Most Highly Regarded Firms: Internet & e-Commerce 2009
This edition lists 369 leading practitioners in this area. We have focused on all aspects of internet and e-commerce law, including pure internet law, intellectual property work, telecoms, outsourcing, media and technology. Many are specialists in more than one area and all are considered outstanding practitioners by clients and peers.
The three law firms that performed particularly well internationally, judging both by geographical spread and by the number of nominees achieved are Baker & McKenzie, DLA Piper LLP and Lovells LLP. Baker & McKenzie, which boasts Google among its clients, has a total of nine individuals listed. The London office of the firm provides three lawyers for our list. All were noted for their "academic approach". Harry Small is "very well-informed - he knows what he's talking about" and his colleagues Ian Walden and Robbie Downing are also included. Two lawyers from the head office in Chicago stand out: Ruth Hill Bro is "excellent for all aspects of online privacy" and Michael Mensik is "great for outsourcing work". Johan Nylén in Sweden was very highly nominated and is "well-regarded". Daniel Fesler in Brussels is "a household name" while Matthias Scholz in Frankfurt and Patrick Fair in Sydney round off the contingent.
Eight lawyers from DLA Piper LLP are listed. Patrick van Eecke, who is the global head of the firm's e-business practice group, is very highly nominated and his clients include AOL and Coca-Cola. In London Mark O'Conor is "outstanding" and specialises in the IT aspects of public procurement and financial services. Jan Geert Meents in Munich is "very knowledgeable - especially on the IP aspects of transactions" and is the author of numerous books and articles on e-commerce and technology. Italo De Feo in Rome is "one of the best in Italy for IT law" while Lars Jakob Blanck in Oslo "has an impressive track record". In the States, Mark Radcliffe in Silicon Valley is "extremely well-known in the open source field". Peers also recommend Stacy Snowman in San Francisco for her "solid knowledge".
Lovells LLP has five inclusions. Two Munich lawyers feature: Wolfgang Büchner received a mass of nominations and Stefan Schuppert is praised for his work on licensing agreements. Conor Ward's "well-regarded" work in outsourcing and disputes merits a listing and he is based in London. Marco Berliri in Rome and Gabriela Kennedy in Hong Kong are also included.
EUROPE
Christopher Millard, who recently joined Bristows from Linklaters LLP, is recognised by many as the leading internet and IT lawyer in England, and the number of nominations he received in our research confirms this. Millard, who is also a respected academic, brings his "vast experience" to the table as an influential expert on data protection. Mark Watts is also listed from Bristows, which is in the course of expanding its IT team. The firm's clients include GAP, Cap Gemini and the Metropolitan Police. Richard Kemp is "one of the most astute people active in internet law" and is one of the most highly nominated individuals worldwide. His clients include Microsoft and T-Mobile as well as the Magic Circle law firms when they established the Banking Legal Technology Portal. Calum Murray is also listed from Kemp Little LLP, which represents a range of FTSE 100 companies. Christopher Rees is the co-head of Herbert Smith LLP's technology, media and telecoms group and he has acted for groups such as Time Warner, Toshiba and the Department of Trade and Industry. Vanessa Marsland is another top UK practitioner and is listed from Clifford Chance LLP. She received glowing praise from our interviewees for her "stellar litigation skills", especially in IP-related work. Eduardo Ustaran is "a fantastic lawyer"; he heads Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP's privacy and information practice group and specialises in privacy and data protection. His London colleagues Michael Chissick and Paul Barton are also listed.
Bird & Bird's e-commerce practice group merits ten inclusions from offices across Europe - the highest number of listings of any firm. Three lawyers are listed in London, including Graham Smith, who focuses on contentious issues and general advisory work. Hilary Pearson, also in London, has a wealth of experience in IP. In Belgium, Catherine Erkelens is known for her expertise in IT contracts and she also co-heads the firm's aviation department. Stephen Kines, who is the head of Bird & Bird's Central European practice, recently joined the firm from a TMT boutique firm that he established and is based in Prague. There are also Bird & Bird lawyers listed from Paris, Stockholm, Madrid and Helsinki, making it one of the outstanding firms in this area.
Enrique Batalla is the most highly rated Spanish lawyer for internet and e-commerce law. His firm, Batalla Abogados, is well known for IP and technology law and Batalla is internationally and consistently regarded as a leader in this field.
Dinant Oosterbaan, of Oosterbaan & Van Eeghen, is "a guru of IT law in the Netherlands". Dutch law firm Kennedy Van der Laan provides six lawyers for our list, including Alfred Meijboom, who specialises in internet IP law; Hester de Vries, whose professional focus is on data protection; and Joost Linneman, who is managing partner of the firm.
Paris-based Bruno Ducoulombier, who focuses on IP, IT and privacy, is included, as is Emmanuel Roger France in Brussels, who is noted for his work on the litigation and transactional side of IT and data protection issues.
In Germany, CMS Hasche Sigle's Axel Funk specialises in IT projects, telecommunications and contracts. There are three lawyers from Heymann & Partner listed in this publication, all of whom are based in Frankfurt. Thomas Heymann specialises in outsourcing and has several German banks on his client list. Katharina Scheja is known for her work on IT contracts and patent litigation and Lars Lensdorf is included and noted as an expert in outsourcing and contracts.
Ursula Widmer leads the research in Switzerland. Her firm, Dr Widmer & Partners, Attorneys-At-Law, is an extremely well-regarded boutique. She is the president of the International Technology Law Association and lectures on IT and information security law at two Swiss universities.
Steven De Schrijver is listed from Lorenz in Brussels and is one of the most highly rated practitioners globally. He is chair of the firm's IT and new media law department as well as the corporate mergers and acquisitions department.
NORTH AMERICA
Six US-based lawyers from Greenberg Traurig LLP are listed. Ian Ballon has "an excellent reputation" for his intellectual property work and was very highly nominated. Heather Meeker and Timothy Tomlinson are also listed from California. Meeker is known for her open-source expertise and one commentator says, "I work with her on a regular basis and would definitely recommend her." Alan Sutin is chair of Greenberg Traurig's technology and intellectual property practice group and is listed in New York.
Fish & Richardson PC's Richard Allan Horning is the most highly nominated lawyer in the US and is a "very well respected IP lawyer". Another outstanding individual, also based in California, is Françoise Gilbert, of IT Law Group. She specialises in privacy and security issues and advises companies in all stages of their development. Jay Westermeier of Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner LLP is "a legend", especially where IP work is concerned.
North of the border, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP has the two most highly nominated Canadian lawyers. John Beardwood is "an authority on outsourcing" and the vice chair of the firm's technology and intellectual property practice group. Ian Kyer is equally well regarded. One interviewee says that "He is one of the most impressive IT lawyers I have come across in my career."
McCarthy Tétrault LLP has a total of five Canada-based lawyers listed. Barry Sookman is considered to be "right at the top" and is the co-chair of the firm's technology law group with George Takach. He is highlighted for his technology M&A expertise and can count Aastra Technologies, Constellation Software and Scotiabank among his clients. Wendy Gross is the third McCarthy Tétrault lawyer listed from Toronto and is a "first-rate transactions lawyer". Cheryl Slusarchuk is listed in Vancouver and Charles Morgan appears in Montreal.
Amy-Lynne Williams has "a broad and impressive practice focus" and is a founding member of Deeth Williams Wall LLP in Toronto. Another outstanding Canadian lawyer is Lisa Lifshitz of Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP, who is "extremely active in the cyberspace law committee of the ABA".
REST OF THE WORLD
Six US-based lawyers from Greenberg Traurig LLP are listed. Ian Ballon has "an excellent reputation" for his intellectual property work and was very highly nominated. Heather Meeker and Timothy Tomlinson are also listed from California. Meeker is known for her open-source expertise and one commentator says, "I work with her on a regular basis and would definitely recommend her." Alan Sutin is chair of Greenberg Traurig's technology and intellectual property practice group and is listed in New York.
Fish & Richardson PC's Richard Allan Horning is the most highly nominated lawyer in the US and is a "very well respected IP lawyer". Another outstanding individual, also based in California, is Françoise Gilbert, of IT Law Group. She specialises in privacy and security issues and advises companies in all stages of their development. Jay Westermeier of Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner LLP is "a legend", especially where IP work is concerned.
North of the border, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP has the two most highly nominated Canadian lawyers. John Beardwood is "an authority on outsourcing" and the vice chair of the firm's technology and intellectual property practice group. Ian Kyer is equally well regarded. One interviewee says that "He is one of the most impressive IT lawyers I have come across in my career."
McCarthy Tétrault LLP has a total of five Canada-based lawyers listed. Barry Sookman is considered to be "right at the top" and is the co-chair of the firm's technology law group with George Takach. He is highlighted for his technology M&A expertise and can count Aastra Technologies, Constellation Software and Scotiabank among his clients. Wendy Gross is the third McCarthy Tétrault lawyer listed from Toronto and is a "first-rate transactions lawyer". Cheryl Slusarchuk is listed in Vancouver and Charles Morgan appears in Montreal.
Amy-Lynne Williams has "a broad and impressive practice focus" and is a founding member of Deeth Williams Wall LLP in Toronto. Another outstanding Canadian lawyer is Lisa Lifshitz of Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP, who is "extremely active in the cyberspace law committee of the ABA".