The Legal 500

Within M&A: premium deals, £250m+, tier 6

King & Spalding International LLP draws particular praise for its expertise in the energy and natural resources sector, and it bolstered its team in 2011 with the hire of Martin Hunt, a specialist in that area, from Bracewell & Giuliani (UK) LLP. 2011 saw the team act for GE Oil & Gas in its acquisition of MAPs Technology Limited.

Within Banking litigation: investment and retail,

Jeremy Sharman’s banking litigation team at Bird & Bird advised Forsta AP-fonden in its $35.5m claim against the Bank of New York Mellon and others in relation to losses arising out of a securities lending programme. Sarah Walker left the firm to join King & Spalding International LLP, while Steven Baker joined from Olswang.

Within Commercial litigation, tier 7

Bird & Bird saw the departure of Jane Player and Sarah Walker to King & Spalding International LLP, but was joined by the ‘excellent’ Steven Baker, Olswang’s former commercial dispute resolution head. The practice targets disputes in technology, communications and life sciences. It recently advised in Commercial Court proceedings concerning losses arising from a securities lending programme. A ‘shrewd and popular client pleaser’, Ludovic de Walden heads the London group, and Jeremy Sharman is also recommended.

Within International arbitration, tier 5

In 2012, King & Spalding International LLP was joined by Jane Player and Sarah Walker, both formerly of Bird & Bird, with ‘heavyweight arbitration lawyer’ Tom Sprange also having arrived, from Steptoe & Johnson, in 2011. The practice includes investment, commercial, IP and construction disputes, but has a focus on energy cases.

Within Mediators Mediators

Within Islamic finance, King & Spalding International LLP is a first tier firm,

King & Spalding International LLP is ‘very responsive, has extensive industry knowledge, gives thorough and comprehensive advice, and is worth the money spent’. Its excellent record in structuring innovative Islamic finance deals includes sukuks and investments for leading global and European real estate funds. The firm advised Kuveyt Türk Katilim Bankasi on its sukuk under Turkey’s new legislation, and Islamic Development Bank (IDB) on its $750m trust certificate issuance (dual listed on the LSE and Bursa Malaysia). Other clients include Alinma Bank, Eastgate Capital and HDG Mansur Investment Services Inc. In Dubai, Jawad Ali is recommended for corporate law advice, and Rizwan Kanji is ‘very good’. London-based Michael Rainey has ‘the ability to hold the confidence of the transaction counterparties and is very good at providing a reasoned approach’.

Within Professional negligence,

The team at Bird & Bird, led by Ludovic de Walden, is recommended for its ‘technical’ approach. The ‘tenacious’ Jonathan Speed is ‘very thorough and user friendly’. The firm represented Forsta AP-fonden in Commercial Court proceedings against one of the world’s largest securities lending agents. Jane Player recently joined King & Spalding International LLP.

Within Oil and gas, King & Spalding International LLP is a third tier firm,

King & Spalding International LLP’s lawyers ‘have years of experience between them’. Garry Pegg ‘understands all the different components from upstream concession ownership to downstream transportation and sales’; and Nina Howell attracts praise for her commercial awareness. Pegg advised ConocoPhillips in the UK on issues relating to its JV-owned refining assets in the UK.