The Legal 500

Within Antitrust, tier 5

Shearman & Sterling LLP is expert in international merger control proceedings, and frequently advises clients from the Middle East such as Qatar Investment Authority. It also advised Linde Group on a joint venture in Mexico, and Cargolux regarding the air freight cartel. Practice head Hans-Jürgen Meyer-Lindemann divides his time between Brussels and Düsseldorf.

Within Bank lending, tier 4

Shearman & Sterling LLP displays ‘excellent strength in depth’, especially when drawing on its capital markets expertise. It advised Barclays Capital, Credit Suisse and others on R&R Ice Cream’s €350m high-yield bond issuance, and Ardagh Packaging Finance on the dual-currency issuance of high-yield bonds in the amounts of €1.2bn and $800m. Esther Jansen and Winfried Carli are recommended.

Within Capital markets , Shearman & Sterling LLP is a third tier firm,

Shearman & Sterling LLP’s ‘very strong practice’ provides debt and equity advice, frequently regarding US aspects. Notably it advised the initial purchasers, led by Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank and J.P. Morgan, on Kabel BW’s €1.2bn high-yield bonds issuance. However, in February 2012, Stephan Hutter and Katja Kaulamo moved to Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.

Within Large deals, Shearman & Sterling LLP is a second tier firm,

Shearman & Sterling LLP’s ‘superb’ team is relatively small but nonetheless has good ‘depth of talent’, including among its younger lawyers. It advised NASDAQ regarding its joint bid with ICE for NYSE Euronext, and acted for Qatar Holding regarding the acquisition of a 9.1% stake in Hochtief’s share capital. Roger Kiem has ‘a flair for managing complex deals with efficiency’, and is as ‘a deft operator who commands respect from across the table’. Alfred Kossmann and practice head Harald Selzner are also recommended.

Within Dispute resolution , Shearman & Sterling LLP is a third tier firm,

Shearman & Sterling LLP is well recognised for its domestic and international arbitration practice, which features ‘absolute expert’ Richard Kreindler, and it recently represented TollCollect as claimant in arbitration proceedings against the Federal Republic of Germany. The practice has also made inroads in litigation, where it represented Daimler in capital markets model case proceedings.

Within Private equity , tier 4

Shearman & Sterling LLP has good contacts to clients in the Middle East and the Frankfurt office recently advised International Chemical Investors regarding the acquisition of Genzyme’s pharmaceutical intermediates business. Corporate partner Harald Selzner is an expert in private equity transactions.

Within Tax , tier 4

Shearman & Sterling LLP has a notable niche advising Arabian investors, and it recently advised Qatar Holding on tax structuring as well as Aabar Investments on a joint venture regarding an industrial plant in Algeria. It also advised Tengelmann on divesting food retail operations in Romania and Bulgaria. Johannes Frey is recommended.