Simmons & Simmons - Who's Who Legal 70

What is the Who's Who Legal 70?

Simmons & Simmons in Who's Who Legal

	Corporate Tax
	1

	Environment
	2

	Private funds
	4

	Internet & e-Commerce
	2

	Insolvency & Restructuring
	1

	Product Liability Defence
	2

	Oil & Gas
	1

	Capital Markets
	1

	Corporate Governance
	1

	Trademarks
	2

	Regulatory Communications
	4

	Construction
	1

	Commercial Litigation
	1

	Aviation
	2

	Management Labour & Employment
	4

	Aviation
	2

	Management Labour & Employment
	4

	Patents
	6

	Life Sciences
	9

	Insurance & Reinsurance
	1

	Business Crime Defence
	2

	Competition
	2

	Mergers & Acquisitions
	1

The firm’s strongest contingent is in the life sciences section with eight listings almost exclusively from the London office. Richard Binns is the head of the intellectual property department in London and head of the international intellectual property practice. He advises clients in the field of pharmaceutical, chemicals and biotechnology. Alongside him is Mark Curtis, a “superb” lawyer on M&A and IPOs in the pharmaceutical industry. Marc Döring counts Bayer Schering Pharma, Kraft Foods and LEO Pharma among his clients. His life sciences practice centres on regulatory work and patent litigation, for which he enjoys a listing in the patent chapter, as does Rowan Freeland and the “highly regarded” Kevin Mooney. Charles Mayo has an “impressive” list of life sciences clients, including the Ministry of Defence, which he advised on the £1.3 billion IPO of QinetiQ and partnership with Carlyle. The “knowledgeable” Marjan Noor makes up the London team. The French life sciences contingent is also represented by Jacques-Antoin Robert. He is highly praised by contemporaries and clients, according to one source “he masters the topic of product liability for pharmaceutical products and is excellent in court litigation”.

In addition to Döring, Mooney and Freeland in patents, Bas Berghuis van Woortman is a leading figure on the patents scene in Amsterdam. He is a litigator with a “first-rate” client list, including GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Ericsson and Microsoft.

The firm’s London office boasts the majority of the firm’s private funds inclusions. Neil Simmonds advises extensively on portfolio management agreements and authorisations and generally on compliance and regulatory issues. Steven Whittaker is “extremely skilled at setting up hedge funds” and Noel Ainsworth is “a true funds specialist” who advises clients such as Cambridge Associates and Gartmore. Iain Cullen is “one of the best funds lawyers in the UK” and “top of his game”. In Lisbon Pedro Rebelo de Sousa heads up the Sociedade Rebelo de Sousa in association with Simmons & Simmons. He is famed for his in-house experience at Citibank.

In regulatory communications Florence Guthfreund-Roland is the Paris head of the communications, outsourcing and technology practice. She advises operators on regulation and deregulation of networks and outsourcing deals in the public and private sectors. In Madrid Luis Felipe Castresana is the head of the corporate and commercial practice group and specialises in advising private and public entities on communications deals.

The following four lawyers appear in both the regulatory communications and internet chapters. In London Alexander Brown and Tom Wheadon both have “extensive experience” acting for telecommunications operators. Wheadon is the head of the firm’s technology, media and telecommunications sector and also the head of the international information, communications and technology practice. In Hong Kong Damien Bailey is an “excellent” adviser. He has acted for PCCW, China Telecom and SITC on commercial arrangements. Alexander Shepherd is the head of the technology, media and telecommunications practice in the Middle East. He has experience advising on corporate financing, IT supply and procurement contracts particularly in the Middle East.

With further nominations across a host of sectors, such as trademarks, product liability defence, competition and business crime, Simmons & Simmons cements its position as a leading firm in this edition.