Cleary Gottlieb Achieves Outstanding Results in The Legal 500 EMEA 2012: Over 60 Practices Recognized as Leaders and Over 70 Lawyers Recommended
April 18, 2012
Once again Cleary Gottlieb has achieved excellent results in the 2012 edition of The Legal 500 EMEA. The firm is recognized for its work in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, and the United Kingdom; as well as Algeria, Bahrain, Nigeria, Oman and Tunisia, highlighting the firm’s emerging markets practice.
The guide distinguishes 60 of the firm’s practices as leaders, 19 of the firm’s lawyers as ‘Leading Individuals’ and recommends more than 70 of the firm’s lawyers in Europe. The practices recognized for the first time include Foreign firms: Algeria and Capital markets: Debt – Italy. The firm is also recognized in two categories which are new to the guide this year: Banking litigation: investment and retail – United Kingdom; and Bank lending: investment grade and syndicated loans – United Kingdom. For the third year running, Cleary Gottlieb is the only firm to be top ranked for EU, regulatory and competition law in Italy.
The following Cleary Gottlieb practices are recognized for being among the best in Europe, the Middle East and Africa based on Legal 500’s interviews with clients and competitors between late 2010 and late 2011, with some selected quotes:
Algeria
Foreign Firms
Belgium
Banking, finance and capital markets: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is ‘proactive, on time, efficient and pragmatic.’ The team has acted on some of Belgium’s most high-profile transactions of late…”
Competition: “‘Rock solid’ across all facets of competition law, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP fields an ‘unparalleled team of outstanding lawyers’ that strikes an effective ‘balance between academia and a corporate mindset.’”
Corporate and M&A
Customs, trade, WTO and anti-dumping: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP’s trade practice recently attracted a number of new clients…”
EU regulatory: Financial services: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP provides ‘outstanding service’ and is highly respected by EU authorities.”
EU regulatory: Information technology: “Recognised for ‘extraordinary business acumen’ and ‘top value for money,’ Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP handles regulatory matters for technology firms…”
EU regulatory: Telecoms: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is ‘one of the few firms that offers an integrated service for both EU and domestic regulatory telecoms matters.’”
Information technology: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP’s IT practice often interacts with the firm’s strong EU and competition practice. The team [has an] enviable client roster…”
Media and entertainment: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP’s ‘absolutely top-rate’ group advises prestigious clients…”
France
Banking and finance: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP focuses on corporate finance and advises large corporations…”
Capital markets: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP provides ‘first-class legal advice’ in the ECM field and ‘full dedication to time-critical projects’…It also handles DCM work, notably advising on US offerings and liability management transactions.”
Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation: “The practice won several key judgements in 2011 including private enforcement cases.”
Dispute resolution: International arbitration: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP’s ‘excellent’ group excels in investment and public international law work, and has acted for state entities and companies in many groundbreaking cases…The practice has acted in many ICC cases.”
Dispute resolution: Public international law
Dispute resolution: Stock market litigation
Dispute resolution: White-collar crime
EU competition and distribution: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is strongly recommended for ‘highly technical and strategic EU cases’….Leading corporations turn to the team for high-stakes antitrust and merger control work…”
Insolvency: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP handles complex domestic and global financial restructuring, distressed M&A and insolvency cases.”
Mergers and acquisitions: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is marked by the ‘outstanding technicality, business acumen and attention to details shown by each of its lawyers’. It is a prominent player in French deals and, increasingly, in the emerging markets.”
Private equity: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP advises several major private equity players…”
Project finance and energy: Energy
Project finance and energy: Project finance: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is advising on various large electricity, mining and infrastructure projects in Africa, and provides ‘excellent service in terms of knowledge and responsiveness’. It represents governments, contractors, sponsors and lenders…”
Tax: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP [has a] ‘top-quality’ practice …The team provides ‘very business-oriented’ advice on tax aspects of M&A, restructuring and securities transactions…The practice also represents clients in tax controversies.”
Germany
Antitrust: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP’s team locally works closely with colleagues in Brussels and the US, rendering seamless cross-border advice in international cases.”
Bank lending:
Capital markets: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP has ‘in-depth knowledge’ of ECM work, which is its core focus, and it particularly excels at deals with a US aspect.”
Corporate and M&A: Large deals
Insolvency and restructuring: Restructuring
Tax: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP has particular experience in advising on capital markets issues, including hybrid financing structures and pre-IPO tax restructuring.”
Italy
Banking and finance
Capital markets: Debt
Capital markets: Equity
Corporate and M&A: Milan and Rome
Dispute Resolution: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP ‘stays on top of the issues.’”
EU, regulatory and competition law: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP’s ‘service is outstanding.’”
Energy: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP ‘pulls in multiple resources across disciplines and jurisdictions.’”
Restructuring and insolvency
TMT: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is rated for its ‘deep knowledge of the telecommunications business’. The practice is focused on antitrust and transactional work in the TMT sector.”
Tax
Russia
Banking and finance: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP has acted as borrower’s counsel in many of Russia’s largest syndicated loans and project financings.”
Capital markets: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP acts on the largest and most complex Russian capital markets transactions.”
Corporate and M&A: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP handles some of the market’s most significant M&A for multinational companies and private equity firms pursuing Russian assets, as well as for Russian clients.”
TMT
Tunisia
Foreign firms: “‘A leading international firm in Africa.’”
UK
Corporate Tax
Equity capital markets: UK capability: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is very highly rated for its expertise in Russia and other emerging markets, and acts for both issuer and underwriter clients.”
Corporate and commercial: Equity capital markets: US capability: “A ‘first-rate’ firm, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is noted for its strength in emerging market transactions and particularly in Russian work, where it has the ‘number one’ practice.”
EU and Competition
M&A: upper and mid-market and premium deals, £250m+: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP ‘provides a first-class service with an outstanding level of skill’. With just four London-based partners, it continues to act on some of the largest cross-border M&A deals; the team handled a select 11 UK deals in 2010, with a good chunk of them well over the £1bn mark.”
M&A: US law capability: “Never far from the largest European M&A deals.”
Private equity: Transactions: “‘Very used to thinking outside their comfort zones,’ Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP’s lawyers are ‘very good at handling deals that deviate from the norm.’”
Dispute resolution: Banking litigation: investment and retail
Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP has successfully built up a team of seven lawyers in its UK litigation practice… [who] advised a number of sovereigns in litigation arising out of sovereign debt defaults.”
Dispute resolution: International arbitration
Dispute resolution: Public international law
Acquisition finance: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP’s four-partner finance team excels in matters ‘that deviate from the norm’, and, though small, is ‘flexible and innovative’… Clients include a mix of banks, corporates and sponsors…”
Bank lending: investment grade debt and syndicated loans: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP’s ‘very flexible and knowledgeable’ finance team in London handles financing for a number of major corporates...”
Debt capital markets: “‘Standout U.S. firm.’”
Finance: Emerging markets: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is well known for its Russia work, and also focuses on Indian and African securities and corporate matters.”
Cleary Gottlieb has also been noted for its work in Bahrain and Nigeria, and “highly recommended” for its work in Oman.
The guide distinguishes 60 of the firm’s practices as leaders, 19 of the firm’s lawyers as ‘Leading Individuals’ and recommends more than 70 of the firm’s lawyers in Europe. The practices recognized for the first time include Foreign firms: Algeria and Capital markets: Debt – Italy. The firm is also recognized in two categories which are new to the guide this year: Banking litigation: investment and retail – United Kingdom; and Bank lending: investment grade and syndicated loans – United Kingdom. For the third year running, Cleary Gottlieb is the only firm to be top ranked for EU, regulatory and competition law in Italy.
The following Cleary Gottlieb practices are recognized for being among the best in Europe, the Middle East and Africa based on Legal 500’s interviews with clients and competitors between late 2010 and late 2011, with some selected quotes:
Algeria
Foreign Firms
Belgium
Banking, finance and capital markets: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is ‘proactive, on time, efficient and pragmatic.’ The team has acted on some of Belgium’s most high-profile transactions of late…”
Competition: “‘Rock solid’ across all facets of competition law, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP fields an ‘unparalleled team of outstanding lawyers’ that strikes an effective ‘balance between academia and a corporate mindset.’”
Corporate and M&A
Customs, trade, WTO and anti-dumping: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP’s trade practice recently attracted a number of new clients…”
EU regulatory: Financial services: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP provides ‘outstanding service’ and is highly respected by EU authorities.”
EU regulatory: Information technology: “Recognised for ‘extraordinary business acumen’ and ‘top value for money,’ Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP handles regulatory matters for technology firms…”
EU regulatory: Telecoms: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is ‘one of the few firms that offers an integrated service for both EU and domestic regulatory telecoms matters.’”
Information technology: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP’s IT practice often interacts with the firm’s strong EU and competition practice. The team [has an] enviable client roster…”
Media and entertainment: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP’s ‘absolutely top-rate’ group advises prestigious clients…”
France
Banking and finance: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP focuses on corporate finance and advises large corporations…”
Capital markets: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP provides ‘first-class legal advice’ in the ECM field and ‘full dedication to time-critical projects’…It also handles DCM work, notably advising on US offerings and liability management transactions.”
Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation: “The practice won several key judgements in 2011 including private enforcement cases.”
Dispute resolution: International arbitration: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP’s ‘excellent’ group excels in investment and public international law work, and has acted for state entities and companies in many groundbreaking cases…The practice has acted in many ICC cases.”
Dispute resolution: Public international law
Dispute resolution: Stock market litigation
Dispute resolution: White-collar crime
EU competition and distribution: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is strongly recommended for ‘highly technical and strategic EU cases’….Leading corporations turn to the team for high-stakes antitrust and merger control work…”
Insolvency: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP handles complex domestic and global financial restructuring, distressed M&A and insolvency cases.”
Mergers and acquisitions: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is marked by the ‘outstanding technicality, business acumen and attention to details shown by each of its lawyers’. It is a prominent player in French deals and, increasingly, in the emerging markets.”
Private equity: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP advises several major private equity players…”
Project finance and energy: Energy
Project finance and energy: Project finance: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is advising on various large electricity, mining and infrastructure projects in Africa, and provides ‘excellent service in terms of knowledge and responsiveness’. It represents governments, contractors, sponsors and lenders…”
Tax: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP [has a] ‘top-quality’ practice …The team provides ‘very business-oriented’ advice on tax aspects of M&A, restructuring and securities transactions…The practice also represents clients in tax controversies.”
Germany
Antitrust: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP’s team locally works closely with colleagues in Brussels and the US, rendering seamless cross-border advice in international cases.”
Bank lending:
Capital markets: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP has ‘in-depth knowledge’ of ECM work, which is its core focus, and it particularly excels at deals with a US aspect.”
Corporate and M&A: Large deals
Insolvency and restructuring: Restructuring
Tax: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP has particular experience in advising on capital markets issues, including hybrid financing structures and pre-IPO tax restructuring.”
Italy
Banking and finance
Capital markets: Debt
Capital markets: Equity
Corporate and M&A: Milan and Rome
Dispute Resolution: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP ‘stays on top of the issues.’”
EU, regulatory and competition law: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP’s ‘service is outstanding.’”
Energy: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP ‘pulls in multiple resources across disciplines and jurisdictions.’”
Restructuring and insolvency
TMT: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is rated for its ‘deep knowledge of the telecommunications business’. The practice is focused on antitrust and transactional work in the TMT sector.”
Tax
Russia
Banking and finance: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP has acted as borrower’s counsel in many of Russia’s largest syndicated loans and project financings.”
Capital markets: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP acts on the largest and most complex Russian capital markets transactions.”
Corporate and M&A: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP handles some of the market’s most significant M&A for multinational companies and private equity firms pursuing Russian assets, as well as for Russian clients.”
TMT
Tunisia
Foreign firms: “‘A leading international firm in Africa.’”
UK
Corporate Tax
Equity capital markets: UK capability: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is very highly rated for its expertise in Russia and other emerging markets, and acts for both issuer and underwriter clients.”
Corporate and commercial: Equity capital markets: US capability: “A ‘first-rate’ firm, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is noted for its strength in emerging market transactions and particularly in Russian work, where it has the ‘number one’ practice.”
EU and Competition
M&A: upper and mid-market and premium deals, £250m+: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP ‘provides a first-class service with an outstanding level of skill’. With just four London-based partners, it continues to act on some of the largest cross-border M&A deals; the team handled a select 11 UK deals in 2010, with a good chunk of them well over the £1bn mark.”
M&A: US law capability: “Never far from the largest European M&A deals.”
Private equity: Transactions: “‘Very used to thinking outside their comfort zones,’ Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP’s lawyers are ‘very good at handling deals that deviate from the norm.’”
Dispute resolution: Banking litigation: investment and retail
Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP has successfully built up a team of seven lawyers in its UK litigation practice… [who] advised a number of sovereigns in litigation arising out of sovereign debt defaults.”
Dispute resolution: International arbitration
Dispute resolution: Public international law
Acquisition finance: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP’s four-partner finance team excels in matters ‘that deviate from the norm’, and, though small, is ‘flexible and innovative’… Clients include a mix of banks, corporates and sponsors…”
Bank lending: investment grade debt and syndicated loans: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP’s ‘very flexible and knowledgeable’ finance team in London handles financing for a number of major corporates...”
Debt capital markets: “‘Standout U.S. firm.’”
Finance: Emerging markets: “Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is well known for its Russia work, and also focuses on Indian and African securities and corporate matters.”
Cleary Gottlieb has also been noted for its work in Bahrain and Nigeria, and “highly recommended” for its work in Oman.