The Legal 500

Brown Rudnick LLP

8 CLIFFORD STREET, LONDON, W1S 2LQ, ENGLAND

What we say about the firm's legal practice in London

Corporate and commercial

Within Venture capital, Brown Rudnick LLP is a third tier firm,

Deeply entrenched in the venture capital market both in Europe and the US, the ‘business-focused’ team at Brown Rudnick LLP is well positioned to advise on national and cross-border transactions for investors and investees. Mark Dorff and the ‘excellent’ Tina Baker are pivotal members of the team, and have advised Index Ventures on a number of deals. Other clients include Amadeus Capital Partners, Delta Partners and Atlas Venture.

Crime, fraud and licensing

Within Fraud: civil , tier 5

Neil Micklethwaite at Brown Rudnick LLP has expertise in asset tracing and international fraud matters; and is ‘always thinking outside the box’. ‘Barristers ’ dream’ Neill Shrimpton is recommended.

Within Fraud: corporate crime, Brown Rudnick LLP is a third tier firm,

Neil Micklethwaite at Brown Rudnick LLPshines with good judgment, thorough preparation and an acute intellect’. Recent work includes acting for the Hermitage Fund in liaising with Interpol and SOCA regarding the alleged destruction of the fund by Russian authorities; and advising GLG Partners in the SFO’s investigation into Torex.

Dispute resolution

Within Banking litigation: investment and retail, tier 5

Brown Rudnick LLP is well placed to act against major financial institutions, predominantly acting for hedge funds and international investors. It has also been representing a Dutch pension fund regarding potential claims of €250m against one of the world’s largest investment banks. Neil Micklethwaite is well known and highly regarded.

Within Commercial litigation, tier 6

Brown Rudnick LLP’s lack of conflicts means it is well positioned to act against major financial institutions. It represented a Dutch pension fund in respect of potential claims against the asset management arm of one of the world’s largest investment banks. Neil Micklethwaite is ‘excellent’, and admired for his ability to ‘process input from different sides in a calm and inspiring way’; and Stephen Hallam is ‘especially helpful’. The recruitment of Steven Friel from Davies Arnold Cooper LLP further boosted the practice.

Within International arbitration International arbitration

Finance

Within Corporate restructuring and insolvency,

Also of note are: Nick Angel at Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP; and Tony Horspool at Ropes & Gray LLP. Brown Rudnick LLP, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, Reed Smith and Shearman & Sterling LLP are among the firms continuing to make a concerted push into the area.

TMT (technology, media and telecoms)

Within Intellectual property, tier 5

Richard Penfold’s team at Brown Rudnick LLP is ‘outstanding’ for ‘complex and protracted legal issues’. The team advised Zurich Financial Services, York Barbell Holdings and Gravity International Holdings in relation to the Renault F1 Team.


Legal Developments in the UK

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to
  • HOUSING

    In Nzinga Maswaku v Westminster City Council [2012] EWCA Civ 669 the Court of Appeal clarified that in offering a homeless person with alternative temporary accommodation the local authority is obliged to point that if the offer is refused it has discharged its Part VII duties under the Housing Act 1996.
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  • COUNCIL TAX

    In Harrow LBC v Ayiku [2012] EWHC 1200 (Admin) Sales J held that the word “or” in the Council Tax (Exempt Dwellings) Order 1992, art 3 Class N, had a disjunctive meaning, therefore it was sufficient for the non-British spouse of a foreign student to satisfy one or other of the two conditions, namely being prevented from taking paid employment or being prevented from claiming benefits, in order to qualify as a “relevant person” who was exempted from liability to pay council tax.
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  • QUEEN’S SPEECH

    Bills already introduced pursuant to the Queen’s Speech on 9 May 2012 include Local Government Finance Bill and Electoral Registration and Administration Bill, both accompanied by Explanatory Notes, which in each case address ECHR compatibility.
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  • Standards

    In R (Calver) v Adjudication Panel for Wales [2012] EWHC 1172 (Admin) Mr Calver was a member of Manorbier Community Council who successfully challenged the decision of the Panel to dismiss his appeal against a decision by Prembrokeshire County Council Standards Committee censuring him for a number of comments or blogs posted by him on a website he owned and controlled.
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  • A justified retrospective

    Clive Sheldon - QC debates the pros & cons of retrospective tax legislation
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  • Public Sector Equality Duty (“PSED”)

    In R (Greenwich Community Law Centre) v Greenwich LBC [2012] EWCA Civ 496 the Court of Appeal held that the Council had had “due regard to the PSED when making changes to its funding of community legal advice services”. At para 30 Elias LJ said:
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  • Public Sector Equality Duty

    Surrey County Council conducted a review of its Library Service. This culminated in a Report to the Council’s Cabinet. The Recommendations in the Report included that there should be consultation about a community-partnership approach at selected Libraries.
    - 11KBW
  • Judicial Review

    The Judgment of Lindblom J in The Manydown Co Ltd v Basingstoke and Deane BC [2012] EWHC 977 (Admin) repays attention. The Claimant sought to challenge by judicial review 2 decisions of the Council: (1) the Council’s refusal to reconsider its position on the development of a site that it owns (and is the subject matter of a Joint Development Partnership Agreement with the Claimant); and (2) a decision of the Council’s Cabinet approving a selection of sites for development which did not include this site.
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  • The Health and Social Care Act 2012: impact on adult social services

    After its torrid passage through Parliament, the Health and Social Care Bill received Royal Assent on 27 March 2012. The Act deals principally with healthcare reform, but it also contains some amendments to the legislative framework for social care. It will come into force on a day yet to be appointed by the Secretary of State.
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  • Immigration update May 2012

    In this issue: