Herbert Smith LLP - Who's Who Legal 70

What is the Who's Who Legal 70?

Herbert Smith LLP in Who's Who Legal

	Real Estate
	3

	Insolvency & Restructuring
	3

	Project Finance
	3

	Oil & Gas
	7

	Private funds
	4

	Corporate Governance
	2

	Corporate Tax
	4

	Trademarks
	3

	Environment
	1

	Construction
	3

	Internet & e-Commerce
	3

	Public Procurement
	3

	Commercial Litigation
	8

	Capital Markets
	3

	Commercial Litigation
	8

	Mediation
	2

	Regulatory Communications
	1

	Management Labour & Employment
	2

	Patents
	5

	Insurance & Reinsurance
	1

	Arbitration
	10

	Mining
	2

	Banking
	1

	Competition
	7

	Life Sciences
	3

	Mergers & Acquisitions
	5

The firm’s reputation as a “disputes powerhouse” is confirmed in the litigation and arbitration chapters, which feature 11 and 10 Herbert Smith lawyers respectively. London’s Graeme Johnston ranks highly in both sections and is particularly well regarded for his “impressive” China-focused arbitration work, which contributes to the firm’s listing in Global Arbitration Review’s recent “GAR 100” survey. The London office appears three more times in the arbitration chapter, with an additional three listings in Paris confirming the Herbert Smith’s European strength. The firm’s Asian offices are also well represented: alongside Alastair Henderson in Bangkok, Peter Godwin and Dominic Roughton are “very highly regarded” in Tokyo and earn prominent listings in both sections. The litigation chapter features an additional six names in London, including global dispute resolution practice head Sonya Leydecker, whose financial services regulatory and disputes work has seen her act for PricewaterhouseCoopers and Coopers & Lybrand in recent matters. The Paris and Moscow offices make further contributions to Herbert Smith’s “exceptional” performance here, while London-based Peter Burrell ranks highly in the business crime defence section.

The firm’s London competition team comes “highly recommended” in Global Competition Review’s most recent “GCR 100”, and four of its “leading lights” are listed in the corresponding chapter. Foremost among these is Elizabeth McKnight, who recently acted for Swiss Re in obtaining European merger control clearance for its acquisition of GE Insurance Solutions and Nokia in litigation proceedings with Qualcomm, and heads the EU and competition practice at the firm. Three lawyers in the Brussels office are also listed, led by the “superb” Craig Pouncey who is known for his market investigations, merger clearance and litigation work. Sergio Sorinas in Paris completes the firm’s impressive showing here.

Stéphane Brabant is the leader of Herbert Smith’s Paris energy and infrastructure practice and appears in both the oil and gas and mining sections, having acted for such clients as MagIndustries, SEMOS and the Senegalese government in recent matters. Also at the Paris office, Bertrand Montembault earns an additional listing in the mining chapter and Rebecca Major contributes to the firm’s impressive showing for oil and gas. Four lawyers from London provide further evidence of the firm’s European oil and gas profile. Hong Kong’s Anna Howell counts PTT Exploration & Production, Sinopec and GDF among her clients and acts as head of the Asian energy group, which also sees Tokyo’s David Clinch and Singapore’s Richard Nelson rank highly.

The firm’s corporate and financial teams are well represented. Ashley Alder is head of Herbert Smith’s corporate team in Asia and performs well in the M&A, corporate governance and capital markets sections for his work on behalf of such clients as JP Morgan and Deutsche Bank. Fellow Hong Kong resident Andrew Tortoishell is also recognised for his work in capital markets. Global head of corporate James Palmer is listed in M&A having recently acted for British American Tobacco in its merger with Rothmans, and, along with Anthony Macaulay, he represents the London office in the corporate governance section. Beijing’s “superb” Jeremy Xiao completes the firm’s listing in the M&A chapter.

Herbert Smith lawyers feature in an additional 15 chapters, aptly demonstrating the firm’s credentials in property, banking, IP, technology and labour law.