Profile: Linklaters LLP

Linklaters LLP - Who's Who Legal '70'

What is the Who's Who Legal '70'?

CORPORATE AND INTERNATIONAL FINANCE
Linklaters leads the voting in the capital markets section with a total of 23 lawyers included from 11 separate jurisdictions. London is home to the firm’s largest contingent (seven). According to sources, Nick Eastwell is “really quite exceptional” and the high levels of nominations he received backs this up. Eastwell is global head of the firm’s capital markets department and has a strong emerging markets practice. Lachlan Burn was also consistently endorsed by some of the practice area’s leading lights and Stephen Edlmann comes recommended by clients and competitors alike. The “outstanding” James Rice’s securitisation expertise was noted. Keith Thomson heads the equity and debt markets group at the firm and, like Eastwell, boasts a strong emerging markets practice. Charles Clark continues the firm’s strong showing in London, which is completed by the inclusion of Jane Brown.

Frédéric Falla and François De Bauw represent the firm in Brussels. Linklaters also has two nominees in Germany – Herbert Harrer and Berthold Franz Kusserow. Tom Loesch and Janine Biver form a strong duo in the Luxembourg. Antonio Soares was labelled by one competitor as “top tier, without a shadow of a doubt” and he emerges from our Portugal research with nothing but praise. Linklaters is also strong in Italy where Rome-based Luigi Sensi was consistently endorsed. Peter Högström heads the M&A and corporate department in Sweden and appears among a handful of highly rated capital markets lawyers in the country. Dmitry Dobatkin comes recommended as “number one in Moscow” and our findings confirm this.

The firm also has a formidable contingent in the Asian markets with two nominations apiece in Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong.
Eight corporate tax partners make it into our publication. The “top quality” Stef van Weeghel leads the nominations for the firm in this area. Based in Amsterdam, he specialises in all aspects of domestic and international tax, especially the tax aspects of international capital markets transactions, structured finance, and mergers and acquisitions. Philippe Derouin is “a star” and “one of the best in France”, according to sources. Frankfurt practitioner Jens Blumenberg is known for his work on tax treaties, transfer pricing, M&A and EC tax law. A duo of Brussels practitioners also feature: Henk Vanhulle and Ivo Onkelinx, both rated as “extremely strong in the area”. In London, sources “have a lot of time for” head of tax Guy Brannan. Martin Lynchehan is also considered “top-notch”. Yash Rupal completes the firm’s contingent – he specialises in developing financial instruments such as structured products and derivatives.

Eight Linklaters lawyers feature in the banking chapter. London-based global head of the banking practice John Tucker led in the voting and is joined by David Ereira, who was hired from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in 2007. The firm is represented in the Germany research by Berthold Kusserow and Eva Reudelhuber, and in Japan by Akihiro Wani and Paul Kruger. With additional representation in Poland and Russia, the firm has the “international scope and depth of quality to be a serious player in this field”.

In the insolvency and restructuring chapter, Robert Elliott of the London office was consistently nominated and, according to sources, provides “fantastic client care”. In another chapter “Linklaters’ insurance specialist”, Marc Loesch, received plaudits for his reinsurance expertise.

Linklaters has an enviable international profile in mergers and acquisitions – seven lawyers from four jurisdictions appear in the corresponding chapter. Senior partner David Cheyne makes our list of the practice area’s high-flyers and was acknowledged as “an absolute star” by one prominent source. Matthew Middleditch accompanies Cheyne in the English section of the book and was praised as “excellent” and “a stellar operator”. Thierry Vassogne maintains a “fantastic reputation” in the French capital. The firm is rated, alongside Allen & Overy LLP, as “the leading M&A firm in Belgium”. Antwerp practitioner Jean-Pierre Blumberg and Brussels-based Paul Van Hooghten both feature. Martin Börresen heads the firm’s M&A and corporate department in Sweden and his energy work was noted. Düsseldorf practitioner Ralph Wollburg joined the firm late in 2007 when he became part of the team that launched the firm’s new office there.

Middleditch, Cheyne and Wollberg also received a large number of nominations in the corporate governance chapter, where they are joined by three of their partners. In London, Richard Godden is “spectacularly smart”, and commended for his knowledge of issues connected with general meetings, scrip dividend schemes and the removal of directors. Steven Turnbull is another inclusion from the UK capital, an “asset to any client”, while Jean-Marie Nelissen Grade is similarly well regarded in Belgium.

Five Linklaters lawyers appear in the private funds section. Its lawyers achieve a presence on both sides of the Atlantic – in London, New York and in Luxembourg. Notable deals in 2007 include acting for Niam AB in connection with the establishment of Niam Nordic Fund IV and Lehman Brothers Europe Limited on the closings of their first dedicated European fund. In New York, the “very bright” Stephen Culhane joined private practice from a position in-house at Goldman Sachs in 2004 and already “has the highest accolades”, according to sources. Scott Bowie at the same office is an “eminent player”, with experience of a broad array of funds. In the London office, Tim Shipton is considered “a star” and was complimented on his offshore fund work. Jonathan de Lance-Holmes is another “well known name in the market”, and in Luxembourg, Alfred Brausch also received an enthusiastic reception.

Tom Loesch also appears in the aviation law chapter, where his finance knowledge is highly rated. Also “very competent” in the aviation finance sector is Richard Fugard of the London office, as is fellow London practitioner Neil Harnby.

COMPETITION
The firm’s next big contingent appears in the competition chapter, where 16 lawyers make the cut. Linklaters features in our Brussels and London lists as well as in those for a number of other European cities. “A huge player at the firm”, Gerwin van Gerven serves as co-head of the EU & competition law practice group. Van Gerven is the most highly nominated practitioner in the entire chapter. Alec Burnside in the same office is “a star”, and especially recommended for his merger control work. Respondents also gave Johan Ysewyn a warm reception and Bernard van de Walle de Ghelcke also performed well in the research. In London, three practitioners performed particularly well. Gavin Robert was recommended by one source as “a breath of fresh air and very energetic”. Diana Good’s litigation prowess was praised and Bill Allan also appears prominently. Linklaters has two partners in our France list for this area and additional leading figures in Poland, Sweden and across the pond in New York.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Linklaters has five partners in the commercial litigation chapter. All are based in European offices, three in London. The “immensely experienced” Christopher Style QC has appeared in multiple proceedings before the English courts and is also well regarded for his arbitration knowledge, while Diana Good’s financial services and tax litigation practice attracted admiring comment. She also features in the competition research. From the same office, John Turnbull was frequently recommended for his contentious M&A work, as well as on all aspects of corporate finance litigation. In Brussels, Johan Verbist is “quite excellent”, recognised for his banking and general commercial litigation practice as well as for construction and white-collar crime matters. Also in the Belgian capital, Jean-Marie Nelissen Grade is said to be an “elder statesman of the local corporate market” who also features in the corporate governance chapter.

Style also appears prominently in the arbitration chapter, where he is joined by fellow London practitioner Greg Reid, who was highly nominated, especially for his experience of energy and infrastructure projects. In Brussels, Johan Verbist is considered a “big name” in the area. As well as appearing in the commercial litigation chapter, he also features in the business crime section of the edition, where he is noted for his work representing banks and financial institutions, and individuals, in cases of alleged fraud and money laundering. Kiril Bougartchev of the Paris office joins him in the chapter and is lauded for his domestic and international expertise in high-profile cases.
Raymond Jeffers heads the firm’s employment group and forms part of a strong contingent in the management labour and employment chapter. “A venerable competitor”, Jeffers advises both public and private sector clients on all aspects of employment law. Catrina Smith, who brings her “solid reputation” to the table, is well recognised in the London market. Anders Nordström in Stockholm is a “very strong performer”; Luc Vanaverbeke in Antwerp focuses on individual and collective labour law, where he advises both national and foreign corporate clients and individuals.

REAL ESTATE, CONSTRUCTION AND ENVIRONMENT
Linklaters boasts 13 individuals from nine different countries in the real estate chapter – by far the best showing in Europe. The firm’s strongest contingent is in the London office where Simon Clark is rated as a “trailblazer” in the field and a central figure in efforts to create a UK REIT. James Knox was described to researchers as “really very good”, and head of Linklaters’ global real estate practice Patrick Plant is rated as a “brilliant lawyer”. Françoise Maigrot in Paris was consistently recommended, as was Rafael Molina in Madrid. Jorge Salvador Gonçalves heads the real estate practice in Lisbon and was recommended for his “meticulous attention to detail”. In Belgium, two more practitioners are listed: Yves Moreau and Jacques Pérrileux. The firm’s lawyers also received a raft of nominations in Germany, Luxembourg, Sweden and Russia.

Two construction lawyers make the cut: the “exceptional” Anne Minogue is “one of the most-high profile practitioners in development law”, and Huw Baker is “very, very bright”, according to sources. Both practise in the firm’s London offices.

Two London-based lawyers represent the firm in the environment chapter. Vanessa Havard-Williams is head of the global environmental law practice and well known for her climate control and carbon work. Chris Staples is also well regarded. The group has represented Equator Principles and International Project Finance, advising on the environment law aspects of international mining and energy projects.

INFRASTRUCTURE
Linklaters’ 10 featured lawyers in the project finance chapter are based in seven countries. From the London office, we recognise Bruce White, head of global projects and the firm’s PFI/PPP team, which has brought over 60 major UK PFI/PPP projects to financial close. Clive Ransome is “well known and highly respected” and the “excellent” Alan Black has a good profile for energy work. His colleague Fiona Hobbs is also respected for her energy and mining project expertise. Jonathan Inman, who moved to the UAE from the London office in 2006, is recommended for his “encyclopedic knowledge”.

We also recognise the firm’s expertise in France and Hungary, as well as in East Asia. The “vastly impressive” Stuart Salt directs the Hong Kong office – he is “top of anyone’s list” and among the most highly regarded lawyers worldwide. Martin David features in the Singapore section. As a former civil engineer, he brings technical expertise to the table. Wilailuk Okanurak in Bangkok is well known for her work on domestic petrochemical, telecommunications and power projects, among other matters.

Salt also features prominently in the oil and gas chapter alongside Kai Uwe Pritzsche in Germany, and Ewan Cameron in the United Arab Emirates.

Two mining practitioners also feature. In London, Charles Jacobs has “an enviable client list”; in Hong Kong, Christopher Kelly is also highly recommended.

IP, INTERNET AND COMMUNICATIONS
London patent practitioners Nigel Jones and Ian Karet were both consistently endorsed by their peers and Benedict Bird is well renowned for his trademark litigation expertise. He appears in the chapter alongside Jean-Christophe Troussel.

The internet and e-commerce chapter contains the notable Christopher Millard of the London office who, according to one source, is “the name in data protection”. He has great experience of multi-jurisdictional work on privacy compliance issues and data protection projects. In the regulatory communications chapter, London practitioner Tim Schwarz is “terrific” for both international and domestic work, according to sources.