Freshfields

Freshfields excels in environmental disputes, often acting for global manufacturing companies in the High Court. Team members are particularly busy in the realm of both individual and mass disputes resulting from earlier M&A transactions for a varied client roster formed of global pharmaceutical companies, an industry in which the group has a niche, and automotive companies for whom the group appears in high-profile court emissions claims. Simon Duncombe often leads these matters, who is at the helm of the team alongside Andrew Austin, who is comfortable defending multi-jurisdictional product liability claims in sectors such as technology, retail and life sciences. The team continues to defend international tobacco products, of which John Blain is a key part, including costs related to the health risks of smoking. Finally, James Roberts ‘has the rare ability to combine superb academic knowledge of his subject area with a real pragmatism.’