The Legal 500

Within EU and competition EU and competition: Trade, WTO, anti-dumping, customs

Within M&A: mid-market, £50m-£250m, tier 5

Steptoe & Johnson’s corporate team is ‘an invaluable resource’, and has notable cross-border expertise. In 2011 it advised longstanding client Stratos on its acquisition of most of the operational assets of Blue Ocean Wireless Ltd. The ‘commercially astute’ Michael Thompson is recommended.

Within Fraud: civil, Steptoe & Johnson is a third tier firm,

Steptoe & Johnson is assisting numerous European companies in relation to compliance with EU economic sanctions and export control matters. Ray Werbicki heads the team. David Lorello is now at Covington & Burling LLP.

Within Fraud: corporate crime, Steptoe & Johnson is a third tier firm,

Steptoe & Johnson’s team includes a number of dual-qualified lawyers, and has been advising on various significant fraud disputes and anti-bribery/anti-money laundering issues. Ray Werbicki is recommended.

Within Commercial litigation, tier 6

Steptoe & Johnson is noted for disputes involving telecoms and technology, energy, insurance and reinsurance, and international trade and distribution. Ray Werbicki is international dispute resolution head.

Within International arbitration, tier 6

Steptoe & Johnson’s ‘smart team’ has strength in emerging markets such as Russia/CIS, India, Middle East, Africa and Turkey. Ray Werbicki and Matthew Coleman are recommended, and Egishe Dzhazoyan has ‘excellent common sense’.

Within Public international law, Steptoe & Johnson is a third tier firm,

Steptoe & Johnson is known for its vigorous representation before governmental agencies. It has recently been active across investment treaty arbitrations; BIT issues; state immunity matters; sanctions; and anti-corruption work. Matthew Coleman is ‘outstanding’.

Within Insurance and reinsurance litigation, tier 5

Steptoe & Johnson is ‘highly qualified for complex litigation, including coverage, pharmaceutical and group litigation matters’, and advises clients including Beazley Syndicates 623/2023, Generali, HDI-Gerling, and XL. Department head Angus Rodger is ‘commercially minded and provides deeply practical advice’. Also recommended are associates Michael Wharfe and Tim Searle, who ‘provide incisive advice promptly and competently’. Gavin Coull recently moved to Locke Lord LLP.

Within Insurance: corporate and regulatory, tier 4

Steptoe & Johnson has particular strength on the regulatory side. Recent work includes advising a large insurer in relation to products in several EU countries, and advising a leading underwriter on the conversion of all its documents to an entirely electronic system. Practice head Angus Rodger is ‘commercially minded, and listens to what a client really needs’. On the transactional side, the team recently acted for CNP Assurances in relation to a pension buy-in from a multinational company, involving a number of insurance and reinsurance issues. Damian Cleary is also recommended.

Within Commercial property, tier 4

Steptoe & Johnson is ‘an excellent firm with first-class client service’. The London office closed over 50 major real estate transactions, totalling over £3.5bn. Practice head Brendan Patterson is noted for his ‘commercial understanding’. Matthew Farmer has a ‘conciliatory negotiating style’, and Sam Kelly ‘understands transactions from the client’s perspective’.

Within Construction, tier 5

Steptoe & Johnson’s Jonathan Raynes handles defective design and construction disputes for suppliers. The team continues to advise O’Keefe Construction on contentious and non-contentious matters.