The Legal 500

London: Corporate and commercial

Commercial contracts

Commercial contracts - ranked: tier 4

HFW

HFW has an international network and broad sector expertise, including transport and logistics, aviation, technology, commodities and energy. As well as handling commercial contracts work, the firm specialises in niche areas, ranging from producing documentation for major port projects and dealing with outsourcing agreements for IT, to drafting freight management contracts for the international movement of goods for blue-chip retailers. The team is co-led by transactional commercial law expert Matthew Gore, who focuses on the ports, transport and logistics sectors; Craig Neame, who specialises in logistics; Anthony Woolich, who is head of the technology team and has experience in providing advice to hi-tech and industrial sector clients; and Alistair Mackie, who is known for his work relating to ports and terminals. Also notable is William MacLachlan, who was prompted to partner in 2019 and has particular experience in transactional shipping matters.

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EU and competition

EU and competition - ranked: tier 6

HFW

HFW’s team members advise on a mix of EU law, competition and international trade under the leadership of co-head Anthony Woolich and Brussels-based Pierre Frühling . The group focuses on handling state aid-related matters in the area of EU law, with a particular focus on the energy sector.  Other sectors of expertise include infrastructure and mining, construction, retail, consumer goods, agriculture, financial services, sports, pharmaceuticals, and media. Another differentiating characteristic of the team in terms of cross-border work is its experience in Greece and Cyprus. Department co-head Costas Frangeskides is a key contact for clients seeking assistance with contentious competition matters. Daniel Martin is also noted.

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M&A: lower mid-market deals, £50m-£500m

M&A: lower mid-market deals, £50m-£500m - ranked: tier 4

HFW

HFW's key recognised sector strengths are transport, energy and infrastructure, and insurance, within which the firm handles corporate M&A transactions. Work carried out by the London team invariably carries cross-border considerations, and the team is able to call on colleagues in Singapore, Paris, Dubai, Hong Kong and Sydney, in particular. Furthermore, the firm recently opened an office in Abu Dhabi and formed  alliances with an energy firm in the US and Brazil-based CAL, adding further strength to its cross-border offering.  The London team is led by Nick Hutton, while the ports and terminals and infrastructure teams are headed by Alistair Mackie, who retains an important role in the firm's M&A capabilities.

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London: Crime, fraud and licensing

Fraud: civil

Fraud: civil - ranked: tier 5

HFW

HFW advises on commercial litigation, cross-border fraud, insolvency, breach of contract claims, breach of fiduciary duties and asset tracing. Key practitioner Rick Brown has particular experience in offshore trust matters in the Caribbean and other jurisdictions. Former team head Noel Campbell relocated to the Hong Kong office.

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London: Dispute resolution

Commercial litigation

Commercial litigation - ranked: tier 6

HFW

HFW is widely respected for its expertise in energy, mining and transport-related disputes. The practice also regularly acts in litigation involving commodities, manufacturing, utilities, engineering, financial services and  international trade companies. Damian Honey represents clients in disputes in relation to commodities and freight-related matters; other highly regarded advisers are Simon Blows, Noel Campbell, Costas Frangeskides and Alistair Feeney.

Leading individuals

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Commodities disputes

Commodities disputes - ranked: tier 1

HFW

HFW is recognised as a strong player in the physical commodities market and handles the full spectrum of work concerning the international sale of goods, including soft commodities, oil and gas, coal and steel, and non-ferrous and precious metals. Among its clients are multinational energy and chemical companies, coal and metal traders, soft commodity trading houses, trade finance banks, governments and their agencies, brokers, insurers and trade associations. Practice head Alistair Feeney is a leading specialist in energy commodities, particularly crude oil, petroleum products, LNG and biomass. Brian Perrott has more than 30 years' experience in commodities, derivatives and shipping disputes. Damian Honey advises commodity traders, producers, financiers and insurers on physical and financial trading agreements and disputes. Sarah Taylor and Judith Prior are also recommended for contentious matters.

Leading individuals

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International arbitration

International arbitration - ranked: tier 5

HFW

HFW is best known for its international arbitration experience in relation to shipping and aviation, international trade, energy and commodities; other areas of strength include insurance and reinsurance, financial services and construction. The names to note are Damian Honey, Katie Pritchard, Alistair Feeney, Costas Frangeskides and Max Wieliczko.

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London: Finance

Trade finance

Leading individuals

Rising stars

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Transport finance & leasing

Transport finance & leasing - ranked: tier 4

HFW

Led by Elinor Dautlich, HFW's nine-partner team is primarily known for its 'high-calibre' shipping finance for banks and operators, which benefit not only from its 'vast subject matter knowledge' but also the team's ability to draw on the expertise of practitioners in key jurisdictions, including Singapore and Greece. The team continues to handle a significant amount of restructuring work in the sector, including its recent work for RBS as one of the creditors in the out-of-court restructuring of Danaos. Tony Rice was involved in the aforementioned deal and has vast shipping finance experience across both commercial debt financings, as well as ECA-supported mandates. Although the firm's aviation finance capability is better known out of the firm's Asian offices, including Singapore and Hong Kong, the London team, spearheaded by Adam Shire and senior associate Barbara Pansadoro, handles a significant volume of commercial, corporate and private jet financing work.

Leading individuals

Rising stars

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London: Insurance

Insurance and reinsurance litigation

Insurance and reinsurance litigation - ranked: tier 2

HFW

With specific experience in reinsurance and professional negligence work, HFW covers a wide scope of matters relating to aviation, shipping, commodities and energy insurance. Christopher Cardona, who heads up the team, focuses on financial institutions and professional indemnity work, while Christopher Foster handles a broad range of matters, with the highly regarded Andrew Bandurka specialising in brokers and reinsurers liability claims. Jonathan Bruce and Nigel Wick frequently assist clients with marine and energy insurance and reinsurance matters.

Leading individuals

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Insurance litigation: for policyholders

Insurance litigation: for policyholders - ranked: tier 3

HFW

While regularly advising insurers and captive insurers, HFW also acts for prominent policyholders such as energy corporates, oil and gas companies, manufacturers and construction companies. Christopher Cardona, who leads the team, is regularly involved in cross-border work for financial institutions, particularly in relation to Latin America. Jonathan Bruce specialises in marine and energy insurance and Nigel Wick has broad expertise.

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Insurance: corporate and regulatory

Insurance: corporate and regulatory - ranked: tier 4

HFW

HFW has a broad offering and longstanding sector expertise, including a strong Lloyd's market practice and expertise in insurance regulatory matters. Key members of the team include Richard Spiller, who deals with acquisitions, risk transfers and restructurings, policy wordings and run-offs; Ashwani Kochhar, who focuses on non-contentious matters, including insurance M&A and corporate finance; and Carol-Ann Burton, who returned to the firm as a partner in 2018 after two years  at the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. Senior associate William Reddie has a particular focus on innovative insurtech products.

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Professional negligence

Professional negligence - ranked: tier 3

HFW

HFW is regularly instructed on high-value, complex claims involving a range of professionals, including accountants, auditors, insurance and other brokers, insolvency practitioners, financial intermediaries and institutions, surveyors, architects, engineers and lawyers. Negligence cases relating to marine surveyors and marine salvage work are also a key specialism of the team. It is regularly engaged on cross-border instructions and acts for claimants and defendants. Key work included representing Sterling Developments (London) on a claim against its former legal representatives that it failed to adequately advise in connection with an underlying claim concerning the mis-selling of an interest rate hedging product.

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London: Projects, energy and natural resources

Mining and minerals

Mining and minerals - ranked: tier 3

HFW

HFW's mining offering is jointly led by Nick Hutton and Brian Gordon, who splits his time between Singapore and London as head of the global practice. The group has extensive experience in the development of greenfield mining projects, from the acquisition of mining and surface rights, through the construction of mine infrastructure, to the drafting of operating and off-take contracts. In recent highlights, the team advised a listed mining group on its sale by tender of a 30% interest in two major Indonesian mines for $1.3bn to a major Indian electricity generation company, and represented a London-based consortium on a large scale mining project in Northern Angola.

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Power (including electricity, nuclear and renewables)

Power (including electricity, nuclear and renewables) - ranked: tier 4

HFW

HFW is particularly active in the UK offshore wind sector; the firm's construction team regularly represents a variety of industry players across the full range of their project lifecycles, from procurement to construction. The firm's offering also includes significant dispute resolution and international arbitration capabilities. Richard Booth was recently promoted to partner within the construction space.

Next Generation Partners

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London: Real estate

Construction: contentious

Construction: contentious - ranked: tier 3

HFW

HFW's contentious construction team primarily focuses on international arbitration, as well as matters relating to offshore construction and infrastructure. The practice is led by the 'stand out' Max Wieliczko who is experienced in the oil and gas, roads, energy to waste, renewables and urban development sectors. Michael Sergeant leads on much of the firm's key work, including a range of international matters. Ben Mellors has a track record of solving engineering disputes, as well as matters in the transport, infrastructure and power sectors.

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Contruction: non-contentious

Contruction: non-contentious - ranked: tier 4

HFW

HFW's non-contentious team acts for an international client base on projects including power, ports and terminals, rail and tunnels. The team is headed up by Max Wieliczko who was lead partner advising Clugston Construction in relation to the construction of several energy to waste projects in the UK. The 'innovative' Richard Booth is another notable name within the team with a focus on renewables including offshore wind and solar as well as transport work. He leads the firm's work for a number of major clients, including advising solar energy company Belectric on an EPC contract for the design, procurement and construction of a solar plant in Jordan.

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London: Transport

Aviation

Aviation - ranked: tier 1

HFW

HFW's aerospace department is regularly engaged on complex aviation disputes and its expertise spans major losses and liability-related mandates. It is also experienced in regulatory and competition matters in the aviation sector. Key instructions include advising King Power International Co, and its aviation insurers, on all liability aspects of the fatal helicopter crash near Leicester City Football Club in 2018. Global aerospace head Giles Kavanagh is instructed by insurers, airlines and manufacturers; Nicholas Hughes is an 'aviation expert' and Sue Barham handles regulatory and disputes work in the sector. While Zohar Zik is experienced in finance and leasing transactions, he is also active on regulatory matters. Senior associate Mark Waters is experienced in products disputes. The team is commended for its ability to utilise its global footprint to advise on cross-border instructions.

Leading individuals

Next Generation Partners

Rising stars

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Shipping

Shipping - ranked: tier 1

HFW

The 'impressive' offering at HFW has an 'outstanding shipping practice'. Clients consistently praise its global reach; it is a 'well-known and perfectly connected firm that provides excellent and professional services'. Its broad expertise spans the gamut of wet and dry work and it is commended for its leading sanctions regulatory practice. Commercial, logistics, marine insurance, piracy, offshore, cyber and technology work are key areas of focus, and the firm offers specialists across the yacht and cruise sectors. Richard Neylon, who is noted for his crisis response work, is instructed by Maersk Line and Salalah Port Services on losses, damage and liabilities arising from Cyclone Mekunu, which made landfall at the Salalah Container Terminal, Oman on May 25 2018. Elsewhere, Jim Cashman handles contentious work; Paul Dean is noted for his offshore expertise; Rory Butler handles dry and admiralty matters; head of regulatory shipping Daniel Martin is a sanctions expert; Alex Kemp and senior associate Michael Ritter handle casualty response work; and Andrew Chamberlain is head of admiralty and crisis management. Global head of shipping Craig Neame handles contentious and insurance work and is also noted for his transactional and regulatory expertise. Matt Illingworth has joined Wikborg Rein.

Leading individuals

Next Generation Partners

Rising stars

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Travel

Travel: regulatory and commercial - ranked: tier 1

HFW

HFW's multidisciplinary offering stands out for its leisure, aviation and cruise sector expertise. It is instructed by airlines, cruise lines, ferry companies, holiday companies, tour operators, industry bodies and insurers, and it handles a raft of regulatory, disputes and commercial work. Health and safety issues, crisis management, IT, IP and data protection work are also key focuses. Consultant Sue Barham handles regulatory and disputes for travel sector clients and is noted for her expertise across EU consumer, travel and passenger regulation. Recently promoted partner William MacLachlan has experience in advising clients across the commercial shipping, cruise, ferry and yachting sectors.

Leading individuals

Next Generation Partners

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