The Legal 500

Within Corporate tax, tier 5

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP’s team is ‘extremely helpful, competent, dedicated and persuasive’. It acts on a range of cross-border and financial matters for clients such as BNP Paribas, Catlin, Citigroup, Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank, and its strong US profile helps it gain many instructions from US clients conducting business in Europe. Judith Harger and Fred Gander are recommended.

Within Equity capital markets: UK capability, tier 5

Known for its expertise in the insurance sector, in 2010 Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP’s ‘very good’ team advised the largest Polish insurance group, PZU, on its $2.6bn IPO on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. The firm also has experience in emerging markets work, particularly in Russia and the Middle East, with Camille Abousleiman highly regarded. Joseph Ferraro is practice head.

Within Equity capital markets: US capability, tier 4

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is ‘going places’ in terms of its Middle East experience, with Camille Abousleiman representing several issuer clients in the region. The ‘highly recommended’ Joseph Ferraro led on the PZU IPO, and leads a largely dual-qualified team with strong US capabilities.

Within EU and competition EU and competition

Within Financial services, tier 6

To complement the firm’s established presence on the insurance side of financial services, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP recruited Robert Finney from SNR Denton, who is looking to build the financial services practice in the area of banking and investment services across Europe and the Middle East. The practice advised on the marketing of non-EU equities into Europe; capital and liquidity issues arising from a regulated financial institution’s proposed acquisition of a minority shareholding; and the avoidance of market abuse issues in an IPO context.

Within M&A: lower mid-market, £50m-£250m, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is a second tier firm,

Clients are quick to acclaim Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP’s ‘top-quality commercial advice’, its strength in emerging markets contributing to a good flow of M&A work through London. Practice head Stephen Horvath led a team advising Raiffeisen Bank International on its €490m acquisition of a 70% share in Polbank.

Within M&A: US law capability, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is a third tier firm,

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP’s real quality lies in its emerging markets work, with both Stephen Horvath and Brian Zimbler recommended. The team advised on a $1.2bn disposal for Mittal Investments.

Within Private equity: transactions , tier 7

Mark Davis is recommended at Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, having recently moved from Taylor Wessing LLP.

Within Commercial litigation, tier 5

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP’s UK practice principally serves clients in the energy, insurance and finance sectors. Globally, the practice is involved in the Middle East, Central Asia, Eastern Europe and Africa, and was recently instructed in several financial disputes. David Waldron is ‘pragmatic and proactive’; and Peter Sharp and Deborah Ruff ‘can maintain a high-intensity work pace over a lengthy period of time’.

Within International arbitration, tier 4

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP was particularly active in shareholder disputes, including a number of disputes over options, as well as in energy and insurance-related work. Deborah Ruff leads the London group.

Within Acquisition finance, tier 7

Bruce Johnston at Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP has been at the heart of many of the firm’s most significant deals in the emerging markets and CEE region.

Within Asset finance and leasing, tier 7

Emma Pond at Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP regularly handles work for borrowers in the aviation finance sector.

Within Bank lending: investment grade debt and syndicated loans , tier 5

The ‘terrific’ Amanda Jennings is recommended at Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, in particular for her emerging markets expertise.

Within Commodities: derivatives,

‘A regulatory shop that understands trading intimately’, SNR Denton handles transactional, regulatory and disputes instructions, mainly in energy and metals. Brett Hillis moved to Reed Smith, and Robert Finney to Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, but Chris Borg remains, and acts for clients including Shell and Total. Rosali Pretorius advises Citigroup on clearing matters.

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.

Within Debt capital markets, tier 4

‘Responses are virtually in real time, and business acumen is vast’ at Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP. Joseph Ferraro, Camille Abousleiman and Louise Roman Bernstein are all ‘good people, they deal with issues immediately’, and deliver ‘highly effective, clear advice’. The firm advised Russia’s VEB on a $30bn LPN programme, and Eskom on its $1.75bn offering.

Within Emerging markets, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is a second tier firm,

The ‘impressive, very professional and balanced team’ at Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is valued for its ‘depth and quality of service’, and moves up a tier this year. Scott Brodsky is ‘immensely talented’ and has ‘excellent interpersonal skills’. The firm took a choice role advising Sberbank, Russia’s largest bank, in connection with the $5.5bn sale of Russneft by EN+ to its former owner Mikhail Gutsiriev.

Within Investment funds Investment funds

Within Trade finance, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is a third tier firm,

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is noted for its emerging markets deals, in Africa, Russia, the CIS and the Middle East. Amanda Jennings recently handled a $350m syndicated pre-export financing for Ferrexpo plc. The practice ‘can adapt with clients – especially useful if deals need restructuring’.

Within Employment,

The following US firms all have high-level practices, but generally smaller teams than their City counterparts: Arnold & Porter (UK) LLP, where the ‘commercial and professional’ Henry Clinton-Davis advises clients such as SpaceNK; Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, which has notable employment and pensions capability; Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge UK LLP, where Neil Adams specialises in team moves in the financial services sector; Faegre & Benson LLP, which acts for 3M, GE and Hearst publishing; Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, where James Cox advises a number of global players; Greenberg Traurig Maher LLP, where Naomi Feinstein is recommended; K&L Gates, where Paul Callegari is valued for his ‘direct and pragmatic approach’; McGuireWoods London LLP, which took on Jonathan Maude from Hogan Lovells International LLP in 2011; Morrison & Foerster (UK) LLP, recommended for its outsourcing, privatisation, and data protection expertise; Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker (Europe) LLP, which hired Suzanne Horne from Morrison & Foerster (UK) LLP; Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (Europe) LLP, where ‘great communicator’ Nicola Whiteley has experience ranging from grievances to acquisition issues; Weil, Gotshal & Manges, notable for its insolvency-related experience; and WilmerHale, where David Andrews impresses.

Within Insurance and reinsurance litigation, tier 4

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP’s of counsel Nicholas Rochez is leading a team advising RSA on liability and exposure relating to D&O cover for Northern Rock. Peter Sharp is advising several London market reinsurers (including Beazley Underwriting, Swiss Re and XL) in a major dispute with reinsurers in the GCC. Nick Greenwood ‘brings great clarity to matters, giving good, clear advice with realism and commercialism’.

Within Insurance: corporate and regulatory, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is a second tier firm,

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP provides ‘high-calibre’ service and industry knowledge that is ‘second to none’. Joseph Ferraro advised PZU on its $2.6bn IPO on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. The team also advised Long Bay Re on its proposed IPO on AIM. Prakash Paran is ‘very sound and very responsive’, and Nicholas Bugler is also recommended.

Within Insurance: insolvency and restructuring, tier 4

Peter Sharp is the key figure in Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP’s London insolvency and restructuring team, which acts on cross-border mandates.

Within Infrastructure, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is a third tier firm,

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP’s London office worked alongside the firm’s Hong Kong team to advise Mongolia Railway Infrastructure on the $3bn development of railway infrastructure in Mongolia. Nabil Khodadad and James Simpson co-head the projects and infrastructure team.

Within Mining and minerals, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is a second tier firm,

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP advised Vedanta Resources on its $1.34bn acquisition of zinc assets from Anglo American. Nabil Khodadad heads the team.

Within Oil and gas, tier 4

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP provides ‘consistently high-quality advice’ under global oil and gas head John LaMaster, who is praised for his ‘wealth of knowledge and experience of the industry’. The team worked alongside colleagues in the Almaty office in advising KazMunaiGas on the issuance of $2.75bn of Eurobonds through its global medium term note programme.

Within Power (including electricity, nuclear and renewables) , Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is a third tier firm,

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP’s ‘refreshingly pragmatic’ team is led by Nabil Khodadad, and includes ‘regulatory expert’ Scott Brodsky, who is applauded for his ‘immense talent and charisma’. The firm is advising Palestine Power Generating Company on the development of a $300m IPP.

Within Water, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is a third tier firm,

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is strong on the projects side, and recently advised Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority on two waste water treatment projects worth $1bn.

Within Commercial property, tier 7

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP’s Nicholas Shepherd demonstrates ‘long experience, gravitas and technical ability’. The firm advised BP on disposing of 14 UK sites.

Within Environment, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is a third tier firm,

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP has developed expertise in renewables transactions, and advises corporate and banking clients on regulations and carbon trading. Clients include AEGIS, GDF Suez and Neste Oil. The team also successfully defended Fortum at the High Court in a case concerning EU ETS allowances. Nicholas Rock heads the practice. John Bowman left for Edinburgh-based Burness LLP.