Profile: Mayer Brown LLP

Mayer Brown LLP - Who's Who Legal '70'

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

Internationally, Mayer Brown houses around 1,800 lawyers and claims to advise 89 of the Fortune 100 companies, 35 of the 50 largest US banks, and most of the companies in the FTSE 100 and DAX. The firm once again puts in a strong performance in this publication with its lawyers mentioned on 57 occasions and in 20 of the 29 featured practice areas.

BANKING, CAPITAL MARKETS AND INTERNATIONAL FINANCE
The majority of lawyers featured in the banking and capital markets chapters practise in Chicago. Robert Baptista is “an authority” for banking and Jason Kravitt joins him in the chapter. Kravitt was described by sources as “the founder of the securitisation method” and consequently also appears in the capital markets section alongside Stuart Litwin, who is said to be a “guru” (particularly for auto loans work) with an “inexhaustible wealth of knowledge”. Edward Best is “aptly named as he’s one of the best in town”, according to one rival. A “stand-out debt and equity lawyer”, his work for issuers, underwriters and selling stockholders in both public and private offerings was noted. George Pecoulas is the “go-to guy for conduits” and a “star in the making”. Mary Fontaine was described by a colleague as “the smartest lawyer we have” and her work on CDOs was noted on a number of occasions. Peter Darrow in New York represents issuers, underwriters and placement agents in cross-border securities offerings. Timothy Ryan, in Charlotte, North Carolina, completes the firm’s excellent showing in the chapter and was recommended by one corporate source as an “up-and-comer with first-rate client skills. Creative and diligent”.

Mayer Brown also fields a strong team in the project finance chapter with entries on both sides of the Atlantic. Barry Machlin in Chicago co-chairs the global projects group and is leading the team acting as procurement counsel to the Panama Canal Authority in connection with the Panama Canal Expansion Programme. Paul Forrester was also consistently nominated for his work on the financings of petrochemical, power and transportation projects. Ian Coles is one of London’s leading project finance practitioners, particularly on projects relating to natural resources. His expertise in this area also sees him listed in the mining chapter.

Asset finance is another forte at the firm: Paris-based Matthieu de Varax featuring prominently in the aviation chapter. Recent highlights include advising the successful bidder on the first PPP agreement awarded by the French Ministry of Defence. Richard Stock is another leading aviation lawyer at the firm, this time in Hong Kong. His practice encompasses a wide variety of matters including aviation finance, disputes and regulatory matters. In the past 12 months he has worked for clients on the purchase of aircraft and a number of aviation lease agreements. Mayer Brown is also recommended for the strength of its ship finance practice and two individuals in Hong Kong make the shipping and maritime chapter. Alistair MacAulay is rated as a “big star” by sources and among other matters he represented Fortis Bank in a container leasing for Hyundai Merchant Marine. Dean Young is a senior consultant and his advice to shipping companies on issues such as sale and purchase, construction and the leasing and registration of ships was noted.

COMPETITION AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Mayer Brown ranks 19th in Global Competition Review’s ‘GCR 20’, the magazine’s ranking of the world’s top competition practices. The firm has five nominees in this year’s competition chapter, one more than in the previous edition, thanks to the high-profile lateral hire of Donald Klawiter from Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP. Mayer Brown has a good pedigree when it comes to antitrust litigation. Donald Klawiter in Washington, DC, is said to do “amazingly good work” for his clients and is recommended for criminal antitrust matters. Robert Bloch, one of the group’s global practice heads, was variously described as “outstanding” and “exceptional”; he is joined in the district by “first-rate” Richard Favretto. Richard Steuer (“very, very good”) emerges as one of New York’s leading figures with sources noting his litigation skills. Andrew Marovitz in Chicago is “very strong” and “extremely well known”, particularly for cartel cases. Lee Abrams, who also practises in Chicago, is said to be “an excellent lawyer” and “one of the best”. Abrams also boasts a strong franchise and distribution practice.

Paulette Vander Schueren, the most nominated of a five-strong grouping in the trade and customs chapter, is “quite excellent for customs advisory and anti-dumping”, according to a prominent source. Edward Borovikov – a new entry in this year’s publication – is recommended as “very active and well known for Russia cases” having served as first secretary to the Russian mission to the EC between 1994 and 2000. Peter Scher and Duane Layton in DC are also new nominees this year. Head of the government and global trade group Layton’s work for governments and industry on import relief proceedings in the US and abroad is noteworthy. Scher is managing partner of the office and “highly regarded” by peers. Mickey Kantor served as United States trade representative from 1993 to 1996 and comes recommended as “top-tier”.

REAL ESTATE AND CONSTRUCTION
The firm’s combination with JSM earlier this year helped bolster its international real estate capabilities. Hong Kong practitioner F K Au is rated as “one of the very best” there and among other matters is working for a consortium member in the joint venture relating to the development of the River Trade Terminal in Hong Kong. Gary Watson represents the firm in London and has worked on a wide variety of commercial property transactions. Hans Hofmann in Frankfurt is another “first-rate” practitioner. John Gearen in the Chicago office advises clients in the commercial banking, national insurance and pension fund sectors with regard to the acquisition, financing and construction of real estate projects. Sources noted his “flair as a negotiator and ability to secure favourable results for the client”. Keith Wilner in Washington, DC completes the contingent in the real estate chapter and was reported to be “the smartest lawyer I have ever worked with,” by a well-regarded source.

The Mayer Brown quartet in the construction chapter all practise in the London office. Jonathan Hosie leads in terms of nominations and specialises in the management of risks under construction and engineering contracts. John Rushton is a “very good all-round lawyer”, according to our sources and he works on construction contracts and disputes. Notable engagements include representing four oil companies in claims relating to the construction of three separate pipelines. Michael Regan’s construction disputes work is said to be “first rate”. Nicholas Henchie also features prominently and “enjoys an excellent reputation” in the sector.

CORPORATE
Scott Davis heads the US mergers and acquisitions group with sources noting that “you see him a lot on deals”. Among other matters he represented the parent of the Chicago Board of Trade, CBOT Holdings, in its merger with CME Holdings. Nipaporn Weskosith in Bangkok also fared well in our M&A research and was variously described as “experienced” and “first rate”. The firm’s combination with JSM also ensures a strong grouping in the insolvency and restructuring chapter. Ian Chapman practises in Hong Kong and highlights include acting for HSBC and the working group and steering committee formed to guide the restructuring of Guangdong Investment and its subsidiaries. Steven Miller in Bangkok is another experienced practitioner and he advised the lead creditors in the restructuring of the Bangkok skytrain operator, BTS. Contemporaries of Timothy Sherck in Chicago “agree wholeheartedly with his inclusion” as one of the leaders in the corporate tax arena and he comes recommended for his work “on the corporate side of income tax”.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Robin Peard has developed an excellent reputation for commercial arbitration, particularly relating to shipping and insurance. Brian Gilchrist and Nicholas Hunsworth also practise in Hong Kong and feature prominently in the commercial litigation chapter. Gilchrist has acted for the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation, intervening in a judicial review relating to a decision to resume land to permit the construction of West Rail. The firm is also well positioned to defend clients on white-collar litigation with Vincent Connelly and Bryan Daly appearing in the business crime chapter. Connelly “has the market at his feet”, according to rivals. Bryan Daly was a high-profile hire last year from Beck DeCorso Daly Kreindler & Harris.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Mayer Brown also performs well in the trademarks chapter, with four entries divided from Europe and Asia. Kenny Wong in Hong Kong is a “major player” whose practice covers the spectrum of contentious and non-contentious IP matters. He is also recognised as one of Hong Kong’s leading franchise lawyers. Reinhart Lange numbers among Germany’s most respected IP litigators. Stephen Gare and Ian Wood feature in London. Gare heads the office’s intellectual property and IT group and his work in the music industry, particularly for EMI, was mentioned on a number of occasions.

The London office also provides two individuals for the management, labour and employment chapter – Nicholas Robertson and Julian Roskill. Duncan Abate completes the trio from what one source labelled “an excellent firm” in this area.

Stephen Hood’s listing in the oil and gas chapter brings Mayer Brown’s entry to a close. Hood is based in São Paulo and his corporate work in the sector comes highly recommended.