The Legal 500

Within Commercial contracts, tier 4

K&L Gates’ ‘professional, lean team’ in London benefits from the firm’s wider global footprint, and is an active presence on major outsourcing mandates for a combination of customer and supplier clients. Highlights for 2010 included advising Williams Lea Limited on the global framework agreement for the provision of services to a leading Asia-based investment bank. Corporate partner Howard Kleiman and IT specialist Dominic Bray are the key figures.

Within EU and competition , tier 6

K&L Gates strengthened its practice in 2010 with the hire of Scott Megregian from McDermott Will & Emery UK LLP to co-head the London practice, and has also been growing at associate level. Work highlights included acting for new client Lockheed Martin Corporation in obtaining European Commission clearance for its acquisition of a stake in the Ammroc joint venture. The firm now also has competition capability in Brussels, having opened an office there at the start of 2011.

Within Flotations: small and mid-cap, K&L Gates is a third tier firm,

K&L Gates has a solid reputation for advising issuer clients. Jeremy Landau acted for HaloSource on its $80m placing and IPO on AIM, and also advised Brady on a £15m secondary offering. The team also represented the Minister of the State Treasury of the Republic of Poland as selling shareholder in the $2.6bn IPO of PZU. Paul Tetlow and James Green joined from Hunton & Williams in 2011.

Within M&A: lower mid-market, £50m-£250m, K&L Gates is a third tier firm,

K&L Gates’s M&A team has seen a fair amount of lateral activity in the last 18 months; in 2010, Carl Liederman and Keith Snedden joined from Arnold & Porter (UK) LLP and Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP respectively; and Paul Tetlow and James Green joined in mid 2011, both from Hunton & Williams. Liederman acted for new client CapGemini on the acquisition of Thesys Technologies, and the team also won mandates from CBRE and Halliburton.

Within Partnership Partnership

Within Gaming and betting, K&L Gates is a third tier firm,

The ‘strong team’ at K&L Gates recently acted for Sportech, and continues to advise Betfair on US gambling law, a field in which its lawyers are considered ‘thought leaders’. Key contact Warren Phelops is valued by clients for his ‘commitment to high legal standards’.

Within Banking litigation: investment and retail,

Also recommended are: Glovers Solicitors LLP, which is particularly active in the enforcement of secured loans and follow-on claims against guarantors, valuers and conveyancing solicitors; K&L Gates, which is advising in a dispute between Saad Trading and Société Générale regarding a $50m letter of credit; Morrison & Foerster (UK) LLP, where the partners are noted for their experience in complex structured products and multi-jurisdictional litigation; Salans, which is strong in the asset-based lending arena, with Kevin Heath ‘an excellent negotiator and strategist’; Squire Sanders Hammonds, where Laurence Winston and Robert Weekes are well-known names; and TLT LLP, which recruited former Halliwells finance litigation partners David Pacey and Richard Clayton.

Within Commercial litigation, tier 6

K&L Gates’ ‘service is excellent’. The team advised investment manager Proteus in a High Court claim for management and performance fees due. Team head John Magnin is ‘strategically brilliant’, and Robert Hadley is also highly rated.

Within International arbitration, tier 6

K&L Gates’ practice expanded internationally through the opening of new offices, such as in Warsaw through the legacy Hogan & Hartson team. In 2010, the London group was involved in 12 international arbitration matters. Ian Meredith is highly rated.

Within Corporate restructuring and insolvency, tier 5

K&L Gates’ London team gives ‘pragmatic advice and is good value’. Edward Smith is ‘calm and technically proficient’.

Within Debt capital markets, tier 6

K&L Gates’ ‘response times are second to none’. Stephen Moller, ‘shining star’ Andrew Petersen and Trevor Beadle have an active debt restructuring practice.

Within Islamic finance Islamic finance

Within Securitisation, tier 5

K&L Gates’ Stephen Moller, Trevor Beadle and Andrew Petersen provide a ‘very partner-led’ service, particularly for special servicers. The firm advised Hatfield Phillips on the restructuring of over 40 CMBS deals and bonds within securitisations.

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 Pensions, tier 5

K&L Gates attracted new clients such as RBC cees and Fitch Ratings in 2010. Danny Tsang is praised for his ‘exceptional responsiveness, and ability to translate complex pension law into business speak to help the client make commercial decisions’. Pensions litigator Anne McCarthy is also recommended.

Within Insurance litigation: for policyholders , K&L Gates is a first tier firm,

K&L Gates acts exclusively for policyholders, and clients appreciate the absence of conflict with insurers and the team’s related ability ‘to drive hard for the client’. Key areas of expertise include financial institutions, construction and engineering, trade credit, and political risk and energy insurance. The firm has been retained by Man Group to review financial lines policies. Group head Jane Harte-Lovelace and Sarah Turpin are ‘knowledgeable, and considerate to all issues’, and ‘follow through with their advice and strategy’.

Within Infrastructure, tier 6

K&L Gates is noted for its ‘knowledge of the market combined with a good depth of skills’. Highlights included advising the IFC in India on the development of a new university and associated infrastructure.

Within Oil and gas, tier 7

K&L Gates acted for Jordan Energy and Mining on an upstream oil shale development.

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

K&L Gates focuses on renewables, particularly the solar and biomass sectors. The firm was appointed to advise Land Energy on a combined heat and power facility.

Within Private finance initiative (PFI) , tier 6

K&L Gates’ Cathy Harris is ‘fantastic at client relations’. The firm is advising Laing O’Rourke on the £270m Barking & Dagenham BSF project.

Within Electoral, K&L Gates is a first tier firm,

The team at K&L Gates is known for its work for the Liberal Democrats, and represented Mr Elwyn Watkins, the party’s candidate for Oldham East & Saddleworth in the general election, on his successful petition against Mr Philip Woolas MP’s win. Piers Coleman heads the team and has over 30 years’ experience acting for organisations, individual candidates and returning officers, and political parties.

Within Commercial property, tier 4

At K&L Gates, ‘there is willingness to think around the problem, and strong commercial sense’. The firm advised Henderson Central London Office Fund and Alberta Investment Management Corporation on acquiring distressed, special-purpose companies relating to Smithfield Market. Other clients include CB Richard Ellis Realty Trust, Leisure Parcs and RREEF. Piers Coleman is an ‘excellent relationship manager and strategic thinker’, and Wayne Smith is also recommended.

Within Construction, K&L Gates is a third tier firm,

K&L Gates recently advised a bid consortium on a £180m social housing project in Leeds. Other clients include Halliburton and London Underground. Kevin Greene is the main contact, and James Hudson is ‘good at pressing home key points’.

Within Environment, tier 4

K&L Gates has a ‘very approachable team covering a broad range of subjects in depth, and has a pragmatic approach to issues’. Sebastian Charles recently advised on transactions by Water Hall Group, and Jordan Energy and Mining. Scott Megregian is well regarded for regulatory advice, particularly with an international focus, and recently advised various consortia on compliance and appeals.

Within Planning, tier 5

K&L Gates continues to advise Rushmoor Borough Council on the proposed expansion of Farnborough Airport; the London Borough of Hounslow on regeneration schemes; and Henderson Global Investors on out-of-town retail developments. Other clients include Laing O’Rourke, First London and Windsor Life. Practice head Sebastian Charles is ‘very bright; proactive rather than reactive’.

Within Property finance, tier 4

K&L Gates’ ‘service is energetic with willingness to think around the problem’. The firm, which advised on a range of transactions involving over £3bn of debt, won a place on the RBS panel. Other clients include Henderson Global Investors, Deutsche Bank and Lloyds Banking Group. Andrew Petersen provides ‘commercial and to-the-point advice’.

Within Brand management, K&L Gates is a third tier firm,

K&L Gates is the sole UK adviser to World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. Practice head Dominic Bray advises the Marketing Agencies Association, and Warren Phelops represent high-profile brands, notably Puma and AOL. The team is ‘fast to respond’, and delivers ‘appropriate advice and value for money’.

Within Intellectual property, tier 5

Dominic Bray leads K&L Gates’ ‘responsive, knowledgeable’ team, which ‘provides appropriate advice and value for money’, and represents WWE, PA Sport and Novatel Wireless, as well as new clients FTSE and HTC. Warren Phelops handles international sports-related transactional IP matters for Puma and the West Indies Cricket Board. Patent litigator Rebecca Halford-Harrison won significant new work.

Within IT and telecoms, tier 5

K&L Gates hired Chris Germain from Bryan Cave, and Andrew Gilchrist from DLA Piper UK LLP. Litigator Dominic Bray, whose clients include AOL, Enigma Software and The Press Association, is also singled out for praise.

Within Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, tier 4

Rebecca Halford-Harrison at K&L Gates is recommended for her strong scientific understanding and ‘practical, commercial approach’. She advises clients including Neuralsteam on IP and patents. Stuart Borrie has a strong transactional and VC practice, representing investors in the life sciences sector.

Within Sport, tier 4

Warren Phelops heads K&L Gates’ team, which was strengthened by the addition of senior associate Andrew Danson from Olswang. Along with John Elgar, Phelops continues to advise the West Indies Cricket Board on all legal matters. Dominic Bray provides brand protection and litigation advice to World Wrestling Entertainment. Competition partner Scott Megregian advises Formula One management on antitrust matters. John Magnin handles disputes.

Within Rail, tier 7

K&L Gates regularly handles operational, projects and contentious work for London Underground, which it successfully represented in a £37m dispute with Tube Lines regarding timetabling and rolling stock issues. Matthew Smith leads the practice.