The Legal 500

Within M&A - lower mid-marketdeals, £50m-£250m, Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP is a third tier firm,

Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP’s impressive corporate client base came to the fore in 2008 with Swedish conglomerate SCA instructing the firm on the £100m disposal of a cardboard business, and HMV Waterstone choosing it for its acquisition of 14 stores from Zavvi. Tim Anderson heads the team, which has recently been strengthened by the arrival of the ‘well-rounded and thoughtful’ David Wallis from Dechert LLP.

Within Partnership, Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP is a third tier firm,

Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP fields a ‘strong partnership team’. The ‘responsive and pragmatic’ Barry Stimpson heads up the non-contentious practice, while Fiona Walkinshaw, who leads the disputes team, is ‘sensible, commercial and capable’.

Within Commercial litigation, tier 6

While rightly well known for its excellent insurance litigation practice, Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP more than holds its own for broader commercial disputes. Recent highlights include successfully defending Mohammed Meer (previously Nelson Mandela’s lawyer) in the Court of Appeal against accusations of fraud and dishonesty brought by the Zambian Government. Tim Brown and Fiona Walkinshaw jointly head the team, which was boosted by the arrival of partner Steven Francis from the FSA’s Enforcement Division.

Within Defamation and privacy, Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP is a first tier firm,

Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP’s impressive client base includes Associated Newspapers and Independent News & Media Limited. The firm represented the Daily Mail, the Daily Mirror, the Daily Express and The Sun in the proceedings brought by Robert Murat relating to articles that wrongly alleged that he might have been involved in the abduction of Madeleine McCann. The firm also represents a number of high-profile individuals. Keith Mathieson is a ‘master strategist’, while Jaron Lewis is praised for his ‘superb judgment’.

Within International arbitration

Within Professional discipline, tier 4

Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP’s practice encompasses defence work in the healthcare and financial services sectors.

Within Tax litigation, Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP is a third tier firm,

Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP’s tax litigation practice grew with the appointment of two junior tax litigators, Matthew Dando and Matthew Greene, from within the firm. It acts on both direct and indirect tax matters and is currently representing over 60 clients in discrimination claims against HMRC involving issues such as group relief, thin capitalisation and ACT on the payment of dividends. Fiona Walkinshaw and Mark Whitehouse ‘do a first-class job on behalf of clients’.

Within Employment, tier 7

Cath Thorpe leads the team at Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP, which has ‘great industry knowledge’. It successfully defended a major trade union in a multi-party race discrimination claim, and advised HMV on the transfer of Zavvi stores from the administrator. Geraldine Elliott is also recommended.

Within Health and safety, tier 5

Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP boosted its capability in 2008 with new hires including partner Steven Francis. It acted for the director of an industrial recycling company following a fatal explosion at its premises. Nick McMahon heads the team.

Within Pensions (incl pensions dispute resolution), tier 5

Charles Suchett-Kaye at Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP is a ‘practical’ and ‘commercial’ partner whose team is always ready to ‘go the extra mile’. On the disputes side, while Julian Aylmer has retired, Ian Gordon is ‘dynamic’, ‘strategic’ and ‘communicates well with clients’.

Within Clinical negligence - defendant , Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP is a third tier firm,

Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP’s ‘excellent’ three-partner department is ‘prompt, helpful, very friendly and good value for money’, and includes recommended partners Dorothy Flower, Clare Jaycock and Nick McMahon. It has vast experience in the private sector, advising hospitals, hospices and care homes as well as individuals such as doctors, dentists, nurses and forensic medical examiners. In the insurance market it continues to act for Novae, Brit, QBE, Marketform, Travelers, W R Berkley, Chubb and Catlin. Recent highlights include defending two consultants in relation to a claim for damage to the spinal accessory nerve sustained during allegedly unnecessary surgery.

Within Insurance - corporate and regulatory, Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP is a second tier firm,

Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP’s advice is ‘spot on’; Dianne Vander Cruyssen is noted for her ‘friendly approach’ and has ‘recruited an impressive team’. Sanjay Pritam is ‘very knowledgeable’, while Jonathan Davies does a ‘great job’. The firm assisted the European subsidiary of a major Bermuda-based insurance and reinsurance group with its preparations for its FSA ARROW II visit.

Within Insurance and reinsurance litigation, Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP is a second tier firm,

Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP’s team is ‘very thorough’ and ‘keeps clients well informed’. On the insurance side, Edward Smerdon is an ‘acknowledged market leader’, while on the reinsurance side Simon Kilgour ‘sees the wood from the trees’. Other partners are Simon Greenley, who ‘leaves no stone unturned’, and Paul Dowsey, who ‘makes complex issues easy to understand’, especially on the energy insurance side. ‘Big hitter’ David Webster and the ‘sensible’ Paul Castellani have both recently joined from Eversheds LLP. The firm is acting for a fund manager in a major credit crisis driven liability claim arising from the management of a portfolio.

Within Insurance and reinsurance litigation, Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP is a second tier firm,

Simon Brooks leads the insurance/reinsurance team at Eversheds LLP. Recent work includes representing Scor Re in a reinsurance dispute arising out of product liability claims written under a catastrophe excess umbrella wording in favour of Merck & Co (value US$33m), while other clients include XL and Royal & SunAlliance. David Webster left the team to join Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP.

Within Overview,

London is a global hub for the insurance/reinsurance industry. Some lawyers are reaping the benefits of the challenging economic conditions; the upheaval in the financial markets has led to significant claims activity and insurance companies are now more likely to contest an insurance claim. While there has been a slow down in deal activity, strategic deals are still being done, with Part VII transfers continuing to dominate this area. On the regulatory side, Clifford Chance, Lovells LLP and Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP are among the leading firms. Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP, Clyde & Co LLP and Ince & Co remain strong on the insurance/reinsurance litigation front, with Herbert Smith LLP and Mayer Brown International LLP also having made considerable strides in this sector. The separate table for policyholder work reflects the fact that some law firms have a dedicated practice representing corporate entities on insurance matters.

Within Overview,

The demand for product liability advice has shown no signs of being adversely affected by the economic downturn; current EU and UK initiatives to facilitate consumer claims, together with the countercyclical increase in litigation, have led to a rise in clients’ instructions. Firms ranked in the top two tiers handle matters for insured companies, mainly in the tobacco, asbestos, consumer and pharmaceuticals industries. Beachcroft LLP, Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP, Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP and Kennedys tend to represent insurance companies.

Within Personal injury - defendant, tier 4

Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP’s ‘recommended’ three-partner practice in 2008 handled a wide range of cases including claims relating to brain injuries, amputations and paralysis as well as a number of fatal accident claims. Its industrial disease practice continues to expand, and it is experienced in claims relating to asbestos-related disease, mesothelioma, occupational asthma and noise induced deafness. Head of the firm’s general liability team Gavin Reese, James Miller, and catastrophic injury expert Nick McMahon are recommended.

Within Product liability - defendant, tier 4

Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP has experience in product recall across a variety of sectors, and in 2008 increased its workload in the energy sector, particularly renewables. Stuart White and his team ‘constitute one of most experienced and trusted group of lawyers both for coverage issues and litigation’.

Within Professional negligence, Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP is a second tier firm,

Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP’s 12-partner practice is highly regarded in the market. As well as advising traditional professions such as accountants, solicitors and surveyors, it acts for financial professionals such as trustees, actuaries, and hedge fund and technology professionals. It acts for three of the Big Four accounting firms, and also Grant Thornton, QBE, Markel and Canopius. Tim Bull leads the professional risks group, and Robert Hogarth leads the construction group, where highlights included acting for Xplor in the defence of a claim for £2.7m issued against geotechnical engineers for allegedly negligent ground investigations. Jane Howard heads a team handling claims against accountants and auditors, and Edward Smerdon and Simon Greenley are also recommended.

Within Family, tier 4

Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP regularly handles international work and has an excellent reputation for international child law work. Carolynn Usher is highly recommended.

Within Education - schools, Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP is a second tier firm,

Acting on a wide range of matters, including disciplinary issues, exclusions and school status, Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP is ‘a well-respected practice’. Geraldine Elliott leads the team. The practice has recently been challenging the decision of a city council concerning the Single Status Agreement and Job Evaluation Scheme.

Within Commercial property, tier 5

Clients are ‘extremely impressed’ with Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP, particularly for its ‘deeply caring attitude’ and ‘terrific team spirit’. The group’s broad-based practice has particular strength in public sector work, which should serve it well during the lull in private sector work. Highlights included advising Southwark Borough Council on the redevelopment of Potters Field at London Bridge. The team, led by Paul Houston, is regarded as ‘pragmatic, calm and fair’, with Edward Bannister also recommended. Former lead partner Martin Barrett left the firm to head up Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP’s property team in 2008.

Within Commercial property, tier 5

The ‘accessible’ team at Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP offers a level of service that is ‘extremely good across a broad range of areas’; its ‘strengths lie in commercial awareness, prompt response times, and good communication’. The practice notably handles all the letting work for the Cancer Research UK retail portfolio through the ‘technically competent’ and ‘very responsive’ Sarah Blunn The team was significantly augmented by the recruitment of Martin Barrett, who arrived from Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP in 2008 to head up the practice and brought with him several new clients, including AkzoNobel and AstraZeneca. Edward Meerloo departed for Maxwell Winward LLP in May 2009.

Within Construction, Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP is a third tier firm,

Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP is ‘first rate’, well known for its insurance practice, and ‘one of the top PI firms in the City’. Led by Robert Hogarth, who places an ‘emphasis on settling disputes by understanding the commercial realities’, the firm advised insurers on coverage for the £250m claim by Brookfield Multiplex against Mott McDonald for alleged negligence in the design of Wembley Stadium. Other clients include Carillion and the medical UKCMRI Consortium.

Within Brand management, Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP is a third tier firm,

Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP’s ‘extremely good’ team has recently been very active on sponsorship work, including negotiating Orange’s sponsorship of UBM Information’s National Business Awards. It has also been advising Snap-On Holdings on major new sponsorship and co-branding agreements with leading Formula One team McLaren. Jeremy Drew is ‘always available, takes the time to know our business’ and is ‘a lot of fun to work with’.

Within Intellectual property, tier 5

Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP’s team head Jeremy Drew has ‘great knowledge of advertising and marketing matters’. The ‘pragmatic and client-focused’ Oliver Bray has been advising the HMV Group on the licensing of content. Universal Music Group is a new client win.

Within IT and telecoms, tier 4

At Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP, Jeremy Drew is head of the IP and technology group.

Within Media and entertainment, Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP is a second tier firm,

‘Efficient, well-informed and value for money’, Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP provides a ‘cradle-to-grave’ service and advises on big-ticket acquisitions for a raft of publishing clients. Tim Anderson and Sanjay Pritam represented Associated Newspapers on its agreement with Independent News and Media, and HMV/Waterstone in its acquisition of stores from Zavvi’s administrators. Jaron Lewis advises newspapers, broadcasters and search engine providers. David Hooper has ‘sound publishing knowledge and experience’ and is instructed by the likes of Bloomsbury, Reuters, Newsweek and new client Big Pictures. The team was strengthened by the arrival of David Cran from Jones Day, whose clients include computer games developer Eidos.

Within Shipping , tier 6

Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP joins the ranking this year. Clients include international mining companies, insurers and charterparties, with Iain Sharp handling international shipping disputes. The team acted for global commodities trading company Trafigura Beheer in connection with multi-party disputes.