The Legal 500

Within EU and competition EU and competition

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Within Financial services, tier 5

Recently merged with Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP, Clyde & Co LLP acts in investigations across the financial services sectors. The firm’s pedigree in the insurance and broader financial services industries serves it well when advising on market regulation.

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Within Flotations: small and mid-cap, tier 5

Clyde & Co LLP’s Philip Rogers is ‘very commercial and pragmatic, and doesn ’t cut corners’.

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Within M&A: mid-market, £50m-£250m, Clyde & Co LLP is a third tier firm,

Clyde & Co LLP’s merger with Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP brought noted corporate partner Simon Gamblin to the team, which has a strong reputation for its transport, natural resources, financial services and insurance sector expertise. The latter is a particular strength, with the team including seven dedicated corporate insurance partners. Clients include Panasonic and African Minerals.

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Within Fraud: civil, Clyde & Co LLP is a second tier firm,

Clyde & Co LLP counts household names such as Merrill Lynch among its clients. It is acting for IKB in a case connected with the sub-prime crisis and complex securitisation structures, and is also defending Wurttemberigsche Versicherung and others in a $487m insurance claim made by Société Générale. Julian Connerty and Conrad Walker are ‘experienced’.

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Within Banking litigation: investment and retail, tier 4

Clyde & Co LLP attracts praise for its very high levels of client care. Recommended individuals include Paul Friedman, Conrad Walker, Stephen Tricks, James Cooper and Andrew Horrocks, who gives ‘heavyweight advice when needed’. The firm acted for all three defendants in Forsta AP-Fonden v (1) Bank of New York Mellon SA/NV (2) The Bank of New York Mellon (3) BNY Mellon NA.

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Within Commercial litigation, Clyde & Co LLP is a second tier firm,

Recently merged with Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP, Clyde & Co LLP’s core sectors are insurance, transportation, energy, infrastructure, trade and finance. It is also increasingly active in multi-jurisdictional banking and financial institutions litigation. The practice advised a German bank in a case connected with the sub-prime crisis and complex securitisation structures. Paul Friedman, Neil Jamieson, Conrad Walker and Andrew Horrocks are all recommended.

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Within International arbitration, Clyde & Co LLP is a third tier firm,

Clyde & Co LLP has a very active arbitration practice, with notable expertise in trade and commodities, energy, transport, infrastructure and insurance matters. The practice is experienced in multi-jurisdictional cases, and the advice is ‘always fully reasoned’. The ‘superb’ Maurice Kenton is noted for mining and oil disputes in emerging markets. Other key contacts include John Whittaker, Ben Knowles, Michael Swangard, Marko Kraljevic and Paul Friedman.

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

In addition to her role as an insurance litigator at Clyde & Co LLP, the ‘calm, authoritative and practical’ Jane Andrewartha manages to fit in around 100 mediations a year. The fact that she juggles both and continues to be considered ‘the best mediator by far’ indicates that she is by no means overstretched. Clients praise her ability to ‘make both sides feel that she is on their side: an indispensible attribute for mediations’. In addition, ‘she brings a very common-sense approach to mediation, whether the client is a multimillion-pound company or a private individual’.

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Within Overview,

Mergers among law firms have also been to the benefit of certain litigation teams, most notably those between Clyde & Co LLP and Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP, which created one of the largest dispute resolution practices of any UK law firm, and Davies Arnold Cooper LLP and Beachcroft, to form DAC Beachcroft LLP. Also of note was Pinsent Masons LLP’s joining forces with McGrigors LLP.

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Within Professional discipline, tier 4

Clyde & Co LLP advises on accountancy, medical, legal and financial services disciplinary matters.

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

Clyde & Co LLP’s practice spans expropriations; economic sanctions; territorial and boundary disputes; bribery and corruption; sovereign debt; international trade law; natural resource concessions; and privatisations. Key highlights included acting for The National Transitional Council of the State of Libya in a case involving the landmark declaration that the National Transitional Council was the sole legitimate governmental authority in Libya, which declaration enabled the unfreezing of approximately £80m in funds located in London.

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Within Asset finance and leasing, tier 4

Clyde & Co LLP provides ‘knowledgeable and competent’ advice to a balanced mix of clients in the maritime and aviation sectors. Head of the aviation finance group Philip Perrotta has a ‘wealth of experience and knowledge’, and gives ‘very prompt and focused advice’ to banks, airlines and lessors. He recently advised VietJet on a series of operating lease transactions involving ECA-financed A320 aircraft. On the shipping side, Matt Hannaford heads a three-partner team that has been particularly active advising its owner and operator client base on refinancings. Mark Bisset is recommended for business jet financings.

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Within Commodities: derivatives Leading individuals: Commodities

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Within Commodities: physicals, Clyde & Co LLP is a first tier firm,

Clyde & Co LLP, which merged with Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP, is ‘doing an excellent job’ in commodities, with an emphasis on contentious matters, although Philip Prowse and Simon Vere Nicoll advise banks on finance, and Clare Hatcher advises trading companies on physical transactions. Michael Swangard, John Whittaker, Eurof Lloyd-Lewis and Hatty Sumption (‘a first-rate litigator, rightly regarded as one of the very best, and a joy to work with’) stand out on the contentious side. Highlights included a $26m ICC arbitration for Stemcor.

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Within Corporate restructuring and insolvency, tier 5

Bolstered by the arrival in May 2011 of the ‘highly rated’ Stewart Perry, Clyde & Co LLP handles a mix of contentious and non-contentious work for a range of stakeholders. Team head Andrew Foster has a strong reputation in the asset based lending sector.

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Within Overview,

Able to leverage its impressive roster of blue-chip corporates, Slaughter and May has the most impressive borrower-side practice in the market, and scores particularly highly for bank lending and restructuring work, where it continues to excel at high-profile matters emanating from the financial crisis. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP also stands out for borrower work, and is able to leverage this for top-quality debtor-side restructuring instructions, as well as acquisition finance and investment grade lending matters. High-ranking practices outside the Magic Circle include Hogan Lovells International LLP, which has a strong showing across restructuring, investment funds, asset finance, Islamic finance, and trade finance; Ashurst, for debt capital markets, acquisition finance and investment funds; Norton Rose LLP, for asset finance, Islamic finance and emerging markets; SJ Berwin LLP, for investment funds; and Simmons & Simmons LLP, for investment funds and derivatives. As well as having strong asset finance practices, Clyde & Co LLP, Holman Fenwick Willan LLP and Reed Smith also all feature in the top tier of the commodities (physicals) ranking.

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Within Trade finance, Clyde & Co LLP is a second tier firm,

Clyde & Co LLP has ‘a team at all levels that understands and can execute complex transactions’. Philip Prowse is ‘very good technically and polite but firm, with the patience of a saint’, and advised Stemcor on many deals including an $850m revolving credit facility for trade finance working capital lines. Consultant Stephen Tricks, who advises the EBRD on its trade facilitation programme, has ‘an excellent, hands-on track record’.

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Within Employment: employers and senior executives, tier 6

The merger of Clyde & Co LLP with Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP ‘pulled together two superb teams’, giving impressive strength in depth to the practice. The firm defends clients in the insurance and financial services sectors in critical High Court and tribunal claims, and is ‘able to offer a full service over the widest scope of employment law’. Robert Hill, Steve Blunt and recently promoted partner Nick Elwell-Sutton are singled out for praise.

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Within Health and safety, Clyde & Co LLP is a first tier firm,

Clyde & Co LLP’s ‘first-class’ health and safety practice is ‘in the top flight of firms working in this area’, and benefited from the firm’s 2011 merger with Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP, now fielding four partners. The firm acted on only the second corporate manslaughter case since the new legislation was created in 2007, representing Lion Steel Equipment over a factory incident in 2008. Rod Hunt instils ‘a significant level of trust’ in clients, and has ‘a very confident air’. It has also advised Asda, Debenhams, NFU Mutual, Walkers and Zurich on health and safety matters.

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Within Immigration, tier 4

Jonathan Chaimovic oversees the team at Clyde & Co LLP, which works closely with the firm’s international employment team. It advises on contested leave-to-remain cases and Tier 1 entrepreneur applications. Associate Tim Richards is also recommended.

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

Clyde & Co LLP’s clients include Saudi Arabian Airlines, Munich Re and Pearl Group. Mark Howard is ‘like another (highly valued) member of the in-house team’. Judith Donnelly joined the firm from Greenberg Traurig Maher LLP.

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Within Clinical negligence: claimant Leading individuals: Clinical negligence

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Within Clinical negligence: defendant, Clyde & Co LLP is a second tier firm,

Clyde & Co LLP’s merger with Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP has added a greater international dimension to the practice, as well as giving the team access to a greater range of insurance clients. The firm acts for ACE (a recent entrant into the market), the NHSLA, the MPS and the MDU. The ‘calm and reassuring’ Claire Petts heads the team, and in 2011 led in the Court of Appeal case of Marcus v Medway, now a leading authority on costs. The firm ‘compares well with other clinical negligence firms’.

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

Clyde & Co LLP’s merger with Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP created a giant in the insurance world, and consolidated its position as a leading global insurance law firm. With great breadth and depth to its practice, the firm handles the full range of matters from volume claims to complex insurance and reinsurance disputes. In sector terms, the practice ranges from personal injury, product liability and professional liability to niche areas such as political risk, bloodstock and trade credit. Recent work includes instructions arising from the Japanese earthquake, the Costa Concordia loss and the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Nigel Brook is head of the reinsurance team, and is recommended along with David Abbott. Jane Andrewartha is highlighted for her ‘expertise, commitment and enthusiasm to be truly outstanding’, and Toby Rogers, Andrew Grant and Roderick Smith are also highly rated.

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

Clyde & Co LLP is ‘well respected for M&A work’ in the sector. Andy Tromans acts in major transactional work, and advised Swiss Re on its high-value acquisition by reinsurance of Zurich Specialities London Limited, which was followed by a Part VII transfer. Gary Thorpe is also a key player on the corporate side, and provides ‘clear, concise advice on complex issues’; and Ivor Edwards has a ‘high level of professionalism and commercial acumen’. Geraldine Quirk is ‘technically sound on regulatory issues’. Clients of the team include ACE, RBS and RSA.

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Within Insurance: insolvency and restructuring, Clyde & Co LLP is a second tier firm,

The team at Clyde & Co LLP advised on a large number of solvent schemes of arrangement and Part VII transfers in 2011. Andy Tromans and Ravi Masaon acted for Swiss Re on one of the largest transfers under Part VII, with a value of £6bn. Geraldine Quirk assisted the Euler Hermes Group in a major restructuring project involving eight insurers across eight jurisdictions. Paul Bugden acted for the Standard Steamship Owners’ Protection and Indemnity Association in a substantial Solvency II reduction, including Part VII transfers valued at $600m.

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Within Overview,

On the law firm merger front, November 2011 saw two very significant amalgamations for the sector, in the form of Clyde & Co LLP’s merger with Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP, creating the largest insurance firm in the UK; and Beachcroft LLP’s tie-up with Davies Arnold Cooper LLP, to form DAC Beachcroft LLP.

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Within Personal injury: claimant Leading individuals: Personal Injury

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Within Personal injury: defendant, Clyde & Co LLP is a first tier firm,

Following its merger with Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP, Clyde & Co LLP has retained its key client panel appointments, and has been appointed to new panels for the Metropolitan Police and Mitsui. Other high-profile clients include John Lewis, and the BBC. It has a strong local authority practice featuring the highly regarded David Knapp, who is ‘one of the best lawyers in the field’, and John Goodman, who has ‘a keen eye for detail’. Danielle Singer and Charles Brown are ‘outstanding’ for catastrophic work.

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Within Product liability: defendant, Clyde & Co LLP is a second tier firm,

Benefiting from enhanced resources post merger, the team at Clyde & Co LLP has ‘some outstanding lawyers’, such as Neil Beresford and ‘first-rate strategist’ Mark Wing. The firm acts for a range of leading insurers, NHS trusts and international corporations, including advising Chartis on claims to recover damages following the class-action ‘toxic sofa’ litigation.

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Within Professional negligence, Clyde & Co LLP is a first tier firm,

Clyde & Co LLP’s merger with Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP in November 2011 significantly strengthened its professional negligence practice. The ‘responsive and proactive team’ is recommended for its ‘great depth and ability’, and covers a variety of areas including legal, financial, accountancy, construction, property, and technology, among others. Key individuals include the ‘first-class’ practice head Sarah Clover, the ‘outstanding’ Richard Harrison, the ‘brilliant’ Andrew Blair, and the ‘expert’ Fergal Cathie. Patrick Perry, Neil Jamieson and Simon Konsta are also recommended.

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Within Infrastructure, tier 6

With a specialism in Middle East and Africa matters, Clyde & Co LLP recently won a mandate to advise Deutsche Bahn International on its project documentation for the Qatar Integrated Railway Project.

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Within Oil and gas, Clyde & Co LLP is a third tier firm,

As well as being buoyed by the firm’s November 2011 merger with Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP, Clyde & Co LLP’s oil and gas group welcomed E&P contracting specialist Sandra Sinclair-Hughes from Watson, Farley & Williams LLP in May 2011, and gas price arbitration expert Devika Khanna from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP in March 2012. Among its recent work for majors and service companies in both corporate and disputes, the firm is advising the government of Yemen on the handover of a major oil producing block from Nexen.

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Within PFI and PPP, tier 5

Clyde & Co LLP’s broad coverage includes education, transport, health and housing, in the UK and the Middle East. Liz Jenkins was part of a team which advised the Arrow Light Rail consortium on the termination and sale of its interest in the extension to the Nottingham Express Tram Line 1.

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Within Power (including electricity, nuclear and renewables), tier 4

Clyde & Co LLP has an established presence in the Middle East and Africa, and has also been active domestically in biomass, solar and conventional energy mandates. Consultant Clare Hatcher is ‘well tuned in and firm at the negotiating table’; and senior associate David Owens is ‘reliable and a good communicator’.

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Within Healthcare, tier 4

Clyde & Co LLP’s merger with Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP in 2011 brought an ‘efficient’ and ‘professional’ healthcare practice which provides a range of advice including employment and regulatory support. New clients include certain NHS trusts, health insurers and a private healthcare company that runs GP practices. Claire Petts and associate Sam Holden are recommended.

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Within Commercial property, Clyde & Co LLP is a third tier firm,

Clyde & Co LLP’s merger with Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP in November 2011 added Malcolm Rogerson and his team, and the firm subsequently hired hotels and leisure experts Terry Green and Clare Whitaker from Reed Smith. The ‘very competent’ team advised Grainger on its winning bid for the Aldershot Urban Extension, a mixed-use residential scheme. Graeme Taylor and Martin Quicke are ‘very competent in handling cross-border property work’.

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

Clyde & Co LLP’s construction practice saw its contentious capabilities boosted by the firm’s merger with Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP. The ‘extremely able’ commercial and professional disputes team includes the ‘astute’ Patrick Perry and ‘influential figure’ Neil Jamieson. Praised for its ‘good grasp of commercial reality’, the group advises insurers, developers and purchasers. John Morris oversees the practice, which recently advised African Minerals on the development of a £3bn iron ore power station in Sierra Leone.

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Within Planning Leading individuals

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Within Property finance, tier 4

Clyde & Co LLP advises on all aspects of property finance, and recently acted for a UK developer on the complex £78m financing of the Guildford Hotel development. Other clients include Cathedral Group, Bank of Ireland and Investec. Terry Green and Clare Whitaker joined from Reed Smith.

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Within Property litigation, tier 4

Clyde & Co LLP’s property practice, post merger, has strengths in insurance-led and pure property disputes. Tim Foley advised Libya’s government in a £4.5m dispute concerning the sale of a property in Chelsea. Neil Jamieson shows an ‘excellent ability to pick up the salient facts’.

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

Clyde & Co LLP’s ‘vast’ aviation practice is ‘renowned in the market’, and is noted for its ‘high level of expertise’ and ‘international prowess’. It advised Qantas and its insurers regarding engine failure in a A380, forcing the aircraft to make an emergency landing at Singapore Changi Airport, and also advised Air Berlin on a number of regulatory matters. The ‘first-class’ team includes Tim Brymer, David Willcox, Philip Bass and the ‘knowledgeable’ Patrick Slomski. Peter Macara is recommended for regulatory work, and consultant John Balfour is also highly rated.

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

With ‘great industry knowledge’, the team at Clyde & Co LLP is ‘very responsive’, and ‘reassuring when faced with limited information and tight deadlines’. Key clients include Tesco, DB Schenker, Euro Cargo Rail, and Arrow Light Rail Limited. Nigel Taylor is ‘very accessible, flexible and knowledgeable’, and Victor Rae-Reeves is ‘excellent’ on rail disputes. Robert Meakin and Liz Jenkins are also singled out.

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

Recommended as ‘always having client needs at heart’, the team at Clyde & Co LLP provides an ‘absolutely excellent service’. It advised the Gulmar Group in a $500m multi-juristictional arbitration over the attempted expropriation of a fleet of vessels. Key individuals include the ‘outstanding’ Andy Preston; Ben Knowles; the ‘first-rate’ Ed Mills-Webb; Hatty Sumption; and Nick Austin. The firm’s merger with Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP added high-profile individuals Tim Taylor, John Flaherty, Miranda Karali and Eurof Lloyd-Lewis.

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