September 13, 2004
Firm recognized for excellence in the 2004 editions of Chambers Global - The World’s Leading Lawyers and Chambers USA - America's Leading Lawyers for its work worldwide in Corporate/M&A; Private Equity (Buyouts & Venture Capital); Capital Markets; Competition/Antitrust; Communications; Real Estate; Telecom, Broadcast & Satellite (Regulatory); Insolvency/Corporate Recovery; Litigation (General Commercial); Tax; Environmental; and IT/IT Outsourcing.
The firm is prominently featured in the 2004 editions of Chambers Global - The World’s Leading Lawyers and Chambers USA - America's Leading Lawyers. The annual directories, which are compiled from independent peer reviews, highlight the world’s top law firms and attorneys. In the Global directory, Willkie is recognized for its outstanding work worldwide in Corporate/M&A; Private Equity (Buyouts & Venture Capital); Capital Markets; Competition/Antitrust; Communications; Telecom, Broadcast & Satellite (Regulatory); Insolvency/Corporate Recovery; Litigation (General Commercial); Tax; and IT/IT Outsourcing.
Last May at an awards ceremony in London, Willkie was named the 2004 Bankruptcy Firm of the Year (USA) by Chambers and was nominated among a short list of firms for “Law Firm of the Year” in the following additional categories: Communications/IP (W. Europe), Competition/Antitrust (W. Europe), and Communications (USA).
Chambers and Partners is a leading publisher of guides to the legal profession. Below are highlights of the firm’s listings, rankings and references. Please note there are separate table rankings denoted for Leading Law Firms and for Leading Individuals practicing in a given area.
BELGIUM
Competition/Antitrust - Belgium
Firm Rank: 4 -- Chambers writes that the competition/antitrust team in the firm’s Brussels office is “packed with talented lawyers and has been bolstered by some notable recent recruits. It covers the full range of work, from merger filings to cartel investigations and competition cases before a variety of courts and tribunals.”
Marc van der Woude (Rank 3) is said to be an “extremely clever competition practitioner, with an international profile.”
Corporate/M&A - Belgium
Firm Rank: 3 -- Chambers notes that the Brussels office is presided over by the “revered” Xavier Dieux (Rank 2), a “brilliant legal mind” with “excellent opinions on issues.” Chambers writes that clients endorse his “very practical approach.”
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Telecom, Broadcast & Satellite: Regulatory - D.C.
Firm Rank: 2 -- The firm is profiled for its particular “expertise in cable TV” and for its “know-how in telecom-finance, M&A, and business reorganizations.”
The “iconic” Philip Verveer (Rank 1) is said to be “widely regarded as one of the best known telecom lawyers in DC.” Chambers states that “according to market sources, he is a regular participant in many of the most important deals in the market.” Chambers adds that Mr. Verveer “really knows his way around Washington and the legal world and clients benefit from his guidance on a mix of legislative and regulatory matters.”
FRANCE
Capital Markets - France
Firm Rank: 3 -- Noted for its expertise in global offerings and IPOs, the Paris capital markets team is praised for its ability to “put whatever it takes into a deal.”
Laurent Faugérolas (Rank 2) is hailed as “an excellent corporate lawyer with a strong theoretical understanding.”
Communications: Telecoms - France
Firm Rank: 3 -- This team is noted for its focus on transactional finance and is heralded for consistently achieving “quality results in M&A work in the media and telecoms industries.” Chambers underscores that the group “is regularly instructed by multinationals, French companies and telecoms operators on IP/IT, regulatory, and Internet-related matters,” and “enjoys its highest reputation for transactional work and financing.”
Corporate/M&A - France
Firm Rank: 3 -- Chambers writes that “The firm is best known in France for its incredible LBO practice and great capital markets expertise. These, together with its strong international network and responsive team, have helped it to attract a prominent corporate client base, guaranteeing it a steady stream of transactional work.”
Chambers states that “Clients were full of praise for Laurent Faugérolas (Rank 3), who they say is rigorous, responsive, pragmatic and understands the business issues as well as the technical side. He was particularly recommended for his corporate finance expertise, and for his stock market regulatory knowledge.” Daniel Hurstel (Rank 4) “also continues to impress market observers with his mixture of private equity and corporate finance expertise.”
Insolvency/Corporate Recovery - France
Firm Rank: 2 -- The firm is said to be “an emerging player in France on corporate restructuring matters” and is noted for advising “international and French companies on corporate recovery and restructuring operations, benefiting from the support of a strong New York base and an established clientele of fund investors.”
Jean-Dominique Daudier de Cassini (Rank 1) is applauded for having “cultivated a reputation for excellence in corporate recovery and restructuring.” Chambers continues, “According to interviewees, his presence is a real coup for the firm. He focuses on business reorganization, with valued experience in issues related to turnaround management.”
Litigation: General Commercial - France
Firm Rank: 4 -- Chambers proclaims that “this US commercial giant is beginning to stand out in French litigation circles.” The firm is singled out for its stellar representation of foreign and domestic management consultancies, insurance brokerage houses and telecoms clients on shareholder, bankruptcy and insurance disputes.
Dominique Mondoloni (Rank 3) receives high accolades for his work on civil, commercial and criminal litigation matters. He is also noted for his preeminence in the areas of international arbitration, criminal law and insolvency matters.
Private Equity - France
Firm Rank: 1 -- Clients reported to Chambers that the firm is “a real giant and a clear market leader in French private equity circles,” having been “involved in a number of the country's most widely reported recent LBO transactions.” Fund clients endorsed Willkie to researchers for its “experience and solid professionalism."
Daniel Payan (Rank 1) is celebrated for being "highly intellectual” and for “thriving on the most complex issues.” Clients told Chambers that he produces "beautiful work - he knows all the loopholes and really understands how to negotiate."
Tax - France
Firm Rank: 3 -- The Paris tax team is recommended for its “expertise in M&A tax, and especially in the structuring of private equity transactions.” Chambers writes that “clients noted not just the expertise of the partners, but the depth of the team,” underscoring that the group "understands all the management issues as well."
Allard de Waal (Rank 3) is cheered for "seeing the bigger picture in corporate and private equity transactions, and having the ability to smoothly integrate tax and corporate law.” Chambers adds that this is a skill shared by his colleague Marie-Hélène Raffin, (Rank 3) who has “niche expertise in assisting institutional entities with the creation of joint ventures.”
GERMANY
Communications: IT - Germany
Firm Rank: 2
Communications: Regulatory - Germany
Firm Rank: 2
The firm's Frankfurt office is spotlighted for servicing a broad selection of international clients on regulatory, technical and commercial issues in such areas as outsourcing, e-commerce, Internet, media law and data protection.
Sven-Erik Heun (Rank 1) is acclaimed for being the "the top name in the telecoms market." Thomas Heymann (Rank 2) is said to be “prominent on both the general corporate and IT fronts.” Katharina Scheja (Rank 4) is regarded for representing clients in “complex IT transactions, including systems integration, outsourcing agreements and, in particular, those requiring IP expertise.”
ITALY
Corporate/M&A - Italy
Firm Rank: 6 -- Chambers writes that “The practice successfully combines the skills of a small group of Italian corporate specialists with the resources of a large US-based international firm.”
Maurizio Delfino (Rank 5) “blends expertise in securities with corporate law, and is also known to the market for his involvement in government privatisations.”
NEW YORK
Corporate/M&A: New York
Firm Rank: 4 -- Chambers writes that the firm’s “dynamic practice is powered by its strength in private equity and investment management, flourishing in recent years due to the depth of its team of top-notch deal lawyers.” Clients remarked that Willkie has “good businessmen” and a “broad corporate practice.” The firm is lauded for “doing a terrific job across the board, from private equity to litigation.”
Firm Chairman Jack Nusbaum (Rank 3) is credited for having “led his firm and department to success.” He is said to be “endowed with a terrific business and deal acumen and has won client confidence as a practitioner with strong general management style.” Thomas Cerabino (Rank 4), described as “knowledgeable and professional,” is applauded for his intelligence and his “uncanny ability to finish a transaction in a timely manner.”
Insolvency/Corporate Recovery - New York
Firm Rank: 2 -- Chambers writes that “This top-notch operation consistently plays a role in the market’s most sophisticated matters. It’s attorneys, renowned for succeeding in tough cases, command the respect of competitors who assert they are dedicated to getting a deal done, and doing it right - without having to show how smart they are.”
Myron Trepper (Rank 1) is said to be a “lawyer who is at the top of his game.” Chambers notes that “Observers believe his great presence in the market is due in part to his smooth negotiating style and ability to bring warring factions together. He is a consummate restructuring attorney.” Marc Abrams (Rank 2) is called a “terrific lawyer who can get things done and push a deal forward.” Chambers remarks that Matthew Feldman (Rank 4) is “heading to the top,” noting that “he wins praise for his mature, professional viewpoint,” and is described as “exceptionally hardworking on behalf of clients.”
IT & IT Outsourcing - New York
Firm Rank: 4 -- Praising the firm’s “deal focused group in New York,” Chambers notes that Willkie is called upon for its “expertise in a range of corporate and commercial transactions” and that “Internet law expertise is also offered.”
Bruce Kraus (Rank 3) is hailed for his extensive experience in a “spectrum of industry-related transactions” and was tipped as a “strong negotiator.”
Private Equity: Buyouts & Venture Capital Investment - New York
Firm Rank: 4 -- Clients told Chambers that Willkie’s private equity team “combines business and the law,” and adopts a “pragmatic approach to issues.” The firm’s attorneys are said to “know the market and pick what is important.” Chambers adds that “The New York team is supported by strong local law practices in France, Germany, Italy and Belgium, bringing in a wealth of cross-border transactions.”
Chambers writes that clients have “proclaimed Steven Gartner (Rank 3) a businessman’s lawyer, and commended his sound judgment.” Additionally, his “accessibility is said to bring added value to client relationships.”
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Additionally, many of the firm’s New York and Washington partners were recently featured in the 2004 edition of Chambers USA - America’s Leading Business Lawyers for their outstanding work in the areas of Antitrust, Communications (IT & IT Outsourcing), Corporate/M&A, Private Equity (Buyouts & Venture Capital), Environmental, Insolvency/Corporate Recovery, Litigation (General Commercial and Securities), Real Estate, Tax, and Telecom, Broadcast & Satellite (Regulatory). Click: Chambers USA 2004 for details.
