Cleary Gottlieb Achieves Outstanding Results in Chambers Global 2014

March 14, 2014

Cleary Gottlieb continues to be highly recognized as a leader in legal services by the Chambers Global directory. Evidencing the strength of the firm’s overall practice and extent of its geographic reach, the 2014 edition, released on March 13, highlights 130 Cleary Gottlieb lawyers and 121 practices for work globally, regionally throughout Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East, and in Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, China, Colombia, France, Germany, India, Iraq, Italy, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Russia, South Korea, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.

As the publication has evolved, Chambers has placed an increased emphasis on emerging markets, allowing our lawyers to be more widely recognized for their work in emerging regions such as Africa, the Middle East and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), as well as in specific jurisdictions such as Iraq. Chambers has also redefined its geographic and practice area categories, subdividing some into narrower niches while truncating others. Accordingly, the firm was profiled for the first time in the following new or reorganized categories:

The following Cleary Gottlieb practices are recognized for being among the best in the world, based on Chambers’ interviews of the firm’s clients and competitors:


Global

  • Arbitration (International): “They have the ability to efficiently cover all the aspects of matters that involve multiple jurisdictions.”
  • Banking & Finance: “Popular choice as sponsor and borrower counsel with a good presence in the USA, Europe and Asia. Market-leading practice in Latin America noted for bench strength and depth.”
  • Capital Markets: Debt, Capital Markets: Equity and Capital Markets: Structured Finance & Derivatives: “Receives unanimous praise from commentators as a heavyweight in the fields of debt, equity and structured finance…with particular strength in New York and London, and across Latin America, Western Europe and Russia. ‘The team is great from junior associate to partner. The lawyers are commercial, hard-working and dedicated.’”
  • Competition/Antitrust: “Continues to be a pre-eminent global player, thanks to an [unrivaled] Washington, DC and Brussels link, and its ability to advise on significant multi-jurisdictional merger control cases and related litigation. ‘Cleary is the gold standard for international M&A transactions on the antitrust side.’ ‘The firm is first-class in competition, with truly high-end experts. Excellent lawyers with astute business minds.’”
  • Corporate/M&A: “Praised by clients for its ability to co-ordinate different offices in challenging cross-border transactions. ‘The team is very commercial and able to run with issues independently in a very complex multi-jurisdictional context.’”
  • Dispute Resolution: “Superb New York practice and offices in Paris, Moscow, Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi, São Paulo and London, where the firm cuts an impressive figure. ‘It’s a close-knit team and everyone knows exactly what is going on. There is excellent co-ordination across the firm and I like the culture too.’”
  • Investment Funds: Private Equity: Fund Formation: “Handles an array of fund-raising mandates driven from the firm’s New York office, with a particular emphasis on Asian investments. A strong offering in Russia, where the firm has a long-standing presence. ‘They’re great - very smart, thoughtful and commercial, and they work seamlessly across borders.’”
  • Private Equity: “Builds on this international reputation to attract a wider client base with a portfolio of deals covering a range of industries. ‘One of the top firms for complex, multi-jurisdictional deals. It has very good people with deep experience.’”
  • Projects & Energy and Projects & Energy: Mining & Minerals: “Rated in particular for the strength of its mining practice, with a highly regarded US team active on high-profile project financings, M&A and regulatory work. ‘Their practice is so deep and global that they have deep experience in large multi-jurisdictional deals.’”
  • Public International Law: “Well regarded for investment treaty disputes, representing both states and investors. Best known for Russian and CIS matters, with additional strength in state immunity, state succession and sovereign debt issues. ‘They have very vigorous advocates who are thoroughly prepared.’”
  • Restructuring/Insolvency: “Standout practices in Russia and the USA. ‘For sovereign debt issues they are the standout firm. Very knowledgeable and helpful and experienced in working towards a common goal.’”
  • Tax: “Attracts a slew of transactional and securities-related mandates for a number of high-profile clients, including state bodies, financial institutions and blue-chip corporations. ‘The level of attention from partners is tremendous.’”

Africa-wide

  • Corporate/Commercial: “Capital markets and transactional work are the mainstays of this firm’s corporate and commercial Africa offering. The Paris office is the driving force of a workload that involves significant sovereign matters and private equity transactions. ‘Cleary is good in Africa - they’re often on the other side and our dealings are quite collaborative.’”
  • Dispute Resolution: “A Paris-led Africa group that is frequently instructed by clients when contentious issues arise, especially in francophone jurisdictions. The firm advises governments, investors, banks and public and private companies, and partners are involved on several major long-running disputes.”
  • Projects & Energy and Projects & Energy: Mining & Minerals: “A strong projects practice largely active out of the Paris office, with partners in London, the Middle East, Asia and the USA also playing a key role on deals. Commentators praise the team’s local expertise in francophone regions on matters that range from mining regulatory issues to project development and finance.”

Asia-Pacific Region

  • Capital Markets: Debt and Capital Markets: Equity: “Remains active on debt and equity, primarily devoting its resources to the South Korean, Indian and Chinese markets. Praised in China for its expertise in offshore renminbi-denominated bond issuances. ‘I’d say a big strength is their knowledge of the Korean issuer market, including new laws and market standards.’”
  • Corporate/M&A and Corporate/M&A: Private Equity: “Highly active in China acting in private equity transactions as well as representing domestic companies on outbound investments. Also regarded for its work in South Korea acting for international fund houses on inbound investments and capital markets matters. ‘I think they are well resourced to handle large-scale transactions and co-ordinate them across various jurisdictions.’”

Europe-wide

  • Arbitration (International): “Established French arbitration team, supported by a London presence and a recently enhanced German practice. Active across commercial arbitration in numerous industries, and noted by sources for a focus on investment cases, with recent success in a variety of ICSID and UNCITRAL disputes.”
  • Capital Markets: Debt and Capital Markets: Equity: “Tremendous depth of expertise in equity capital markets and increasingly active in significant debt-related mandates. Particularly well known for its involvement in many high-profile IPOs as well as Eurobond work. Leading teams in the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Russia. ‘The lawyers combine top technical ability with great client service. They really listen to what the client needs and explain everything clearly.’”
  • Competition/Antitrust: “Receives particular praise for its prowess in international merger control proceedings, alongside complex cartel and abuse of dominance cases. ‘Our key contacts are excellent advocates and strategists. They are proactive, and help us think through long-term strategies for our business in Europe.’”
  • Corporate/M&A: “US firm with a highly active cross-border corporate/M&A practice within Europe, particularly strong in transactions involving France and Russia. Demonstrates further strength in Germany, Italy and the UK. Active on pan-European transactions in a range of industry sectors, but especially visible in high-value energy M&A.”
  • TMT: Information Technology and TMT: Telecommunications: “Excellent cross-border expertise in the telecommunications industry, advising clients on privatizations, financings, regulatory structures and global offerings. Further extensive knowledge of the technology sector. Notable teams in Italy, Belgium and Russia.”

Latin America-wide

Middle East-wide

  • Capital Markets: “Opened an office in Abu Dhabi in September 2012 and is considered a strong offering for clients looking for equity capital markets expertise. Praised for ability to leverage resources globally from its offices in Paris, London, New York and Milan.”
  • Corporate/Commercial
  • Dispute Resolution: “Abu Dhabi-led team with an impressive track record representing Middle Eastern state entities and sovereign wealth funds in disputes outside the region. Active on mandates relating to investment treaties and sanctions, as well as arbitration in the oil and gas sector.”

Belgium

Brazil

China

France

Germany

India

  • Capital Markets (Desk Based Abroad): “This predominantly London and Hong Kong-based team frequently advises the Indian branches of international financial institutions on high-value sales of shares in Indian government-owned companies.”
  • Corporate/M&A (Desk Based Abroad): “This India group is renowned for aiding major Indian companies in their M&A and private equity transactions overseas. It also advises international entities on their inbound investments.”

Iraq

Italy

Kazakhstan

Malaysia

  • Corporate & Finance (Desk Based Abroad): “A Hong Kong-based desk noted for its corporate work in Malaysia. The team is known for working closely with companies in the energy sector. It also maintains a significant capital markets offering.”

Philippines

  • Corporate & Finance (Desk Based Abroad): “The team represents inbound clients on various acquisitions in the Philippines. It is experienced in handling overseas securities listings for local clients.”

Russia

South Korea

United Kingdom

United States