London

Our London team* has been established for 40 years, and has undergone significant strategic growth since 2004, with the addition of English qualified lawyers with decades of experience and international reputations in dispute resolution (including commercial litigation, corporate and regulatory disputes and international arbitration) and transactional work (including commercial, energy, mergers and acquisitions and project finance).

As one of the world's leading financial and business centres, London is a major corporate hub for many of our clients. Our London-based lawyers work closely with those in our other sixteen affiliated offices throughout the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia to provide seamless local, cross-border and multi-jurisdictional legal capabilities.

Our London lawyers focus on dispute resolution, corporate and regulatory investigations, energy, project finance, energy and infrastructure project development, competition, insurance, commercial acquisitions and commercial agreements. Our London lawyers are recognised as leading practitioners within these fields.

Client service

We were recognized by BTI on their 2012 BTI Survey of Law Firm Client Service Performance as a part of the Client Service A-Team, which includes the top ranking Fortune 1000 serving firms based on client ratings. We were also ranked fifth in the BTI Client Service 30, which further breaks down the BTI Client Service A-Team to the 30 firms who perform four to 15 times better than all others.

In the United Kingdom, Chambers UK 2012 recognised that the London team comprises "smart, proactive and hard-working" lawyers. Chambers UK has previously recognised that "'Great people and a great client base' have allowed the firm to 'make a big push' in London."

Commercial litigation

Our London lawyers regularly handle significant commercial disputes in all of the higher English Courts, and have experience of matters before the High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and Privy Council. The disputes frequently involve multi-jurisdictional issues, and arise out of banking and finance, data protection, energy, projects, construction and engineering, aviation, professional liability, insurance and reinsurance, competition and general commercial transactions. The disputes team has wide-ranging judicial review experience. The disputes team also has long experience in all forms of alternative dispute resolution, with members including accredited mediators.

The London team has wide-ranging domestic and international experience in class and group actions and integrates with our global class and group actions team to deliver these services both in the UK and globally. This approach is adopted by all other key disciplines and industries and underlies our determination to provide clients with a seamless service wherever it may be needed.

Our litigation and arbitration strengths are enhanced by our ability to draw upon our market-leading team support capability, involving our e-discovery and information governance team of over 60 legal professionals dedicated to dealing with the increasingly complex issues relating to electronic discovery, electronic disclosure and information management in dispute resolution. Our electronic discovery and information management team is a vital part of all of our international and domestic litigation.

Our litigation lawyers advise our clients on dispute resolution strategies and on related risk assessment and strategies.

Chambers UK 2012 recognises that the London disputes team is "regularly instructed on complex domestic and international litigation" and comprises "smart, proactive and hard-working lawyers" experienced in domestic and cross-border investment banking disputes and investigations. Lista Cannon is acknowledged as a "class act," "incredibly reassuring to have in your corner—she understands the client's position comprehensively and leaves no stone unturned." Chris Warren-Smith is commended for his"ability to dive into the detail" and excellent communication skills.

Legal 500 UK 2012 recognises the firm as a leading firm in the disputes arena. Partners Lista Cannon, Chris Warren-Smith and Melanie Ryan are described as "highly esteemed litigators." In banking litigation, and the firm is commended for its "ability to grasp and converse in technical subject matter." Legal 500 UK 2012 acknowledges our insurance litigation team as a leader in its field. Legal 500 UK 2012 also recognises our London disputes team as a leader in financial services; banking litigation: investment and retail; commercial litigation; insurance: insurance and reinsurance litigation; fraud (civil) and professional negligence.

In 2012, Lista Cannon, who won the Best in Litigation award at the inaugural International Financial Law Review (IFLR) Women in Business Awards, was appointed Deputy Head of our Global Litigation team.

Corporate regulatory investigations

Our disputes lawyers in London have a long track record in conducting corporate investigations and preparing reports for a wide range of audiences in many jurisdictions worldwide. The core litigation and arbitration skills, combined with our market-leading team support and document management systems, enable us to carry out investigations that will prove decisive to the outcome of regulatory proceedings, disputes, or important corporate decisions.

The work spans all key industries such as banking, finance, energy, the professions, insurance, tax, telecommunications and transport, and areas as diverse as price-fixing, anti-corruption, fraud, whistle-blowing, bidding team, intellectual property rights and procurement policies. We also have experience of advising on data protection issues arising in the context of such investigations. Investigations have involved countries and regions all over the world including the UK, U.S., Russia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, the Channel Islands, Asia and Australasia. The depth and breadth of experience in the London team together with the affiliated locations worldwide enables us to offer a seamless domestic and international service with a high level of practical and pragmatic advice.

The work includes both civil and white collar crime issues that face corporations in jurisdictions throughout the world. The extensive civil fraud litigation and investigations experience in the London office, combined with the depth of experience of the U.S. locations, enables us to provide a seamless cross-jurisdictional service.

Our government investigations and enforcement lawyers have acted in some of the most significant and important domestic and trans-national regulatory investigation and enforcement proceedings in recent years. This involves coordinating the range of regulatory responses that trans-national investigations require.

This includes FSA and SEC investigations, but also a wide range of investigations by a diverse range of bodies, including the former Department of Trade and Industry (now the Department for Business Innovation & Skills), Treasury Select Committee, Lloyd's of London, the Office of Fair Trading, Serious Fraud Office, HM Revenue & Customs, U.S. Department of Justice and regulators in numerous other jurisdictions worldwide.

Chambers UK 2012 recognises that "this team benefits from the firm's broad US and international footprint, and its dedicated global disputes department. It handles a variety of work including bribery, corruption and SEC matters" noting that "the lawyers really understand the detail." Lista Cannon is "recognised in the market for 'quality regulatory and investigation work.'"

Chambers UK previously recorded that "Sources agree that the team's combination of strong London partners and vast US experience and expertise mean it is advantageously placed to conduct investigations and handle regulatory matters with an international element."

Legal 500 UK 2012, which lists Lista Cannon, Chris Warren-Smith and Melanie Ryan as leading practitioners in their field, recognises our London team as among the leaders for corporate and regulatory investigations in financial services and fraud (civil).

The Financial Times commends Lista Cannon, partner-in-charge of our London team, as a "dual-qualified lawyer who has made significant contribution to international financial regulatory investigations," naming her in its list of the 16 most Innovative Lawyers in the United Kingdom for 2006.

In addition, our lawyers have wide experience of representing professional firms and their partners in disciplinary proceedings brought by regulators and professional bodies.

International arbitration

Our London lawyers are recognised as leading practitioners in international arbitration and are part of one of the world's premier international arbitration teams.. Chambers continues to rank the firm as one of the leading international arbitration firms in the world. Global Arbitration Review (2010) named our global international arbitration team as one of the world's 10 leading services as ranked by human capital. In 2012, six of our lawyers were listed among the most highly regarded individuals in International Who's Who of Commercial Arbitration.

London remains one of the most important arbitration centres as a forum for foreign (non-U.K.), U.S. and international parties.

Chambers UK 2012 gives high praise to the international arbitration team within our London team, recognising the"intellectual and cerebral" David Howell, co-chair of the firm's International Arbitration team, as a leading practitioner in international arbitration. The directory cites the team's "particular prowess in energy and construction and engineering disputes," recognising in the context of energy-related disputes that sources praise David Howell's "huge experience in the international field."

Legal 500 UK 2012 recognises that our international arbitration team is "experienced in arbitrations arising out of the energy, oil and gas and power sectors, investor-state arbitrations, and project, construction and engineering cases. David Howell and John Evans attract praise." David Howell and Deborah Ruff are acknowledged as leading individuals in international arbitration.

David Howell's leadership of the international arbitration group is complemented by Deborah Ruff, who joined the London office of the firm. in 2012 as a partner in our Litigation and Arbitration and ADR departments. Her work has been recognised in both the arbitration and litigation sections of the Legal 500 UK. Chambers UK has described her as having "a steely focus on the key issues and driving home the arguments."

Current and recent matters include arbitrations in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the U.S. in the energy/oil and gas, telecommunications, power, construction and engineering, property development, insurance and reinsurance, utilities and financial sectors and investor-state/treaty arbitrations. Our lawyers act regularly as counsel and advocates in international arbitrations held under a variety of arbitration rules, including: 

Our international arbitration team assists international commercial and state-party clients all over the world. Our lawyers regularly serve as arbitrators and mediators, sit on committees of arbitral institutions and regularly speak and write on international arbitration topics, including our International Arbitration Report.

Our London lawyers are experienced in foreign investment disputes, including claims arising out of bilateral and multilateral investment treaties.

Commercial

Our London lawyers are regularly involved in the negotiation and documentation of international joint ventures, licensing, distribution, agency, technology transfer, technical assistance and other commercial agreements. We also advise on foreign investment and international trade matters.

Energy

Our London lawyers advise on projects and transactions across the energy sector, providing a comprehensive service to the energy and natural resources industry. Our lawyers have in-depth knowledge and experience of advising clients in the sector including upstream sectors, downstream sectors, Liquified Natural Gas ("LNG"), power and natural resources sectors and alternative energy-related projects

Our London lawyers offer a full range of legal services to energy clients and are experienced in structuring, negotiating and developing agreements for the acquisition and disposal of oil and gas reserves, production and business platforms, energy and natural resource companies, host government, operating, service and other related industry-specific agreements and arrangements, public bid tenders for privatisations and concessions and production sharing agreements in emerging markets.

Our London lawyers team in one of the centres of the energy sector and have extensive experience advising on both domestic UK energy matters, as well as international projects and transactions in Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and the Indian Sub-Continent.

Our London energy team is acknowledged by Legal 500 UK 2012 to be among the leaders in the field. Partner Andrew Hart is acknowledged as a leading practitioner in connection with matters in the projects, energy and natural resources: power (including electricity, nuclear and renewables) sector.

Mergers and acquisitions

Our London lawyers have represented English, European, Middle Eastern, African and Asian companies and investors in the purchase and sale of companies and assets, often in the oil and gas and other energy-related sectors.

Our M&A lawyers have also represented UK governmental agencies and departments and other foreign sovereigns with respect to U.S. legal matters. Our lawyers have also advised on the tax planning and structuring of various specific types of investments in the U.S., including real property acquisitions. Such advice often spans many legal areas, including corporate, banking, securities and tax law.

Project finance

Our London lawyers handle project development and financing transactions for clients throughout the world, representing developers and owners of projects, as well as investors and lenders, notably in the power sector.

Our lawyers are also involved in initial and secondary public offerings of equity and debt securities, private equity and debt financing, venture capital arrangements and leasing transactions.

Our project finance lawyers represent issuers and underwriters based in Europe in connection with listings on the various U.S. stock exchanges and in public offerings in the United States, overseeing initial and secondary public offerings of equity and debt securities, private equity and debt financing, venture capital arrangements and leasing transactions.

We also assist clients in developing financing strategies for projects and investments to comply with and benefit from local tax, foreign exchange, foreign investment incentives and commercial laws and regulations. In addition to advising international clients in the U.S. on financial regulatory matters (i.e., SEC filings and investigations, Sarbanes-Oxley), we provide financial regulatory advice to British and international companies doing business in the UK.

Legal 500 UK 2012 recognizes that in London, we have a leading team in infrastructure finance initiative transactions, noting that Andrew Hart's team advises multilateral financial institutions on international project financing. Previously, Legal 500 UK has recognized that we have "utilised its London experience to advise on PPP matters in the US, most notably in connection with the Long Beach, California, Court Building PPP, notable as the first non-transport PPP in California."

Chambers UK 2012 acknowledges that "This group focuses on transactions and disputes, and the wider firm's international expertise and knowledge of Islamic financing is reflected in its handling of projects in politically sensitive regions such as the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan."

Our lawyers regularly speak and write on energy and infrastructure topics, including in our Global Infrastructure Report.

Awards

• Chambers UK 2012 recognises our London team and its partners as leaders in banking litigation; dispute resolution; international arbitration; energy & natural resources; energy & natural resources: disputes; financial services: contentious regulatory; fraud: civil; professional discipline and professional negligence.
• Chambers UK 2012 cites Lista M Cannon, Chris Warren-Smith, David Howell and Deborah Ruff as leading practitioners in their fields.
• Legal 500 UK 2012 acknowledges our London team and its partners as leading practitioners in banking litigation;  commercial litigation; financial services; fraud (civil); international arbitration; insurance and reinsurance litigation; professional negligence; projects, energy and natural resources: infrastructure, oil and gas, and power (including electricity, nuclear and renewables).
• Legal 500 UK 2012 cites Lista M Cannon, Chris Warren-Smith, David Howell, Melanie Ryan, John Evans, Deborah Ruff and Andrew Hart as leading practitioners in their fields.
• David Howell is recognised by the World's Leading Experts in Commercial Arbitration and the International Who's Who of Commercial Arbitration.
• In 2011, Lista Cannon was named "Best in Litigation" International Financial Law Review ("IFLR") Women in Business Awards.
• PLC "Which Lawyer?" 2012 and Legal Experts 2012 recognise Lista M. Cannon and David Howell as leading practitioners in their fields.
• Lista Cannon is named in the "Guide to the World's Leading Women in Business Law" (2010), one of seven UK litigation lawyers.
• Lista Cannon was listed in the Financial Times, "High Fliers and Legal Eagles" (2006), for significant contributions to international financial regulatory investigations.