The Legal 500

Within Corporate tax Corporate tax

Within Customs and Excise,

DLA Piper UK LLP’s ‘very knowledgeable and commercially minded’ group assists key clients such as Kraft Foods Europe, Diageo, and The Boeing Company on a broad range of customs, trade law, and contentious tax matters. Well-respected partner Miriam Gonzales is a key figure. In a high-profile move, cross-border tax expert and global head of litigation Neil Gerrard recently left for Dechert LLP.

Within EU and competition EU and competition

Within Flotations: small and mid-cap, tier 5

Dechert LLP’s David Vogel is recommended.

Within M&A: lower mid-market, £50m-£250m, Dechert LLP is a second tier firm,

Dechert LLP’s private equity driven practice enjoyed another fruitful year. It handled a string of matters for the likes of Altima Partners, and its standout deal was advising the Bank of New York Mellon on its £235m acquisition of Insight Investment from Lloyds Banking Group. Sean Geraghty is recommended.

Within M&A: US law capability, Dechert LLP is a third tier firm,

Dechert LLP’s team is headed by the extremely well-regarded Douglas Getter, and acts extensively for US buyers in the UK and European markets. Crown, CMC, Altima, Absolut, Diploma and EFG Bank are representative clients.

Within Private equity: transactions , tier 7

The ‘top-class’ Jonathan Angell at Dechert LLP displays ‘a really good commercial understanding’.

Within VAT and indirect tax, tier 4

Real estate expert David Gubbay at Dechert LLP is recommended.

Within Fraud: civil Leading individuals

Within Fraud: corporate crime,

DLA Piper UK LLP saw the loss of Neil Gerrard and Jonathan Pickworth to Dechert LLP in 2011, but hired the experienced and well-respected Jo Rickards from Peters & Peters Solicitors LLP. Simon Airey and Duncan Wiggetts both have a wealth of experience across the board, and other members of the team include former senior employees of the SFO and HMRC.

Within Fraud: white-collar crime ,

At DLA Piper UK LLP, the arrival of the highly experienced and well-respected Jo Rickards from Peters & Peters Solicitors LLP cushioned the loss of Neil Gerrard and Jonathan Pickworth to Dechert LLP. The team remains ‘always available, very thorough, very committed to the client, and calm under pressure’. Simon Airey is advising an individual facing charges under export control legislation and three counts of money laundering.

Within Commercial litigation, tier 5

Dechert LLP recently welcomed Neil Gerrard and Jonathan Pickworth from DLA Piper UK LLP. The practice assisted Pitney Bowes with breach of confidence claims. Bernard Caulfield heads the team, and Andrew Hearn is ‘an excellent litigator’.

Within Defamation and privacy, tier 4

Andrew Hearn heads the team at Dechert LLP.

Within International arbitration International arbitration

Within Investment funds, Dechert LLP is a second tier firm,

Dechert LLP’s ‘excellent and dedicated’ London team advises on private and hedge funds, and also handles ETFs, OEICs and UCITS. ‘Commercial’ practice head Peter Astleford and Stuart Martin are highly regarded for hedge funds, as well as closed and open-ended funds. Both Martin and Jennifer Wood are ‘solid, experienced, and calm under pressure’. Recent highlights include advising Pamplona on a joint venture platform; and assisting on a number of new funds and trusts for clients including ACPI, BlueBay and Lombard Odier.

Within Employment, tier 5

At Dechert LLP, the ‘realistic’ Charles Wynn-Evans has a strong reputation in contentious matters for both employers and employees, acting for several senior executives on severance negotiations in 2010. The ‘first-class’ Jason Butwick has expertise in incentive planning, spin offs and reorganisations, and defended a High Court claim against RWC Asset Management entailing novel aspects of partnership law.

Within Commercial property, tier 5

Dechert LLP acts for property companies, funders and investors, and advised Aviva Life & Pensions UK on its mixed-use development at Trinity Square, Nottingham. It advises Bhs and Marks and Spencer plc on store acquisitions. Steven Fogel, Bill Fryzer, Andrew Hutchinson and Barry Thorne are ‘highly recommended’.

Within Planning, tier 6

Dechert LLP’s recent highlights include obtaining planning consent for News International’s remodelling of its Wapping site. It is advising The Crown Estate on the Luton Town urban extension; and Blackfriars Investments on redeveloping 2 Puddle Dock (The Mermaid Theatre) as a six-star hotel. Justin True heads the practice.

Within Property finance Property finance

Within Property litigation, tier 5

Jeremy Grose leads Dechert LLP’s team, which recently advised ING on various property matters including dilapidations.

Within Intellectual property, tier 5

Paul Kavanagh, who is recommended for his ‘commercial acumen’, heads Dechert LLP’s trade mark filing practice. Renzo Marchini, who is praised for his ‘depth and experience’, advised Liz Earle Beauty Co on its partnership with Avon Products.

Within Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, tier 4

Dechert LLP specialises in big-ticket transactions and corporate partnering, recently representing Biocon in a $350m licensing and supply agreement with Pfizer. Lead partner Graham Defries advised PanGenetics on the $190m sale of a chronic pain compound to Abbott as part of a demerger. Clients appreciate David Schulman’s ‘in-depth knowledge of the healthcare industry’.