The Legal 500

Within EU and competition , tier 6

Douglas Lahnborg at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (Europe) LLP provides ‘clear, constructive advice’, is ‘tight into the process’, and ‘drives the issues forward’. Recent work includes acting for Paris-based Turbo Hercules SAS in convincing the European Commission to open proceedings into IBM’s alleged abuse of its dominant position in the mainframe computer market; and advising Areva T&D in its €4.1bn sale to Schneider and Alstom.

Within Flotations: small and mid-cap, tier 5

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (Europe) LLP’s Hilary Winter is recommended.

Within M&A: lower mid-market, £50m-£250m, tier 5

Hilary Winter’s six-partner team at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (Europe) LLP represented Carluccio’s in relation to the £90.3m offer for the company by a Landmark Group company, C1 Acquisitions.

Within Venture capital, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is a third tier firm,

The ‘very responsive’ team at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (Europe) LLP has a strong reputation in the market advising investees, particularly in the hi-tech sector, where it is able to tap into the expertise of the firm’s US Silicon Valley practice. The London team handled over 50 VC transactions in 2010, and attracts praise for its ‘detailed industry knowledge’. ‘Very good at advising on fundraisings and dealing with VCs’, Chris Grew is at the forefront of the most significant deals handled by the team, including its recent work for GroupSpaces on its $1.3m Series A financing.

Within International arbitration International arbitration

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

Elisabeth Gaunt at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (Europe) LLP is ‘superb’.

Within Corporate restructuring and insolvency, tier 4

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (Europe) LLP’s London team of ‘very responsive and personable’ lawyers was instructed on the sale of the Sugar House Lane site, a 13-acre site opposite the Olympic park which was put up for sale following the appointment of CBRE as receivers. Mark Fennessy leads the team.

Within Derivatives and structured products, tier 5

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (Europe) LLP’s Martin Bartlam is ‘efficient, reliable and results orientated, with profound knowledge of structured finance’. He advises arranger banks on swaps in structured note issues.

Within Emerging markets, tier 4

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (Europe) LLP focuses on lender and borrower matters, predominantly in Africa. Alexander Janes leads the group.

Within Securitisation, tier 5

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (Europe) LLP’s Martin Bartlam has ‘depth of knowledge, commercial sensitivity and calmness under pressure that set him head and shoulders above many of his peers’. He assisted Standard Bank in unwinding a securitisation relating to zinc mining projects in Yemen.

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 Infrastructure, tier 5

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (Europe) LLP won an instruction to advise Telenor and VimpelCom on the formation of a NYSE-listed emerging market mobile operator. Alexander Janes heads the practice.

Within Power (including electricity, nuclear and renewables) , tier 5

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (Europe) LLP’s team is building a solid reputation under Alexander Janes, particularly in emerging markets. It acted for Green Power on the development and financing of a wind project on the North Polish coast.

Within Commercial property, tier 6

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (Europe) LLP advised Notting Hill Housing Group on acquiring a £56m portfolio of over 400 properties from Transport for London, and advised Capital Shopping Centres on the £525m refinancing of Lakeside Shopping Centre. Anne O’Neill is recommended.

Within Property finance, tier 4

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (Europe) LLP’s experience as CMBS special servicers kept it busy with restructuring and enforcement matters. Alexander Janes and practice head Hazel Miller are recommended.

Within Social housing: local authorities and registered providers, tier 4

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (Europe) LLP advises on development and infrastructure projects, procurement and regeneration schemes. The team has been re-appointed to the Notting Hill Housing Group panel. Practice head Anne O’Neill is recommended.