The Legal 500

Within EU and competition , tier 7

Pinsent Masons LLP is commended for its ‘industry knowledge’, ‘responsiveness’, and ‘willingness to take a position’. It has advised parties in a series of significant antitrust cases, and is also advising a number of contractors and the UK Contractors Group in relation to the OFT’s construction cartel investigation. The ‘thorough’ and highly reputed Alan Davis heads the London team.

Within Financial services, tier 6

Pinsent Masons LLP’s Tim Dolan assists clients with applications and notifications to the FSA for the authorisation of firms, and Jacob Ghanty acts for wholesale and retail clients in the development and distribution of financial services products.

Within Flotations - small and mid-cap, Pinsent Masons LLP is a second tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP recently advised Shore Capital on the US$110m private placing and flotation of Da Vinci Capital Management’s CIS Private Sector Growth Fund on the Specialist Fund Market, while other clients include SVS Securities, Grant Thornton and St Helen’s Capital. Sean Page and practice head Jon Harris are recommended.

Within M&A - lower mid-marketdeals, £50m-£250m, Pinsent Masons LLP is a first tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP worked on 227 deals in 2008 at an average of £47m. FTSE 250 clients are a focus, as are the insurance, construction, energy, waste and healthcare sectors. Advising the management of Angel Trains on its £3.6bn sale was a particular achievement. Clients commend the team for its ‘proactivity’, with Jon Harris and Gareth Edwards recommended.

Within Outsourcing and procurement, Pinsent Masons LLP is a first tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP’s large team of procurement specialists handle a range of contentious and non-contentious work for utilities, contractors and major public sector clients. It advised Firebuy on its procurement of fire and rescue services, and public procurement group head Ruth Smith (a ‘dynamic and well-rounded lawyer’) recently led advice to key new client Royal Mail. Kate Rees is also recommended for her public sector and utilities work. On the outsourcing side, the ‘superb’ David Isaacs counts the Home Office, MoD and Cabinet Office as clients, while Iain Monaghan heads the outsourcing group and applies his ‘vast experience and creativity’ to ITOs, as it continues to add to its existing base of public sector clients.

Within Overview,

New to the chapter this year is the Outsourcing and procurement section, which spans both private and public sector work and covers business services outsourcing in addition to more traditional IT and telecoms work. Baker & McKenzie LLP, Bird & Bird LLP, DLA Piper UK LLP, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP and Pinsent Masons LLP have set the bar as the firms to beat.

Within Private equity , tier 6

Pinsent Masons LLP’s ‘diligent and professional’ team, under Andrew Masraf, advised the management on Montague Private Equity’s £1.7bn Biffa buyout.

Within Fraud - commercial and regulatory investigations, tier 5

Pinsent Masons LLP has hired the ‘very talented’ Claire Shaw, a former senior prosecutor at SFO, to join its eight-partner fraud and investigations team in June 2008. Bill Dixon heads the group.

Within Licensing, gaming and betting, tier 5

Pinsent Masons LLP’s clients include William Hill and the Post Office, with experience including gambling-related transactions.

Within Commercial litigation, tier 6

Pinsent Masons LLP may be best known for construction litigation, but its commercial disputes practice also enjoys a very good name. Headed by Nigel Kissack and with highly rated partners such as Stefan Paciorek, it has been involved in a string of major cases in recent years. Most notably it advised WLPS and UKOP, the joint venture companies owned by Shell, BP, Chevron and Total, on the dispute arising from the Buncefield explosion.

Within International arbitration, tier 4

Gordon Bell heads Pinsent Masons LLP’s ‘superb’ team, which ‘provides in-depth advice on all kinds of potential problems at a very competitive price’, and has ‘rich international experience’. John Bishop is ‘an excellent lawyer’, while clients praise the ‘knowledgeable and experienced’ Stefan Paciorek. Clients include Sumitomo Mitsui, AMEC, and Hyundai Construction & Engineering.

Within Mediators, Pinsent Masons LLP is a second tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP’s Andrew Paton has a convivial manner, facilitative style and commercial focus which combine to make him among the country’s most sought-after mediators. Clients credit him as showing ‘mastery of the detail, unwavering commitment to the process, charm, pragmatism’ and the ability to ‘read a dispute well and know where to apply pressure’.

Within Acquisition finance

Within Asset finance and leasing, tier 6

Pinsent Masons LLP has a strong presence in the corporate jet market, and has been picking up an increasing number of instructions from the rail sector. Graeme McLellan heads the three-partner team, which includes new partner Eloise Walker, who has joined from Linklaters LLP.

Within Corporate restructuring and insolvency, tier 7

Richard Williams at Pinsent Masons LLP has particular strength in relation to insolvencies in the property sector.

Within Employee share schemes, Pinsent Masons LLP is a third tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP excels in establishing and implementing new share plans for a national and, increasingly, international client base. Clients include AMEC, Speedy Hire, Carr’s Milling Industries, Headlam Group and Allianz Insurance. David Pett is known for his ‘excellent knowledge’, and Judith Greaves and Rory Cray are also well regarded.

Within Employment, Pinsent Masons LLP is a third tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP has a ‘top-quality practice with great strength in depth’. It has received instructions on large-scale redundancy exercises in the financial sector, from a major investment bank and several retail banks, and also acted for a major insurer on departure negotiations with two senior board executives of acquired subsidiaries. Practice head Michael Ryley is recommended, and Tom Flanagan is an ‘extremely wise counsel and excellent strategist on industrial relations issues’.

Within Health and safety, Pinsent Masons LLP is a first tier firm,

Under the leadership of Simon Joyston-Bechal, clients praise Pinsent Masons LLP for its ability to ‘understand us and our business environment’. It continues to advise West London Pipeline Services Ltd and United Kingdom Oil Pipelines Ltd on the multi-party litigation arising from the explosion at the Buncefield plant. Other clients of the ‘prompt and efficient’ practice include the Port of London Authority and Maritime Coastguard Agency.

Within Immigration,

Also renowned for their expertise in immigration law are: Clifford Chance; Davenport Lyons; Fisher Jones Greenwood LLP; Irwin Mitchell LLP; Paragon Law; Pinsent Masons LLP; Steeles Law LLP; and Watson, Farley & Williams LLP.

Within Overview,

Thriving niche firms ranked in this chapter include: Fox and CM Murray LLP in employment; Fisher Scoggins LLP in health and safety; Laura Devine Solicitors in immigration; and Sacker & Partners LLP for pensions; all continue to attract a strong flow of work, and recognition from peers and praise from clients. National firms which continue to feature heavily across the board include Addleshaw Goddard LLP, Nabarro LLP, Pinsent Masons LLP and CMS Cameron McKenna LLP. Certain US firms are also making their presence felt, with Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker (Europe) LLP, White & Case LLP and Jones Day all moving up in the rankings this year.

Within Pensions (incl pensions dispute resolution), tier 4

Many also predict a growth in litigation around defined contribution pensions. But at present the bulk of pensions litigation revolves around rectification issues, equalisation, employer debt and insolvency cases, and professional negligence claims. Almost all professional negligence claims can be relied on to settle. The most substantial pensions cases of the year were Foster Wheeler and Pilots, and the conclusion of the current phase of the Sea Containers case. Addleshaw Goddard LLP, Linklaters LLP, Lovells LLP, Pinsent Masons LLP, Sacker & Partners LLP and Simmons & Simmons all have litigation partners who spend all or a majority of their time on pensions disputes, but for the most part our rankings for contentious work reflect the ability of the pensions department to run a case in cooperation with colleagues from the commercial litigation team.

Within Pensions (incl pensions dispute resolution), tier 4

Pinsent Masons LLP partners Christopher Berkeley, Robin Ellison and Raj Sharma are ‘pragmatic’, ‘commercial’ and ‘don’t get flustered’. Alistair Meeks, Bill Dixon and associate Sean Page are ‘sharp’, and ‘clear and precise’ on ‘complex matters’. Highly experienced disputes partner Isabel Nurse-Marsh leads lawyers who ‘know when to fight and when to compromise’, and ‘keeps a firm eye on the regulatory implications of cases’. Senior partner Chris Mullen is also a well-respected pensions lawyer.

Within Insurance - corporate and regulatory, Pinsent Masons LLP is a second tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP’s Martin Membery is ‘assiduous’ and ‘amazingly tuned in to what clients want’. Matthew Griffith is a ‘sensible and practical thinker’, and has been acting for Royal & SunAlliance on a number of strategic corporate transactions including the acquisition of Fyfe Group and its subsidiaries. Other clients include Allianz Insurance, Zurich Financial Services and Aviva. Bruno Geiringer has considerable experience on the life insurance side.

Within Insurance - insolvency and restructuring, Pinsent Masons LLP is a third tier firm,

At Pinsent Masons LLP, Matthew Griffith is valued as ‘responsive’, and Martin Membery is prominent in the market. The highly rated team advised Liverpool Victoria on the Part VII transfer of its life business. Clients includes Zurich Financial Services, AXA and Aviva.

Within Insurance and reinsurance litigation, tier 5

Pinsent Masons LLP provides a ‘friendlier service’ than some competitors, with the ‘thorough and diligent’ Colin Read singled out for particular praise. The team’s experience includes construction insurance claims and the use of nuclear insurance. It is advising a client on its claims under a Property All Risks policy following a catastrophic fire at an oil refinery. Major clients include Aviva and Allianz Insurance.

Within Product liability - defendant, tier 4

Andrew Masterson at Pinsent Masons LLP handles product liability, recall and advisory matters for manufacturers in the electronics, furniture, chemicals, toy and consumers industries. ‘The practice is personal and commercially oriented, and its overall standard of work is extremely good’.

Within Professional negligence, tier 4

With work ranging across the legal, pensions, IT, construction, surveyors and brokers markets, Pinsent Masons LLP’s ten-partner team has a ‘pragmatic approach’ and is led by Fiona Heyes. Highlights for 2008 included advising Travelers Insurance Company in connection with two separate matters involving a leading law firm, valued at £3m. Isabel Nurse-Marsh ‘is a pleasure to deal with’.

Within Infrastructure, tier 4

Pinsent Masons LLP’s team is praised as ‘able to offer exceptional insight into the procurement process’. Its client base consists of a healthy mix of sponsors, procuring agencies, investors and (in line with its market-leading construction practice) contractors; recent mandates include advising the Railway Procurement Agency on the US$3bn Dublin Metro. Catherine Workman is ‘sharp minded’, while Mark Richards and Geoffrey Roberts have ‘industry expertise that is second to none’.

Within Mining and minerals, Pinsent Masons LLP is a third tier firm,

At Pinsent Masons LLP, team head Neil Whitaker is recommended for his attention to detail and ability to ‘think around the issues’. The firm has a domestic mining practice that focuses on planning issues and the sale and acquisition of quarries.

Within Oil and gas, tier 6

Pinsent Masons LLP offers ‘an excellent level of service’ and ‘great experience’. The firm’s market-leading construction practice provides the bulk of oil and gas instructions, and clients include Shell, China Petroleum Pipeline Bureau, and Petronas.

Within Overview,

National heavyweights such as Eversheds LLP and Pinsent Masons have capitalised on the commoditisation of domestic PFI to make a real splash in the sector, particularly on the procurement side, in line with both firms’ strength in local government.

Within Power (including electricity, nuclear and renewables) , tier 4

Richard Foley’s team at Pinsent Masons LLP has ‘an ability to rapidly assess the issues affecting the client and provide sound advice in complex areas’. On the renewables side, it advised longstanding client AMEC on the £126m sale of its windfarm business to Vattenfall. Simon Hobday impresses with his ‘ability to shape the structures of the deals he advises on - he challenges and tests our assumptions’.

Within Private finance initiative(PFI) , Pinsent Masons LLP is a third tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP offers ‘exceptional insight into the procurement process’, with lawyers praised as ‘sharp minded, hardworking and prompt’. Highlights included supporting QinetiQ on the Defence Training Review Project, and advising Viridor/Laing on the Greater Manchester Waste Project. Barry Francis and Catherine Workman are recommended.

Within Water, Pinsent Masons LLP is a second tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP’s water practice has become a ‘real contender for the biggest deals’, with Mark Lane praised as ‘knowledgeable and a quick learner - he really listens to your issues’. The firm recently advised SIDEM SA, as water EPC contractor, on the US$3.5bn Ras Laffan C desalination project in Qatar, and is also advising Thames Water on the procurement of its five-year asset management programme, AMP5, covering all capital and maintenance works to its water and waste water process facilities.

Within Administrative and public law, tier 6

Also recommended are: Anthony Gold, for expertise in the overlap between public, housing and human rights law; Arnold & Porter (UK) LLP, which advises clients in the heavily regulated life sciences sector; Bhatt Murphy Solicitors, which is highly regarded for police and prisons work; Capsticks, led by the ‘very good’ David Mason, for its health and social care oriented practice; Kingsley Napley, which has ‘an excellent reputation for carrying out public inquiry work’, headed by Stephen Parkinson; Payne Hicks Beach, led by Peter Stockwell, also for its admirable public inquiry practice including working on the Rosemary Nelson inquiry; Pinsent Masons LLP, for public law work on behalf of local authorities, including judicial reviews, freedom of information and data protection advice; Public Interest Lawyers, notable for its lead partner Phil Shiner who is ‘really pushing the boundaries’ of public law; Richard Buxton, for advising public authorities on environmental law; Sharpe Pritchard, which acts mainly for local authorities in judicial reviews; and Taylor Wessing LLP, which was boosted by the arrival of Len Murray from Baker & McKenzie LLP.

Within Education - institutions, Pinsent Masons LLP is a first tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP’s team ‘gives realistic advice’ and has ‘a very good understanding of the higher education sector’. The practice is representing City University on an alleged breach of contract claim brought by a former student. Practice head Nicola Hart and Stefan Paciorek are both recommended.

Within Healthcare, Pinsent Masons LLP is a third tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP offers ‘professional advice and overall good value for money’. The ‘responsive and knowledgeable team’ is currently working with the Department of Health on a national decontamination programme. Practice head Barry Francis and Carly Caton are ‘always available to support and advise’.

Within Local government, Pinsent Masons LLP is a third tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP displays ‘dedication to the sector’ and is ‘very impressive in BSF and PFI’, along with other projects, and regeneration, social housing, and data protection matters. Alan Aisbett leads the practice, which last year assisted Basildon District Council on two town centre regeneration schemes valued at £1.25bn.

Within Commercial property, tier 4

Pinsent Masons LLP had a successful year that included appointment as sole external advisers to the Aviva property panel. Key work included acting for Wal-Mart Stores Inc on the sale of ASDA’s development subsidiary, Gazeley Limited Group, to Economic Zones World. Clients say ‘the level of service is excellent on all fronts’, and describe Claire Hughes, who is particularly experienced in hotel work, as ‘responsive and positive’.

Within Construction, Pinsent Masons LLP is a first tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP’s ‘cradle-to-grave expertise is its ultimate strength’, say clients, who praise the firm for work that is generally ‘superior to work received from other firms’. Headed by London-based John Salway, ‘an unfussy businessman who understands what the client needs and requires’, the firm’s increasingly high-end construction practice spans a broad range of transactional, project advisory and disputes work, both domestically and internationally. The team is advising Thames Water on procurement for a £5bn asset management programme, and has recently attracted big-ticket international arbitration work out of the Persian Gulf.

Within Environment, tier 4

The ‘authoritative, reliable and effective’ team at Pinsent Masons LLP is praised for its ‘practical approach to problems’, under the ‘responsive and knowledgeable’ Paul Rice. Recent engagements include complex regulatory and other advice on high-end energy-related matters, most notably in the burgeoning nuclear arena.

Within Planning, Pinsent Masons LLP is a third tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP’s planning team is led by Richard Ford, who ‘provides clear and concise advice, is excellent at negotiating, and has first-class knowledge of planning law’. The group is representing the ODA in relation to the London Olympics project. Daniel Drukarz leads the London team, which was recently active for Level Properties on a successful planning appeal over residential development in Barnet, and in assisting Metro Construction in the residential conversion of a London Borough of Barnet convent. This versatile practice also represents clients such as ScottishPower Generation, which it is advising on a £1bn extension of a gas turbine generating station, and London Ashford Airport.

Within Property litigation, Pinsent Masons LLP is a third tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP’s clients include The Portman Estate and Cushman & Wakefield. The ‘dedicated and focused’ team acted for Sunberry Properties in respect of reported injunction proceedings against a tenant company in administration. Stuart Wortley and the ‘experienced and commercial’ Siobhan Cross are recommended.

Within Social housing, tier 4

Andrew Yates recently joined Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP from Pinsent Masons LLP to head the firm’s regeneration and public sector group. The team advised the new Homes and Communities Agency on new initiatives in the housing market.

Within Social housing, tier 4

Pinsent Masons LLP is a principal adviser to the Homes and Communities Agency, and acts for RSLs in new markets, such as academies and social inclusion projects. Alan Aisbett is recommended.

Within Intellectual property, tier 5

Pinsent Masons LLP’s ‘excellent’ team includes Iain Connor, a new partner hire from Addleshaw Goddard LLP, who is ‘highly recommended’ and acted for Interflora in high-profile trade mark infringement proceedings against Marks & Spencer and Flowers Direct, which have been referred to the ECJ.

Within IT and telecoms, Pinsent Masons LLP is a second tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP has ‘a sophisticated and dedicated’ team and an outstanding reputation for acting on IT transactions in the public and financial services sectors. In 2008, it also acted for supplier-side clients such as Siemens, which it advised on an implementation dispute with a central government department, and Fujitsu in relation to the termination of its contract with the Secretary of State for Health. The ‘very creative’ Clive Seddon heads the group, while Iain Monaghan is recommended for his ITO work in both the public and private sectors. Robert McCallough is a first-class litigator and led on the work with Fujitsu.

Within Media and entertainment, Pinsent Masons LLP is a third tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP is recognised for its online publishing expertise. Kim Walker advised Guardian News and Media on flagship project Guardian Developer Network. Iain Connor and Natalie Seeff, who joined from Trowers & Hamlins LLP, represent new client Getty Images. Group head Susan Biddle advises Agence-France-Presse, Associated Press and Wolters Kluwer. The group undertakes brand protection and copy clearance work, advising Orion Publishing on children’s book and TV character Horrid Henry.

Within Aviation, tier 5

Pinsent Masons LLP has a strong focus on infrastructure-based renovation and greenfield airport projects, and recently increased its airport PPP portfolio with instructions from Asia and the Middle East. Led by Martin Harman, the practice has been advising on a contract for the construction of the new Delhi International Airport in preparation for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, and continues to act as general counsel to Leeds Bradford International Airport.

Within Rail, Pinsent Masons LLP is a third tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP’s rail practice has a global scope thanks to the firm’s construction and projects expertise, and has increased its profile in the rolling stock sector thanks to asset finance partner Graeme McLellan. The team has been providing projects advice to the Railway Procurement Agency and Balfour Beatty, as well as regulatory advice to the Olympic Delivery Authority. Jonathan Hart is recommended. Clare McConnell recently left to join Stephenson Harwood.