The Legal 500

Within Financial services, tier 6

Covington & Burling LLP focuses on non-contentious work for firms with an institutional client base, particularly in the investment management sector. Simon Currie is ‘extremely capable’.

Within M&A - upper mid-market and premium deals, £250m+, tier 8

The arrival of Mike Kingston from Herbert Smith LLP has seriously bolstered Covington & Burling LLP’s five-partner UK M&A team. The life sciences, pharma and media sectors are strengths, as are links with corporate America generally. In 2008, the English team acted on four deals valued between US$700m and US$2bn, among others.

Within M&A - US law capability, Covington & Burling LLP is a third tier firm,

Covington & Burling LLP specialises in M&A in regulated industries; in the life sciences sector it recently represented Encysive Pharmaceuticals in its sale to Pfizer. Peter Laveran-Stiebar is ‘a high-level professional who provides excellent legal and business advice’.

Within Private equity , Covington & Burling LLP is a third tier firm,

Covington & Burling LLP’s practice, under Simon Goodworth, is active in the co-investment and secondaries spheres. Pantheon Ventures is a longstanding client.

Within Venture capital, Covington & Burling LLP is a third tier firm,

Covington & Burling LLP’s global strength in life sciences ensures a significant pipeline of VC work from the investment arms of multinationals like GlaxoSmithKline, as well as funds like Perseus Capital and Healthpoint Capital. Louise Nash is recommended.

Within Fraud - commercial and regulatory investigations, tier 5

Covington & Burling LLP recovered US$10m embezzled from clients involved in Spanish real estate developments. John Rupp is ‘quick thinking’ with ‘competence in civil and common law’.

Within Commercial litigation

Within International arbitration, tier 5

Covington & Burling LLP’s expanding practice is ‘first rate in all respects’, and the 2009 recruitment of highly experienced counsel Stephen Bond from White & Case LLP’s Paris office was a significant boost. The ‘excellent’ Roger Enock heads the team, which is especially recommended for disputes in the life sciences, pharmaceuticals and insurance sectors.

Within Investment funds, tier 5

Covington & Burling LLP is active in private equity and investment trusts, for both funds and investors. Simon Good heads the three-partner team, for which Pantheon is a major client.

Within Insurance litigation - for policyholders , Covington & Burling LLP is a first tier firm,

Covington & Burling LLP acts for large corporate policyholders, and continues to represent Northrop Grumman on the insurance aspects of its UK employer’s liability claims. It has particular expertise in the pharmaceutical sector, and has been involved in a substantial number of London insurance coverage arbitrations against Bermuda Form carriers. Key contacts Roger Enock and Richard Mattick are recommended. The firm is noted for its ‘strong Washington presence’.

Within Product liability - defendant, Covington & Burling LLP is a third tier firm,

At Covington & Burling LLP, Anne Ware and Roger Enock are prominent in the pharmaceuticals and medical device fields, representing Roche, Merck, Novartis and Vaccines. The practice is experienced in all aspects of product liability litigation, from one-off cases to complex multi-party litigation. Clients praise the lawyers’ ‘business acumen, excellent knowledge on health claims, and broad expertise in relation to food matters’.

Within Public affairs, Covington & Burling LLP is a third tier firm,

Led by Lisa Peets, Covington & Burling LLP’s practice has a strong European and international dimension. It focuses on IP matters for Microsoft and the Business Software Alliance, and pharmaceutical legislation.

Within Media and entertainment, tier 5

At Covington & Burling LLP, Louise Nash advised Qualcomm UK Spectrum on its successful bid for the L-band spectrum. Mike Kingston handles international media work for the National Hockey League and the World Sports Group. IP specialist Morag Peberdy joined from Herbert Smith LLP.

Within Overview,

Many of the US firms have also been growing their IT and telecoms practices. These include Latham & Watkins - also building its media and entertainment team; Morrison & Foerster (UK) LLP - also a leader for life sciences corporate work; and Mayer Brown International LLP - which has lost music industry veteran Robert Allan to niche media firm Michael Simkins LLP. Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP remains very strong at providing IT and telecoms outsourcing advice; and Weil, Gotshal & Manges and Covington & Burling LLP - which is extremely strong in life sciences - have been building their media and entertainment practices.

Within Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, Covington & Burling LLP is a second tier firm,

Taylor Wessing LLP’s team - headed by ‘very experienced licensing lawyer’ Dr Malcolm Bates - gives an ‘excellent service’ to life sciences clients. New partner Len Murray has joined from Baker & McKenzie LLP, where he was a senior associate, to establish a public law practice. This will boost the regulatory and judicial review capability of the firm in the sector. Prior to his arrival, the firm handled high-profile judicial reviews for life sciences clients including Generics UK (now part of Mylan). Cambridge-based partner David Mardle is ‘excellent on corporate financing issues’. Dr Gareth Morgan is active in advising on SPCs. New clients for transactional work include listed biotechs Asterand plc and Biota Holdings. Daniel Pavin has moved to Covington & Burling LLP.

Within Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, Covington & Burling LLP is a second tier firm,

Covington & Burling LLP is ‘stellar’; there is ‘no-one better in regulatory matters’. Grant Castle is the main London-based regulatory partner, and he gives ‘imaginative and broad-ranging advice’. Key regulatory clients include Merial, and other regulatory work includes handling litigation at the ECJ on behalf of Johnson & Johnson and Shire Pharmaceuticals. Anne Ware handles some major commercial product liability disputes, while the transactional life sciences practice has been strengthened by the hire of Daniel Pavin, formerly a partner at Taylor Wessing LLP. London deputy managing partner Louise Nash is also active in life sciences corporate work.

Within Sport