-class’ service in contentious partnership matters, but also demonstrates ‘commercial cutting edge’ on the non-contentious side. It advised Hammonds LLP on its conversion to LLP status and the structure of its international operations, while other clients include PwC, KPMG and Deloitte & Touche LLP. Alan Watts is ‘business-orientated and an excellent negotiator’, and Malcolm Lombers is ‘a quite brilliant lawyer’. Gary Milner-Moore is recommended for his contentious expertise.

Within Private equity , tier 5

Herbert Smith LLP is doing some head-turning work nowadays, notably its advice to JC Flowers on its Northern Rock bid, and to Bradford & Bingley on TPG’s proposed investment. Backed up by the firm’s strong litigation capability and regulatory offerings in finance and energy, Gavin Davies’ ‘impressive’ four-partner team is one to watch.

Within VAT and indirect tax, Herbert Smith LLP is a second tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP’s practice covers the full range of indirect taxes including less well-known duties such as the climate change levy and insurance premium tax. Contentious matters are a particular strength. It advised the Federation of Tour Operators on a challenge to the legality of the changes to air passenger duty. Neil Warriner is highly regarded by clients and peers alike.

Within Fraud - commercial and regulatory investigations, Herbert Smith LLP is a first tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP’s highly rated civil fraud practice represented Tajik aluminium plant, TadAZ, in its claim against Russian aluminium company Rusal. This case involved some 50 of the firm’s fee-earners, including the ‘very good’ Simon Bushell, who has ‘developed a very good reputation for Eastern Europe fraud cases’. The practice is one of a few with access to an in-house barrister (Murray Rosen QC).

Within Fraud - crime , Herbert Smith LLP is a third tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP’s ‘very bright and experienced’ Peter Burrell is acting for Christopher Moore, the former chairman of Torex plc, in an SFO investigation into insider dealing and accounting irregularities.

Within Banking litigation, Herbert Smith LLP is a second tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP has an immense reputation and track record in the litigation environment and now has a formidable list of investment and retail banking clients. Noted for its ‘iron fist in a velvet glove’ approach, clients also highlight its knowledge of complex products; its ‘outstanding responsiveness’ and ‘high-level strategising’; and its ‘strength in depth’ and ‘abilities in a fight’. ‘Heavy hitter’ Christa Band, Damien Byrne Hill (‘clever’, ‘dependable’), Kevin Lloyd (‘great acumen and nous’) and Simon Clarke (‘smart’, ‘dedicated’) are frequently singled out for praise. The firm interfaces well with the boardroom and the Bar, while the regulatory acumen of Martyn Hopper and David Mayhew is another important feature of the department. Experienced partner Tim Parkes is leading the team’s efforts in the hedge fund sector.

Within Commercial litigation, Herbert Smith LLP is a first tier firm,

Despite increasingly stiff competition, Herbert Smith LLP’s ‘always responsive’ practice remains the one to beat in litigation. Sonya Leydecker’s team, which includes an in-house advocacy unit headed by Murray Rosen QC and Ian Gatt QC, has been involved in most of the largest cases currently working their way through the courts. Among them, the firm’s representation of Chevron in the civil and criminal proceedings arising from the Buncefield explosion has been a huge instruction. Another highlight was advising TadAZ (Tajik Aluminium Plant) in its major international fraud case against its former directors and trading partners. The firm boasts a string of first-class names including Christa Band, Ted Greeno, Damien Byrne Hill, Kevin Lloyd and Hardeep Nahal, and is commended as ‘very proactive in managing costs’.

Within Defamation and privacy

Within International arbitration, Herbert Smith LLP is a second tier firm,

Headed by the extremely well-regarded Paula Hodges, Herbert Smith LLP’s standalone team is cementing an excellent reputation in the market. The practice boasts several highly rated partners including David Brynmor Thomas, the ‘excellent’ Matthew Weiniger and Justin D’Agostino. It has recently been advising the US Department of Justice in two disputes with Canada arising out of a Softwood Lumber Agreement signed in 2006. Other clients include Tata.

Within Overview,

Thus far, the main beneficiaries have been those firms with strong backgrounds in banking and commodities, sectors which were the first victims of the fallout of the credit crunch and the resultant downturn. The former category is largely made up of Magic Circle and major City firms, such as Allen & Overy LLP, Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, Linklaters LLP, Herbert Smith LLP, Lovells LLP, Simmons & Simmons, and Slaughter and May, all of which have excellent track records in financial services related disputes. In the latter, firms with strong experience in areas such as shipping, including Clyde & Co LLP, Ince & Co, and Holman Fenwick Willan LLP, have benefited from an uptick in disputes, thanks largely to major fluctuations in commodities prices.

Within Professional discipline, Herbert Smith LLP is a third tier firm,

Andrew Lidbetter’s public law expertise gives Herbert Smith LLP’s disciplinary practice a strong bedrock on which to advise regulators and professionals, particularly in the legal and financial services sectors. Recent highlights include successfully defending ACCA in judicial review proceedings.

Within Public international law, Herbert Smith LLP is a second tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP continued to advise the US Department of Justice in relation to two disputes with Canada arising out of a softwood lumber agreement signed by the parties in 2006, providing a rare example of states opting to have their arbitration heard under the LCIA rules. The firm has also been involved in the first-ever ICSID arbitration to be held in Singapore. In addition to its traditional work acting for investors, the team has more recently seen more work come from states, such as the Republic of Tunisia in relation to an ICSID arbitration. Justin D’Agostino is recommended.

Within Tax litigation, Herbert Smith LLP is a second tier firm,

With its strong background in commercial litigation, Herbert Smith LLP’s contentious tax team provides clients with a ‘very responsive service’ and has ‘great technical skill’. It successfully represented the Bank of Ireland before the Special Commissioners on a large VAT matter, and acted for the British Aggregates Association in a landmark European Court case concerning the legality of the UK’s Aggregates Levy under EU state aid law. Heather Gething is highly respected in the market, and Neil Warriner has particular expertise in indirect tax matters.

Within Acquisition finance, Herbert Smith LLP is a third tier firm,

‘As good as the best, but with a more personal approach’, Herbert Smith LLP’s ‘outstanding’ six-partner team includes the ‘useful’ Ian Yeo. It has some blossoming lender relationships but is particularly strong for deals involving multinationals, for example advising Tata Motors on the financing of its purchase of Jaguar Land Rover. The team is notable for its cross-border capabilities and strength in shari’ah compliance, and the firm’s unmatched reputation in litigation makes it attractive for work on soured deals.

Within Bank lending - investment grade debt and syndicated loans , Herbert Smith LLP is a third tier firm,

Headed by Jason Fox, Herbert Smith LLP’s 22-partner banking team provides ‘good business sense’ to an increasingly balanced spread of lenders and corporates, including Barclays, Citibank, Halliburton and 3i. The ‘commercial and practical’ Clive Barnard has been pivotal to the team’s success and has a particular focus on cross-border transactions by leading Indian corporates, including the refinancing of Tata’s acquisition of Corus. Other highlights include advising Standard Chartered Bank on the financing of HCL Technologies’ bid for Axon Group plc.

Within Corporate restructuring and insolvency, Herbert Smith LLP is a third tier firm,

While it may lack the strength in depth of some of its higher-ranked competitors, Herbert Smith LLP is ‘increasingly attracting the standout instructions’, particularly on the company side. Notably, the team advised Ernst & Young as administrators to Nortel, in its high-profile, cross-border administration. Other major mandates include representing Bradford & Bingley on its nationalisation, and the subsequent transfer of its savings business and branches to Abbey National. ‘As accomplished an insolvency lawyer as any in the UK’, Stephen Gale is the key figure in a team that includes Kevin Pullen and Laurence Elliott.

Within Debt capital markets, tier 4

Herbert Smith LLP’s team features Jake Jackaman and Charles Howarth, and also Peter Epp and Dina Albagli on the structured notes side, especially in emerging markets. Highlight deals included EDF’s £12.5bn takeover of British Energy, which included an issuance of Nuclear Power Notes.

Within Derivatives and structured products, tier 5

Herbert Smith LLP’s new deals in 2008 included the Puma CLO, and it also handles of flow of equity derivatives and swaps work. Unicredit is a new structured finance client. Jake Jackaman and Dina Albagli are recommended.

Within Emerging markets, Herbert Smith LLP is a third tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP’s ability to offer ‘comprehensive advice on finance issues’ is matched by sector knowledge, particularly in India and Africa. Tata and ICICI remain very active clients on the subcontinent. Energy is another key focus for a group known for its ‘blend of skills and industry experience’. Recently John Balsdon led work for Gazprom and Wintershall on a €3bn project financing in Western Siberia.

Within Hedge funds, Herbert Smith LLP is a third tier firm,

A highlight for Herbert Smith LLP’s impressive practice was advising the Hedge Fund Working Group on its report into best practice in the hedge fund industry, and the firm also advises its successor the Hedge Fund Standards Board. Nigel Farr, Thiha Tun and Scott Cochrane are recommended.

Within Investment funds, Herbert Smith LLP is a third tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP’s ‘excellent’ team covers a broad spectrum, including hedge, private equity and listed funds. A major highlight for 2008 was advising the Hedge Fund Working Group on the preparation of its report into best practice in the hedge fund industry. Group head Nigel Farr is praised for his ‘can-do’ approach; Scott Cochrane is ‘a guru in the closed-end funds space’; and the ‘impressive’ Thiha Tun’s ‘knowledge of the hedge funds industry stands out’.

Within Islamic finance, Herbert Smith LLP is a third tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP represents institutions such as RBS and Merrill Lynch, recently acting for the former on a murabaha facility for Kuwait Finance House to finance Motherwell Bridge Limited’s LBO. It also acted on the award-winning Villamar sukuk-al-musharaka, a non-recourse sukuk to finance real estate development. Investment fund clients include Millennium Finance Corporation. Dubai-based Nadim Khan heads the practice.

Within Securitisation, tier 4

Although not a full-service securitisation firm, Herbert Smith LLP’s advice on specific aspects of deals has been greatly lauded, not least by underwriters. Jake Jackaman and Dina Albagli are ‘responsive and, for the City, very down to earth’. Michael Poulton has joined from Citi and is developing investment bank relationships including new client Goldman Sachs, which the firm advised on a US$5bn deal by National Bank of Greece. The practice ‘gives time at partner level and generates intelligent responses’.

Within Employee share schemes, Herbert Smith LLP is a second tier firm,

The ‘proactive’ team at Herbert Smith LLP worked on a broad range of transactional and standalone share scheme work over the past 12 months. It advised Taylor Nelson Sofres in connection with the £1.1bn hostile takeover by WPP, and AOL on its US$800m acquisition of social networking site Bebo. Standalone work included establishing new schemes for Scottish & Southern, Serica Energy, Michelin and BlueBay Asset Management. The ‘extremely knowledgeable’ Paul Ellerman and Mark Ife are recommended.

Within Employment, Herbert Smith LLP is a second tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP has ‘unrivalled experience of employment litigation’ coupled with ‘excellent communication and explanation skills’. Highlights for 2008 included acting for UBS in the widely reported case against Vestra and Transport for London on TUPE regulations in relation to the Metronet administration. The team includes ‘exceptional QC’ Ian Gatt; the ‘very thoughtful’ Andrew Brown; and the ‘tenacious and hard-working’ Peter Frost. Notable litigation includes representing Société Générale on a significant bonus claim in the High Court.

Within Health and safety, Herbert Smith LLP is a third tier firm,

Notable cases for Herbert Smith LLP, under Howard Watson, include continuing advice to Chevron in relation to the prosecution of its joint venture company HOSL following the Buncefield explosion. Other instructions have come from a leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, and a household name media company.

Within Pensions (incl pensions dispute resolution), Herbert Smith LLP is a third tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP partners Ian Gault and Alison Brown couple ‘great knowledge’ with a ‘terrific problem-solving ability’. Roderick Morton receives plaudits as an ‘unusual combination’ of ‘a safe pair of hands’ and an ‘innovative thinker’. Together with associate Samantha Brown, they are a ‘uniformally reliable’ team, offer ‘clear, concise advice’ and are ‘as fun to work with as they are interesting’. Hardeep Nahal is particularly recommended for equalisation disputes and professional negligence cases.

Within Insurance - corporate and regulatory, Herbert Smith LLP is a first tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP’s team is ‘always responsive’ and includes the highly regarded Geoffrey Maddock, who is ‘very experienced and knows his onions’, and Adam Levitt, who is also recommended. The core corporate team is supported by tax practitioners with particular life tax experience. An impressive client base includes Pearl Group, Royal London, Zurich Financial Services, and Co-operative Financial Services. A busy year on the deal front saw it advise Canada Life International Re (a subsidiary of Great-West Lifeco) on its reinsurance of just over half of Standard Life’s annuity liabilities. On the regulatory side, it advised two UK general insurers on Upper Tier 2 regulatory capital raisings, including FSA prudential requirements.

Within Insurance - insolvency and restructuring, Herbert Smith LLP is a third tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP is acting for Zurich Financial Services Group in its project to consolidate all general insurance business carried on by Zurich entities in the EU into Zurich Insurance plc, involving a transfer under Part VII of the Financial Services and Markets Act. Laurence Elliott, Geoffrey Maddock and Adam Levitt are key figures in the team, which acts for Pearl Assurance, FSCS and Swiss Re among others.

Within Insurance and reinsurance litigation, Herbert Smith LLP is a first tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP is ‘perennially excellent’, with clients noting its ‘first-class service’. The team features the ‘tenacious and extremely thorough’ David Reston; Christopher Foster; Paul Lewis; Anthony Dempster (‘absolutely top of the tree’); Alexander Oddy, who provides ‘quick and comprehensive answers’; and Martin Bakes, who ‘considers a problem from every angle’. The team advised CMS Cameron McKenna LLP on the defence of proceedings brought against it by the accountancy firm HLB Kidsons, a case involving the difficult issue of notification. The practice counts leading players in the insurance and reinsurance industry as clients, among them Royal & SunAlliance, and Travelers. Broker clients include Marsh and Willis.

Within Overview,

London is a global hub for the insurance/reinsurance industry. Some lawyers are reaping the benefits of the challenging economic conditions; the upheaval in the financial markets has led to significant claims activity and insurance companies are now more likely to contest an insurance claim. While there has been a slow down in deal activity, strategic deals are still being done, with Part VII transfers continuing to dominate this area. On the regulatory side, Clifford Chance, Lovells LLP and Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP are among the leading firms. Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP, Clyde & Co LLP and Ince & Co remain strong on the insurance/reinsurance litigation front, with Herbert Smith LLP and Mayer Brown International LLP also having made considerable strides in this sector. The separate table for policyholder work reflects the fact that some law firms have a dedicated practice representing corporate entities on insurance matters.

Within Personal injury - defendant, Herbert Smith LLP is a second tier firm,

Howard Watson leads the renowned eight-partner department at Herbert Smith LLP, specialising in complex high-value claims. It continues to advise Chevron over claims following the Buncefield explosion. Royal and SunAlliance, Caterpillar and Panasonic are other headline clients.

Within Product liability - defendant, Herbert Smith LLP is a second tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP focuses on major product liability cases, advising on commercial and risk insurance matters, including product recall. Its client list features Cadbury, Coca-Cola, 02 and Renold. Practice head Tony Dempster is recommended, together with Howard Watson and Alexander Oddy.

Within Professional negligence, Herbert Smith LLP is a third tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP’s 18-partner team is ‘one of the top firms in the market’. A leading firm for complex, high-value work, the ‘excellent’ David Reston and Paul Lewis lead a team praised for its ‘highly professional, efficient and client-friendly’ approach. The practice encompasses the insurance, financial, technology and construction arenas. Highlights for 2008 included acting for CIBC World Markets in relation to the highly publicised failure of the Box Clever securitisation.

Within Charities and not-for-profit , tier 6

Herbert Smith LLP handles contentious and non-contentious charities work under the stewardship of Rupert Ticehurst, for an enviable client list.

Within Contentious trusts and probate, Herbert Smith LLP is a first tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP offers a ‘boutique-nature practice’ led by ‘excellent lawyer’ Rupert Ticehurst (a ‘good tactician on difficult cases’). Consultant John Wood’s ‘intellect, reputation and service standards have meant that for many years the group has punched above its weight, and been involved in most of the big cases of recent years’.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, Herbert Smith LLP is a third tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP is ‘human in its approach’, and lead partner Rupert Ticehurst is ‘proactive, commercially aware and a lovely person to work with’. The integrated contentious and non-contentious group assists an international as well as domestic client base, and regularly handles offshore work. Recent highlights include assisting a high-profile UK-resident non-domiciled family on trust, succession and tax-planning matters. Consultant John Wood is highly recommended.

Within Infrastructure, Herbert Smith LLP is a third tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP is a noted rail specialist and counts London and Continental Railways, London Underground, and Transport for London as longstanding clients. However, the practice is far from being a one-trick pony; other notable mandates include advising EDF on its new nuclear programme in the UK, and defence and water also strong specialisms. Patrick Mitchell heads the team.

Within Mining and minerals, Herbert Smith LLP is a third tier firm,

In 2008 Herbert Smith LLP advised Lonmin on its successful defence of an unsolicited pre-conditional takeover approach from Xstrata, valued at around US$10bn, while on the projects side it advised MagMinerals on its carnalite mining project in the Republic of Congo. The firm offers ‘strong francophone expertise in this sector’.

Within Oil and gas, Herbert Smith LLP is a first tier firm,

A ‘true oil and gas specialist’, Herbert Smith LLP attracts praise from peers and clients alike for team head Paul Griffin’s ‘market-leading industry knowledge’ and ‘commercial application of the law’. The firm recently advised Centrica Storage on the £70m acquisition of Caythorpe Gas Storage. On the litigation side, advising Chevron on the civil and criminal proceedings arising from the Buncefield explosion was a highlight.

Within Overview,

The projects arena is not entirely dominated by the global elite; the regulatory, power, and oil and gas spaces in particular have a number of more discrete natural resources specialists. CMS Cameron McKenna LLP fields a strong North Sea oil and gas practice and has top-notch electricity regulatory capability. Herbert Smith LLP has historically excelled on the contentious and regulatory side, but its transactional energy offering is now one of the strongest in the City.

Within Power (including electricity, nuclear and renewables) , Herbert Smith LLP is a first tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP had an outstanding year, with its advice to EDF on its headline £12.5bn takeover of British Energy capping its reputation as a corporate and regulatory heavyweight. On the conventional power side, it also advised EDF on its joint venture with Dutch energy company Delta to develop an 870MW gas-fired power project in the south west of the Netherlands. Other representative clients include The Department of Energy and Climate Change, DONG Energy and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA).

Within Private finance initiative(PFI) , Herbert Smith LLP is a second tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP steers clear of the more standardised PFI projects, focusing on more bespoke projects. It advised Transport for London on the PPP administration of Metronet, and is also acting for the MoD on all aspects of its Future Rapid Effect Systems project. Adrian Clough and Nicholas Tott are highly recommended.

Within Water, Herbert Smith LLP is a first tier firm,

At Herbert Smith LLP, water specialist Trevor Turtle stands out as a ‘leader in the field’ and as ‘understanding the whole cycle of the water business - what he doesn’t know just isn’t worth knowing’. Contentious work is a major strength, and the firm advised Severn Trent on complex regulatory investigations by Ofwat and the SFO and related proceedings. On the finance side it advised the banks on the shari’ah-compliant senior and mezzanine financing for the leveraged buyout of McAW Group, a business focused on water purification products.

Within Administrative and public law, Herbert Smith LLP is a first tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP is ‘comfortably the best at complex judicial review with a human rights, international or EU flavour’, and is ‘particularly strong on one-off cases with a heavy intellectual component’. Andrew Lidbetter is ‘top of the tree for public law - he combines great knowledge with good judgement’, and heads a team that also includes ‘outstanding young partner’ Nusrat Zar, and financial services specialist Martyn Hopper. High-profile clients include the National Lottery Commission, Ofgem and BSkyB.

Within Civil liberties and human rights, tier 5

Herbert Smith LLP’s human rights work is led by Andrew Lidbetter, who has ‘skill, talent, knowledge and experience’, while Nusrat Zar offers ‘star quality’. The practice recently acted for prisoners on death row in the Caribbean, and represented JUSTICE and Human Rights Watch in a House of Lords case regarding deportation of foreign nationals.

Within Local government, Herbert Smith LLP is a third tier firm,

The ‘close and co-ordinated team’ at Herbert Smith LLP specialises in major regeneration, such as the £1bn redevelopment of Swansea city centre. Clients are ‘impressed by the quality of their work’ and ‘commitment to the needs of clients’, praising Andrew Lidbetter for his ‘considered and sensible approach’, and Richard Forsdyke.

Within Overview,

This chapter encompasses all types of work which involves engaging with the public sector, from high-stakes judicial reviews to claims against local authorities, from representing regulators to acting for regulated industries, and from human rights violations abroad to securing the rights of vulnerable people in the UK. It is unsurprising, therefore, that this vast range of work attracts a variety of different approaches, from commercial City firms to specialist human rights outfits. Among the former, Herbert Smith LLP, Clifford Chance and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP stand out, handling a mix of public law and pro bono human rights work.

Within Commercial property, Herbert Smith LLP is a second tier firm,

The ‘superb’ Herbert Smith LLP team provides a ‘consistently high level of service with excellent response times and a very high level of client care’. The practice is capable of handling a very broad range of property issues, and highlights include advising London & Continental Railways on the long-term development vehicle for the King’s Cross regeneration project. Other key deals included acting for BAA Airports on the real estate aspects of its refinancing. Head of department Ian Cox ‘has expansive industry knowledge and strong commercial awareness’, while Nick Turner is singled out as ‘deserving of credit for his consistently high level of service, strong commercial awareness and skilful negotiation’. Clients also commend Don Rowlands and James Barnes.

Within Construction, Herbert Smith LLP is a second tier firm,

Mark Lloyd-Williams became head of Herbert Smith LLP’s contentious construction practice after returning from Asia. His group is ‘extremely responsive and very well qualified in terms of legal knowledge’, and includes ‘excellent litigator’ Tony Dymond. Clients include Halliburton, Land Securities and Vestas. The team recently advised Hammerson on its £1bn redevelopment of Sevenstone, a retail quarter in Sheffield.

Within Environment, Herbert Smith LLP is a third tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP advises on environmental aspects of significant M&A deals. Led by the ‘very knowledgeable’ Louise Moore, the firm advised EDF on its £12.5bn takeover of British Energy, as well as Tata Motors on environmental and health and safety aspects of its US$2.3bn acquisition of Jaguar Land Rover from Ford. Other clients include Transport for London and London Underground.

Within Planning, Herbert Smith LLP is a second tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP combines ‘leading planning partners’ with ‘high-quality associates’, giving the practice ‘excellent strength and depth’. The ‘highly regarded’ Patrick Robinson heads the team, which also includes Matthew White (‘very bright’) and Clare Fielding (noted for her ‘robust advice’). The firm won one of the biggest new instructions in 2008, acting for Treasury Holdings UK on the £4bn Battersea Power Station redevelopment. Contentious work included a hard-fought victory for Stanhope and Schroders after a seven-year campaign by Croydon Council to promote a rival sports arena for the Croydon Gateway site.

Within Property finance, Herbert Smith LLP is a second tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP’s ‘renowned’ team is led by Gary Hommel, and is recommended for advising borrowers and lenders in pre-structuring scenarios and advising funds on obtaining real estate finance across Europe. The firm has excellent relationships with banks, and acted for Bank of Ireland on a £116m credit facility for Unite Finance One. Simon Chadney and Peter Long are recommended.

Within Property litigation, Herbert Smith LLP is a second tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP focuses on high-profile and complex disputes. The team advised Friends Provident in successful High Court proceedings concerning an enfranchisement claim involving 1,200 flats. Matthew Bonye is recommended; Charlotte Bijlani is a ‘superb litigator’; and Frances Edwards’ ‘commitment is beyond question’.

Within Intellectual property, Herbert Smith LLP is a third tier firm,

The IP practice at Herbert Smith LLP is ‘very special’ and ‘deserves the highest praise’. Sebastian Moore is a ‘fantastic solicitor’ who successfully defended the validity of two of Geox’s key patents in the High Court. David Wilson is also ‘terribly strong’ for patent litigation. Joel Smith, who has a focus on soft IP, is ‘exceptional’, while ‘outstanding lawyer’ Mark Shillito has been representing easyJet in a high-profile trade mark dispute. Following Bill Moodie’s retirement, Nick Gardner ‘has done a fantastic job of taking over the running of the department’.

Within IT and telecoms, Herbert Smith LLP is a second tier firm,

Although Herbert Smith LLP is widely recognised for its disputes practice, non-contentious roles in 2008 saw the group acting for IBM, Infosys and HP on the supplier side, as well as representing Transport for London on the Oyster card project. Mark Turner acted on the latter and is ‘a sharp and diligent adviser’. He co-heads the practice with the ‘outstanding’ Christopher Rees. Global head of TMT Nick Elverston leads a telecoms practice that also contains ‘really talented’ regulatory specialist Amanda Hale. Recently, the team advised Aeromobile on the regulatory issues associated with its launch, as well as representing Telefonica on network sharing deals.

Within Media and entertainment, Herbert Smith LLP is a third tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP’s ‘commercial and responsive’ team, led by ‘excellent negotiator’ Nick Elverston, offers ‘well-tailored and appropriate advice’. It advised ESPN Star Sports on the sub-licensing of media rights to the Asia Cup 2008 and Yell Group Plc in its US$1.575bn acquisition of Transwestern Holdings. Joel Smith handles disputes for longstanding client BSkyB and represented AOL in its US$850m acquisition of social networking website Bebo. Litigator Alan Watts handles commercial disputes and represents high-profile individuals. The team was bolstered by the arrival of Hannah Wardale from SJ Berwin LLP.

Within Overview,

Among the City law firms, Herbert Smith LLP in particular has a growing reputation in the TMT sector, and has notable patent litigation prowess. Allen & Overy LLP is also strong in IP, while Lovells LLP and Birmingham-based Wragge & Co LLP both have an international dimension to their practices. Simmons & Simmons has a genuine specialist interest in the TMT sector, while very few firms are able to compete with Baker & McKenzie LLP for its level of expertise on issues surrounding the convergence of telecoms and IT services. DLA Piper UK LLP has strong all-round IP strength, while SJ Berwin LLP is also highly regarded despite closing its top-tier film finance department.

Within Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, Herbert Smith LLP is a second tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP is particularly strong in patent litigation, has a leading competition practice, and a strong focus on Japan. Team head Sophie Rich is ‘the best I have ever worked with in any jurisdiction’. She and the ‘extremely talented’ David Wilson are retained by Daiichi Sankyo to manage pan-European litigation over a blockbuster antibiotic. The firm is also ‘one of the very few with expertise in the specialist area of plant breeders’ rights’.

Within Sport

Within Rail, Herbert Smith LLP is a first tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP’s core expertise lies in project financing and infrastructure work, alongside the ability to handle regulatory and contentious matters in the franchise sector. Adrian Clough’s London-based team has a longstanding relationship with London & Continental Railways, owners of Eurostar (UK) Limited, and continues to advise it on corporate and regulatory matters. The workload has taken on an increasingly international focus; the team recently acted for The World Bank on the modernisation of Indian railway stations.