IFLR 1000
The Guide to the World's Leading Financial Law Firms

Allen & Overy has an especially strong five-partner team in Brussels under Dirk Arts, within a global EU Competition team spanning 18 countries.

Arts is described by one client as "very innovative and imaginative ... quite flexible and very responsive". London-based Simon Pritchard also receives praise: "He is an absolutely excellent lawyer," says a peer. Meanwhile, the Paris office is described as "really on top of their game" by another peer, who picks out partner Michel Struys and associate Lilliana Eskenazi.

Some commentators argue that the firm is stronger in the Brussels market than in the wider European arena, however many clients attest to its ability across the continent. "Going through London we have worked with the firm over a number of jurisdictions and they are fantastic," says a client.

Other attributes are the firm's client care and thorough work: "I always feel A&O consider us an important client, we are treated like VIPs even by the high ranking experts. I would say we have a professional friendship", says a client. Compared to other firms, says another, "I would say that A&O is more detailed more careful; they resolve the case without creating any difficulties for the client."

On merger control cases, Philip Mansfield and Michael Reynolds helped Sun Microsystems secure unconditional phase II approval by the Commission on its $7 billion merger with Oracle, which also needed clearance in 16 other jurisdictions, while Martin Bechtold and Pritchard helped Novartis secure one of the largest ever phase I approvals by the Commission on its $40 billion acquisition of Alcon, in which 19 other competition authorities were involved.

The firm also acted for Procter & Gamble in an EU-wide investigation into the laundry powder detergent sector, which also involved Unilever, Henkel and others. A&O won a 10% fine reduction that was further reduced by 50% after the client cooperated with the investigation.