The Legal 500

Within Corporate tax, Nabarro LLP is a third tier firm,

Nabarro LLP’s four-partner team ‘punches above its weight’ in property corporate tax matters, where it enjoys an excellent reputation, working for clients including Land Securities, Great Portland Estates, and Grosvenor Estates. Other specialisms are international joint ventures and funds. It acted for Bank of Ireland on the sale of Burdale Financial Holdings, its London-based lending division, to Wells Fargo & Co. Recommended individuals include ‘outstanding operator’ Michael Cant and Simon Rose.

Within EU and competition, tier 5

Nabarro LLP’s team ‘will go the extra mile in terms of understanding its clients and investing time in building relationships’. The broad practice covers merger controls cartel cases, behavioural matters, market inquiries, state aid, and EU single market issues. It acted for KM Group in seeking OFT clearance for its proposed acquisition of seven local newspapers from Northcliffe Media. Brian Sher is ‘highly responsive, has excellent experience and shows great judgement’, and team head Cyrus Mehta is ‘commercial and solutions-oriented’.

Within Financial services, tier 5

Nabarro LLP advised on the AIFMD, and the review of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, and won a number of new client referrals from overseas law firms. Adrian Brown is highlighted as a ‘very competent regulatory lawyer’.

Within Flotations: small and mid-cap, Nabarro LLP is a first tier firm,

Highlighted for its high levels of activity, Nabarro LLP handled six AIM listings in 2011. Alasdair Steele advised Nandan Cleantec on its £166m IPO, while Glyn Taylor represented Music Festivals plc on its AIM IPO. Iain Newman advised Bank am Bellevue as bookrunner on the Frankfurt IPO of Williams Grand Prix Holdings.

Within M&A: mid-market, £50m-£250m, Nabarro LLP is a first tier firm,

Valued for its ‘solid support and guidance’, Nabarro LLP’s 17-partner team continued to show its strength in the mid-market arena, advising on 22 deals over the course of 2011. In a reflection of its growing profile in India deals, it advised Infrastructure India on its $191m acquisition of logistics and hydropower infrastructure assets in the country. Iain Newman heads the practice, which includes the ‘pragmatic and professional’ Warren Taylor.

Within VAT and indirect tax, tier 4

At Nabarro LLP, SDLT expert Michael Cant is a ‘strong asset’ , and Simon Rose is also recommended.

Within Venture capital, tier 4

Led from London and with resources in Sheffield, Nabarro LLP’s team provides ‘very commercial and practical’ advice to clients ranging from early-stage companies through to the largest European tech venture capital funds. Team head Andrew Wigfall continues to advise Accel Partners and Balderton Capital on their investments in Blacksquare Investments and Circle Health respectively. Other clients include Octopus Investments, Wonga.Com and Enterprise Ventures.

Within Banking litigation: investment and retail, tier 5

Nabarro LLP’s banking litigation team is acting for Talbot Hughes McKillop as special administrators of Dunfermline Building Society. Other clients include Lehman Brothers Treasury (Japan, Holland & Luxembourg); Nationwide Building Society; and Kaupthing. Jonathan Warne is a ‘very good strategic litigator’, and Tom Dane is ‘very responsive’.

Within Commercial litigation, tier 4

Nabarro LLP has a focus on financial services, asset tracing, and regulatory cases. The practice acted for the special administrators of a UK building society on finance and enforcement issues. Commercial and banking dispute resolution head Jonathan Warne is a ‘strategic litigator’; Peter Fitzpatrick is ‘experienced’; George Maling ‘gives extremely useful advice’; Tom Dane is ‘good to have on your side’; and George Lubega ‘always has an eye on commercial objectives’. Peter Fitzpatick and George Maling are now at Enyo Law.

Within Professional discipline, Nabarro LLP is a third tier firm,

Nabarro LLP is on the panel of advisers to the MDU, advising on a wide range of disciplinary matters. Peter Fitzpatrick and Chris Horsefield lead the London and Sheffield teams respectively.

Within Corporate restructuring and insolvency, tier 4

Nabarro LLP provides ‘hands-on and practical’ advice to a broad range of clients including PwC, Deloitte, Deutsche Bank and Bank of Ireland. In addition to a solid stream of ‘very complex mid-market domestic work’, the team is ‘very visible in the international insolvency community’. The ‘technically strong and commercial’ Glen Flannery advised the purchaser of the insolvent BMT Marine and Offshore Surveys. Team head Patricia Godfrey is ‘very well known for cross-border work’, and ‘gets things done’.

Within Investment funds, Nabarro LLP is a second tier firm,

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is ‘very strong – particularly on the real estate fund side, where it is one of the leading practices’ – it ‘understands the asset class, which is essential’. The team also handles private equity, infrastructure, listed, retail and hedge fund matters. It advised RBS on Project Isobel, RBS and Blackstone’s real estate debt fund; Aviva Investors on restructuring a Poland-focused fund; and UBS Global Asset Management on UBS Triton Property Fund. Other clients include Blackrock, GCP and Hermes. Practice head Antony Grossman is ‘hugely knowledgeable’ about real estate funds, and can ‘find the solution that other lawyers don ’t even think of’. Justin Cornelius is set to join from Nabarro LLP.

Within Islamic finance Islamic finance

Within Employment: employers and senior executives, tier 5

Julie Quinn leads a large team of associates at Nabarro LLP, which acts as exclusive adviser to MasterCard and University of the Arts, London, providing strategic HR advice as well as handling tribunal claims. On the transactional side, it advised private equity house American Securities LLC on its acquisition of Unifrax 1 LLC.

Within Health and safety, Nabarro LLP is a third tier firm,

Lukas Rootman heads Nabarro LLP’s Sheffield-based health and safety team, which focuses on clients in the chemicals, waste, and mining sectors. It has experience in both civil and criminal litigation, including ongoing cases arising from the Southall high-speed train derailment.

Within Pensions, Nabarro LLP is a second tier firm,

Nabarro LLP is ‘realistic and responsive to customer needs’. It recently advised the Trustees of the Brintons Staff & Life Assurance Plan on the distressed company sale and entry into the Pension Protection Fund of the pension scheme; and was appointed by Atos to set up a new defined-benefits scheme as part of its acquisition of Siemens IT Solutions and Services. Head of department Kate Richards, Jennifer Bell (’a star’), and pensions litigators Neal Gibson and Jonathan Warne are all highly recommended. The firm acted in the Pilots and IBM cases.

Within Clinical negligence: defendant, Nabarro LLP is a third tier firm,

Peter Fitzpatrick heads the team at Nabarro LLP, which is instructed by the MDU and the DDU, on litigation and advisory matters. It handles a broad range of instructions, with complex and high-value cases on the increase. Fitzpatrick is recommended for high-end cases.

Within Mining and minerals, tier 5

Nabarro LLP handled a wide range of domestic mandates in 2011, across corporate, litigation and projects. A multidisciplinary team advised UK Coal Mining in relation to the Rossington Tip Reclamation Project, one of the largest of its kind.

Within PFI and PPP, tier 5

Nabarro LLP provides ‘robust, up-to-date, practical advice’. James Snape is ‘very good on the public procurement of waste projects’; and Clare Deanesly is ‘an expert on property and environmental law’.

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

Tom Bainbridge’s team at Nabarro LLP is advising 2CO Energy on the groundbreaking Don Valley Power Project, a leading example of carbon capture and storage technology in the UK. CHP, distributed energy and renewables remain core practice areas. Marc Isaacs attracts praise from clients.

Within Administrative and public law, tier 5

Nabarro LLP’s key contact is projects partner Stephen Matthew. The firm acts for various county councils, and is advising Watford Borough Council and West Hertfordshire NHS Trust on the Watford Health Campus project.

Within Education: institutions, tier 4

Nabarro LLP provides an ‘excellent service’, and continues to advise the University of Surrey on construction matters. Martin Grabiner and practice head Caroline Newsholme are recommended.

Within Healthcare, tier 4

Nabarro LLP advised new client Gracewell Healthcare on a number of care home acquisitions and developments during 2011. Other clients include Care UK, the Department of Health and HCA International. Warren Taylor heads the team, which also includes newly promoted partner Stephanie McDonald.

Within Local government, Nabarro LLP is a second tier firm,

Nabarro LLP’s ‘professional’ and ‘responsive’ team acted on Essex County Council’s £2bn waste PFI and Reading Borough Council’s ICT outsourcing project, and attracted new clients including Hart District Council and Crawley Borough Council. Practice head Stephen Matthew is praised for his leadership and sector knowledge. Public sector IT specialist Belinda Doshi joined from Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP. Stephanie McDonald became a partner, and associate Janet Lewis is ‘excellent’.

Within Overview,

Within local government, firms are working closely with councils to prepare for the impact of the Localism Act. Local authorities are increasingly looking at cost-saving initiatives, such as major outsourcing projects, sharing services with other authorities and keeping more legal work in-house. Trowers & Hamlins LLP is at the forefront of this market, with Eversheds LLP, Nabarro LLP and Pinsent Masons LLP also key players.

Within Commercial property, Nabarro LLP is a first tier firm,

Nabarro LLP’s ‘extremely good’ team advised Brockton Capital on the acquisition of the Mailbox, one of Birmingham’s most iconic buildings, and Hammerson on the £208m acquisition of four shopping centres and two retail parks. The ‘proactive, efficient and commercial’ Ciaran Carvalho heads the practice, which includes Deborah Parry, who is ‘at the top of her game’, Kevin Stimpson, Rob Raimes and Amanda Howard.

Within Construction, Nabarro LLP is a second tier firm,

Nabarro LLP has ‘a collective instinct for client collaboration’, and is ‘consistently reliable’. It has seen a rise in renewable energy mandates, and Matthew Jones advised Global Renewable Environmental Energy on the construction of a 300MW energy-from-waste development in Egypt. Gerlando Butera and celebrated ‘statesman’ Terry Fleet advised Todini Costruzioni Generali in a dispute arising from a road reconstruction. Jonathan Douglas has the ability to ‘quickly get his head around complicated technical issues’.

Within Environment, tier 4

Nabarro LLP provided environmental advice on transactions including Unifrax’s acquisition of American Securities LLC and Brockton Capital Fund LLP’s acquisition of Mailbox. It also won planning and environmental work from 2CO Energy, advising on its Don Valley Power carbon capture and storage project. Clare Deanesly leads the environmental team.

Within Overview,

Nabarro LLP has longstanding relationships with major developers and landowners in London, and maintains a leading profile in property litigation. On the construction front, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP and Pinsent Masons LLP are dominant, the latter also being notable for its ability to handle a high volume of PPP and PFI-related disputes.

Within Planning, Nabarro LLP is a second tier firm,

Nabarro LLP’s ‘expert’ planning department acted for 2CO Energy Limited in making the case for the £6bn Don Valley Power carbon capture and storage project, which is a pathfinder for the growing carbon capture industry and includes a 900MW gas-fired power station. It also advised Project Blue on a new planning application for the Chelsea Barracks site to secure amendments to the scheme, as well as on the sustainable energy strategy for the development. Martin Evans leads a ‘bright, very responsive and commercial’ team.

Within Property finance, Nabarro LLP is a second tier firm,

Nabarro LLP advised European Commercial Real Estate Limited on a €200m debt refinancing and restructuring with Bank of Scotland, and secured new panel appointments with Santander, Brockton and Patron Capital. This ‘very good’ team is led by Andrew McLean, and includes Clive Swillman and Michael Delaney; all three are ‘thoughtful, intelligent and responsive’.

Within Property litigation, Nabarro LLP is a first tier firm,

Iain Travers oversees Nabarro LLP’s impressive and ‘consistently reliable’ group, which provides ‘value-for-money solutions’ and has longstanding relationships with major developers and landowners in London. The ‘highly talented’ Nick Lloyd is a go-to rights of light adviser. Jennifer Rickard advises developers on vacant possession strategy, and recently acted for Land Securities on the redevelopment of Victoria Circle, SW1, as well as assisting Paternoster Square Management with injunctions related to the Occupy London protests. Great Portland Estates and British Land are key clients.

Within Brand management, Nabarro LLP is a third tier firm,

Nabarro LLP’s Guy Heath focuses on trade mark matters, including licensing and protection issues, and also advises on sponsorship and marketing arrangements.

Within Intellectual property, tier 5

Nabarro LLP’s Guy Heath leads on trade mark matters for clients such as Levi Strauss and Twitter. The practice is increasingly handling IP licensing work, for clients including Enigma Diagnostics.

Within Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, Nabarro LLP is a third tier firm,

Nabarro LLP has increasingly been acting for SMEs. Guy Heath handles licensing matters for clients such as Enigma Diagnostics and ISIS. Brian Sher advised GlaxoSmithKline on competition law issues regarding its consumer healthcare business.

Within Aviation, tier 5

Nabarro LLP recently advised Ryanair in a dispute regarding check-in desk and baggage-handling charges at Gatwick Airport. George Maling is singled out for praise.