The Legal 500

Within M&A - smaller deals up to £50m, Kemp Little LLP is a second tier firm,

Kemp Little LLP’s four-partner M&A practice, headed by Lucy Vernall, stands out for the quality of its blue-chip technology client base, which includes Thomson Reuters and Expedia. The team focuses on three core areas: large technology-sector corporates, AIM-listed technology companies, and private equity providers operating in the technology sector.

Within Outsourcing and procurement, Kemp Little LLP is a third tier firm,

Kemp Little LLP continues to add to its roster of blue-chip outsourcing clients, which includes Burberry, Expedia and Thomson Reuters. Paul O’Hare has ‘outstanding commercial awareness’; he leads a team that ‘always delivers in time and at a good price’, and excels at mid-market outsourcing deals.

Within Venture capital, Kemp Little LLP is a third tier firm,

Kemp Little LLP’s TMT client base is now accompanied by various VC funds. Notable client wins for 2008 included Amadeus Capital and Sunstone Capital. Lucy Vernall and Charles Claisse are recommended.

Within Employment, tier 7

Clients of Kemp Little LLP single out the ‘excellent standard of customer service’ along with outstanding response times. It continues to act for bmi on all employment issues arising out of London Heathrow, and won Royal Brompton NHS Trust as a new client in 2008. David Williams is recommended.

Within Intellectual property, tier 6

Kemp Little LLP’s contentious IP partner Paul Garland is ‘approachable and easy to work with’ and has ‘excellent business understanding’. Clients include LOVEFILM International.

Within IT and telecoms, Kemp Little LLP is a second tier firm,

In the ‘extremely gifted’ Richard Kemp, ‘very impressive’ group head Calum Murray, ‘thoughtful and determined’ telecoms practice head Mike Conradi and outsourcing practice head Paul O’Hare, Kemp Little LLP has a team unsurpassed in the market for technical prowess. The department added Salesforce and Orange, among others, as IT clients in 2008. The telecoms practice also continued its progress, garnering new instructions from Colt and Dubai World Centre.

Within Media and entertainment, tier 4

Technology and IP specialist Kemp Little LLP is well placed to handle convergence and digital media matters. Paul O’Hare advised Sling Media on its UK product launch, while Calum Murray represents Lovefilm on digital media issues. Richard Kemp advises digital creative agencies, music clients including PPL and publishers Thomson Reuters. Computer games expert Andy Moseby and IP litigator Paul Garland advise Glu Mobile and AKQA.

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.