Chambers UK: A Client's Guide to the UK Legal Profession 2019 ranked eight WilmerHale lawyers and six practices for their outstanding work, leadership and reputation.
Financial Crime: Corporates
Chambers said: “A renowned practice with considerable experience of white-collar crime matters, including SFO work. Expertise in fraud, bribery and money laundering investigations. Frequently engaged by banking and manufacturing clients to advise on high-stakes, cross-border internal investigations. Draws on a market-leading US practice to provide a strong transatlantic service. The ‘outstanding’ Stephen Pollard is highly regarded for his expertise in SFO and internal corporate investigations.”
Financial Crime: Individuals
Chambers said: “Well-regarded financial crime practice with an impressive record of acting on high-stakes SFO investigations. Acts on the full range of matters in this area, fielding experience in fraud, corruption, insider dealing and rate-fixing. Enviable client base includes mandates from sector-leading energy and financial services institutions. Noted expertise in international investigations. Stephen Pollard is distinguished for his extensive financial crime expertise, particularly in relation to international fraud, bribery and corruption investigations. Clients praise him for ‘his breadth of knowledge and experience in his field which is world-class,’ adding that ‘his ability to strategise is unmatched.’”
Chambers said: Christopher David is valued for his expertise in noteworthy SFO investigations. Sources single him out as ‘very knowledgeable about criminal defence.’
Chambers said: Alison Geary is esteemed for her experience in significant SFO cases, alongside international investigations. Sources note that she is ‘extremely capable, very well researched and very commercial with her advice.’”
Financial Services: Contentious Regulatory
Chambers said: “Stephen Pollard of WilmerHale is a go-to professional for current and former senior executives faced with potentially criminal regulatory sanctions. Clients say ‘he is extremely competent, very well researched and has built a very strong team around him.’”
International Commercial Arbitration
Chambers said: “Outstanding international arbitration practice with an enviable track record handling complex institutional and ad hoc arbitrations. Significant experience in joint venture disputes and in the oil and gas sector. Team members appear before tribunals seated across a number of arbitration hubs, including London, Zürich, Vienna, Geneva and Stockholm, often in connection with multimillion and multibillion-dollar disputes. Also has expertise acting for states and corporations in arbitrations concerning investment treaties, including BITs.”
Chambers said: “Gary Born is recognised widely for his outstanding expertise in international arbitration, handling disputes between commercial entities and those under investment treaties alongside sitting as an arbitrator. A client notes that his ‘wealth of knowledge and experience and expertise is really extraordinary.’”
Chambers said: “Steven Finizio is ‘an excellent lawyer – very thorough in his presentation and arguments.’ His experience includes acting for financial institutions and energy majors in UNCITRAL, LCIA, ICC and ad hoc arbitrations.”
Chambers said: “Franz Schwarz handles a broad range of commercial arbitration, including work in the natural resources sector. Clients describe him as ‘extremely well prepared, very experienced and a brilliant cross examiner of witnesses and experts.’”
Investor State Arbitration; Public International Law
Chambers said: “Well-regarded team for investor-state arbitrations. Also has expertise in international human rights law and has advised on state-to-state boundary disputes. Further expertise in matters relating to sovereign immunity and the enforcement of foreign judgments.”
Chambers said: Gary Born is a distinguished figure in the PIL market, known for his vast expertise in investor-state arbitrations as both counsel and arbitrator. Sources say ‘he is the sharpest lawyer in terms of his energy and the strength of his work product.’”
Chambers UK 2018 also ranked Gary Born as a leading arbitrator.
Intellectual Property: Patent Litigation
Chambers said: “Justin Watts is widely considered a ‘first-rate litigator,’ and has significant experience working on complex and very often multi-jurisdictional hi-tech and life sciences patent disputes. He also advises on the treatment of IP assets in corporate transactions.
Chambers said: “Anthony Trenton is a solicitor advocate who has taken patent cases to the highest courts in the land. He is recommended for disputes concerning electronic engineering, pharmaceuticals and medical devices.”
Clients and commentators said:
"I was particularly impressed by the level of professionalism, quick turnaround times, constant communication and feedback, and their attention to detail."
"It is an exceptional firm that represents its clients extremely well, finding solutions in a very co-ordinated way."
"It has been a pleasure working with them. They are very intelligent specialists, with clearly defined roles, which ultimately secures the desired result for the client."
Chambers and Partners determines its rankings after thousands of interviews with lawyers and clients. The Chambers United Kingdom guide ranks solicitors in more than 70 specialty areas of law. Since its first publication in 1990, Chambers UK has established a reputation as a respected referral guide for leading law firms and individuals in the UK.