The Legal 500

Within EU and competition EU and competition

Within Financial services, tier 5

Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP acted in a merger between contactless payment card technology sector companies, requiring regulatory advice on the e-money and payment services directives. David Ramm is a principal contact.

Within M&A: smaller deals, up to £50m, Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP is a second tier firm,

The newly merged Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP continued to invest in its London-based corporate offering, adding Damian Connolly from Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, Stuart Blythe from Bird & Bird and Eero Rautalahti from Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP. In 2011 the team advised on 100 deals with an average value of £30m, including Allied Healthcare International Inc’s $175m sale to Saga Group Limited.

Within Venture capital, tier 6

Increasingly visible in the market, Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP advises investors and investees on matters ranging from early-stage seed capital to larger transactions, with the technology sector an area of particular strength. Team head David Ramm represented online luxury fashion retailer My-Wardrobe.com on a £3m Series B fundraising.

Within Commercial litigation, tier 5

Addleshaw Goddard LLP ‘puts the client first’. The practice led two of the largest actions brought by individuals in the English Courts, acting for Boris Berezovsky and Mukhtar Ablyazov. Richard Leedham is litigation head; Ian Hargreaves is ‘calm under fire’; and Mark Hastings provides ‘rock-solid advice’. John Kelleher, Jamie Harrison, Jon Tweedale are also recommended. Mark Deem joined Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP.

Within Defamation and privacy Defamation and privacy

Within International arbitration International arbitration

Within Public international law, Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP is a second tier firm,

At Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP, department head Tim Daniel advises governments and parastatals, particularly in the developing world, and has represented the government of Nigeria since the mid 1970s. James Maton assists governments and their anti-corruption agencies in their efforts to trace, freeze and recover the corruptly acquired assets of public officials. Alan Perry acts on issues relating to hydrocarbon deposits at or near international boundaries.

Within Corporate restructuring and insolvency, tier 5

Headed by Jon Yorke, Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP’s six-partner team specialises in insurance insolvency matters. Clients include PwC, Hoyl Group and Sarant.

Within Insurance and reinsurance litigation, tier 4

Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP – the product of the 2011 merger between Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP and Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP – is strong in the offshore reinsurance market. Clients include Lloyd’s syndicates and captive insurers including XL Bermuda, Munich Re, and Swiss Re. Richard Hopley acted for Centre Re as reinsurers of T&N’s £500m asbestos liability policy, in a large cross-border dispute over T&N’s liability. Practice head David Kendall is recommended.

Within Insurance: corporate and regulatory, tier 4

At Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP, practice head Damian Connolly advised a US insurance broker in its purchase of THB Group plc, under the new UK Takeover Code. The team was boosted by the arrival of Chris Finney from Wragge & Co LLP; Finney previously worked at the FSA and has ‘excellent regulatory expertise’. Clients include Global General and AXIS.

Within Insurance: insolvency and restructuring, Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP is a second tier firm,

Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP’s team acts with ‘patience, tact and diplomacy’. Practice head Jonathan Yorke joined from Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP, and has a strong reputation in the area, recently acting on a high-value scheme of arrangement for Minster Insurance Company Limited and six related companies. Mark Everiss specialises in insolvent companies that are in run off. David Kendall provides ‘prompt clear and practical advice’, and of counsel Peter Fidler is also recommended. Damian Connolly joined from Debevoise & Plimpton LLP. Clients include PwC, Swiss Re, Munich Re and Enstar.

Within Product liability: defendant, Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP is a third tier firm,

‘An excellent firm for English reinsurance matters’, Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP handles insurance issues related to product liability, with particular expertise in asbestos cases. David Kendall, Richard Hopley and Mark Everiss ‘all have excellent technical knowledge, both industry and legal’.

Within Brand management, Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP is a third tier firm,

Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP’s John Olsen is ‘very knowledgeable about clients ’ businesses and how they approach brand protection and solve problems’. The practice focuses on IP-related protection and enforcement, with noteworthy clients including Warner Bros. Entertainment, MasterCard International, Elizabeth Arden, and Tumi. It hired IP litigator Akash Sachdeva from Allen & Overy LLP, while Rajita Sharma moved to Finers Stephens Innocent LLP.

Within Intellectual property, Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP is a third tier firm,

Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP focuses on the life sciences and hi-tech sectors, with key clients including ASLAN Pharmaceuticals, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Mastercard International, and a leading online retailer. Nicholas Bolter has particular expertise in trade mark issues. Ben Goodger focuses on commercial matters. Practice head John Olsen is ‘extremely good and highly experienced’ in trade mark and community design matters. The firm hired Richard Graham, who ‘shows great awareness of the e-commerce industry’, and IP litigator Akash Sachdeva, who provides ‘very commercial advice’; they joined from Bird & Bird and Allen & Overy LLP respectively.

Within Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP is a third tier firm,

Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP primarily advises on patent matters, and is developing a strong reputation for licensing work. Ben Goodger, who is ‘clever, knowledgeable, dedicated, experienced, and easy to work with’, advised new client ASLAN Pharmaceuticals on a licensing deal with Bristol-Myers Squibb to develop oncology compounds. Niall McAlister is recommended for transactions and venture capital investments.

Within Aviation, tier 4

Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP is known for its ‘strong’ practice advising on coverage issues and exposure and benefits from its presence in the US market. Headline clients include Global Aerospace. Team head Mark Meyer has broad insurance and arbitration expertise, and David Kendall is also recommended.