Profile: Herbert Smith LLP

Herbert Smith LLP - Who's Who Legal '70'

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

DISPUTES
Herbert Smith is one of the world’s pre-eminent firms for dispute resolution, and it performs exceptionally well in the commercial arbitration and litigation chapters. The “fantastic” David Brynmor Thomas works in London – as does Mark Lloyd-Williams, and they are joined in the arbitration chapter by Matthew Weiniger, who is a new entry in this edition. The “very strong” Charles Kaplan performed exceptionally well in our French research, and the “top-tier” Graeme Johnston leads the mainland China-based dispute resolution practice and is a “superb ally to clients” in cross-border disputes. The firm has two Japan-based lawyers in this chapter; the “excellent” Dominic Roughton and Peter Godwin. Roughton specialises in energy sector and in technology, media and telecoms disputes; Godwin heads the dispute resolution practice at the Tokyo office and has been advising a Japanese telecoms company on a billion-dollar dispute over third-generation mobile phone technology. Both Tokyo-based lawyers, along with Johnston, also appear in the commercial litigation chapter. The eighth Herbert Smith partner in the arbitration chapter is Alastair Henderson (“the man in Thailand”) and the country’s most highly nominated individual in this field.

Herbert Smith LLP stands out at the head of the commercial litigation research. The eight representatives of the firm listed here are based in London and the Far East. The majority are in the former, with senior partner David Gold regarded as “outstanding” for his large-scale international work. Sonya Leydecker, head of dispute resolution, is held in equally high esteem. Said to be a “phenomenally talented individual”, her banking litigation stood out, as did her contentious regulatory work. The “constantly impressive” Ted Greeno is known for his energy-related litigation and Simon Bushell is a “very fine lawyer” who leads the firm’s corporate fraud, investigations and asset recovery practice, and is responsible for establishing and managing the firm’s Russian dispute resolution practice. Adam Johnson completes the sextet from the the London office and is “internationally recognised” for his banking and financial services disputes work. Peter Burrell is another disputes lawyer to appear from the English capital, this time in the business crime chapter. In addition, Denis Chemla’s experience of product liability litigation earns him a place in the Paris section of that chapter.

CORPORATE and FINANCE
Herbert Smith’s corporate practice is said to be “going from strength to strength”, and this is particularly evident in the performance of lawyers from the London office. Two partners appear in the M&A chapter. The “excellent” James Palmer is a leading figure in the research and acted for Resolution Life on its proposed £8.6 billion merger with Friends Provident, £4.9 billion recommended takeover by Standard Life and £5 billion recommended takeover by Pearl Group. Respondents “have a great deal of respect” for Anthony Macaulay, who is “hugely respected in the City” and, like Palmer, also appears as a leading corporate governance expert. We recognise Stephen Hancock from the London office as a governance expert, as we do with the “very fine” Ashley Alder in Hong Kong.

John Balsdon represents the firm in the banking chapter, and two further London partners appear in the insolvency chapter, Stephen Gale comes very highly recommended as a “tremendous practitioner” with a profound knowledge of the UK and Asian markets. Laurence Elliott is well known for advising on schemes of arrangement. Geoffrey Maddock is recognised for his expertise relating to corporate finance transactions in the insurance sector. He appears in the insurance and reinsurance chapter alongside Gareth Thomas who is based in Hong Kong.

Nigel Farr’s “exemplary” investment fund practice earns him a place in the private funds chapter, and his namesake John Farr appears as one of two featured London partners in the labour and employment listing. Head of the employment group Farr is a “good strong litigator” who “deserves inclusion on any list”. Peter Frost joins him on the following pages, and was commended for his “superb technical ability”.

INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENERGY
Herbert Smith is particularly strong for energy work. Paul Griffin received more nominations than any other practitioner in London in the oil and gas chapter, and was variously described as “experienced”, “well known” and “highly respected”. Griffin heads the firm’s global energy practice. The firm is also very strong in matters relating to Francophone Africa thanks in no small part to Stéphane Brabant in Paris. Brabant’s African expertise also earns him a place in the mining research, alongside Bertrand Montembault from the same office. In addition, Andrew Preece is a consultant to the London office and has experience of numerous North Sea oil and gas transactions, as well as project finance and lease finance, and he appears in the project finance chapter alongside Neil Brimson – the sole nominee from the firm’s Dubai office and head of the Middle East practice.

We list four further partners in the construction chapter. Mark Lloyd-Williams appears for the second time, and his construction arbitration expertise is universally acknowledged. Michael Davis is “a name that everybody knows” and is also well regarded for arbitration expertise in this field, while Nicholas Downing’s non-contentious work is “first class”. Alastair Henderson works out of the firm’s Bangkok office and completes the quartet. James Barnes and Pierre Popesco appear in the real estate chapter – the latter heading the firm’s French practice in this field from the Paris office – and Louise Moore in London represents the firm in the environment chapter.

REGULATION AND COMMUNICATION
Herbert Smith has acted for clients such as Time Warner, the London Stock Exchange, Coca-Cola, Yell, Provident Financial, WH Smith, Vodafone and Lloyds TSB in competition matters, and earns five listings in the corresponding chapter. Three are from the London office; Jonathan Scott is head of EU/competition department and a “really excellent, highly responsive lawyer”, while Dorothy Livingston is regarded as a “guru” and Elizabeth McKnight is “worthy of a high rating”. The “excellent” Jacques Buhart appears in Paris, and he also works out of the firm’s Belgian office, where he is joined by Craig Pouncey, and together they give the firm a presence in the all-important Brussels market.

The firm also has a “very good team” for communications work, and the “hugely reliable” John Edwards and Nick Elverston appear from the London office in the regulatory communications chapter. Christopher Rees appears as a leader in the internet and e-commerce chapter and he co-heads Herbert Smith’s technology media and telecoms practice group from the London office.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
IP is divided into two chapters in the forthcoming pages, and Herbert Smith is represented in both the patent and trademarks section. Alexandra Néri heads the Paris IP/IT group, and was described as “the go-to person in France for trademark work”. Nick Gardner holds a similar position as head of the IP department in London, and he is listed alongside Mark Shillito. On the patent side, Andrew Rich is a “major player, especially in relation to life sciences”, while William Moodie is recognised for his contentious and non-contentious work.