The Legal 500

Within Corporate tax, tier 5

Taylor Wessing LLP attracts praise for its ‘practical approach’ and ‘timely, value-added advice’, and rises a tier in the ranking this year. Key areas of ability are the structuring of corporate and private equity transactions, including M&A and reorganisations, and Islamic finance is also an area of expertise. Nikol Davies is praised for her ‘understanding of cross-border implications’, and Peter Jackson is also recommended.

Within EU and competition

Within EU and competition

Within Financial services, tier 5

Taylor Wessing LLP provides day-to-day advice on the practical application of financial services law. Highlights include advising on the establishment of a new UK banking subsidiary for one of China’s largest banks. Ex-Bank of England regulator Clive Cunningham is recommended.

Within Flotations - small and mid-cap, Taylor Wessing LLP is a third tier firm,

Taylor Wessing LLP advised Caledonia Investments on the €75m AIM IPO of TGE Marine. Tim Stocks is recommended.

Within M&A - lower mid-marketdeals, £50m-£250m, Taylor Wessing LLP is a second tier firm,

Taylor Wessing LLP has 26 partners with M&A expertise, typically acting on deals in the sub £500m-bracket. Inward investment was a growing theme throughout 2008 as sterling declined, with David Kent’s work for US-based Esterline Technologies on its £115m acquisition of Racal Acoustics a key example here. M&A in the private equity sector is another strength, with Greenhill Capital using the firm for the first time in 2008.

Within Outsourcing and procurement, Taylor Wessing LLP is a third tier firm,

2008 saw Taylor Wessing LLP recruit financial services outsourcing specialist Jonathan Rogers and Len Murray, who has a strong public procurement practice. It also added TCS as a client. Glyn Morgan heads a team that ‘has always exceeded every expectation in its quality of work’.

Within Private equity , tier 6

Mark Davis’ three-partner team at Taylor Wessing LLP is notable for its pan-European reach and advised Ross Brawn on the MBO of Honda GP, creating Brawn GP.

Within Venture capital, Taylor Wessing LLP is a first tier firm,

Top-notch TMT, life sciences and venture capital expertise come together at Taylor Wessing LLP to produce a top-tier practice. The firm is ‘entrenched in the Cambridge technology community’ and has excellent partners, including the ‘proactive’ David Mardle and the ‘professional, responsive and pleasant’ Simon Walker. In 2008 it advised Plastic Logic Limited on two additional funding rounds, raising US$120m.

Within Fraud - commercial and regulatory investigations, Taylor Wessing LLP is a third tier firm,

Taylor Wessing LLP’s contentious regulatory practice gained Jonathan Rogers from Lovells LLP; Len Murray from Baker & McKenzie LLP; and Laurence Lieberman from DLA Piper UK LLP in 2008. Highlights of 2008 included a high-profile FSA investigation into insider trading.

Within Banking litigation, tier 5

Few firms have invested as much into their banking litigation and contentious regulatory practices as Taylor Wessing LLP in recent years. Most recently, it hired Laurence Lieberman, an expert in the private banking sector, as a partner from DLA Piper UK LLP, and many in the team have experience in-house at banks. The department boasts an impressive record in cases relating to CDOs and SIVs. Shane Gleghorn heads the practice.

Within Commercial litigation, tier 5

Taylor Wessing LLP has expanded significantly in the past year with the hire of four new partners, adding depth to an already strong practice: insurance specialist Anthony Menzies joined from Clyde & Co LLP; financial services specialist Jonathan Rogers arrived from Lovells LLP; and Laurence Lieberman and Len Murray joined from DLA Piper UK LLP and Baker & McKenzie LLP respectively. Headed by Richard Marsh, the group has a very strong TMT focus in addition to its mainstream commercial litigation practice.

Within Defamation and privacy, Taylor Wessing LLP is a second tier firm,

Taylor Wessing LLP regularly advises Associated Newspapers, most recently in relation to the claims brought by Madonna following the publication of photographs of her wedding. Internet libel is a growth area. Niri Shanmuganathan is praised for his ‘great flair and judgment’.

Within International arbitration

Within Acquisition finance

Within Bank lending - investment grade debt and syndicated loans , tier 5

Rodney Dukes heads an 11-partner group at Taylor Wessing LLP, whose banking clients include Allied Irish, Deutsche Postbank, HSH Nordbank and RBS.

Within Corporate restructuring and insolvency, tier 6

‘Amongst the top practices in the middle market’, Taylor Wessing LLP has had a solid year. As well as receiving regular mandates from its impressive corporate client base group, the team continues to enhance its financial institution portfolio, recently advising a bank on the restructuring of part of its structured finance portfolio. Nick Moser ‘combines a sharp brain with an aura of quiet authority’, while Patrick Cook and Neil Smyth are ‘very accommodating and eager to please’.

Within Investment funds, tier 6

Also recommended are: Baker & McKenzie LLP; Bingham McCutchen (London) LLP; Burges Salmon LLP Bristol; CMS Cameron McKenna LLP; DLA Piper UK LLP; Denton Wilde Sapte LLP; Dundas & Wilson LLP; Katten Muchin Rosenman Cornish LLP; Latham & Watkins; Maclay Murray & Spens LLP; Mishcon de Reya; O’Melveny & Myers LLP; Olswang; Osborne Clarke; Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker (Europe) LLP; Reed Smith; Speechly Bircham LLP; Taylor Wessing LLP; Weil, Gotshal & Manges and Withers LLP.

Within Islamic finance, tier 4

Taylor Wessing LLP’s London and Dubai offices mainly act on real estate matters. Clients include Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd and Deutsche Postbank. Practice head Hamid Yunis has ‘excellent knowledge’.

Within Employment, tier 4

Clients value the ‘prompt and specific advice’ delivered by Taylor Wessing LLP. It advised Sun Chemical on the local and European-level implications of a restructuring and on industrial relations matters, and also acted for BA on the outsourcing of its catering. Sean Nesbitt is recommended (‘he considers and balances all aspects’), and clients also single out associate Vikki Wiberg for praise.

Within Immigration, Taylor Wessing LLP is a third tier firm,

Sean Nesbitt leads the team at Taylor Wessing LLP, which ‘makes a complex area understandable’ for its clients. It advises multinational companies as well as smaller privately owned inward investors planning to establish a UK business. Highlights in 2008 included advising several large overseas companies on multiple staff transfers to UK operations to work on key projects. Notable clients include Apax Partners, CEMEX, China Mobile and Johnson Security.

Within Pensions (incl pensions dispute resolution), tier 4

Taylor Wessing LLP’s Carolyn Saunders is a ‘first-rate choice’ on ‘complex matters’ where ‘clarity is essential’. Fellow partner Mark Smith combines ‘speedy turnaround times’ with ‘meticulous attention to detail’.

Within Insurance - corporate and regulatory, tier 5

Taylor Wessing LLP’s regulatory focus remains on the intermediary side of the London market, and a large growth area has been for non-market clients who have become involved in regulated insurance activities primarily as intermediaries. It counts Hiscox and Colemont Insurance Brokers as clients. Peter Kempe is recommended for non-contentious work, and Clive Cunningham for regulatory matters.

Within Insurance and reinsurance litigation, tier 5

Clyde & Co LLP has some superb partners; Nigel Brook is valued for his ‘very good strategic sense of how to run a case’; Michael Payton is ‘the sage in the market’; Andrew Grant has ‘gained a significant reputation as an excellent reinsurance lawyer’; and Nigel Chapman and Roderick Smith are also well known. Recent instructions include acting for the insurers of a construction company repairing a railway bridge in the Czech Republic which collapsed onto the track, leading to eight fatalities. The firm was appointed to ACE European Group’s non-claims legal panel, and retains panel appointments with AXA among others. Roger Doulton has joined the team, while Anthony Menzies has moved to Taylor Wessing LLP.

Within Insurance and reinsurance litigation, tier 5

Taylor Wessing LLP’s James Crabtree is a ‘dedicated litigator with a good team’, which works closely with colleagues in the firm’s German and French offices, and now acts in almost equal measure for reinsureds and reinsurers. Clients include Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank, and Marsh & Partners. Anthony Menzies joined from Clyde & Co LLP.

Within Professional negligence, tier 5

Taylor Wessing LLP was boosted by the appointment of three new partners in 2008: Laurence Lieberman from DLA Piper UK LLP, Len Murray from Baker & McKenzie LLP, and Anthony Menzies from Clyde & Co LLP. Active clients include Alliance & Leicester, Bath & North East Somerset Council, and GE Commercial Finance. Richard Marsh is singled out for praise.

Within Agriculture and estates, Taylor Wessing LLP is a third tier firm,

Taylor Wessing LLP ‘provides an excellent level of service, with a first-class understanding of the agricultural industry’. Recent highlights include sales, acquisitions and disputes. Jonathan Redmayne is recommended for ‘landlord, tenant and conveyancy issues’, and Malcolm Ring and Andrew Goodman are also recommended.

Within Contentious trusts and probate, Taylor Wessing LLP is a third tier firm,

Taylor Wessing LLP assists individuals and blue-chip trust companies, and is experienced at handling large, complex, often cross-border disputes. Recent highlights include acting for beneficiaries of a trust holding properties worth £25m. The ‘hungry and talented’ group is led by the ‘excellent’ Steven Kempster.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, Taylor Wessing LLP is a third tier firm,

Taylor Wessing LLP has one of the few private client practices within a City firm; it is led by Mark Buzzoni, who is ‘creative, responsive, and particularly adept at working with advisers from other high-tax jurisdictions to craft dual-compliant structures’. The team includes Nick Warr, who ‘has a quick brain and is imaginative in his approach’, and Andrew Hine, who ‘combines expertise and is a sure touch with clients with complex asset bases’. Martin Goodwin is ‘an excellent lawyer’.

Within Power (including electricity, nuclear and renewables) , tier 5

Taylor Wessing LLP is praised for the ‘appropriateness of its advice and excellent management’. The firm recently acted for Plambeck Neue Energien on its entry into a joint venture with New Energy Development to implement wind farm projects in the UK and Ireland.

Within Private finance initiative(PFI) , tier 5

Taylor Wessing LLP advised Varian Medical Systems UK on a direct contract for the supply and maintenance of radiotherapy equipment to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust.

Within Administrative and public law, tier 6

The ‘exceptional team’ at Baker & McKenzie LLP ‘has a strong concentration on the interface between administrative law, competition law, telecoms and utilities’. Key clients include the BBC Trust, the FSA and the British Olympic Association. ‘Seasoned public law litigator’ Tom Cassels heads the practice; ‘no matter what the challenge, he remains unfailingly calm’. Clients also praise Michael Hart, who is ‘bright, determined and has relentless energy’, Richard Pike and Ben Allgrove. Len Murray has moved to Taylor Wessing LLP.

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 Healthcare, tier 5

Taylor Wessing LLP’s healthcare practice concentrates on complex transactions for NHS trusts as well as sponsors, contractors and funders. Practice head Hamid Yunis and his team specialise in PFI/PPP, and NHS LIFT matters. The group also provides solutions in relation to managed equipment services transactions and strategic partnerships for the development of hospitals and IT outsourcing opportunities.

Within Commercial property, Taylor Wessing LLP is a third tier firm,

Taylor Wessing LLP’s team offers ‘outstanding responsiveness and excellent industry knowledge’ and ‘both breadth and depth’. Keith Barnett’s group is well placed to advise European funds coming into the UK market, with the firm’s international strategy serving it well in attracting new clients such as Aerium, AXA Reim and Heron International. Highlights included representing a number of large Chinese banks, and advising Canada Life on the purchase of a £164m investment portfolio from Legal & General. Richard Bursby has ‘excellent technical knowledge, outstanding project management skills and is flexible in dealing with international jurisdictions’. Clients also praise Adam Marks and Richard Grosse.

Within Construction, Taylor Wessing LLP is a third tier firm,

Taylor Wessing LLP’s Helen Garthwaite ‘inspires confidence’, helping the firm attract new work from Heron International on procurement for a large-scale redevelopment at Milton Court, near London’s Barbican Estate. The group represented Kier in tripartite arbitration regarding office refurbishment, while the construction finance team represents clients such as Deutsche Bank and HSH Nordbank. Clients say the lawyers ‘present potential solutions when problems arise, but will hold their ground on issues they feel are not acceptable’.

Within Environment, tier 4

Taylor Wessing LLP’s highly reputed Brian Greenwood and his team are ‘invaluable’ for contentious and regulatory matters. The firm regularly advises Associated British Ports on matters including environmental consenting and due diligence, industrial permitting, and habitat regulations. It was also successful in a European Court of Justice emissions trading case.

Within Planning, Taylor Wessing LLP is a third tier firm,

Taylor Wessing LLP’s planning team delivers ‘technical knowledge and advice of a high calibre’, and is headed by the ‘extremely competent’ Brian Greenwood, who is lauded for his ‘careful handling’ of contentious matters. The group is a leader in the industrial commercial sector and acts for Associated British Ports, Castle Cement and new client Hanson UK. The firm is regularly instructed in contentious matters, and was engaged by South Hook LNG - a joint venture between ExxonMobil, Qatar Petroleum and Total - to defend the UK’s largest LNG terminal from third-party challenges. This involved cases in the High Court, the Court of Appeal, the House of Lords, and the Committee of Petitions of the European Parliament.

Within Property finance, Taylor Wessing LLP is a second tier firm,

Taylor Wessing LLP is highly recommended for its knowledgeable property finance team, which has relationships with the likes of Deutsche PostBank, and Anglo Irish Bank. Highlight deals included advising key client HSH Nordbank on a £325m facility secured against a portfolio of Big Yellow Group units. The group is also rated for its Islamic finance expertise. Rodney Dukes, who leads the practice, Peter Shepherd and Raman Sharma are all excellent practitioners. Clients ‘feel in very capable hands - the required resource is made available for intense situations’.

Within Property litigation, tier 4

Taylor Wessing LLP’s ‘emphasis on providing practical and timely advice’ is praised. Following a restaurant chain’s insolvency, the practice obtained possession of the premises from the administrators. Saleem Fazal and John Whitfield are recommended.

Within Brand management, Taylor Wessing LLP is a first tier firm,

Taylor Wessing LLP has a ‘first-class’ practice whose ‘level of service is second to none’. Charles Lloyd is well known for advertising work, and ‘manages to focus on the economic reality first, then brings the legal facts’. The team acts for both agencies and advertisers, including handling corporate work for leading agency Omnicom, and has a strong advertising pre-clearance and disputes practice. The firm has also been handling some high-profile sponsorship work.

Within Intellectual property, Taylor Wessing LLP is a second tier firm,

Taylor Wessing LLP has restructured its groups, and Niri Shan - a ‘fantastic and knowledgeable lawyer who has a very good team he can rely on’ - is now head of trade marks, copyright and media. Roland Mallinson - who ‘is recognised as an industry expert’ - spearheads the substantial trade mark filing practice and is increasingly involved in large-scale oppositions. Patent litigator Simon Cohen acted for Apotex in a Patents Court case against Servier which resulted in a groundbreaking damages award. The team also acted for Generics (UK) in a patent dispute with Lundbeck A/S, one of the few patent disputes to reach the House of Lords. Gary Moss has moved to McDermott Will & Emery UK LLP.

Within IT and telecoms, Taylor Wessing LLP is a second tier firm,

Taylor Wessing LLP had a strong year advising blue-chip clients, and UK and US technology clients on contentious and non-contentious matters. ‘One of the smartest partners around’, Glyn Morgan heads the group, while Graham Hann is ‘precise and thoughtful in everything he does’. Recent work for Tata on outsourcing Phones4U’s IT operations was a particular highlight. Ted Mercer leads a telecoms practice that handles disputes and extensive inbound work, including a notable recent appointment to Huawei’s panel.

Within Media and entertainment, Taylor Wessing LLP is a second tier firm,

Litigator Niri Shanmuganathan, who heads Taylor Wessing LLP’s trade marks, copyright and media group, is defending Associated Newspapers against claims brought by Madonna. Regulatory expert Tony Ghee advised Fox Broadcasting and National Geographic Channel on the renewal of their distribution agreements with Virgin Media, and represented Channel 6 Ireland in a dispute with Ofcom. Len Murray from Baker & McKenzie LLP joined the team. Paul Mitchell represents music publishers, industry organisations, newspapers, authors and publishers, including Macmillan and the Design and Artists Copyright Society.

Within Overview,

Bird & Bird LLP has the largest IP practice and more top-tier rankings than any other firm in this section, and its recent high-profile public sector mandates include advising BT on its work with the NHS. Like Bird & Bird LLP, Taylor Wessing LLP has a very strong European IP practice, and is a market leader for trade marks and brand management. Bristows is a significant force for patent litigation and has a significant presence in the pharmaceuticals sector. The firm has also hired IT and telecoms of counsel Christopher Millard from Linklaters LLP. Of the boutique TMT practices, those that genuinely compete with the top-tier firms in terms of understanding the cutting-edge issues affecting the industry include Powell Gilbert LLP and Howrey LLP for patent litigation, Rouse Legal for soft IP, and Kemp Little LLP for IT and telecoms.

Within Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, Taylor Wessing LLP is a first tier firm,

Taylor Wessing LLP’s team - headed by ‘very experienced licensing lawyer’ Dr Malcolm Bates - gives an ‘excellent service’ to life sciences clients. New partner Len Murray has joined from Baker & McKenzie LLP, where he was a senior associate, to establish a public law practice. This will boost the regulatory and judicial review capability of the firm in the sector. Prior to his arrival, the firm handled high-profile judicial reviews for life sciences clients including Generics UK (now part of Mylan). Cambridge-based partner David Mardle is ‘excellent on corporate financing issues’. Dr Gareth Morgan is active in advising on SPCs. New clients for transactional work include listed biotechs Asterand plc and Biota Holdings. Daniel Pavin has moved to Covington & Burling LLP.

Within Sport