The Legal 500

Within Corporate tax Corporate tax

Within Equity capital markets: UK capability, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is a third tier firm,

Much sought after by emerging markets companies listing in London, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP has ‘a gold-plated reputation for execution’. Raj Panasar advised GeoProMining on preparations for its LSE IPO, and Goldman Sachs as underwriter on Nyrstar’s €500m rights issue. Simon Ovenden advised VTB Bank on its $3.3bn offering of shares and GDRs.

Within Equity capital markets: US capability, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is a first tier firm,

‘Fantastic firm’ Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP has a deep bench of US capital markets lawyers, notably Daniel Braverman, Sebastian Sperber, Pierre-Marie Boury, David Gottlieb and dual-qualified Raj Panasar. Sperber advised Luxfer Holdings on its proposed SEC-registered IPO, and represented the underwriters on the proposed NASDAQ listing of multinational TIM w.e. Panasar’s work included advising Russia’s GeoProMining on its London IPO, and bookrunners including Goldman Sachs on San Miguel Corporation’s $350m Reg S offering.

Within EU and competition, tier 4

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP’s practice has grown considerably in recent years, and the ‘cutting-edge’ team is ‘very high quality across the board’, with ‘very quick response times, detailed knowledge of procedure, legislation and individuals, and appropriate and well-thought-through advice’. It advised The Walt Disney Company on investigations by Ofcom and the Competition Commission into the UK pay TV sector; and Google on its $12.5bn acquisition of Motorola Mobility following complaints by Microsoft and other EU competitors. Maurits Dolmans and Nicholas Levy are both ‘highly impressive’.

Within M&A: mid-market, £50m-£250m Leading individuals: M&A

Within M&A: premium deals, £250m+, tier 4

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP’s ‘very impressive’ four-partner team continued to benefit from the firm’s cross-border footprint and emerging markets, energy and natural resources capabilities. In 2011 it acted for Stanley Black & Decker in its $1.2bn offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares and warrants in Niscayah Group, and advised Sony on its acquisition of Ericsson’s 50% stake in Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications. Simon Jay, Michael McDonald and Sam Bagot are all recommended, as are dual-qualified partner Tihir Sarkar, Sebastian Sperber and Daniel Braverman, who provide US securities law expertise.

Within M&A: smaller deals, up to £50m Leading individuals: M&A

Within Private equity: transactions, tier 5

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP’s four-partner offering provides a nimble and creative service to sponsors engaged in transactions domestically and internationally. Particularly accomplished in the emerging markets, it advised core client TPG on the £1.3bn sale of its majority shareholding in Mey Içki Sanayi ve Ticaret, Turkey’s leading spirits manufacturer, to Diageo. Simon Jay led on this deal and is a key partner in the team, which includes the ‘excellent’ Michael McDonald.

Within Banking litigation: investment and retail, tier 4

Stephenson Harwood represented British Arab Commercial Bank in its claim against AHAB to recover sums loaned to one of its subsidiaries, ATS; and continues to assist FIM Advisers in proceedings brought against it arising out of the operation of the Madoff Ponzi scheme. John Fordham, Richard Gwynne, Edward Davis and Sue Millar are all recommended. Sunil Gadhia left the firm to join Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP.

Within Commercial litigation, tier 5

‘Competent and knowledgeable firm’ Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP welcomed Sunil Gadhia from Stephenson Harwood. Jonathan Kelly is noted for banking and financial services disputes, and regulatory investigations; and Jonathan Blackman and David Sabel are also highly rated. The practice recently advised a joint venture in a shareholder dispute over control of a Russian retail group.

Within International arbitration, tier 4

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is becoming an increasingly visible presence in the market, with a team including Jonathan Blackman, Jonathan Kelly, David Sabel, and Romano Subiotto QC. The firm acted as counsel to the Russian Federation in three parallel arbitrations, involving claims totalling over $50bn.

Within Public international law, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is a third tier firm,

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP represents sovereigns in international litigation and arbitration; acts in state-to-state disputes; and is experienced in investor-state dispute settlement.

Within Acquisition finance, tier 4

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP’s three-partner practice specialises in complex multi-jurisdictional financings for borrowers. TPG is a core client of the firm, and recently instructed the team, along with colleagues in Moscow, in relation to a RUB25.2bn secured credit facility provided by VTB Capital, the proceeds of which were used to purchase shares in Lenta, one of Russia’s leading hypermarket chains. The firm also advised TPG in connection with the financing of its bid for Jimmy Choo. Andrew Shutter and Glen Scarcliffe, who is dual UK/US qualified, are recommended.

Within Bank lending: investment grade debt and syndicated loans, tier 4

The three-partner team at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP combines ‘expertise and professionalism’, and acts for corporate clients including Telenet, ArcelorMittal and Goodyear.

Within Debt capital markets, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is a second tier firm,

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP’s ‘highly professional, creative and responsive’ team is valued ‘especially on sovereign bonds and restructurings’. David Gottlieb advised the Russian Federation on its $7bn Eurobond issue; and Simon Ovenden has been advising the Greek government on its bond exchange and debt buy-back programme. Pierre-Marie Boury and Raj Panasar represented managers including Goldman Sachs in relation to AIG’s $2.5bn notes issue.

Within Emerging markets, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is a third tier firm,

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP’s Tihir Sarkar has a wealth of cross-border experience, and acts for Helios in various transactions in Africa, with recent deals including its acquisition of a stake in a $1.2bn telecoms joint venture. He also advised the Government of Jordan in relation to the privatisation of a telecoms company. Capital markets and international finance specialist Daniel Braverman is well versed in the Russian market.

Within Mining and minerals, tier 5

Highlights for transactional powerhouse Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP included advising African Minerals on its $417.7m secured debt financing for the Tonkolili Iron Ore Project in Sierra Leone. Corporate finance partners Andrew Shutter and Pierre-Marie Boury are key figures.

Within Power (including electricity, nuclear and renewables), tier 5

Daniel Braverman at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is advising EuroSibEnergo on its joint venture with China Yangtze Power Co for the development of hydro and thermal power projects in Siberia and the Russian Far East.