Legal500

Winston & Strawn London

CITYPOINT, ONE ROPEMAKER STREET, LONDON, EC2Y 9HU, ENGLAND

Tel:: Work 020 7011 8700
Fax:: Fax 020 7011 8800

Web:: www.winston.com
Email:

Washington DC, Shanghai, San Francisco, Paris, New York, Moscow , and 7 more

What we say about the firm's legal practice in London

Corporate and commercial

Within M&A: lower mid-market, £50m-£250m, tier 6

Winston & Strawn London’s ‘non-ego driven’ practice is notable for its cross-border expertise. Impressive recent mandates included acting for Nigerian oil and gas company SEPLAT Petroleum Development on a major $375m acquisition. Zoe Ashcroft is ‘exceptional’.

Finance

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

Winston & Strawn London’s practice head Zoe Ashcroft regularly handles cross-border investment grade mandates for banks such as Bank of America, Wachovia and JP Morgan.

Projects, energy and natural resources

Within Oil and gas, tier 7

At Winston & Strawn London, Zoë Ashcroft advised SEPLAT Petroleum Development on the acquisition of interests in three major oil blocks in the Niger Delta.

TMT (technology, media and telecoms)

Within Intellectual property,

Taylor Wessing LLP has pan-European and cross-jurisdictional strength, and is recommended for its ‘excellent, prompt service and value for money’. Niri Shan heads the soft IP practice, which has particular expertise in colour marks, recently obtaining a trade mark registration for Tiffany. ‘Respected for his expertise and professionalism’, Roland Mallinson leads a substantial trade mark filing practice with Jason Rawkins; clients include KPMG. Patent litigator Simon Cohen successfully represented Abbott, and James Marshall is representing Generics UK. The team’s transactional and VC work includes advising Vifor Pharma and Lime Microsystems. Clients also recommend the ‘proactive, precise’ Timothy Pinto. Richard Price joined Winston & Strawn London, and Chris Thornham joined from SJ Berwin LLP.

Within Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology,

Taylor Wessing LLP delivers ‘excellent, prompt advice and good value for money’. Practice head Dr Malcolm Bates advised next-generation antibody company f-star on its collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim. Simon Walker, David Mardle and Howard Palmer handle VC work, recently advising Xention on its £8m Series D financing. The firm has particular strength in patent litigation. James Marshall, who ‘really understands the business’, is representing Generics (UK) against Cephalon. Tim Worden heads a strong regulatory practice. Richard Price joined Winston & Strawn London, while Chris Thornham joined from SJ Berwin LLP.

What we say worldwide

Please choose another Winston & Strawn LLP office to view full details of what we say in that region, or choose from this list to view a specific editorial reference in context.

France

Offices in Paris

Hong Kong

Offices in Hong Kong

London

Offices in London

Switzerland

Offices in Geneva

Dispute resolution : Dispute resolution

United States

Offices in San Francisco, Washington DC, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Houston

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Legal Developments in the UK

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to

No substitute for experience

If there is one part of the Localism Act 2011 about which local government lawyers have considerable concerns, it is the new standards regime.

- 11KBW
CONSULTATION AND LEGITIMATE EXPECTATIONS

Clive Sheldon QC

- 11KBW
Changes to list of approved English language tests are made by the UKBA

It has been announced by the UKBA that the list of approved English language tests for those individuals applying under tiers 1,2 and 4 of the points based system has been amended. One of the main changes is the lowering of the TOEFL points score against the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). TOEFL now includes scores for spouse and partner applications.

- Penningtons Solicitors LLP
Important information about London 2012 released by the UKBA

Important information about the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games has been published online by the UKBA. With the UKBA expecting to carry out security checks on more than 380,000 workers and participants, it has set out detailed information for those individuals who will be travelling to the UK for the event. The information is divided into the following categories:

- Penningtons Solicitors LLP
Premium sponsorship for tier 2 and tier 2 and 4 sponsors

As reported in our November 2011 Update the UKBA is planning to introduce a 'premium sponsor' category and we expect that this will be in April 2012.

- Penningtons Solicitors LLP
Arts Council England introduces new procedure for tier 1 (exceptional talent) applicants

From 3 January 2012, individuals applying under tier 1 (exceptional talent) of the points based system will need to follow new guidelines if they wish to have their application endorsed by Arts Council England (ACE).

- Penningtons Solicitors LLP
The UKBA contacts tier 2 sponsors regarding COS allowances

The UKBA has been contacting authorised officers at tier 2 sponsors in relation to the new certificate of sponsorship allowance which will become effective from 6 April 2012. Any COS issued from that date will come from the new allocation.

- Penningtons Solicitors LLP
The UKBA updates tier 4 sponsors on educational oversight

The UKBA has reminded all current tier 4 sponsors that if they are not already subject to inspection or review by the relevant educational oversight bodies, they must apply before the deadline stated in the current sponsor guidance.

- Penningtons Solicitors LLP
London 2012 visa applications open for spectators

From 1 January 2012 the UKBA will begin to process visas for non-UK spectators wishing to travel to the UK to watch the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

- Penningtons Solicitors LLP
10% Tax Rate for Intellectual Property Confirmed

On 6 December 2011, the UK Government published further details of a lower Corporation Tax rate for IP earnings which will come into force in April 2013.

- Boult Wade Tennant