Legal Business Awards 2010

Jones Day’s litigation team has had a remarkably successful year, with a series of notable victories in high-profile and complex matters. Particularly significant was its defence of Goldshield Group in the largest prosecution in the history of the Serious Fraud Office. In March 2008, Jones Day obtained a landmark ruling from the House of Lords, which overturned rulings of the Court of Appeal, the Crown Court and the Divisional Court, vindicating an argument that Goldshield had made from the outset.

The Jones Day team merits special recognition, as partner Craig Shuttleworth, noted primarily for his commercial litigation expertise, led and orchestrated the successful defence by all 14 defendants of the charges against them. This was despite some scepticism and strong resistance from the other legal teams, including eminent criminal silks. The decision of the House of Lords that mere participation in a cartel was not a criminal offence prior to the inception of the Enterprise Act in 2003 is likely to have implications for both criminal and competition law and policy.

Other impressive work included obtaining a £30m settlement of claims made by the firm’s client Langbar International and its 2,000 shareholders. Sion Richards led a 30 fee-earner team from seven jurisdictions through 13 months of intense activity. The settlement amounted to the entirety of the key defendants’ assets.

HIGHLY COMMENDED

CLIFFORD CHANCE

Ian Moulding

As ever, the Clifford Chance team has been involved in the biggest and most significant litigation around, but one of the greatest single achievements saw the firm win a major victory for JPMorgan Chase. The highprofile misselling action was brought against the bank by investors Springwell, a case that emerged from the Russian financial crisis of 1998.

FRESHFIELDS BRUCKHAUS DERINGER

Andrew Hart; Ian Terry

In the wake of the current financial crisis, Freshfields’ litigators have been instructed on a wide range of significant mandates across numerous jurisdictions. Notably, this has seen the firm operating at the very heart of the credit crunch for major clients such as Northern Rock and the Bank of England to name just two of the highest profile.

SIMMONS & SIMMONS

Colin Passmore

The firm’s recognised expertise in structured finance and hedge funds came into its own, with its litigators at the cutting edge in the first piece of Lehman-related litigation for RAB Capital, as well as acting for WestLB in relation to complex securitisations. Passmore has ensured that his team stays at the forefront of international disputes work.

SLAUGHTER AND MAY

Nick Archer

As well as being central to the credit crunch fallout, with former practice head Elizabeth Barrett advising the Treasury regarding Northern Rock, the team also won a significant victory for Gallaher Group in a complex multijurisdictional dispute. Archer successfully advised in relation to the $700m dispute in the full glare of regular media coverage.

WHITE & CASE

John Bellhouse

White & Case had a standout year acting on a remarkable spread of major disputes. The firm notably secured a significant victory in the groundbreaking House of Lords price-fixing extradition case for Ian Norris. In addition, John Reynolds has been leading the line on litigation relating to the nationalisation of Northern Rock.

Award sponsored by Prime Professions