Allen & Overy LLP - Who's Who Legal 70

What is the Who's Who Legal 70?

Allen & Overy LLP in Who's Who Legal

	Project Finance
	22

	Insolvency & Restructuring
	5

	Business Crime Defence
	2

	Real Estate
	4

	Aviation
	6

	Oil & Gas
	7

	Life Sciences
	5

	Corporate Governance
	2

	Trademarks
	3

	Patents
	4

	Competition
	17

	Mergers & Acquisitions
	8

	Private funds
	1

	Construction
	2

	Corporate Tax
	10

	Commercial Litigation
	8

	Corporate Tax
	10

	Management Labour & Employment
	6

	Environment
	9

	Insurance & Reinsurance
	1

	Internet & e-Commerce
	2

	Public Procurement
	13

	Banking
	22

	Mining
	2

	Arbitration
	7

	Regulatory Communications
	4

	Capital Markets
	20

Allen & Overy LLP is the second largest firm in our research in terms of numbers, with its lawyers listed 187 times in 26 of our 31 chapters. Internationally renowned as one of the world’s leading firms, A&O lawyers are selected in 20 countries and the firm is recognised in Who’s Who Legal’s law firm of the year awards in three practice areas.

The firm’s largest contingent is drawn from the project finance chapter. A formidable 24 lawyers from 10 countries are included in this edition. The “superb” Dubai-based Bimal Desai is the most highly nominated individual in the Middle East and one of the most highly regarded lawyers in our research overall. Four additional names are selected in the UAE, while in London, Anne Baldock receives high praise. Bart Meesters leads the Dutch research, and the firm is also well represented in Asia, New York and across Europe. The unrivalled depth and breadth of expertise the firm can command sees A&O lead the field worldwide.

Allen & Overy also has more featured lawyers than any other firm in our banking research: sixteen nominees selected for inclusion across 10 countries. Michael Duncan chairs the global banking practice and is “straight out of the top drawer”. Three further partners are selected from the London office, including the “outstanding” Stephen Kensell, joint managing partner of the global banking practice. Neil Weiand is one of the most highly regarded individuals in Germany, and Peter Bienenstock is “the go-to guy in Belgium”. The firm performs well in Asia, and Bimal Desai appears once more alongside the highly rated Christian Saunders in the UAE. Grant Fuzi joined the firm in 2010 and is much sought after for financing work across the region.

The firm leads the field in the public procurement research with 11 highly praised names from seven offices listed. Once again the strength of A&O’s Middle East practice was clear, with three selected in the UAE and the “excellent” Julian Johansen selected in Saudi Arabia. Thomas Brown is “simply outstanding” in Hong Kong, and managing partner of the Tokyo office Aled Davies also scored highly. With a further dual presence in London and the inclusion of Arent van Wassenaer – a “guru” in Amsterdam – A&O’s stature in this sector is unrivalled.

The “impeccable” Michael Reynolds in Brussels is one of the most highly recommended individuals in our competition research, and leads a contingent of 17 nominees from 10 countries. The firm is extremely strong in Europe, with Martin Bechtold very highly rated in Belgium, Mark Friend “outstanding” in London and Tom Ottervanger among the leading experts in the Netherlands. Francois Renard gives the firm “invaluable insight” in China and the firm is has recently expanded the scope of its expertise with the 2010 lateral hires of Elaine Johnston in New York and the “market leading” Dave Poddar in Sydney.

A&O is a “powerhouse” for capital markets work with 19 of its partners selected for inclusion across 10 countries. The London office stands out with seven partners selected, and Boyan Wells in particular fêted as “one of the pre-eminent lawyers in the field worldwide”. A further presence in Germany, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands is complemented with a strong performance in Asia. Andrew Harrow, head of the firm’s international capital markets practice in the Asia Pacific and “one of the best lawyers in the region”, while the highly rated Kenneth Aboud heads the international financing capital markets practice in Singapore.

The firm’s strength in corporate law is evident across a range of sectors. Ten partners are selected in the tax chapter, with Patrick Mears in London deemed “exceptional”. Eugen Bogenschuetz is “one of the very best in Germany”, and further nominees in the Netherlands, Spain, Luxembourg and France are complemented by the “first-class” Andrew Stals in Sydney. The M&A chapter provides further evidence, with nine A&O lawyers included. The “exceptional” Mark Wippell and Alan Paul are listed in London, while Jan Louis Burggraaf and Johan Dirk Kleyn form part of an excellent practice in the Netherlands. Further nominees are selected in Belgium and in the UAE, where two experts are selected for inclusion. A&O’s bankruptcy and restructuring practice provides six nominees in the corresponding chapter, with Gordon Stewart in London known for his “wonderful reputation” worldwide and Mark Sterling similarly well known.

A&O’s disputes capability is similarly demonstrated through a large number of nominees in the litigation and arbitration chapters. Seven litigators appear in the former, with Tim House in London deemed a “fantastic advocate” and Willem van Baren picked out as “one of the finest disputes lawyers in the Netherlands”. Benno Kimmelman in New York is “top tier for both litigation and arbitration” and appears in both chapters. Judith Gill QC in London is a “doyenne” and Stephen Jagusch is also one of the leading experts in London. Peter Thorp is one of Beijing’s most highly regarded individuals, and Matthew Gearing is selected in Hong Kong.

Allen & Overy is also one of the world’s leading firms for environmental work, with nine individuals featured in seven countries. Kenneth Rivlin leads the global environmental law group and is “top drawer”, and Owen Lomas in London is one of the world’s most highly regarded experts and considered a climate change “guru” by our sources.

The firm scores highly in a range of further sectors. Seven nominees are selected for their labour and employment work, including the “superb” Mark Mansell in London. Pierre Lenoir in Paris and Nicola Dagg in London each earn recognition in three chapters for their IP practices, and Geert Glas in Brussels is similarly well renowned for his patent, trademark and e-commerce related work. Overall, the depth and breadth of the firm’s expertise across a wide geographical range sees Allen & Overy take its place at the top table of legal practice.