The Legal 500

London, 9 July 2009 - Baker & McKenzie has advised leading private equity firm EQT on the restructuring of €969 million of debt of Sanitec. The restructuring closed on 8 July.

London , 24 July 2009 - Baker & McKenzie London has advised Arqiva on its acquisition of Global Radio's 63% share in the national commercial DAB multiplex Digital One, as well as many of Global Radio's local multiplex licences.

London/Chicago/Sao Paolo, 26 June 2009 - Baker & McKenzie has advised Fiberweb plc on its proposed joint venture with Petropar S.A. The 50/50 joint venture, which will be named FitesaFiberweb, is intended to create the second largest producer of spunbond and non woven fabrics in North and South America. Completion of the transaction is subject to the approval of both Fiberweb and Petropar shareholders.

London, 17 June 2009 – The Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE) has extended Baker & McKenzie's panel appointment, which was due to conclude at the end of June, by a further year. CHRE oversees the nine major healthcare regulators, including the General Medical Council,  and has a statutory power to refer decisions of the regulators' Fitness to Practise panels to Court. The Firm acts in both contentious and non-contentious work for the Council for the Regulation of Healthcare Professionals (operating as the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence, CHRE).   

Disputes partner Tom Cassels said:  “We very much look forward to continuing our excellent relationship with CHRE.”

Melbourne, 18 June 2009 – Baker & McKenzie has advised the Australian-listed oil exploration and development company 3D Oil Limited [ASX: TDO] on its successful defence of the attempted takeover bid by Drillsearch Energy Limited. The bid closed on 8 June 2009 without Drillsearch obtaining its minimum acceptance condition of 50%.

Sydney,18 June 2009 – Maria O'Brien, Partner in Baker & McKenzie's Insolvency & Restructuring Practice in Sydney, was announced the winner of the International Women's inolvency & Restructuring Confederation ("IWIRC") NSW inaugural Award for Outstanding female in the Insolvency and/or Restructuring Industry at the IWIRC event held last night.

Hong Kong, 11 June 2009 - Baker & McKenzie has acted for The Link Real Estate Investment Trust (“The Link REIT”) on two significant financing transactions, being the establishment of a US$1 billion guaranteed euro medium-term note programme and a HK$3 billion club loan facility.

London, 4 June 2009 - Baker & McKenzie, London has advised Kuoni Group on its acquisition of about 32% of the equity in Et-china.com International Holdings Limited (Et-china).

The acquisition makes Kuoni the biggest single shareholder in this important Southern Chinese travel corporation. Et-china is one of South China's best known tour operators through its GZL subsidiary, and also provides a leading internet platform in China for individual travel arrangements. It has a customer base of about 1.5 million, and has been listed on London's AIM stock exchange since August 2007.

Hong Kong, June 4, 2009 – Baker & McKenzie will host a seminar titled “Investing in Indonesian Coal Projects – New Opportunities Under a New Mining Law”. The event takes place on June 16, 2009 at the Trident, Nariman Point, Mumbai.

Sydney, Australia, 22 May 2009 – Baker McKenzie took home awards for "Debt Market Deal of the Year" and "Equity Market Deal of the Year" at the 2009 Macquarie Bank Australasian Legal Business Law Awards, held in Sydney last night.

Tokyo and Beijing, May 20, 2009 - Baker & McKenzie advised ITOCHU Corporation on its investment in Ting Hsin (Cayman Islands) Holding Corp (“Ting Hsin”), the holding company for the Ting Hsin International Group.

Hong Kong, 15 May 2009 - Baker & McKenzie’s award-winning intellectual property team recently advised Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG (“Porsche”) in a groundbreaking case in China involving the protection of copyright in architectural designs. The case resulted in a victory for Porsche before the Beijing 2nd Intermediate People's Court, and was upheld on appeal to the Beijing Higher People's Court in a final decision issued on December 19, 2008. This copyright case was recognized as the most influential IP case in the PRC for 2008 in an announcement by the Supreme People's Court ("SPC") published on April 21, 2009.

Hong Kong, May 14, 2009 – Baker & McKenzie hosted a conference on Distressed Investing, Financial Restructuring & Insolvency at the Island Shangri-la Hotel, Hong Kong today. This is the second of the Firm’s Global Financial Restructuring and Insolvency conference series, following a well-attended event in Singapore last February. More than 200 delegates from major corporations, financial institutions, accounting firms and other financial intermediaries attended the conference in Hong Kong.

Sydney Australia, 7 May 2009 – Baker & McKenzie has advised Origin Energy in its acquisition of Wind Power Pty Ltd. Wind Power is one of Australia's leading wind farm development companies and is the owner of a portfolio of high-quality wind farm development sites in Victoria. The acquisition significantly increases Origin's wind velopment portfolio.

Sydney, Australia, 7 May 2009 – Baker & McKenzie has acted for Pangaea Resources on its announced A$660 million sale of ATP 788P, a Queensland coal seam gas tenement, to Origin Energy. As part of the agreement, announced on 22 April 2009, Origin will acquire 100 per cent interest in ATP 788P and will also establish a joint venture with Pangaea Resources for exploration of the "Deeps" area of the tenement.

Melbourne, 27 April 2009 – Baker & McKenzie has advised UBS as underwriter and lead manager of the $80 million accelerated rights issue by STW Communications Group Ltd [ASX: SGN]. The $60 million institutional component of the entitlement offer was successfully completed on Thursday 23 April 2009.

...AT MANAGING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AWARDS. Hong Kong, April 17, 2009 – Baker & McKenzie won the ‘Asia Pacific Intellectual Property Firm of the Year award at the Managing Intellectual Property (MIP) magazine’s 2009 Global Awards. The Firm was also named ‘Russian Intellectual Property Firm of the Year’.

Sydney, Australia, 8 April 2009 – Baker & McKenzie have advised Bangkok-based TCC Hotel Group, the hotel arm of the TCC Group, on the purchase of the Hyatt Regency Adelaide from the Grand Hotel Group for A$75 million. This is Australia's first major hotel transaction for 2009 and follows the Group's purchase of Novotel Rockford and the Pumphouse tavern in Sydney's Darling Harbour and the Hyatt Canberra in late 2008.

London, 25 February 2009 - A team in Baker & McKenzie, London has, in two separate cases, secured the return to Unilever of nine domain names which infringed Unilever's intellectual property rights. 

London, 2 March 2009 - Sentebale, the charity founded by Prince Harry of the British Royal Family and Prince Seeiso from the Lesotho Royal Family, has appointed London lawyer Sophie Chandauka as one of its four new trustees.  Sentebale's mission is to use innovative approaches to transform the lives of Lesotho's orphans and vulnerable children, many of whom are the victims of poverty and the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Kyiv/London/Amsterdam, 25 March 2009 – Baker & McKenzie acted as Ukrainian, English and Dutch law counsel to the majority shareholder of Closed Joint Stock Company Odessa Sparkling Wine Company with respect to a US$18.1 million sale of 99.25% of its share capital to Italian drinks group Gruppo Campari, a major player in the branded beverage industry with a portfolio of over 40 brands (spirits, wines, soft drinks), produced and distributed in 190 countries worldwide.

Sydney, Australia, 6 March 2009 – Baker & McKenzie's global climate change practice has been awarded Top Legal Advisor to Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI) Projects by New Energy and New Carbon Finance. This is the second year running that the award has been presented, and Baker & McKenzie has won the award in both years.

Hong Kong, March 23, 2009 – Baker & McKenzie won in three categories at International Financial Law Review’s 2009 IFLR Asia Awards. The Firm claimed the Equity Deal of the Year, the Equity Team of the Year as well as the National Firm of the Year in Indonesia.

Sydney, 23 March 2009 – Baker & McKenzie has advised Eastern Star Gas Limited (ASX: ESG) on its $50 million equity placement that was announced on 17 March 2009. The capital raising comprised an underwritten placement to institutional and sophisticated investors in Australia and overseas. The placement coincided with the company entering the ASX200.

Sydney, Australia, 17 March 2009 - Baker & McKenzie has advised IBA Health on the company's $124 million rights offer, announced on 12 March 2009. The rights offer comprises an underwritten accelerated institutional offer and a separate retail offer. Proceeds from the rights offer will be used to reduce the company's debt by retiring subordinated borrowings from AEP and other senior borrowings.

Beijing, 27 February 2009 – Baker & McKenzie recently advised the State Grid Corporation of China (“SGCC”) on (a) its bid, together with two Philippine companies (collectively, the “Consortium”), for a 25-year concession to operate, maintain and expand the nationwide transmission system and electricity grid in the Philippines (the “Concession”), (b) the formation of a Philippine company, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (“NGCP”), which is the joint venture vehicle for the Consortium and was awarded the Concession for a bid price of US$3.95 billion, (c) the franchise which was granted by the Philippine government in connection with the Concession, (d) its investment in NGCP, and (e) NGCP’s takeover of the operation of the electricity grid of the Philippines. SGCC’s investment arm in Hong Kong, State Grid International Development Limited, holds 40% of the shareholding interest in NGCP, while the remaining 60% interest is held by the other two members of the Consortium.

Chicago, February 17, 2009 – Baker & McKenzie has officially opened its Abu Dhabi office, having received a professional license from the Abu Dhabi Department of Planning & Economy. With the addition of this fourth office in the Middle East, Baker & McKenzie now has 69 offices in 39 countries.

Sydney, 5 February 2009 – Baker & McKenzie acted for ETF Metal Securities Australia Limited on four new structured products (known as "ETF Metal Securities") which are the first products to be admitted to trading status on ASX's new AQUA Platform. In addition, a fifth ETF Metal Security being ETFS Physical Gold (ASX Code; GOLD) is the first product to be moved from the ASX main list to the new AQUA platform.

Chicago, January 27, 2009 – In a survey of more than 5,500 in-house counsel by PLC Which lawyer?, Baker & McKenzie has been named a leading law firm in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East – the most honors received by any firm for the second consecutive year. The Firm also tied for the runner-up spot for International Law Firm of the Year with White & Case.

Baker & McKenzie recently advised ARA Asset Management Limited’s ("ARA") flagship private real estate fund, ARA Asia Dragon Fund ("ADF"), on the successful acquisition of the Nanjing International Finance Center, a newly completed 51-storey Grade A office cum retail building with a leasable gross floor area of 109,196 sqm. The total purchase consideration for the transaction was RMB1.6 billion (approximately US$234 million). The deal closed on 23 December 2008.

Sydney, 5 January 2009 – Baker & McKenzie advised Asahi Breweries, Ltd on the $1.2 billion share and asset purchase of Schweppes Australia from Cadbury plc. The successful bid was announced on 24 December 2008 and is pending regulatory approval and subject to a right of negotiation for the acquisition of the Schweppes Australia business granted to The Coca-Cola Company until March 2009. The agreement is expected to close by 30 April 2009.

Chicago, December 17, 2008 – Baker & McKenzie has been voted Best Law Firm of the Year in three of five categories in Environmental Finance and Carbon Finance’s market survey of fast-growing environmental markets. The annual survey, closely watched by leading participants of the carbon, U.S. emissions, weather risk management and renewable energy certificate markets, appears in the December-January issue of both publications.

Washington D.C., December 17, 2008 – Baker & McKenzie has expanded its North American Antitrust & Competition Practice Group with the addition of former FTC Commissioner Mary Azcuenaga as a partner in the Firm’s Washington, D.C. office.

Sydney, Australia, 5 December 2008 – Baker and McKenzie have advised Australian Drilling Solutions on the acquisition of two new companies. The acquisition of 100% of the shares of Colby Corporation completed on 28 November, and the acquisition of the business and assets of Peak Drilling completed on 1 December. Both acquired businesses provide specialist drilling services in the mining sector and are based in Western Australia.

Palo Alto, CA, November 20, 2008 - Baker & McKenzie launched its newest addition to a comprehensive line of legal resources, the Global Mobility Handbook. Published and written by the Firm’s lawyers around the world, the Global Mobility Handbook contains key information on the movement of expatriate professionals to the world's major business destinations.

Palo Alto, CA, November 20, 2008 - Baker & McKenzie launched its newest addition to a comprehensive line of legal resources, the Global Mobility Handbook. Published and written by the Firm’s lawyers around the world, the Global Mobility Handbook contains key information on the movement of expatriate professionals to the world's major business destinations. 

Melbourne, 10 November 2008 – Baker & McKenzie is delighted that Ken Gray, the head of the Firm's Banking and Finance practice in Australia and the partner in charge of Baker & McKenzie's Peter MacCallum Cancer Patients' Legal Service, has been awarded the Law Institute of Victoria (LIV) President's Award for Pro Bono. Ken collected his award at the LIV on Friday, 7 November.

New North America Managing Partner and Chairman of the Asia Pacific Regional Council

Chicago, November 3, 2008 – Baker & McKenzie has announced the election of Partners Alan Harvey (Dallas) and Jeremy Pitts (Tokyo) to the Firm’s Executive Committee.

Singapore, 3 November, 2008 – Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow has advised YTL Corp on the largest Singapore REIT M&A deal to date.

Shanghai, 3 November 2008 – Baker & McKenzie recently advised Shanghai Oriental Pearl Group CO. (“OPG”), a well-known cultural and entertainment company which owns the city's Oriental Pearl Tower, to set up a joint venture with Hong Kong Anschutz Entertainment Group China Limited (“HK AEG”) to operate the Shanghai World Expo Performing Arts Centre, a 18,000-seat arena which will hold most of the performances during the Shanghai World Expo 2010.

Chicago, October 28, 2008 – Baker & McKenzie LLP acted for Blue Source, North America’s largest climate change portfolio, on a strategic alliance, marketing and trading relationship with Goldman Sachs. As part of the strategic alliance, Goldman Sachs has purchased an equity stake in Blue Source LLC.

Sydney, Australia, 28 October 2008 – Baker & McKenzie are Diamond Sponsors of Carbon Expo Australasia 2008, to be held on the Gold Coast on 30 to 31 October. Carbon Expo is the first, dedicated industry-hosted trade fair and conference for carbon market participants and service providers in Australasia.

Sydney, Australia, 22 October 2008 – NSW Minister for Climate Change and Environment Carmel Tebbutt announced yesterday that Martijn Wilder, head of Baker & McKenzie’s Global Climate Change and Emissions Trading Practice, will Chair the Sydney Carbon Market Taskforce to oversee the NSW Government's bid to become the country’s carbon trading hub. Martijn Wilder will lead a group of industry experts to advise the Government on the best way forward.

Melbourne, Australia, 20 October 2008 – Dora Stilianos, a senior associate in Baker & McKenzie's Commercial Real Estate Group, has won the Property Law Group of the Law Council of Australia's 2008 Victorian Young Property Lawyer of the Year award. Dora collected the award at the LIV Property Law Conference in Melbourne on 10 October.

Sydney, Australia, 23 October 2008 – Baker & McKenzie is delighted to announce the launch of the world's first online service for climate change law. Published by CCH and written by lawyers from across the Baker & McKenzie global network, the Global Climate Change Law Guide provide a unique information tool for those trading in carbon products, managing climate change-related risks, and implementing and managing climate change programmes.

London/Frankfurt/Brussels, 10 October 2008 - Baker & McKenzie has advised Shell on its successful leniency application in an important European Commission case.

The success means that Shell will not receive a fine, unlike nine other major companies, who were fined a total of €676 million for price fixing and a market sharing cartel for paraffin wax.

London/Chicago, October 20, 2008 - Baker & McKenzie LLP has advised Gardner Denver, Inc. (NYSE:  GDI) on its purchase and successful completion on October 20, 2008 of the acquisition of CompAir Holdings Limited, a leading global manufacturer of compressed air and gas solutions.

ON COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA'S $2 BILLION PLACEMENT TO ACQUIRE BANKWEST AND ST ANDREWS.

Chicago, October 7, 2008 – Baker & McKenzie has appointed Martin Telfer as its new Global Director of Information Systems. Mr. Telfer was the Firm’s Asia Pacific Regional IT Director and Global Head of In-Sourcing for Global Services Manila. He will be based in Chicago beginning January 2009.

Hong Kong, October 8, 2008 – For the fourth consecutive year, Baker & McKenzie has received the Client’s Choice Award for best law firm in China from International Law Office (ILO). The Firm also has received awards for best law firm in Thailand and Poland. Since the award’s inception in 2005, Baker & McKenzie has been the only law firm to win in multiple jurisdictions.

Hong Kong, 9 October 2008 – Baker & McKenzie recently advised Monster Worldwide, Inc. (Monster), the leading global online careers and recruitment resource, on its acquisition of ChinaHR, one of the largest online recruitment companies in China. Monster paid US$174 million for the remaining 55% stake in ChinaHR. Monster had previously acquired 45% of ChinaHR and made other loans to the company, for a total of $95 million.

London, 12 September 2008 - Baker & McKenzie has advised CVC Capital Partners (CVC) on the disposal by its Australian portfolio company, I-Med, of 100% of the shares of Lodestone Patient Care Ltd.  I-Med was taken private by CVC in December 2006. 

BAKER & MCKENZIE ADVISES CAMCO INTERNATIONAL LIMITED ON INNOVATIVE STRUCTURED FINANCE TRANSACTION IN THE CARBON MARKETS Sydney, 9 September 2008 –

Baker & McKenzie has advised Camco International Limited (Camco) on the successful completion of one of the world's first structured finance transactions in the international carbon market. Camco is a leading climate change business and developer of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects under the Kyoto Protocol. The transaction, involving the auction of carbon credits, was four times oversubscribed, and the bid prices were substantially higher than expected.

Singapore, 11 September, 2008 - Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow is pleased to announce that corporate lawyer, Jon Worsfold has joined its Corporate & Securities Practice Group in Singapore as an Associate Principal. Jon is an experienced corporate lawyer, who has practised in the South East Asian region for 10 years. He was formerly with Clifford Chance in London and Singapore

New York, September 2, 2008 – Baker & McKenzie announced that Nancy Thevenin has joined the Firm as Special Counsel to its International Arbitration Practice Group in New York.  In her new role, Ms. Thevenin will advise on international arbitration matters and will coordinate business development efforts for the practice worldwide.  She joins the Firm from the ICC International Court of Arbitration, where she was the deputy director of arbitration and ADR for North America. 

Chicago, August 14, 2008 – Baker & McKenzie today announced its fourth consecutive year of record-breaking growth in revenue and net income.  The Firm reported that its global fee income increased 20% to US$2.19 billion in its 2008 fiscal year (ended June 30, 2008), which reflected double-digit growth in all of its regions, with Europe/Middle East remaining the largest region (42% of global fee income), followed by the Americas (32%) and Asia Pacific (26%). 

Baker & McKenzie recently advised China South Locomotive & Rolling Stock Corporation Limited ("CSR"), as Hong Kong and US law counsel, on its HK$4.16 billion / US$533 million global share offering.  The H shares commenced trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on 21 August 2008.  The A shares offering of CSR, which raised RMB6.54 billion, commenced trading on the Shanghai Stock Exchange on 18 August 2008.

London/Riyadh, 11 August 2008 - Baker & McKenzie has advised Ma'aden on its initial public offering (IPO) of shares which have been listed on the Saudi Stock Market. The IPO involved the issue of 462.5 million shares, raising SR9.25 billion (approximately US$2.46 billion) and representing 50% of the company's capital following the Offering. The IPO was twice oversubscribed.

Baker & McKenzie's projects team in Singapore recently advised SembGas (part of SembCorp group) in relation to its long term gas sale and purchase agreement ("GSA") to import additional quantities of natural gas into Singapore through the West Natuna pipeline. Pursuant to the GSA, SembGas, as buyer will purchase and import, natural gas into Singapore over a period of 17 years (term of the GSA) and the deal is valued at US$5.5 billion over the term of the GSA. The Baker & McKenzie team was led by partners, Chew Chin and Michael McNeill.

London/Riyadh, 11 August 2008 - Baker & McKenzie has advised Ma'aden on its initial public offering (IPO) of shares which have been listed on the Saudi Stock Market. The IPO involved the issue of 462.5 million shares, raising SR9.25 billion (approximately US$2.46 billion) and representing 50% of the company's capital following the Offering. The IPO was twice oversubscribed.

London/Riyadh, 11 August 2008 - Baker & McKenzie has advised Ma'aden on its initial public offering (IPO) of shares which have been listed on the Saudi Stock Market. The IPO involved the issue of 462.5 million shares, raising SR9.25 billion (approximately US$2.46 billion)  and representing 50% of the company's capital following the Offering. The IPO was twice oversubscribed.

London, 7 August 2008 - Baker & McKenzie, London has advised Gardner Denver, Inc on its agreement to acquire, subject to applicable regulatory approvals, 100% of the issued shares of CompAir Holdings Limited, a leading global manufacturer of compressed air and gas solutions, for an enterprise value of £197 million.

Baker & McKenzie’s managing partner in Vietnam, Fred Burke, has recently been appointed to the Prime Minister’s Advisory Council on Administrative Reforms as the representative of the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam.  The Consultative Council for Administrative Procedure Reform and a working group were officially inaugurated on 16 July in Hanoi to continue to effectively implement the Government’s plan to simplify administrative procedures. 

Baker & McKenzie recently advised SJM Holdings Limited (“SJM Holdings”), as Hong Kong and US law counsel, on its HK$3.85 billion / US$494 million global share offering. The shares commenced trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on 16 July 2008.

Baker & McKenzie is pleased to announce the election of 33 new Partners across 11 of its 14 offices in the Asia Pacific region. Twenty-four lawyers were elected as partners effective 1 July, 2008. A further nine lawyers, six of whom are lateral hires, were elected as partners during the last 12 months.

Baker & McKenzie announced today the election of eight new partners based in the Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai and Ho Chi Minh City offices.  This brings the total number of partners in the Hong Kong/PRC/Vietnam offices to 69.  The election of the new partners is effective from 1 July, 2008.

Baker & McKenzie’s mergers and acquisitions team in Hong Kong recently acted for CNNC Overseas Uranium Holding Limited on its approximately HK$610 million acquisition of a controlling interest in United Metals Holdings Limited, a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability and the shares of which are listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. 

Baker & McKenzie will host a seminar on “Indian Outbound Investment: The Key to Success” in collaboration with the Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (“Bombay Chamber”)  at the Trident hotel in Mumbai on July 2, 2008. The seminar will address those critical issues which Indian companies that are considering undertaking global strategic investments need to be across.  These include current market trends and outbound investment opportunities, cross-border M&A strategies and successful post-acquisition integration tactics.

Baker & McKenzie has advised Borders Group Inc with respect to the sale of Borders' Australia, New Zealand and Singapore businesses to A&R Whitcoulls (ARW). The businesses comprise 30 superstores across Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. ARW is a leading Australasian retailer of books and related products and is owned by private equity firm Pacific Equity Partners (PEP).

Baker & McKenzie’s corporate team in Vietnam recently advised Rohm and Haas on the planned construction of a US$10 million acrylic emulsion facility in Nhon Trach city, within the Dong Nai province of Vietnam.

Baker & McKenzie announced today that the Firm co-hosted the seminar “Listing Opportunities in Singapore – Why and How” at Sofitel Plaza Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City on May 16, 2008.

Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow has advised Babcock & Brown Investment Holdings (Singapore) Pte Ltd on its recent investment in the Indian telecommunications sector.

Baker & McKenzie has advised Central & City Developments Ltd on its agreement with Outrigger Enterprises Group to manage the new West Sands Outrigger Resort, a 400-room luxury full service hotel and spa located at the West Sands residential and hotel lifestyle resort located on Mai Khao Beach in Phuket, Thailand.

Baker & McKenzie's Global Climate Change practice has officially launched the CDM Rulebook website  (www.cdmrulebook.org) , a comprehensive online database for the rules surrounding the CDM (Clean Development Mechanism) under the Kyoto Protocol.

Baker & McKenzie’s securities team in Beijing and Hong Kong recently advised China Railway Construction Corporation Limited (“CRCC”), as Hong Kong and US law counsel, on its HK$18.3 billion / US$2.3 billion (before exercise of the over-allotment option) H-share offering.