The Legal 500

United States

Real estate

Real estate - ranked: tier 5

Baker McKenzie LLP

Baker McKenzie LLP’s client roster includes a mix of lending institutions, public and private investment funds, developers and retail corporations across a multitude of sectors. The team has been increasingly active in global transactions and international construction projects, while also maintaining a strong domestic practice in M&A, development and leasing matters, as well as inbound investment. The team currently acts for key client Comcast on the administration of its data center portfolio comprising 45-plus locations, advising on various documentation issues on a continuous basis. Other active clients include Hewlett Packard, USB Realty, Dow and Jones Lang LaSalle, a property and investment consultancy company. Michael Smith heads the practice and focuses on finance and infrastructure matters, particularly social and transportation infrastructure projects. Recent arrival Daniel Cullen is recommended for tax planning issues, and Kathryn Johnstone handles real estate-related transactions. The team is based in Chicago.

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United States: Antitrust

Cartel

Cartel - ranked: tier 4

Baker McKenzie LLP

Baker McKenzie LLP assists clients with US and multi-jurisdictional investigations and related litigation across a wide range of industries, including auto parts, defense and pharmaceuticals. Craig Lee, who leads the firm’s global cartel task force, formerly served as assistant chief of the Washington Criminal 1 section of the DOJ’s Antitrust Division. Another ex-DOJ lawyer, Creighton Macy, joined in 2017, having most recently acted as chief of staff and senior counsel. William Devaney in New York and San Francisco-based Robert Tarun are other key figures.

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Merger control

Merger control - ranked: tier 4

Baker McKenzie LLP

In 2017, in a demonstration of Baker McKenzie LLP’s strengths in high-profile multi-jurisdictional deals, David Clanton and John Fedele advised Safran SA on the global merger review related to the divestment of Morpho Detection to Smiths. Other key figures in the team include Brian Burke and Teisha Johnson, who together acted as antitrust counsel to Konica Minolta in its $1bn acquisition of Ambry Genetics. The practice is gaining momentum under the leadership of North America antitrust head Mark Hamer, and was strengthened by the arrival of Creighton Macy at the firm in 2017. Macy joined from the DOJ, where he served as chief of staff and senior counsel in the Antitrust Division. Craig Lee is another active practitioner. All named individuals are based in Washington DC.

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United States: Dispute resolution

Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense

Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense: advice to corporates - ranked: tier 5

Baker McKenzie LLP

Baker McKenzie LLP is noted for handling FCPA matters for a range of international corporates. Recent work includes representing Brazilian company Embraer in connection with multi-jurisdictional investigations, resulting in settlements with the DOJ, SEC and foreign regulators. The group also represented Harris Corporation in a FCPA investigation by the DOJ and SEC relating to the conduct of the client’s subsidiary in China - both of which led to a declination. Brian Whisler in Washington DC and William Devaney in New York lead the practice. The Washington DC team recently added former DOJ senior trial attorney, John Cunningham. Also recommended are Washington DC’s Karyn Koiffman, San Francisco’s Robert Tarun, and Chicago’s Robert Kent and Jerome Tomas.

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International arbitration

International arbitration - ranked: tier 4

Baker McKenzie LLP

The ‘vast’ team at Baker McKenzie LLP is commended for its international presence. Headline matters included defending the government of Canada in a $500m dispute brought by Mesa Power Group to vacate a NAFTA award and representing the Republic of Venezuela in relation to the enforcement of a $485m ICSID award for the expropriation of two plants in Venezuela. Karkey Karadeniz Elektrik Uretim and Owens-Illinois are also clients. Key individuals include New York-based Grant Hanessian, Luis O'Naghten in Miami and David Zaslowsky in New York.

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International litigation

International litigation - ranked: tier 2

Baker McKenzie LLP

Baker McKenzie LLP’s international litigation practice brings together partners from across its 77 offices worldwide, with the team representing US and foreign multinationals in complex disputes and enforcement matters. Jennifer Semko leads the practice from Washington DC, which is also where Edward Baldwin, who is representing the Government of Canada in opposing a motion to dismiss an arbitral award brought by Mesa Power, is based. Colin Murray in San Francisco is defending three Hewlett-Packard businesses against a $130m claim brought by Singaporean subcontractor WonderWorks concerning works performed in Malaysia for Bank Negara Malaysia. Bruce Jackson continues to advise Russian businessman Vitaly Smagin in the enforcement of an $84m arbitral award issued in London. New hire Michelle Hartmann in Dallas joined the litigation and government enforcement practice from Sidley Austin LLP.

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International trade

International trade - ranked: tier 2

Baker McKenzie LLP

Predominantly based in Washington DC and also including lawyers spread out across the firm’s huge global network, the ‘client-oriented and responsive’ team at Baker McKenzie LLP provides ‘pragmatic advice rooted in expert knowledge and experience - both from a government and private practice perspective’. ‘The thoughtful and unassuming’ Nicholas Coward is ‘very effective and credible, particularly with international audiences’, and provides ‘clear and concise’ advice to clients on outbound trade compliance matters. Benefiting from ‘an impressive network of government contacts’ garnered through his many years as a practitioner in Washington DC, Coward excels in the design and implementation of sanctions, export control and anti-boycott compliance programs for major multinational corporates. Able to rely on ‘an unparalleled breadth of knowledge and experience’, San Francisco-based John McKenzie can ‘cite both black letter law and provide nuanced practical guidance on export control matters’ but alongside Teresa Gleason and Ted Murphy also stands out for his customs compliance expertise. Although its trade remedies offering is small compared to many of its peers in the ranking, Kevin O’Brien regularly handles work in this area and on behalf of China-based Golden Dragon recently won a recalculation of anti-dumping duty rate incurred on its exports of copper pipe and tube to the US. Sylwia Lise and of counsel Lise Test ‘have the ability to turn complicated legal analysis into bottom line practical guidance’, and are key members of the team, which also includes the vastly experienced Janet Kim and the ‘sharp and pragmatic’ Ryan Fayhee, who excels at leading and conducting investigatory work as a result of the ‘wealth of experience and insights’ he gained in his former position as a DOJ national security prosecutor. ‘Particularly strong on issues that affect hi-tech companies’, clients include Advanced Micro Devices, Google and Veritas Technologies.

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United States: Finance

Project finance

Project finance: advice to lender - ranked: tier 5

Baker McKenzie LLP

Project finance: advice to sponsor - ranked: tier 4

Baker McKenzie LLP

Baker McKenzie LLP further enhanced its offering with a number of hires, including Latin American specialist Margarita Oliva Sainz de Aja, who joined the New York office from Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP. Another name to note in New York is Clyde Rankin, who handled various mandates for Siemens Financial Services, including advising on a development loan to Lincoln Land Energy Center with respect to the development of a natural gas-fired generating facility in Illinois. The wide-ranging practice draws on the firm’s international network of offices to handle a number of cross-border matters; Chicago-based practice head José Antonio Morán led a team that acted for Acciona Energía on the financing to be provided for two photovoltaic solar projects under the Egypt Round II feed-in-tariff program, and New York-based Mark Tibberts assisted PT UPC Sidrap Bayu Energi and its sponsors with the project financing for the 70MW Sidrap Wind Farm in Indonesia. In the US, the team regularly acts for investment and commercial banks on equity investment deals, and in one example Mona Dajani, who divides her time between Chicago and New York, was part of a team advising First Source Bank as lender and equity investor on two solar projects in Minnesota and Montana.

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United States: Industry focus

Energy transactions: conventional power

Energy: transactions: conventional power - ranked: tier 4

Baker McKenzie LLP

Baker McKenzie LLP leverages off its impressive international client base to advise on a range of domestic and international projects. Chicago-based Global energy chair James O’Brien handled a number of matters for key client J-POWER USA, including assisting with its acquisition of 50% interests in two of Elwood Energy’s natural-gas-fired peaking facilities in Illinois. In the finance space, New York-based Clyde Rankin assisted Siemens Financial Services with the financing of various power projects in Argentina.

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Energy transactions: oil and gas

Energy transactions: oil and gas - ranked: tier 5

Baker McKenzie LLP

Baker McKenzie LLP’s ‘exceptional attorneys’ can ‘deliver a difficult project on a tight schedule’. The team handles cross-border financing and upstream M&A, as well as supply of materials, transportation and storage agreements. Recommended lawyers in the Houston office include practice head Louis Davis, Natalie Regoli, and Denmon Sigler.

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Energy: renewable/alternative

Energy: renewable/alternative - ranked: tier 3

Baker McKenzie LLP

Baker McKenzie LLP further enhanced its Latin American capabilities with the hire of finance specialist Margarita Oliva Sainz de Aja, who joined from Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP. The team was active in the M&A space in Mexico. In the US work included Mark Tibberts advising Ullico Infrastructure Master Fund and Fiera Infrastructure on the acquisition of minority interests in a portfolio of eleven wind and solar projects from D.E. Shaw Renewable Investments. Clyde Rankin heads the predominantly New York-based team.

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Environment: regulatory

Environment: regulatory - ranked: tier 3

Baker McKenzie LLP

Baker McKenzie LLP assists with compliance programs; strategic environmental sustainability and corporate social responsibility initiatives; environmental risks and liabilities surrounding multi-jurisdictional corporate acquisitions and divestitures; and agency enforcement matters. Chicago’s John Watson is North American environmental practice chair and Douglas Sanders is also highly rated.

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Transport: aviation and air travel - regulation

Transport: aviation and air travel - regulation - ranked: tier 3

Baker McKenzie LLP

Baker McKenzie LLP recruited Kenneth Quinn and Jennifer Trock, two highly regarded partners from Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, in 2017, bringing their extensive regulatory capabilities to the firm’s aviation practice. The team has hit the ground running, advising air carriers, industry associations and municipalities on a variety of regulatory disputes throughout 2017. Quinn and Trock represented Delta Air Lines in civil and regulatory proceedings regarding the City of Dallas’s obligation to accommodate the airline at Dallas Love Field airport. The group also serves as US aviation regulatory counsel to International Airlines Group and its carriers. Quinn and Trock are also experienced in handling regulatory challenges faced by the UAS industry and represented a major digital media company before the FAA and NTSB regarding its operation and development of UAS technology.

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United States: Intellectual property

Patent: prosecution (including reexamination and post-grant proceedings)

Patent: prosecution (including reexamination and post-grant proceedings) - ranked: tier 5

Baker McKenzie LLP

The life sciences, electrical, chemical and software sectors are Baker McKenzie LLP’s key areas of expertise and the group is adept at patent application, portfolio management and post-grant work, with particular strength in IPR representation. The team assists Coflex, Schlumberger and Sentiens with prosecution matters. Other clients include Brooks Brothers, Harsco and Zippo Manufacturing. New York’s Pamela Church heads the North American Intellectual Property Group, while Brian McCormack in Dallas and the Washington DC-based Richard Wells and Matt Dushek shoulder most of the caseload. Harry Hyunho Park joined the Washington DC office from Mayer Brown.

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Trademarks: non-contentious (including prosecution, portfolio management and licensing)

Trademarks: non-contentious (including prosecution, portfolio management and licensing) - ranked: tier 3

Baker McKenzie LLP

A ‘pleasure to work with’, Baker McKenzie LLP’s group is experienced advising on all aspects of portfolio management, including clearance, prosecution and enforcement matters. Pamela Church, who heads the wider North American group, and Joshua Wolkoff have been assisting Lumileds with a number of matters, including the transfer of the trademark and design portfolio arising from its acquisition by Apollo Global Management from Philips. Lisa Rosaya has been handling clearance and prosecution matters for the Body Shop, including issues arising from its sale to Natura. The group includes Chicago-based head Dave Davis and Dyan House, who joined the Dallas office as counsel in 2017. Named partners are based in New York, unless otherwise indicated.

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United States: Labor and employment

ERISA litigation

ERISA litigation - ranked: tier 2

Baker McKenzie LLP

Baker McKenzie LLP defends clients against the full spectrum of ERISA claims, including single-claimant actions and actions involving allegations of breach of fiduciary duties and prohibited transactions. San Francisco-based James Baker sits at the helm of the California sub-team and recently teamed up with the Chicago-based Lisa Brogan to dismiss a putative class action filed against Quest Diagnostics by a former employee claiming voluntary separation agreement benefits for herself and others in her situation. In other highlights, plan trustees appointed the group to handle class actions centered on the amount of pension benefit contributions to be transferred between two ERISA-regulated plans, and Baker is currently intervening in a withdrawal liability price adjustment dispute. The firm recently recruited William Dugan from Seyfarth Shaw LLP in Chicago, Meredith Kaufman from Littler Mendelson, P.C. in New York, and Todd Boyer in Palo Alto from Littler Mendelson, P.C..

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Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: design

Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: design - ranked: tier 3

Baker McKenzie LLP

The ‘service provided is at the highest level on every relevant scale’ at Baker McKenzie LLP, where the employee benefits and executive compensation experts are known for their ‘fast response times, deep knowledge of the area and outstanding efficiency’. Clients recommend Chicago-based practice head Maura Ann McBreen for her ‘broad expertise and broad experience’; she recently teamed up with the ‘extremely knowledgeable’ Sinead Kelly in San Francisco to advise heavyweight corporate clients on plan design, tax regulations and proxy disclosure obligations. San Francisco-based Valerie Diamond and Victor Flores are part of the team assisting a multinational technology company with the design and administration of its equity incentive, cash bonus plans and deferred compensation arrangements. Christopher Guldberg is also a name to note in the Chicago office.

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Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: transactional

Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: transactional - ranked: tier 2

Baker McKenzie LLP

The team at Baker McKenzie LLP recently saw the promotion of Barbara Klementz to head of the San Francisco and Palo Alto offices and the promotion to counsel of Bianca Lansdown. In recent highlights, the group recently intervened in a number of high-profile, high-value public M&A transactions on behalf of household names in the media and technology spaces. Also notable is the team’s work in the healthcare and life sciences space. Elsewhere, Valerie Diamond advised Hewlett Packard on its acquisition of Nimble - which the firm also represented - as part of Hewlett Packard’s expansion into the flash storage business. Chicago-based Maura Ann McBreen is an expert in single employer, multi-employer and multinational benefit plans. Named individuals are based in San Francisco unless otherwise indicated.

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Immigration

Immigration - ranked: tier 2

Baker McKenzie LLP

Baker McKenzie LLP is revered as ‘one of the most reputable global immigration practices - a perfect fit for major international companies seeking a full-service immigration solution’, according to clients. The ‘incredibly responsive’ team attracts praise for its ‘expert knowledge’ and ability to provide ‘practical and pragmatic solutions’. The group is largely housed in Chicago, although immigration specialists are also located in the Washington DC and Miami offices as well as across the firm’s extensive global network. Chicago-based group head Betsy Morgan is ‘extremely knowledgeable’; she is advising Caterpillar and the Mozilla Corporation on global immigration and related issues. The ‘highly responsive and knowledgeable’ Ginger Partee, also based in Chicago, led a team comprising immigration, employment, litigation and data privacy experts to advise clients on the search and seizure of electronic devices procedure carried out by US Customs and Border Protection, as well as international immigration and border control authorities. In Washington DC, Shannon Donnelly is noted for her experience in assisting clients from the financial services sector with global business immigration matters; she leads the team’s management of the Royal Bank of Canada immigration portfolio for the US, Canada, Australia and Asia-Pacific regions. Miami-based associate Laura Garvin, who provides ‘a wealth of knowledge on immigration and gives very practical advice’, is also recommended.

Leading lawyers

Next generation lawyers

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Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions): defense

Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions): defense - ranked: tier 4

Baker McKenzie LLP

The team at Baker McKenzie LLP ‘consistently delivers an outstanding service’ and has been bolstered by several new hires, including department head William Dugan, who is a ‘master in the art of defending corporations in litigation’, in Chicago from Seyfarth Shaw LLP, as well as Todd Boyer in Palo Alto, Meredith Kaufman in New York and Michael Brewer in San Francisco from Littler Mendelson, P.C.. Houston-based Richard Hammett and Douglas Darch in Chicago are representing Whirlpool Corporation against a group of union-represented retirees alleging that its changes to the level of their health insurance benefits violated their vested right to unchanged medical benefits. Arthur Rooney in Chicago led Kiewit Corporation in several high-profile cases, including a putative class and representative action brought by workers alleging that they weren’t given adequate meal breaks and rest periods. Emily Paige Harbison in Houston, Robert Lewis in New York, Miriam Geraghty Petrillo in Chicago are also highly regarded. In March 2018, a California-based team including Robin Samuel joined from Hogan Lovells.

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Workplace and employment counseling

Workplace and employment counseling - ranked: tier 2

Baker McKenzie LLP

Baker McKenzie LLP’s ‘efficient’ department provides ‘clear guidance’ and is noted for cross-border employment matters in relation to significant transactions; the team is advising Hewlett Packard Enterprise on several matters, including the global employment and employee benefits issues related to the purchase of Nimble Storage shares. It is also experienced in pay equity, employee global privacy, HR data protection and corporate reorganizations, as well as advising on social media policies. Nielsen and Keysight Technologies are also clients. Key contacts include Carole Spink, Douglas Darch, Arthur Rooney, and Miriam Geraghty Petrillo in Chicago; Richard Hammett and Emily Paige Harbison in Houston; the ‘excellent’ Benjamin Ho in San Francisco; and Robert Lewis in New York. Susan Eandi heads the team in Palo Alto, where Joseph Deng is also based. William Dugan in Chicago joined from Seyfarth Shaw LLP, while Todd Boyer in Palo Alto and Meredith Kaufman in New York joined the team from Littler Mendelson, P.C..

Next generation lawyers

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United States: M&A/corporate and commercial

M&A: large deals ($1bn+)

M&A: large deals ($1bn+) - ranked: tier 6

Baker McKenzie LLP

Baker McKenzie LLP has an extensive international network, making it a prime candidate for major cross-border deals, most notably within the pharmaceuticals, healthcare, manufacturing, technology and consumer goods sectors. Clients include Abbott Laboratories, Accenture, Bayer, Cardtronics, FedEx, McDonald’s, Motorola Solutions, Quest Diagnostics, Sika, Symantec, Unilever and Walgreens Boots Alliance. The firm advised Abbott Laboratories on the $1.12bn sale of its medical products to Japanese healthcare company Terumo. It also represented Konica Minolta in its $1bn acquisition of Ambry Genetics. Matthew Gemello is chair of the North America corporate and securities practice and has a fine record in technology deals. Chair of the global M&A practice Michael DeFranco has worked on a range of cross-border deals, including for FedEx. Olivia Tyrrell, David Malliband, and New York partner Alan Zoccolillo are also recommended. Partners are based in Chicago unless stated otherwise.

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United States: Media, technology and telecoms

Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection)

Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection) - ranked: tier 1

Baker McKenzie LLP

Data privacy and data protection - ranked: tier 1

Baker McKenzie LLP

Baker McKenzie LLP is ‘outstanding in every aspect’ with ‘advice that offers angle, perspective and knowledge that is substantively unique and instrumentally valuable’. The practice leverages its global footprint to provide international compliance knowledge combined with crisis management, transactional and litigation expertise. Key names in the ‘brilliant’ department include Lothar Determann in Palo Alto, who is recommended for data privacy law compliance; Chicago-based practice head Brian Hengesbaugh, who is ‘incredibly balanced in his legal interpretations’; and David Lashway and John Woods, who are ‘absolutely essential members of the Washington DC team and invaluable to the success of any matter’. Clients also praise the ‘detail-focused’ Michael Egan in Washington DC; New York-based of counsel Harry Valetk, who is ‘highly experienced’; and Amy de La Lama and Jennifer Seale, who were promoted to the partnership and are based in Chicago and Washington DC respectively. Geotab, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Raytheon and LogMeIn are clients.

Leading lawyers

Next generation lawyers

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Outsourcing

Outsourcing - ranked: tier 2

Baker McKenzie LLP

Baker McKenzie LLP has ‘real depth and experience in its team, which always understands its clients’ business and how it will be impacted by outsourcing’. The global information technology, outsourcing and privacy team is based mainly in Chicago, where 20-year market veteran Samuel Kramer, Michael Mensik, Michael Stoker and Peter George (who is ‘outstanding in negotiations and great at explaining the issues’) are the prominent practitioners. Sonia Baldia in Washington DC is also recommended. The practice advises mainly buy-side clients, among which are McDonald’s, Cardinal Health, Kellogg Company and Mavenir. It has extensive experience in multi-jurisdictional outsourcing transactions, particularly in the areas of transformational IT and highly bespoke BPO deals. Counsel and data privacy expert Vincent Schroder is a new hire from McDermott Will & Emery LLP.

Leading lawyers

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Technology: transactions

Technology: transactions - ranked: tier 3

Baker McKenzie LLP

Baker McKenzie LLP ‘has a strong international reach, with clients always receiving in-depth, detailed advice’. The team regularly advises on complex enterprise resource planning and systems integration projects; managed telecoms arrangements; outsourcing agreements; custom software development; cloud computing, social media, licensing and distribution agreements; and professional service agreements. Chicago-based Michael Mensik focuses on IT, sourcing and privacy; Samuel Kramer is highly rated for multi-jurisdictional outsourcing, technology licensing, commercial contracting, and supply chain agreements and integration; and Peter George, who is ‘outstanding during negotiations and great at explaining issues and potential resolutions’, advises IT companies on their domestic and foreign operations. Michael Stoker is experienced in transactional and general corporate matters; and Sonia Baldia is a key Washington DC adviser. Other key practitioners include Palo Alto’s Lothar Determann and San Francisco-based Gary Shapiro.

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United States: Tax

International tax

International tax - ranked: tier 1

Baker McKenzie LLP

The sizable team at Baker McKenzie LLP provides tax and legal advice to multinational companies on a wide range of international tax matters, including multi-jurisdictional post-acquisition supply chain integration and other restructuring matters. New York-based Thomas May and others have been advising FedEx on tax matters relating to its post-acquisition integration with TNT Express, while Washington DC’s James Wilson has been assisting luxury fashion brand Coach with its post-acquisition integration with Kate Spade. Johnson & Johnson and McCormick are other key clients. Jonathan Martin and Kai Kramer in Houston, Jeff Maydew and Julia Skubis Weber in Chicago, Dallas-based Melinda Phelan and Palo Alto’s Stewart Lipeles are also recommended.

Leading lawyers

Next generation lawyers

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US taxes: contentious

US taxes: contentious - ranked: tier 1

Baker McKenzie LLP

Baker McKenzie LLP advises multinational corporations and high-net-worth individuals at various stages of state, federal and state tax controversies, handling matters which involve transfer pricing, R&D credit, worthless stock deductions, tax penalties and tax fraud allegations. Palo Alto-based Andrew Crousore has been acting for Facebook in an audit and IRS summons regarding assets transferred to Facebook Ireland in 2010. Washington DC’s George Clarke has been assisting petroleum and petrochemical manufacturer Sunoco with its appeal to the Federal Circuit over a Court of Federal Claims decision denying Sunoco income tax refunds arising from its 2004-2009 tax years. The client portfolio also includes Nike and Summa International. Dallas-based practice chair Robert Albaral, Palo Alto’s Scott Frewing, Robert Walton and Patricia Rexford in Chicago and New York-based Daniel Rosen are other key contacts. Thomas Linguanti and Jenny Austin moved to Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP in August 2017.

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US taxes: non-contentious

US taxes: non-contentious - ranked: tier 3

Baker McKenzie LLP

The large tax group at Baker McKenzie LLP is recommended for its ability to handle multi-jurisdictional tax matters, including cross-border M&A transactions and internal restructurings, and also handles SALT and long-term planning. Jonathan Stevens in New York advised Johnson & Johnson on several sale transactions, including the disposal of its Codman Neurosurgery business to Integra Life Sciences for $1.05bn. Stewart Lipeles in Palo Alto assists Western Digital with ongoing tax planning. Jonathan Martin in Houston, Jeff Maydew in Chicago and Melinda Phelan in Dallas lead the practice. John McDonald in Chicago is a ‘top-notch lawyer for international planning and tax reform issues’.

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Latin America: International firms

Banking and finance

Banking and finance - ranked: tier 4

Baker McKenzie LLP

Baker McKenzie LLP’s extensive global platform includes a large number of banking and finance practitioners spread across its numerous Latin America offices, and who also work alongside Latin America specialists in New York and other US offices. Energy and infrastructure are key drivers of the practice which, in a case in point, recently advised Siemens Financial Services on a $115m loan to Stoneway Capital, which issued a $500m bond offering to finance a thermal power project in Buenos Aires province – the first use of project bonds in Argentina for over 25 years. One client noted that the team’s ‘opinions are specialised, complete and reveal extensive knowledge of the sector’; it also provides ‘timely responses, a good understanding of clients’ needs and good value for the money’. Gabriel Gómez Giglio chairs the Latin America banking and finance practice from Buenos Aires.

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Corporate and M&A

Corporate and M&A - ranked: tier 4

Baker McKenzie LLP

Baker McKenzie LLP’s seven offices in Latin America have helped it to gain a solid foothold in cross-border transactions where it is particularly active in the energy, mining, infrastructure, life sciences/healthcare and consumer goods sectors. Lima partner Liliana Espinosa heads the Latin America M&A and private equity practice, which includes 66 other partners across the region. Chicago partner David Malliband led the team that advised medical equipment manufacturer ICU Medical on its $900m acquisition of the Hospira Infusion Systems business from Pfizer in Argentina, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. The practice also advised GCP Applied Technologies on the $1.05bn sale of the Darex Packaging Technologies Business to Henkel in 19 jurisdictions, including Chile, Mexico and Brazil. ‘Always on top of things’, Santiago-based Jaime Munro is ‘a very creative lawyer’ who ‘gets very involved in the transaction’, has ‘a good knowledge of commercial matters’ and is ‘always looking for better alternatives to structure a transaction’.

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Projects and energy

Projects and energy - ranked: tier 4

Baker McKenzie LLP

Baker McKenzie LLP has a substantial Latin America footprint and a sizeable market share of power and oil and gas deals in Mexico and Brazil. Chile and Argentina are other active markets for the firm. José Roberto Martins at Brazilian associate firm Trench Rossi Watanabe in São Paulo, heads Baker McKenzie LLP’s Latin America energy, mining and infrastructure group and has extensive experience in renewable energy. He recently advised Brazilian wind-power developer Casa dos Ventos Energias Renovaveis on the sale of 16 wind farms to UK-based private equity fund Actis, through the funds’ wind platform Echoenergia. Mexico City’s Benjamin Torres-Barron is at the forefront of Mexico’s energy sector reform-related work.

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