UK based Herbert Smith is noted by the market as having a strong global network. "A slightly more international firm [than Slaughter and May], we often see them with clients from outside the UK," says one peer....
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UK based Herbert Smith is noted by the market as having a strong global network. "A slightly more international firm [than Slaughter and May], we often see them with clients from outside the UK," says one peer.
According to one client the firm's "Brussels office is very well coordinated, easy to contact, takes instructions from London well and is always available". Craig Pouncey and Susan Black are complimented by clients, Pouncey for being "very experienced and reasonable in identifying issues" and London-based Black for being "very creative [and] innovative". "She drives a hard bargain but is commercial," adds the client. In 2010 - 2011 Lode Van Den Hende and Kyriakos Fountoukakos also led on high profile deals for the firm.
The firm's scope also encompasses its alliance with German and Dutch firms Gleiss Lutz and Stibbe.
Pouncey acted for Michael 'Monty' Widenius, creator of open source software MySQL, against the merger clearance of Oracle's acquisition of Sun Microsystems. The firm is aiming for either divestment or future behavioural pledges by Oracle in the unfinished case.
Fountoukakos advised Arriva and, topically, BSkyB on the Newscorp bid, which has been notified to the Commission. The acquisition of Arriva by Deutsche Bahn received conditional clearance while BSkyB's sale to Newscorp has also received the green light while the case continues in the UK.
The firm was actively advising a client in a European investigation into car electrical systems. Hende was busy on a wide-ranging consumer protection case before the ECC regarding compensation paid by airlines for passengers for flight cancellations and delays, advising clients including EasyJet and British Airways.
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