The Legal 500

Within EU and competition EU and competition

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

Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge UK LLP was in serious investment mode in 2010, hiring Shawn Atkinson from Kirkland & Ellis International LLP and Niall McAlister from CMS Cameron McKenna LLP. The bulk of the team’s work is venture capital, with a particular focus on financial services, credit cards and banking assets. David Ramm heads the group, which has won Carlyle Group and Citibank as new clients.

Within Commercial litigation, tier 5

Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge UK LLP hired Rod Cowper, formerly head of litigation at pre-merger Squire Sanders & Dempsey. The firm has recently been active in asset recovery and corruption work. Kevin Perry is ‘a robust litigator’, and James Maton is ‘unflappable’. Laurence Harris acts in commercial and public law disputes, and leads the London product liability team.

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,

Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge UK LLP’s experience includes issues relating to land and to maritime boundaries. It advised the National Boundary Commission of Nigeria on matters of interpretation where significant issues remain unresolved on the maritime boundary relating to straddling oil deposits. Tim Daniel and Alan Perry are well regarded.

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, Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP is a third tier firm,

Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge UK LLP’s core areas include the energy and offshore market, and Bermuda Form and reinsurance matters. Clients include Munich Re, Swiss Re, Coface and XL Bermuda. Practice head David Kendall, Francis Mackie and Mark Everiss are recommended. Everiss has ‘encyclopaedic knowledge of reinsurance’, and is ‘unflappable and reassuring, finding practical solutions in moments of difficulty’.

Within Insurance: corporate and regulatory, tier 4

Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge UK LLP’s team has changed substantially. Arrivals included new practice head Damian Connolly (who ‘always provides excellent advice and service’), who joined from Debevoise & Plimpton LLP; and Shawn Atkinson and Niall McAlister. Richard Spiller and Ashwani Kochhar left for Holman Fenwick Willan LLP.

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

Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge UK LLP continues to see a number of instructions arising from the Lehman Re insolvency. Mark Everiss has a strong reputation in the run-off market, particularly on contentious matters, attracting clients such as Enstar, Catalina and Riverstone. Of counsel Peter Fidler is also recommended.

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

Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge UK LLP regularly represents insurers and reinsurers in large and complex claims, particularly regarding pharmaceuticals and medical devices. It also acted for Centre Re and Munich Re as reinsurers of T&N’s £500m asbestos liability policy. Laurence Harris and David Kendall head the team.

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

Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge UK LLP’s ‘outstanding’ team, led by John Olsen, is recommended for ‘quick turnover times’ and ‘on-point, business-focused’ advice to Warner Bros Entertainment, Tumi, Bounty (UK) and American Greetings. Nick Bolter represents a leading online retailer. The team was strengthened by Ben Goodger, former head of the global IP commercialisation group at Rouse Legal.

Within Intellectual property, tier 4

Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge UK LLP’s John Olsen acts for one of the world’s most famous consumer electronics companies, and Nick Bolter advises a leading online retailer. Ben Goodger, former head of Rouse Legal’s global IP commercialisation group, and consultant Spyros Maniatis joined the team. Life sciences specialist John Lloyd was promoted to partner. The strong trade mark filing practice advised Mastercard International, Tumi and Xerox.

Within Overview,

Key IP hires included Phil Sherrell moving from Eversheds LLP to market leader Bird & Bird; and Howrey LLP’s Mark Hodgson joining Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP. Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP’s team was boosted by the arrival of Clive Thorne from Arnold & Porter (UK) LLP; CMS Cameron McKenna LLP hired Fasken Martineau LLP’s Jeremy Morton; and Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge UK LLP recruited Ben Goodger, former head of Rouse Legal’s global IP commercialisation group.

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

Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge UK LLP recruited Ben Goodger from Rouse Legal, Shawn Atkinson from Kirkland & Ellis International LLP, and Niall McAlister from CMS Cameron McKenna LLP, and promoted John Lloyd to the partnership. Mandates included patent, licensing and regulatory work, as well as commercial agreements and corporate transactions for clients including Dynasil, Oak Group and Stratophase. David Ramm’s ‘in-depth knowledge and experience is second to none’.

Within Aviation, tier 5

Much of Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge UK LLP’s work involves advising on coverage issues and exposure. The firm acts for a number of major insurers, and in 2010 gained three new major insurance clients and added further strength with the recruitment of Francis Mackie from Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP. The team recently advised a world-leading insurer on regulatory licences for excess and surplus lines pool members. Mark Meyer and David Kendall are recommended.