The Legal 500

Within Capital markets: debt offerings, Hogan Lovells International LLP is a third tier firm,

Hogan Lovells US LLP has a growing reputation in the capital markets arena for its issuer advice and particular strength in advising REITs on securities matters. The practice is split between Denver and Washington DC, with co-heads of the practice Paul Hilton and David Bonser based in each city respectively. Recent mandates for the group include advising Regal Entertainment Group in a $275m 9.125% senior notes offering, and representing Choice Hotels International in a $250m offering of 5.70% senior notes. The firm’s regulatory expertise attracts technology-sector clients to its securities practice, and a team from the Baltimore office recently advised network specialist Ciena Corporation in a $375m private placement of convertible senior notes. The team is also growing its capabilities to advise manager clients, and represented Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Citi and Wells Fargo Securities as joint bookrunning managers in Liberty Property Limited Partnership’s $350m senior notes offering. The team is highly recommended by clients.

Within Capital markets: equity offerings, Hogan Lovells International LLP is a third tier firm,

Hogan Lovells US LLP is ‘making a strong commitment to capital markets’, with notable experience in the REIT arena. Clients recommend the ‘outstanding levels of service’, delivered by ‘knowledgeable, responsive, highly skilled and efficient’ lawyers. The firm is known for the strength of its issuer advice, and recent highlights include advising KEYW Holding Corporation in its $104.6m IPO, and representing Smithfield Foods in a $300m follow-on offering of common stock. Practice co-chair and the ‘technically very competent’ Paul Hilton is based in the Denver office, and ‘always strives to give practical and useful advice’. Hilton recently assisted Royal Gold in a $250m common stock offering. Elsewhere, Washington DC-based practice co-chair David Bonser led in advising Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Barclays Capital, Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo Securities in Hudson Pacific Properties’ $250.2m IPO. Clients also include Chesapeake Lodging Trust and DuPont Fabros Technology. Denver-based Keith Trammell is ‘always available and very responsive’.

Within Financial services: regulatory, Hogan Lovells International LLP is a third tier firm,

Hogan Lovells US LLP provides ‘effective and timely guidance’ to an impressive roster of clients including CNB Bank, First Trade Union Bank, Webster Bank and Westfield Bank. With 24 partners spread out across the firm’s national patchwork of offices and also aided by a significant international network, the team has both the critical mass and the geographical diversity to handle many of the most complex compliance, enforcement and transactional mandates in the market. On the compliance side, as well as handling advisory work for clients during the gestation period of the Dodd-Frank Act, the team has worked closely with the firm’s privacy group to advise banks on many new uses of consumer data spawned by technological developments. Global co-head of the corporate practice, Stuart Stein has ‘vast knowledge of the financial services industry’ and recently represented both Provident Funding and Torrey Pines in consumer lending matters and compliance with banking laws at both federal and state level. Also praised for his ‘knowledge of the regulatory environment’, Gregory Parisi provides ‘sound, timely feedback and advice’ and, along with Stein, recently advised the National Rural Utilities Co-operative Finance Corporation on consumer lending and wholesale funding operations. Richard Schaberg co-heads the group and is often involved in financial institution M&A including recently representing Danvers Bancorp on its $2.6bn sale to People’s United Financial. Benefitting from a heavy concentration of lawyers in Washington DC and strong relationships with the regulators, the team has an excellent track record on behalf of clients before all the federal banking agencies.

Within Project finance, Hogan Lovells International LLP is a third tier firm,

Hogan Lovells US LLP has a strong project finance group, with a strong sponsor emphasis and benefiting especially from Hogan and Hartson LLP’s strong practice in the US and Latin America, where it had a notable specialism in energy-related transactions, especially wind. The team acted for Petróleos de Venezuela (PdVSA) and BANDES (Ministry of Finance of Venezuela) as borrower’s counsel in relation to two $10bn term loan facilities from China Development Bank, the largest Chinese financing in Latin America, it is supported by a long-term crude oil sales agreement between PdVSA and China Oil. In a further example of the team’s ability to document and close complex financings by Chinese state-owned financial institutions, a team led by recommended partners Miguel Zaldivar and Keith Larson (on financing) and Jorge Diaz-Silveira (on construction) represented the Republic of Ecuador and Compania Hidroelectrica Coda Codo Sinclair in relation to the $1.68bn construction financing, by China Export-Import Bank, of the Coca Codo Sinclair hydropower project in Ecuador, the largest infrastructure project in the country. On the domestic side, the team acted as financing counsel to the Denver Union Station Project Authority on the $300m development of a regional, multi-modal transportation hub in downtown Denver, Colorado. The team’s offices in Baltimore and Denver have a pronounced US focus to their work, whereas the offices in Washington DC and Miami are internationally oriented. Recommended partners include Washington DC-based Claudette Christian, who co-chairs the firm’s board, and Brian Chappell in Baltimore.

Within Energy: litigation, Hogan Lovells International LLP is a third tier firm,

The team at Hogan Lovells US LLP is ‘well versed in industry issues’. It houses a leading nuclear power practice, and is active in gas pipeline, storage and transmission matters and is increasing its work in the nuclear power space. The firm successfully represented North Baja regarding South Coast Air Quality Management District’s petition for appellate review of FERC’s orders authorizing the client’s project, which involved a major expansion and reversal of flow of its natural gas pipeline, in order to facilitate regasified LNG. It also recently advised Cleco in efforts to settle federal court litigation, including related matters with entities that are not party to the litigation, resulting in a settlement and regulatory approvals of the commercial arrangements. The complaint was broadly directed to all aspects of the commercial relationships between the parties and alleges fraud, breach of contract, restraint of trade, and negligence, with significant potential damages and with equally significant political and policy implications. Other clients include AEP Energy Services, Apache, American Electric Power Company, Murphy Oil and Central Valley Gas Storage. Kevin Lipson heads the team in Washington DC. Houston-based Tom Bayko and Gib Walton ‘manage cases effectively with a minimum of oversight’.

Within Energy: transaction and regulatory, Hogan Lovells International LLP is a third tier firm,

Predominately based in Washington DC, but with partners in New York, Baltimore, Miami, Denver and Houston, Hogan Lovells US LLP’s ‘well versed’ team is strong for regulatory and transactional energy work. It recently advised Kinder Morgan as litigation and regulatory counsel on its asset, Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America, in connection with FERC’s investigation of the existing rates, rates of return, and fuel recovery rates of the pipeline. The firm successfully negotiated, drafted and implemented a comprehensive and uncontested settlement with all shippers, state commissions and FERC staff which brought the proceeding to an end in a beneficial manner for the client. Other work included advising Chevron with respect to its ownership interest in the Trans Alaska Pipeline System in a series of litigated cases before FERC and the Regulatory Commission of Alaska. The firm also advised Louisiana Energy Services, a subsidiary of Urenco, on regulatory and legislative matters. Transactional matters include advising Royal Gold on its $700m cross-border, cash and stock acquisition of International Royalty, a Canadian public company. It also advised NextEra Energy Resources and Central States Wind as borrower’s counsel on its $250m portfolio project refinancing in connection with the Central States Wind Project. Clients also include Edison Mission Energy, NextEra Energy Resources and Toshiba America Nuclear Energy. Washington DC-based Kevin Lipson leads the team.

Within Environment: litigation, Hogan Lovells International LLP is a second tier firm,

Hogan Lovells US LLP is ‘uniformly outstanding in all areas’ and is ‘responsive, knowledgeable and able to handle the wide range of issues presented by litigation’. The firm is involved in all of the current “water wars” among eastern states and is defending on appeal a major victory it won in 2009 for the State of Florida. The cases all concern water flows in the Chattahoochee, Flint and Apalachicola Rivers, and involve a long-running dispute among the three states and the federal government as to the management of the riverine system. The firm is also currently defending Bostik in class and non-class lawsuits brought by residents of a manufacturing facility located in the middle of an industrial park where significant chlorinated organic contamination has been found to be impacting the drinking water wells of over 200 nearby residences over a two square mile area. The firm has also recently acted for Homestake Mining, Fox Capital Management and National Chicken Council. The practice is co-led by Denver-based Scott Reisch, who is ‘great to work with and is well respected’, and Washington DC-based co-head James Banks, who is ‘extremely strong in developing effective legal strategies, has extensive experience in federal court cases and works extremely well with clients and individuals who are not lawyers’.

Within Healthcare and life sciences, Hogan Lovells International LLP is a first tier firm,

Hogan Lovells US LLP’s comprehensive US practice spans the healthcare service provider and life sciences manufacturing sectors, while the firm also has the scope to advise on regulations and transactions internationally, particularly in the UK and EU. The group has a robust practice representing hospitals and health systems on M&A, corporate governance and commercial needs: such clients include Advocate Health System, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, University of Miami, University of Cincinnati Health Systems and State University of New York. It advises Colorado Health Facilities Authority on bond issues for hospitals and care facilities, and is a significant adviser to industry organizations including the American Hospital Association, the American Physical Therapy Association, and Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. The firm represents pharmaceutical manufacturers on rebates, pricing and Medicare-related issues as part of commercial relationships with other parties in the healthcare space. It is ‘strong on regulations’, and has a busy FDA advisory practice, in which the highly regarded expert Robert Brady – ‘a fine person and a very good lawyer’ – advises clients on new drug trials, applications, best practice, and marketing and promotion of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. The firm also advises manufacturers on antitrust matters, including representing Amcor during a DOJ investigation into its purchase of Alcan’s flexible medical packaging business, and obtaining approvals for Genzyme’s acquisition of several drug licenses from Bayer Healthcare. Robert Leibenluft – a healthcare and antitrust specialist who led on the Genzyme matter – also represented UnitedHealth Group Inc and PacifiCare Inc in a Seventh Circuit appeal against summary judgment in a case alleging price-fixing and fraud under the Medicare Part D program. Thomas Bulleit is ‘very strong’ on healthcare compliance, reimbursement, and fraud and abuse issues including anti-kickback and false claims. The firm also has an extensive IP litigation practice. It also represented Medtronic Inc in a Minnesota district court liability lawsuit brought by a third-party payor. The group’s litigators are ‘very effective in negotiations and know their science’.

Within Insurance: advice to insurers, Hogan Lovells International LLP is a third tier firm,

Hogan Lovells US LLP’s merger resulted in some critical losses from the former Lovells insurance practice, including Joe McCullough and Neal Moglin, who moved to Freeborn & Peters and Foley & Lardner LLP respectively, but peers and clients alike recognise the firm as an important player in the insurance space. Led by Christopher Handman and David Newmann, the group successfully represented Federal Insurance in litigation against the insured, Crowley Maritime, arising from Crowley’s ‘stipulation of settlement’ with plaintiffs in underlying securities litigation, only requesting Federal’s consent at a later date. The firm also represented Chubb and certain affiliates in multi-district antitrust-related insurance litigation. The team is increasingly active in health insurance matters, leveraging the firm’s significant health care practice. Other representative clients include AXA, Allianz, CNA, Munich Re and Prudential.

Within Copyright, tier 4

Hogan Lovells US LLP is respected for its excellent business acumen and ‘well-heeded advice’. Its merger added further international capabilities to its copyright practice, which advises on ownership, infringement, internet enforcement and anti-counterfeiting issues. Clients span traditional media and entertainment companies, as well as automobile and industrial manufacturers. The New York team includes Dori Ann Hanswirth and Slade Metcalf, who have a ‘keen and insightful intellect’; Hanswirth focuses on media cases, representing interests in the print media, television and film sectors, while Metcalf was part of a team that advised HarperCollins in an infringement lawsuit against Gawker Media, which runs an online blog, in relation to Sarah Palin’s published work. Trial lawyer Steven Hollman and commercial litigator Robert Wolinsky were co-counsel to industrial manufacturer Victor Stanley Inc in a case involving copyright infringement against Creative Pipe, alleging that it procured copies of its copyrighted drawings of products. IP co-chair Raymond Kurz leads from the Washington DC office and also provides experience in copyright disputes.

Within Real estate investment trusts (REITs), Hogan Lovells International LLP is a first tier firm,

Hogan Lovells US LLP’s REITs practice fields 15 corporate and tax partners, giving it the depth of expertise to attract clients such as Chesapeake Lodging Trust and Barclays Capital, and offering breadth of coverage across regulatory and transactional matters. The practice remained busy with IPOs, advising as underwriter or corporate counsel on 19 different IPOs. Highlights included advising Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Barclays Capital, Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo Securities as underwriters on Hudson Pacific Properties’ $250m IPO, notable as one of the first office REIT IPOs in several years. The group also represented Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan on Piedmont Office Realty Trusts $200m IPO, which was one of the first transitions of a non-traded REIT to publicly traded status, and advised Chesapeake Lodging Trust on its $152m IPO and $25.5m Reg D private placement. ‘Star partner’ J Warren Gorrell and REIT M&A expert David Bonser head the practice, which offers formidable tax prowess through Prentiss Feagles.

Within Immigration, Hogan Lovells International LLP is a second tier firm,

Paul Virtue’s departure to Baker & McKenzie was a definite loss for Hogan Lovells US LLP. However, the newly merged firm continues to attract impressive instructions from high-caliber clients, who attest that it provides ‘an outstanding service’. ‘The timeliness of this group’s response is always excellent and its substantive knowledge is fantastic’. The firm serves as immigration counsel to US and multinational clients, including large corporations, hi-tech and internet startups, universities, non-profit organizations, sports teams, hospitals, governments and individuals. The firm regularly handles large, varied, and complex legal matters and has excellent relationships with representatives from the US departments of Homeland Security, State and Labor, as well as US embassies and consulates. Examples of key clients include Cadbury, the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, Daimler Trucks North America and Dr Pepper Snapple Group. Recently, on behalf of its client Kroenke Sports, the firm assisted professional sports teams Colorado Avalanche (NHL), Denver Nuggets (NBA), Colorado Rapids (MLS), Colorado Mammoth (NLL), and Colorado Crush (AFL) regarding immigration matters, including obtaining expedited P-1 status for key players and support personnel, as well as advising Colorado Rapids on its relationship with Arsenal FC in the UK. In another high-profile case following the acquisition of Cadbury by Kraft Foods, the firm provided advice regarding necessary filings under the US immigration laws as a result of the transaction. It also provided advice for affected employees to ensure that the company could maintain critical employee sponsorships. The firm also assisted Gamesa Corporacion Technologia with the transfer of key employees to provide critical services in the United States on an expedited basis. The firm obtained approval of an L-1 blanket petition amendment to facilitate the transfer of employees to its US operations and facilitated sponsorship for critical employees for permanent resident status. Co-chairs of the immigration practice group, Beth Peters and Aleksandar Dukic remain popular with clients. The former ‘is particularly impressive. Her knowledge of the law and contacts within the industry are superb’, while the latter is ‘very service-oriented’ and provides ‘a high level of skill, knowledge and practical advice’.

Within International trade, Hogan Lovells International LLP is a first tier firm,

Hogan Lovells US LLP is regarded by clients as ‘the best in the business’, with its lawyers ‘acknowledged experts in the field’. The firm’s broad practice includes everything from trade agreement work and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) matters, to negotiations and disputes arising under the World Trade Organization (WTO), the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), as well as other bilateral, multilateral and regional agreements. The firm is currently acting for the Government of China in major proceedings in both Europe and the United States. In Europe, the firm is acting on the first ever countervailing duty dispute against China which concerns coated paper and which is a ground-breaking case which may lead to further challenges in a variety of international tribunals. In the US, it is representing China in the Court of International Trade appeals concerning subsidy and antidumping investigations into certain types of steel product. This matter is the largest countervailing duty and antidumping case to date between China and the US with over $2.5bn in annual trade directly at stake. On the corporate side, Ford is an important client with the firm acting for the motor manufacturer on a global basis concerning international trade matters. Recent highlights include defending Ford before the Chinese Ministry of Commerce in antidumping and countervailing duty actions involving the export of vehicles from the US to China while, in Europe, the practice has asserted Ford’s interest in a European Union (EU) antidumping action against aluminum wheels that could adversely affect Ford’s global purchasing strategy in Europe, China and the United States. In 2010, the firm assisted Nestlé Waters North America regarding the implementation of the 2009 settlement of the long-standing Beef Hormones Dispute at the World Trade Organization (WTO). The practice is also acting for New Zealand’s Fonterra, the largest exporter of dairy products in the world, in developing and executing its corporate strategy for the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations. Fonterra exports almost 90% of New Zealand’s dairy production and, through a joint venture with the Dairy Farmers of America, has made the US the third largest dairy exporter in the world. With 14 partners concentrating on trade matters, the firm fields a wealth of talent. Deen Kaplan is ‘highly respected’. Mark McConnell provides ‘an extraordinary level of service’, while Beth Peters is ‘professional and smart’.

Within Product liability and mass tort defense: aerospace/aviation, Hogan Lovells International LLP is a second tier firm,

Hogan Lovells US LLP’s team is ‘excellence personified’, regarded by some as one that is ‘never outsmarted’. Key to its standing is the firm’s relationship with Airbus SAS, the world’s largest airframe manufacturer, for which it acts as national counsel. Recent examples of work for this client include acting on the case of Air France Flight 447, which crashed into the Atlantic Ocean en route from Rio de Janeiro to Paris in June 2009. Following the accident, plaintiffs from a dozen countries including the US brought product defect claims against Airbus. Judge Breyer agreed that plaintiffs’ claims – including those by two US citizens – should be removed to France on grounds of forum non conveniens, and the litigation remains ongoing. Hogan & Hartson LLP’s merger with Lovells has also exposed the practice to a wider market. Practice head Thad Dameris is ‘a valuable lawyer: humble, reflective and always on the money’. He and his team ‘enjoy the respect of peers, competitors and clients’. Those singled out within the team include Bruce Oakley, ‘an anchor of the team’ whose ‘insights as a former judge and trial lawyer are key’. Washington DC-based David Weiner made partner in 2009 and is ‘an oracle of legal knowledge’ who has ‘the highest academic decorations combined with a persuasive ability well beyond his junior partner status’. Senior associate Christopher Odell is an up-and-comer who ‘shows promise’ and is ‘really starting to distinguish himself in the market’, and is ‘asked for by name by top people on the trickiest matters’. Trevor Jefferies is also recommended. All recommended attorneys are based in Houston except where stated otherwise.

Within Trade secrets, tier 4

Following Hogan Lovells US LLP’s merger last year, the Chicago office, from which the Lovells LLP trade secrets practice operated, was closed. Steven Hollman in Washington DC now heads up the trade secrets group, which is formed from experienced IP and commercial litigation experts including Eric Lobenfeld. Areas of focus range from emergency injunctions to restrain the use of confidential information, to trade secret audits, licensing and litigation. Global coverage enables the firm to act in the growing number of cases of international misappropriation such as advice to a manufacturer of aquatic leisure products on the protection of design, know-how and trade secrets against their misuse by manufacturers, retailers and former employees in China and Hong Kong. Serving national clients in a widely varied range of industries, the group has represented a leading biotechnology and chemicals company in a dispute relating to industrial secrets in bacteria used in the production of one of the world’s best-selling antibiotics; and successfully defended a large communications company against damage claims exceeding $400m in which a plaintiff alleged misappropriation of trade secrets in connection with the development of air-to-ground telephone technology.

Within White-collar criminal defense , tier 5

Driven out of Washington DC and aided by significant offerings in New York and San Francisco, Hogan Lovells US LLP’s ‘excellent’ white-collar practice acts for a range of corporates, auditing committees and public bodies. Sitting at the intersection of government and business and benefitting from ‘good relationships with the DOJ’, the team has deep and broad substantive expertise in highly regulated industries such as healthcare and communications. Led by the ‘excellent’ Peter Spivack and Michael Theis, the firm successfully negotiated a non-prosecution agreement ensuring that Spectranetics avoided criminal sanctions against allegations that it illegally imported unapproved medical devices, conducted a clinical study in a manner that failed to comply with federal regulations and promoted certain products for procedures for which the company had not received Food and Drug Administration approval. Carl Rauh and Robert Bennett have bedded in well following their high-profile arrival in 2009 from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. Bennett was recently engaged by the District of Columbia City Council to conduct an investigation into allegations that council member Marion Barry misused public funds and violated conflict-of-interest rules. The merger with Lovells has vastly extended the firm’s reach and plays well to the increased internationalization of the white-collar arena, particularly in areas such as antitrust and FCPA.

Within Technology: data protection and privacy, Hogan Lovells International LLP is a first tier firm,

Hogan Lovells US LLP’s privacy and information management practice group is led by the ‘smart, knowledgeable’ Christopher Wolf and healthcare privacy expert Marcy Wilder in Washington DC. They ‘are always timely, have good industry knowledge and helpful contacts, and provide practical advice’. The practice remains at the forefront of FTC enforcement work and privacy work, handling prominent FTC investigations. Wolf represents leading privacy think tank the Future of Privacy forum, which is focused on emerging privacy challenges in FTC, FCC and NIST regulatory proceedings. The merger with Lovells has significantly extended the group’s global reach, creating the largest privacy practice in the US, which advises high-profile clients including News Corporation, and Wal-Mart on topical issues including behavioral advertising, the Smart Grid, health information privacy and security, and mobile applications. International data transfer privacy specialist Lynda Marshall is recommended. The group maintains a market-leading position in healthcare-related privacy work, advising on HIPAA-related matters and the implications of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) Act 2009, which addresses privacy and security concerns associated with the electronic transmission of health information. Wilder, who has ‘good contacts with regulators and helps manage incidents’, advises UnitedHealth Group WebMD, the leading provider of personal health records and on-line health information, on data privacy and public policy.

Within Technology: transactions, tier 4

Hogan Lovells US LLP handles strategic alliances, outsourcing and development agreements, technology transfers, and complex licensing arrangements, supported by the firm’s IP strength and broad global footprint. Zenas Choi in Washington DC, combines technology, telecoms and IP expertise, representing social networks and other new media clients. In McLean, Peter Porter focuses on outsourcing, and Shelly McGee’s clients include News Corporation. In Denver, copyright and trademark specialist David London represents software developers and vendors, internet service providers, computer chip and medical device manufacturers, notably advising TeleHealth Solutions on its web portal-based system for subscription-based health monitoring and assisting Quorum Business Solutions with IP matters.

Within Telecoms and broadcast: regulatory, Hogan Lovells International LLP is a second tier firm,

Hogan Lovells US LLP’s ‘excellent, efficient and cost-effective’ group has increased its depth and extended its international reach. Its 20-lawyer group in Washington DC can rely on the support of a global network of some 200 lawyers working in the technology, media and telecoms industry sector. The group’s regulatory and transactional specialists offer a wide range of services for longstanding clients. Close links with the FCC bring steady flow of compliance work and key FCC mandates, advising on spectrum auctions, smart grid and wireless issues, and specialist sectors such as telemedicine. Washington DC practice head Michele Farquhar and her team represent Vodafone on FCC broadband regulatory and spectrum policy matters, including monitoring developments on network neutrality and broadband reclassification, and assist with advocacy efforts. The firm also advises T-Mobile USA on FCC proceedings focusing on broadband regulatory and spectrum policy matters. Ari Fitzgerald and Mark Brennan have ‘extensive experience and relationships with the FCC and a deep knowledge of current and proposed regulations’. Other highlights included advising AirCell in its acquisition of a broadband air-to-ground license, and assisting with its efforts to apply for broadband stimulus funding; and assisting Sprint Nextel with filings and strategic advice in regulatory proceedings involving spectrum issues, including wireless broadband filings, TV white spaces and the AWS-2 spectrum bands. The team provides ongoing advice to leading US cable television providers in their major investments in the wireless business, including assistance on spectrum policy, auction and post-auction strategy, FCC compliance and related investment matters. Daniel Brenner assisted Bright House Networks on repricing the pole attachments used by cable operators to provide broadband service, leading to a positive recommendation in the FCC’s National Broadband Plan. Zenas Choi’s practice focuses on the juncture of technology and telecoms, with particular expertise in satellite-related matters. Karis Hastings, who represents SES World Skies, is recommended as ‘supremely patient, extremely experienced and knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with. Government agency officials know, respect and like her’. Joel Winnik is ‘extremely knowledgeable, smart and responsible; he has contacts everywhere and knows everyone’. Clients include Tata Communications, General Motors, GE Health Care, ATX Group, Fox and XO Communications.

Within Telecoms and broadcast: transactional, Hogan Lovells International LLP is a second tier firm,

Hogan Lovells US LLP’s telecommunications group in Washington DC, led by Michele Farquhar, is supported by the firm’s regulatory prowess and global presence, notably representing Union Pacific Railway, Norfolk Southern Railroad and CSX Railroad in the acquisitions of spectrum and technology, the formation of joint ventures, and obtaining unique FCC relief for operating positive train control networks, a proposed communications system that transmits information about a train’s location, preventing unsafe movement. The merger with Lovells has extended the team’s international reach and ability to apply relevant expertise from its overseas offices to clients involved in foreign joint ventures and M&A transactions. Audrey Reed in McLean represents Hulu, and Daniel Brenner and Joel Winnick advise cable television company Bright House Networks on issues around wireless broadband roaming. Other key clients include Qwest, XM, Bell Canada, Alltell, US Cellular, Sprint Nextel and Fox.

Within Antitrust, Hogan Lovells International LLP is a third tier firm,

Hogan & Hartson’s merger with Lovells in May 2010 to form Hogan Lovells US LLP created a significantly enhanced antitrust and competition law practice on a number of levels including overall size, sophistication, scope, global capability, client base and industry exposure. The enlarged practice now covers mergers, investigations and litigation. Post merger, the team continues to attract leading antitrust experts including Robert Robertson, a former FTC chief litigator, who joined the Washington DC office in 2010. The highly regarded Janet McDavid in Washington DC heads the team, which continues to act for IBM on a number of matters; it recently secured summary judgment in an antitrust case brought against the client by T3 Technologies. The group also successfully navigated IBM through the DOJ’s investigation of hiring practices at technology companies, with IBM one of the few companies not charged with antitrust violations by the DOJ. Recent merger clearance work includes representing AdMob during its $750m acquisition by Google, which was unanimously cleared despite numerous reports of an imminent challenge, and advising Black & Decker on its $4.5bn merger with The Stanley Works, which was cleared without a second request. The firm is also advising Air Canada and Home City Ice in cartel and related litigation matters.

Within M&A: large deals ($1bn-5bn), Hogan Lovells International LLP is a first tier firm,

Since Hogan & Hartson LLP teamed up globally with UK firm Lovells, the newly merged Hogan Lovells US LLP has extended its global footprint, while at home, its capabilities on the West Coast, specifically in the Bay Area, have extended with Laura Berezin joining as partner in the Silicon Valley office from Cooley LLP and Jon Layman arriving in the Silicon Valley office from Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. Layman brings a wealth of experience advising both emerging private companies as well as mature public companies in a variety of industries, including clean energy and technology, electronics, contract manufacturing, homeland security, semiconductors, life sciences, natural products, and organic agriculture. Randy Segal joined the Northern Virginia office after 17 years as a general counsel for a variety of technology companies based in Northern Virginia, Washington DC and Maryland. Segal’s practice encompasses a wide range of transactional, corporate, and technology issues. In the US, the firm now has an experienced team of approximately 150 M&A lawyers, serving clients out of Baltimore, Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, Boulder, Miami, Washington DC, Colorado Springs, New York, Denver and Northern Virginia. Perceived by many as traditionally stronger in the DC area, clients nonetheless recognize that the New York offering has been bolstered in recent years and is becoming ‘a go-to M&A firm in New York for those people who have come across them. I would in most cases turn to the firm for value for money, execution capabilities and the people being fantastic lawyers and a pleasure to work with’. Recent highlights include representing The Black & Decker Corporation in its $4.5bn acquisition by The Stanley Works, and advising Lockheed Martin Corporation in its $815m sale of its Enterprise Integration Group business to Veritas Capital. In the energy sector, the team represented NextEra Energy in connection with its $352m acquisition of three operating wind projects from Babcock & Brown, while in financial services, RBC Capital Markets was assisted in the merger between M&T Bank Corporation and Wilmington Trust Corporation. The practice also advised ExonHit Therapeutics, a Paris-based therapeutic and diagnostic healthcare company, in its agreement to acquire RedPath Integrated Pathology, a privately held molecular diagnostics company focused on cancer diagnostics. In technology, the team acted for Ciena in its $521m acquisition of assets of the Metro Ethernet Networks Division of Nortel Networks and represented News Corporation and its affiliates on the vast majority of their US and cross-border M&A activities in recent years. Of note, Ford Motor was assisted in its $1.8bn sale of Volvo Car and related assets to Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. Washington DC-based co-CEO J Warren Gorrell, co-chair of the M&A steering committee Joseph Gilligan and ‘easy to work with’ New York-based Richard Horan are recommended. In New York, the ‘highly dependable’ Waajid Siddiqui is rated by clients, while the firm is praised for having ‘a great sense of the market and clearly knowing its way around transactions’. Other clients are especially impressed with the practice’s TMT industry acumen and strong client base in this area.

Within Private equity buyouts, tier 5

Naturally inhabiting the middle-market, but making the most of its leading regulatory credentials in Washington DC, Hogan Lovells US LLP now has a real presence in the private equity sector. The firm represents some of the major buyout funds in connection with transactions involving highly regulated industries, including life sciences, telecoms and defence. It should be noted that on larger transactions, the firm is more regularly brought in principally as regulatory counsel. Even so, the firm’s growing volume of middle-market work, makes it one of the most active in the US, including acting for KRG Capital, one of the most dynamic private equity houses in the middle-market. Outside of the US, it has an active practice in western Europe, Russia and the Middle East. Other clients include ACON Investments, ABS Capital Partners, Norway-based Herkules Private Equity and Relativity Capital. Lead partners include Washington DC and London-based Jeffrey Hurlburt, Denver’s George Hagerty and Robert Welp in Northern Virginia.

Within Employee benefits and executive compensation, tier 4

Hogan Lovells US LLP has 15 US partners who contribute to the firm’s ‘very knowledgeable, practical and responsive’ global employee benefits practice. The majority are based in Washington DC, where William Neff, noted for his ‘ability to communicate complicated and arcane issues’, heads the department. Neff is leading the work for NextEra Energy, a Fortune 200 company, on implementing a new long term equity incentive plan that reflects current thinking in best pay practices while maintaining consistency with the company’s incentive compensation philosophy. In the same office, Margaret de Lisser, ‘the anchor of the ERISA practice, is very strong on technical expertise’, and Kurt Lawson ‘created a very favorable impression’. The firm served as lead international compensation and benefits counsel to Ford Motor Company on the pensions and benefits issues associated with the divestiture of Volvo; the transaction involved employees and benefit plans in some 35 countries. Practice group clients include Deltacom, Dow Jones & Company, DuPont Fabros Technology and Fox Entertainment Group.