Profile: Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP - Who's Who Legal '70'

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

The firm boasts a long list of blue-chip clients drawn from multinational corporations, major banks and governments. Many of the lawyers listed on the following pages are universally recognised as being among the very best in their fields. The depth of expertise on offer is highlighted by Freshfields partners’ presence in 23 of the 29 chapters on the following pages. The firm has more lawyers in this book than any of its closest rivals.

COMPETITION, TRADE AND REGULATION
Freshfields’ largest concentration of talent is in the competition chapter – a phenomenal 29 individuals from 11 jurisdictions make the cut. The firm recently took top honours in Global Competition Review’s GCR 20, the magazine’s guide to the world’s leading competition groups. The group regularly advises clients on headline-making cases and highlights in the past 12 months include advising Alcan on the EU and international aspects of rival bids by Alcoa and Rio Tinto to form the world’s largest aluminium business. On the litigation front the firm’s lawyers acted for ABB in leniency proceedings relating to the gas-insulated switchgear cartel. The firm succeeded in obtaining full immunity from the European Commission. Notable achievers in this year’s research include Frank Montag who emerges as one of the chapter’s most nominated individuals. Montag is said to be “spectacular for merger control” while another source enthused, “I would take him over any other lawyer”. Rachel Brandenburger and John Davies practise in both London and Brussels and, like Montag, are noteworthy for the high regard in which they are held. Brandenburger shows “good judgment, [and is] smart and articulate” and is said to enjoy “great relations with officials”; Davies was variously described as a “very good lawyer”, “extremely competent” and “loved by clients”. Deirdre Trapp is one of the most respected names in London and is joined in the chapter by four more partners in the UK capital. Freshfields also puts in a strong performance in Germany where Martin Klusmann led in terms of nominations. His work on cartel cases is said to be particularly noteworthy. Indeed, with five lawyers featured in Germany, Freshfields boasts more than any other firm. Freshfields is also strong in the US with four high-profile entries from the Washington, DC office. Terry Calvani stands out for the sheer number of votes he picked up from clients and peers. One source noted that he “has been doing a lot of nice work in the cartel area”. With further entries in Austria, China, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands and Spain, Freshfields not only boasts the greatest number of entries in the chapter but the best geographical spread of any firm.

Rachel Brandenburger is also one of the leading telecoms lawyers, particularly in the regulatory arena. She was variously described as “outstanding” and “vastly experienced” and is joined in the Belgium section of the regulatory communications chapter by Laurent Garzaniti, who is also listed for competition. Norbert Nolte in Cologne co-heads the global TMT group and comes “highly recommended” for his work on infrastructure projects. Thomas Tschentscher in Düsseldorf has a “professional and pragmatic” approach to matters before the regulatory authorities, German and EU courts and the EU Commission. Freshfields also boasts a further highlyrated individual in Austria (Stefan Köck).

Hans-Joachim Priess is, according to our findings, the leading trade and customs practitioner in Germany. Priess works on WTO settlement proceedings and is also said to be strong for public procurement.

BANKING, FINANCE AND CAPITAL MARKETS
On the banking front, Freshfields “offers a high quality of work that is maintained across offices worldwide”. Eight partners appear in the chapter, the majority of these are based in the firm’s twin heartlands, England and Germany. Ernst Thomas Emde in Frankfurt is “the first person I would call with a stock-exchange listing query,” according to one source. Simon Hall is the former co-head of the firm’s practice group and shone in our London research, along with colleague Sean Pierce. Fernando Bautista is “one of the best banking lawyers in Spain”, and Chris Sunt in Brussels is known for his banking and finance and M&A expertise. The firm’s banking group was recently strengthened thanks to the high-profile hire of Maurice Allen from White & Case in London.

The capital markets chapter is another tale of two cities with four lawyers apiece in London and Frankfurt. London’s Stephen Revell features in our breakdown of the practice area’s elite and enjoys a “nice reputation among clients”. Andreas König is the “go-to guy in Germany”, according to sources, with one prominent corporate counsel describing him as “brilliant” and “deal-experienced”. Further high-profile entries in Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, Hong Kong and the US ensure a total of 13 partners make the grade for this chapter.

Freshfields is also a leading player for asset finance and seven high-profile individuals appear in the aviation chapter. Andrew Littlejohns is one of the UK’s most respected practitioners and his work for banks and international insurers places him “right at the top”, according to sources. Tim Lintott also features prominently and over the years he has advised Airbus on a variety of finance matters. Bob Charlton and Robert Murphy complete the London contingent in the chapter. Dirk Schmalenbach is rated as “one of the key aviation finance lawyers” in Germany and the “finance-minded” Konrad Schott was also consistently endorsed. Jochen Lüdicke completes the trio.

Project finance is evidently another strong point with the firm represented on both sides of the Atlantic. Kent Rowey heads the global project finance practice from New York and London. Nicholas Bliss, also in London, co-leads the firm’s global infrastructure and transport group and heads the PDI/PPP group. Ted Burke (London) and Jeroen Thijssen (Amsterdam) also appear.

Jonathan Rees heads the firm’s energy and natural resources group and appears prominently in the oil and gas chapter. He advises clients on M&A, commercial and regulatory issues in the sector and among other highlights advised Amoco on its merger with BP. Bernd Kunth in Düsseldorf is a former co-head of the group and recommended for his dispute resolution work in the energy sector.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Our sister publication Global Arbitration Review recently published its inaugural ‘Global Arbitration Review 100’. When sorting the top 30 firms the editors chose Freshfields as the number one based on three criteria – reputation, work and curriculum vitae. The firm appears 11 times in the commercial arbitration chapter – once more than last year and more often than any other firm. Recent highlights for the team include acting for ConocoPhillips in an ICSID arbitration against Venezuela under the Netherlands–Venezuela bilateral investment treaty and the Venezuelan Foreign Investment Law. Arbitration “guru” Jan Paulsson, in Paris, once again features prominently with sources describing him as “completely reliable”, and “very imaginative”. His “extraordinary ability to find a solution” and “to understand so rapidly cases that have no precedent” sees him listed once again among the practice area’s stars. Nigel Blackaby is “one of the great names of his generation” and focuses on work originating in Latin America. He also features among the practice area’s most nominated practitioners.

Peter Turner and Georgios Petrochilos, a new entry this year, complete the quartet in Paris. Constantine Partasides has relocated to London. He recently won a large case for the Republic of Kenya against World Duty Free and “will be one of the field’s absolute leaders in five years”, according to one reviewer. Nigel Rawding joins Partasides in our London list. Günther Horvath features prominently in our findings and comes recommended as a “very reputable member of the Austrian legal community with a fine record in arbitration”. Rolf Trittman and Jacomijn van Haersolte-van Hof appear in the Germany and Netherlands sections respectively. Brian King and Lucy Reed in New York were also consistently recommended.

Seven Freshfields partners make the commercial litigation chapter, placing the firm among the leading players. Rolf Trittman appears once again and is a “tough litigator as well as a first-class arbitration expert”. Elie Kleiman in Paris is “very experienced in corporate and banking litigation”, while Vicente Sierra in Madrid is responsible for the firm’s Spanish dispute resolution practice. Four London-based practitioners also make the chapter. Andrew Hart heads the firm’s dispute resolution banking and financial services group and is listed alongside Christopher Pugh, head of the energy dispute resolution group and “a shrewd and effective performer”. Raj Parker “maintains a high profile in the local market” and Paul Bowden is an “amazing lawyer” with an “incredible depth of knowledge”. Bowden also features in the product liability and environment chapters. Madrid-based Rafael Murillo and Vicente Sierra join him in the product liability chapter. On the environment front he is accompanied by a further three Freshfields lawyers, two in London and one in Berlin. Malcolm Forster joint heads the public international law group from London and comes recommended as a “profoundly impressive figure”. Daniel Lawrence is a “thoroughly reliable safe pair of hands” according to corporate sources. In Germany, Wolf Friedrich Spieth emerges as one of the practice area’s leading lights.

CORPORATE
Freshfields also puts in a noteworthy performance in the mergers and acquisitions chapter – 10 lawyers are listed in seven jurisdictions.

William Lawes co-heads the firm’s worldwide financial institutions group; he and partner Mark Rawlinson are rated by at least one source as “two of the best lawyers in the City of London”. Barry O’Brien completes the firm’s strong London showing. All three of these M&A lawyers also appear in the corporate governance chapter alongside a further three Freshfields nominees. The firm’s listing in the M&A chapter is peppered with excellent performances – Axel Epe and Andreas Fabritius were consistently recommended in our German research. Willibald Plesser is one of the leading lights in the Austrian market and Chris Sunt in Brussels (“excellent for banking and finance”) also boasts strong M&A credentials. Joaquín Hervada represents the firm in the Spanish section as does “multi-talented” Jacky Baudon in Russia. Robert Ashworth heads the firm’s Asian corporate practice and features prominently in our Hong Kong research.

The firm lives up to its billing as a “corporate tax powerhouse” with a total of 15 practitioners in eight offices appearing in the corresponding chapter. The London office is the best represented – five partners make the grade. Richard Ballard, “one of the best in London”, and Murray Clayson, head of the tax group and coordinator of the cross-border tax practice, both feature prominently. David Taylor is “great to deal with for structured finance and leasing”, Colin Hargreaves is “thorough and brilliant” and Sarah Falk is “an authority” on the tax aspects of private equity and corporate finance. Stephan Eilers has “an outstanding reputation” in the German market where he is joined by a further two highly-rated practitioners – Jochen Lüdicke and Holger Häuselmann. Michael Sedlaczek in Vienna is a new entry this year. “Well respected” Machiel Lambooij and the “extremely good” Hans Galavazi both perform well in the Netherlands and “technically excellent” Axel Haelterman is a “prominent figure” in Brussels. Antoine Colonna d’Istria, managing partner of the Paris office, is another leading light, while Gregory May and Robert Scarborough fly the flag on the other side of the Atlantic, appearing in the Washington, DC, and New York sections.

A quartet of partners feature in the insolvency and restructuring section, two in London and one each in Hamburg and Rome. Ken Baird heads the restructuring and insolvency group from London and is a “good operator”, according to sources. Nicholas Segal joined the firm from Davis Polk & Wardwell in 2006 and has developed a “very effective practice at the firm”. Raffaele Lener in Rome acts for clients in the financial services industry and Hamburg-based Lars Westpfahl does a great deal of work for German debtors.

Mark Watterson and Karen Fountain’s work relating to investment funds and asset management was noted: they both appear in the private funds chapter.

REAL ESTATE AND CONSTRUCTION
Geoff Le Pard appears in our list of the most nominated lawyers in the real estate chapter, forming part of a seven-strong contingent from the firm. Chris Morris heads the international real estate group from London and boasts an “impressive practice”, according to sources. Johannes Conradi and Alexander Goepfert are two of the leading lights in Germany. Thomas Zottl in Vienna is a “rising star” while Marzio Longo in Milan was consistently nominated. Juan Gómez-Acebo heads the firm’s real estate practice in Spain and completes the strong showing in the chapter. He also features in the construction chapter along with four other Freshfields lawyers. “Extremely bright” Sally Roe heads the construction and engineering sector group from London and comes recommended for PFI projects in the rail, road and power industries. Jane Jenkins is a “solid performer” on the contentious side while Simon Stebbings’ projects work was noted. Joseph Huse in the Dubai office (opened in 2005) completes the quintet and brings to the table a specific knowledge of infrastructure projects within the energy industry.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
The firm’s IP credentials are demonstrated by strong performances in the trademark and patent chapters. Avril Martindale is the former global co-head of the firm’s IP and IT practice and her work on the intellectual property issues related to transactions was noted. Representative clients include AstraZeneca, Campbell’s Soup, Corus and Ford Motor. Hub Harmeling features in the Netherlands section and his litigation skills were brought to the attention of researchers.

Christoph Pöchhacker is managing partner for the Austrian region and has tried a number of passing off and comparative advertising cases in the clothing and telecoms sectors. Peter Chrocziel is one of Germany’s leading patent litigators and heads the firm’s patent litigation practice in Germany. He draws his clients from the IT, software and telecommunications sectors. Peter Hendrick in Amsterdam also features in the chapter and leads the firm’s international patent litigation group.

Chrocziel also appears in the internet and e-commerce chapter. Connie Carnabuci in Hong Kong was also consistently recommended and heads the intellectual property and information technology group, and the TMT group in Asia. Representative clients include Danone, GE Capital, Hutchison Whampoa and Prudential to name but a few.

LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Freshfields is also well placed to advise clients on their labour and employment issues with six entries in the corresponding chapter. Pascale Lagesse in Paris leads in terms of nominations and comes recommended as “one of the true leaders”. Gilles Bélier accompanies her in the France section. Vienna-based Stefan Köck’s work relating to restructurings, and mergers and acquisitions was noted. The firm also boasts a strong contingent in Germany with Klaus-Stefan Hohenstatt leading, based on nominations. Heinz Willemsen is rated as a “superstar” and Thomas Müller-Bonanni comes recommended as a “share schemes expert”.