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

	Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Linklaters Slaughter and May
	Allen & Overy Ashurst Clifford Chance Gleiss Lutz Hogan Lovells Latham & Watkins Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom Van Bael & Bellis White & Case
	Arnold & Porter Baker & McKenzie Bonelli Erede Pappalardo Bredin Prat Cuatrecasas Gonçalves Pereira Gibson Dunn & Crutcher Gide Loyrette Nouel Hengeler Mueller Herbert Smith Jones Day McDermott Will & Emery/Stanbrook O'Melveny & Myers Shearman & Sterling Sidley Austin Stibbe Uría Menéndez Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr
	Bird & Bird Covington & Burling Eubelius Garrigues Loyens & Loeff Macfarlanes Mannheimer Swartling NautaDutilh Norton Rose Salans Squire Sanders Hammonds Vinge

Hogan Lovells was formed in May 2010 following the merger of Hogan & Hartson and Lovells and the competition team has a global partnership of 45, growing by three over the past year. The firm has a number of key regular clients, among them Alstom.... [more]

Hogan Lovells was formed in May 2010 following the merger of Hogan & Hartson and Lovells and the competition team has a global partnership of 45, growing by three over the past year. The firm has a number of key regular clients, among them Alstom.

"Very good service, very happy to work with them, we now do all our EU comp law with them," says one client. One client, for whom the firm obtained 13 notifications worldwide, says the team's "work was of excellent quality".

"It is a very good team of very high quality lawyers," says another client, "it is very dedicated and makes a great effort to know your business." Brussels-based Jacques Derenne "knows perfectly well his business, he has got the right connections, knows when to pull strings and when it is needed to do that... [and was] very involved in what our company is about", says a client. Counsel Alix Müller-Rappard also receives commendations.

The firm, led by Derenne and Müller-Rappard, advised Alstom in its phase one merger clearance for its acquisition of the transmission's business of Areva T&D form Areva. Another deal saw Derenne, Christopher Thomas and others successfully defend Korean Air in an investigation into air cargo carriers.

In a third deal, Brussels partner Matthew Levitt led a global team to advise Citi Infrastructure Investors on its $1.5 billion acquisition in DP World's Australian shipping business.

Active practitioners on the highest profile mandates also included Warsaw-based Robert Gago, Düsseldorf's Martin Sura and Suyong Kim.

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	Allen & Overy Clifford Chance Gide Loyrette Nouel Linklaters
	Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton De Pardieu Brocas Maffei Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Hogan Lovells Latham & Watkins Orrick Rambaud Martel Shearman & Sterling White & Case
	Debevoise & Plimpton Jones Day Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom Willkie Farr & Gallagher

	Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Gide Loyrette Nouel
	Allen & Overy Clifford Chance Linklaters
	De Pardieu Brocas Maffei Hogan Lovells Latham & Watkins Shearman & Sterling Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom
	Jones Day Orrick Rambaud Martel White & Case
	Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton Debevoise & Plimpton Willkie Farr & Gallagher

2010 was a good year for the newly merged firm as the market saw it involved in a number of substantial debt transactions representing issuers. The key partner advising these deals is Sharon Lewis, who heads the firm's international debt capital markets practice worldwide.... [more]

2010 was a good year for the newly merged firm as the market saw it involved in a number of substantial debt transactions representing issuers. The key partner advising these deals is Sharon Lewis, who heads the firm's international debt capital markets practice worldwide.

Rivals admit its presence in the market by saying: "We see Hogan Lovells in the debt capital markets," while another one adds: "Yes, we see them on the structured finance side."

One example saw Lewis act for a Paris-based energy company EDF in relation to the €4.6 billion tender offer of its existing debt securities, followed by two new series of bonds issuances. It is one of the first transactions that complies with the new repurchase regulations published by Autorité des marchés financiers (Financial Markets Authority).

Another debt example involved Lewis leading the team advising Axa and Axa Bank Europe SCF (société de crédit foncier - a specialised credit institution) on the establishment of a ten-year €750 million covered bond programme backed by RMBS. Notably the deal was shortlisted for the IFLR Europe Awards 2011.

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	Allen & Overy Gide Loyrette Nouel Linklaters White & Case
	Clifford Chance Latham & Watkins
	Ashurst De Pardieu Brocas Maffei Norton Rose Shearman & Sterling
	Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Herbert Smith Hogan Lovells Orrick Rambaud Martel
	Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton JeantetAssociés Mayer Brown Simmons & Simmons

	Bredin Prat Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier Linklaters
	Clifford Chance Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Gide Loyrette Nouel Sullivan & Cromwell Weil Gotshal & Manges Willkie Farr & Gallagher
	Allen & Overy Davis Polk & Wardwell De Pardieu Brocas Maffei Debevoise & Plimpton Jones Day Latham & Watkins Orrick Rambaud Martel Shearman & Sterling Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom White & Case
	Ashurst Brandford-Griffith & Associés Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson Hogan Lovells JeantetAssociés Mayer Brown Salans Veil Jourde
	August & Debouzy Baker & McKenzie CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre Franklin Herbert Smith Norton Rose Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker Proskauer Rose Simmons & Simmons SJ Berwin

	Latham & Watkins Weil Gotshal & Manges
	Linklaters Mayer Brown SJ Berwin Willkie Farr & Gallagher
	Ashurst Bredin Prat Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
	Allen & Overy Clifford Chance Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Gide Loyrette Nouel Hogan Lovells Salans White & Case
	Ayache Salama & Associés Debevoise & Plimpton Jones Day Shearman & Sterling

Hogan Lovells' private-equity reputation is on the up according to rivals: "Hogan Lovells merged recently, Lovells is more into private equity," says one partner. "If you look at the last 12 months, they should remain where they are.... [more]

Hogan Lovells' private-equity reputation is on the up according to rivals: "Hogan Lovells merged recently, Lovells is more into private equity," says one partner. "If you look at the last 12 months, they should remain where they are. Surely in the coming 12 months, they'll be upgraded that's no doubt."

In private equity, Alexis Terray represented Edmond de Rothschild Capital Partners in relation to the secondary LBO of the Beaba group which was worth €92 million.

The team has also advised on a number of cross-border M&A transactions. Bénédicte Denis, Tom Whelan and Xenia Legendre advised a private-equity firm on the potential acquisition of a leading French brokerage group specialised in the distribution of loan insurance products across France, Spain and Italy. The mandate was approximately worth €700 million.

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	Allen & Overy Clifford Chance Gide Loyrette Nouel Linklaters
	White & Case
	Ashurst De Pardieu Brocas Maffei Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Herbert Smith Hogan Lovells
	JeantetAssociés Norton Rose Simmons & Simmons Willkie Farr & Gallagher
	Baker & McKenzie Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton Orrick Rambaud Martel

One notable infrastructure mandate at Hogan Lovells saw partner Bruno Cantier advising RFF on a public private partnership (PPP) agreement relating to Nîmes-Montpellier bypass HSL, worth €1.4 billion.... [more]

One notable infrastructure mandate at Hogan Lovells saw partner Bruno Cantier advising RFF on a public private partnership (PPP) agreement relating to Nîmes-Montpellier bypass HSL, worth €1.4 billion.

Another highlight saw Ludovic Babin lead the team advising the Ministry of Defense on a PPP contract relating to French Pentagon project in Balard in Paris. The mandate was signed on May 30 2011 priced at €950 million.

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	Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Hengeler Mueller Sullivan & Cromwell
	Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton Linklaters Shearman & Sterling
	Allen & Overy Clifford Chance White & Case
	Gleiss Lutz
	Baker & McKenzie Dewey & LeBoeuf Latham & Watkins
	Heisse Kursawe Eversheds Hogan Lovells Luther Mayer Brown Salans

Hogan Lovells hired Willkie Farr & Gallagher's well known equity capital markets head Michael Schlitt and his seven-strong team, including partner Susanne Schäfer, in February 2011. Schlitt is a big catch for Hogan Lovells as commentators judge that he was Willkie Farr's equity capital markets practice: "[Willkie] are non-existent now and I don't think they will make any attempt to rebuild because there has clearly only been a practice there because of Schlitt," says one peer.... [more]

Hogan Lovells hired Willkie Farr & Gallagher's well known equity capital markets head Michael Schlitt and his seven-strong team, including partner Susanne Schäfer, in February 2011.

Schlitt is a big catch for Hogan Lovells as commentators judge that he was Willkie Farr's equity capital markets practice: "[Willkie] are non-existent now and I don't think they will make any attempt to rebuild because there has clearly only been a practice there because of Schlitt," says one peer.

The arrival of Schlitt and his team can only have a positive impact on the firm's market share: "Given that Schlitt has joined Lovells we will see them more often."

At Hogan Lovells Schlitt and team have continued to advise the German Special Fund for Financial Stabilization (SoFFin) on reducing the Federal Republic's silent participations in Commerzbank. A placement of contingent mandatory exchangeable bonds (CoMEN) and a capital increase meant the SoFFin recouped €11 billion of the state aid it had handed out to the bank during the crisis.Clients give Schlitt their backing. One, who has worked with him for over ten years and followed him to Hogan Lovells, says: "He is consistent in thinking outside the box. He has a strong knowledge of corporate and business law. He is also good at bringing in the right people so the client has options. His knowledge is very deep and thorough. He has an affinity to the equity market and is in tune with how we do business."

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	Hengeler Mueller Linklaters
	Clifford Chance Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
	Allen & Overy Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton Gleiss Lutz Shearman & Sterling White & Case
	Hogan Lovells Latham & Watkins

Hogan Lovells debt capital markets practice gets some good client feedback. "Completely fulfilled our expectation.... [more]

Hogan Lovells debt capital markets practice gets some good client feedback. "Completely fulfilled our expectation... They have the expertise that we are looking for," is one's reference for practice head Sven Brandt and his team. Another commends Frankfurt and New York partner Sina Hekmat, saying: "He is a very well founded player. He is very hands on and knows exactly what is going on in the market."

In the past 12 months Brandt has led teams advising two of Germany's bad banks. In October, the firm acted for Erste Abwicklungsanstalt, Germany's first Bad Bank established to take on the loan books of WestLB, on the establishment of its €20 billion debt programme and in May 2011 it advised FMS Wertmanagement, Hypo Real Estate's bad bank, on the establishment of its €50 billion programme.

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	Allen & Overy Clifford Chance Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Hengeler Mueller Linklaters
	Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy White & Case
	Ashurst Latham & Watkins
	Baker & McKenzie Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton Gleiss Lutz Hogan Lovells Norton Rose Shearman & Sterling Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom
	Luther Mayer Brown Paul Hastings Salans Watson Farley & Williams Weil Gotshal & Manges

A significant blow was dealt to Hogan Lovell's banking practice late in 2010 when joint department head Olaf Grabowski joined Noerr in October.Remaining lead partner Katlen Blöcker has been active across a range of transactions in the last 12 months.... [more]

A significant blow was dealt to Hogan Lovell's banking practice late in 2010 when joint department head Olaf Grabowski joined Noerr in October.

Remaining lead partner Katlen Blöcker has been active across a range of transactions in the last 12 months. She acted for a group of funds advised by Parcom Deutsche Private Equity on acquisition financing for its acquisition of Westfalia-Automotive Holding and advised the Immeo Gruppe on the partial refinancing of a €207 million securitised property portfolio by Bayerische Landesbank (Bayern LB) and Berlin-Hannoversche Hypothekenbank (Berlin Hyp).

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	Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Hengeler Mueller
	Clifford Chance Gleiss Lutz Linklaters
	Allen & Overy Baker & McKenzie Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton CMS Hasche Sigle Hogan Lovells Latham & Watkins Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom White & Case
	Ashurst Noerr Shearman & Sterling Sullivan & Cromwell Weil Gotshal & Manges
	Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson Gibson Dunn & Crutcher Heisse Kursawe Eversheds Kirkland & Ellis Luther McDermott Will & Emery Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy P+P Pöllath + Partners Watson Farley & Williams Willkie Farr & Gallagher

Hogan Lovells bolstered the ranks of its corporate practice in July 2010 hiring Broich Bezzenberger partners, Karin Arnold and Thomas Keul and of counsels Martin Greiser, Michael Vette and Gerold Bezzenberger.Acting alongside the firm's capital markets and finance lawyers, the corporate team advised FMS Wertmanagement on the transfer of €173 billion of risk assets and non-strategic business units from Hypo Real Estate Group (HRE).... [more]

Hogan Lovells bolstered the ranks of its corporate practice in July 2010 hiring Broich Bezzenberger partners, Karin Arnold and Thomas Keul and of counsels Martin Greiser, Michael Vette and Gerold Bezzenberger.

Acting alongside the firm's capital markets and finance lawyers, the corporate team advised FMS Wertmanagement on the transfer of €173 billion of risk assets and non-strategic business units from Hypo Real Estate Group (HRE).

Another similar transaction early in 2010 saw the firm advise Abwicklungsanstalt (EAA) on assuming €71 billion worth of assets from WestLB and some of its subsidiaries. The assets were transferred to EAA in April 2010 with retroactive effect as of 1 January 2010.

The firm was also active for News Corporation on the sale of its Berlin based subsidiary Fox Mobile Group to the financial investor Jesta.

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	Clifford Chance Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Hengeler Mueller
	Gleiss Lutz Latham & Watkins Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy P+P Pöllath + Partners
	Kirkland & Ellis Linklaters Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom Weil Gotshal & Manges Willkie Farr & Gallagher
	Allen & Overy Ashurst CMS Hasche Sigle Hogan Lovells Shearman & Sterling SJ Berwin White & Case
	Heisse Kursawe Eversheds McDermott Will & Emery Salans

Led by Joachim Habetha, Hogan Lovells has been active on the sell side. The team advised H.... [more]

Led by Joachim Habetha, Hogan Lovells has been active on the sell side. The team advised H.C. Starck, which is jointly owned by The Carlyle Group and Advent International, on the sale of the Clevios-business to Heraeus H.C in December 2010. The firm was also advising new client Marseille-Kliniken on the sale of its REHA-division.

More recenty HogLov counselled Genzyme Corporation on the sale of its pharmaceutics precursor business to International Chemical Investors Group in March 2011.

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	Clifford Chance
	Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Linklaters White & Case
	Allen & Overy Gleiss Lutz Hogan Lovells Norton Rose
	Luther Paul Hastings Watson Farley & Williams

A deal highlight for Hogan Lovells saw the firm advise NRW Bank as part of consortium financing the offshore wind park Borkum West II in the North Sea, the first to be funded via a project financing.Practice head Ulrich Helm is currently advising on a multi-million power plant project with an alternative fuel vessel and a gas and steam plant in Germany.... [more]

A deal highlight for Hogan Lovells saw the firm advise NRW Bank as part of consortium financing the offshore wind park Borkum West II in the North Sea, the first to be funded via a project financing.

Practice head Ulrich Helm is currently advising on a multi-million power plant project with an alternative fuel vessel and a gas and steam plant in Germany.

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	Allen & Overy Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer White & Case
	Clifford Chance Gleiss Lutz Görg Hogan Lovells Linklaters Weil Gotshal & Manges
	Baker & McKenzie Heisse Kursawe Eversheds Hengeler Mueller Kirkland & Ellis Mayer Brown McDermott Will & Emery Noerr Paul Hastings Salans Shearman & Sterling Willkie Farr & Gallagher

Commentators question Hogan Lovells ranking, claiming that the firm has been markedly absent from the market in the last 12 months: "I really didn't notice them," observes one peer.Head of department, Heiko Tschauner, has, however, picked up some interesting mandates in the last 12 months.... [more]

Commentators question Hogan Lovells ranking, claiming that the firm has been markedly absent from the market in the last 12 months: "I really didn't notice them," observes one peer.

Head of department, Heiko Tschauner, has, however, picked up some interesting mandates in the last 12 months. He advised Ford on selling Volvo, which involved advice on restructuring the overall business and protection of licences. Elsewhere, working with partner Christian Herweg, Tschauner advised Sunrise Senior Living on restructuring the financing of portfolio of nursing homes in Germany. Also, assisting the corporate team, Tschauner advised the Japanese IHI Corporation and the Keppel Seghers group based in to the acquisition of two projects of the German A-TEC subsidiary AE&E.

On another notable deal, Herweg and Tschauner were part of the team advised FMS Wertmanagement, the bad bank set up by the German state earlier this year specifically to take on non-strategic assets and risk positions from Hypo Real Estate, on the transfer of €173 billion in risk assets and nonstrategic business units spread over 70 jurisdictions. The transaction involved a combination of various transfer mechanisms, such as: transfer by way of statutory spinoff; asset sale; synthetic asset transfer; and, financial guarantees.

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	Chiomenti Studio Legale Clifford Chance Linklaters
	Allen & Overy Bonelli Erede Pappalardo Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Legance
	Gianni Origoni Grippo Cappelli & Partners Grimaldi e Associati Latham & Watkins
	Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton Giliberti Pappalettera Triscornia e Associati NCTM
	Ashurst Dewey & LeBoeuf DLA Piper Macchi di Cellere Gangemi Pavia e Ansaldo Pedersoli e Associati Simmons & Simmons Ughi e Nunziante
	Baker & McKenzie Carnelutti Delfino e Associati Hogan Lovells Tonucci & Partners

	Bonelli Erede Pappalardo Chiomenti Studio Legale
	Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton Gianni Origoni Grippo Cappelli & Partners
	Clifford Chance d'Urso Gatti e Bianchi Studio Legale Associato Giliberti Pappalettera Triscornia e Associati Grimaldi e Associati Labruna Mazziotti Segni Legance NCTM Pedersoli e Associati
	Delfino e Associati Dewey & LeBoeuf Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Latham & Watkins Linklaters Lombardi Molinari e Associati Pavia e Ansaldo Simmons & Simmons Studio Legale Grande Stevens
	Allen & Overy Ashurst Carnelutti De Berti Jacchia Hogan Lovells Montanari Brescia e Associati Pirola Pennuto Zei & Associati Ughi e Nunziante
	DLA Piper Macchi di Cellere Gangemi Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker Tonucci & Partners

	Allen & Overy Clifford Chance
	De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek Linklaters Loyens & Loeff NautaDutilh
	Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Houthoff Buruma Simmons & Simmons Stibbe Van Doorne
	AKD Baker & McKenzie Boekel De Nerée CMS Derks Star Busmann DLA Piper Norton Rose
	Hogan Lovells Kennedy Van der Laan Stek

Hogan Lovells' leading partner Ken Breken gets relatively good feedback in the market for banking, however the firm as whole according to commentators does not have a big presence on mainstream banking.... [more]

Hogan Lovells' leading partner Ken Breken gets relatively good feedback in the market for banking, however the firm as whole according to commentators does not have a big presence on mainstream banking. [hide]

	Allen & Overy De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek
	Clifford Chance Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Loyens & Loeff NautaDutilh Stibbe
	Houthoff Buruma Linklaters
	Baker & McKenzie CMS Derks Star Busmann DLA Piper Lexence Simmons & Simmons Van Doorne
	AKD Boekel De Nerée Hogan Lovells Norton Rose
	Kennedy Van der Laan

Hogan Lovells has quite a low profile in the M&A market in the Netherlands according to peers. However in June 2011 it made moves which may change this profile when it recruited a life sciences team from NautaDutilh.... [more]

Hogan Lovells has quite a low profile in the M&A market in the Netherlands according to peers. However in June 2011 it made moves which may change this profile when it recruited a life sciences team from NautaDutilh.

The team recruited comprises associates Bart Jong, Hein van den Bos, Paul Loeb, Ruth Franken and Frederique Reijntjes and partner Carla Schoonderbeek, who has broad M&A experience in the pharmaceutical sector.

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	Uría Menéndez
	Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Garrigues Linklaters
	Clifford Chance Cuatrecasas Gonçalves Pereira
	Allen & Overy Araoz & Rueda CMS Albiñana & Suárez de Lezo Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Hogan Lovells Pérez-Llorca Ramón & Cajal

	Allen & Overy Clifford Chance Garrigues
	Cuatrecasas Gonçalves Pereira Linklaters Uría Menéndez
	Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Ramón & Cajal
	Araoz & Rueda Baker & McKenzie CMS Albiñana & Suárez de Lezo DLA Piper Hogan Lovells Pérez-Llorca

	Clifford Chance Cuatrecasas Gonçalves Pereira Garrigues
	Allen & Overy Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Linklaters Uría Menéndez
	Araoz & Rueda Baker & McKenzie CMS Albiñana & Suárez de Lezo DLA Piper Hogan Lovells Pérez-Llorca Ramón & Cajal

A key client of Hogan Lovells last year was Global Emerging Markets (GEM) who was advised by a group of lawyers including Miguel García Stuyck and Leonor Dormido in the structuring and implementation of an equity line of credit subscribed by Quabitat Inmobiliaria in Spain. The deal was worth €150 million and warrants in excess of €28 million.... [more]

A key client of Hogan Lovells last year was Global Emerging Markets (GEM) who was advised by a group of lawyers including Miguel García Stuyck and Leonor Dormido in the structuring and implementation of an equity line of credit subscribed by Quabitat Inmobiliaria in Spain. The deal was worth €150 million and warrants in excess of €28 million. Notably the mandate involved the implementation of the securities loans complying with requirements from the Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV) and Spanish taxation.

Another equity highlight saw GEM call in the firm when the duo advised the group in a similar equity credit transaction subscribed by Fergo Aisa worth €60 million with warrants priced at €30 million.

When comes to the company listing mandate, the duo was again involved advising Grupo de Inversiones Suramericana on its listing on the Spanish Latin-American Securities Market (LATIBEX). It is believed to be the first time that a Colombian entity is listed on LATIBEX.
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	Clifford Chance Uría Menéndez
	Allen & Overy Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Garrigues
	Cuatrecasas Gonçalves Pereira DLA Piper Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Linklaters
	Ashurst
	Hogan Lovells Jones Day KPMG Abogados

	Uría Menéndez
	Cuatrecasas Gonçalves Pereira Garrigues
	Allen & Overy Ashurst Clifford Chance CMS Albiñana & Suárez de Lezo Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Linklaters Pérez-Llorca
	Araoz & Rueda Baker & McKenzie DLA Piper Hogan Lovells Jones Day Latham & Watkins Ramón & Cajal SJ Berwin

In the food industry, Hogan Lovells was involved in a notable mandate when he advised on the €900 million sale of Mivisa by CVC Capital Partners to Blackstone and Spanish private-equity entity N+1. The acquirer gained the majority stake in the business while the management team will retain a minority stake.... [more]

In the food industry, Hogan Lovells was involved in a notable mandate when he advised on the €900 million sale of Mivisa by CVC Capital Partners to Blackstone and Spanish private-equity entity N+1. The acquirer gained the majority stake in the business while the management team will retain a minority stake.

In a multi-jurisdictional transaction, a team led by partners José M. Balañá from Madrid and Amit Nayyar from London, in coordination with seven other offices and 8 international law firms, advised Syncreon on the acquisition of Compuspar. The transaction, aiming to strengthen the group’s key target markets including USA, Poland and Brazil, was closed in Barcelona and simultaneously in 15 other countries worldwide.

Another highlight saw a multi-jurisdictional team led by partners Alex Dolmans and José María Balañá advising Amazon on the acquisition of Spanish online retailer BuyVIP. It is a strategic move for Amazon as it represents its entry into the European “private sales” business and increases its footprint in the southern European internet retail market.
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	Garrigues Uría Menéndez
	Clifford Chance Cuatrecasas Gonçalves Pereira
	Allen & Overy DLA Piper Gómez-Acebo & Pombo
	Ashurst CMS Albiñana & Suárez de Lezo Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Herbert Smith Hogan Lovells KPMG Abogados Linklaters Ramón & Cajal Watson Farley & Williams

	Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Linklaters
	Ashurst Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton Herbert Smith Slaughter and May
	Allen & Overy Clifford Chance Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom
	Latham & Watkins Shearman & Sterling Sullivan & Cromwell White & Case
	Baker & McKenzie Hogan Lovells Macfarlanes Simmons & Simmons Weil Gotshal & Manges

	Allen & Overy Clifford Chance Linklaters
	Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
	Ashurst Sidley Austin Slaughter and May
	Simmons & Simmons White & Case
	Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft Herbert Smith Hogan Lovells Latham & Watkins Mayer Brown Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy Shearman & Sterling Weil Gotshal & Manges

Led by David Hudd, the four-partner team at Hogan Lovells in London was enhanced last year through the hire of Dennis Dillon from Sidley Austin. Securitisation mandates were high on the agenda last year and one of the firm's largest deals saw them advise long standing client FCE Bank (the European finance entity of the Ford Motor Company).... [more]

Led by David Hudd, the four-partner team at Hogan Lovells in London was enhanced last year through the hire of Dennis Dillon from Sidley Austin.

Securitisation mandates were high on the agenda last year and one of the firm's largest deals saw them advise long standing client FCE Bank (the European finance entity of the Ford Motor Company). The deal saw a team jointly led out of London and Paris acting for the bank on a £1.3 billion Globaldrive securitisations consisting of consumer loans, consumer leases and trade receivables.

Julian Craughan led the London team on the FCE deal and was involved as the firm acted for Tube Lines Finance on amendments to its £1.2 billion whole business securitisation. The deal, which was a restructuring of one of the UK's first project securitisations also involved a termination of a monoline wrap (Insurance company guarantee), a rare occurrence in the UK.

One firm who worked with James Doyle highlighted his ability to adapt to circumstance: "Exceptionally knowledgeable in business area. We had some very complex transactions but the team led by James were very knowledgeable. One was the first transaction of its kind and threw up a lot of problems; it did not affect James at all. James has a sixth sense, very much on the ball."

In other areas the team also acted for the UK's export credit agency the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) over the issue of two sets of notes to repackage the credit risk of three aircraft leases. The leases were in regard to Airbus A330-300 aircraft delivered to Aercap.

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	Allen & Overy Clifford Chance Linklaters
	Ashurst Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Latham & Watkins
	Hogan Lovells Shearman & Sterling SNR Denton White & Case
	Baker & McKenzie CMS Cameron McKenna Herbert Smith Norton Rose Simmons & Simmons Slaughter and May

	Clifford Chance Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Linklaters Slaughter and May
	Allen & Overy Herbert Smith
	Ashurst Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom White & Case
	Baker & McKenzie CMS Cameron McKenna Hogan Lovells Latham & Watkins Macfarlanes Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy Shearman & Sterling SNR Denton Travers Smith

With 17 partners in London including global co-head Matthew Cottis the Hogan Lovells team certainly has the depth of resources to challenge in the UK banking space. The team is largely made up of former Lovells partners but the merger with Hogan & Hartson in 2010 has brought an extra dimension to the firm's US capabilities.... [more]

With 17 partners in London including global co-head Matthew Cottis the Hogan Lovells team certainly has the depth of resources to challenge in the UK banking space. The team is largely made up of former Lovells partners but the merger with Hogan & Hartson in 2010 has brought an extra dimension to the firm's US capabilities.

The expanded international offering was noted by clients: "Good at coordinating large counsels working across eight jurisdictions. Very good at explaining the different clauses, very helpful dealing with client's direct, good at explaining legal jargon to non lawyers. We were satisfied with this team, one of our two favourite law firms." Another agrees: "One of Hogan Lovells' competitive advantages is how well their offices in the different jurisdictions are coordinated as well as the people themselves."

One key client relationship for the firm is the one it maintains with Deutsche Bank and last year a team led by Andrew Gamble acted for the bank on a €250 million revolving trade finance facility granted to Belgian company Nyrstar Sales & Marketing. The facility, which can be raised to €500 million, was used as a down payment by Nystar to secure the output of a Finnish zinc mine for the next ten years.

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	Clifford Chance Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Linklaters
	Allen & Overy Herbert Smith Norton Rose Slaughter and May Travers Smith
	Ashurst CMS Cameron McKenna Shearman & Sterling Simmons & Simmons
	DLA Piper Hogan Lovells SJ Berwin White & Case

	Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Herbert Smith
	Allen & Overy Clifford Chance
	Bingham McCutchen CMS Cameron McKenna Linklaters Norton Rose
	Ashurst Hogan Lovells Simmons & Simmons Stephenson Harwood

	Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Linklaters Slaughter and May
	Allen & Overy Clifford Chance Herbert Smith
	Ashurst Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton Macfarlanes Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom Sullivan & Cromwell Weil Gotshal & Manges
	Hogan Lovells Latham & Watkins Mayer Brown Norton Rose Shearman & Sterling Simmons & Simmons Travers Smith White & Case
	Baker & McKenzie CMS Cameron McKenna DLA Piper Jones Day Sidley Austin

	Clifford Chance Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
	Kirkland & Ellis Linklaters Weil Gotshal & Manges
	Ashurst Dickson Minto Macfarlanes Simpson Thacher & Bartlett Travers Smith
	Allen & Overy Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton Latham & Watkins Slaughter and May
	CMS Cameron McKenna DLA Piper Herbert Smith Hogan Lovells Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom White & Case

	Allen & Overy Clifford Chance Linklaters
	Latham & Watkins Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy Shearman & Sterling White & Case
	Ashurst CMS Cameron McKenna Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Herbert Smith Norton Rose Sullivan & Cromwell
	Baker & McKenzie Chadbourne & Parke Dewey & LeBoeuf DLA Piper Hogan Lovells Simmons & Simmons Slaughter and May

The 2010 merger of Lovells and Hogan Hartson has certainly increased the combined firm's scope, although in the case of the London team, the major benefit has been a wider network. The UK domestic offering is still largely made up of the former Lovells team, which has maintained its reputation in the market through the range of different sectors from which it draws its mandates.... [more]

The 2010 merger of Lovells and Hogan Hartson has certainly increased the combined firm's scope, although in the case of the London team, the major benefit has been a wider network. The UK domestic offering is still largely made up of the former Lovells team, which has maintained its reputation in the market through the range of different sectors from which it draws its mandates.

One of the firm's highlights last year saw the London team act in conjunction with its Singapore office advising the Singapore Sports Council on the redevelopment of the National Stadium as part of the Singapore Sports Hub PPP (public-private partnership). The project was delayed after the Lehman Brothers collapse in 2008 and is notable as the largest sports infrastructure PPP in the world.

Closer to home, other infrastructure projects included work for Serco on the Belmarsh West Prison PFI (private finance initiative) and advise to the lenders including HSH Nordbank, Santander and WestLB on the senior debt facilities provided to Maritima Valenciana for the refinancing of existing facilities provided for the concession for the port of Valencia.

"Very good. Always have the answers to queries, what I rated most was that they are always one step ahead of the game, commercial legal advice, able to disseminate the appropriate information and act accordingly," says one client.

On the power side Adrian Walker acted for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries on their bid for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Jordan, while Andrew Briggs and Andrew Gallagher meanwhile advised the lenders to Macquarie in regards to the UK's Offshore Windfarm Transmission Projects.

The team also has a specialisation in the establishment of infrastructure funds and has worked in this regard for Lend Lease and the John Laing Infrastructure Fund.

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	Allen & Overy Clifford Chance Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Linklaters
	Bingham McCutchen Latham & Watkins Slaughter and May
	SNR Denton Weil Gotshal & Manges White & Case
	Hogan Lovells Jones Day Kirkland & Ellis Sidley Austin Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom
	Ashurst Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft CMS Cameron McKenna Herbert Smith Macfarlanes Simmons & Simmons

Stephen Foster leads the seven partner team at Hogan Lovells who last year had a role on one of the year's largest deals, advising the Bank of New York Mellon as a note trustee of two senior issuances by Wind Hellas, the Greek telecommunications group. This was part of the group's larger restructuring which involved €1.... [more]

Stephen Foster leads the seven partner team at Hogan Lovells who last year had a role on one of the year's largest deals, advising the Bank of New York Mellon as a note trustee of two senior issuances by Wind Hellas, the Greek telecommunications group. This was part of the group's larger restructuring which involved €1.2 billion of debt.

The team also acted for the Trustee of the Nortel Networks UK Pension Plan and the board of the Pension Protection Plan their claims against the wider Nortel Group after its collapse.

"They were dealing with a level of complexity, they remained calmed and measured," says one client. "They gave us the confidence they would do a good job."

In a similar deal, the firm also advised the Straumur-Burdaras Investment Bank on the €1.8 billion restructuring of various creditor claims pursuant to an Icelandic court-approved composition agreement. This agreement saw parts of the claims converted into shares and bonds.

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