The Legal 500

Within M&A: smaller deals up to £50m, Ince & Co is a second tier firm,

Ince & Co’s five-partner group consistently completes around 12 to 15 M&A deals a year, typically valued at under £35m. In keeping with firm-wide strengths, energy, maritime and transport are sectors in which the team is especially active. Stephen Jarvis and Nick Gould are recommended.

Within Fraud: commercial and regulatory investigations, tier 4

Ince & Co is currently engaged on three large shipping fraud cases, with clients including Russia’s Novoship and Sovcomflot.

Within Arbitration, tier 6

Shipping, insurance and commodities arbitrations feature prominently at Ince & Co. The ‘ fast, efficient and flexible’ Steven Fox heads the group, which represented the Russian shipowners in the Fiona Trust case, one of the year’s highest-profile disputes, which eventually ended up in the House of Lords.

Within Commercial litigation, tier 5

Ince & Co’s formidable presence in insurance and shipping should not overshadow its well-rounded litigation abilities. Fraud is a particularly prominent area for the firm; examples include its role advising the claimant in the Fiona Trust litigation, led by Stuart Shepherd. Energy and aviation related disputes are also key to the practice. Denys Hickey and Ben Ogden head the department, which includes former senior partner Peter Rogan.

Within Mediators

Within Asset finance and leasing, tier 6

Bolstered by the recent arrival of Peter Measures and Dean Norton from Curtis Davis Garrard LLP and Clifford Chance respectively, David Baker’s rapidly expanding seven-partner ship finance team at Ince & Co offers ‘ efficient and value-for-money’ advice to a balanced portfolio of owners and banks.

Within Commodities and futures - commodities, Ince & Co is a first tier firm,

Stuart Shepherd heads the international trade and commodities business group at Ince & Co, and has particular expertise in advising traders in oil, sugar and other commodities on GAFTA and FOSFA terms. Highlights included representing oil trader Gunvor in relation to various trading disputes. Other notable members of the team are Joe O’Keeffe and Ian Cranston.

Within Commodities and futures: futures, Ince & Co is a third tier firm,

Although better known for its commodity trading practice, Ince & Co also has a small commodity futures practice. Denys Hickey has experience in swaps and other types of derivatives relating to oil trading, and has also advised on FFAs and other forms of freight futures. Andrew Iyer is also known for his work in swaps and forward agreements.

Within Insurance and reinsurance litigation, Ince & Co is a first tier firm,

Ince & Co remains a prominent name in the market. It recently advised underwriters following a fire at a major factory on all aspects of liability and claims for business interruption, and is also advising on a construction phase dispute concerning the insurance coverage implications of a coating failure on an offshore platform. Jan Heuvels has a ‘ fantastic reputation’; Peter Rogan is a ‘ superb strategist’; Iain Anderson is an ‘ extremely able opponent’; Chris Jefferis is ‘ very sensible’; Rebecca Axe has a ‘ common sense approach’; and Ian Cranston has a ‘ good understanding of his clients’ business.’ Carol Searle was promoted to partner.

Within Insurance: corporate and regulatory, tier 4

Ince & Co acts for a range of broking, syndicate management and insurance company clients. Peter Rogan is a key partner, and Stephen Jarvis recently represented a Middle East insurer in its acquisition of a London Market hull, cargo and marine liability underwriting agency.

Within Overview,

On the regulatory front, Clifford Chance, Lovells LLP and Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP continue to feature prominently, while Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP, Clyde & Co LLP and Ince & Co are especially strong on insurance and reinsurance litigation. The separate table for policyholders is a reflection of the fact that some law firms have devoted resources to representing corporate clients as opposed to insurance companies, with Allen & Overy LLP, Covington & Burling LLP, Edwin Coe LLP, and K&L Gates leading the market in this niche area.

Within Personal injury: defendant, tier 4

Ince & Co has expertise in the marine, offshore oil and gas, and transport arenas, and is increasingly instructed by hotel and aviation clients. The team is led by Charlotte Davies, with Gillie Belsham the other partner. Major clients include AXA, Elf Oil and UK P&I Club.

Within Professional negligence, tier 5

Ince & Co translates its exceptional insurance expertise into a strong professional negligence practice that covers a wide range of professions. Highlights included continued advice regarding a US$50m claim arising from AIG’s energy and construction account.

Within Commercial property, tier 8

Ince & Co’s property practice is ‘ first rate; the quality of advice and timeliness is excellent’. Trevor Garrood is singled out for particular praise.

Within Commercial property, tier 8

Also recommended are: Bowling & Co.; Cannings Connolly; Capsticks; Dorsey & Whitney; Druces LLP; Edwin Coe LLP; Fasken Martineau Stringer Saul LLP; Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson (London) LLP; Goodman Derrick LLP; Grundberg Mocatta Rakison LLP; Harbottle & Lewis LLP; Heller Ehrman (Europe) LLP; Hempsons; Ince & Co; Irwin Mitchell; Latham & Watkins; Mills & Reeve LLP; Moon Beever; Piper Smith Watton LLP; RT Coopers Solicitors; Rochman Landau; Rooks Rider; Rosenblatt Solicitors; Rosling King LLP; Russell Jones & Walker; Sidley Austin LLP; Steeles Law LLP; Stepien Lake; Thring Townsend Lee & Pembertons; and Wiggin LLP.

Within Environment, tier 5

Ince & Co, under Colin de la Rue, is a recognised leader in international marine environmental affairs, and acts for the likes of the International Maritime Organisation, the International Chamber of Shipping and the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund. Current matters include developing international ship recycling laws, and defending a crew involved in a spillage of 11,000 tonnes of crude oil.

Within Aviation, tier 4

Ince & Co’s aviation group is headed by Gillie Belsham, and handles commercial and regulatory as well as liability insurance work. The London and Paris offices are advising Heli Air Monaco on a major insurance matter involving the loss of a helicopter in Nice, and the firm is also acting for London market underwriters and the assured in relation to a Eurocopter crash, dealing with subrogated hull recovery and the recovery of various uninsured losses. It continues to handle a wide range of contractual work for Emirates Airline Group, and was boosted by the recent addition of Tim Scorer, who brings over 30 years’ experience in aviation matters. Chris Walsh is highly recommended for non-contentious matters.

Within Overview,

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP and Beaumont & Son - Aviation at Clyde & Co lead the aviation market, while Holman Fenwick Willan and Ince & Co stand out for their strength in shippping. Norton Rose LLP is one of the strongest all-round players in the transport sector, including aviation and rail, especially in relation to asset finance work.

Within Rail, tier 6

Also recommended are: Jeremy Willcocks at Arnold & Porter (UK) LLP, which undertook work for key client Veolia in the UK and India; Helen Bissell and Elizabeth Hollingworth at niche firm Hollingworth Bissell; Andrew Gilbert at Kennedys, which is particularly recommended for contentious work (including safety-related incidents); Guy Clements and Louise Middleton at Thomas Eggar LLP, particularly for property-related issues in the rail industry; Robbie Owen at ‘ very efficient and responsive’ firm Bircham Dyson Bell LLP, especially for its parliamentary, planning, employment and public law expertise in the rail industry; Gillie Belsham at Ince & Co, which brings expertise in insurance law to rail accident work; Philip Taylor at Reed Smith, which undertook regulatory and contractual work for clients such as Eurostar and GNER; and Paul Irving at Winckworth Sherwood, which is recommended for ‘ excellent teamwork, responsiveness and fees which are very good value’, and is currently involved in parliamentary work relating to the Crossrail project.

Within Shipping, Ince & Co is a first tier firm,

Ince & Co has strength in every key shipping centre, but has particularly increased its presence in Italy and Monaco with large shipowners and P&I brokers, PL Ferrari. It acted for the owners and insurers of the Alpha Action on a US$50m collision claim, and is now instructed on the Front Comor matter at ECJ level. The wet practice has enjoyed growth in related fields such as international maritime affairs, EU law, the criminal law aspects of shipping, environmental affairs and LNG work, and Colin de la Rue continues to act for a coalition of shipping industry bodies bringing groundbreaking proceedings in the UK and European courts to challenge the validity of EU legislation on criminal sanctions for pollution resulting from shipping casualties. Other major incidents included the Hebei Spirit spillage and the headline UND Adriyatik fire. Dry shipping partners Paul Herring and Ian Chetwood are recommended, and James Wilson, Faz Peermohamed are the key casualty contacts. The team ‘ sees the big picture and response times are impressive’.