The Legal 500

International law firm Clifford Chance combines the highest global standards with local expertise. Leading lawyers from different backgrounds and nationalities come together as one firm, offering unrivalled depth of legal resources across the key markets of the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. The firm focuses on the core areas of commercial activity: capital markets; corporate and M&A; finance and banking; real estate; tax, pensions and employment; and litigation and dispute resolution.

The firm: Through a strong understanding of clients’ cultures and objectives, Clifford Chance draws on the full breadth of its legal skills to provide results-driven, commercial advice.

Clifford Chance has more leading global practices than any other firm (Chambers Global 2009) and further recognition includes: Most Innovative Law Firm (FT Innovative Lawyers Report 2008), M&A Team of the Year (IFLR Asia Awards 2008) and CSR Project of the Year (British Legal Awards 2008).

Types of work undertaken: Capital markets: renowned for providing expert advice to underwriters, arrangers, trustees and issuers on innovative transactions globally, with particular strength in developing and emerging markets. The firm is a leading advisor on the full spectrum of capital markets products, including securitisation, equity-linked bonds, IPOs, ‘straight’ debt issuance, hybrid capital and project bonds. With over 400 capital markets specialists, the firm’s integrated global network offers the breadth and depth of resources required in today’s global business environment.

Corporate: leads high-value, complex M&A, private equity and other corporate finance deals for the world’s leading corporations. The practice combines technical expertise in cross-border and domestic deals with leading regulatory, antitrust and commercial capability. Partners apply a business-focused approach, working closely with clients to access the full breadth of the firm’s resources.

Finance: with lawyers located in major financial and commercial centres across the globe, the firm has one of the world’s pre-eminent finance practices. It provides advice on the full spectrum of financial products, including bank lending, acquisition finance, asset finance, derivatives, project finance, restructuring, insolvency and structured finance. The practice also works on national and international regulatory developments and strategic issues for financial institutions.

Litigation and dispute resolution: this global practice has experience in virtually all segments of the business and financial markets across multiple jurisdictions in the Americas, Europe and Asia. It works with clients to resolve disputes through arbitration, litigation and other techniques, as well as developing compliance programmes aimed at minimising future litigation risks.

Real estate: acting for the industry’s leading players, this global practice advises on the full range of real estate-related transactions. The practice handles the entire property ‘life-cycle’ from the initial acquisition, development, leasing, joint venturing and financing through to the final exit, as well as tax structuring, PFI/PPP, outsourcing, planning, environment and litigation.

Tax, pensions and employment: the tax group advises clients, including leading banks, corporates and private equity houses, on corporate transactions, M&A, joint ventures, lending transactions, Islamic finance, structured finance, securitisation, funds, real estate and VAT. The pensions practice advises clients, including trustees, employers, insurers and other product providers, fund managers and investment banks, on all legal issues involving pension schemes, including corporate transactions, buyouts and contentious matters. The employment group advises on the complete range of contentious and non-contentious employment issues. The employee benefits team advises, in the UK and on a multinational basis, on the full spectrum of employee incentive arrangements.

Recruitment and development: as well as recruiting the best people, the firm insists on the professional development of all its employees. Lawyers work continuously to develop both legal and personal skills through the training programmes offered by the ‘in-house’ law education system, the Clifford Chance Academy. Visit www.cliffordchance.com/careers for more information.

International offices: Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Bangkok, Barcelona, Beijing, Brussels, Bucharest, Budapest, Dubai, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Kyiv, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Milan, Moscow, Munich, New York, Paris, Prague, Riyadh (co-operative office with Al-Jadaan & Partners Law Firm), Rome, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo, Warsaw, Washington DC

Number of UK partners 223
Number of other UK fee-earners 922