The Legal 500

Within Banking, finance and capital markets, tier 4

In 2011, Jones Day recruited counsel David Roger from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer to lead its banking and finance practice. Roger has over 20 years’ experience representing investment funds, banking institutions, and industrial and commercial companies. Thierry Buytaert left the firm.

Within Competition, Jones Day is a second tier firm,

Jones Day’s team of 15 fee-earners provides ‘timely, practical advice’, striking a balance between ‘legal creativity and business needs’, and is particularly expert in the telecoms and technology industries. Practice head Bernard Amory advised Apple in connection with anti-competitive issues linked to its range of computers, and guided American Airlines though the EC’s investigation into the Oneworld Alliance. The team continues to represent MasterCard in the interchange fee appeal case, and also advised Texas Instruments on merger control aspects of its $6.5bn tie-up with National Semiconductor Corporation. Serge Clerckx and Sébastien Evrard were recently elected to the partnership.

Within Corporate and M&A , tier 4

Jones Day represents MasterCard, PepsiCo and numerous major Japanese clients. Department head Luc Houben, who is ‘particularly client-sensitive and responsive’, recently advised Procter & Gamble on the divestiture of its Pringles business to Diamond Foods. Of counsel David Roger joined from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in 2011.

Within Dispute resolution, Jones Day is a third tier firm,

Jones Day is appreciated for its ‘ability and willingness to challenge the status quo and go the extra mile’. Practice head Sébastien Champagne handles domestic and cross-border commercial, distribution, trade, antitrust and telecom-related litigation. He and counsel Werner Derijcke are recommended.

Within Telecoms, Jones Day is a first tier firm,

Jones Day’s talented and professional team is unafraid to ‘challenge the status quo and walk the extra mile for clients’. ‘Dean of telecoms’ Bernard Amory provides ongoing regulatory advice to Deutsche Telekom, GSM Association and Bouygues Telecom. Practice head Alexandre Verheyden represents BT and Oni Communications. Amory and Verheyden ‘translate their clients’ strategies and needs into concrete legal action’.

Within Information technology, tier 4

Alexandre Verheyden heads Jones Day’s IT team, which continues to advise Apple on the rollout of the iPhone, iPad and iPod across more than 40 countries, handling regulatory and competition-related issues.

Within Labour and employment, tier 4

Jones Day ‘always delivers a prompt and efficient service’ when it comes to employment law. Clients include Alstom and MasterCard. Practice head Chantal Biernaux is ‘very good at putting points across in a commercial context’, and has vast experience in labour law and particular knowledge of occupational pension schemes.

Within Tax, Jones Day is a third tier firm,

Jones Day is primarily recommended for the non-contentious tax aspects of US-related and pan-European transactions. In December 2010, it advised Soros Fund Management on tax aspects concerning the simplification of part of its €21.5m private equity arm, which involved the dissolution of four Belgian holding companies. Howard Liebman leads the tax department, and is supported by of counsel Werner Heyvaert, who is ‘a complete master of his trade’; ‘he says what he will do and he does it’.