| US law firm of the year |
 This award highlights the American firm that has made the greatest progress over the past year in advancing its strategy, improving financial performance and excelling in winning clients instructions. Please note that a large international presence is not a prerequisite for consideration for this award although the judges will be looking for strong evidence of success in those foreign markets that the firm has offices in.
Previous Winners Where other firms have struggled as a result of the global economic downturn, Weil has positively thrived. The events of the past 12 months have reinforced Weil’s position as king of the restructuring market, with a trophy mandate advising Lehman Brothers on its bankruptcy making it the envy of the legal elite. The firm has already billed over $120m on the colossal restructuring, with six London partners working at rates of over $1,000 per hour.  While this has understandably grabbed the headlines, the reality is that the firm has been involved in almost every major deal in the market, including General Motors, AIG and Kaupthing. The firm’s transactional teams have also excelled, as its victory in this year’s Private Equity Team of the Year Award attests. It’s the sort of commanding all-round performance towards which all international firms aspire, and makes Weil a worthy winner. HIGHLY COMMENDEDGREENBERG TRAURIGCesar Alvarez, global chief executive; Paul Maher, London chairGreenberg’s spectacular London launch has been one of the industry’s major talking points of 2009. With much of the market battening down the hatches to weather the storm, Greenberg pushed ahead with an ambitious plan to create a top-tier London practice with the hire of former Mayer Brown vice-chairman Paul Maher. LATHAM & WATKINSRobert Dell, global chair; Andrew Moyle, London managing partnerDespite the turbulent market conditions, Latham has had another excellent year. The firm has continued its global expansion with moves in China, Singapore and the Middle East, and has launched new cleantech, climate change, energy regulatory, emerging companies and takeover defence practices. It also acted on some of the most significant deals in the market. McGUIREWOODSRichard Cullen, global chair; Anders Grundberg, London managing partnerAnother US firm to launch in London, McGuireWoods gained entry through a tie-up with City boutique Grundberg Mocatta Rakison in May 2009. It was the Richmond-based firm’s second merger in the past two years, following its acquisition of Charlotte firm Helms Mulliss & Wicker in 2008. PAUL, HASTINGS, JANOFSKY & WALKERPhilip Feder, London managing partnerPaul Hastings is shortlisted following an excellent all-round performance, particularly in Europe. Finance expert Alberto Del Din joined with a team from Bonelli Erede Pappalardo in Milan, while London was bolstered by the relocation of global real estate head Philip Feder from Los Angeles and an audacious seven-partner hire from Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft. PAUL, WEISS, RIFKIND, WHARTON & GARRISONBrad Karp, global chair; Mark Bergman, London partnerPaul Weiss has truly risen to the challenge of the financial crisis, with its powerhouse litigation practice acting on some of the market’s most significant disputes. Its notable victory for Citigroup over Parmalat is just one in a long list of prominent cases that includes major roles for AIG, J.P. Morgan, ING and Morgan Stanley. QUINN EMANUEL URQUHART OLIVER & HEDGESRichard East, Sue Prevezer QC and Marc Becker, London partnersAs a pure business litigation boutique, no other top-100 firm is so well suited to the current market conditions as Quinn Emanuel. A 91% trial success rate has powered it to the top of the market, with its fledgling London office recently securing judgment in favour of HSH Nordbank against UBS in the Court of Appeal. Award presented by International Bar Association |