The Legal 500

Within Corporate tax, tier 5

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is a strong choice for cross-border matters, gaining strength from the wider firm’s prominent international profile. It acts on a wide range of matters, with fund formation, secondary acquisitions and M&A deals featuring prominently. It acted for American International Group on the proposed sale of its Asian life insurance unit, American International Assurance, to Prudential for $35.5bn. Richard Ward is recommended.

Within Equity capital markets: UK capability, tier 6

Katherine Ashton and James Scoville are the key contacts at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP. The team has a strong track record in emerging markets transactions, and regularly advises Russian issuer clients. It advised KazakhGold Group in a $100m private placement to international investors in 2010.

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

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP brought in senior private equity partner David Innes from Travers Smith LLP to its London team in 2010, giving its UK law capability a boost. The team advised on KazakhGold Group’s $10bn proposed combination with Polyus.

Within M&A: US law capability, Debevoise & Plimpton is a second tier firm,

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP’s London team led on the merger of Russian potash companies Uralkali and Silvinit, in a $23.9bn deal. Office managing partner James Scoville led the team advising Uralkali. James Kiernan is also highly regarded.

Within Private equity: transactions , tier 5

Bolstered by the arrival of David Innes from Travers Smith LLP and the relocation of Raman Bet-Mansour from the Paris office, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP’s private equity team has been involved in a significant flow of transactions. In addition to a pipeline of work for core client Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, the firm assisted Helios Investment Partners on its acquisition of a controlling stake in Nigerian company Interswitch. Team head James Kiernan is recommended.

Within Fraud: corporate crime, Debevoise & Plimpton is a third tier firm,

Karolos Seeger at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP specialises in internal investigations with a focus on corrupt practices. Recent work includes advising Ferrostaal AG in an extensive internal compliance investigation regarding allegations of corruption in several jurisdictions.

Within Fraud: white-collar crime , Debevoise & Plimpton is a third tier firm,

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP acted for a European national in an SFO investigation into alleged overseas bribery in the oil and gas sector; and for the chairman of Meinl Bank in an investigation regarding investor fraud.

Within Commercial litigation, tier 5

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP’s key mandates included a high-value bondholder dispute, and multi-jurisdictional fraud investigations. Lord Peter Goldsmith QC is a ‘superb advocate’; and Sophie Lamb and Karolos Seeger are ‘both excellent’. Peter Rees QC left to join Royal Dutch Shell as legal director.

Within International arbitration, Debevoise & Plimpton is a third tier firm,

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP’s Sophie Lamb was promoted to partner in 2010 while Peter Rees QC left to become Royal Dutch Shell’s legal director. The team acted in a multimillion-dollar arbitration arising out of a failed joint venture. Lord Peter Goldsmith QC, David Rivkin, Mark Friedman and Karolos Seeger are well-respected lawyers.

Within Overview,

As for major moves in arbitration, Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP’s international arbitration head Peter Flint left for Wragge & Co LLP, and Herbert Smith LLP’s David Brynmor Thomas departed for the Bar. In public international law Debevoise & Plimpton LLP’s Peter Rees QC exited to become Royal Dutch Shell’s legal director.

Within Public international law, tier 4

At Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, Jessica Gladstone joined from her role as a legal adviser to the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, while Peter Rees QC left to join Royal Dutch Shell as Legal Director. The team advised the defendant in proceedings initiated by the government of Belize to impose an anti-arbitration injunction preventing the defendant from pursuing an investment treaty arbitration under the UK-Belize BIT. Lord Peter Goldsmith QC, Sophie Lamb, David Rivkin and Karolos Seeger are recommended.

Within Acquisition finance, tier 6

Mirroring the firm’s impressive US offering, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP’s four-partner team provides a full-service approach to its sponsor clients, across fund formation, investments and concomitant financing. It handles a regular flow of financing work for marquee client Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, including on its acquisition of British Car Auctions. Alan Davies led on this deal, and is an integral part of a team that also includes the ‘excellent’ Peter Hockless.

Within Asset finance and leasing, tier 7

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP’s Geoffrey Burgess is recommended for aviation finance.

Within Emerging markets, Debevoise & Plimpton is a third tier firm,

At Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, London managing partner James Scoville has experience acting for issuers and underwriters in global offerings, and advises a number of Russian and Chinese clients listed in London and the US.

Within Investment funds, Debevoise & Plimpton is a second tier firm,

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP’s globally renowned private equity practice is represented in London by a high-quality team, advising on buyout, mezzanine, real estate and infrastructure funds. It advised Park Square and Doughty Hanson on capital raisings for new European funds, and acted for Deutsche Bank on establishing its next-generation secondaries opportunity fund. Marwan Al-Turki, Geoffrey Kittredge and Anthony McWhirter are recommended.

Within Insurance: corporate and regulatory, Debevoise & Plimpton is a second tier firm,

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP leverages its global corporate practice in its insurance work. The team advised on Hanover Insurance Group’s £313m public bid for Chaucer Holdings, and on Novae Insurance Company’s transfer of its business and reserves to Lloyd’s Syndicate 2007. Jeremy Hill and international counsel Christopher Henley are the key contacts.