Linklaters LLP - The Who's Who Legal 100 2013

What is the Who's Who Legal 100?

The London office fields six lawyers in this chapter, including Christopher Bellamy QC, chairman of the firm’s global competition practice and a “legendary figure” in the legal market. He is internationally celebrated for his role in founding and presiding over the Competition Appeal Tribunal. Christian Ahlborn is considered a “big name” while Simon Pritchard is renowned for his “deep knowledge” in this area, gained while senior director of mergers at the Office of Fair Trading in London. The “excellent” Nicole Kar is recognised for her “first rate” abilities in the mining, energy and utilities industries. In Paris, Anne Wachsmann is famed for her involvement in “landmark” French cartel decisions in the steel distribution sector and the temporary work sectors. She is joined by Olivier d’Ormesson and Pierre Zelenko, both highly recommended for their competition expertise. Based in New York, Jeffrey Schmidt is a former director of the bureau of competition of the US Federal Trade Commission and has “profound insight” into all aspects of US competition law. His colleague Thomas McGrath is “particularly active” and recently advised Deutsche Börse in its combination with NYSE Euronext. Lawyers from Linklaters’ Düsseldorf, Lisbon and Warsaw offices are also highly recommended.

The firm has a “world-class” corporate tax practice with lawyers possessing strong analytical and deal-structuring abilities. The firm advises on all aspects of cross-border advisory and transactional tax matters, as well as tax disputes. Seventeen individuals from the firm stand out for their expertise, including five from the London office. Global head of tax Yash Rupal is considered a “major player”. He specialises in structured finance transactions and the development of new financial products and structures. The “superb” Michael Hardwick is the “go-to-guy” for advice on the tax aspects of mergers, acquisitions and takeovers. Dominic Winter has been involved in many “high-profile” transactions, including most recently the nuclear electricity joint venture between Centrica and EDF. Mark Kingstone and Martin Lynchehan are also singled out for their expertise. In Frankfurt, Jens Blumenberg is an “absolutely first-class” tax consultant focusing on tax treaties, M&A, transfer pricing and EC tax law. His partner Florian Lechner is a “tax-oriented restructuring genius” while in Düsseldorf, Oliver Rosenberg is the “go-to guy” for cross-border tax structuring and planning. Munich-based Andreas Schaflitzl is a “must for inclusion in this chapter” according to peers.

In Brussels, Henk Vanhulle heads the office’s tax practice and is “simply brilliant” at international tax planning, corporate finance, capital market transactions and M&A. Guido De Wit boasts a “deep understanding” of VAT, customs, registration duties and real estate taxation and Ivo Onkelinx is active on transactional matters as well as in litigation. New York-based Gordon Warnke is head of the firm’s US tax practice and an “expert” at federal income taxation of domestic and international mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs and other divestitures. In DC, Joseph Pari is noted for his “thoughtful and considered” advice. Based in Paris, Édouard Chapellier is “highly recommended” for the tax structuring of complex cross-border transactions.

Linklaters’ global capital markets team is widely acknowledged as “world leading” and covers debt and equity issues to derivatives and structured finance. Once again, the firm achieves more listings in the chapter than any other law firm in the research, with a total of 15 inclusions. The London office is a “hub of talent” fielding five lawyers to this section. Keith Thomson is “highly acclaimed” for his expertise in this field, particularly in debt, equity and equity-linked transactions in the euro markets. Carson Welsh heads the firm’s debt and equity market group and is a “prominent figure” in the sector. The “excellent” Jim Rice specialises in structure finance and securitisation and receives praise for his “business nous”.

The firm garners three listings from its offices in Asia. In Tokyo, Peter Frost is “highly valued” by his clients and is frequently seen on some of the most significant transactions in the market. Hong Kong-based Jon Gray is the “lawyers of choice” for complex and multi-jurisdictional transactions in the region while in Singapore, Kevin Wong is praised for his “commercial acumen” and “first-class negotiation skills”. Peers especially commend his work in the debt capital markets. In Dubai, Richard O’Callaghan is an integral part of the firm’s “top tier securities practice” and specialises in equity and equity-linked transactions as well as debt and hybrid capital securities.

Lisbon-based Antonio Soares is head of the office’s corporate finance practice and focuses on IPOs, privatisations, takeovers and M&A transactions. In Frankfurt, both Herbert Harrer and Peter Waltz are highly nominated while managing partner for Belgium François De Bauw also heads the capital markets and banking group of the office. Paris-based Bertrand Andriani is acclaimed for both his capital markets and project finance expertise, earning recognition in both chapters.

Linklaters continues to go from strength to strength maintaining its position as one of the world’s leading law firms.