Cleary Gottlieb Achieves Record Results in Chambers Global 2007 Rankings: 87 Lawyers and 51 Practices Recognized As Leaders

Cleary Gottlieb garnered impressive results in the soon-to-be released Chambers Global 2007 Guide to the World’s Leading Lawyers.  Reflecting our broad international strength, Chambers distinguished 87 Cleary Gottlieb lawyers working in Africa, Belgium, China/Hong Kong, France, Germany, India, Italy, Latin America, Philippines, Russia, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as those doing “global” work.  This is an increase from 80 lawyers recognized last year, with Clay Johnson, Filip Moerman, Michael Volkovitsch, Rich Cooper, Robert Williams, Pierre-Marie Boury, Jack Murphy, Alan Beller, Craig Brod, Mitch Dupler, Michael Mazzuchi and Ray Check cited for the first time. 

Chambers also gives top-ranks to 51 Cleary Gottlieb practice groups worldwide, up from 41 last year, recognizing the following global practice areas for the first time: Capital Markets: Debt; Capital Markets: Equity; Capital Markets: Structured Finance & Derivatives; Competition/Antitrust; Projects & Energy: Latin America and WTO/International Trade: Belgium.  Other practices recognized for the first time are: Private Equity in China/Hong Kong;  International Projects in France; Corporate/M&A: Foreign in India; Banking & Finance: High-end Acquisition Finance, Capital Markets: Equity and Corporate/M&A: High-end International Capability in the United Kingdom; Banking & Finance: Mainly Regulatory and Capital Markets: Structured Finance in the United States.

The following Cleary Gottlieb practices are recognized for being among the best in the world, based on Chambers’ interviews of the firm’s clients and competitors:

Belgium

• Banking & Finance:  “[The firm achieves] prominence in such headline-grabbing [equity] transactions as the Telenet Group Holding public offering and the EUR595 million Elia IPO, where it counselled Electrabel.  However, it is active in debt finance, and where it appears the deal is often especially complex or innovative … another aspect of the firm’s banking practice [is] its strength in emerging markets.”
• Competition/Antitrust: “Cleary Gottlieb retains pole position for competition and antitrust in Brussels.  Clients declare it ‘the cream of the crop; it commands an excellent cadre of partners.’  Sources are impressed with the excellent relations between the lawyers: ‘It’s a real partnership,’ comments one client, adding, ‘they are all different in style, but are cut of the same cloth - they’re hands-on, have a sense of humour, and are never pompous!’ ”
• Corporate/M&A: “Through taking on only high-level cases, the firm has carved out a reputation as a top-end practice. This selectivity is married with high-quality work, which one client names as ‘simply phenomenal; the execution is flawless.’ ”
• TMT:  “This especially large TMT group is renowned for its ‘tenacious approach and thorough teamwork,’ and can offer advice and litigation services in a wide range of areas, from digital signature issues to domain names, e-contracts and telecoms matters.”

China/Hong Kong

• Capital Markets: Foreign: Debt & Equity: “Recognized by clients as ‘one of the top US firms in the region’ on the debt capital markets front, the team’s core competencies include registered, structured and high-yield debt.  It is also valued highly for equity capital markets work, specifically US offerings.”
• Private Equity: Foreign: “This remarkable capital markets and corporate team has strong relationships with a number of Asia’s leading private equity players, including Texas Pacific Group and Newbridge.”

France

• Banking & Finance: “Clients prize the fact that lawyers here are cross-trained in all areas of corporate and finance law, and are ‘able to handle anything you throw at them.’ ”
• Capital Markets: “Cleary Gottlieb has ‘the most highly rated equity capital markets practice in the world, without a shadow of a doubt,’ and its French operation contributes to a large extent to this reputation.  The Paris team enjoys an amazing following among powerful corporates and financial institutions, which refer to it as ‘the Rolls-Royce of securities practices - always a cut above the others.’ ”
• Competition/Antitrust: “Cleary Gottlieb’s ‘quality is unsurpassed,’ asserts one French government client, ‘and there is a high level of intervention at senior partner level.’ ”
• Corporate/M&A: “Cleary’s Paris M&A operation [is] unique among US firms because ‘it has an outstanding standalone practice and does not need to rely on a New York client base for M&A work.’  The team’s consistent success follows from blending this local leadership with impressive cross-border capability.”
• Dispute Resolution: “The involvement of Cleary Gottlieb’s disputes team in some of the choicest corporate litigation in the market is a consequence of its exemplary synergy with the firm’s outstanding M&A department.”
• Private Equity:“The best integrated of all the US firms in Paris, Cleary Gottlieb is ‘in essence a big deal player.’ Although the team is not primarily identified as private equity-focused, it ‘really fits the bill for high-value LBOs’ because it offers ‘years of experience, creativity and strong negotiators.’ ”
• International Projects:  “Cleary Gottlieb’s long-established Paris office is home to a compact but influential three-partner team.  The practice revolves around high-value projects in francophone Africa and clients include sovereign governments and multinational corporates.”
• Tax: “‘Perfect on big deals’ … [the firm’s] tax practice is widely considered ‘top of the tree’ in tax-related finance, and a prominent force in tax litigation, which of late has included transfer pricing disputes.”

Germany

• Banking & Finance: “[The firm’s] banking & finance operation [has] significant international clout. The group advises German and international banks and insurance companies on the structuring of innovative capital instruments, loans, securitizations and derivatives.”
• Capital Markets: Debt and Capital Markets: Equity: “Clients praised the way partners ‘take control of deals and have a hands-on approach that means they do not over-delegate’ … The firm boasts ‘a deeper and more consistent bench than many of its competitors’ … [and] has adopted a unique business model which means selecting higher-end transactions and building a lean team of ‘exceedingly good lawyers.’ ”
• Competition/Antitrust: “This ‘rock-solid’ outfit ‘commands great respect’ among European competition authorities and also wins plaudits for the way in which it co-operates closely with the firm’s lawyers in Brussels.”
• Corporate/M&A: “‘As a group, Cleary’s lawyers work together very well and you always have the feeling you are well taken care of’… [The firm also has a] ‘broad network of offices and the quality service, pace of work and in-depth knowledge that comes with it.’ ”

Global

• Arbitration (International): “‘A first-rate firm for international arbitration,’ this group is praised for its work on behalf of states, including the Government of Russia … [and has] a significant presence on both sides of the Atlantic, both in the USA and in Europe in countries such as Italy and Germany, providing for ‘seamless service in a range of cases.’ ”
• Capital Markets: Debt; Capital Markets: Equity; and Capital Markets: Structured Finance & Derivatives: “Cleary Gottlieb was among the first law firms to foresee the globalization of capital markets … history shows that this strategy has paid off, as the firm is today crowned ‘the global capital markets practice par excellence’ and ‘a model of integration.’ ”
• Competition/Antitrust: “This US-based internationalist offers an ‘excellent transatlantic bridge’ for clients … The firm is ‘truly able to advise on a macro level,’ and is recommended for its ‘unbroken chain of regulatory advice.’ ”
• Projects & Energy: Latin America: “Clients who rely upon this global firm for support in Latin America identify the group as ‘the best all-round firm for securities, projects and M&A.’ ”
• WTO/International Trade: Belgium: “The ‘superb quality’ of [the firm’s] work product guarantees it a position at the table.  Import and export regulation, unfair trade practices and foreign investment restrictions are all covered by the practice.”

India

• Corporate/M&A: Foreign: “Recommended for its corporate, capital markets and investment funds work, [the firm’s] client base includes such names as Newbridge Asia, Mittal Steel, Citigroup and Mahindra & Mahindra.”

Italy

• Banking & Finance: “Clients praised the lawyers at Cleary Gottlieb for ‘paying great attention to detail,’ and the US powerhouse remains visible in the Italian market at large … advising Ducati Motor Holding on obtaining a EUR100 million secured loan from a syndicate of seven banks, with Unicredit Banca Mobiliare serving as lead arranger.”
• Capital Markets: “Clients were especially enthusiastic about the firm’s ‘speed of service, discretion, great knowledge of the law and formidable international relationships.’ Another attractive feature of the team was ‘its capacity to provide advice on both Italian and US law.’ ”
• Competition/Antitrust: “‘International vision and flexibility’ was what most struck clients and peers alike about the firm.  The team of about 20 lawyers based in Rome and Milan is considered a ‘true torch-bearer in the field,’ and covers all aspects of competition, advising and representing national and international companies before both the IAA and the EC.”
• Corporate/M&A: “The Cleary M&A team continues to grow both in strength and in size … ‘it has successfully broken into the Italian market with its combination of Italian and American lawyers who, between them, possess the perfect mix of knowledge and expertise.’ ”

Latin America

• Corporate & Finance: “The firm has an ‘unrivalled ability to grasp the way the region ticks and the way it can trade’ … [and] retains the crown for sovereign debt work and has positioned itself at the forefront of SEC filings, Sarbanes-Oxley accounting, privatizations, mainstream M&A, capital markets and international securities transactions.  The quality here is taken for granted, but sources are also keen to single out the team’s flexibility. The team has an extensive contact network and over half a century of experience in Latin America.”

Russia

• Capital Markets: “The quality and depth of experience offered by the ‘extremely professional’ team makes the firm a favourite with managers and issuers alike: ‘These lawyers are really smart - you know with 100% confidence that they will steer you in the right direction.’”
• Corporate/M&A: “[The firm] has a growing M&A practice in Russia with a good track record on mid-sized deals … [and the] ‘ability to manage complex deals with a small transaction team - the main advantage of the lawyers at Cleary is that they will get deeply involved in a project from start to finish.’ ”

South Korea

• Corporate/M&A: Foreign: “Routinely described as ‘dominant in capital markets,’ this team has a particular reputation for acting for issuers … [and] is recognized for its ‘quality senior partners’ and ‘technical skills,’ and benefits from the fact that it includes a large number of Korean speaking associates.”

United Kingdom

• Banking & Finance: Bank Lending and Banking & Finance: High-end Acquisition Finance: “The finance work undertaken by this excellent firm is not heavily publicized within the market although its desire and capacity to handle large, ‘particularly tricky’ transactions is recognized by those in the know.”
• Capital Markets: Debt; Capital Markets: Equity; and Capital Markets: High Yield Products: “This ‘utterly wonderful US practice’ comes top of the list for many issuers and investment banks, who consider ‘the depth and breadth of its international capital markets resources virtually unmatched.’ ”
• Corporate/M&A: High-end International Capability: “‘[This] A-team international player,’ is ‘making good headway’ in the market. Clients declare this ‘a great team shop’ that has earned ‘a big piece of our mindshare.’ ”
• Tax: “Cleary is widely thought of as ‘one to look out for,’ pulling in plaudits from clients and other firms who are impressed by the mark it is making in London and further afield in the international tax landscape.”

United States

• Banking & Finance and Banking & Finance: Mainly Regulatory: “This outstanding team is at the ‘top of the pile’ for regulatory matters, and clients regard its financial institutions regulatory practice as ‘the greatest in the country.’ The group’s comprehensive talents also cover the broad spectrum of transactional and enforcement issues affecting its ‘prestigious financial clients.’ ”
• Capital Markets: Debt & Equity (excluding West Coast): “The ‘breadth of knowledge and constructive approach to the deals’ displayed by this ‘splendid’ team of attorneys has won a loyal following among the market’s major issuers and underwriters.”
• Capital Markets: Derivatives: “‘A definite leader and a model for other players,’ the firm’s derivatives practice is ‘simply fantastic’… The firm fields some of the ‘strongest derivatives lawyers in the country,’ who are widely recognized for their expertise in designing ‘uniquely innovative techniques on big-ticket transactions.’ ”
• Capital Markets: Securitization: “Clients described this ‘elite’ securitization team as one that possesses the ‘best resources to act on the US as well as the global financial markets.’  The group is ‘at the top of the game’ with its advice on REMIC transactions [and] boasts the ‘most fantastic CDO practice,’ and the lawyers here are cross-trained in all areas of structured finance.”
• Capital Markets: Structured Finance: “‘By far the most talented group out there,’ commentators regard the firm’s structured finance team as ‘setting the standard others aspire to.’  Key to the group’s success is the presence of ‘highly skilled and seasoned attorneys,’ who have ‘pioneered most of the ground-breaking structures in the field.’ ”
• Competition/Antitrust: “Clients attribute this firm’s status as an undisputed powerhouse to a team that is ‘just so well connected.’  This is true on two levels: the lawyers have excellent links with government, and also with colleagues across the firm’s network.”
• Corporate/M&A: “Sources praise this international heavyweight for its ‘quality, consistency and outstanding client care.’  Peers emphasize the firm’s consummate cross-border presence … [and] the firm also offers respected tax and employee benefits practices and is ‘extraordinarily active in the private equity arena.’ ”
• Tax: “This firm’s ‘magnificent’ tax group fields ‘some of the most brilliant scholarly minds’ in the tax field, according to clients. The department’s great strength is its familiarity with tax developments in the financial products field, which allows it to advise high-profile banks on cutting-edge structures … The group also has ‘a brilliant understanding of intricate international planning matters.’ ”

The Cleary Gottlieb lawyers distinguished by Chambers Global as leading lawyers in the world are:

Africa

• Jean-Pierre Vignaud for general business law.

Belgium

• Antoine Winckler, Mario Siragusa, Nick Levy, Dirk Vandermeersch, Enrique González Díaz, Robbert Snelders  and Romano Subiotto for competition/antitrust;
• Maurits Dolmans for competition/antitrust and TMT;
• Jan Meyers, Jacques Reding and Jean-Louis Joris for corporate/M&A;
• Laurent Ruzette for corporate M&A and corporate/M&A: public law.

China/Hong Kong

• Clay Johnson for capital markets: foreign: debt & equity;
• Filip Moerman for private equity: foreign.

France

• Andrew Bernstein and Robert Bordeaux-Groult for capital markets;
• Pierre-Yves Chabert and Valérie Lemaitre for capital markets and corporate/M&A;
• Antoine Winckler and François Brunet for competition/antitrust;
• Jean-Michel Tron for corporate/M&A and tax;
• Jean-Yves Garaud for dispute resolution;
• Jean-Marie Ambrosi for private equity;
• Jean-Pierre Vignaud for international projects;
• Gilles Entraygues and Pascal Coudin for tax.

Germany

• Christof von Dryander for banking & finance: acquisition finance & syndicated lending; banking & finance: regulatory; capital markets: debt; capital markets: equity; and corporate/M&A;
• Gabriele Apfelbacher for capital markets: equity and corporate/M&A;
• Thomas Kopp and Ward Greenberg for capital markets: equity;
• Dirk Schroeder and Romina Polley for competition/antitrust;
• Klaus Riehmer, Thomas Buhl and Oliver Schröder for corporate/M&A.

Global

• Larry Friedman, Jean-Yves Garaud and Bob Greig for arbitration (international);
• Jeff Lewis for projects & energy: Latin America;
• Till Müller-Ibold for WTO/international trade: Belgium.

India

• Nik Mehta for corporate/M&A: foreign.

Italy

• Roberto Bonsignore for banking & finance;
• Michael Volkovitsch for capital markets;
• Mario Siragusa, counsel Matteo Beretta and associate Laura De Sanctis for competition/antitrust;
• Roberto Casati, Giuseppe Scassellati-Sforzolini and Bill McGurn for corporate/M&A.

Latin America

• Andrés de la Cruz, Jaime El Koury, Jeff Lewis, Mark Walker, Nicolas Grabar, Les Silverman, Rich Cooper, Roger Thomas, Wanda Olson and Francesca Lavin for corporate & finance.

Philippines

• Robert Williams for general business law: overseas experts.

Russia

• Dan Braverman and senior attorney Murat Akuyev for capital markets;
• Scott Senecal for capital markets and corporate/M&A.

South Korea

• Jinduk Han and Yong Lee for corporate/M&A: foreign.

United Kingdom

• Andrew Shutter for banking & finance: general bank lending; banking & finance: high-end acquisition finance; and capital markets: high-yield products;
• Ash Qureshi, Dan Braverman and Sebastian Sperber for capital markets: debt and capital markets: equity;
• Glen Scarcliffe and Pierre-Marie Boury for capital markets: high-yield products;
• Simon Ovenden for capital markets: structured finance;
• Shaun Goodman for competition/European law;
• Nik Mehta for tax.

United States

• Bob Tortoriello and Jack Murphy for banking & finance: mainly regulatory;
• Alan Beller, Les Silverman, Allan Sperling, Craig Brod and Nicolas Grabar for capital markets: debt & equity (excluding West Coast);
• Ed Rosen, Seth Grosshandler and Michael Dayan for capital markets: derivatives;
• Mitch Dupler for capital markets: securitization and capital markets: structured finance;
• Michael Mazzuchi and Ray Check for capital markets: structured finance;
• George Cary and Mark Leddy for competition/antitrust;
• Victor Lewkow and Michael Ryan for corporate/M&A;
• Edward Kleinbard, Erika Nijenhuis and Jim Peaslee for corporate tax;
• Les Samuels for corporate tax and international tax.

For the full text of these rankings, please visit the Chambers’ website at http://www.chambersandpartners.com.