In the 2020 edition of The Legal 500 UK, WilmerHale is named a top-tier firm for international arbitration, fraud: white-collar crime, and is recommended in four other practice areas. The guide names five partners to its "Leading Lawyers" list, one to its “Next Generation Partners” list, one to its “Rising Stars” list and recognizes 13 of the firm's London-based lawyers overall.
In addition to the top-tier rankings, WilmerHale was recognized for:
- Regulatory Investigations and Corporate Crime;
- Corporate and Commercial: Financial Services, Contentious;
- Public International Law; and
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms)–Intellectual Property.
Partners Gary Born, Steven Finizio, Stephen Pollard, Franz Schwarz and Justin Watts were named elite "Leading Lawyers" in their practices spanning six Legal 500 categories. Mr. Pollard was listed in Fraud: White Collar Crime, Corporate and Commercial: Financial Services, Contentious, Regulatory Investigations and Corporate Crime; Mr. Born in International Arbitration and Public International Law; Mr. Finizio and Mr. Schwarz in International Arbitration; and Mr. Watts in TMT – Intellectual Property. Charlie Caher was named a “Next Generation Partner” in International Arbitration, and David Rundle was named a “Rising Star” in Financial Services: Contentious.
The below commentary from The Legal 500 UK highlights the WilmerHale lawyers recognized in the 2020 edition.
International Arbitration
“WilmerHale 'has a near unnerving ability to get to the nub of a complicated dispute and gives very practical advice concerning options for proceeding'. The team is devoted exclusively to international arbitration, handles its own advocacy and is regularly successful in complex, high-value disputes. Gary Born has served as counsel in over 650 arbitrations, including several of the largest arbitrations in ICC and ad hoc history, and is currently President of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) Court of Arbitration; Steven Finizio is particularly focused on investment treaty and public international law (PIL) issues; and Franz Schwarz is global vice-chair of the firm’s international arbitration practice. Duncan Speller and Charlie Caher are also key partners.”
Public International Law
“WilmerHale has significant experience of complex and politically sensitive disputes involving territorial boundaries and sovereignty over territory, particularly in the Middle East and Africa. The practice also regularly advises sovereign states on key issues of international law, including treaty accession, territorial boundaries, maritime delimitation, international criminal law and human rights. Gary Born chairs the firm's sizeable international arbitration group and frequently leads counsel on state-to-state, investor-state, ICSID and ad hoc international arbitration tribunals. Steven Finizio is a name to note for public international law as it applies to small states.”
Fraud: White Collar Crime
“WilmerHale represents a large number of clients involved in high-profile SFO investigations. It advises clients on the full gamut of business crime and securities enforcement. Areas of expertise include fraud, bribery, corruption, cartels and money laundering. Clients include individuals from public and private companies and in particular the financial services sector. Stephen Pollard heads the team.”
Corporate and Commercial: Financial Services, Contentious
“WilmerHale focuses on financial services contentious work for a mix of corporate clients and individuals. The firm provides criminal law expertise and has a particular speciality representing senior executives facing regulatory exposure. Experienced practitioner Stephen Pollard leads the practice, which includes counsel David Rundle, who has hands-on experience of the FCA’s Enforcement division. In a recent highlight, the team acted for the ex-Chairman of Mitsubishi Securities Akira Kamiya in an investigation brought by the PRA into an alleged failure to disclose information to the regulator.”
Regulatory Investigations and Corporate Crime
“WilmerHale advises corporates and individuals in relation to white-collar and corporate crime. The firm handles matters such as export control issues, sanctions and internal investigations for FTSE 100 clients and financial institutions. The well-regarded Stephen Pollard heads the team and is very experienced in dealing with SFO and FCA investigations.”
TMT (technology, media and telecoms) – Intellectual Property
“The intellectual property litigation team at WilmerHale has an 'incredible wealth of experience in high-value patent litigation' and complex trade mark disputes, and attracts praise for its 'understanding of the law and ability to work with expert witnesses of the highest caliber'. Key names to note include group head Justin Watts, Anthony Trenton and Matthew Shade, who all have particular expertise in the life sciences, pharmaceuticals and technology industries.”
The Legal 500 recommends law firms and individuals based purely on merit. Researchers surveyed and interviewed more than 250,000 corporate counsel and clients over the course of 12 months. The list of WilmerHale's rankings, including commentary, can be viewed on The Legal 500 website.