Akin Gump Lawyers and Practices Ranked in Chambers Global 2019

(Washington, D.C.) — Chambers & Partners, in its Chambers Global 2019 guide, has recognized 36 Akin Gump lawyers as leaders in their respective areas of practice. Chambers Global covers more than 190 countries across the world.

In the Asia-Pacific region, the ranked practice areas and lawyers are:

• International Trade/WTO
  • Stephen Kho “is very knowledgeable and is good in execution,” according to one client. He also “can always organize a good team consisting of great lawyers” who have the experience required for a particular matter.

• Investment Funds: Hedge Funds

In China, the ranked practice areas and lawyers are:

• Banking & Finance: Restructuring/Insolvency
  • Naomi Moore is noted for being an “excellent” lawyer who is respected by her clients.

• International Trade/WTO (International Firms)
  • Stephen Kho, Expertise Based Abroad in USA
  • Tatman Savio, Up and Coming. One client says of her that she “provides legal opinion exactly to the point and understands the client’s business needs.”

• Investment Funds: Hedge Funds (International Firms)
  • Anne-Marie Godfrey “understands the hedge fund world very well and she knows what’s important to managers.”

In Japan, the firm is recognized for “Expertise based abroad” in Projects & Energy, along with partner Michael Joyce, who receives praise from clients: “He is very skilled, very reliable. He has great communication and negotiation skills.”

In Singapore, it is recognized in Energy & Natural Resources: International and Michael Joyce is recognized for Projects & Energy.

Europe-wide, the firm is ranked in the category of Restructuring/Insolvency. It’s also ranked in the International Trade/WTO category, along with partners Jasper Helder, described as “brilliant and efficient,” and Alan Yanovich, noted as “very knowledgeable in WTO case law.”

In Russia, the ranked practice areas and lawyers are:

• Banking & Finance
  • Dmitry Shiryaev

• Corporate/M&A
  • Natalia R. Baratiants, is considered “down-to-earth and diving into details where necessary.”
  • Vladimir Kouznetsov who is described as “very hands-on, very efficient and very focused.”

• Dispute Resolution: Expertise based Abroad
  • Justin Williams (Foreign Expert Based in UK), is best recognized for his knowledge of the energy sector, with additional experience in shareholder and corporate disputes.

• Energy & Natural Resources
  • Natalia R. Baratiants
  • Alexey Kondratchik is “very knowledgeable and a good negotiator.”

In the UK, the ranked practice areas and lawyers are:

• Competition Law
  • Davina Garrod, whose clients “value her perspective greatly.”

• Dispute Resolution: Litigation

• Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas
  • John LaMaster is valued for his “calm and analytical approach.”

• International & Cross-Border Capabilities

• Restructuring/Insolvency
  • James Roome is “a class act.”
  • Barry G. Russell is seen by clients as “the go-to restructuring lawyer in the UK for cross-border private placements.”
  • James Terry “has a lot of gravitas, is highly commercial and is an excellent strategist.”

• Tax
  • Stuart Sinclair is a “highly valued adviser who blends a strong technical knowledge with a keen business sense.”

In the United Arab Emirates, the ranked practice areas and lawyers are:

• Corporate/Commercial & Commercial Contracts
  • Chadi A. Salloum leads Akin Gump’s corporate practice in the UAE and makes clients feel very quickly like he is “a colleague.”
  • Wael Jabsheh, who focuses on joint ventures, investment funds and private equity, is most commonly active in the TMT, leisure and hospitality sectors.

The firm is recognized in General Business Law: Expertise based Abroad in Iraq and Projects & Energy for Middle East-wide.

In Latin America, the firm, along with Los Angeles-based Dino Barajas, who clients say is “very knowledgeable,” is ranked in the category of Energy & Natural Resources. Mr. Barajas is also ranked in the Projects category in the United States.

In the United States, the ranked practice areas and lawyers are:

• Bankruptcy/Restructuring
  • Ira S. Dizengoff “is an effective negotiator and very popular with hedge funds.”
  • Daniel H. Golden – Senior Statesman. Mr. Golden “is very commercial, a guy who is not going to sacrifice the details and is willing to pursue the client's interests strongly.”
  • Michael S. Stamer is well regarded and “a very seasoned creditor lawyer who has tremendous knowledge of the bankruptcy code.”

• Corporate/M&A
  • Christine B. LaFollette – Eminent Practitioner. She is “top-notch in all respects,” handling the overall client engagement “in an outstanding fashion.”

• Energy: Electricity (Regulatory & Litigation)
  • George D. Cannon Jr. “has a good demeanor [and] knows the area well.”

• Energy: Oil & Gas (Transactional)
  • Christine B. LaFollette
  • Michael Byrd “is highly competent in the field and extremely responsive. He definitely adds value in negotiating energy-related contracts.”

• International Trade: Customs
  • Lars-Erik A. Hjelm concentrates on customs law and policy, including matters such as valuation, audits and binding rules.

• International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions
  • Thomas J. McCarthy “has very good relationships, deep commercial knowledge and is just very, very practical in how to implement an effective compliance program.”
  • Kevin Wolf “is knowledgeable and has been through the wars on export issues.”

• International Trade: Trade Remedies & Trade Policy
  
  • Stephen Kho is highlighted for his “ability to deal with governments.”
  • Hal S. Shapiro is noted for his work on trade policy issues.
  • Valerie Slater (Senior Statesperson) is experienced in representing clients before the U.S. Department of Commerce and International Trade Commission.

• International Transactions: Investment Funds Specialists

• International Transactions: Projects & Energy Specialists

• Investment Funds: Hedge Funds
  • Kelli L. Moll is “superb” with “an incredible depth of knowledge on hedge fund structure.”
  • Stephen M. Vine is a “brilliant” lawyer, who is “definitely one of the leading intellectuals of the hedge fund bar.”

• Investment Funds: Private Equity: Fund Formation
  • Prakash Mehta is “extremely responsive,” whose clients “absolutely adore him”

• Projects
  • Dino Barajas (Foreign Expert for Latin America-wide)

• Projects: Renewables & Alternative Energy
  • John Marciano “combines both technical and corporate deal-making skills.”

Global-wide, the ranked practice areas are:

• International Trade/WTO
• Investment Funds: Hedge Funds
• Restructuring/Insolvency

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

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