The Legal 500

Within Corporate tax, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is a third tier firm,

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP has continued its aggressive expansion in the tax market, now fielding 13 partners with the hires of Kevin Cummings from Allen & Overy LLP and Michael McKenna from Goldman Sachs. Strong in structured finance and real estate work, the firm continues advise Tesco on its ongoing £5bn programme of releasing value from its UK property portfolio. Michael Wistow is ‘dynamic, enthusiastic and always keen to find solutions’, while Neal Todd is ‘considered, with a wealth of experience’. John Overs is also recommended.

Within EU and competition , tier 5

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP has demonstrated the breadth of its expertise through a series of landmark state aid, cartel and private damages cases. It is acting on one of the largest antitrust damages cases in the UK, and thanks to its public sector strength has secured a series of significant state aid cases. David Harrison(who ‘goes the extra mile’, ‘quickly gets to the heart of the matter’, and is ‘tenacious’) leads a team that includes Becket McGrath(‘very sharp young guy’, ‘knows how the system works’, ‘presents in an understandable format’), and Adrian Magnus(‘very experienced’, ‘very commercial’).

Within Financial services, tier 4

Allen & Overy LLP’s Bob Penn led the firm’s substantial work following the implementation of the revised Basel Accord (Basel II) in Europe and on the Banking Bill, and acted for HBOS on the regulatory side of its acquisition by Lloyds TSB. Calum Burnett advised a leading financial institution in relation to FSA concerns that it may have mis-sold PPI products. Sidney Myers left for Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP.

Within Financial services, tier 4

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP welcomed contentious financial services expert Sidney Myers from Allen & Overy LLP. The practice advised clients with exposures to Lehman and Kaupthing, and was instructed by the FOA to draft detailed market abuse monitoring guidance. Nathan Willmott is recommended for investigations and enforcement work, and ‘the extremely knowledgeable’ Jonathan Marsh and Peter McGowan for non-contentious matters.

Within Flotations - small and mid-cap, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is a first tier firm,

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP acted on three IPOs in 2008, advising Canaccord Adams on Polo Resources’ readmission to AIM and reverse acquisition of companies in Mongolia, and Raven Mount Group on its readmission to AIM following its restructuring. Led by corporate finance head David Collins, the team - which is ‘equally adept as issuer or underwriter counsel’ - also advised Playtech on its £112m placing. Benjamin Lee and Paul Miller are recommended.

Within M&A - upper mid-market and premium deals, £250m+, tier 7

Winning panel appointments for larger corporates such as Thames Water and National Grid was a theme for Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP’s M&A team in 2008, and evidence that it is moving in the right direction. The majority of its 2008 deals were in the sub-£200m bracket, though it has experience on much larger transactions. David Collins is recommended, while clients also single out Keith Stella as ‘outstandingly able’.

Within Outsourcing and procurement, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is a third tier firm,

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP has a practice with a broad outsourcing platform from which it advises customer-side and supplier-side clients, in the form of TCS and Diligenta, among others. Displaying a ‘blend of aptitude for the industry and commercial awareness’, the team includes head of outsourcing Mark Lewis and a strong team of associates. David Harrison leads a six-partner public procurement practice that advises local and central government, as well as private sector clients Arup, Ascent and Veolia.

Within Overview,

Often unfairly dismissed as corporate’s poor relations, its is the non-transactional practices that have prospered this year. That is good news for the more domestic City firms, with Ashurst LLP and SJ Berwin LLP troubling the top spots in EU and competition; Lovells LLP, CMS Cameron McKenna LLP and Travers Smith LLP achieving high rankings in financial services; and Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP making strides in corporate tax.

Within Private equity , tier 6

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP underlined its ambition in early 2009 by recruiting the experienced Raymond McKeeve, a one-time Kirkland & Ellis International LLP private equity partner. Many of the firm’s clients are distressed investors, and the funds group - under the ‘commercial’ Tim Simmonds- demonstrates proficiency across a range of structures.

Within VAT and indirect tax, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is a third tier firm,

Despite the departure of Alan Sinyor, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP remains strong in indirect tax matters. Clients include General Motors, National Grid, Reed Elsevier and Rolls-Royce. Robert Kent is recommended.

Within VAT and indirect tax, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is a third tier firm,

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP continues its aggressive expansion in the tax market with the hire of VAT guru Alan Sinyor from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP. The firm is advising Tesco on its ongoing £5bn programme of releasing value from its UK property portfolio. John Overs and Cathryn Vanderspar are praised for their ‘technical knowledge, communication and friendly, open way of working’.

Within Venture capital, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is a second tier firm,

Following Ian Ivory’s relocation to Moscow, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP’s ‘excellent’ Geraint Lloyd is now key to the firm’s VC work in London, which includes advice to major VC and VCT providers like Close Ventures and Octopus.

Within Fraud - commercial and regulatory investigations, tier 4

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP represented a US-based senior executive at AON facing an FSA investigation into allegations of bribery and corruption. The ‘extremely experienced’ Sidney Myers joined the practice in January 2009 from Allen & Overy LLP. Nathan Willmott is ‘extremely competent’.

Within Licensing, gaming and betting, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is a first tier firm,

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP’s ‘excellent’ Craig Baylis ‘utilises his significant experience to provide exceptional support’. Recent highlights include winning an appeal for a casino license at the London Hippodrome and a casino licence for a Fox Club Poker venue in London; obtaining new licences for Tesco Stores, and for a Surfstock in Cornwall; and obtaining premises licences for Marriott Hotels. The practice is also ‘strong’ when it comes to online work, with Hilary Stewart-Jones having done ‘an exceptional job’ of building this side of the team.

Within Banking litigation, tier 4

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP’s rapid growth continued with the arrival of the exceptionally experienced Sidney Myers (‘dedicated to clients’, with ‘excellent knowledge of the financial services sector’) from Allen & Overy LLP in 2008. He joins relatively recent arrivals David Hughes, Segun Osuntokun (an ‘innovative problem solver’, with a ‘knack for understanding and fulfilling client expectations’ and ‘intimate familiarity with the legal environment across Africa’), and financial regulatory specialist Nathan Willmott. Although it is well plugged into the City financial sector, much of the department’s work relates to foreign banks and financial institutions. It also has a notable record in derivatives disputes.

Within Commercial litigation, tier 5

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is considered ‘very attentive to its clients. They have the ability to turn work around very quickly and their people are well trained and knowledgeable’. David Parkin’s ten-partner team handles a good mix of corporate, regulatory and financial services disputes, with the latter side given a significant boost by the arrival of partner Sidney Myers from Allen & Overy LLP, where he headed the regulatory investigations group. A recent highlight was advising Tesco on the legal issues arising from the collapse of the railway tunnel at Gerrards Cross in 2005. ‘In terms of the service overall I doubt any firm is better’, says one client.

Within Defamation and privacy

Within International arbitration, tier 6

Audley Sheppard heads a first-class team at Clifford Chance which regularly works on major BIT, ECT and general commercial arbitrations. The firm’s impressive client list includes Shell, Electrabel and City Greenwich Lewisham Rail Link. Recent highlights include representing the Government of Poland in a US$700m ECT claim relating to the operation of an oil product business. It is also representing a global financial institution on a disputed ISDA/swap transaction. Alex Panayides and Rob Lambert are both highly recommended. The firm will, however, miss Nic Fletcher, who left to become head of international arbitration at Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP.

Within International arbitration, tier 6

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP rises in the ranking following its impressive hire of Nic Fletcher as its new international arbitration head. Michael Polonsky and Carol Mulcahy are also recommended.

Within Tax litigation, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is a second tier firm,

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP continues to expand aggressively in the tax arena and fields a strong contentious team. It is advising Aegis Group and a number of other major corporations in significant corporation tax claims as well as acting for a major international hedge fund, following takeover by an international financial institution, in relation to tax issues arising in three jurisdictions. Liesl Fichardt is 'incredibly hardworking, bright, and knows exactly how to deliver the commercial results clients want', and Jonathan Levy is also recommended.

Within Acquisition finance, tier 4

Banking powerhouse Allen & Overy LLP remains ‘a class outfit’ and a top choice due to its depth of expertise, global coverage, unmatched track record with lenders, and growing experience on the borrower side. Recent highlights for the firm, which has outstanding partners in Tim Polglase and Robin Harvey, includes advising the lenders on the €425m financing of the €750m secondary leveraged buyout of TMF by Doughty Hanson. The ‘commercial and detailed’ Andrew Bamber is set to join Berwin Leighton Paisner.

Within Acquisition finance, tier 4

Praised for its ‘experience and depth of know-how’, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP picks up instructions from some of the major UK leveraged lenders, as well as advising borrowers. It recently advised Castle Holdings on £259m of syndicated term and revolving facilities. John Hayward heads the three-partner practice, which is set to be joined by the highly rated Andrew Bamber from Allen & Overy.

Within Asset finance and leasing, tier 4

Offering ‘quality and cost-conscious service’, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP has developed broad asset finance expertise, recently bolstering its client base with new instructions from HSH Nordbank, HBOS and Fortis. The team, headed by ‘thorough and responsive’ shipping and aviation finance expert Nicola Davies, continues to act for Kingfisher Airlines on its A320 fleet acquisition programme, and advised Citibank on a US$375m syndicated financing of containerships to United Arab Shipping Company. Andrew Baird, Tom Budgett and Lisa Marks are all recommended.

Within Bank lending - investment grade debt and syndicated loans , tier 4

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP has successfully consolidated its banking relationships with the likes of core client Lloyds TSB, while also securing new mandates from global bank UniCredit among others. As well as representing corporates on alternate sources of finance or extensions to existing financings, the team has also acted for investment grade stalwarts such as longstanding client Tesco, which it advised on a £1bn self arranged three-year committed facility. Marc Palley heads the team, which includes the ‘very competent and responsive’ Jennifer Mackerras.

Within Commodities and futures - futures, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is a second tier firm,

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP’s ‘very strong financial services team’ is especially prominent in metals. It advised new client Elkem Aluminium on London Metal Exchange brokerage contracts, while other clients include BNP Paribas and Natixis Commodity Markets. Team leader Jonathan Marsh is ‘very commercially aware’ and ‘probably the best external lawyer out there’ for futures. He drafted detailed market abuse guidance for The Futures and Options Association (FOA).

Within Corporate restructuring and insolvency, tier 4

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP’s three-partner team may be small compared with many of its peers, but it is a serious player in the mid-to-upper corporate restructuring arena. Standing out for its strength in property-related insolvencies, and with a strong banking client base, the group picked up a notable new mandate from GMAC in relation to its substantial UK loan portfolio. Also active in the retail industry, the team advised the board of directors of MFI in respect of their duties, specifically in the context of the company’s solvency position. ‘Available 24/7’, Ben Larkin heads a team that includes the well-regarded David Leibowitz and Frances McLeman.

Within Debt capital markets, tier 6

At Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP, Marc Palley, Mark Daley and debt specialist Tom Church have active corporate clients such as Tesco.

Within Derivatives and structured products, tier 4

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP’s team features experienced partners such as Mark Daley, Marc Palley and Tamara Box, and is noted for its ‘rapid responses and ability to combine legal advice with commercial practicality’. Kevin Cummings’ derivatives tax expertise and the litigation skills of David Hughes are in great demand.

Within Emerging markets, tier 4

The ‘practical and creative’ Robert Gross is recommended at Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP.

Within Hedge funds, tier 5

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP recently advised 360 Asset Management on the establishment of a Japan Long Short Fund. Partners Peter McGowan and Pollyanna Deane are highly recommended.

Within Investment funds, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is a third tier firm,

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is best known for its first-class real estate funds work, for clients such as Aviva, Blackrock and Letterstone, but it also has a growing reputation for private equity, hedge and retail funds. On the private equity side it recently advised Cairn BD, trading as Greenbrook, on the launch of a renewable energy fund. Tim Simmonds heads the team.

Within Islamic finance, tier 4

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP’s clients include Bank of London and the Middle East (BLME), and Dubai Islamic Bank, while new relationships include Noor Islamic Bank (Dubai). Andrew Baird is a key figure, and Saleem Malik has ‘good Middle East and Islamic finance connections’. The firm opened its Abu Dhabi office in March 2009.

Within Securitisation, tier 4

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is ‘much easier to deal with, and quicker to respond’ than some firms, and ‘commercial and flexible’. Building on a young practice at a difficult time for the market, it nevertheless has recognised experts in Tamara Box, who is ‘very well liked by clients, an excellent communicator’, and Paul Severs, who is recommended for advice to buy-side investors. Jayne Black joined from US firm Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, adding significant structured finance expertise.

Within Employee share schemes

Within Employment, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is a third tier firm,

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is praised as ‘very client focused and confident’, ‘delivering accurate advice’. The team is headed by Fraser Younson, who attracts high praise for his experience; ‘what Fraser doesn’t know about the law isn’t worth knowing’. Singled out as ‘one of the most reliable external lawyers to work with’, Rebecca Harding-Hill recently advised a multinational manufacturing company on a major restructuring and collective redundancy process. New client wins in 2008 included Thames Water and BskyB.

Within Health and safety, tier 5

Head of regulatory Craig Baylis leads the health and safety offering at Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP. The practice advises on non-contentious safety protocols as well as defending clients in proceedings brought by enforcement agencies.

Within Pensions (incl pensions dispute resolution), tier 5

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP’s head of pensions Norman Russell gives advice that is ‘speedy’, ‘concise’ and ‘off the fence’. Partner David Dennison is ‘pragmatic, friendly and responsive’, and Joanne Stern is an ‘utterly sound pensions lawyer’ and a good choice for advice on regulatory matters. As a team, Russell and Stern ‘walk on water’.

Within Insurance - corporate and regulatory, tier 4

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP’s key partners are Pollyanna Deane and Nathan Willmott. Highlights included assisting AIG on an FSA investigation and enforcement action, and adding new clients such as Aon and QBE Insurance to its client base. BUPA is another major client.

Within Insurance - insolvency and restructuring, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is a third tier firm,

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP, under David Leibowitz, has been advising PwC as liquidators on the high-profile liquidation of insurance broker WIC. The team includes Pollyanna Deane, and counts Cavell Managing Agency, PRO Insurance Solutions, and Deloitte as clients.

Within Insurance and reinsurance litigation, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is a third tier firm,

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP has a ‘young and enthusiastic team’. Anthony Lennox and Jonathan Sacher are ‘very able and knowledgeable’, especially on reinsurance matters, and David McCarthy is ‘very solid’. The practice continues to act for Goshawk Lloyd’s Syndicate in run-off on insurance policies which provided cover to the US secondary life policy market.

Within Charities and not-for-profit , tier 6

Martin Paisner is the key contact at Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP. The group, which includes associate Neasa Coen, has recently assisted with grant agreements and healthcare related charities work, and recently advised on a £20m grant to fund the west wing of the National Maritime Museum.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is a third tier firm,

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP has a first-rate reputation for international work and has assisted a number of high-profile political clients, as well as private banks. Practice head Jonathan Kropman is ‘discreet, a very logical thinker with good inter-personal skills to help him negotiate and ask hard questions without putting people’s backs up’. The eight-partner group has recently assisted with a number of trust reorganisations and family partnerships. The firm now has a presence in Moscow.

Within Infrastructure, tier 4

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP bolstered its project finance capacity in 2008 through the hire of Philippa Chadwick, formerly head of banking at Bevan Brittan LLP; she joins a ‘target-oriented’ group that is ‘always leaning forward and seeing itself as a complete part of our team’. Recent highlights include advising the Hochtief-led consortium on phase 2 of the Slovak D1 motorway project. Group head Tessa Kimber is recommended along with the highly active Robert Gross, who scores points for being ‘very focused on closing deals’.

Within Oil and gas, tier 4

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP ‘runs teams with the right levels of expertise and supervision, ensuring excellent value’. The UK’s drive towards gas storage led to a mandate for the firm from Gateway/Stag, on the construction of an underground natural gas storage facility, which will add 25% to current capacity. Team head Mark Saunders is ‘highly experienced and pragmatic’, while former in-houser Adam Dann has ‘formidable intellect, charm and savvy commercial sense’.

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

Following Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP’s high-profile loss of three partners to Chadbourne & Parke MNP in 2007, the firm has done well to maintain its standing; ‘in terms of service, the firm stands shoulder to shoulder with the Magic Circle’. Deals include advising Dalkia on the acquisition of Wood Pellet Energy from multiple individual sellers. Nuclear is also a growing area of work.

Within Private finance initiative(PFI) , Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is a third tier firm,

Lawyers at Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP are ‘target orientated’ and ‘focused’, and have ‘an immense wealth of experience and knowledge’. Tessa Kimber’s team continues to go from strength to strength, and recently advised Ascent on the UK Military Flying Training System project.

Within Water, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is a third tier firm,

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP boasts an ‘immense wealth of knowledge and experience’, with ‘access to other interlinked but specialised areas such as competition’. The firm is advising Thames Water on various issues relating to the £3bn Thames Tunnel and Lee Tunnel storm water collection schemes, including environmental assessments and all regulatory consenting. Team head John Hurdley has an ‘eye for the commercial issues’.

Within Healthcare, tier 5

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is ‘prepared to put in the extra effort to get the improved reward’, and acts for a number of banks and listed companies. Andrew Sherratt has ‘vast’ M&A expertise, while Jim Buchanan focuses on health sector projects. Marcus Pearl is seen as ‘one to watch’ in the healthcare field.

Within Local government, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is a second tier firm,

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP has taken on Andrew Yates from Pinsent Masons LLP as joint head of local government alongside Lesley-Anne Avis. The practice is ‘well regarded’ and ‘provides extremely complex advice’, particularly on regeneration and planning matters. Key clients include the Homes and Communities Agency, Liverpool City Council, Stevenage Borough Council and Thames Gateway Development Corporation.

Within Parliamentary , Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is a third tier firm,

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP’s practice is led by Timothy Pugh and Ian Trehearne, and recently promoted a substantial Harbour Revision Order for ING Real Estate at Hayle in Cornwall, and assisted Northumbrian Water in upgrading infrastructure throughout Norfolk and Essex. ‘They fully understand the constraints and aspirations under which we operate’.

Within Commercial property, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is a first tier firm,

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP sits at the vanguard of the market, and few would dispute its pre-eminence. The firm boasts a comprehensive real estate offering, including expertise in corporate and finance issues, and the recruitment of Andrew Yates from Pinsent Masons LLP increases the firm’s public sector focus. Highlights included representing Canary Wharf in the forward sale to JPMorgan of its new headquarters at Canary Wharf, one of the largest such sales to a single occupier in Europe. Chris de Pury is ‘an exceptionally well-connected and quick thinker’, while head of department Robert MacGregor is renowned throughout the market. The team ‘acts professionally and diligently’, and clients ‘would have no hesitation in recommending them’.

Within Construction, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is a first tier firm,

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP’s construction team provides ‘sound advice based on exemplary knowledge’, service levels that are ‘beyond reproach’. The firm is reputed for its strength in real estate, but also won significant infrastructure appointments from the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and National Grid, as well as Thames Water, which the firm is advising on construction and procurement for the £2.4bn Tideway Tunnel project. Group head Bob Maynard is a ‘knowledgeable and gritty fighter’, while Caroline Pope has an ‘ability to deliver solutions’, and Stella Mitchell is ‘excellent’.

Within Environment, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is a third tier firm,

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP’s group ‘provides clear advice’ for regular clients including Tesco and Thames Water. The ‘outstanding’ Andrew Waite leads the ‘very professional’ team, which is acting on the Thames Tunnel and Lee Tunnel stormwater collection schemes, worth £3bn, including all environmental assessments and consenting. Other clients include National Grid, and the ODA concerning all environmental issues associated with London 2012.

Within Overview,

More positively, firms with international networks - such as Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, Clifford Chance, Linklaters LLP, Ashurst LLP and SJ Berwin LLP - will potentially weather the storm more easily as work comes in from a variety of sources. Property litigators are benefiting from an increasingly contentious market as the level of disputes continues to increase. Firms such as Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP, Nabarro LLP, DLA Piper UK LLP, Linklaters LLP and Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP are advising on some of the most visible property disputes.

Within Planning, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is a first tier firm,

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP’s six-partner practice, led by Timothy Pugh, resides at the top of the planning space due to its ‘unmatched breadth and depth of experience’. The group combines quality and quantity to ensure it remains ‘outstanding in terms of industry knowledge’ and ‘excellent when it comes to intensively supporting a major project’. Tim Smith is consistently recommended for his ‘depth of thinking and clear, concise advice’, while Ian Trehearne, Tim Hellier, James Good and Christian Drage are also recommended. The practice demonstrates leadership in its work for public sector and utilities clients, working for the ODA on Olympic venues and facilities, and for Thames Water Utilities in relation to the £3bn Thames Tunnel and Lee Tunnel projects. Private sector planning work in 2008 included the Shard of Glass and Victoria Transport Interchange, while final agreements were settled for Westfield in relation to its London complex. Clients can expect ‘professional, personable and thorough’ service.

Within Property finance, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is a first tier firm,

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP’s property finance practice is a class act and ‘highly market aware’, featuring star turns such as team leader Mark Waghorn, Simon Kildahl, Jo Solomon and Naveen Vijh. Key deals for the past year included advising Propinvest on the finance for the €1.9bn acquisition of Banco Santander’s global headquarters in Madrid. Clients say ‘the level of service is generally excellent’ from this ‘very knowledgeable team with wide-ranging skills’; it produces ‘outstanding work in a timely manner and with a good feeling for the commerciality of the deal’.

Within Property litigation, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is a first tier firm,

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP saw asset recovery work for lenders take off, as well as advice to landlords on tenant insolvencies. The ‘sensible and pragmatic’ Wendy Miller and Joanna Lampert acted for Legal & General in litigation concerning its £240m sale of Walbrook Square. ‘Outstanding negotiator’ Roger Cohen is recommended for rent reviews and restrictive covenant disputes, and David Cox ‘provides sound commercial advice’.

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 finance, tier 4

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP’s Simon Kildahl offers ‘good, commercial advice’ to social housing sector clients, and is noted for his renegotiating of financing deals, ISDA agreements, and bond issues.

Within Brand management, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is a third tier firm,

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP has a leading betting and gaming practice and is very active on gaming-related advertising work, where it provides ‘solid legal advice’. It also has ‘considerable experience’ in advertising and franchising work in the hotel sector.

Within Intellectual property, tier 5

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP’s has been growing its trade mark practice, and team head Simon Clark has ‘excellent technical skill’ and is a ‘great guy, incredibly easy to deal with, who knows his stuff and gets down to business’.

Within IT and telecoms, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is a second tier firm,

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP rises in the ranking this year after a strong 2008 that saw panel appointments on the IT user side and several major supplier-side mandates, such as work with Canonical and Blackbay. Practice head Adam Rose advised ITIS on its voice recognition services, while the ‘fantastic’ Vanessa Barnett and the ‘client-focused and responsive’ Richard Chapman are recognised for their wide-ranging work with Tesco. The team provides ‘great commercial advice’ covering a spread of convergence and IT outsourcing issues, and gives clients ‘innovative solutions and a real sense of good value’.

Within Media and entertainment, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is a second tier firm,

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP’s ‘responsive, knowledgeable and consistent’ media team acquired two additional partners. Practice head Simon Harper, commended for his ‘excellent advice, response rates and communication’, advised Technicolor/Thomson on global broadcast outsourcing for all NBC Universal channels outside the US. Publishing clients include Guardian News and Media, and the Newspaper Licensing Agency. Peter Martin advises Endemol. Digital entertainment specialist Vanessa Barnett represents Tesco Digital. New clients include Penguin and Joost.

Within Rail, tier 4

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP counts Go-Ahead and Stagecoach Group as key clients, acting for the latter on station access issues, lease agreements and construction contracts. Richard Lucas heads the team and recently successfully tendered to advise on the £35m scheme to upgrade the Tyne & Wear Metro.