What we say about the firm's legal practice in London
Dispute resolution
Within Banking litigation: investment and retail, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP is a third tier firm,
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP has an excellent reputation for acting against major commercial and investment banks in high-stakes litigation and arbitration. The specialist team expanded heavily in 2010, hiring Alex Gerbi and Martin Davies from Olswang, Robert Hickmott from CMS Cameron McKenna LLP, and eight new associates. Co-managing partner Richard East is a ‘feisty litigator’.
Within Commercial litigation, tier 7
The ‘solutions-driven’ Richard Bamforth was appointed litigation head at Olswang, succeeding Martin Davies, who left for Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP with Alex Gerbi. The practice’s reputation extends beyond the media sphere in which it has traditionally been pre-eminent, and it recently advised in Commercial Court proceedings that relate to an allegedly sham loan of $120m and loan facility of approximately $345m. Steven Baker’s ‘unflappable presence is a boon in any big case’. Andrew Aglionby joined from Baker & McKenzie’s Hong Kong office.
Within Overview,
US firms, which generally fare better in the international arbitration ranking than in the litigation tables, are intent upon growing their London dispute resolution practices. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld launched its London team in September 2009 when it recruited Linklaters LLP’s energy disputes head Justin Williams; and Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP hired Olswang’s litigation head Martin Davies and Alex Gerbi, as well as Robert Hickmott from CMS Cameron McKenna LLP. Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP recently took on DLA Piper UK LLP’s Julian Stait and Tom Canning.
Finance
Within Corporate restructuring and insolvency,
CMS Cameron McKenna LLP has traditionally had a bank-led practice, and counts HSBC, RBS and Lloyds as clients, but it has branched out in recent years to advise pension trustees and hedge funds. Peter Wiltshire has ‘excellent technical knowledge’; Rita Lowe is a ‘whirlwind of energy’ who is ‘good in tough situations and gets the job done’; and the team also has a ‘good mix of senior associates who know the market well’. The firm acted for stricken law firm Halliwells before it went into administration, and subsequently for BDO as administrators. Ashley Smith and Robert Hickmott have recently left the firm, the latter for Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP.