Allen & Overy LLP - The Who's Who Legal 100 2012

What is the Who's Who Legal 100?

The largest contingent of A&O lawyers can be found in our project finance chapter, where 23 leading practitioners feature across 13 countries. One of four lawyers listed in Dubai, the “unbelievably good” Bimal Desai is praised by clients and peers for his “remarkable calibre” and also features in an additional three chapters. London-based global head of the firm’s PFI/PPP group Anne Baldock is a leading name in the industry and acted on the first ever PPP to close; she complements her listing with a mention in the banking chapter. In New York, Robert Kartheiser has 25 years of experience on financings and infrastructure development. Aled Davies is the managing partner of the firm’s Tokyo office and a “leading name” who earns further recognition in the public procurement chapter.

Banking is an area in which the firm has enjoyed particular success this year: 22 names are included in this chapter, more than any other firm in our international research. The firm’s London office is home to six outstanding practitioners, including Michael Duncan, who chairs the global banking practice, and Stephen Kensell, whose recent experience includes representing the mandated lead arrangers on event-driven investment grade deals such as Enel’s €35 billion financing for Endesa. In Frankfurt, the “sensational” Neil Weiand is lauded as an expert in the field, and in Amsterdam Bart Meesters compliments his listing with a mention in the project finance chapter. The firm demonstrates its international reach with additional lawyers listed in the firm’s New York and Asia offices. In Hong Kong, Thomas Brown is highly regarded and also features in the project finance and public procurement chapters.

A&O also performs well in our capital markets research with 19 lawyers from Europe, Asia and the Middle East featuring in the corresponding chapter. The firm fields nine “impressive” lawyers in England. Angela Clist worked on the first UK covered bonds transaction for HBOS Treasury Services and Boyan Wells is a leading name in the market. Managing partner of the Belgium offices Dirk Meeus enhances his listing with a mention in the M&A chapter, and in Hong Kong Andrew Harrow heads the firm’s international capital markets practice in the Asia-Pacific region. A further presence in Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Luxembourg, Milan, Riyadh, Rome and Singapore clearly highlights the firm’s global reach.

Public procurement is another of the firm’s strong suits and it leads the field in our research with 13 exceptional names from eight offices. The Middle East practice continues to showcase its strength with a listing in Riyadh and an additional three in Dubai, including Duncan Macnab who is also in the project finance chapter. Ian Ingram-Johnson is a “first-class” practitioner and is also listed in the banking and project finance chapters. A trio of names feature in the firm’s Tokyo practice including Simon Black and Adam Moncrieff.

The firm also has an “excellent” competition practice, with an 18-strong contingent from 10 countries. Europe in particular is home to a number of the firm’s leading names in this field. In Belgium, Michael Reynolds is a standout name, while London-based Simon Pritchard is highly regarded and, in Amsterdam, Tom Ottervanger is “top tier”. Based in Beijing, François Renard manages A&O’s Asia-Pacific antitrust practice, and Dave Poddar heads the competition/antitrust practice in Australia. With over 20 years’ experience, he is a “leading name” in the industry. New York-based Elaine Johnston heads the US antitrust practice and has a broad skillset, which includes antitrust litigation and advising on antitrust aspects of mergers and acquisitions.

A&O is praised for its environment practice, with 10 leading names featuring in the corresponding chapter. In New York, Kenneth Rivlin is head of the global environmental law group and is a “prominent name”, and in London Matthew Townsend is also praised for his expertise, especially in relation to his experience of contaminated land, waste and chemicals issues. Corporate tax is another strong suit at the firm. The 10 nominees in this chapter are drawn from offices in seven countries. The London office is home to the “brilliant” Patrick Mears, and in Germany Eugen Bogenschuetz and Gottfried Breuninger are both leading names. In the Netherlands John Brouwer and Olaf van der Donk are “top tier”, while Paris-based Jean-Yves Charriau and Siamak Mostafavi are singled out for their expertise.

The firm’s impressive reputation for disputes work is demonstrated in the litigation and arbitration chapters, which feature seven and eight A&O lawyers respectively. For litigation matters, London’s Guy Henderson is a standout name, as is Koen Van den Broeck in the firm’s Brussels office. In New York, Benno Kimmelman is lauded as a dispute resolution expert and features in both the litigation and arbitration chapters. Also praised for her arbitration practice is London-based Judith Gill QC, who is described by peers as “absolutely excellent”. Stephen Jagusch is also highly regarded and Matthew Gearing is a respected name in Hong Kong, as is Peter Thorp in Beijing.

The firm also distinguishes itself in oil and gas matters, with seven nominees selected for inclusion, as well as labour and employment work, with six experts listed. For IP matters both Pierre Lenoir in Paris and Nicola Dagg in London are highly regarded, each earning recognition in three chapters. In Brussels, Geert Glas is also a respected name and features in the patent, trademark and internet chapters.

With listings in an additional 11 chapters, the firm’s global reach and breadth of expertise is undeniable.