Akin Gump Lawyers and Practices Recognized in The Legal 500 UK

(London) – Akin Gump has been recognized in The Legal 500 United Kingdom 2017 guide, The Legal 500’s annual, independent guide that ranks individual law firm practices and lawyers and provides editorial analysis of law firms operating in the United Kingdom.

In the category of Finance, Akin Gump is ranked for the third straight year as a top-tier firm for corporate restructuring and insolvency. It is noted as one of “the very best restructuring law firms in Europe,” with practice co-heads James Roome and Barry Russell, both ranked as Leading Individuals and described, respectively, as a “superstar” and “very experienced and practical.” Other recommended partners include James Terry (a “market leader”), Neil Devaney (“highly intelligent” and “technically brilliant on difficult structures and legal problems”), Liz Osborne (“pragmatic and focused”), Tom Bannister (“very cool and measured under pressure”) and Emma Simmonds (“excellent”).

Other areas in Finance in which Akin Gump has been ranked include:

• Bank Lending: investment grade debt and syndicated loans
  • Partners Robert Aulsebrook (one of the “best in the City for Russian deals”) and Lisa Hearn are recommended.
• Debt capital markets
  • Akin Gump is noted for its “practical and commercial advice and ability to provide solutions rather than opinions,” with Messrs. Russell and Aulsebrook, Ms. Hearn, and partners Mark Mansell and Sarah Smith all recommended.
• Emerging markets
  • Akin Gump is “a strong name for emerging markets [debt capital markets] work.”
  • Mr. Aulsebrook, noted for his “ability to provide top-quality service on a wide range of financing transactions,” Ms. Hearn and partner Daniel Walsh are recommended.
  • Counsel Jonathan Pico is listed as a Next Generation Lawyer.
• Securitization
  • Akin Gump has a “superb, responsive and helpful” team.
  • Ms. Smith is recommended for her “strong technical ability, breadth of knowledge across capital markets and an understanding of the regulatory constraints to provide a holistic view of a transaction.”

For corporate and commercial work, Akin Gump is ranked in the following practice areas:

• Corporate tax
  • Partners Stuart Sinclair and Sophie Donnithorne-Tait are recommended.
• EU & competition
  • Akin Gump provides “thoughtful and practice analysis.”
  • Partner Davina Garrod, who is ranked as a Leading Individual, is recommended and praised for her “in-depth understanding of the regulatory landscape in markets.” Also recommended are associates Scott Pettifor and Alaric Green.
• Financial services (contentious and non-contentious)
  • Akin Gump benefits from “high-level real world understanding of the regulator.”
  • Partners Helen Marshall and Rosemarie Paul, both recommended, are noted as a Leading Individual and Next Generation Lawyer, respectively.
• M&A: upper mid-market and premium deals, £250m+
  • Partners Artem Faekov, David Sewell (“impressive in structuring complex transactions quickly and efficiently”), Sebastian Rice, Mr. Walsh, Harry Keegan, Vance Chapman and John LaMaster are all recommended.
• Private equity: transactions (Large-cap)
  • Partners Igor Krivoshekov, Sophie Jermine, John Clark and Messrs. Keegan, Rice, Sewell, Faekov, Walsh and Chapman are recommended.
• Trade, WTO, anti-dumping, and customs
  • Jasper Helder, partner, and Chiara Klaui, counsel, are recommended.

For dispute resolution, Akin Gump is ranked in the following practice areas:

• Banking litigation: investment and retail
  • The Akin Gump team is led by the “highly respected” Mark Dawkins, who is recommended along with Richard Hornshaw.
• Commercial litigation
  • Akin Gump is “an excellent firm that provides a top-level service.” Hornshaw and Dawkins, as well as partner Kambiz Larizadeh, are recommended. They are joined by partner Justin Williams, who is also ranked as a Leading Individual.
• International arbitration
  • Messrs. Larizadeh, Williams and Hornshaw are all recommended, as is Hamish Lal, who offers “an unparalleled degree of business acumen.”

For investment fund formation and management, Akin Gump is ranked in the following practice areas:

• Hedge funds – ranked
  • Partner Tim Pearce is recommended and noted as being “very knowledgeable and pragmatic.” Partners Ian Meade and John Holton are also recommended.
• Private funds – ranked
  • Mr. Holton and partner Thiha Tun are recommended.

For projects, energy and natural resources, Akin Gump is ranked in the following practice areas:

• Oil and gas
  • Messrs. Krivoshekov, Lal, Terry and Devaney are recommended, as is partner Marc Hammerson. Also included are Messrs. Williams and LaMaster and counsel Caroline-Lucy Moran.
• Construction: contentious
  • Mr. Lal is recommended, with the firm being noted as a natural choice for disputes with “high levels of factual, technical and legal sophistication.”

Founded in 1945, 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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