Clifford Chance LLP - The Who's Who Legal 100 2012

What is the Who's Who Legal 100?

Clifford Chance is a “trailblazer” in the project finance market and in 2011 won five awards for project finance transactions in which it acted. Twenty-five of its brightest stars are recognised in the corresponding chapter of this publication. Dubai partner Robin Abraham has acted on a number of high-profile project finance deals in the Middle East and is also listed for his public procurement expertise. The “impressive” Catherine McCarthy is based in the Washington, DC, office and specialises in the representation of lenders and sponsors in project finance and other complex international financing transactions across a range of industry sectors, also earning recognition in the banking chapter. Ting Ting Tan has “excellent legal and commercial understanding” while Richard Parris, managing partner of the Doha office, has been involved in a number of high-profile petrochemical and infrastructure projects in Saudi Arabia and other parts of the Middle East. The “very talented” José Guardo has advised clients on transactions involving power plants, railway infrastructure, bridges and commercial and residential developments in Spain and Latin America. Peter Avery and Malcolm Turner are both based in the Dubai office and are a “knowledgeable, responsive and highly effective team”. In Beijing, Stephen Harder brings over 20 years’ experience to the project finance team and is additionally listed for his “superb” banking practice. Nicholas Wong is based in Paris and has a truly international practice, acting for sponsors and banks on all aspects of transportation, energy, petrochemicals, mining, industrial and PFI/PPP projects in the Americas, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Huw Jenkins is “the go-to guy” in Hong Kong for project finance, according to one source, and has also garnered many votes for his public procurement work.

Banking is another of Clifford Chance’s flagship practices and 18 of its professionals are listed for their work in this area. Malcolm Sweeting was part of the team which advised BBVA, Banco Santander, BNP Paribas, Citibank, HSBC and RBS as coordinators of a committee of lenders on the refinancing of approximately US$15 billion of existing debt of the Cemex Group. Peers describe his banking practice as “utterly brilliant” and “virtually unrivalled”. Vlad Petrus is the managing partner of the Prague office and is lauded as a “true expert”, while Victoria Bortkevicha in Moscow is praised for her PPP project work in the Russian Federation. Jared Grubb is “very responsive to clients’ needs” and Christopher Bates in London is commended as “a bright, savvy lawyer”. Andrew Gambarini is based in Singapore and has extensive experience in leveraged financing, acquisition financing and export credit financing. Frank Graaf is head of the securities and derivatives group within the Amsterdam finance department and has “superior legal knowledge”. James Johnson is one of seven partners listed from the London office and has a “thriving” banking practice.

The firm’s capital markets team performs very well, with 16 lawyers listed for their know-how in this area. The London office has a particularly impressive team, eight of whom are recognised in the capital markets chapter. Andrew Coats is “extremely hard-working” and uses his “fantastic commercial acumen” to the advantage of his clients. Stephen Curtis is “unbelievably clever”, while Kevin Ingram and Robert MacVicar earned votes for their “diligent and meticulous work”. Tokyo partner Reiko Sakimura specialises in international capital markets, including international debt and equity offerings, IPOs, regulatory capital securities and corporate hybrid securities. Peers admire her “very broad expertise” and “excellent client service”. Matthew Cahill bases his practice in Abu Dhabi, having worked in the London capital markets group for 10 years and led Clifford Chance’s Tokyo capital markets practice for eight. His “vast experience” makes him “a clear choice for many clients”. Frankfurt lawyer Markus Pfüller is a “true proficient” and specialises in advising capital increases, securities offerings, stock exchange listings and securities trading.

Clifford Chance’s competition group is similarly strong and also earns 16 listings. A trio of Brussels lawyers are recognised. Tony Reeves specialises in EU and multi-jurisdictional merger notifications, abuse of market power, cartels and distribution and licensing practices and is “a superb strategist”. Thomas Vinje has particular experience advising in relation to the information and communications technology industries and is also listed in the internet and e-commerce and regulatory communications chapters. Johan Ysewyn has a strong focus on international and European cartel investigations and he has defended companies from a range of sectors who have been involved in cartel investigations around the world. Respondents to our survey describe Elizabeth Morony as “a first-class tactician” and commend Paris’s Michel Petite on his “incredible experience” advising three European Commission presidents. Madrid lawyer Miguel Odriozola does “top-notch” merger control work and Iwona Terlecka is a “leading name” for competition work in Poland.

Named in our research as Commercial Litigation Law Firm of the Year, Clifford Chance sees 12 of its high flyers listed for their work in this area. Jeremy Sandelson and Simon Davis in London are commended for their “ability to stay one step ahead of the game”. Hong Kong partner Martin Rogers is head of litigation and dispute resolution in Asia and is “a class act”. Burkhard Schneider and Fabian von Schlabrendorff are “the stars” of commercial litigation in Frankfurt, while Jeroen Ouwehand leads the litigation and dispute resolution team in Amsterdam and is “a brilliant litigator”.

The firm also has a strong presence in the aviation chapter, with 12 lawyers named in for their capabilities. Eleven practitioners are listed for their tax work and eight feature in the real estate chapter. Multiple listings in 18 other practice areas attest to Clifford Chance’s status as one of the best commercial law firms in the world.