The Legal 500 > Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP > London, ENGLAND

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP

ADELAIDE HOUSE, LONDON BRIDGE, LONDON, EC4R 9HA

Tel:: Work 020 7760 1000
Fax:: Fax 020 7760 1111
DX:: 92 LONDON/CHANCERY LN

Web:: www.blplaw.com
Email:

Singapore, Paris, Moscow, London, Brussels, Abu Dhabi

Berwin Leighton Paisner is a leading, full-service, international law firm with over 730 lawyers providing highly ranked expertise in corporate, finance, dispute resolution, real estate and tax. The firm has offices in London, Abu Dhabi, Brussels, Paris and Singapore, and has launched one of Russia’s first international law firms in Moscow with over 70 lawyers. The firm also has strong relationships with more than 100 preferred law firms in over 65 countries around the world. Clients include FTSE 100 companies and financial institutions, major multinationals, the public sector, entrepreneurial private businesses and individuals.

The firm: The firm’s goals are to always exceed clients’ expectations and to provide a more attractive place to work than its competitors. An open and friendly culture, combined with a strong commitment to career development, has made the firm a magnet for quality staff. Since 2007, the firm has recruited 19 leading partners and has promoted from within. BLP was awarded the UK Law Firm of the Year 2008 at the Chambers Europe Awards for Excellence and has previously been awarded the title of Law Firm of the Year by both Chambers and The Lawyer. In both 2007 and 2008 a panel of independent experts named BLP as the UK’s Top Legal Employer 2007 for Sweet & Maxwell’s directory and, in 2008 and 2009, the firm was included as one of the Sunday Times Best 100 Companies to Work For.

Types of work undertaken: The firm has particular strengths in real estate, corporate and finance, as well as strong capabilities in dispute resolution and tax.

Real estate: the firm is a leader in the real estate sector, offering strength and depth across the full range of real estate work, including property finance, development, planning, construction, commercial, health and safety, environment and tax.

Corporate: the corporate practice is one of the fastest growing in the City and has a strong, growing restructuring and insolvency practice. It is enjoying an increasing share of big-ticket transactions across M&A, private equity and capital markets. It is particularly highly regarded for AIM work and has a fast-growing track record in full-list IPOs. Dedicated specialists include leading practitioners in employment, pensions, IP, competition, financial services, restructuring, outsourcing and tax.

Finance: the firm advises lenders, issuers and borrowers on the full range of financing techniques, particularly banking and capital markets, in both domestic and international markets, and has highly regarded securitisation experts. The firm is a leader in real estate finance and, as well as a first-rate asset finance team, has a project finance team that is fast-expanding internationally and is particularly regarded for its PFI and PPP work.

Dispute resolution: as part of the firm’s wider contentious offering, the dispute resolution teams focus on intellectual property, commercial litigation, reinsurance and construction.

Tax: the firm is one of the few City law firms that is able to offer the full range of tax advice across contentious, corporate, personal tax and charities issues as an integral element to its overall capabilities.

Industry sectors: highly ranked industry sector groups include betting and gaming, defence, energy, healthcare, hotels, leisure, media, outsourcing, public sector, real estate investment trusts, retail, technology and telecoms, transport, and water.

International: the firm manages international, cross-border transactions by bringing together the finest legal minds from around the world in ways that are tailor-made to meet individual clients’ needs. It carefully selects from a panel of preferred firms, chosen for the quality of their expertise and their commitment to client service, not on the basis of the volume of work they refer. A programme of activity helps maintain very strong relationships with these firms at all levels. Clients are free to choose which firms they use, the level of project management required and the most appropriate billing arrangements. Where legal support is required locally, the firm has invested in high-growth emerging markets like Abu Dhabi, Moscow and Singapore. These are in addition to offices in Paris and Brussels, which support the London office and international preferred firm network.

Recruitment: the firm recruits around 40 trainee solicitors each year. A brochure and application details are available from the firm or via its website.

Other offices: Abu Dhabi, Brussels, Moscow, Paris, Singapore

Breakdown of work %
Real estate 35
Corporate 32
Finance 15
Dispute resolution 10
Tax 8

Number of UK partners 184
Number of other UK fee-earners 450

Above material supplied by Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP.

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