The Legal 500

Within EU and competition , tier 6

Arnold & Porter (UK) LLP has advised on some big-ticket merger work out of its London office, and is gaining expertise acting for clients on hostile acquisitions. It acted for Monsanto in the European Commission’s Phase II investigation of its sale of a business to Syngenta. Tim Frazer is well known for his representation of major pharmaceuticals companies, and Susan Hinchliffe is also recommended; both are ‘knowledgable, practical, excellent to work with, and very responsive’.

Within M&A: lower mid-market, £50m-£250m, tier 5

Arnold & Porter (UK) LLP capitalised on its strength in retail and life sciences, acting for Urban Outfitters on a string of deals as well as advising on Beeline’s potential joint venture with Old Navy. Paula Levitan is praised for her ‘flexible thinking’. Carl Liederman has moved to K&L Gates.

Within Venture capital, tier 5

At Arnold & Porter (UK) LLP, Jeremy Willcocks advises investors and investees in the life sciences, telecoms and technology sectors. Clients include Manzanita Capital, Monsanto, and Tate & Lyle Ventures.

Within Debt capital markets, tier 5

Arnold & Porter (UK) LLP’s Jeremy Willcocks and Whitney Debevoise advise issuers and investors on sovereign debt matters, including large deals in the CIS and Africa.

Within Employment,

The following US firms all have high-level practices, but generally smaller teams than their City counterparts: Arnold & Porter (UK) LLP, where the ‘commercial and professional’ Henry Clinton-Davis advises clients such as SpaceNK; Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, which has notable employment and pensions capability; Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge UK LLP, where Neil Adams specialises in team moves in the financial services sector; Faegre & Benson LLP, which acts for 3M, GE and Hearst publishing; Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, where James Cox advises a number of global players; Greenberg Traurig Maher LLP, where Naomi Feinstein is recommended; K&L Gates, where Paul Callegari is valued for his ‘direct and pragmatic approach’; McGuireWoods London LLP, which took on Jonathan Maude from Hogan Lovells International LLP in 2011; Morrison & Foerster (UK) LLP, recommended for its outsourcing, privatisation, and data protection expertise; Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker (Europe) LLP, which hired Suzanne Horne from Morrison & Foerster (UK) LLP; Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (Europe) LLP, where ‘great communicator’ Nicola Whiteley has experience ranging from grievances to acquisition issues; Weil, Gotshal & Manges, notable for its insolvency-related experience; and WilmerHale, where David Andrews impresses.

Within Product liability: claimant Leading individuals

Within Product liability: defendant, Arnold & Porter LLP is a first tier firm,

Hailed as ‘a fantastic life sciences firm’, Arnold & Porter (UK) LLP has particular expertise in medical product liability claims, and is accustomed to representing multinational pharmaceutical companies. The team regularly gives non-contentious advice on product liability issues, and is adept at handling unitary and multi-claimant cases. Practice head Ian Dodds-Smith is highly rated, and his team includes several medically and scientifically qualified lawyers. Alison Brown, Lincoln Tsang, Adela Williams and counsel Elizabeth Driver are also recommended.

Within Brand management, tier 4

Jonathan Day and Richard Dickinson at Arnold & Porter (UK) LLP handle all of Philip Morris International’s trade mark clearance, filing and opposition work. Their advice is ‘always on-time, within budget and easy to digest and implement’. Top litigator Ian Kirby successfully represented Numatic International, famous for the Henry vacuum cleaner. Other high-profile clients include Orange and Virgin Media, and easyGroup is a significant new client win.

Within Intellectual property, tier 4

Arnold & Porter (UK) LLP provides ‘in-depth knowledge’ and ‘value for money’. IP head Ian Kirby and ‘excellent relationship partner’ Richard Dickinson advised easyGroup on the licensing of various ‘easy’ trade marks to easyJet. Dickinson and Jonathan Day handle Philip Morris International’s worldwide trade mark clearance, filing and opposition work. Patent litigators David Perkins and Christopher Stothers represented Danisco against Novozymes. Jake Marshall is also ‘strongly recommended’.

Within IT and telecoms, tier 5

Arnold & Porter (UK) LLP ‘understands telecoms regulation on a truly international basis’. Ian Kirby is representing Verisign in a contract dispute, and Michael Ryan is commended for his ‘huge talent and bullet-proof judgement’. Other clients include AT&T, SRA International and Globecomm Systems.

Within Media and entertainment, tier 4

Arnold & Porter (UK) LLP’s team, led by Richard Dickinson, works closely with the firm’s IP and telecoms practices, and has a focus on high-end work for clients including Virgin Media and Random House. Ian Kirby and Dickinson also advise Orange and other major clients on content and branding.

Within Overview,

Key IP hires included Phil Sherrell moving from Eversheds LLP to market leader Bird & Bird; and Howrey LLP’s Mark Hodgson joining Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP. Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP’s team was boosted by the arrival of Clive Thorne from Arnold & Porter (UK) LLP; CMS Cameron McKenna LLP hired Fasken Martineau LLP’s Jeremy Morton; and Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge UK LLP recruited Ben Goodger, former head of Rouse Legal’s global IP commercialisation group.

Within Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, Arnold & Porter LLP is a first tier firm,

Ian Dodds-Smith’s ‘outstanding’ ten-partner group at Arnold & Porter (UK) LLP is universally recognised for its regulatory prowess, and represents most major pharmaceuticals companies. Mandates included acting in judicial reviews involving medicines, medical devices, foods and related products, and high-profile litigation. Along with Alison Brown, Dodds-Smith is representing Sanofi-Aventis in a long-running group action. Tim Frazer advises on EU and competition matters. David Perkins is representing medical devices company Becton, Dickinson and multinationals including Mars. Lincoln Tsang is ‘extremely knowledgeable and accessible’, and Corporate partner Jeremy Willcocks is also recommended.