The Legal 500

Within Financial services, tier 6

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP is ‘excellent for regulation’. The team achieved a number of successes in appealing cases to the Regulatory Decisions Committee. Chris Brennan was appointed partner, and Josie Marwick joined from the FSA.

Within M&A: lower mid-market, £50m-£250m, Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP is a third tier firm,

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP completed 10 M&A deals in its London office in 2010, including one over the £1bn mark. It counts the likes of Tesco and UPS among its regular clients, and was recently instructed by US renewables giant Sunpower Corporation’s UK and international operations. Simon Gamblin is ‘very efficient, very quick, always willing and always to the point’.

Within Banking litigation: investment and retail, tier 5

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP lost Tim Strong, Julian Randall and Andrew Howell to Taylor Wessing LLP. However the team, which acts against the banks, retains a wealth of experience through group head Neil Jamieson, James Cooper and new partner Chris Brennan.

Within Commercial litigation, tier 4

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP saw its former head of litigation Julian Randall, along with litigation partner Andrew Howell and financial institutions head Tim Strong, leave for Taylor Wessing LLP, after which the commercial litigation and arbitration practice merged with the professional and financial disputes group under the leadership of Sarah Clover and Neil Jamieson, who ‘excels in his litigation nous’. Core sectors for the practice include insurance and reinsurance, professional practices, aerospace, transport and trade, technology, manufacturing and healthcare.

Within International arbitration, tier 6

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP is an ‘easy-to-work-with firm that acts on its own initiative within specified guidelines’. The firm has arbitration capabilities in Hong Kong/China and Singapore, and its São Paulo office is now fully active. Group head Maurice Kenton has ‘a real ability to lead assistants and to get the very best out of them’. Former international arbitration head Peter Flint left for Wragge & Co LLP.

Within Overview,

The market remains competitive and fluid. Halliwells’ collapse provided Clyde & Co LLP with the lateral hire of Marko Kraljevic, while Stephenson Harwood beefed up with Sean Jeffrey arriving from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP and Sara George from Allen & Overy LLP. Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP’s former litigation chief Julian Randall exited for Taylor Wessing LLP. Others have been busy consolidating; in 2011, seven partners from Dawsons LLP, plus their assistants, joined Penningtons Solicitors LLP, while Stewarts Law LLP acquired litigation practice Masseys LLP.

Within Commodities: derivatives Leading individuals

Within Commodities: physicals, Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP is a second tier firm,

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP stands out for its strength and breadth across all commodities, and for significant client wins including Deutsche Bank’s coal division. Richard Black and Eurof Lloyd-Lewis are ‘good at thinking outside the box; they provide creative commercial solutions’. The largest-ever sugar default case features in its recent workload, alongside significant transactional matters for clients such as Alfa Trading and ED&F Man.

Within Corporate restructuring and insolvency, tier 5

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP counts PwC, Grant Thornton and KPMG as clients. The practice is led by Jon Yorke, who focuses on the insurance and financial institution sectors, while Rupert Connell predominantly advises on insolvencies.

Within Employment, tier 6

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP’s team has ‘in-depth understanding of financial services’. The team is headed by the ‘go-to’ Robert Hill, and is noted for its advisory role on forthcoming public sector pay changes. The ‘responsive and proactive’ Chris Holme is ‘very good at translating complex legal issues into practical actions’.

Within Health and safety, Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP is a second tier firm,

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP represented TAV Engineering in the Buncefield prosecution; and is assisting Lowry Homes in relation to allegations of corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter. John Goodman and David Knapp ‘demonstrate extensive knowledge’.

Within Pensions, tier 6

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP recently advised the Trustees of the Pall (UK) Pension Fund on an index-based longevity swap. ‘Outstanding’ lawyer Mark Howard ‘combines both technical and communication skills’.

Within Clinical negligence: claimant Leading individuals

Within Clinical negligence: defendant , Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP is a second tier firm,

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP’s ‘excellent’ group is relatively small, but enjoys considerable market share. The team’s ‘strength lies in its people skills’, as well as its provision of ‘an efficient and timely service’. The team has been representing the NHSLA in a multimillion-pound birth injury claim against an NHS hospital, involving a catastrophic brain injury. New partner Claire Petts is ‘an extremely good people person’ with ‘a wealth of knowledge regarding healthcare law’. Charles Brown and practice head Kevin Bitmead are also recommended.

Within Insurance and reinsurance litigation, Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP is a first tier firm,

Despite several departures, including that of former practice head Jason Bright, Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP’s well-established reputation continues to attract new clients, which credit its ‘commercial rather than purely legal approach’, and service that is ‘second to none’, whether on mainstream or the most complex cases. The practice was reinforced by the arrival of several former Halliwells lawyers, including Helen Bourne and Damian McPhun. Kiran Soar is ‘commercial, and works well as part of a team’; David Abbott is ‘outstanding’ and Clive O’Connell is ‘one of the best reinsurance lawyers in London’. Victoria Sherratt is ‘a safe pair of hands’, and Maurice Kenton is ‘a very committed litigator’. Highlights included successfully representing at first instance CX Re in IRB Brazil Resseguros SA v CX Reinsurance Company Ltd.

Within Insurance: corporate and regulatory, Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP is a second tier firm,

Despite several departures from Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP, clients recognise that Stephen Browning is a ‘strong leader’ who remains supported by ‘a high-quality team’. Browning is a ‘first-choice adviser’ with ‘extensive expertise’, particularly regarding the London and Lloyd’s market. Douglas Howie and Timothy Parsons are also recommended. The group recently advised FirstCity Partnership on selling its insurance brokerage business to Arthur J Gallagher.

Within Insurance: insolvency and restructuring, Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP is a second tier firm,

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP maintains a strong reputation in this field, despite Ian Mason’s departure to Baker & McKenzie LLP in 2010. Practice head Jon Yorke led advice to Minster on its scheme of arrangement, one of the largest solvent schemes to be sanctioned to date. Other clients include Ageas, Apetrop, Partner Re, and RSA Reinsurance Ireland.

Within Personal injury: defendant, Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP is a first tier firm,

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP’s leading practice represents clients such as Zurich Financial Services, Allianz, John Lewis, and NFU Mutual Insurance Society. The group was instructed by Zurich Municipal in the defence of Tandridge District Council in a group claim connected to an E.coli outbreak at Godstone Farm in 2009. Kevin Bitmead heads the team, which includes the ‘thorough and wholly dependable’ Danielle Singer and former barrister Charles Brown, who ‘has an instinctive grasp of strategy’, and is ‘a first-rate communicator’. David Knapp is also recommended, and is particularly experienced in actions involving police, social services or local authorities.

Within Product liability: defendant, Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP is a third tier firm,

Mark Wing heads Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP’s ‘strong department’, which is ‘well grounded in this field’. Insurer clients include Zurich, Chartis and Munich Re. It recently acted for Chartis and Home Retail Group in the ‘toxic sofa’ litigation, in which claimants alleged a skin condition caused by furniture. Giles Kavanagh and Hugh Mullins are recommended. Jason Bright left for Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP.

Within Professional negligence, Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP is a first tier firm,

A ‘true market leader’ and ‘first-class practice’, Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP’s 16-partner team is led by Sarah Clover, ‘the doyenne of professional negligence’. It handles claims and advises on insurance, reinsurance and global policy for the captive insurers of the Big Four accounting firms. It also acts for Catlin, QBE, Mitsui and Novae. Andrew Blair is ‘superb’; Fergal Cathie is recommended for his ‘excellent response times’; Neil Jamieson has great experience and shows ‘toughness where necessary’; and the ‘highly skilled’ Simon Konsta is also recommended. Julian Randall moved to Taylor Wessing LLP in October 2010.

Within Healthcare, tier 5

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP’s practice advised Western Sussex Hospital NHS Trust on the high-profile dismissal of a doctor. It gained several new NHS trust clients in 2010.

Within Commercial property, tier 6

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP’s clients range from multinationals to public authorities, and include British Waterways, QBE and Liberty Mutual. The team also advises on UPS’ substantial property portfolio. ‘Always responsive, the team is a joy to work with, and its advice is spot on’, with Malcolm Rogerson being particularly recommended.

Within Construction, tier 5

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP is ‘excellent for resolving disputes’ and ‘understands how to reach a settlement’. It acts for most of the major UK insurers in the construction sector. Practice head Patrick Perry is ‘responsive and astute’.

Within Environment, tier 4

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP’s practice is heavily weighted towards contentious matters; but also advises clients such as Angel Trains on regulatory compliance. It advises insurers on environmental liability claims, with Aidan Thomson providing ‘excellent, concise advice on a market sector that is increasing in importance for insurers’. The team represented TAV Engineering in its prosecution regarding the Buncefield explosions; and also acts for manufacturers on environmental breach claims.

Within Property litigation, tier 5

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP is developing a name in the professional negligence field, leveraging the firm’s great reputation in insurance. Neil Jamieson recently acted for a law firm and its insurers in a £12m credit claim made by Regional Investments.

Within Overview,

In IT and telecoms, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP and Powell Gilbert LLP were strengthened by high-profile lateral hires. Clients’ focus on the cost of legal advice has brought work to specialist boutiques, notably Technology Law Alliance, Preiskel & Co LLP, Waterfront Solicitors and Radiant Law, recently established by partners from Latham & Watkins LLP and Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP.

Within Aviation, Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP is a first tier firm,

The aviation practice at Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP is set to transfer to Holman Fenwick Willan LLP; scheduled to make the move are Sue Barham, Nicholas Hughes and Giles Kavanagh in London, along with Richard Gimblett (London and Dubai); Jeremy Shebson (London and São Paulo); Peter Coles (Hong Kong); and Keith Richardson and Mert Hifzi (Singapore). The team ‘as it stands is extremely knowledgeable and responsive’, and regularly acts for clients such as British Airways, Etihad, BAE Systems and Allianz. Regulatory expert Barham has been representing the National Airlines Council of Canada in High Court judicial review proceedings and an ECJ referral over the legality of the EU’s rules on emissions trading for aviation; and Gimblett, who is ‘very knowledgeable and the man to go to for aviation disputes’, recently advised on the global settlement following the loss of a Flash Airlines B737. Kavanagh, who heads the team, is highly recommended for insurance-related aviation work.

Within Overview,

Levels of litigation in the aviation sector remained high. In addition to the continuing impact of the economic downturn, the sector came under additional pressure due to disruptions caused by the volcanic ash eruptions, and now faces further challenges as airlines slash their profit forecasts due to rising oil prices and a potential trade war looms with the EU preparing to include foreign airlines in the emissions trading scheme. On a positive note, there is robust growth by Asia Pacific carriers and great potential for growth in Latin America and Africa, which has a number of London practices looking internationally. The biggest upset in the sector, law firm wise, has been from the announcement of the pending move of Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP’s longstanding leading aviation practice, to Holman Fenwick Willan LLP. On the boutique front, Gates and Partners continued to grow, opening offices in Brussels and Dubai.

Within Shipping , tier 4

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP’s ‘case/time management abilities provide clients with overall better value for money’. The group has a well-established track record of acting for major insurers, and recently advised on the Elli crash in the Suez Canal, and won new clients such as Catlin Risk Solution and Ace American Insurance. Patrick Foss and Chris Zavos are ‘fully aware of the commercial implications facing insurers, as well as the technical legal aspects’.