The Legal 500

Within EU and competition

Within EU and competition

Within Flotations - small and mid-cap, Clyde & Co LLP is a third tier firm,

Philip Rogers’s team at Clyde & Co LLP focuses on emerging markets. It is particularly active in Russia and Kazakhstan, and reports increasing dealflow from South America and India.

Within M&A - lower mid-marketdeals, £50m-£250m, tier 4

Defying the prevailing market conditions, Clyde & Co LLP succeeded in ramping up its deal volume in 2008, completing an impressive 40 transactions, ranging in value up to £150m. Sector strengths include financial services, natural resources, transportation and food and drinks. The firm ‘provides a first-class service 99% of the time, which can’t be said of other firms’. Philip Rogers and Tim Matthews are recommended.

Within Fraud - commercial and regulatory investigations, Clyde & Co LLP is a third tier firm,

The ‘excellent’ fraud practice at Clyde & Co LLP is a ‘proper litigation outfit’. The ‘wily’ Stephen Tricks is ‘extremely knowledgeable’ when it comes to financial matters, with a ‘cool head and forward thinking’. The practice acted for Russian company Yugraneft in a joint venture fraud claim against Roman Abramovich worth US$2bn. Another highlight was achieving settlement for Ansol in the dispute over the TadAz aluminium plant.

Within Banking litigation, tier 5

Clyde & Co LLP’s ‘very clever’ Paul Friedman has emerged as one of the chief recipients of referrals from top City firms. He now has a convincing track record that has led to direct instructions from hedge funds, private equity houses and some banks.

Within Commercial litigation, tier 4

Clyde & Co LLP has a first-class track record for commercial litigation that extends beyond its market-leading position for shipping, insurance and commodities related disputes, and represented Ansol and others in their US$500m dispute with TadAZ, which was successfully settled in 2008. The firm is also a top choice for acting against banks, as it did in UBS and Société Générale v Deutsche Raststatten Gruppe III GmbH, where it advised the defendant borrower in a dispute relating to a €2.2bn acquisition finance loan. Paul Newdick and Jonathan Wood head the highly rated team, which includes Chris Burdett, Julian Connerty, Paul Friedman and Ben Knowles.

Within International arbitration, tier 4

Clyde & Co LLP’s first-class and extremely active group draws from an array of highly experienced partners, including Jonathan Wood, John Whittaker and Ben Knowles. A regular throughput of high-value commercial disputes illustrates that the firm handles much more than insurance, commodities and shipping matters, where it is among the best. Highlights include successfully representing the Government of Yemen in a multibillion-dollar arbitration regarding an oil production sharing agreement.

Within Mediators, Clyde & Co LLP is a first tier firm,

Jane Andrewartha of Clyde & Co LLP has built an outstanding reputation for facilitating settlements in legally and factually complicated cases. Her approach to mediation is ‘imposing and analytical’, based on ‘meticulous preparation’. Described as ‘purposeful and effective’, clients applaud her ability to ‘build confidence, find and tackle the points in issue’, and ‘steer the process to a successful conclusion’.

Within Overview,

Thus far, the main beneficiaries have been those firms with strong backgrounds in banking and commodities, sectors which were the first victims of the fallout of the credit crunch and the resultant downturn. The former category is largely made up of Magic Circle and major City firms, such as Allen & Overy LLP, Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, Linklaters LLP, Herbert Smith LLP, Lovells LLP, Simmons & Simmons, and Slaughter and May, all of which have excellent track records in financial services related disputes. In the latter, firms with strong experience in areas such as shipping, including Clyde & Co LLP, Ince & Co, and Holman Fenwick Willan LLP, have benefited from an uptick in disputes, thanks largely to major fluctuations in commodities prices.

Within Public international law, Clyde & Co LLP is a third tier firm,

Clyde & Co LLP has a well-established, ‘excellent’ practice drawing on its wider strengths in areas such as trade, commodities, maritime, and arbitration. It acts for and against governments on expropriation, fair and equitable treatment, discrimination and denial of justice claims, and also has experience in contract frustration, sovereign immunity, and international debt issues. It has seen particular growth in work from Eastern Europe and Russia, and highlights include acting for a Dutch company against the Republic of Azerbaijan in ICSID arbitration concerning alleged expropriation. John Whittaker is recommended.

Within Asset finance and leasing, tier 4

Clyde & Co LLP has continued to expand its practice through a steady stream of significant lateral hires, most recently attracting aviation finance specialist Mark Bisset from Stephenson Harwood. He joins a finance practice that draws praise for its ‘strong industry knowledge and depth of experience’, particularly in aircraft finance where it acts for the likes of Air France and Bayerische Landesbank. Recent highlights include acting for the lenders on the financing of new Boeing 777s for Emirates and Air Asia. Practice head Gavin Hill is ‘a great legal mind and problem solver’, while Philip Perrotta is noted for his resourcefulness.

Within Asset finance and leasing, tier 4

At Stephenson Harwood, aircraft finance partner Paul Richardson acts as lead UK counsel to Macquarie Aircraft Leasing Limited, while Guy Liddle handles engine leasing matters for Engine Lease Finance Corporation. Ship finance has long been the firm’s strong point, and practice head Mark Russell recently acted for Nordea Bank on a US$100m facility to Russian shipping company Primorsk. Clients report satisfaction with the team’s performance in all respects, highlighting the ‘prompt, accurate and relevant advice’, although it received a blow with the loss of aviation partner Mark Bissett to Clyde & Co LLP.

Within Commodities and futures - commodities, Clyde & Co LLP is a first tier firm,

‘First choice for a sticky problem in a tough jurisdiction’, Clyde & Co LLP acts on metal, oil, energy and some soft commodities transactions and litigation, advising clients such as Glencore, ED&F Man and the Ministry of Oil of the Government of Yemen. John Whittaker is ‘a strategic thinker who has seen it all before’, while Michael Swangard ‘brings a commercial and trader-friendly approach to legal issues’, and Hatty Sumption is ‘a very thorough and reliable litigator’. Ben Knowles handles oil and other commodity disputes, and Clare Hatcher specialises in commodity trading.

Within Overview,

High-ranking practices outside the Magic Circle include Ashurst LLP, for acquisition finance and derivatives; Denton Wilde Sapte LLP, for restructuring, asset finance and trade finance; Lovells LLP, for Islamic and trade finance; Norton Rose LLP, for asset finance and Islamic finance; SJ Berwin LLP for investment funds; and Simmons & Simmons, for hedge funds and derivatives. Clyde & Co LLP, Holman Fenwick Willan LLP, Ince & Co and Reed Smith account for the top tier of the commodities ranking, a practice area which relies heavily on a complementary shipping practice.

Within Trade finance, tier 4

Stephen Tricks and consultant Clare Hatcher are the central figures at Clyde & Co LLP, whose clients include Glencore and Stemcor. Robert Parson moved to Reed Smith, and Andrew Wells is now a consultant.

Within Employment, tier 7

Highlights for Clyde & Co LLP included advising Sony Ericsson on global restructuring issues and their impact on its UK operation. Chris Duffy and Paul Newdick offer an ‘excellent business understanding’. New clients include Royal Brunei and Aegean Airlines.

Within Health and safety,

Also of note are: Clyde & Co LLP (‘very impressive under pressure’); Crowell & Moring, for ‘enormous experience and quality Crown Court work’; Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP, which recently acted for a mainstream tour operator following a double fatality; Irwin Mitchell LLP, for its solid national capability; and Kingsley Napley, where the ‘house style never fails to impress’.

Within Health and safety,

Clyde & Co LLP is ‘very impressive under pressure’.

Within Immigration, Clyde & Co LLP is a third tier firm,

Clyde & Co LLP’s ‘excellent’ immigration team is led by the ‘user-friendly’ Jonathan Chaimovic, who ‘makes complicated immigration law very easy to understand’. It holds a strong, multi-jurisdictional, blue-chip client base, managing clients from countries throughout Europe as well as further afield in Ghana, Mozambique, India, China, South Africa, the US, Dubai and Australia.

Within Insurance - corporate and regulatory, Clyde & Co LLP is a second tier firm,

At Clyde & Co LLP, department head and ‘star’ Andrew Holderness has a strong reputation in the Lloyd’s market. A successful year saw the practice appointed to the non-claims legal panel of ACE European Group, and it maintains its place on other panels such as AXA’s global panel. It is becoming more active in the public company arena; one highlight was advising Heritage Underwriting Agency on the £141m recommended cash offer made by Argo Group International Holdings. Christopher Duffy is also recommended, and Andy Tromans has joined from Clifford Chance.

Within Insurance - insolvency and restructuring, Clyde & Co LLP is a first tier firm,

Clyde & Co LLP is particularly active in the run-off market. Leading partners include the well-regarded Geraldine Quirk, Paul Bugden and David Coupe; the ‘sensible and commercial’ Juliette Stevens left the firm for an in-house position but is retained by the firm in a consultancy capacity. The firm advised GLOBALE and its subsidiary, Global General, on their solvent schemes of arrangement; GLOBALE’s scheme was the first solvent scheme of arrangement for a German insurer/reinsurer. The team also advises the insurance industry on insurance/reinsurance company and broker insolvencies.

Within Insurance and reinsurance litigation, Clyde & Co LLP is a first tier firm,

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP has ‘great reinsurance pedigree’ and is also widely respected for its insurance expertise, although it has seen some major changes at partner level; Roger Doulton has moved to Clyde & Co LLP, and Colin Croly has also left. The remaining partners continue to garner praise; practice head Jason Bright has ‘very good commercial acumen’; Clive O’Connell ‘knows insurance inside out’; David Abbott is ‘very responsive’; and Patrick Foss is ‘very knowledgeable’. The team is representing QBE in arbitration and in Commercial Court proceedings (currently subject to appeal to the Court of Appeal) in a dispute concerning the revocation of an agent’s authority to conduct the run-off of legal expenses/insurance business written for the principal under a binder.

Within Insurance and reinsurance litigation, Clyde & Co LLP is a first tier firm,

Clyde & Co LLP has some superb partners; Nigel Brook is valued for his ‘very good strategic sense of how to run a case’; Michael Payton is ‘the sage in the market’; Andrew Grant has ‘gained a significant reputation as an excellent reinsurance lawyer’; and Nigel Chapman and Roderick Smith are also well known. Recent instructions include acting for the insurers of a construction company repairing a railway bridge in the Czech Republic which collapsed onto the track, leading to eight fatalities. The firm was appointed to ACE European Group’s non-claims legal panel, and retains panel appointments with AXA among others. Roger Doulton has joined the team, while Anthony Menzies has moved to Taylor Wessing LLP.

Within Overview,

London is a global hub for the insurance/reinsurance industry. Some lawyers are reaping the benefits of the challenging economic conditions; the upheaval in the financial markets has led to significant claims activity and insurance companies are now more likely to contest an insurance claim. While there has been a slow down in deal activity, strategic deals are still being done, with Part VII transfers continuing to dominate this area. On the regulatory side, Clifford Chance, Lovells LLP and Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP are among the leading firms. Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP, Clyde & Co LLP and Ince & Co remain strong on the insurance/reinsurance litigation front, with Herbert Smith LLP and Mayer Brown International LLP also having made considerable strides in this sector. The separate table for policyholder work reflects the fact that some law firms have a dedicated practice representing corporate entities on insurance matters.

Within Product liability - defendant, tier 5

Clyde & Co LLP stands out for its work in the petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, engineering sectors, and aviation product and manufacturers’ liability issues. It is currently representing an insurance company in a coverage dispute with a Belgian manufacturer of hormone replacement therapy. Chris Harris leads the practice, which features Manoj Vaghela, Victor Rae Reeves, Lisa Payne Lawrey and Peter Hirst.

Within Professional negligence, tier 4

Chris Harris leads the 19-partner team at Clyde & Co LLP, where notable instructions include advising the insurers of a construction company which was repairing a bridge when it collapsed causing eight fatalities and over 70 injuries in the Czech Republic. The team was also notably appointed to the ACE European Group’s non-claims legal panel.

Within Oil and gas, tier 4

Clyde & Co LLP’s oil and gas team retains its focus on emerging markets, and in 2008 recorded growth in African and Caspian oil and gas upstream matters. Highlights included advising on a US$4bn refinery upgrade in Latin Amercia, while disputes and renewable matters are also strong areas. James Varanese’s team is praised for its ‘depth of knowledge’ and ‘wisdom’.

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

Clyde & Co LLP advised Delta Mining Consolidated on London Mining’s US$120m investment in DMC Coal. The firm’s ‘depth of knowledge in the energy sector is exemplary’, and Clare Hatcher is singled out for her ‘wisdom’.

Within Commercial property, tier 4

The cornerstones of Clyde & Co LLP’s real estate practice are advising property companies on investment and development, and acting for retailers, large occupiers and local authorities. The firm recently advised on several London developments, including acting for Cathedral Group on a public-private partnership with Lambeth Council. Robert Pilcher is recommended for ‘practical and straightforward advice’, while head of department Martin Quicke is an ‘extremely commercial lawyer who has an understanding of complex deal structures’. David Wyatt leads a strong retail offering.

Within Construction, tier 4

Providing ‘the right balance of talented individuals at competitive cost’, Clyde & Co LLP’s London group, led by John Morris, was instructed for the first time by the Freshwater Group of Companies in 2008 on four large schemes in the London area. The practice has a spread of developer, consultant and owner-occupier clients, and possesses recognised expertise in insurance-related issues. City & General retained the practice in arbitration, which culminated in a four-month hearing against a contractor and a firm of quantity surveyors and project managers.

Within Aviation, Clyde & Co LLP is a first tier firm,

Beaumont & Son - Aviation at Clyde & Co’s regulatory and insurance practice has a firm reputation in the marketplace, with ‘depth of expertise to rival that of any competitor’. There has been in an industry-wide downturn in commercial regulatory work, but the firm’s contentious practice continued apace, with the core insurance work of major catastrophe claims continuing to thrive. Highlights included advising in relation to the 2008 crash of a McDonnell Douglas MD82 aircraft at Barajas airport in Madrid. The team has a number of insurance experts considered ‘in the upper echelons of available talent’, with Philip Bass, ‘tenacious advocate’ Tim Brymer, David Willcox and Ross Williams all standing out. Regulatory highlights included representing the Serbian Privatisation Agency on the privatisation of Serbia’s national carrier, JAT, and acting on the EC’s investigation into alleged cartel behaviour in relation to air cargo surcharges. John Balfour is widely considered a ‘doyen of the regulatory world’.

Within Multi-modal, Clyde & Co LLP is a first tier firm,

Clyde & Co LLP offers a comprehensive service to its transportation clients, partly on the back of its strong insurance practice. Guildford-based partner Michael Parker heads the team and acts as legal adviser to both BIFA (The British International Freight Association) and the Food Storage and Distribution Federation. Andrew Preston is also recommended.

Within Overview,

The aviation industry was hit by a combination of surging oil prices and a flatlining economy, and has seen a number of high-profile bankruptcies, most notably in the low-cost carrier market. This - coupled with M&A activity as airlines look to absorb some of their weaker competitors, and the Competition Commission’s requirement that BAA sell three of its seven airports in the UK - has ensured a steady flow of activity for firms with strong regulatory practices. Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP and Beaumont & Son - Aviation at Clyde & Co continue to dominate the sector with their focus on both the regulatory and insurance sides of the business. Historically an industry that supports boutique practices among broader-based corporate firms, recent years have seen a number of high-profile mergers, most recently with boutique firm Lane & Partners merging with Bird & Bird LLP. There are a number of boutique firms still carving an aviation niche, notably Gates and Partners and Clark Ricketts LLP. Firms have reported growth in the Brazilian and broader Latin American markets, with Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP opening an office in the region to handle the influx of regulatory and insurance work.

Within Shipping , Clyde & Co LLP is a second tier firm,

Derek Hodgson heads Clyde & Co LLP’s department, which works on contentious shipping matters, has expertise in problems arising from the carriage of oil and gas cargo by sea, and has a strong advisory practice for the bunkering industry. The cargo recovery practice has enviable experience in pursuing claims against carriers and vessels, and the firm increased its work with shipowners in relation to parties attempting to renege on contracts. Steve Pink is noted for ship casualty matters; Andrew Nicholas for marine insurance litigation, Ben Knowles for cargo damage and sale and purchase disputes; oil market specialist Irvine Marr for charterparty work; Hatty Sumption for charterparty and bill of lading disputes; and Nick Graydon recommended for shipowner representation.