GLE Awards 2016

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GLOBAL LAW EXPERTS ANNUAL AWARDS

ANNUAL AWARDS WINNER

WELCOME TO THE GLOBAL LAW EXPERTS (GLE) ANNUAL AWARDS 2016 PUBLICATION

In order to select our winners, we undertook research in all practice areas, creating a shortlist of firms that are deemed experts within their chosen specialisms.

During an initial recommendation stage, we received responses from business directors, in-house counsel, independent firms, high-net-worth individuals, bar associations, visitors to the GLE website, and LinkedIn users.

These recommendations were combined with our independent research to create the finished shortlist for each country and practice area.

Contents: 4

Europe Winners

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The Americas Winners

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Asia & Oceania Winners

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Africa & the Middle East Winners

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Listings

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A–Z Index

Editor:

The shortlisted firms were then judged on client testimonials, case studies, legal ranking and published material, as well as the performance and standing of the teams’ individual attorneys.

John Martin awards-editor@globallawexperts.com www.globallawexperts.com

We have broken down the winners by region, country and practice area. Many of the firms selected can offer a multitude of services to clients and have provided a firm summary to this effect; meanwhile, some have chosen to profile their expertise concerning their winning category – providing details of their casework and some up-to-date industry commentary.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any manner or by any means without the prior permission of the publisher.

Our Listings section contains the details of additional winners from around the world.

Reprints & Permissions:

Disclaimer: While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the contents, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for errors and claims made by third parties.

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Congratulations to each of this year’s award recipients.

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Further, the Index at the back of this edition makes it easy for our readers to locate the entries for all of our winners.

ANNUAL AWARDS WINNER

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EUROPE WINNERS

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For Europe, recent years have seen turmoil in markets, and now growth patterns are increasingly divergent in Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe (CESEE), says a report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The group of countries stretching from the Baltic states all the way to Turkey have been affected differently by external forces – oil prices, strength of the euro area recovery, and geopolitical tensions.

Furthermore, some of the countries are still afflicted with debt overhang and are not likely to grow out of it without deep institutional reforms, in addition to supportive macroeconomic policies. These are the main conclusions of ‘Mind the Credit Gap’, the IMF’s Regional Economic Issues report.

Weak investment is a common challenge in a heterogeneous region. Investment is being held back by still low demand growth in much of Europe and uncertainty both at the global and the euro area level, but also by an incomplete private sector balance sheet clean-up. While credit deleveraging is necessary, it tends to be more protracted and a drag on growth when debt problems are pervasive, macroeconomic policies are not sufficiently supportive, and institutional frameworks are not flexible enough.

“CESEE countries face a challenging dilemma: strengthen private sector balance sheets that have been damaged by the slump in demand and employment caused by the financial crisis; and, at the same time, achieve again investment levels that will support the growth rates their economies need to catch up with the more advanced European countries,” said Jörg Decressin, Deputy Director in the IMF’s European Department.

Divergent performances Cheaper oil and stronger euro area recovery are supporting faster growth in the Baltics (Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia), Central and Eastern Europe (CEE – Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia), and in Turkey. However, persistent structural weaknesses and an incomplete private sector balance-sheet clean-up have prevented Southeastern Europe (SEE – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia FYR, Montenegro, Romania and Serbia) from fully benefitting from the same tailwinds.

In contrast, Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS – Belarus, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine) countries are expected to contract due to lower oil prices and sanctions (Russia) and the fallout from geopolitical tensions and ongoing macroeconomic adjustment (Ukraine).

According to the report, market volatility and geopolitical problems are the main risks that could negatively affect countries in emerging Europe. An increase in geopolitical tensions related to Russia and Ukraine, as well as a deterioration of the situation in Greece loom on the horizon.

The beginning of rising of interest rates in the US could increase funding costs and reduce capital flows to the region. On the upside, euro area growth may be stronger than expected on the back of the European Central Bank’s Quantitative Easing and lower oil prices.

Reviving investment remains a challenge for much of the region. Apart from global and regional uncertainties,

pressures stemming from the deleveraging process have weighed down on growth and had a negative impact on GDP everywhere, although less so in CEE countries.

How can countries grow out of debt?

Support domestic demand; complete private sector balance sheet clean-up; and foster a pick-up in investment to ensure a robust recovery is the complex and often conflicting challenge ahead of policy makers in the CESEE countries.

How to achieve that? The answer is a multi-front approach: • Macroeconomic policies should be mindful of the credit gaps: in countries where debt-related risks continue to weigh on demand, supportive macroeconomic policies are essential.

• Fiscal consolidation is needed in many CESEE countries, but should not be too stringent, with the risk of derailing the recovery.

• Monetary policy should remain accommodative particularly in countries facing deflationary risks.

• Structural and institutional reforms are critical for lifting potential growth, especially for countries still facing private sector debt overhang: creating more efficient debt resolution frameworks; improving the business environment to raise productivity and reduce structural unemployment; making labour markets more flexible, so as to give companies more options to carry out necessary adjustments, other than only cutting back on investment.

Meanwhile, growth in Europe and Central Asia is expected to weaken further as oil price decline, geopolitical tensions, and related spillovers, including from Russia, are only partly offset by a moderate recovery in the euro area.

In Russia, a 2.7% contraction is expected to be followed by a moderate recovery in 2016 supported by policies that are shifting the economy to a lower oil price environment.

In Turkey, growth was around 3% in 2015 with private spending recovering after the June elections. Assuming a slight rise in oil prices in 2016-17, no further deterioration in the geopolitical situation, and continued macroeconomic stabilisation policies in major economies, regional growth is expected to strengthen to 3.5% in 2016-17.

Economic growth in Europe is expected to remain modest as key trading partners’ performance has slowed and some supportive factors begin to wane, according to the European Commission’s Spring 2016 Economic Forecast.

Since voting to leave the EU, the UK economy has shown signs of impending recession, reminiscent of 2008 levels.

According to the FT, the pound was at its lowest level since the ’80s just days after the referendum result. The markets have since become relatively stable, but investors in all areas remain cautious and wary of future developments.

This will have long-term negative consequences for the country’s growth dynamic and economic vitality, according to a Bertelsmann Stiftung study in collaboration with the ifo Institute in Munich. By contrast, the economic losses for Germany and the remaining EU member states would be significantly smaller. Other studies suggest Britain could be better off outside the EU if it forged free trade agreements with emerging markets such as China and India.

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EUROPE CONTENTS MOUAIMIS & MOUAIMIS LLC / Boutique - Financial Transactions Law Firm of the Year in Cyprus ....................... 8.

Costas Tsirides & Co LLC / Commercial Contracts Law Firm of the Year in Cyprus.................................................. 8.

Kelcey & Hall, Solicitors / Criminal Litigation Law Firm of the Year in England .......................................................... 9.

Child & Child / Cross-Border - Banking & Finance Law Firm of the Year in England ................................................. 9.

Maitland Chambers / Individual - Commercial Litigation Barrister of the Year in England ....................................... 10.

Bray & Krais Solicitors / Specialist - Music Law Firm of the Year in England ............................................................11.

LexDellmeier IP Law / Boutique - Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year in Germany ......................................11.

Maiwald / Editors’ Choice - Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year in Germany ............................................... 12.

Heribert Reiners / Individual - Art Lawyer of the Year in Germany .......................................................................... 12.

Kliemt & Vollstädt / Peer Choice - Employment Law Firm of the Year in Germany ................................................. 13.

KLC Law Firm / Banking & Finance Law Firm of the Year in Greece / Privatisation Law Firm of the Year in Greece / Competition Law Firm of the Year in Greece.................................. 14.

DR. HELEN G. PAPACONSTANTINOU AND PARTNERS / IP Litigation Law Firm of the Year in Greece ............. 14.

Dillon Eustace / Individual - Maritime Lawyer of the Year in Ireland ........................................................................ 15.

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EUROPE CONTENTS Studio Legale Fabiano / ICT Security and Internet & E-commerce Law Firm of the Year in Italy ........................... 15.

CAGNOLA & ASSOCIATI STUDIO LEGALE / Specialist - Business Crime Law Firm of the Year in Italy .............. 16.

Mamo TCV Advocates / Commercial Law Firm of the Year in Malta ...................................................................... 16.

Studio Signori / Tax Law Firm of the Year in Italy ......................................................................................................17.

Mamo TCV Advocates / Corporate Law Firm of the Year in Malta .......................................................................... 18.

Vink & Partners Legal and Tax / Corporate Law Firm of the Year in the Netherlands / Litigation Law Firm of the Year in the Netherlands .................................................................................................. 18.

Rรถdl & Partner / Client Choice - Foreign Investment Law Firm of the Year in Poland ............................................. 19.

Skarbiec Law Firm / International Tax Planning Law Firm of the Year in Poland ..................................................... 19.

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BOUTIQUE - FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN CYPRUS MOUAIMIS & MOUAIMIS LLC Mr. Panayotis Mouaimis Managing Partner – Director Tel: +357 25 362 233 mouaimis@mouaimis.com.cy www.mouaimis.com.cy Mouaimis & Mouaimis Advocates was established in 1990 by Mr. Panayotis Mouaimis. Ever since, the firm has grown in size and it is now comprised of a team of qualified, able and reliable lawyers who are able to provide to the firm’s selected clientele a secured, reliable and confidential environment for the conduct of international business.

As of January 2012 the firm has operated as a lawyers’ limited liability company under the name “Mouaimis & Mouaimis LLC”.

It has a broadly based practice with a reputation for offering high quality international legal and corporate administration services in Cyprus to leading financial organisations, international groups of companies, service providers and investment companies.

Banking and Finance: Our firm has been involved in numerous international finance transactions, bond and securities issue transactions, acting as Cyprus counsel to the Issuers and the Joint Lead Managers and Arrangers and in international, bilateral and syndicated finance and project finance transactions.

The firm has considerable experience on creation, registration perfection and enforcement of mortgages, debentures, guarantees, legal and equitable charges, performance bonds, pledges and other types of securities. Its recent experience includes, inter alia, acting as Cyprus counsel to a leading Ukrainian agricultural company in connection with a share exchange deal with another agricultural company, involving asset swap and exchange of intra-group debt between the parties. The firm also acted as Cyprus counsel to a Cyprus issuer in connection with the issue of bonds convertible into

GDRs, convertible into shares of the Russian parent company, and also acted as Cyprus counsel to a Cyprus parent company in the issue and sale by its Swedish subsidiary of senior notes, secured by a pledge over the shares of the Swedish issuer.

Corporate and Commercial: The firm provides high quality legal advice on commercial and corporate transactions, legal opinions in a wide range of corporate and commercial matters, drafting commercial and corporate agreements, offering advice on corporate reorganisations, mergers and acquisitions, setting up and administering Cyprus tax resident companies and providing corporate administration services.

Taxation: The firm provides legal advice on the Cyprus tax system, being one of the most favourable law regimes in Europe.

Insolvency: The firm provides advice on Cyprus law and practice for the winding up, receivership, examinership and administration of corporate entities and for bankruptcy and voluntary arrangements for individuals. Mr. Panayotis Mouaimis has become a duly licensed insolvency practitioner and may act as liquidator, examiner and administrator in corporate insolvencies and trustee in bankruptcy in individual insolvencies.

Litigation and Arbitration: The firm acts as court counsel in corporate and commercial litigation and on enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitration awards in Cyprus, pursues pre-emptive remedies and enforces arbitration agreements before the Cyprus Courts.

COMMERCIAL CONTRACTS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN CYPRUS COSTAS TSIRIDES & CO LLC Alexandros Tsirides Managing Director Tel: +357 25820810 alexandros@tsirides.com www.tsirides.com COSTAS TSIRIDES & CO LLC was founded in 1970 and, since then, has been established as one of the most reputable and respected law firms in Cyprus. The firm specialises in civil, commercial and cross-border litigation, among other areas.

Managing director Alexandros Tsirides has been active in the area of civil and commercial for more than 15 years. He is a member of the Cyprus Bar Association, and was elected as a member of the Administrative Council of the Cyprus Bar Association. According to Mr Tsirides, the use of Cypriot companies in international business structures and the reliable legal system of Cyprus makes Cyprus an attractive place to litigate. Mr Tsirides is personally seeing an increase in commercial and cross-border litigation in Cyprus.

One of COSTAS TSIRIDES & CO’s primary targets and concerns in dealing with its clients has been to respect their bespoke needs, offering a personalised service that is tailored to their specific circumstances. Moreover, the firm is committed to handling each case with respect and discretion, aiming to develop a personal relationship with clients based on mutual

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trust. Mr Tsirides noted: “This philosophy has always helped us to offer our expertise by understanding the true needs of our clients, and we pride ourselves on the fact that each of our clients, private or commercial, individuals or corporate, receive the same personal service and care. The aforementioned values are fundamental to our approach, and will always remain so.”

He added: “Our typical clients are currently high-net-worth individuals and international corporations; however, we aim to strengthen our litigation team by recruiting experienced litigation lawyers. Our co-operation with international law firms in handling the Cyprus aspect of international litigation is testament to our strength in the litigation field and has significantly improved our market position.

“We believe that our expertise in this area and the positive results we achieve for the clients gives us an advantage in the international litigation field. This is demonstrated by the co-operations we have established with international law firms and large international corporate clients as well as high-networth individuals.”

CRIMINAL LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN ENGLAND Kelcey & Hall, Solicitors Ian Kelcey Senior Partner Tel: +44 (0) 117 927 9604 / Out of hours: +44 (0) 7659 104004 ian.kelcey@kelceyandhall.co.uk www.kelceyandhall.co.uk Kelcey & Hall is a bespoke criminal defence firm that also represents clients with issues of professional discipline and regulation. We have wide experience acting in serious fraud cases and high profile criminal law defence.

The practice is headed by Ian Kelcey, a former Chairman of the Law Society of England Wales, Criminal Law Committee. He is a past president of the Criminal Law Solicitors Association and a Member of the Home Office Advisory Board on the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, also a Member of a number of Committees headed by Senior Judges in relation to criminal issues. Ian remains a member of the Law Society Criminal Law Committee and the Law Society Legal Affairs and Policy Board.

We operate out of offices in Bristol and London but have a national presence travelling as far north as Newcastle and as far south as Truro. For clients who are not eligible for Legal Aid we are happy to provide a bespoke private service and discuss with clients fixed fee arrangements. Our aim is to give the best quality advice and representation with value for money. We are proud to be frequently recommended by other firms and professionals to clients facing criminal charges.

Ian is supported by a strong team. We have a considerable experience of defending in the most complicated of cases including Environment Agency prosecutions, serious fraud

matters, murders and sexual offences. The firm believes in being proactive in representing clients. We are members of the European Criminal Bar Association and the International Bar Association.

There have been many challenges in the United Kingdom over the past 5-10 years with the reduction of the availability of Legal Aid and an attempt by Government to rationalise Court processes.

We are well equipped to handle this because of our knowledge and understanding of these and other legislative changes.

We have represented clients within the past year in extremely high profile cases. We have secured the acquittal of a Police Officer in relation to allegations of Misconduct in a Public Office arising out of the death of Bijan Ebrahimi as well as defendants in a number of high profile murder cases and managed to secure acquittals. We represented the only defendant acquitted in a multi handed VAT fraud.

Our typical clients have ranged from high net worth individuals to PLCs and Police Officers funded by the Police Federation. We believe our expertise means we are always ahead of the game when it comes to legislative changes and that provides our clients with a significant advantage coupled with our experience.

James Williams who also works within the Criminal Defence Team is a Member of the National Committee of the Criminal Law Solicitors Association.

CROSS-BORDER - BANKING & FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN ENGLAND Child & Child Shahrzad Atai Head of Department Tel: +44 20 7201 1886 shahrzadatai@childandchild.co.uk www.childandchild.co.uk Child & Child traces its origins to 1850 when Henry Bailey set up business at 52 Sloane Street. John Child became his partner and they were in practice together for 15 years. John Child then practised on his own account until 1885 when he was joined by Edward Norton and the firm became known as “Child & Norton”.

In 1896, the year following Edward Norton’s departure from the practice, the firm acquired the name of “Child & Child” when John Child was joined in partnership by his nephew Charles. The firm was at 25 Sloane Street from 1924 to 1969 when it moved to Motcomb Street, where it was based until 2004 before moving to offices in Grosvenor Crescent. Due to the continuing growth and expansion of the firm, as of 27 August 2013, it is now based at 4 Grosvenor Place.

The clients of Child & Child include many individuals and businesses in the locality but a large proportion are from other parts of the United Kingdom and overseas. The work of the practice is divided more or less equally between individuals and businesses and we pride ourselves on our ability to build lasting relationships with our clients.

Shahrzad Atai has experience in property and finance (residential and commercial property), refinance, international wealth planning, offshore structures, cross border transactions and advice on financial sanctions on Iran. She joined Child and Child in March 2015 as the Head of the Middle East Desk.

Shahrzad has acted for high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients, as well as family offices, and private individuals offering bespoke services and advice. She is familiar with investments and trusts for offshore structures, group of companies or just a single family.

Shahrzad was selected as an ambassador for Women Kind World Wide, and is a member of British Iranian Lawyers Association, Human

Rights Watch, Law society of England and Wales, Development Studies Association.

Practice areas Property and finance: • Sale and purchase of residential leasehold and freehold property (with or without mortgage finance).

• Sale and purchase of commercial freehold and leasehold property (with or without mortgage finance) including offices, hotels and restaurants.

• Refinance of group of properties (health care properties).

• Refinance of freehold property.

• Purchase of investment property through a pool of investment.

Structuring: • Set up and implementation of Offshore structures for foreign clients, with the purpose of owning a property in England.

• Set up and implementation of Offshore structures for foreign clients, with the purpose of starting a business in England.

Financial sanctions: Advice on financial sanctions on Iran, application to HM Treasury (for licence, prior authorisation and notification) in relation to: • purchase of property, sale of property, • transfer of funds for purpose of immigration to UK through Investment visa, • existing contracts (prior to the financial sanctions) and new contracts in relation to the items exempt from the sanctions (ie: food and humanitarians).

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INDIVIDUAL - COMMERCIAL LITIGATION BARRISTER OF THE YEAR IN ENGLAND Maitland Chambers

Anthony Trace Barrister Tel: +44 (0)20 7406 1200 atrace@maitlandchambers.com www.maitlandchambers.com

Anthony Trace QC 1981 (QC 1998)

Notable Cases

Anthony graduated from Cambridge with First Class Honours in Law. During pupillage he won the Crowther Advocacy Shield and was Joint Winner of the Observer Mace United Kingdom Debating Competition. Lincoln’s Inn awarded him, after competitive interviews, the Tancred Studentship and the Droop Scholarship.

Mark Holyoake & Hotblack Holdings Ltd v Nicholas Candy (2016)

In 2013 he won Commercial litigation ‘Silk of the year’ in the

(In Administration) (2015) Joint Stock Co “Aeroflot - Russian Airlines” v Berezovsky & Anor (2014) Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Development Co & Ors v Majid Al-Sayed Bader Hashim Al Refai & Ors (2013)

inaugural Legal 500 UK Awards and in 2016 he won “Banking

Closegate Hotel Development (Durham) Ltd & Ors v Joseph McLean

Barrister of the Year–UK” in the Finance Monthly Awards 2016.

(2013)

The credit crunch has seen Anthony act in a range of banking disputes and advise in relation to many types of security documentation, investment vehicles, insolvency procedures (particularly EU and offshore procedures) and hedge funds.

Anthony has built up a very substantial practice specialising in all types of litigation with a Chancery flavour. He has been involved in many leading cases - including Lehman Brothers, Ablyazov, Berezovsky, Yukos, Bank of Ireland v McFeely, Gomba, Maxwell,

Bruce Mackay & Ors v Ashwood Enterprises Ltd & Ors (2013) Blueco Ltd v Bwat Retail Nominee & Ors (2013) Lloyds TSB Bank Plc v Crowborough Properties Ltd & Ors (2013) Gorbunova v Berezovsky (2013) Helena Gorbunova v Boris Berezovsky (aka Platon Elenin) (2013) Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Development Co v Majid Al-Sayed Bader Hashim Al Refai (2012)

BCCI, Grand Metropolitan v William Hill, Slough Estates v Welwyn

Favor Easy Management Ltd, Samuel Tak Lee v Fuk Fei Wu, Favor

Hatfield DC, Jordan Grand Prix v Baltic, Landare Investment v Welsh

Easy Management Ltd (2012)

Development Agency, Shalson v Russo, 118 118/David Bedford,

Lloyds TSB Bank Plc v Crowborough Properties Ltd & Ors (2012)

Pop Idol and the Newgate Stud/Anthony Penfold, Farepak, Donegal/

Mackay & Anor v Ashwood Enterprises Ltd & Ors (2012)

Republic of Zambia, Johnson Matthey v Arthur Young, Equitable Life, the Beijing Olympics ticket fraud and London Allied Holdings v Lee disputes - and has also been involved in a significant number of matters in other jurisdictions including the Isle of Man, the Cayman

Richard Paul Thomas v (1) David Jeffery (2) Joy Sweet (3) Gemma Sweet (2012) Westwood Shipping Lines Inc & Others v Universal Schifff

Islands, the Bahamas, Gibraltar, Dominica, the British Virgin Islands

Ahrtsgesellschaft MBH (2012)

where he is called (permanently rather than ad hoc) to the Bar, and

George Maloney v Filtons Ltd (2012)

Hong Kong.

George Maloney, Bruce Mackay, Graham Bushby, Matthew Haw v

Anthony has particular experience of mediation, has sat as an

Filtons Ltd (2012)

arbitrator and has contributed to Butterworths Practical Insolvency.

Energy Venture Partners Ltd v Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd (2012)

He was the Deputy Managing Editor of The Receivers Administrators

Interactive Investor Trading Ltd v City Index Ltd (2011)

and Liquidators Quarterly from 1993-2002 and the Vice Chairman of the Chancery Bar Association from 2001-2004.

Anthony is recommended in The Legal 500 for Commercial

Memberships Chancery Bar Association, COMBAR, ACTAPS (Association of

Litigation, Civil Fraud, Company, Insolvency, Professional Negligence

Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists), Commercial Fraud

and Property Litigation, in Chambers Global for Commercial

Lawyers Association, R3 and the Insolvency Lawyers’ Association,

Litigation, and in Chambers UK Directory for Civil Fraud, Commercial

RISA Cayman (Restructuring and Insolvency Specialists Association)

Dispute Resolution, Commercial Chancery, Company, Restructuring/

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In the Matter of Lehman Brothers International (Europe)

Insolvency, Professional Negligence, Offshore and Real Estate

Qualifications

Litigation, and in Who’s Who Legal: Asset Recovery.

MA (Cantab) First Class

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SPECIALIST - MUSIC LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN ENGLAND Bray & Krais Solicitors Richard Bray and Mark Krais Partners Tel: +44 (0)20 7384 3050 bandk@brayandkrais.com www.brayandkrais.com Bray & Krais is an established niche legal practice, advising a large variety of clients operating within the music and entertainment industry. Established in 1996, the firm has grown to be an acknowledged media law firm and leader in its field with an outstanding reputation.

As entertainment lawyers, Bray & Krais provide a range of specialist legal services to the music and entertainment industry, including commercial, corporate, employment and private client work. Their expertise spans everything from artist agreements to live touring and events, to joint ventures and corporate finance.

promoters around the world, advising on staging, security, ticketing and merchandise.

Further, they advise on protection and exploitation of copyright for leading artists and songwriters, as well as advising composers, writers, directors and choreographers working in the theatre and larger live stage events.

Partners Richard Bray and Mark Krais advise on a wide range of matters in relation to intellectual property, media and entertainment, including recording, publishing and management agreements as well as merchandising agreements. They also advise clients on the licensing, sales and distribution of catalogues and commercial agreements which relate to live events.

Today, Bray & Krais is highly regarded for its noncontentious music practice and for its work on high-profile and international branded live events – advising established corporates, start-ups, founding shareholders and investors in relation to corporate matters concerning the full range of media and entertainment businesses. This encompasses record labels, publishing, live events, brands, artist management, PR, technology and new media; it also extends to share sales, business sales, subscriptions, investments, joint ventures, restructuring, employee bonus schemes, LLPs and partnerships.

They handle the legal and business affairs for international branded live events, and have worked on a number of experiential projects for brands, agencies, charities and

Moreover, the firm is home to an expanding sports law department, and works closely with sports agencies who represent professional sportsmen and women.

BOUTIQUE - INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN GERMANY LexDellmeier IP Law Alexandra Dellmeier Founder, Attorney at Law and Certified IP Attorney Tel: +49 89 55 87 987 0 info@lexdellmeier.com www.lexdellmeier.com Experienced - Innovative - Client-oriented - LexDellmeier offers innovative and creative in-depth IP counselling in Germany and throughout Europe. The attorneys-at-law at LexDellmeier IP Law Firm offer first-class expertise in the fields of trademark, design and copyright law, as well as licensing and IP-related unfair competition law.

The range of the firm’s activities reaches from prosecution, appeals, and revocation/nullity proceedings to litigation before the German Patent and Trademark Office (GPTO), the Community Trademark and Design Office (OHIM), the European Patent Office (EPO), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the European General Court (GC), the European Court of Justice (ECJ) and all German courts.

The firm represents large and medium-sized corporations, as well as individuals based in Europe, the Americas and Asia. It has thus developed an international network of associates with whom it cooperates on a worldwide basis in the field of IP prosecution and litigation. Strategic thinking, planning and protecting IP rights beyond country borders are of major importance in this globalized world and are the basis of its clients’ success.

The firm takes pride in planning, creating, maintaining and reviewing its clients’ IP portfolio. And, if IP rights are ever violated or challenged, the client has with LexDellmeier a coordinated team of experts that can handle complex litigation to defend and enforce a company’s valuable IP rights.

Knowledge - Power - Success - LexDellmeier believes that knowledge is power – the basis of its clients’ success.

Areas of Expertise: Trademarks; Designs; Copyrights; Domain Names; Licensing; Anti-Piracy & Counterfeiting Strategies; IP Prosecution & Litigation.

Alexandra Dellmeier is an Attorney at Law, Certified IP Attorney and Managing Partner at LexDellmeier who also worked and lived in the United States for a total of six years. Alexandra is specialized in the fields of licensing, trademark, design, competition and copyright law and has over 18 years of experience in the field of IP. Prior to founding LexDellmeier in May 2009, Alexandra was a partner at a renown patent and law firm in Germany. Before that she headed as VP and in-house counsel the art licensing sector of the legal department of MM Merchandising Munich GmbH / ArtMerchandising & Media AG, a well-known and one of the largest merchandising and licensing agencies in Germany. Alexandra now manages at LexDellmeier major trademark, design and copyright portfolios from a wide variety of industries, including media, merchandising, film, automobile, pharmaceutical, clothing, food, e-commerce, computer hardware and software. Besides counselling clients in identifying, clearing, evaluating and protecting IP portfolios she is responsible for the legal and strategic planning of their licensing activities throughout Europe.

Memberships: INTA (International Trademark Association): Member of the Bulletin Committee; LES (Licensing Executive Society); AIPPI/GRUR (International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property); ABA (American Bar Association); Munich Bar Association.

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EDITORS’ CHOICE - INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN GERMANY Maiwald Dr. Martin Huenges, LL.M. Partner Tel: +49 (0)89 747 266 0 info@maiwald.eu www.maiwald.eu Maiwald is a professional association of intellectual property attorneys with extensive experience in securing and defending the intellectual property rights of its clients.

Established in 1995, our firm was the first German patent attorneys’ office to be incorporated as a “GmbH” (limited liability company under German law) and is a continuation of the former Maiwald & Partner, founded in 1993. Since 2006, the journal Managing Intellectual Property has rated us in its worldwide ranking as one of the ten leading German IP firms. In terms of size, we rank among the top five IP firms in Germany.

Maiwald has approximately 200 staff members, including more than 70 attorneys, associates and trainees. We currently have offices in Munich, Düsseldorf and Zurich, and we plan to establish further offices in other European cities.

We advise and represent major domestic and international clients, covering all technical fields and all aspects of national and international law relating to intellectual property, including patents, utility models, trademarks and design, intellectual property-related copyright, design and copyright law, R+D and

license agreements, distribution agreements, pharmaceutical law, unfair competition law, employee inventor law, computer and software law, internet law, business and commercial law.

A major portion of our work relates to patent prosecution and litigation, in particular before the European Patent Office (EPO).

We have successfully represented clients up to and including the EPO’s Enlarged Board of Appeal.

Another focus of our firm is the representation of our clients in national and international patent litigation procedures and in organizing such procedures. Our expertise is global. We have won cases for our clients before the German Federal Supreme Court and the Court of Justice of the European Union; we have also successfully organized the defense of our clients’ IP interests abroad. Moreover, national and international arbitration and licensing cases are well within our core purview.

Through our own team of attorneys-at-law, we offer comprehensive legal service to our clients. Furthermore, when it is in the best interest of our client, we engage selected general law firms to augment our litigation.

INDIVIDUAL - ART LAWYER OF THE YEAR IN GERMANY Heribert Reiners Heribert Reiners Senior Partner Tel: +49 (0) 221 2588340 reiners@rb-anwalt.com www.rb-anwalt.com Heribert Reiners began his career in the law department of the Rheinischer Sparkassenverband [Rhineland Savings Banks Association], where he was active as a lawyer whose main area was banking law and business law. Subsequently, he was appointed Managing Director of the renowned auctioneer Kunsthaus Lempertz in Cologne.

Today he continues to work at the point of intersection between the worlds of art and finance.

Parallel to his activities protecting investors and consumers, he works intensively with all legal matters relating to fine art and copyright laws. He represents both artists and collectors as well as galleries and auction houses.

Focus of his activities are falsifications, restitutions as well as estate planning of important collections in consideration of possible fiscal structures.

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HERIBERT REINERS Attorney at law Reiners was playing a major role as a legal representative of victims in one of the biggest art scandals after 1945, in which faked paintings have been extensively created and sold (Beltracchi). An emphasis activity remains the question about the duty of care by sellers and collectors.

In case of restitutions the charge relationship between the aggrieved party and the collector requires special attention and needs to be mastered, as the collector acquired or inherited the artwork most of the times in good faith and the work belongs to him for decades.

Finally, he is chairman of the board at Weng Fine Art AG, one of the Leasing German Art companies.

His activities as a lawyer are completed by work in the fields of corporation law, corporate estate planning as well as bank law.

PEER CHOICE - EMPLOYMENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN GERMANY Kliemt & Vollstädt

RA Prof. Michael Kliemt Attorney/ Certified Employment Law Specialist Tel: +49 (0) 211 88288-115 michael.kliemt@kliemt.de www.kliemt.de

Kliemt & Vollstädt is one of Germany’s leading employment law boutiques. The firm’s main office is in Düsseldorf. There are other offices in Berlin and Frankfurt am Main.

With its large team of attorneys, all of whom work exclusively in employment law, Kliemt & Vollstädt provides legal advice throughout Germany.

The firm’s clients are companies in all sectors, above all in the metal industry and the chemical industry, in trade, IT and the media, and also banks and insurance companies, non-profit organisations, ministries and public authorities. The firm’s clients also include boards of directors, managing directors and professional sportspersons.

Kliemt & Vollstädt guarantees that first-class advisers are available at all times and that clients receive ongoing personal service.

Kliemt & Vollstädt is a member of Ius Laboris, a global alliance of leading law firms specialising in employment law. Ius Laboris has over 2,500 attorneys in 44 member law firms and approximately 60 associated law firms, enabling it to offer global employment-law and labour-law services in almost 100 countries.

Prof. Michael Kliemt, Attorney/Certified Employment Law Specialist, was a partner in the international commercial law firm Clifford Chance in Düsseldorf until 2002, where he was the head of the employment law

department. Before that he was a partner in Wessing (now Taylor Wessing), and also in charge of employment law. He worked as an academic researcher in the departments of two famous employment law scholars, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. P.Hanau Köln and Prof. Dr. U.Preis.

Prof. Kliemt advises German and international companies throughout Germany on all questions of employment law. His areas of specialisation include acting as an employment law consultant during corporate acquisitions and restructuring (including negotiations on redundancy schemes, proceeding before conciliation bodies (Einigungsstellen), collective agreement negotiations, spin-offs, due diligence) right through until post-merger integration.

He also specialises in occupational pension plans, including the harmonisation of pension schemes, conducting test cases and the spin-off of pension liabilities for corporate accounting purposes.

Prof. Kliemt is an expert on the legal problems of internet use at work and on questions of antidiscrimination and equal treatment. He is a well-known speaker and the author of a large number of specialist publications. For many years he has lectured on employment law at the Universität des Saarlandes.

Prof. Kliemt speaks German and English. He is a member of: German Employment Courts Association; German-Japanese Employment Law Association e.V. DAV Certified Employment Law Specialists Working Group.

Prof. Kliemt advises German and international companies throughout Germany on all questions of employment law.

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BANKING & FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN GREECE / PRIVATISATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN GREECE / COMPETITION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN GREECE KLC Law Firm

Panagiotis Tzioumas Partner Tel: +(30) 210 7264500 pangiotis_tzioumas@klclawfirm.com www.klclawfirm.com Vassilis S. Karagiannis Partner

Thomas Lamnidis Partner

Tel: +(30) 210 7264500 vassilis_karagiannis@klclawfirm.com www.klclawfirm.com

Tel: +(30) 210 7264500 thomas_lamnidis@klclawfirm.com www.klclawfirm.com

KLC Law Firm is one of the largest law firms in Greece, with significant international exposure having provided services in over 33 countries to private clients and international organisations. KLC excels in the provision of high quality legal support and original solutions on complex legal issues, by applying “out-of-the-box” thinking and methods.

KLC has a profound practice in the field of Banking and Finance Law as it has acted for leading financial institutions under their capacity as issuers, underwriters and arrangers in international and domestic loan transactions; equally, KLC has represented corporate investors and borrowers in relation to their financing and / or refinancing. KLC has also been entrusted by institutional players in this field, including the European Investment Bank (implementation of EU JESSICA financial instrument in Greece during the last 5 years) and the Bank of Greece (elaboration of statutory arrangements for the non-performing exposures of Greek banking sector).

Dr. Panagiotis Tzioumas (UCL - LLM in Banking and Finance Law/ University of Athens – PhD in Public Banking Law) has advised and acted for the local central bank, international financial institutions, international banking groups and multinationals in respect of several transactional, regulatory and contentious matters, and has obtained extensive experience and expertise in the field of banking and finance law.

In the field of European and Competition Law, KLC acts as legal advisor to public bodies and independent authorities, private sector investors and operators involving complex issues of Competition

and State Aid Law, and represents its clients before the Court of the European Union and the General Court, the European Commission, the Greek courts and the Hellenic Competition Commission or the national regulatory authorities.

Dr. Vassilis Karagiannis is an international lawyer with more than 20 years’ professional experience. He has extensive experience as lawyer especially before administrative courts (Court of Appeals and Council of the State) in important cases of cartels and abuse of dominance. From 2010 onwards he joined KLC Law Firm and heads the EU & Competition Law Department of the firm.

KLC has been involved in all types of Privatizations (share deals in listed and non-listed companies, asset deals, PPPs, concessions and strategic investor schemes) in Greece, Romania, Moldova, Georgia, Kazakhstan, USA, UK, Armenia, Belgium, Uzbekistan, Serbia, Slovenia, Cyprus, Italy, South Africa and Bulgaria. The Consignment Deposits and Loans Fund has appointed KLC as the Legal Advisor for the privatization of Public Power Corporation S.A. (PPC), Astir Pallas, the Gas Transmission Operator (DESFA), ADMIE, KazMorTransFlot and a major consortium for oil exploitation rights in Greek territorial waters.

Mr Thomas Lamnidis is an international lawyer with more than 30 years’ international professional experience in privatizations, oil gas and transport sectors, investments and project finance working with IFIs, International Organisations (EIB, EBRD, World Bank, IFC, EC), States, States Organizations and private clients.

IP LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN GREECE Dr. Helen G. Papaconstantinou, Managing Partner Eva Yazitzoglou, Partner Miranda Theodoridou, Partner Maria Athanassiadou, Partner Fotini Kardiopoulis, Partner

DR. HELEN G. PAPACONSTANTINOU AND PARTNERS

Tel: +30 210 3626624 mail@hplaw.biz www.hplawfirm.com In October 2015, the Law Offices Dr PD Theodorides-Dr H G Papaconsantinou (est 1920) and the company Dr Helen G Papaconstantinou, John V Filias and Associates joined forces to establish Dr Helen G Papaconstantinou and Partners, law firm.

With 14 specialized IP attorneys, three of whom are European patent attorneys, Dr Helen G Papaconstantinou and Partners is one of the largest IP law firms in Greece and broadly recognized as the leading in the country.

Our law firm has an international reputation for high quality expert services by providing sophisticated legal and business solutions in the IP field and aptly combine our firm’s international orientation with an in depth knowledge of the Greek business and legal environment.

What sets us apart is our extensive experience and expertise in the IP sector and our commitment to problem solving and achieving results.

Managing partner of the law firm is Dr Helen G Papaconstantinou and the other four partners are Eva Yazitzoglou, Miranda Theodoridou, Fotini Kardiopoulis and Maria Athanassiadou.

In addition to striving for professional excellence, our lawyers and staff have a strong commitment to professional integrity and business ethics. Moreover, our law firm has been certified according to the International Organization for Standardization.

The law firm’s expertise spans all aspects of IP and related legal services (consultancy, administrative and judicial support), particularly with respect to: • National / EU trademarks / international trademarks • National / European patents / PCTs / EP validations / utility models / SPCs / plant variety rights • National / community / international Designs

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• • • • • • •

Geographical indications and designations of origin Copyright / protection of artistic works Exploitation of IP rights / licensing, franchising Due diligence searches and related consultancy / monitoring Litigation involving all aspects of IP Law IP consultancy Anti-Piracy / anti-counterfeiting / customs monitoring / border measures • Trade secrets • Domain Names, alternative dispute resolution (ADR) / mediation • Internet Law / electronic forms of payment, online contracts and services • Competition, advertising and consumer protection law Our law firm’s client base covers a broad spectrum, including businesses in all industries and sectors. Its clients range from large international companies and market leaders to small local businesses, represented either directly by the firm or, indirectly, through trademark and patent agents/practices all over the world.

Several of our attorneys are active members of various international associations, such as AIPPI, FICPI, ECTA, EPI, INTA, ITMA, GRUR and the UK Society of Legal Scholars.

We are consistently ranked among the top IP law firms in Greece by international legal directories and associations, indicatively mentioning: Legal 500, WTR1000 The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals, IAM Patent 1000, Managing International Property and others and have received various awards in the IP field.

INDIVIDUAL - MARITIME LAWYER OF THE YEAR IN IRELAND Dillon Eustace Paul Gill

Lorcan Tiernan

David Kavanagh

John O’Riordan

Currently President of the Irish Maritime Law Association, and a founding partner of Dillon Eustace, Paul established the firm’s Maritime group in 1992.

Paul acts mainly for ship-owners and insurance interests against commercial threats and class actions, and his particular speciality is the law relating to arrests, judicial sales, wrongful arrests, and salvage and tug law. He also has a noted expertise on riparian rights.

He commented: “I think it’s fair to say that Dillon Eustace has the largest and most encompassing maritime group in the country.

At the head of it are four partners and their respective assistants.

It’s roughly divided into the ‘wet’ and the ‘dry’ areas, with David Kavanagh, John O’Riordan and myself concentrating on the former.

“Lorcan Tiernan, the head of our corporate department, is an acknowledged expert on ship sales and finance, regulatory strictures and all ‘dry’ issues. His other areas of practice are corporate, M&A, insolvency, corporate recovery and financial services, all of which play an ever-increasing role in shipping matters.

Tel: +353 1 6731865 Mob: +353 87 2588986 paul.gill@dilloneustace.ie www.dilloneustace.ie

“The busiest of the ‘heavy lifters’ in the ‘wet’ group are our partners, David Kavanagh and John O’Riordan. As well as their expertise in maritime and admiralty matters, they both have a particular speciality in logistics and transport law.

“David has been a partner in the litigation department since 2011 and extensively represents the interests of P&I clubs in particular.

He also advises frequently on charter-party disputes. He has both chaired and spoken at Comité Maritime International events, and is treasurer of the Irish Maritime Law Association. Like John O’Riordan, he is also admitted to practice in England and Wales.

“John also joined the partnership in 2011. He has an extensive maritime practice, and moreover is published regularly in local and international publications. His practice mainly focuses on commercial litigation on behalf of insurers, hauliers, freight forwarders and shipping companies.

“Altogether, and in the relatively short period of nearly a quarter of a century, Dillon Eustace has built up a formidable reputation for excellence in its maritime practice, both locally and internationally.”

ICT SECURITY AND INTERNET & E-COMMERCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN ITALY STUDIO LEGALE FABIANO Nicola Fabiano Partner Tel: +39.06.92918591 info@studiolegalefabiano.eu www.studiolegalefabiano.eu Studio Legale Fabiano was founded in 1994 by Nicola Fabiano, who has been a Lawyer since 1993. Mr Fabiano is a Counsel of Italian High Courts and a Civil Law Specialist.

The Firm provides advice and assistance on an ongoing basis, also through specialist teams, at all stages of the business lifecycle. Our services include full support in the following areas: data protection and privacy, ICT security, Internet and e-commerce law, civil law and banking law.

Mr Fabiano is a frequent speaker on a variety of topics including privacy and e-privacy, e-signatures, registered electronic mail, Internet of Things, and other ICT law issues. Mr Fabiano is also an author, and publishes articles as well as essays and books.

Studio Legale Fabiano pays attention especially to the digital innovation and to all the phenomena related to. Our legal knowledge and information technologies (IT) expertise enable us to work combining both – and so represent our main strengths and the added value inherent therein.

Moreover, Mr Fabiano is ICT Security Manager certified UNI 11506:2013, enabling him to work in the security field to supervise and prevent legal issues related to the data protection law. In 2010, Nicola Fabiano was recognised as a Privacy by Design (PbD) Ambassador by the Information & Privacy Commissioner of

Ontario, Dr Ann Cavoukian; he was also mentioned in the official report on Privacy by Design, presented at the 33rd International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners.

For many years, Studio Legale Fabiano has worked within the fields of Civil Law, Data protection, ICT Security, New Technologies and Digital Innovation, in term of compliance with law. We provide targeted support and advice to our clients (companies, organisations, natural person, public bodies), and some recent successes in our working areas improved the Law Firm position. Many of our clients do not wish to enter into lengthy controversies; however, if it is impossible to arrive at agreements, we are highly successful in litigation.

We plan to implement the digital systems used by our Law Firm so as to provide worldwide services to our clients through the Internet using more and more innovative solutions and platforms – taking advantage of digital innovations. Our slogan is: “Work digitally, work fine.”

Studio Legale Fabiano is often involved at European and international levels, and our expertise becomes a notable advantage thanks to our competence – combining IT knowledge and legal capabilities.

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SPECIALIST - BUSINESS CRIME LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN ITALY CAGNOLA & ASSOCIATI STUDIO LEGALE

CAGNOLA & ASSOCIATI STUDIO LEGALE

FABIO CAGNOLA Senior Partner Tel: +39 3483600884 fc@cagnolaeassociati.it www.cagnolaeassociati.it

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In the course of these years he has provided legal assistance to many major multi-national companies throughout the Italian territory and he has been acting in the most prominent criminal cases in the white-collar crimes area. He represents both individuals and corporations in criminal trials before Italian Courts.

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Fabio Cagnola has been practising for more than 30 years in the field of the whitecollar crimes.

ANNUAL AWARDS WINNER

COMMERCIAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN MALTA Mamo TCV Advocates Prof Andrew Muscat Managing Partner Tel: (+356) 21232271 / (+356) 21231345 andrew.muscat@mamotcv.com www. mamotcv.com Mamo TCV Advocates is one of the largest leading legal practices in Malta.

Malta is fast becoming the “jurisdiction of choice” for many international players and our aim is to continue to provide the highest quality of legal services and support to our local and international client base by building specialist industry knowledge to help our clients achieve their goals.

With the expansion of the firm’s international-related work and with the gain in its reputation throughout the local and international legal community, the firm has strengthened its major departments with the recruitment of a number of senior associates with specialisations in relative areas of practice. In fact, today, the firm’s team has grown rapidly and presently exceeds seventy members between lawyers, paralegal and support staff.

We are regularly retained by a number of clients, including private and institutional investors, financial institutions, governments and public authorities, on a wide range of matters with special focus on company law issues, mergers and takeovers, investment services, aviation and shipping, intellectual property, employment, expatriates and permanent residence, banking and finance, insurance, structuring and setting up of funds, intellectual property, syndicated loans and refinancing facilities, immigration matters, cross-border transactions, litigation and general commercial matters. The firm is also the preferred correspondent in Malta for various leading international law firms based in Europe, particularly those operating out of the UK.

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Our in-house commercial law team has extensive experience of advising on domestic and international transactions. In fact, along the years, we have worked closely with the local and international business community on a wide range of corporate deals or standalone transactions. The tasks would include contract drafting and negotiations with respect to provision of services, lease of immovable property, distribution, franchise or agency appointments, technology licensing, joint ventures and partnerships, conveyancing of property, shareholder arrangements, and sale/purchase of business assets. The diversity of the work ranges across all types of industries and sectors. The team is geared to provide timely and detailed advice to our clients and works in synergy with the other in-house units when it comes across legal issues such as employment, corporate, litigation, data protection and intellectual property, which would be related or ancillary to the transaction in question.

Going forward, an analysis of the 2015 key economic indicators would reveal that Malta appears to be well poised for the challenges which 2016 and beyond will surely bring forward.

The motto “the culture of getting things done” has definitely become synonymous with Malta and despite the modest global economic growth forecast for 2016, we remain confident that our firm can continue to seek new opportunities both on a local and international level with a view to attaining a steady growth and retain a competitive edge.

TAX LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN ITALY Studio Signori

Tel: +3906328521 / +390258316918 www.studiosignori.com

Saverio Signori Dottore Commercialista

Massimiliano Russo Avvocato LL.M Ph.D

saverio.signori@studiosignori.com

massimiliano.russo@studiosignori.com

Saverio Signori was born in 1961, in Rome (Italy). He is involved in corporate, financing and tax advisory. In particular, he focuses on civil and tax law transactions, drafting and elaboration of ordinary and extraordinary financial statements, management of business reorganizations and restructurings of target companies consisting of acquisitions, mergers and severances.

He has substantial expertise in firm financing and is involved in the leading Italian and international capital markets transactions. He focused on advising clients on corporate transactions concerning favorable fundings even for export credits.

He was a member of the Working Team set up by the Ministry of Productive Activities for the Reform of regulations on extraordinary administration of the big companies in crisis.

In 1986 he founded the Studio Signori Company of Chartered Accountants with the head office in Rome and a secondary office in Milan.

He has acted as liquidator of several extraordinary administration procedures, and has served as President or member of the board of statutory auditors for several firms.

Education Chartered Accountant and Auditor Company Economics Sessional Lecturer at the LUISS University of Rome Economics and Commerce Degree, LUISS University of Rome Admissions Register of Chartered Accountants (1987) Register of Accounting Auditors (1995) Main Practice Areas Real Estate, Banking, Corporate and Financial Advisory, Leasing, Mergers and Acquisitions, Private Equity

Massimiliano Russo was born in 1973, in Palermo (Italy).

During 1999-2001, he acted as tax advisor with the tax practice group of Studio Trivoli (Rome). In 2001, he joined the International Tax Services group at Ernst & Young Rome; then, in 2003, he joined the E&Y offices of Amsterdam. In 2004, he joined for three years the Tax department of Bonelli Erede Pappalardo as a senior tax advisor. Since September 2007 he has worked with Studio Signori as the head of the tax department and Partner.

Massimiliano is also specialized in M&A, International Tax transactions and Debt Restructuring. Thanks to experiences gained working in London with Hornby Ackroid & Levy, in NY with GEM, in Italy with Bonelli Erede Pappalardo and in Central America with PSEP Group, he drafts and negotiates from the set-up of companies to JV agreements, Shareholders Agreements, SPA, Franchise Agreements, License agreements, EPC and O&M agreements.

He is also Chief Legal Officer at PSEP SA and Greenrail Srl – both companies working in renewable energies.

Massimiliano is an author of articles on both Italian and international tax matters for Italian and international tax reviews and Chapter, in books adopted in universities for Tax Law. He is also a lecturer at the Rome 3 University, LUISS Rome University, Palermo University and IPSOA for Masters in Tax Law. Education Ph.d in Public and European Tax Law, Bergamo University 2010 Visiting Scholar at New York University, 2010 Adv LLM in International Tax Law, Leiden University, 2004 Post-graduate Degree in Tax Law, Palermo Tax consulting Firm, 1999 Law degree, Law School of the University of Palermo, 1998 Main Practice Areas International and Domestic Taxation, Business Law, Banking, Real Estate and Renewable Energy

Tax Advisory • From the structuring to the day-to-day assistance for all corporate and individual clients on both domestic and international aspects • Advice on international tax issues, including international tax planning for multinational groups and, in general, advice on various tax matters of corporate clients • Tax treatment of M&A transactions, including domestic and cross-border reorganizations (mergers, divisions, contribution of assets in exchange for shares etc.)

• Tax treatment of real estate deals, including the formation and contribution of assets to Italian real estate funds («fondi immobiliari») • Advice related to banking transactions, including international financings. In this respect, advice offered regarding tax aspects of these transactions, i.e. both for income taxes (withholding tax, interest deduction for the borrower etc.) as well ad indirect taxation (potential application of substitute tax on loans, registration tax stamp duty etc.)

• Tax advice on financial and capital markets transactions, including deals of structured finance (such as securitizations of receivables and real assets) • Tax litigations, regarding all areas of taxation, Settlement with Tax Authorities in Pre bankruptcy procedures • Tax due diligence We have a 100% scoring in Tax Settlement within Pre Bankruptcy procedures and our firm is often selected by other Law Firms to assist their clients in the settlement with Tax Authorities.

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CORPORATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN MALTA Mamo TCV Advocates Prof Andrew Muscat Managing Partner Tel: (+356) 21232271 / (+356) 21231345 andrew.muscat@mamotcv.com www. mamotcv.com Mamo TCV Advocates is one of the largest leading legal practices in Malta.

Malta is fast becoming the “jurisdiction of choice” for many international players and our aim is to continue to provide the highest quality of legal services and support to our local and international client base by building specialist industry knowledge to help our clients achieve their goals.

We offer an impressive depth and breadth of expertise which enables us to handle an extensive range of legal matters, and provide, in essence, a ‘one-stop’ service to our local and international portfolio of clients. The firm’s team has grown rapidly and presently exceeds seventy members between lawyers, paralegal and support staff. The firm’s proven track record of success underlines its primary ambition to do its utmost to protect clients’ interests. We are also the preferred correspondent in Malta for various leading international law firms based in Europe, particularly those operating out of the UK. We are constantly engaged, both on a domestic and international level, in a broad range of legal areas with special focus on corporate law. Our in-house corporate team has extensive

experience of advising on domestic and international transactions. In fact, along the years, we have been retained by a number of clients, including private and institutional investors, financial institutions, governments and public authorities, on a wide range of matters such as mergers and acquisitions; re-domiciliations; company formation; corporate governance; shareholder disputes; issues of debt and equity; IPO and secondary offers; corporate restructuring, division and liquidations and related cross-border transactions.

In providing a complete and detailed advice to our clients, the corporate team also works in synergy with the other in-house units when it comes across legal issues such as employment, litigation and intellectual property, which would be related or ancillary to the transaction in question.

Going forward, an analysis of the 2015 key economic indicators would reveal that Malta appears to be well poised for the challenges which 2016 and beyond will surely bring forward. The motto “the culture of getting things done” has definitely become synonymous with Malta and despite the modest global economic growth forecasted for 2016, we remain confident that our firm can continue to seek new opportunities both on a local and international level with a view to attaining a steady growth and retain a competitive edge.

CORPORATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN THE NETHERLANDS / LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN THE NETHERLANDS Vink & Partners Legal and Tax Edith Nordmann Partner/Attorney-At-Law Tel: +31 654 730 270 (direct number) / +31 20 573 21 21 (secretary) enordmann@vinkenpartners.nl www.vinkenpartners.nl Vink & Partners is a small Dutch law firm with international expertise and focus. We combine all the advantages of a small firm, such as direct and personal contact, swift decision-making and thorough risk-checking, with the profound knowledge of the big firms. We deliver high quality legal service without slowing down your daily business routine – efficient, accurate, creative and cost-effective. Our team of specialized lawyers and tax-lawyers, specialized in Corporate Law, International Private Law, Corporate Litigation, Employment Law and Tax Law, is trained and skilled in multidisciplinary problem-solving.

The Partners of Vink & Partners are experienced members of national and international Supervisory Boards, and therefore know what it takes to run a business successfully. This background and know-how is used to achieve a comprehensive and practical solution.

Contrary to most law firms, Vink & Partners delivers a meticulous and tailored approach without sacrificing the expedition of the legal work. In no way should obtaining the correct legal solution slow down your business – we discuss priorities and necessities with our clients, and adapt speed and implementation to their wishes and obligations. We have also reconsidered the traditional way of charging clients. Our bills are never a surprise – we discuss budgets and expectations upfront.

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Our Partner – Corporate Law/Litigation, Mrs. Edith Nordmann, is a seasoned corporate and commercial litigator with expertise at the Dutch Enterprise Chamber, a highly specialized court for corporate matters. Her clients in this area range from multinational corporations, privately held companies, to small- and medium-scale businesses.

Over the years, Edith has developed an exemplary knowledge of business law, and is consistently following and analysing current trends as well as legislative and regulatory developments. She is familiar with corporate and business law in other jurisdictions where her clients have operations or are looking to invest. When working with an international clientele, it is crucial to remain up to date; to this end, Edith recently completed a diploma from Wharton Business School. She is fluent in German (native speaker and head of the German desk for 15 years), English, Dutch, French and Italian, which not only allows her to communicate with many of her international clients in their mother tongue, but also to understand the difference in mentality, culture and legal systems. This can be vitally important in negotiations.

Edith Nordmann is ambitious, thrives on challenges and relentlessly pursues her clients’ goals, while remaining mindful of their reputations and the risks. She considers herself very lucky to have maintained fruitful, long-term relationships with such a diverse and international clientele. Edith is always open to offer initial analyses on how she could assist with your current situation.

CLIENT CHOICE - FOREIGN INVESTMENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN POLAND Rödl & Partner Aneta Majchrowicz-Bączyk Attorney at Law (PL), Partner Tel: +48 61 86 44 900 aneta.majchrowicz-baczyk@roedl.pro www.roedl.pl Rödl & Partner is an international provider of integrated professional services in the area of audit, legal, tax, financial accounting, payroll and business consulting.

Rödl & Partner worldwide consists of 106 locations in 49 countries, and the company is in the process of constant growth and development. Our expertise goes where our clients need us. We support them wherever they decide to run their business.

The expertise of Rödl & Partner comes from the long and diverse experience of the interdisciplinary consulting (audit, BPO, legal, tax) for businesses, that is always aimed at their international expansion and development.

Instead of setting up a chain or working on a franchising basis, we rely on an integrated, professional and international co-operation within the close group of employees. In this way Partner & Rödl offers a full range of consultancy services (one-stop shop) for businesses operating worldwide. Our experts located in Poland specialise not only in international law, but they also work closely with Rödl & Partner’s legal experts around the world, which brings the unique added value for our partners, whatever investment plans they have.

A typical client of Rödl & Partner is an international family-run or family-established company. Traditionally, most of our clients are of German origin, but we also serve a growing number of other international as well as Polish companies. Rödl & Partner is also a member of six bilateral chambers of commerce in Poland.

The greatest strength of the Rödl & Partner comes from the expertise and experience of its specialists, as well as their commitment to each individual case. Though we act internationally and on a large scale, each of our clients and each case are equally important. German standards, which form an integral part of our organisation, define our approach based on quality and integrity. This, combined with the well-qualified and dedicated staff, makes our consulting, audit and accounting services appreciated by international businesses.

With nearly 40 years of worldwide experience and nearly 25 years of advisory experience in Poland Rödl & Partner knows inside out the specific requirements and opportunities of the local market.

International enterprises starting their business in Poland get comprehensive support, ranging from choosing the best location (for example in a Special Economic Zone) and the best legal and tax form for their investment, to the help in all formal aspects of establishing a new entity, necessary court and official registrations, as well as developing internal corporate governance.

At later stages, we support the clients in their day-to-day business affairs such as negotiations with partners, signing contracts, purchasing real properties, restructuring projects (M&A) and any other undertakings that entail consequences in various legal and tax areas. In all this, our attorneys work closely with teams of tax advisers. All of the Rödl & Partner services can be delivered in Polish, English and German.

INTERNATIONAL TAX PLANNING LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN POLAND Skarbiec Law Firm Robert Nogacki Owner Tel: +48225864000 sekretariat@kancelaria-skarbiec.pl www.kancelaria-skarbiec.pl Skarbiec Law Firm is the largest Polish law firm that provides unique services hitherto unmatched by any others on the Polish market. As the first law firm in Poland, it provides its clients with comprehensive assistance that goes beyond the traditional understanding of legal, tax and financial advisory.

Skarbiec provides comprehensive services holding structures, including but not limited to the following: asset management; transaction advisory services; tax consultancy; private banking abroad; protection of assets from creditors; succession planning.

The core business of Skarbiec Law Firm is widely understood legal and financial advisory, covering areas such as: • international tax planning; • protection of assets from future creditors; • precedent-setting court disputes; • comprehensive representation before tax authorities and administrative courts; • crisis – bankruptcy, death, divorce, unlawful criminal allegations.

Skarbiec Law Firm assists in the management of almost 1000 companies, foundations and trusts as well as other corporate vehicles in more than 50 countries and territories. The total value of assets of these enterprises amounts to over PLN 2.5 billion and is still growing.

The biggest advantage of Skarbiec is the complexity and complementarity, and a lack of territorial and competence limitations while handling individual cases. The uniqueness of the

Law Firm lies in fact that there are created innovative legal, tax and financial structures, which are necessary to achieve business objectives and efficient operational management.

Legal advisor Robert Nogacki, owner of Skarbiec Law Firm, has received the title of the Overseas Agent of the Government of Anguilla – British Overseas Territory. This enables him – as the only person in Eastern Europe – to register and enter companies directly into the commercial register of Anguilla.

Mr Nogacki noted: “In the near future, we plan to expand the portfolio of our customers and increase market share through the launch of the branch in Malta. Our current clients are primarily wealthy individuals who are looking for solutions that will protect the private property against claims related to their business activity, or who think about the long-term plan for the future of their families through such solutions as a private foundation or a change of tax domicile.

“A recent success story involved the coordination of a team of lawyers in creation of an international holding structure. The individual entities were located in 20 different jurisdictions. Areas of advice involved: the interpretation of pharmaceutical law on supported markets, analysis of consumer rights and interests of the seller in the context of the regulations on online marketing, and securing the concluded transaction. Skarbiec Group has also prepared a complete documentation for legal transactions and documentation of corporate companies.

The value of the transaction: 17,000,000 EUR.”

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THE AMERICAS WINNERS

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Strong fundamentals and healthy growth in the US economy support a case for investor optimism and opportunism, according to BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research. However, in the lower-return, higher-volatility environment projected ahead, selective allocation and defensive portfolio moves will be crucial for performance.

At the annual BofA Merrill Lynch Year Ahead Outlook news conferences in New York and London, analysts from the Institutional Investor magazine top-ranked global research firm summarised their outlook for the US and global economies as cautiously optimistic.

“While our key measures suggest that the bull market in equities can continue, the sentiment is far from euphoric,” said Candace Browning, head of BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research. “The world appears to be underallocated to stocks, and we believe we are still only a third of the way into the Great Rotation from bonds. In the US, we are maintaining our long-term sector weightings with no changes from 2014, as many of the macroeconomic expectations last year have been delayed. In the current environment, now is the time for investors to be highly selective and make tactical moves to position portfolios for more thematic investing in a transforming world.”

Robust US economic growth continues to outpace the rest of the world, boding well for US employment, wages and housing in 2015’s final figures. Core inflation is expected to remain steady, and confidence is high, oil prices are low, the dollar is strong and Washington is relatively calm. As stocks near fair value, sentiment among the research team shifts from extremely bullish to slightly bullish.

Against this backdrop is moderately accelerating global growth, offset by the very real threat of deflation outside the US, particularly in Europe.

Economic growth in Latin America and the Caribbean has slowed more than anticipated, as weak growth in South America has outweighed an incipient recovery in Mexico, according to an IMF forecast for the region.

According to the IMF report, Regional Economic Outlook Update for the Western Hemisphere, the weakening of key commodity prices has created a general sense of leaner times and caused the private sector to curb its spending. Domestic policy uncertainties have further depressed confidence in several countries.

“A sharper slowdown in China remains a key risk for commodity exporters in Latin America and the Caribbean,” said Alejandro Werner, director of the IMF’s Western Hemisphere Department.

The outlook for Latin America could also be undermined by renewed financial volatility, including a faster-than-expected rise in US interest rates.

Economic activity in the financially integrated economies – Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay – is expected to pick up modestly. Brazil’s economy suffered a further sharp slowdown, entering a “technical recession” in early 2014. Economic conditions also dimmed markedly in Chile and Peru, where investment and durable consumption led the slowdown.

Growth in the other commodity exporters will continue to diverge. Argentina and Venezuela are projected to be in recession both this year and next, whereas Bolivia, Ecuador, and Paraguay are expected to maintain fairly strong growth of 4–5%.

In Central America, growth is projected to remain steady at around 3%.

Growth in the Caribbean has continued to disappoint, amid high external, fiscal and financial vulnerabilities in many countries. The tourism-dependent economies are expected to expand by only 1.7%.

Facing lower prices for oil and other commodities, challenging domestic business climates and widespread droughts, growth in Latin America and the Caribbean slowed to 0.9% in 2014. South America, deeply affected by the oil price decline, was also impacted by domestic macroeconomic challenges among its largest economies.

In contrast, developing Central and North America, along with the Caribbean, benefited from the strengthening US, and saw an acceleration of activity. The ongoing recovery among advanced countries is expected to support external demand in the medium-term.

As of 2016, the US is in its seventh consecutive year of expansion. The unemployment rate has fallen to 4.9% and household net worth is close to pre-crisis peaks. Still, the economy has gone through a temporary growth dip in the last two quarters. Lower oil prices led to a further contraction in energy sector investment and a strong dollar and weak global demand have weighed on net exports. On the upside, the housing market is growing, and the current fiscal and monetary policy mix is supporting the economy, according to the latest IMF review.

As of 2016, the US is in its seventh consecutive year of expansion.

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THE AMERICAS CONTENTS Estudio de Diego & Asociados / Labor Law Firm of the Year in Argentina .............................................................. 25.

Grupo Assist / Client Choice - Business Law Firm of the Year in Brazil ................................................................... 26.

Viseu Advogados / Client Choice - Franchise Law Firm of the Year in Brazil / Consumer Law Firm of the Year in Brazil ................................................................................................................. 26.

Chiarottino e Nicoletti Advogados / Corporate Recovery Law Firm of the Year in Brazil ........................................ 27.

Ferriani e Jamal Sociedade de Advogados / Employment Law Firm of the Year in Brazil ....................................... 27.

SimonetteLewis / Editors’ Choice - Trusts & Estates Law Firm of the Year in the BVI ........................................... 28.

SINGH THIND & ASSOCIATES / Human Rights Law Firm of the Year in Canada .................................................. 28.

BARTLAW / SME - Immigration Law Firm of the Year in Canada ........................................................................... 29.

Collas Crill (Cayman) / Trust & Estate Law Firm of the Year in the Cayman Islands ................................................ 29.

Almeida Guzmán & Asociados / Corporate Law Firm of the Year in Ecuador ......................................................... 30.

De La Gasca & Cia / Litigation Law Firm of the Year in El Salvador ......................................................................... 30.

NH JURIS, S.C. / Data Protection Lawyer of the Year in Mexico ............................................................................ 31.

Rose Law Caribbean / Public Procurement Law Firm of the Year in Trinidad and Tobago ...................................... 31.

Bergman Dacey Goldsmith / Employment Dispute Resolution Law Firm of the Year in California, US .................. 32.

Cobalt LLP / Marketing Promotions Law Firm of the Year in California, US ............................................................ 33.

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THE AMERICAS CONTENTS Mary Alexander & Associates, P.C. / Personal Injury Law Firm of the Year in California, US .................................. 33.

The Yerrid Law Firm / Boutique - Product Liability Litigation Law Firm of the Year in Florida, US .......................... 34.

Fox, Swibel, Levin & Carroll, LLP / Client Choice - Business Transactions Law Firm of the Year in Illinois, US ..... 34.

Kundra & Associates, P.C. / Tax Litigation Law Firm of the Year in Maryland, US .................................................. 35.

Berry Law Firm / Criminal Defense Law Firm of the Year in Nebraska, US ............................................................. 35.

Colucci & Umans / Client Choice - Trademark Law Firm of the Year in New York, US ........................................... 36.

DeCristofaro Law / Commercial Law Firm of the Year in New York, US ................................................................. 36.

Hawkins Delafield & Wood LLP / Public Finance Law Firm of the Year in New York, US ...................................... 37.

Cuddy Law Firm, PLLC / Special Education Law Firm of the Year in New York, US ............................................... 37.

EDMONDS & NOLTE, PC / Domestic IP Litigation Law Firm of the Year in Texas, US ..........................................38.

Braumiller Law Group PLLC / International Trade Law Firm of the Year in Texas, US .............................................38.

Merchant & Gould P.C. / Client Choice - IP Due Diligence Law Firm of the Year in Washington DC, US ............... 39.

Rothwell, Figg, Ernst & Manbeck, P.C. / Editors’ Choice - Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year in Washington DC, US .............................................. 39.

Hollingsworth LLP / Pharmaceutical Products Liability Law Firm of the Year in Washington DC, US / High Stakes Litigation Law Firm of the Year in Washington DC, US ....................................................................... 40.

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LABOR LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN ARGENTINA Estudio de Diego & Asociados

Julián Arturo de Diego Managing Partner Tel: +54-11 4121-1100 dediegoj@dediego.com.ar www.dediego.com.ar

Its founder and managing partner, Mr. Julián Arturo de Diego, attorney, has more than 40 years of experience in the practice of employment and labor law, offering corporations integral labor counsel and advice on the management of Human Resources.

We help our clients understand the effects that their decision-making may have, and find the most favorable alternatives in the context of their business and specific situation.

Our advice is focused on: • Permanent advisory services • Handling of individual and collective disputes, and actions with multiple individuals (strikes and other industrial actions) • Advice on corporate restructuring • Counsel on collective bargaining • Due diligence for labor, social security and payroll tax matters • Review for preventive diagnosis • Control over contractors • Advice on claims and/or union conflicts • Counsel on coverage under collective bargaining agreement • Development, negotiation and preparation of collective bargaining agreements • In-company training courses The Professional Group of De Diego & Asociados includes: • An Interdisciplinary Group of Professionals (attorneys and accountants) dedicated to advisory services on Labor Law, Industrial Relations for Workers and Unions, Collective Disputes, Highly Complex Negotiation, labor integral counsel and advice on Human Resources for the implementation of best practices with a strictly labor legal analysis to minimize risks.

• Counsel on executive compensation (compensation engineering, tax and social security matters, payroll, expatriates, and the like) and the development of control proceedings for contractors’ compliance, revision of preventative diagnosis.

• Advice on Human Resources, a team dedicated to add value for Human Resources best practices in line with the business strategy.

• In-company training for executives on best practices and legal labor tools, union representation conflicts, dispute resolution.

• Executive Training on labor, social security and tax matters, dealing with the most complex issues, latest news, adaptation and implementation in Argentina (labor law) and analysis of the most emblematic rulings in the labor world.

At present the Professional Group of de Diego & Asociados is in a position to offer a sound operation center (with more than 150 members, including professionals and supporting staff) that combines creativity and practical approach, based on reliable, cost-effective and market competitive labor structures

within the framework of the law, and excellent quality counsel for clients according to the highest international standards for service provision.

De Diego & Asociados ranks first in Practical Law’s Employee Share Plans Global Guide 2015. Julián A. de Diego is ranked as leading counsel.

In addition, it has been highly recommended as a leading law firm for Chambers Latin America 2016. Julián de Diego is ranked as leading advisor for labor corporate matters.

De Diego & Asociados Professional Group is made up of a team of professionals with such characteristics as initiative, creativity, applied intelligence, technical knowledge and willingness to work, in addition to the recognized and broad expertise on counsel for labor, payroll tax and social security for first-class companies.

Our product is “reliability”, an essential element of any professional relationship and legal security. This reliability is supported by our capacity to keep an equidistant position between the different points of interest involved in the operation and our independent judgment and criterion.

Our work is done with true vocation for service, with the conviction and responsibility we assume for the performance of the tasks assigned to our Law Firm.

This vision of our service seeks avoidance of the “paralysis” that may be produced by a strictly legal analysis for the matters at issue (deprived of other considerations). Our analysis is nurtured by the philosophy of “good businesspeople”: conducts in line with the objectives proposed, the assessment of risks and an approach of balanced prudence.

The main asset of all the business units of Estudio de Diego & Asociados is the law firm’s sound expertise and the business community’s recognition of its members’ high professionalism and ethical standards in search for sustainable solutions.

Julián de Diego has an extensive teaching activity; he is full professor of Labor and Social Security Law in the graduate and postgraduate programs of the School of Law and Economic Sciences at the Universidad Católica Argentina.

He is also the Director of the postgraduate course on Human Resources Management at the School of Business of Universidad Católica Argentina.

He has written over 3,500 articles in newspapers (La Nación, El Cronista) and specialized journals (La Ley, El Derecho, Jurisprudencia Argentina, Trabajo y Seguridad Social, Human Resources Management).

He is the Director of the Legal Department of La Ley Publishing House, Thomson Reuters.

He has published 23 books, including Manual de Derecho Laboral para Empresas (Errepar. 5 Editions), Tratado del Despido y Otras Formas de Extinción (LA LEY) (3 volume), Tratado de Derecho del Trabajo (LA LEY) (6 volume), Manual de Derecho del Trabajo y la Seguridad Social (LA LEY. 8 Editions).

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CLIENT CHOICE - BUSINESS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN BRAZIL Grupo Assist Milton Carmo de Assis Junior Senior Partner Tel: +55 1932553009 miltonjr@grupoassist.com.br www.grupoassist.com.br The Assist Group is the result of development and integration of offices: Assist Assessoria and Assis Advocacia, and aims to meet the main needs of businesses.

The technical team of Assist Group is formed by highly qualified professionals distributed by area of expertise.

The complexity and depth of activities require capacity in technical analysis, interpretation of materials, legislation, standards, tax authorities, opinions and decisions in the administrative and judicial spheres.

Assist Group is composed by highly qualified consultants distributed by expertise area, composed by professionals graduated in Law, Foreign Trade, Accounting and Engineering. The complexity and depth of activities requires, besides the capacity in technical analysis and materials interpretation and legislation, skills monitoring, research and interpretation of the huge arsenal of specific rules, the tax authorities rules and decisions in the administrative and judicial spheres.

The technical team of Assist Group is formed by highly qualified professionals distributed by area of expertise.

Milton Carmo de Assis Junior Lawyer. Master in Tax Law from the Universidade Católica de São Paulo (PUC – SP). Specialist in Tax Law from the Universidade Católica de São Paulo (PUC – SP). Judge on Judging Chambers of TAX COURT AND CHARGES (TIT) for the biennium 2016/2017. Author of the book: “Tax Classification of Products – NCM / SH: its effects on tax law”. With over 15 years of experience in advocacy and consultancy on tax matters, acting in defense of these interests of taxpayers and to prevent divergences, has been providing relevant services for the solution of litigations involving medium and large companies.

CLIENT CHOICE - FRANCHISE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN BRAZIL / CONSUMER LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN BRAZIL Viseu Advogados Andrea Oricchio Kirsh Partner

Ricardo Martins Motta Partner

Tel: +55 11 3185-0195 aoricchio@viseu.com.br www.viseu.com.br

Tel: +55 11 3185 0122 rmotta@viseu.com.br www.viseu.com.br

Viseu Advogados is an independent full-service law firm specialized in multi-disciplinary deals. Throughout its 22 years of experience, the firm counts with the excellence of more than 180 employees, and offices in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

Counting on a team of professionals with deep experience in the Franchise practice, Viseu Advogados offers solutions for legal, contractual or dispute resolution (arbitration, mediation and judicial cases), relating to intellectual property, consumer relations, import and export, taxes, real estate law, labor law to franchising clients operating in the retail, services, construction, education, food, tourism and luxury goods market industries.

As the leader of the area, Andrea Oricchio Kirsh has 25 years of experience in developing, updating and restructuring contracts for important corporations acting in the franchise, distribution channels and retail segments in Brazil. Bachelor of Laws from the Catholic University of São Paulo (PUC-SP), specializing in Civil and Commercial Law. Specialization in distribution channels and franchising. Andrea is a member of the International Bar Association, of the American Bar Association, of the Centre for International Legal Studies, of the International Franchising Association and of the Brazilian Franchising Association (where she is a member of the Legal Board). Andrea also develops activities as arbitrator and is registered in several mediation and arbitration chambers. In the

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Brazilian Bar Association – Sao Paulo Chapter – she currently joins the Franchise and the Arbitration and Mediation Committees.

Viseu Advogados has been also developing outstanding work in the Consumer Relations Law practice. The firm’s team is able to support clients with consumer relations issues and is prepared to deal in the e-commerce, digital and the mobile arenas.

The main services provided by the firm are: Counselling on the implementation of all kinds of recall; Advice on matters involving liability, trade practices and contractual protection through legal opinions; Consumer contracts and representation in individual and collective judicial actions involving consumer matters.

Ricardo Martins Motta is the partner responsible for the Consumer Law practice at Viseu Advogados. He has been acting for 19 years in the legal management of consumers’ lawsuits considering administrative or judicial terms. He is author of several articles in the area of consumer rights and litigation management.

He was a member of the Commission of Consumer Rights of São Paulo’s Brazilian Bar Association. Nowadays, he is member of the Brazilian Bar Association of São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Goiás and Sergipe Chapters. In addition to that, he is a member of the São Paulo Lawyers’ Association and member of the Center for the Study of Law Firms. He holds a LLM from the Brazilian Capital Market Institute – IBMEC, a LLM in Financial and Capital Markets Law and a JJD from the Law School of Minas Gerais.

CORPORATE RECOVERY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN BRAZIL Chiarottino e Nicoletti Advogados Leandro Chiarottino Senior Partner Tel: +55 11 2163 8989 leandro@chiarottino.com.br www.chiarottino.com.br Leandro Chiarottino is the founder and current managing partner of Chiarottino e Nicoletti Advogados. Leandro has acted as a corporate associate at Pinheiro Neto Advogados for over 12 years before founding his own law firm. Leandro has distinguished experience in the corporate, banking and financing areas of Law. He is currently recognized as one of the leading lawyers in mergers and acquisitions transactions, as well as on the restructuring, bankruptcy and insolvency areas.

Throughout his 20-year career, he has acted in more than 50 relevant negotiations involving Brazilian and foreign companies, including North American, British and Italian corporations.

Leandro has a wide experience acting as counsel to clients in a great variety of industries, including food and beverages, textiles, agribusiness, sugarcane and ethanol, oil and gas, pulp and paper, energy, financial institutions, amongst others.

The Firm – Chiarottino e Nicoletti Advogados Chiarottino e Nicoletti Advogados is a Brazilian law firm specialized in business law. We advise clients in almost every front of corporate law, including mergers and acquisitions, agribusiness transactions, banking and finance, corporate restructuring, bankruptcy, insolvency, judicial litigation and arbitration, general contracts, intellectual property, tax, labor, social security, real estate, family law and estate planning.

The founders of the Firm have extensive experience in large mergers and acquisitions, capital markets and foreign investment transactions. Chiarottino e Nicoletti Advogados has a consistent and remarkable record of novel solutions and has achieved extraordinary results following the dynamic approach that oriented the foundation of the Firm – an integrated team deeply focused in solving its clients’ issues.

Chiarottino e Nicoletti Advogados has a team of over 60 professionals (including lawyers and qualified administrative staff), most of them bilingual and with post-graduate degrees from renowned Brazilian and international universities. For the Firm, ethics, moral, integrity and transparency are paramount. As such, only talented professionals who feel attracted by our structure and approach, and are fully aligned and committed with these values, become members of our team.

The Firm’s offices, located at Av. Juscelino Kubitschek, close to São Paulo’s main financial districts, also has a branch in the city of Ribeirão Preto. Our offices are equipped with state-ofthe-art technology, including systems for the management and control of clients’ matters and procedures, as well as for internal administrative routines. Chiarottino e Nicoletti Advogados also maintains relations with renowned firms abroad and in all major cities of Brazil, thus enabling the Firm to meet clients’ needs both out of the country and across almost the entire national territory.

EMPLOYMENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN BRAZIL Ferriani e Jamal Sociedade de Advogados Eduardo Fornazari Alencar Partner Tel: +55 (11) 3531-3728 eduardofornazari@ferrianiejamal.com.br www.ferrianiejamal.com.br Ferriani e Jamal Sociedade de Advogados, founded in 1996, is a boutique firm that assists its clients in several practice areas, including: real estate, commercial law, civil law, banking and finance; as well as labour and employment law. The team is comprised of seven partners, 20 lawyers and 25 support members and paralegals.

Among the areas of the office, the Labour & Employment Department is highlighted. Eduardo Fornazari Alencar, a partner at the firm, heads this department, which is highly demanded by national and international companies. The team is readily prepared to handle all kind of consultancy and contentious cases in the country, and has helped international companies with their Brazilian operations.

Its client base consists of international corporations and leading Brazilian conglomerates, including banks, insurance companies, distributors, investment funds, mining companies, green-energy, and oil and gas corporations. It has represented high-profile clients, including Fortune Global 500 companies, regarding a high volume of labour and employment law-related matters. The firm’s excellent services and successes on behalf of its clients put it among the top players in the local market. It stands out due to its bespoke service, business awareness and deep knowledge of law matters.

Mr Fornazari regularly advises a wide range of corporations, large and small, on labour and employment-related issues. He is a skilled negotiator, recognised by employers and unions, and has extensive experience in resolving labour matters. He works in special and strategic cases related to labour and employment litigation for leading companies. Mr Fornazari also advises management on employment law compliance and risk reduction.

Further, he was manager of the Labour Legal Department and headed the Human Resources and Labour Relations Department at Banco Mercantil de São Paulo from 1987 to 2000. He was also a member of Labour Legal Commission from 1996 to 1999, and of the Human Resources Directors Commissionat the National Bank Federation (FENABAN) in 2000. These experiences provided him with extensive know-how regarding each aspect of the employment relationship, as well as expertise in labour law practice.

Mr Fornazari has a master’s in Labour Law from Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo (PUC/SP), as well as a postgraduate degree in Human Resources Management from Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV/SP). Moreover, he is a professor at the College of Law of Universidade Paulista (UNIP). Prior to this, he was professor at the Superior School of Advocacy of São Paulo Section of Brazilian Lawyers Order - OAB/SP, from 2005 to 2006.

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EDITORS’ CHOICE - TRUSTS & ESTATES LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN THE BVI

Experienced Efficient Effective SimonetteLewis - Offering discerning clients a unique combination of depth and international reach in complex corporate and trust matters.

Practice Areas • Corporate and Commercial • Trusts and Probate • Commercial and Civil Litigation • Regulatory/Compliance • Private Client Magnolia Chambers Harbour House,Waterfront Drive P.O. Box 431, Road Town,Tortola, VG1110, British Virgin Islands Phone: 284-494-4367 Fax: 284-494-7921 www.simonettelewis.com Email: manager@simonettelewis.com

HUMAN RIGHTS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN CANADA SINGH THIND & ASSOCIATES Amandeep Singh Managing Partner Tel: +1 604 543-3886 singh@singhthindlaw.com www.singhthindlaw.com Born in India, raised in Hong Kong and educated at University of California at Berkeley, United States and at the University of Victoria, Canada, Amandeep Singh is a true citizen of the world. He obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from Victoria, British Columbia in 1998 and was called to the Bar of British Columbia in 1999. Amandeep is a lawyer who focuses his practice in the areas of civil and human rights law as it intersects with Criminal and International Law. He has appeared before the British Columbia Provincial and Supreme Courts as well as the British Columbia Court of Appeal, and has made applications for Leave to Appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada as well as represented clients seeking political asylum at Canadian tribunals.

Amandeep Singh comes to the practice of law from an extensive background in human and civil rights activism from a young age.

As such he has approached the practice of law from the perspective of its role in larger societal and political issues.

Amandeep Singh has had the opportunity to be the legal representative in several high profile cases of international repute.

Of particular note are: • being a member of the Defense team in the Air India Bombing Trial, then the largest case of domestic terrorism in North America until it was superseded by the 9-11 events;

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• counsel for Rakesh Saxena in his extradition proceedings in what was Canada’s longest running extradition matter; • counsel for Mr. Omid Tahvilli in his extradition matter, Mr. Tahvili was amongst the world’s top 10 most wanted list of alleged criminals by Interpol for several years. This list included the likes of Osama Bin Laden and Carlos Guzman.

Amandeep has also done work on a pro bono basis for a number of national and international non-governmental organizations as well as advised, as general counsel, certain first nation’s representatives in matters where criminal law intersects with aboriginal law.

Amandeep is a member of the Canadian Bar Association and was a director of the People’s Legal Education Society. Amandeep was the recipient of the Legal Awards Corporate livewire 2015 for excellence in Human Rights law.

Amandeep’s secondary area of practice is in the realm of international commodity trade and financing and was most recently the Indian Transaction Liaison for a national Canadian potash firm in negotiations regarding a joint venture with a consortium of Indian state owned enterprises.

Amandeep Singh comes to the practice of law from an extensive background in human and civil rights activism.

SME - IMMIGRATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN CANADA BARTLAW Jaqueline Bart Principal Tel: +1 416-601-1346 bart@bartlaw.ca www.bartlaw.ca BartLAW Canadian Immigration Barristers and Solicitors is a full-service citizenship and immigration law firm, specializing in Canadian immigration, citizenship and relocation legal assistance.

We provide bespoke and highly specialized legal services that cover the full range of citizenship and immigration needs in relation to temporary and permanent entry to Canada. Our clientele is predominantly generated by referrals from other law firms and “word of mouth”. We provide legal services to employers, corporations, individuals, families, diplomatic offices, and law firms concerning Canadian citizenship and immigration law.

particularly attracted to the genre of our practice because it is both specialized and restricted. We provide undertakings to our law firm and corporate clients indicating that any referral work generated through our services rendered for them, as our client, whether directly or indirectly, will be re-routed to our client for their action.

Our firm is governed by the Law Society of Upper Canada. BartLAW mentors new lawyers through the law society and Ontario Bar Association programs and has written extensively on the subject of immigration for lawyers, in addition to lecturing at various law society and bar association venues about immigration law in Canada.

Citizenship demands strong liaisons and individual-centered representation. Ms Bart, B.A., LL.B., J.D., C.S., Barrister and Solicitor, is a Certified Immigration Specialist by the Law Society of Upper Canada with over 25 years’ experience in Canadian immigration law, including at Canada’s largest law firm, the High Court of Justice, London, UK and at the UNHRC in Geneva. She is author or editor of 15 immigration law books, including a 3,000+ page Canada/US Relocation Treatise, updated quarterly.

She is Past President of the Immigration and Nationality Commission of the International Association of Lawyers (UIA) and current Vice-Chair of the Employment and Immigration Committee of the Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA). She is also Vice-Chair of the ABA, Section of International Law, Immigration & Naturalization Committee, a member of the Steering Group for the International Law Practice Management Forum, and President of the 2017 Annual Congress of the UIA.

We counsel corporate clients as to how their foreign workers may best acquire the ability to work in Canada. In addition, we assist our clients in the development of a strategic human resource plan which addresses the immigration, corporate, employment and customs issues relating to the entry of foreign workers to Canada. This secondary level of legal assistance enables employers to plan in a balanced and thoughtful manner while appropriately addressing immigration considerations to insure the human resources and financial development of the corporation.

We are also immigration counsel for a number of law firms, either through direct representation or on a referral basis. Law firms are

Our firm provides referrals, to immigration experts in other jurisdictions, to our corporate clients who wish to obtain foreign visas and work permits for their employees assigned outside Canada. We have an established network of highly regarded experts located in the major capitals.

TRUST & ESTATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS Collas Crill (Cayman) Antony Duckworth Senior Partner Tel: +1 345 949 4544 antony.duckworth@collascrill.com www.collascrill.com Collas Crill has many years of experience in providing trusts, foundations and other fiduciary services and representation, using Cayman Islands, Jersey and Guernsey law – jurisdictions which are recognised as leaders in the provision of offshore fiduciary services.

Antony Duckworth is the head of the fiduciary and property departments of Collas Crill in the Cayman Islands, has more than 40 years’ experience in the Cayman Islands, and advises on a range of commercial matters (including Banking, Insurance, Company, etc.), and Trust and Private Client work including litigation.

AUTHOR OR CONTRIBUTOR: • International Trust Precedents edited by Withers, published by Longman, 1989; • International Trust Laws edited by John Glasson, published by Jordans, 1992; • Asset Protection edited by Duncan Osborne, published by Clark Boardman Callaghan, 1995; • Star Trusts published by Gostick Hall Publications, 1998; • Disputes Involving Trusts edited by Nedim Peter Vogt 1999; • Private Client Tax edited by John Rhodes 2010 to present; • Merger & Acquisitions Review edited by Simon Robinson, 2011;

Antony Duckworth is the head of the fiduciary and property departments of Collas Crill in the Cayman Islands.

• Director’s Liability published by Kluwer Law 2006 to present; • Many articles published in law journals.

MEMBER OF: • Cayman Islands Law Society • Cayman Islands Bar Association • The Law Society of England and Wales • The International Bar Association • The International Academy of Estate & Trust Law • The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

Prime mover of legislation on Foreign Elements, Perpetuities, the STAR regime, and Foundation Companies.

In the Cayman Islands, we have strong experience in dispute resolution (and we are expanding our litigation team), structuring and re-structuring, protectorship, STAR trusts, private trust companies, family offices, pension funds, unit trusts, foundations, etc.

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CORPORATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN ECUADOR

LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN EL SALVADOR De La Gasca & Cia Giancarlo de la Gasca Senior Partner Tel: +503 2223-3380 giancarlo@delagasca.com www.delagasca.com De La Gasca & Cia is the premier Intellectual Property and Litigation boutique firm in El Salvador.

We provide expertise in the prosecution and enforcement of Trademarks, Patents and Copyrights. In addition we are experts in handling complex litigation matters, particularly when related to intellectual property, commercial, civil, administrative and pharmaceutical law. Our members have had long-standing experience in Intellectual Property and Litigation since at least 1998, through which we have assisted our clients to successfully solve their legal problems.

Our firm was founded by Managing Partner Mr. Giancarlo de la Gasca after obtaining his LL.M. in Intellectual Property Law (with honors) at The John Marshall Law School in Chicago, IL; and having work experience in a well-known IP boutique firm of Chicago. Thereafter, we created the firm with the purpose of offering specialized services by an expert team, which is fully bilingual and has an international perspective of the law, but most of all, an expert team that looks up to fulfilling the legal necessities of our clients.

It has been said that litigation, rather than being a science, is an art. We consider ourselves masters in the fine art of solving legal conflicts. We stand by our clients advising them all along the way, with knowledge, experience, ethics, and truthfulness in the possibilities they stand or not on a given case. Despite the fact that we can provide strong representation whenever it is required, we also pride ourselves in having the ability of reaching satisfactory settlements or agreements with mutual benefits for all the parties involved. Most importantly, we

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have experience in dealing with complex litigation cases in the fields of Intellectual Property, Administrative Litigation, Commercial Litigation and Criminal Law (economic crimes). Our firm provides expert assistance in the following complex litigation subjects: Trademark/Copyright/Patent Litigation (enforcement/defences); Administrative Litigation against the Government (public bids, regulatory bodies, city halls amongst others); Civil and Commercial Litigation - Criminal Litigation (Counterfeiting and Economical Crimes); ADR (Negotiation, Mediation and Arbitration).

Born in San Salvador, El Salvador in 1979, Giancarlo de la Gasca is a specialist in Intellectual Property and Litigation with over 15 years’ related experience. He has worked at intellectual property law firms in El Salvador and the United States. His practice includes not only working at a major Salvadoran law firm, but also being in-house counsel and Head of the Registration and Intellectual Property Department for a Regional Bank, later acquired by CITI Group. He further obtained his LL.M. in Intellectual Property (with honors) from The John Marshall Law School in Chicago, due to a scholarship awarded by the Inter American Association of Intellectual Property (ASIPI). During his time in the U.S. he worked as Foreign Trademark Specialist (2009 - 2010) at a well respected Chicagobased IP boutique law firm, and subsequently retook his practice in El Salvador by joining a Salvadoran mid-sized legal firm as partner.

At the beginning of 2013, Giancarlo took the decision to pursue his ultimate goal and found the first Salvadoran Boutique Law Firm dedicated to Intellectual Property and Litigation.

DATA PROTECTION LAWYER OF THE YEAR IN MEXICO NH JURIS, S.C. Dr. Carlos Narváez-Hasfura Managing Partner Tel: +52 (55) 1000 0627 cnarvaezh@nh-juris.com www.nh-juris.com Dr. Carlos Narváez-Hasfura is the managing partner of NH JURIS, S.C., and has more than 20 years of professional and academic experience, covering mainly the areas of Corporate Law, Contracts, Intellectual Property, International Law and Personal Data Protection (Privacy Law).

Among other responsibilities, he served as Legal Director and the first-ever Chief Privacy Officer of Deloitte Mexico, where he implemented the then just-enacted Federal Law on Protection of Personal Data Held by Private Parties. Dr. Narváez-Hasfura has developed a state of the art practice in his areas of expertise, and some of his clients are national and/or international leaders in their respective industries. He is a member of several professional organizations both national and international.

Since 1989 (with a 5-year interval), he has been Professor of Law at the Universidad Iberoamericana; holds the AA rank, which is the highest rank for a partial time professor; founded the course of Personal Data Protection, and is a member of the Board of the Master in International Business Law. He has lectured at various universities and institutions, and has some publications.

Among other studies, he has the following ones: - Post-Doctoral Scholar in Law.- Washington University in St. Louis.

- Doctor of Juridical Science (Ph. D. equivalent).- Washington University in St. Louis.

- Master of Laws (LL.M).- Washington University in St. Louis.

- Program of Instruction for Lawyers (PIL).- Harvard University.

- Master of Laws.- Universidad Iberoamericana.

- Juris Doctor (Licenciatura en Derecho).- Universidad Iberoamericana.

Dr. Narváez-Hasfura has been honored with several professional and academic awards. This is a representative list: - Award to the Outstanding Teaching Performance (also called Estímulo 2015), granted by the Universidad Iberoamericana to its best professors.

- Diploma to the University Merit, granted by the Universidad Iberoamericana for his outstanding academic performance during fifteen years.

- Medal and Diploma of Acknowledgement, granted by the Universidad Iberoamericana in its 50th anniversary, for his contribution to the development of the School of Law. - Acknowledgement of Excellence, granted by the Universidad Iberoamericana, for his outstanding master thesis.

- Honorable Mention (Mención Honorífica), granted by the Universidad Iberoamericana, for his outstanding academic achievement in the Juris Doctor degree.

- Privacy Lawyer of the Year in Mexico – 2016, granted by the International Advisory Experts.

- The present award: Data Protection Lawyer of the Year in Mexico – 2016, granted by Global Law Experts.

Dr. Carlos Narváez-Hasfura keeps in his heart the teachings of his father, who was an unparalleled lawyer with an impeccable moral integrity.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Rose Law Caribbean Margaret Rose-Goddard Partner Tel: +1 868 623 4104 (0) info@roselawcaribbean.com www.roselawcaribbean.com Rose Law Caribbean is a boutique practice specialising in Community, Anti-Corruption, Governance and Procurement & Public Construction & Infrastructure Law. At the heart of our ethos is the need to be relevant. The world is changing. Business is changing. Our understanding of the world and our relationship with it is changing. In order to meet the demands for a more holistic approach to commercial problem solving, we have embraced technology, alternative billing arrangements and the engagement of non-legal specialists and firms to enhance our offering and provide a more sophisticated legal, business and economic consulting service to our clientele.

We pursue our clients needs whilst maintaining our commitment to the principles of excellence in: providing legal work of the highest quality, while negotiating and, if required, litigating with tenacity and perseverance; providing strategic advice aimed at dispute avoidance and dispute mitigation; insisting on the utmost integrity of our attorneys, paralegals, litigation team members and strategic partners worldwide; while offering attentive and responsive service to clients and pro bono assistance to select individuals requiring equal benefit and protection from abuse of power.

Our eCase Service is the first virtual law practice in the Caribbean and allows for eConsultations, ePayments, eCase Tracking (24/7) and Online Dispute Resolution (ODR).

Values Based Pricing - We base our pricing on the value we provide to our clients. Hourly billing does not always reflect the true value obtained by clients. We offer our clients alternative pricing approaches including flat

fees, equity shares and subscription-based billing that matches our prices to the value obtained by our client. We are also willing to accept Bitcoins as formal payment.

Pro Bono Services - We are committed to helping those who find themselves victims of inequity, executive abuse and those who require support on integrity issues. Clients are assessed and thereafter on a needs basis coupled with our areas of expertise we provide legal advice and support without payment.

Legal Services Procurement - We understand the needs of the sophisticated buyer of legal services in the 21st Century. Gone are the days when the oldest firm is appropriate for every area of the law. As new areas of law develop and as competition in the provision of legal services increases, clients can maximize their legal budget by hiring quality representation at the best cost available by utilizing best practice procurement mechanisms. We have designed and developed a unique Legal Services Procurement Solution which is geared toward, in-house counsel in corporate entities, in-house counsel in public sector companies, companies entering CARICOM markets and individuals desiring a specialized high quality service at a price which maximizes value.

Non Legal Specialists - We recognize that in the changing world the need for clients to obtain the most comprehensive advice as quickly and efficiently as possible. Part of our unique proposition includes the engagement of non-legal specialists as and when required by the client, particularly in the areas of finance and accounting, forensic investigations and procurement fraud audits and crisis communications and litigation PR.

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EMPLOYMENT DISPUTE RESOLUTION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN CALIFORNIA, US

Los Angeles County Offices 10880 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 900 Los Angeles, California 90024 Tel: +1 (310) 470-6110 Fax: +1 (310) 474-0931 Orange County Offices 17762 Cowan, Suite 200 Irvine, CA 92614-6097 Tel: +1 (949) 494-1393 Fax: +1 (949) 494-8963

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MARKETING PROMOTIONS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN CALIFORNIA, US

PERSONAL INJURY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN CALIFORNIA, US Mary Alexander & Associates, P.C. Mary Alexander Principal Tel: +1 (415) 433-4440 malexander@maryalexanderlaw.com www.maryalexanderlaw.com Mary Alexander & Associates brings over a quarter-century of expertise to the full range of plaintiff suits. Whether it’s a motor vehicle or workplace accident, traumatic injury, product liability, sexual abuse or wrongful death case, we are tireless advocates for our clients. Alexander exclusively serves those injured through the wrongdoing of others, but victories often have positive repercussions that extend beyond individual cases. Armed with a master’s degree in public health in addition to her law degree, Alexander fought as co-lead counsel on a landmark case concerning lead-based paint in California protecting children from lead poisoning from paint.

In the lead paint case, Alexander represented 10 counties and cities in California to get paint companies to remove the lead paint from hundreds of thousands of homes throughout the state. In January 2014, Alexander’s trial team succeeded when a state judge in Santa Clara County ordered three companies to pay $1.15 billion into a fund to be used for that purpose. Along with her co-counsel and legal team members, she was honored by the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association and the Public Justice Foundation as “Trial Lawyer of the Year.”

The Daily Journal named Mary Alexander to its list of the Top 25 Plaintiff Lawyers in California for 2015. In announcing the award, the Daily Journal editors stated, “We selected just 25 California plaintiff lawyers to honor. We could have honored more but, in our opinion, these are the ones who consistently force broad change in the law, industry and society.”

Alexander was inducted into the Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame by the California State Bar Litigation Section in 2012. Her legal work has

also been recognized by the Consumer Attorneys of California, which awarded her two of its top honors - the Marvin E. Lewis Award and the Edward I. Pollock Award. In July 2013, she received the American Association for Justice’s top award, the Leonard Ring Champion of Justice Award.

Alexander obtained her JD and Honorary Doctor of Laws from University of Santa Clara in 1982 and 2003, respectively, and Master of Public Health from U.C. Berkeley in 1975. Prior to her legal career, she was a research scientist in medical toxicology, and was a director of environmental health at Stanford Research Institute.

Alexander’s reputation for steadfast commitment to the protection of consumer rights is well known throughout the country. She was a key leader of Trial Lawyers Care, which represented the victims of 9/11 in the largest pro bono legal services program ever undertaken, with over 1,500 families represented. Her top priority is to fight for the just compensation her clients deserve. Her passion is being a warrior for the injured.

Two notable 2016 victories are multi-million dollar settlements for a victim of childhood sexual abuse by a public school teacher, and a motorcyclist who lost his leg when hit by a driver due to a dangerous condition of public property.

Alexander’s clients come from all walks of life. They are people of all ages and socio-economic levels, who have been wronged by the negligent or reckless conduct of individuals and corporations.

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BOUTIQUE - PRODUCT LIABILITY LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN FLORIDA, US The Yerrid Law Firm C. Steven Yerrid Founder/Partner Tel: +1 (813) 222-8222 syerrid@yerridlaw.com www.yerridlaw.com The Yerrid Law Firm is a specialty firm concentrating in state and federal civil trial practice. Consisting solely of trial lawyers, the firm represents individuals and their families in areas ranging from personal injury, wrongful death, medical negligence, product liability, premises liability, and maritime, to complex commercial litigation matters.

Steve Yerrid, a Georgetown law graduate, has been repeatedly acknowledged as one of America’s top trial lawyers. In 1980, he received international recognition in one of the world’s largest maritime tragedies. Successfully using an “Act of God” defense, he obtained the complete exoneration of Captain John Lerro, the accused pilot in command of a large bulk freighter when, during a hurricane-like storm, it struck the mammoth Sunshine Skyway Bridge destroying its center span and killing 35 people.

In the 1990s, Mr. Yerrid was appointed by the late Governor Lawton Chiles and, as the youngest member of an 11-member “Dream Team” of private lawyers, undertook a leading role in Florida’s landmark lawsuit against the previously unbeaten cigarette industry. The case resulted in the largest monetary settlement in U.S. history, ultimately topping $17 billion. In addition, he and the members of the “Dream Team,” succeeded in obtaining unprecedented advertising concessions that permanently prevented marketing aimed at children, eliminated cigarette billboards, vending machines, Joe Camel, the Marlboro Man, and established youth tobacco prevention programs across the United States.

Mr. Yerrid has experienced a career of other noteworthy achievements, including over 250 verdicts and settlements of $1 million or more. Among those was a jury verdict of $217 million, the largest medical malpractice award in Florida’s history, and the nation’s largest verdict in 2006. In 2009, he again obtained the country’s largest verdict rendered in a wrongful death case, with a jury award of $330 million. In 2015, he obtained the largest jury verdict in Hillsborough County with a $64 million verdict in a premises liability case.

He is a lifetime member of the prestigious Inner Circle of Advocates, an “invitation-only” organization whose membership consists of the top 100 trial lawyers in the United States. Mr. Yerrid is a past recipient of the Perry Nichols Award, bestowed by the Florida Justice Association (FJA) as its highest honor in recognition of a lifelong pursuit of justice; named Top Lawyer in the Nation by Lawyers USA; in 2013 he received the Excalibur Award for exemplifying leadership and commitment at the highest level of Florida’s civil justice system; selected by the National Law Journal as one of the top ten litigators in Florida; honored by the American Board of Trial Advocates as Trial Lawyer of the Year (Tampa Bay Chapter); selected Hillsborough County Bar Association’s Outstanding Lawyer; as well as numerous other honors and recognitions throughout his career.

Most recently, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the National Trial Lawyers Association, the highest honor bestowed by that prestigious organization.

CLIENT CHOICE - BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN ILLINOIS, US Fox, Swibel, Levin & Carroll, LLP Lawrence B. Swibel Managing Partner Tel: +1(312) 224-1214 lswibel@foxswibel.com www.foxswibel.com We distinguish ourselves by combining big firm quality and sophistication with the more personalized-lower-cost setting of a small-to-mid-size firm. Our lawyers come from major national and international firms, and are attracted to our entrepreneurial culture that focuses on client service. For example, (i) we staff our matters with highlyexperienced lawyers whose billing rates are comparable to less-experienced lawyers at larger firms; (ii) we offer flexible fee arrangements suited to a particular client’s needs; (iii) we impose no billable hour requirements on our lawyers -- rather than incentivizing our lawyers to increase time spent on a matter, we reward efficiency; and (iv) we foster internal cooperation by de-emphasizing “billing credit” in our compensation structure. We believe these and other factors distinguish us from competitors and greatly benefit our clients.

Our firm represents a wide range of clients, ranging from entrepreneurs to global institutions. The firm’s principal practice areas relate to commercial transactions and litigation. These include representation in corporate and securities transactions, corporate finance, real estate, income tax, employment, bankruptcy and insolvency and related matters.

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Our biggest recent notable successes include being selected for several large projects of the type typically awarded to much larger firms. Examples include representing (i) a major foreign airline in its dispute against one of the largest U.S. airlines, (ii) an investment fund in its acquisition of hotels and other commercial properties in Brazil and Uruguay; (iii) the issuer in an initial public offering of securities; (iv) a consortium of predominantly European banks in the workout of a $650 million defaulted commercial loan; and (v) a world-renown chef in restaurant management deals in various U.S. locations, as well as Bermuda and the U.K. Highprofile matters of this nature add to the firm’s stature, and our success in these engagements will improve our market position.

Another unique feature results from my position as the President of Interlex, one of only 10 international legal networks receiving Chambers’ highest “Band 1 – Elite” ranking. Our leadership role in Interlex affords us close relationships with leading law firms in 60 countries worldwide, and we frequently use it as a valuable resource for our clients doing business outside the U.S. This allows us to compete favorably with global law firms. In fact, Interlex policies are very flexible, and members are free to refer business to whomever will best serve clients’ needs (even if that means referring the client to a non-Interlex firm). In contrast, global law firms are tied to using their own branch offices everywhere.

TAX LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN MARYLAND, US Kundra & Associates, P.C. Chaya Kundra Partner Tel: +1 301 424-7585 ckundra@kundrataxlaw.com www.kundrataxlaw.com The tax attorneys of Kundra & Associates pursue legal tax relief for businesses and individual taxpayers in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and across the nation, as well as international entities and persons subject to U.S. taxes.

When faced with serious tax problems, it is common for people to feel overwhelmed and apprehensive. It is not unusual to put off dealing with the IRS or state tax authority, only to find that the problems multiply over time. The time to resolve your tax problem is now. When you consult with our law firm, we will put your tax issue into perspective. We explain what is before you and the possible consequences in terms you understand, with a clear direction to move toward resolution. You will gain peace of mind and confidence that your issue is being handled properly and in your best interest.

Strength • Integrity • Focus No matter how complex your tax issue — whether you are facing an IRS audit or a criminal investigation for tax fraud - Kundra & Associates has the experience, skill, and dedication to resolve your case through negotiations in or out of court, involving your state taxing authority or the IRS. With us, your information is held in the strictest confidence and you are treated with respect throughout the process. Tax Law is Our Exclusive Focus In order to better serve our clients. All types of clients turn to our attorneys for help in resolving their tax issues, including: Businesses and entrepreneurs (including those dealing with employment tax liability); Individuals and families (including those dealing with tax issues that can arise during or after

divorce including innocent spouse matters); American citizens living abroad who have international tax issues.

Chaya Kundra Ms. Kundra is a tax litigator and advisor who works aggressively to solve current problems and prevent future controversies. The firm’s clients include businesses, non-profit entities, entrepreneurs and individuals seeking legal tax and financial counseling. Ms. Kundra’s practice is nationwide. Through the span of Ms. Kundra’s legal career, she has consistently focused on tax litigation, controversy, business, and planning issues.

While working at the Office of Financial Enforcement, U.S. Department of Treasury, Ms. Kundra focused on money laundering issues and violations of the Bank Secrecy Act. This was in addition to handling administrative law appeals at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Ms. Kundra also performed financial analysis for the Bakery & Confectionery Union and International Pension Fund.

Ms. Chaya Kundra received a Juris Doctor from the Washington College of Law at the American University where her course work emphasized tax, accounting and finance issues. She majored in Finance at Loyola College and was selected as a member of the Green & Grey Society, which honors the top twelve graduating seniors who embody leadership, scholarship and community service.

In August 2007, Ms. Kundra was interviewed by Fox 5 News for the segment Maryland Comptroller’s Office Names Top 50 Tax Defaulters, regarding state of Maryland officials seeking more than $6 million from delinquent taxpayers.

CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN NEBRASKA, US Berry Law Firm John Berry, Sr. Attorney

John Berry, Jr. Attorney

Tel: +1-402-466-8444 jsberry@jsberrylaw.com www.jsberrylaw.com

Tel: +1-402-466-8444 john@jsberry.com www.jsberrylaw.com

Founded in 1965 by Attorney John Stevens Berry, Sr., the Berry Law Firm has been defending, safeguarding, and fighting to protect the constitutional rights of clients for decades. Thousands of clients have trusted our firm with their cases and, more importantly, their futures.

In addition to representing clients in complex criminal defense cases in more than 24 states in the U.S., Berry, Sr. was once chief defense counsel for the largest general court martial jurisdiction in Vietnam. The Berry Law Firm continues to represent injured veterans before the USCVA. As a testament to our firm’s commitment to ethics, our professionalism, and our displays of extensive legal knowledge, John Berry, Sr. has been selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers® and has received the prestigious AV Preeminent® Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®. The Berry Law Firm is also listed in the Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Attorneys. For more than a decade, Berry maintained a local radio show while

practicing law. “The John Stevens Berry Show” first aired on KLIN and then on KZUM. John Berry, Jr has been recognized as one of the National Trial Lawyers’ Top 100 Trial Lawyers and the National Trial Lawyers’ 40 under 40. Berry, Jr. and Berry, Sr. have both served as president of the Nebraska Criminal Defense Attorneys Association.

Our criminal defense lawyers are active in professional organizations, including the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), Nebraska Criminal Defense Attorneys Association, the Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys, and the National Organization of Veterans’ Advocates. We are well-trained trial lawyers and are disciplined in our efforts to sharpen, hone, and perfect our craft in order to provide the best possible results for our clients.

We would also like to mention that John, Sr. is a member of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers (one of very few in Nebraska) and served as a Special Counsel to a committee of the Nebraska Legislature.

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CLIENT CHOICE - TRADEMARK LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN NEW YORK, US Colucci & Umans Frank J. Colucci Attorney Tel: +(212) 935-5700 fcolucci@colucci-umans.com www.colucci-umans.com

Frank J. Colucci is an attorney based in New York City and serves clients throughout the United States.

He focuses his practice exclusively on copyright, trademark, patent and intellectual property cases.

Mr. Colucci is an attorney for the law firm of Colucci & Umans. Mr. Colucci is authorized to present cases before New York State Courts, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York, U.S. Court of Appeals, U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, and the 2nd, 5th and 9th Circuit Courts. This is in addition to Federal Circuit Court and the United States Supreme Court.

Mr. Colucci was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1968. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from St. John’s University in 1960 and a Juris Doctor from Brooklyn

Law School in 1964. In addition to being a member of the New York City Bar Association, Mr. Colucci is also a member of the American Bar Association, International Anticounterfeiting Coalition, New York Intellectual Property Law Association, International Trademark Association and the American Intellectual Property Law Association.

As the law firm of Colucci & Umans focuses solely in intellectual property, patent and trademark matters, Mr. Colucci has extensive experience in pursuing litigation in these areas. Such cases often involve exclusive technology and protected trademarks that are the lifeblood of a company or enterprise. He works to protect these valuable assets in cases involving everything from simple trademark and patent protection to complex issues such as copyright or trademark infringement and patent violations.

COMMERCIAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN NEW YORK, US DeCristofaro Law James DeCristofaro Partner Tel: +1 212-257-2996 james@dclfirm.com www.dclfirm.com DCL, in New York, works collaboratively with the individuals and businesses we represent in helping them achieve their individual goals. We understand the issues that business owners, officers, directors and shareholders face – after all, DCL is a business and we operate this firm like a business, in a very entrepreneurial way. The representation we provide to businesses and individuals involves complex commercial law litigation, commercial bankruptcies, employment law matters and disputes, routine and out-of-the-ordinary transactional services, as well as immigration matters.

Attorneys Attentive to Your Concerns Communication is vital for the effective resolution of any legal issue. Because of this, we make ourselves approachable and promptly address any inquiry you may have. We take the time to listen to you. Our mission is to allow for you to succeed by providing innovative, practical and high-value advocacy in commercial litigation (including employment litigation), bankruptcy and immigration representation.

We are a small Manhattan firm with both the depth and breadth of experience of a large firm, with the ability to scale both the number of attorneys and other professionals needed, in any

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jurisdiction, for any given case. Our size allows us to work closely with you and accommodate all of your legal needs, both large and small. Our entire firm works together as a team. The knowledge and skills we possess allow us to resolve the largest and most complex legal issues. It is our approach to find a strategic and practical solution to your legal matter.

We represent businesses of all sizes, including sole proprietorships, partnerships, startup companies and corporations, and private and public companies based in the United States and abroad. The advice and guidance we provide to entrepreneurs allow them to find the best possible solution to local, national and international business matters.

James DeCristofaro James DeCristofaro is the founder and principal of DCL Firm (DeCristofaro Law) and has been practicing law in New York for about 15 years. He graduated from Georgetown Law in 2001.

Before starting this firm, he practiced in the New York offices of several prominent international law firms, including Curtis-Mallet, Lovells (now Hogan Lovells), and Morrison & Foerster, where he worked with some of the top lawyers in the world.

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PUBLIC FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN NEW YORK, US

ANNUAL AWARDS WINNER Hawkins is ranked number one Bond Counsel for municipal bond issues in the State of New York • during the past year, • during the last five years,

Our Offices 28 Liberty Street New York, New York 333 South Grand Avenue Los Angeles, California

• during the last ten years and • since such records have been maintained.

• We are the only national law firm in the United States whose practice is devoted exclusively to public finance and public projects, including P3 projects.

One Embarcadero Center San Francisco, California

• We have nine offices nationally.

1415 L Street Sacramento, California

• We have more attorneys, including 14 tax attorneys, engaged in the full-time practice of public finance and projects than any other law firm in the country.

200 SW Market Street Portland, Oregon

• We have an active municipal disclosure practice.

• We have participated in virtually every type of transaction in the public finance sector.

One Gateway Center Newark, New Jersey

• In 2015, we were involved as bond counsel and underwriters’ counsel in over $46 billion of municipal bonds.

601 Thirteenth Street NW Washington, DC

• Since records have been maintained, we are ranked nationally, in terms of volume, the number one underwriters’ counsel and the number two bond counsel, having participated in the issuance of over $1 Trillion of municipal bonds.

20 Church Street Hartford, Connecticut

www.hawkins.com

2723 South State Street Ann Arbor, Michigan

SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN NEW YORK, US Cuddy Law Firm, PLLC Andrew K. Cuddy President and Founder Tel: +1-315-370-2404 acuddy@cuddylawfirm.com www.cuddylawfirm.com The Cuddy Law Firm focuses its practice on representing families with loved ones with disabilities.

This includes representing families in special education, special needs estate planning, special needs trust administration, and guardianship proceedings. A primary focus of the firm is special education litigation. The firm represents hundreds of families each year in special education litigation pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The firm often relies on the fee-shifting provision of the IDEA in order to represent families unable to afford a lawyer.

A prevailing parent in special education litigation can recover reasonable attorney fees from the school district. The firm represents hundreds of these low-income families each year and recovers the attorneys’ fees from the school districts.

The firm often relies on the fee-shifting provision of the IDEA in order to represent families unable to afford a lawyer.

With over twenty lawyers in three states; New York, Texas and Ohio; the firm has positioned itself as a leader in the special education law field. These lawyers have extensive experience handling special education matters at the hearing level and on subsequent appeals.

The attorneys devote time each year to educating the public about disability rights, both in local and national forums. Andrew Cuddy, Adrienne Arkontaky and Sonja Kerr have all presented at national conferences on issues of disability rights. Andrew Cuddy authored The Special Education Battlefield: A Parents Guide to the Due Process Hearing and Other Tools of Effective Advocacy (Ithaca Press, 2007).

The firm’s attorneys also engaged in significant pro bono work, with the firm’s goal of fifty hours of pro bono work from each attorney each year. Many of these hours have been spent representing adults with disabilities in the criminal courts.

In the years ahead, the firm plans growth into other states where families have trouble accessing legal services to protect the rights of students with disabilities. A new office in Pennsylvania is anticipated in 2017.

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DOMESTIC IP LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN TEXAS, US EDMONDS & NOLTE, PC Robb Edmonds Partner Tel: +1 281 480-2700 redmonds@edmondsnolte.com www.edmondsnolte.com Edmonds & Nolte, PC is an Intellectual Property law firm located in Houston, Texas. The firm handles a wide range of Intellectual Property issues and disputes including patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, licensing, agreements, anti-trust and unfair competition. Our attorneys are all experienced and possess the legal and technical expertise to provide Intellectual Property services of the highest quality to any size client. The firm strives to provide the most value-added, cost-effective services tailored to the needs of each client and each client’s matter.

Our patent attorneys possess various engineering and science degrees, including graduate degrees in engineering. Our patent attorneys also benefit from real-world experience working as engineers in their discipline prior to practicing law.

Legal Expertise Edmonds & Nolte, PC offers a comprehensive range of IP legal services including: Patents • Preparation and prosecution • Interference • Reexamination • Reissue • Patentability and prior art searches and opinions • Freedom to operate analysis and opinions • Infringement analysis and opinions • Validity analysis and opinions • Licensing and agreements • Cease and desist

Trademarks • Preparation and prosecution • Clearance searches and opinions • Oppositions • Licensing and agreements • Enforcement Copyrights • Copyright registration • Negotiation and drafting of license agreements • Litigation • Enforcement Robb Edmonds Robb Edmonds is a founding member of the firm. His practice is exclusive to intellectual property law, concentrating on prosecution, litigation, portfolio management, and licensing matters. His practice combines his prior engineering experience in oil & gas, hydrocarbons, polymers and chemical processing with an expertise in patent drafting, prosecution, IP enforcement, and client counseling on IP related matters.

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS The College of the State Bar of Texas American Bar Association Houston Bar Association Houston Intellectual Property Law Association Intellectual Property Owner’s Association

INTERNATIONAL TRADE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN TEXAS, US

Relax......we’ve got you covered......

Global trade compliance to us...is just another day at the beach

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CLIENT CHOICE - IP DUE DILIGENCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN WASHINGTON DC, US Merchant & Gould P.C. Joseph Gess Department Head Tel: +1 612.332.5300 jgess@merchantgould.com www.merchantgould.com Merchant & Gould’s intellectual property practice is about innovation. Our lawyers use creative strategies designed to expand on the potential of new ideas and to capitalize on opportunities that go beyond even our clients’ toughest expectations.

Approximately one-half of the practice involves securing, licensing, maintaining and counseling relative to intellectual property matters. The other half involves dispute resolution, litigation and appeals. Within this framework, our attorneys focus on areas of intellectual property practice, including: IP DUE DILIGENCE Merchant & Gould has been assisting its clients through every phase of merger and acquisition transactions for more than 100 years. From external investigations of potential targets and internal audits to prepare a company for an acquisition, our firm is often involved even before the deal is known to both parties. With our clients having been involved in over $40 billion worth of transactions since 2011, our firm knows what to look for and what to deal with prior to an acquisition.

Whether driven by the benefits of consolidation, as seen in the healthcare sector, or growth through acquisition as in telecom, overarching trends point to a notable and ongoing uptick in M&A activity.

In any merger or acquisition, a thorough understanding of IP assets – including patents – should be the foundation of any strategic business deal.

Regardless of whether you are the acquiring party or the target, you need an IP team that understands more than how to find a publicly recorded assignment.

You need a team that can identify both the strengths and the weaknesses before signing on the line. You need a team that will make sure there are no surprises.

Our Team The IP Due Diligence and Audit team at Merchant & Gould offers a depth and breadth of experience that provides its clients with peace of mind

in both known and unknown terrain. Our attorneys have the experience and expertise to support acquisitions of any size and in any technology area. With over 25 attorneys in our Due Diligence and Audit group, with support from any attorney or technical specialist as needed, our team has seen just about everything when it comes to mergers and acquisitions.

Timing Is Critical During an acquisition, time is of the essence and Merchant & Gould’s expertise and deep technical and legal knowledge are invaluable for getting the transaction done on time. Furthermore, our team’s understanding of the underlying business context and issues means the IP due diligence supports the client’s business goals.

Whether a simple project to confirm the assets in a purchase agreement or a more complicated assessment of all the IP issues associated with a reverse or forward merger, our firm has earned a reputation as having a premier team of lawyers specializing solely in matters of intellectual property. Our trial lawyers prosecute and defend trademarks, patents, and copyrights on behalf of clients from virtually every industry including software, biotechnology, heavy equipment, semiconductor, nanotechnology, and computer technology.

Collaboration We often partner with other law firms who need the deep expertise in intellectual property issues essential for complex mergers and acquisitions to better serve their clients. We believe that collaboration is critically important and getting the right people at the table will ensure a more successful transaction.

Our Clients Our clients are market leaders in various industries including software, electrical, chemical, internet, medical equipment, pharmaceutical, automotive, consumer products, food science, and shooting sports, among others.

EDITORS’ CHOICE - INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN WASHINGTON DC, US Rothwell, Figg, Ernst & Manbeck, P.C. Steven Lieberman Shareholder Tel: +1 202-783-6040 slieberman@rfem.com www.rfem.com Rothwell Figg currently represents or has recently represented the following media entities in intellectual property litigation: The New York Times Company, Dow Jones, News Corporation of America, NBCUniversal, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Random House, CNBC, Fox News, Univision, Hulu, Time Warner, HBO, CBS, Gannett, Time, The Cancer Letter and McGraw-Hill.

Mr. Lieberman has been litigating patent and other intellectual property cases since 1991. Mr. Lieberman has considerable expertise and experience in handling and arguing post-grant proceedings (IPRs and CBMs) created by the America Invents Act. He advises clients regarding matters having to do with electronic commerce and privacy issues, and has successfully represented several clients in investigations initiated by the Federal Trade Commission regarding privacy matters. Mr. Lieberman also has particular expertise in the First Amendment area.

Mr. Lieberman and his team defended The Cancer Letter in a matter where a pharmaceutical company (Amgen) has subpoenaed a journalist whose stories eight years ago revealed negative clinical trial results for a best-selling product. That subpoena sought information about The Cancer Letter’s confidential and non-confidential sources.

On August 21, 2015, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia granted in its entirety the motion to quash filed by The Cancer Letter, on the ground that the information sought by Amgen is protected by the Reporter’s Privilege under the First Amendment.

Recent patent cases involving media clients include: 1. In February, 2014, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld an order by Judge Robinson of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, invalidating under Section 101 a patent that CyberFone had asserted against 81 defendants, including 14 media entities represented by Mr. Lieberman. The Federal Circuit affirmed that ruling in 2015.

Mr. Lieberman argued the summary judgment motion and the Federal Circuit appeal on behalf of all moving defendants.

2. In March, 2015, Rothwell Figg was awarded an early victory in defending patent infringement litigation brought against Fandango, L.L.C. alleging that Fandango infringed U.S. Patent No. 6,477,503.

Named inventor Mankes asserted that the ‘503 patent was infringed by Fandango’s system for selling movie tickets. In her ruling, Judge Flanagan agreed with Fandango that Mankes could not prove that Fandango’s system either directly or indirectly infringed any claims of the ‘503 patent. Because of a subsequent change in the law of indirect infringement, this ruling was recently vacated and remanded by the Federal Circuit. Rothwell Figg is continuing to represent Fandango in the remanded proceedings.

3. In March, 2015, National Geographic Channel Network US and Univision were sued by Rothschild for infringing U.S. Patent No. 8,856,221, entitled “System and Method for Storing Broadcast Content in a Cloud-Based Computing Environment”. After Rothwell Figg identified invalidating art and explained the problems with asserting this patent against its clients, Rothschild voluntarily dismissed its cases against NGC and Univision without receiving any consideration from NGC or Univision.

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PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS LIABILITY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN WASHINGTON DC, US / HIGH STAKES LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN WASHINGTON DC, US Hollingsworth LLP Donald W Fowler Managing Partner Tel: +1 202.898.5800 dfowler@hollingsworthllp.com www.hollingsworthllp.com Hollingsworth LLP, a premier D.C. firm, has a well-earned reputation as a “go to” firm for high-stakes, complex litigation.

It specializes in taking on complex civil litigation for both highstakes trials and serial, ongoing cases, for clients like Novartis, DynCorp International, and General Electric. Hollingsworth LLP already has several precedent-setting cases to its credit, including the Parlodel® Trilogy, which has been hailed as “the first significant products liability causation debate of the 21st century” and one that “will serve as a guide to understanding the significant causation issues that will continue to be involved, at increased rates of complexity, in the 21st century products cases.” The Firm has made The National Law Journal’s “Midsize Hot List” three of the last five years, and its attorneys are consistently included in Chambers USA, Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, Who’s Who, and American Lawyer Media & Martindale-Hubbell™ Top Rated Lawyers.

All of its lawyers specialize in complex trial and appellate work. The majority of Hollingsworth LLP’s work is for corporate clients in the areas of pharmaceutical products, toxic torts and products liability, environmental, insurance, federal claims, financial institutions, government contracts, medical devices, and white collar defense. The Firm is called upon to solve its clients’ toughest litigation problems nationwide and, in consequence, it regularly has the lead in landmark cases and on cutting-edge litigation theories and defenses.

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The Firm is not run by committees insulated by layers of bureaucracy. Litigation team leaders make case-related decisions on a case-by-case basis, and the Firm’s managing partners quickly make administrative decisions on a firm-wide basis. Hollingsworth LLP promotes diversity in the hiring of its accomplished lawyers.

In February 2014, the Firm was selected by the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA) as one of three finalists in the MidAtlantic Region for the 2014 Thomas L. Sager Award.

Success for clients is the best way to improve market position, and 2016 continues Hollingsworth LLP’s long string of successes.

It scored impressive victories for a diverse group of major clients in a wide range of legal areas and arenas – demonstrating that victories come in a variety of ways. For example, the Firm successfully resolved for a pharmaceutical client a 21-year-old case that had the potential for a multi-million dollar judgment for the plaintiff; achieved summary judgment for a $2 million-plus cost award on an insurance matter; and obtained a favorable conclusion to parallel state and federal investigations into a client’s alleged false advertising under the Maryland Consumer Protection Act and federal mail fraud statutes. The California Supreme Court granted a client of the Firm its petition for review of a California Court of Appeal opinion, which had relied upon Conte v. Wyeth (2008) 168 Cal. App. 4th 89 in holding that the client could be held liable as a prior manufacturer of a brand drug for injuries allegedly caused years later by a generic version of the drug. Such grant of review is rare.

ASIA & OCEANIA WINNERS

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ASIA & OCEANIA WINNERS Economic growth in South Asia is forecast to accelerate in 2016’s final figures, led by an increase in activity in India.

The region’s economy expanded by 6% in 2015 compared to 5.4% in 2014, potentially making it the second fastest growing region in the world after East Asia and the Pacific.

Reviewing the risks facing South Asia’s economies, home to a fourth of mankind, the report notes that all developing economies are vulnerable to the effects of monetary tightening in a recovering US economy and of stagnation in the weaker Eurozone. However, bigger effects on the fortunes of the region could come from domestic developments. Political turmoil and nonsustainable fiscal policies could undermine stability and investor confidence, whereas sound macroeconomic policies and economic reforms could spur faster growth.

in the rest of the region. A net oil importer, the region is expected to benefit from lower fuel prices, although commodity exporters Indonesia and Malaysia face pressures from lower global prices of oil, gas, coal, palm oil, and rubber. Growth in China eased 7.1% in 2015.

Regional growth (excluding China) was 4.9%, and is projected to rise to 5.4% for 2016’s final figures, due to strengthening external demand – notwithstanding slower growth in China, less policy uncertainty in Thailand, and easing domestic pressures elsewhere.

As East Asian labour costs increase, South Asia has an opportunity to become the manufacturing hub of the world; but achieving this will require boosting competitiveness.

Growth in combined Central Asia and Europe weakened further to 1.8% in 2015 from an already weak 2.4% as the oil price decline, geopolitical tensions, and related spillovers, including from Russia, are only partly offset by a moderate recovery in the euro area, according to Global Economics Prospects. In Russia, a 2.7% contraction was reported although a moderate recovery is forecast for 2016 supported by policies that are shifting the economy to a lower oil price environment. In Turkey, there was 3% growth in 2015, with private spending recovering after the June elections. Assuming a slight rise in oil prices in 2016-17, no further deterioration in the geopolitical situation, and continued macroeconomic stabilisation policies in major economies, regional growth is expected to strengthen to 3.5% in 2016-17.

Further, East Asia and Pacific region growth eased to 6.7% in 2015 and is expected to remain stable for two years, according to the June 2015 issue of Global Economics Prospects. This analysis reflects a continued slowdown in China that is offset by a modest pickup

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Assuming a slight rise in oil prices, regional growth is expected to strengthen to 3.5% in 2016-17.

GLE Awards 2016

ASIA & OCEANIA CONTENTS Watts McCray Lawyers / Individual - Family Mediation Lawyer of the Year in Australia ........................................ 45.

Nyman Gibson Miralis Criminal Defence Lawyers / White Collar Crime Law Firm of the Year in Australia ........... 45.

Duan & Duan / Business Law Firm of the Year in China ......................................................................................... 46.

Shanghai Kai-Rong Law Firm / Client Choice - Logistics Law Firm of the Year in China .........................................46.

Beijing Dentons Law Offices, LLP / International Trade Law Firm of the Year in China............................................47.

Co-Effort Law Firm LLP / Maritime Law Firm of the Year in China ..........................................................................47.

AZB & Partners/ Editors’ Choice - Competition Law Firm of the Year in India ........................................................48.

Spectrum Legal / Most Promising Start-Up Law Firm of the Year in India ..............................................................48.

Link Legal India Law Services / Project Finance Law Firm of the Year in India ....................................................... 49.

Salvador & Associates / Client Choice - Tax Planning Law Firm of the Year in the Philippines ............................... 49.

ADNAN SUNDRA & LOW / Islamic Finance Law Firm of the Year in Malaysia / Banking & Finance Law Firm of the Year in Malaysia / International Banking & Finance Law Firm of the Year in Malaysia ......................................................................... 50.

DivinaLaw / Commercial Litigation Law Firm of the Year in the Philippines............................................................. 51.

DivinaLaw / Investments Law Firm of the Year in the Philippines ........................................................................... 52.

Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & de los Angeles / Peer Choice - IP Litigation Law Firm of the Year in the Philippines ......................................................................... 53.

Opal Lawyers LLC / Peer Choice - Corporate Finance Law Firm of the Year in Singapore ..................................... 53.

Ann Tan & Associates / Women’s Rights Law Firm of the Year in Singapore .........................................................54.

ANDREW SMITHS PARTNERS / IP Law Firm of the Year in Sri Lanka ..................................................................54.

Deep & Far / Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year in Taiwan ......................................................................... 55.

Rich IP & Co. / Patents Law Firm of the Year in Taiwan ........................................................................................... 55.

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INDIVIDUAL - FAMILY MEDIATION LAWYER OF THE YEAR IN AUSTRALIA Watts McCray Lawyers Justin Dowd Partner Tel: +61 2 92835877 jdowd@wattsmccray.com.au www.wattsmccray.com.au Watts McCray is a family law firm employing the largest number of accredited specialist family lawyers in Australia. Its family law specialists provide services and advice in relation to property, parenting and child support matters on a national and international basis. The firm has a number of lawyers trained as arbitrators and mediators. With a wealth of practical knowledge spanning more than 30 years, Watts McCray has a combined pool of over 400 years’ experience.

Justin Dowd is Chairman of Partners at Watts McCray and specialises in international family law matters. Mr Dowd is a member of the International Academy of Family Lawyers, the International Academy of Collaborative Lawyers and an associate of the International Family Law Group, based in London. He is a Public Notary and trained as an arbitrator in family law. He is a member of the Board of the World Congress on Children’s Rights and Family Law. He is also a former New South Wales Law Society President and Registrar of the Family Court of Australia. In his capacity as a Registrar of the Family Court, he conducted many successful mediations within the Family Court.

Moreover, Mr Dowd is an author of the Family Law Section of Halsbury’s Laws of Australia, Australian Practical Forms and Precedents, and an author of the Lexis Nexis online service, Practical Guidance in Family Law. He has written many articles and presentations on family law, both nationally and internationally.

As one of Australia’s leading family law firms and with the knowledge of our specialists, Watts McCray has access to not only in-house expertise, but also a network of lawyers nationally and internationally whose experience covers the gamut of family law issues. This network enables the firm to provide advice and assistance to clients with any family law issue, no matter how complex.

Regarding the key legal issues faced by legal practitioners within the field of family mediation law, Mr Dowd commented: “The Family Court system is currently under enormous pressure with delays exceeding two to three years for a Final Hearing, and six months for an Urgent Hearing. Our firm has often provided its clients with an alternative to the delays, costs and adversarial nature of Court proceedings.”

Mr Dowd, as well as other practitioners in the firm, is a trained mediator and arbitrator providing alternate dispute resolution to solve the issues of delays and cost. He has provided a significant leadership role as Chairman of Partners at Watts McCray, and also in his capacity as Vice President of Lawasia.

Looking to the year ahead, he noted: “It is my vision that our firm will continue to deliver expert advice in the family law area and, in particular, the use of alternate dispute resolution to achieve optimum outcomes for our clients. Our firm has continued to expand and develop its expertise in all areas of alternate dispute resolution in family law matters – to enhance its established reputation as one of Australia’s leading family law firms.”

WHITE COLLAR CRIME LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN AUSTRALIA Nyman Gibson Miralis Criminal Defence Lawyers Mr Dennis Miralis Partner Tel: (+61 2) 9264 8884 dm@notguilty.com.au www.notguilty.com.au Nyman Gibson Miralis is a specialist firm of criminal defence lawyers and advisors based in Sydney, Australia, with expertise in domestic and international white collar and corporate crime.

White collar crime may encompass offences such as corporate crime, fraud, bribery including foreign bribery, insider trading, embezzlement, taxation offences, money laundering and other dishonesty related offences which may be prosecuted by the Australian Tax Office (ATO), the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) and the Commonwealth DPP (CDPP).

White collar crime also captures proceedings for the forfeiture and seizure of property declared to be proceeds of crime, irrespective of the jurisdictions where the property may be located.

The investigation of white collar offences often involves multiple law enforcement agencies working across several jurisdictions to investigate, gather evidence, bring charges and sometimes prosecute in more than one jurisdictions, with parallel civil and criminal proceedings often being permitted.

Representing clients for white collar crime investigations and offences therefore necessitates a comprehensive understanding of the operational environment of the regulators, including an understanding of the complex legislation which provides the powers which investigative bodies use.

Nyman Gibson Miralis has acquired expertise in working collaboratively across jurisdictions and formulating international

defence strategies, covering international investigations and prosecutions including extradition and the sharing of information between foreign states.

In 2016 Nyman Gibson Miralis acted in a high profile investigation involving the US and Australia concerning allegations of foreign bribery, money laundering and shareholder fraud being investigated by the FBI and the US Securities Exchange Commission. Our lawyers have collaborated with lawyers in the US, Cyprus, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

Our clients are Directors of Corporations who are seeking the expertise of lawyers who have been involved in litigation in Australia but operate globally and have experience in developing and implementing sophisticated defence strategies for Trial, including working with global experts. Our clients also seek us out for sound legal advice concerning negotiating with the regulators to achieve the best possible outcome.

Our major point of difference is our work across the globe and the relationships we have built working collaboratively with international partners to achieve results aligned with our clients’ objectives.

Mr Dennis Miralis has practiced exclusively in the area of criminal law since 2001 with a specialist focus on international white collar and corporate crime. Mr Dennis Miralis is a member of the NSW Law Society, the International Law Section of the Law Council of Australia, a member of Law Asia, a member of the Australian and New Zealand Society of International Law and on the Legal Aid serious crime panel.

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BUSINESS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN CHINA Duan & Duan George Wang Vice Chairman, Senior Partner Tel: +(8621)62191103 george@duanduan.com www.duanduan.com Founded in 1993, Duan & Duan was the first law firm established in China in accordance with international standards by Chinese students who returned from overseas studies and gained working experience abroad since China’s Reform and Opening-up.

Duan & Duan has become one of the most prestigious PRC law firms focusing on providing high-end legal services in the foreign related areas.

Duan & Duan is devoted to providing first-class foreign related legal services. With the development for more than two decades, Duan & Duan lawyers have accumulated extensive and abundant experiences, and they have become a professional and international experienced legal team who are able to provide high quality professional services on complex legal matters. Duan & Duan is the first choice of many Fortune 500 domestic or international enterprises. In the meantime, Duan & Duan lawyers have been assisting many Chinese well-known state-owned enterprises and privately run business to go abroad and expand their operations into international market.

Duan & Duan has offices in Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Kunming, Hefei, Dalian, Chengdu, Xiamen, Chongqing, Hong Kong and Seattle, each of which is equipped with a professional legal team. Their working languages include but not limited to Chinese, English and Japanese. All of these offices are equipped with the uniformed computer management system and modern communication tools, which ensure our timely legal service of high quality to our clients all around the world.

Duan & Duan has been endeavoring to develop with the principles of professionalism, brand building, large scale and internationalism.

In the process of pursuing excellence, focusing on professionalism and internationalism, we provide first-class legal service to our clients in accordance with international standards. We continue to expand domestically and internationally in the process of brand building and expansion of scale.

Since the beginning of Duan & Duan, our lawyers have provided legal services to multinational companies and assisted in their local incorporation in China. Our lawyers continue to advise on the most challenging cross-border investment related transactions for major domestic and multinational companies. Duan & Duan has accumulated special expertise in assisting multinational companies in developing strategies for the establishment of their business operations in China, including setting up representative offices, WFOEs, or various types of joint ventures etc. Our lawyers provide comprehensive advices on all stages of inbound investment and participate in all aspects of the project.

Aside from advising on inbound/ domestic investments, we also advise on outbound investment by Chinese companies.

Duan & Duan has been very active in antitrust/unfair competition practices ever since the days when consolidated regulations were nonexistent, and our lawyers are well aware of both the governmental policy directions and international trends in this legal area. Duan & Duan advises clients on issues regarding abuses of dominant positions, predatory pricing, tying and bundling, price gouging, refusal to deal, price-fixing, and cartels, or other anticompetitive behaviors. We also help prepare antitrust and merger control applications for cross-border or offshore M&A transactions.

CLIENT CHOICE - LOGISTICS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN CHINA Shanghai Kai-Rong Law Firm Jin Yu-Lai Managing Partner Tel: +86 21 5396 1065 jinyulai@skrlf.com www.skrlf.com Shanghai Kai-Rong Law Firm, founded in 1998 with a team of experienced and highly regarded professionals, is a dynamic legal boutique offering clients representation in commercial transactions and disputes settlements.

Today, the firm practises in all areas of logistics, including but not limited to disputes on freight, cargo damage and loss, releasing goods without B/L, vessel/truck chartering, warehouse leasing, warehouse handling and so on, from road to sea and to air, and from transaction structuring to dispute settlement.

Its reputation for delivering the highest-quality advice and outcomes for clients in the logistics sector is built on its specialist legal knowledge and in-depth understanding of the industry. It fully understands the problems of the logistics industry and how this industry works, and so is capable of providing clients with advices for their daily business and operation.

Managing partner Jin Yu-Lai noted that the firms’ straightforward advice makes business sense for its clients. “Moreover,” he said, “as one of the leading logistics law firms in China, the firm has successfully handled a high volume of logistics cases – and has won high praise from clients on its highly effective legal service, having been continually selected by famous legal ranking institutions such as ALB and Chambers and Partners.”

Mr Jin is heavily experienced in aviation, shipping and insurance, and has acted for many domestic and international well-known shipping, forwarding, airline and insurance companies to successfully deal with thousands of significant cases.

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Shanghai Kai-Rong Law Firm’s clients cover diverse roles in this sector of logistics, from shipowner and airline, to trucker; from cargo owner to forwarder; from warehouse to container operator. Clients include: Air Cargo, CTS, JHJ, Agility, Schenker, Sinotrans, Scan, EXCEL, KF, Pacorini, CWT, DSV, China Elec-Trans, OnTime Express, P&P Logistics, Jupiter Forwarding and Great Richwell.

The firm has successfully dealt with numerous high-profile cases, including: assisting Malaysian Airlines and its reinsurer to deal with the missing aircraft on flight MH370, which disappeared on March 8,2014.

“This was an accident that attracted global concerns over the world,” said Mr Jin.“More than 150 Chinese passengers went missing with the flight. The firm was entrusted by Malaysia Airlines and its re-insurer in the first instance to help MAS deal with relevant matters in China, such as providing professional legal opinions to MAS and its insurer, helping them to make decisions on facing various situations, helping them update and convey effective information to relatives of those missing passengers, and assisting them in communications with Chinese governmental departments.

Shanghai Kai-Rong Law Firm has made great progress regarding the settlement process between MAS and the MH370 families.”

Mr Jin added that the firm has also represented Pacorini Metals since 2015 – dealing with its multibillion-dollar warehouse disputes in QingDao Port.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN CHINA Beijing Dentons Law Offices, LLP Kaiming Cai Senior Partner; Director of International Practice Department Tel: +8610 58137525; +86 18612250069 kaiming.cai@dentons.cn www.dentons.com Dentons is now the world’s largest law firm. Dentons’ interdisciplinary integrated global team offers flexible, tailored solutions designed to meet the needs of local and international clients in more than 125 locations in 50+ countries.

Mr. Cai is the Director of International Practice Department at Beijing Dentons Law Offices. He specializes in international trade remedies, cross-border investment and Competition Law. Mr. Cai has served as a counsel for China Chamber of Commerce for Import & Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME), which is governed by the Ministry of Commerce.

Mr. Cai has extensive experience supporting multi-national companies in anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations led by Chinese and foreign state authorities. He has also represented various famous enterprises in their international trade remedy cases at home and abroad.

He also acts for various industry associations.

On December 5, 2014, the Turkish Ministry of Economy (TME) began investigating certain imported products after Turkey’s Vestel Electronics called for the ministry to take safeguard measures. ZTE Corporation, being the largest exporter of certain product to Turkey, called on Mr. Cai for representation in all forthcoming legal actions.

On March 4, 2016, the TME announced a final decision not taking any safeguard measures against certain product, being a total success for the ZTE Corporation.

On November 17, 2015, the U.S. Department of Commerce initiated a countervailing investigation against exporters with respect to certain products from the People’s Republic of China. NOK (Wuxi), one of the major exporters to the U.S., engaged Mr. Cai from lots of candidates to respond this investigation.

On April 4, 2016, U.S. DOC issued the preliminary CVD determination notice decides provisional countervailing duty as follows: NOK (Wuxi) received a rate of 2.68%, which is the lowest duty among other respondents.

Meanwhile Mr. Cai also fought for the production exclusion for NOK(Wuxi) and, in July, 2016, the client’s production was successfully excluded – a rare result in the history of U.S. trade remedy cases.

Mr. Cai’s major clients include: • A world-leading communication equipment manufacturer and its financial company; • A large domestic infrastructure contractor; • Trust companies, insurance and capital management companies; and Industry-leading export manufacturers.

MARITIME LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN CHINA Co-effort Law Firm LLP David Zhou Yi Senior Partner Tel: +86 21 5879 6866 (direct} / +86 21 5876 7828 (switchboard) davidzhou@co-effort.com www.co-effort.com Co-effort is a full service Chinese law firm with an international practice focus and global reach. True to our name we work together with our clients to ensure their successes, in the courtroom and in business. We have received numerous accolades through the years in recognition of our professionalism, creativity and results.

Established in 1998 in Shanghai as the first LLP in the region, Co-effort is a top tier law firm and preferred partner of leading domestic and international companies. We are everywhere our clients need us – with offices in Beijing, Suzhou, Wuxi, Xuzhou, Nantong, Changsha, Zhengzhou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Nanjing, etc., the firm is strategically positioned to meet its clients’ needs across China.

International offices include Osaka, Fukuoka, Singapore, Milan and Paris. Our closely knit network of sister firms across the globe and culture of collegiality and cooperation further guarantee that global teams can be assembled seamlessly for each transaction.

Maritime law is one of the key practices of Co-effort. The team is led by David Zhou. As a former merchant marine officer, his practice areas cover admiralty and maritime, contentious and non-contentious issues on both “wet” and “dry” works. We act for P&I Clubs, shipping companies, insurers, banks, shipyards, port authorities, and a variety of shipping interests in many influential cases. Co-effort provides legal services to the clients on bills of lading, charterparties, other carriage contracts, marine insurance, shipbuilding and repairs

contracts, ship finance, sale and purchase, collision and allision, fire and explosion, salvage, crew claims, and disputes arising from port operations etc.

David Zhou appears before the Chinese courts and arbitration commissions in China as counsels. He also has been appointed as expert witness in the arbitral and court proceedings in London, Singapore, Hong Kong and some other jurisdictions on the issues pertaining to China.

David Zhou is named in Who’s Who Legal, a recommended individual by Legal 500 and a leading practitioner in China by Euromoney, a highly recommended leading lawyer in China by Chambers Asia-Pacific as well as the team-head of the Maritime Law Firm of the Year in China by Corporate INTL. He is an adjunct professor of many Chinese universities and a frequent speaker at international fora lecturing legal landscape in China, particularly maritime and shipping laws. Having been a qualified practicing Chinese lawyer, David Zhou has vast experience in protecting and enforcing foreign clients’ rights in China. With his local expertise, David Zhou is better to interpret those cross-cultural issues and can provide practical solution for foreign clients when they have legal needs in China.

David Zhou graduated from Shanghai Maritime University (B. Eng. & LL.M.), and is admitted to the Bar of the PRC. He speaks Chinese and fluent English.

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EDITOR’S CHOICE - COMPETITION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN INDIA AZB & Partners

Zia Mody Managing and Founding Partner Tel: +91 22 6639 6880 zia.mody@azbpartners.com AZB & Partners is one of the prominent law firms in India, with an aim to provide clear, concise and practical advice based on an in-depth knowledge of the legal, regulatory and commercial environment within which clients operate. The firm’s domestic and international clients range from privately owned to publicly listed companies, including Fortune 500 entities, multinationals, investment banks and private equity firms.

Zia Mody is the founder and senior partner of AZB & Partners and one of India’s foremost corporate attorneys. She is a Vice President and member of the London Court of Arbitration (LCIA) and has recently been selected as being among the world’s pre-eminent commercial arbitration specialists by The International Who’s Who of Commercial Arbitration 2010. Among her many awards, she has been voted as ‘Business Woman of the Year, 2010’ by the Economic Times. She has also been voted by the Economic Times as one of the country’s most powerful CEOs (2004 to 2008), and as one of the 15 most powerful Indian women leaders in 2010. She has been selected as one of the 25 most powerful women in business by Business Today in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010.

Shreyas Jayasimha MCIArb is a Partner at AZB & Partners, Bangalore, India. He currently serves as Secretary and Member of the LCIA Asia Pacific Users Council, Regional Editor (South and Central Asia) of the Newsletter of the IBA Arbitration Committee and as the Secretary of the IBA Task Force on the proposed amendments to the Indian Arbitration and Conciliation Act. He has also attended

the Diploma Course in International Arbitration conducted at Keble College Oxford by CIArb and is an accredited mediator.

Ms Mody noted: “Our firm has a deep and broad dispute capability across India, and has been successful in securing strategic successes for our clients in courts, arbitrations, mediations and negotiations. Our capability in arbitration ranges from negotiating and drafting bespoke dispute clauses, to appearing for claimants and respondents in arbitrations, resisting or initiating anti-suit injunctions, obtaining urgent interim relief from courts or arbitral tribunals, conducting discovery and leading evidence, complex cross examination, comprehensive research and quality oral and written advocacy.”

When asked to characterise the arbitration system prevalent in India, Ms Mody explained that international arbitration in India is both ad hoc and institutional; meanwhile, popular choices of institutional rules include ICC, LCIA, SIAC and LCIA India, among others.

She added: “The establishment of LCIA India and an Indian branch of the Permanent Court of Arbitration along with several regional arbitration centres has given a boost to international arbitration in India. However, one has to be mindful of cases decided

by Indian courts that apply standards of judicial intervention in arbitration including on grounds of public policy. Parties would be well advised to exercise caution at the time of drafting their dispute clauses so as to avoid unnecessary pitfalls. In case the parties choose off shore arbitration, care must be taken to choose a venue that is notified by as a reciprocating territory by India.”

MOST PROMISING START-UP LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN INDIA Spectrum Legal www.spectrumlegal.in info@spectrumlegal.in No. 101, 30/A, Promenade Road Bangalore - 560005 080 6888 8906

Spectrum Legal is a full service law firm based out of Bangalore, India. Founded by Chintan Chinnappa, Mahesh Arkalgud, Poornachandra Pattar and Vaishnavi Bhaskaran, Spectrum Legal is organized into the following practice areas: • Litigation and Dispute Resolution

• Employment Law

• Corporate Law

• Real Estate & Projects

• Private Equity

• Banking and Finance

• Intellectual Property In a relatively short span, Spectrum Legal has represented and advised some of the largest conglomerates in the Automobiles, Banking & Finance, Food and Beverages, Information Technology, Manufacturing, Healthcare & Pharmaceutical and Print Media sectors.

Spectrum Legal comes highly recommended due to their knowledgeable and responsive team who lay emphasis on personal attention, efficiency and cost-effectiveness. They have been able to successfully combine legal acumen with business insights and for this reason we deem them to be a firm to watch out for in the future.

Spectrum Legal comes highly recommended due to their knowledgeable and responsive team.

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PROJECT FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN INDIA Link Legal India Law Services Siddharth Srivastava Partner, Banking and Finance

Vishakha Bhagvat Partner, Banking and Finance

Tel: +91 9810139169 s.srivastava@linklegal.in www.linklegal.in

Tel: +91 9004479964 vishakha.bhagvat@linklegal.in www.linklegal.in

Link Legal India Law Services (LL ILS) is a full service law firm established in 1999 with rich experience in varied practice areas such as Projects and Infrastructure, Aviation, Project Finance, Dispute Resolution, Mergers and Acquisitions, Joint Ventures and Private Equity, General Corporate and Commercial, Exchange Control and Foreign Investment, Technology, Media and Telecommunications and Real Estate.

The Firm comprises of 23 Partners and 93 associate lawyers and has offices in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai.

Some of the Partners of the Firm having earlier worked with leading institutions such as the Reserve Bank of India, the World Bank, Industrial Development Bank of India, the Team is adept at providing specialized advisory across various fields of financing, including syndicated finance, corporate loans, external commercial borrowings, corporate debt restructuring, strategic debt restructuring, bond issues, debt capital market, Islamic Finance etc.

LL ILS has extensively advised leading banks and financial institutions such as State Bank of India and its associate banks, Central Bank of India, Andhra Bank, Export Import Bank of India, ICICI, L&T Infrastructure Finance Company Limited, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Union Bank of India, IDBI Bank Ltd, Axis Bank, Bank of Baroda, Vijaya Bank, Karur Vysya Bank etc.

Mr. Siddharth Srivastava, Partner, Banking and Finance, has advised leading banks and financial institutions in both domestic

and foreign currency financings, advised clients on syndication, debt restructuring and securitisation matters, and has been involved in various non convertible debenture issuances, derivative and trade finance transactions.

Mr. Srivastava stated: “The most significant and recent change in the banking sector has been the notification of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, which seeks to provide a unified framework for insolvency of firms and individuals. It repeals the existing personal insolvency framework whilst amending the existing Companies Act, Debt Recovery Statute and Securitisation Act, etc. There will be various legal issues that will crop up relating to the interplay of laws, especially during the transition period. Our focus is and will be not only on identifying these issues for the client, but also to provide possible solutions for them.”

Miss Vishakha Bhagvat, Partner, Banking and Finance, has advised on various financing transactions by way of rupee as well as foreign currency facilities including advising on regulatory aspects of the sector.

Commenting on the recent rankings of the Firm, she stated that “In addition to being consistently ranked as a top tier law firm in Dispute Resolution, Infrastructure and Projects & Energy space

by Chambers & Partners – Asia Pacific, the Firm has retained the position as one of the best law firms in banking space not just in India but also in Asia Pacific by being ranked #1 in Asia Pacific (excluding Japan) for Project Finance as per midyear Dealogic Rankings released in August 2016.

CLIENT CHOICE - TAX PLANNING LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN THE PHILIPPINES Salvador & Associates Serafin Salvador Partner Tel: +632 811-2500 susalvador@salvadorlaw.com www.salvadorlaw.com Taxand Philippines is Salvador & Associates. We were established in 2003 by experts in tax and commercial law.

We are recognised as one of the leading firms engaged in tax practice in the Philippines. Our tax practice encompasses tax advisory and tax planning services, and tax advocacy and litigation, most of which are rendered to various multinational and top 500 companies in the Philippines.

In addition to our three partners, we have eight senior associates and nine junior associates, all of whom are highly qualified in the areas of taxation and commercial law.

Our tax practice includes tax advisory and planning, tax compliance, family wealth planning, and compensation planning, among others. Our tax advocacy practice includes the handling of tax audit and investigations and claims for refund of overpaid national and local taxes, including input value-added taxes.

Although we are relatively new, our tax cases alone already number close to 200 and involve billions of pesos. We represent our clients before various government agencies, such as the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), the Department of Finance and the Securities and Exchange Commissions (SEC) as well as with the various courts in the Philippines, such as Regional Trial Courts, the Court of Tax Appeals, the Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court.

Taxanders share, and are committed to, a common approach for clients.

Serafin U. Salvador, Jr., or “Jun”, is based in Taxand Philippines where he is Chairman of Salvador & Associates.

He was with SGV & Co. for 30 years (until 2001), where he was Head of the Tax Division and also Tax Principal. SGV & Co. was previously affiliated with Arthur Andersen, and is now affiliated with Ernst & Young. Jun is a professor of taxation in both the Ateneo and UP colleges of law.He is a graduate of UP Law Class 1968 and attended the Graduate Tax Program, 1970-1971 at the Graduate School of Law, New York University.

He completed his MBA at the Ateneo de Manila University and attended the TOP Management Program, Asian Institute of Management, and the Managing Multinational Enterprises at the INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France. Jun is a Past President of the Tax Management Association of the Philippines and has been a contributor to various foreign publications, including the CCH Journal of Asia-Pacific Taxation. Jun was appointed by the United Nations as a member of the Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters in accordance with Resolution 2004/69 adopted by the UN Economic and Social Council on November 11, 2004. The term of office is four years, which began on July 1, 2005 and ends on June 30, 2009.

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ISLAMIC FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN MALAYSIA / BANKING & FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN MALAYSIA / INTERNATIONAL BANKING & FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN MALAYSIA ADNAN SUNDRA & LOW

Deepak Sadasivan Partner Tel: +60 3 2070 0466 deepak.sadasivan@asl.com.my

ADNAN SUNDRA & LOW was established in August 1975 and has operated under its present name since 1982.

The firm’s expertise spans multiple practice areas, and our core competencies include banking & finance, capital markets, civil aviation, corporate & commercial, dispute resolution, Islamic finance and real estate. The firm has been consistently ranked as a leading law firm in Malaysia with a reputation for delivering quality and effective legal services and solutions and commitment to achieving our clients’ commercial objectives, and we celebrated our 40th Anniversary in 2015.

Deepak Sadasivan, our Managing Partner, is recommended as a Leading Lawyer in IFLR1000’s Financial and Corporate Rankings 2016 and is a highly ranked lawyer in a number of legal publications, including Asialaw Profiles Leading Lawyers 2016 and Chambers Asia-Pacific Global and Asia-Pacific Guides 2016 respectively in the areas of Banking & Finance and Islamic Finance in Malaysia. He was also honoured with the Managing Partner of the Year Award at the ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2016 in recognition of his stewardship of the firm.

Deepak’s experience includes banking work such as capital market financing, security documentation, straight financing, corporate work such as acquisitions, listings, joint ventures, restructuring and corporate and commercial litigation work. His early finance experience included acting for arrangers, lenders, underwriters and agents in relation to loan facilities taken by both the Government of Malaysia and corporations and advising on the recapitalisation of various Malaysian financial institutions during the 1997–1998 Asian financial crisis.

He is particularly experienced in structuring and documenting Islamic financing transactions which

include advising on the world’s first exchangeable Sukuk (and also the largest ever exchangeable issuance in Malaysia); advising on the first Islamic stapled securities transaction in Malaysia; advising on the first municipal bonds in Malaysia (being also the first bonds to employ a parallel Mudharabah Islamic structure) and advising on the template documentation for an Islamic Derivatives Master Agreement. Deepak is also extensively involved in project finance work and has advised on the financing of several significant infrastructure and energy projects in Malaysia, including the privatisation of water supply in Malaysia, coal fired power plants and the development of expressways in Malaysia.

In addition to the above, he advised on a number of significant and award-winning transactions in 2015, including the first ever 30-year sovereign sukuk issuance and the first issuance thus far utilizing rights to transportation services as an asset class.

The firm has been privileged to receive recognition for its strong track record in advising on finance and corporate matters and some of our most recent accolades include: ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2016 Malaysian Law Firm Of The Year Islamic Finance Law Firm Of The Year ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2016, 2015 & 2014 Banking & Financial Services Law Firm of the Year IFN Deals of the Year Awards 2015 Ijarah, Wakalah, Real Estate, Perpetual Sukuk, Equity & IPO, Project & Infrastructure and Turkey Deals Of The Year Further information may be found at www.asl.com.my

Deepak Sadasivan is recommended as a Leading Lawyer in IFLR1000’s Financial and Corporate Rankings 2016.

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COMMERCIAL LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN THE PHILIPPINES DivinaLaw

Atty. Nilo T. Divina Managing Partner Tel: +6328220808 info@divinalaw.com www.divinalaw.com

Nilo T. Divina, managing partner, leading counsellor and authority in Philippine corporate law and litigation.

He founded the firm in 2006, and has been the firm’s managing partner since. This year is the firm’s tenth anniversary. He grew the firm from a crew of nine lawyers to the present complement of 50 attorneys and counsels. He is also the dean of the Faculty of Civil Law of the University of Santo Tomas, one the Philippines’ leading law schools.

Mr Divina’s experience spans some 25 years of appearing before courts of all levels and various quasi-judicial agencies.

He led the firm in winning several landmark cases before the Philippine Supreme Court, including cases that clarified important issues in credit transactions, the National Internal Revenue Code, and the Family Code, and helped strengthen parts of the Rules of Corporate Rehabilitation.

He is a regular speaker in the Philippine lecture circuit, on such topics as debt restructuring, debtor-creditor relationship reforms, procedural reforms, public interest cases involving elected officials, presidential impeachments, anti-graft and corrupt practices issues, realty law, finance and investment, and special court proceedings.

He has appeared as an expert guest in several highly acclaimed television public information shows and continues to do so whenever his schedule permits.

Mr Divina advises leading Philippine banks, educational institutions, insurance and health companies, realty companies, and several high net worth individuals, and is on the board of a number of top Philippine corporations. He is an active member of several Supreme Court committees on reforms in legal education and court procedures, and for the term 2013-2014, is the president of the Philippine Association of Law Schools.

DivinaLaw’s vast experience in structuring foreign investments stems from its involvement in various transactions for diverse industries, e.g., power, financial, retail, steel, and realty. DivinaLaw’s experience in all aspects of investments, business and financialrelated laws and transactions, either collectively or through individual experience of its lawyers, may be considered among the most extensive in the country. Such services include: • extensive legal and corporate due diligence; • setting up offshore companies; • trade finance facilities and debt assignments; • international swaps and derivatives (schedule and transactions); • registration, incorporation and capitalization of representative and branch offices; • review of cross-border commercial transactions, including rendering of taxation advisories, among others.

DivinaLaw’s clients include leading companies in banking and finance, manufacturing, retail, power, oil and gas, education, health care and insurance, realty and property development, and technology.

The Firm also represents illustrious private and public corporations, regulatory bodies, and several high net-worth individuals DivinaLaw has, for the past 12 months, done the following notable works in the area of investments, to name a few: • Multimillion Dollar Finance and Property Development contract, as counsel for the lender, one of the largest investments company in Southeast Asia • Corporate restructuring of a domestic realty service corporation for the buy-in of foreign investor, as counsel for the corporation

• Multimillion Dollar Finance and Acquisition of property with subscription of equity for the development of a real estate property, as transaction counsel • Purchase and Acquisition, with comprehensive Legal Due Diligence of one of the country’s local hotels, as counsel for the buyer • Purchase and Take-over of one of the country’s leading manufacturer of abaca pulp sheets, as counsel for the seller • Multimillion Dollar Finance and Property development agreement between a foreign investor and domestic property developer, with the Firm as transaction counsel • Finance and Subscription contract for the development of a luxury resort in Cebu, Philippines, as counsel for the investor • Shareholders’ Agreement with Block Sale and Pooling arrangements for majority-control of management, as counsel for majority stockholders of domestic Holding Company with business in Philippines and abroad • Purchase and Acquisition, with comprehensive Legal Due Diligence of several acres of mixed use real property for development, as counsel for the buyer/investor • Buy-out of majority control of a multinational realty service firm, as counsel for the seller With its consistent rendition of high-quality swift legal service, the Firm has been conferred prestigious excellence awards, including: the ACQ Law Award for Leading Independent Law Firm of the Year for 2014; the ACQ Global Award for Managing Partner of the Year for 2015; Corporate INTL’s Investment Law Firm of the Philippines for 2016; and, now, Global Law Experts’ Investment Law Firm of the Philippines for 2016.

DivinaLaw is also the sole Philippine member of Lawyers Associated Worldwide, a top-rated international association of more than 100 independent law firms from more than 50 countries. The Firm is also the only Philippine member of LEGALINK, also a topranked global network of 68 independent law firms from a majority of the world’s commercial centers.

DivinaLaw has extensive experience in banking and finance transactions and has worked on various securitizations, structured and project financing. In addition to structuring and negotiating treasury and trust products, the Firm assists institutional investors on their investment management mandates and securities-lending programs. Its comprehensive expertise in this field of practice ensures clients of outputs and results that are efficient and customtailored to suit each client’s peculiar needs.

The Firm is likewise engaged in advisory work for corporate trustees and agency service providers in relation to the general exercise of trustee powers and discretions. It has represented both creditors and borrowers in complex and simple loan and facility syndications.

Moreover, DivinaLaw’s merger and acquisition team has the experience and expertise in acting as counsel for either the surviving or absorbed corporation. The Firm is distinguished for its holistic handling of M&As through the prevention of legal problems and cost-effective, strategic and innovative solutions to legal and implementation issues.

From its inception, DivinaLaw has and continues to represent and provide legal services to industry-leading companies, individuals and institutions in all aspects of investments, business and financialrelated laws and transactions.

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INVESTMENTS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN THE PHILIPPINES DivinaLaw

Atty. Nilo T. Divina Managing Partner Tel: +6328220808 info@divinalaw.com www.divinalaw.com

Nilo T. Divina, managing partner, leading counsellor and authority in Philippine corporate law and litigation.

He founded the firm in 2006, and has been the firm’s managing partner since. This year is the firm’s tenth anniversary. He grew the firm from a crew of nine lawyers to the present complement of 50 attorneys and counsels. He is also the dean of the Faculty of Civil Law of the University of Santo Tomas, one the Philippines’ leading law schools.

Mr Divina’s experience spans some 25 years of appearing before courts of all levels and various quasi-judicial agencies.

He led the firm in winning several landmark cases before the Philippine Supreme Court, including cases that clarified important issues in credit transactions, the National Internal Revenue Code, and the Family Code, and helped strengthen parts of the Rules of Corporate Rehabilitation.

He is a regular speaker in the Philippine lecture circuit, on such topics as debt restructuring, debtor-creditor relationship reforms, procedural reforms, public interest cases involving elected officials, presidential impeachments, anti-graft and corrupt practices issues, realty law, finance and investment, and special court proceedings.

He has appeared as an expert guest in several highly acclaimed television public information shows and continues to do so whenever his schedule permits.

Mr Divina advises leading Philippine banks, educational institutions, insurance and health companies, realty companies, and several high net worth individuals, and is on the board of a number of top Philippine corporations. He is an active member of several Supreme Court committees on reforms in legal education and court procedures, and for the term 2013-2014, is the president of the Philippine Association of Law Schools.

DivinaLaw’s vast experience in structuring foreign investments stems from its involvement in various transactions for diverse industries, e.g., power, financial, retail, steel, and realty. DivinaLaw’s experience in all aspects of investments, business and financialrelated laws and transactions, either collectively or through individual experience of its lawyers, may be considered among the most extensive in the country. Such services include: • extensive legal and corporate due diligence; • setting up offshore companies; • trade finance facilities and debt assignments; • international swaps and derivatives (schedule and transactions); • registration, incorporation and capitalization of representative and branch offices; • review of cross-border commercial transactions, including rendering of taxation advisories, among others.

DivinaLaw’s clients include leading companies in banking and finance, manufacturing, retail, power, oil and gas, education, health care and insurance, realty and property development, and technology.

The Firm also represents illustrious private and public corporations, regulatory bodies, and several high net-worth individuals DivinaLaw has, for the past 12 months, done the following notable works in the area of investments, to name a few: • Multimillion Dollar Finance and Property Development contract, as counsel for the lender, one of the largest investments company in Southeast Asia • Corporate restructuring of a domestic realty service corporation for the buy-in of foreign investor, as counsel for the corporation

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• Multimillion Dollar Finance and Acquisition of property with subscription of equity for the development of a real estate property, as transaction counsel • Purchase and Acquisition, with comprehensive Legal Due Diligence of one of the country’s local hotels, as counsel for the buyer • Purchase and Take-over of one of the country’s leading manufacturer of abaca pulp sheets, as counsel for the seller • Multimillion Dollar Finance and Property development agreement between a foreign investor and domestic property developer, with the Firm as transaction counsel • Finance and Subscription contract for the development of a luxury resort in Cebu, Philippines, as counsel for the investor • Shareholders’ Agreement with Block Sale and Pooling arrangements for majority-control of management, as counsel for majority stockholders of domestic Holding Company with business in Philippines and abroad • Purchase and Acquisition, with comprehensive Legal Due Diligence of several acres of mixed use real property for development, as counsel for the buyer/investor • Buy-out of majority control of a multinational realty service firm, as counsel for the seller With its consistent rendition of high-quality swift legal service, the Firm has been conferred prestigious excellence awards, including: the ACQ Law Award for Leading Independent Law Firm of the Year for 2014; the ACQ Global Award for Managing Partner of the Year for 2015; Corporate INTL’s Investment Law Firm of the Philippines for 2016; and, now, Global Law Experts’ Investment Law Firm of the Philippines for 2016.

DivinaLaw is also the sole Philippine member of Lawyers Associated Worldwide, a top-rated international association of more than 100 independent law firms from more than 50 countries. The Firm is also the only Philippine member of LEGALINK, also a topranked global network of 68 independent law firms from a majority of the world’s commercial centers.

DivinaLaw has extensive experience in banking and finance transactions and has worked on various securitizations, structured and project financing. In addition to structuring and negotiating treasury and trust products, the Firm assists institutional investors on their investment management mandates and securities-lending programs. Its comprehensive expertise in this field of practice ensures clients of outputs and results that are efficient and customtailored to suit each client’s peculiar needs.

The Firm is likewise engaged in advisory work for corporate trustees and agency service providers in relation to the general exercise of trustee powers and discretions. It has represented both creditors and borrowers in complex and simple loan and facility syndications.

Moreover, DivinaLaw’s merger and acquisition team has the experience and expertise in acting as counsel for either the surviving or absorbed corporation. The Firm is distinguished for its holistic handling of M&As through the prevention of legal problems and cost-effective, strategic and innovative solutions to legal and implementation issues.

From its inception, DivinaLaw has and continues to represent and provide legal services to industry-leading companies, individuals and institutions in all aspects of investments, business and financialrelated laws and transactions.

PEER CHOICE - IP LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN THE PHILIPPINES Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & de los Angeles Rogelio Nicandro Partner Tel: +63 2 555-9555 rogelio.nicandro@romulo.com www.romulo.com

Romulo offers a full range of legal services with its team of talented and experienced lawyers who are experts in their own fields.

The Intellectual Property Department of Romulo is engaged in the full spectrum of intellectual property practice in the Philippines. It is involved in protecting patents, trademarks and copyrights, and in negotiating and registering licensing and technology transfer agreements.

The Intellectual Property Department has had considerable practice in prosecuting applications and maintaining registrations before the Intellectual Property Office, as well as in pursuing civil and criminal cases involving infringement and unfair competition. It also coordinates with appropriate government agencies in obtaining and implementing search warrants for the seizure of infringing articles.

Upon the request of clients, the Intellectual Property Department monitors applications for the registration of trademarks and patents which might infringe upon their trademarks and patents.

PEER CHOICE - CORPORATE FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN SINGAPORE Opal Lawyers LLC Ms Wee Woon Hong Director Tel: +65 6236 0671 weewoonhong@opal.sg www.opal.sg Opal Lawyers LLC is a law firm that specialises in corporate work. It offers legal services in the specialised field of corporate and corporate finance work, as well as other general commercial legal work. The firm was formerly practising under “Wee Woon Hong & Associates”, which started in January 2006 as a corporate and corporate finance legal practice.

We focus on providing legal services in the specialised field of corporate finance, covering three main areas: Initial Public Offering (IPO); Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A); Listing and Corporate Compliance.

Our areas of practice are as follows: Corporate Finance Practice: • Drafting the prospectus required for an IPO exercise, handling the legal requirements and process for a listing on either the Mainboard or the Catalist of the SGX-ST for both local and foreign companies.

• Advising and handling the legal documentation work and process for a Reverse Takeover (RTO).

• Preparing the Offer Information Statement, Additional Listing Application, Subscription Agreement, Placement Agreement and other legal documentation as are necessary for a share placement exercise, rights issue or the issue of convertible securities for listed companies.

General Corporate and Commercial Practice: • Advising on Joint Ventures and preparation of the Joint Venture Agreement and Shareholders Agreement.

• Advising on Merger and Acquisition (M&A) transactions and preparing the Acquisition Agreement, Subscription Agreement and other necessary legal documentation.

• Advising on investments, including pre-IPO investments and venture capital investments via redeemable convertible preference shares

(RCPS), convertible bonds (CB) and shares with put and call options.

• Advising on corporate loan and financing matters, including preparing the loan and security documentation.

• Handling agreement or legal document that involves or is needed by a company, including employee service agreement, supplier or customer agreement, service level agreement, non-disclosure and confidentiality agreement and others.

Listing Compliance and Secretarial Practice: • Advising on the continuing listing compliance requirements of the SGX-ST Listing Manual for public listed companies, including corporate governance.

• Advising on legal matters arising from securities laws in Singapore, such as laws governing insider trading.

• Drafting the Shareholders’ Circular for listed companies, seeking shareholders’ approval for major acquisitions or disposals, interested person transactions, employee share options scheme (ESOS), share buy-back mandate, or other matters.

• Acting as Company Secretary and handling secretarial work for public listed companies.

With our forte in IPO listings, we serve companies planning for listing in Singapore and assist them in complying with the continuing listing requirements of the SGX-ST after they are successfully listed in Singapore.

At the start of 2016, Opal Lawyers LLC completed a Takeover assignment by acting for the Offeror in the Mandatory Offer of a Singapore public listed company. We are currently working on another two IPO/RTO projects.

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WOMEN’S RIGHTS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN SINGAPORE Ann Tan & Associates Dr Anamah Tan PBM, PPA(G), BBM, JP ChT, IBFA Tel: +65 6 225 5822 skydive@anntanassociates.com www.anntanassociates.com An outstanding women’s rights activist, a renowned family lawyer and a skilled negotiator, Dr Anamah Tan has close to 52 years of extensive experience in Family Law practice, as well as advancing the rights and status of women in Singapore, Asia and internationally.

Dr Tan is a pioneer in Asia’s women’s movement and a tireless advocate for gender issues, particularly, domestic violence and poverty eradication. Backed by her legal expertise in family law – her firm having won the Asian Law Award Singapore 2001 for “Best Family Practice” and the Asian Legal Business “Legal Who’s Who Singapore 2003” for Family Law – she has successfully lobbied for changes in the socio-political and legal frameworks in Singapore to advance the status of women.

She has been a board member and Vice-President of World YWCA working on issues such as human rights and disarmament. She has also represented Singapore either as head of a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) or as an NGO member of official delegations in numerous regional, international and United Nations (UN) conferences on women’s issues and gender mainstreaming, including the 4th Conference on Women in 1995 and the Beijing+5 UN General Assembly Special Session on Women in 2000. Dr Tan was the Past President of the International Council of Women (ICW), a 100+ year old world body headquartered in Paris. Her term of office was from September 20032006. Dr Tan’s most high-profile role to date has been as Singapore’s representative on the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (2004-2008). The committee focuses on watching over the progress for women in participating nations.

In Asia, Dr Tan has served in various leading capacities in major women’s councils and organisations, and on ministerial committees

on community and family projects. She was the Past President of the ASEAN Confederation of Women’s Organisations (ACWO) from 2000-2002 and the Past President of the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations (SCWO) from 1991-2000. As a respected women’s leader, she has initiated and spearheaded numerous projects that have benefited countless women and their families. She has organised and addressed many noteworthy conferences that have raised awareness of gender issues in Asia.

In Singapore, Dr Tan was one of the key persons who made representations to the Select Committee, on behalf of the SCWO and the Council of the Law Society, on the amendments to the Women’s Charter in 1996. The Charter is Singapore’s primary family law statute and its own unique legislation to protect the rights of women, especially in marriage and family matters. Dr Tan worked for the establishment of a Family Court, which has since been set up in Singapore, to help, among other things, dysfunctional families and victims of abuse, who are usually women, to access and obtain legal protection. In 1980, Dr Tan played an influential role in galvanising the leading women’s associations in Singapore into a unified body under the umbrella of the SCWO. The 100,000-member strong Council has since worked on many women’s projects and causes including developing a shelter for victims of domestic violence.

Through her volunteer work she has held myriad roles including past president and member of the ICW, founding member and former president of the SCWO, founder of the Star Shelter for Abused Women, founding member of the Singapore Association of Women Lawyers (SAWL), and member of the International Federation of Women Lawyers Executive Council (FIDA). Her contributions to public service have been commended by the Singapore Government and private sector.

IP LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN SRI LANKA ANDREW SMITHS PARTNERS Andrew Jayatunga LLB, LLM (London), Attorney At Law Partner Tel: +94112794316 / +94773577082 andrew@srilankalawyer.com www.srilankalawyer.com The firm has unrivalled scale on the core areas of commercial activity including Property Law/Real Estate, Foreign investment, Intellectual property including Trademarks, Patent, Industrial Designs; Litigation; corporate; commercial; dispute resolution; Arbitration, Civil & Commercial Litigation, money recovery, Employment/Labour law; Construction Contracts/Disputes, Maritime Contracts/Disputes, Family law, Enforcing Foreign Judgments, Conveyance, DEEDS, Lease Agreements, Last wills, Testamentary Matters, Resealing Foreign Probates, Setting up/ Incorporate Companies, BOI Matters, Company Secretarial Services and transactions on day-to-day operations and the most challenging deals.

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Currently the firm has clients (including fortune 500 companies) in 22 countries and working with over 50 law firms all over the world including UK, USA, India and China.

Mr. Andrew is an experienced practitioner, Attorney at law; his practice focused on Intellectual property including Trademarks, Patent, Industrial Designs; Foreign investment, Employment / Labour law; Construction Contracts / Disputes and corporate due diligence matters.

Mr. Andrew is an Attorney at Law and a Graduate in law.

He lived in London for more than 7 years where he earned his Masters of Law (LLM) in International Commercial Law from University of Westminster London in 2004, also he has continuing credentials from World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN TAIWAN

PATENTS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN TAIWAN Rich IP & Co. Clarice Chen Managing Partner Tel: +886-2-2713-1060 clarice.chen@richip.com www.richip.com The Most Experienced IP Experts in Taiwan All key members of Rich IP & Co. are leaders, supervisors or educators of the Patent Department of Lee & Li Attorneysat-Law and other active IP firms in Taiwan, and have been the most active IP team in Taiwan for more than twenty (20) years in providing training courses for patent examiners of Taiwan Intellectual Property Office (TIPO) and the Board of Appeal of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Judges, public prosecutors, local patent attorneys, in-house counselors of corporations, research institutes and universities.

Co-Editor of “The Brown Book” for Taiwan Patent & Trademark Systems At present, the loose-leaf handbook entitled “Manual for the Handling of Applications for Patents, Designs and Trademarks throughout the World” (also called “The Brown Book”) is known worldwide in circles of patent attorneys, trade-mark and design attorneys and lawyers active in the field of intellectual property. Professionals all over the world consider the handbook to be complete and reliable, and consequently it is frequently consulted in practice. Rich IP & Co., has been selected as the editor for Taiwan area since 2005 in regularly updating the contents of The Brown Book in the future.

The Sole Expert from IP firms to Deliver Courses of “Patent Infringement Assessment (Patent/ Utility Model)” for Taiwan IP Court Taiwan Intellectual Property Court (IP Court) was established in 2007. The jurisdiction of the IP Court covers Civil, Criminal, and Administrative suits regarding various intellectual property disputes. Rich IP & Co. is the sole expert selected

by Taiwan Judicial Yuan (all general courts and administrative courts, including High Courts, Supreme Court and Supreme Administrative Court are under the Judicial Yuan) from IP firms to regularly deliver training courses of “Patent Infringement Assessment” for all judges of the IP Court.

Clarice Chen, Managing Partner of Rich IP & Co. Specialism: Chemical-Related Patent (Including chemical, chemical engineering, pharmaceutical, and bio-technology patents) Prosecution, Trademark Registration, Infringement Analysis, Portfolio Management, and Litigation.

Professional Positions: Patent Attorney (since 1997); Trademark Agent (since 2005); Patent Counselor assigned by the TIPO for providing pro bono patent services (since 1998).

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AFRICA & THE MIDDLE EAST WINNERS

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AFRICA & THE MIDDLE EAST WINNERS The developing countries of the Middle East and North Africa region experienced a recovery in 2014, following a 0.1% contraction in 2013, on the back of domestic and regional turmoil and weak external demand, according to The World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects Report. Recovery in oil production, industrial activity and exports is contributing to the pick-up in growth.

This modest upturn, however, remains fragile and well below the region’s potential as structural reforms needed to spur growth, lower unemployment and alleviate poverty remain unaddressed. Security challenges in several countries are a key source of instability. Fiscal and external accounts remain weak and are benefiting from the exceptional official support from the high-income Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries.

In oil-importing developing countries, economic activity is stabilising, but the recovery remains fragile. Strong growth in the first half of 2013 was offset by a sharp drop in the second half such that growth in oil-importers rose, on average, by just 0.2 percentage points to 2.7% in 2013. Exports in several Mediterranean economies are rebounding due to the recovery in the euro area during Q1 2014. While activity has picked up from low levels in Egypt, in Lebanon spillovers from the conflict in Syria continue to depress activity, exports and sentiment.

In oil-exporting developing countries, growth has been highly volatile, with GDP contracting by 1.8% in 2013, reflecting production setbacks in Libya and Iraq, sanctions in Iran and civil war in Syria. However, oil output now appears to be recovering, averaging 7.7 million barrels per day (mb/d) in Q1 2014, due to rebounding production in Iraq, the region’s largest producer. However, output is still below the 2013 average and the pre-Arab Spring average.

By participating more effectively in the global production of goods and services, Africa can transform its economy and achieve a development breakthrough, according to the African Economic Outlook, released at the African Development Bank Group’s Annual Meetings.

Produced annually by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the OECD Development Centre and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the report shows that Africa has weathered internal and external shocks and is poised to achieve healthy economic growth rates.

“In order to sustain the economic growth and ensure that it creates opportunities for all, African countries should continue to rebuild shock absorbers and exercise prudent macro management. Any slackening on macro

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In Sub-Saharan Africa, low oil prices have considerably reduced growth in commodity-exporting countries (Angola, Nigeria), where softening oil sectors have also slowed activity in non-oil sectors. management will undermine future economic growth,” said Mthuli Ncube, Chief Economist and Vice-President of the African Development Bank.

“In the medium-to-long-term, the opportunity for participating in global value chains should be viewed as part of the strategy for achieving strong, sustained and inclusive growth,” he added.

The report argues that more effective participation in regional and global value chains – the range of activities in different countries that bring a product from conception to delivery to the consumer – could serve as a springboard for Africa in economic diversification, domestic resource mobilisation and investments in critical infrastructure. In order to do so, however, the continent needs to avoid getting stuck in low value-added activities.

“African economies have a great potential to build on their demographic dynamism, rapid urbanisation and natural-resources assets. The challenge for many of them now is to ensure that greater insertion into global value chains is achieved and has a positive impact on people’s lives,” said Mario Pezzini, Director of the OECD Development Centre.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, low oil prices have considerably reduced growth in commodity-exporting countries (Angola, Nigeria), where softening oil sectors have also slowed activity in non-oil sectors. Although South Africa is expected to be one of the main beneficiaries of low oil prices, growth is being held back by energy shortages, weak investor confidence amid policy uncertainty, and by the anticipated gradual tightening of monetary and fiscal policy. Growth in the region is forecast to slow to 4.2%, slower than previously expected. This mainly reflects a reassessment of prospects in Nigeria and Angola following the sharp drop in oil prices, and in South Africa, because of ongoing difficulties in electricity supply. For 2016-17, growth is expected to be only marginally higher as these challenges partially offset stronger trading partner growth and the continued expansion in the region’s low-income countries.

AFRICA & THE MIDDLE EAST CONTENTS

FOUNDATION CHAMBERS / Client Choice - International Shipping & Maritime Litigation Law Firm of the Year in Nigeria ................................. 60.

SCP Mame Adama Gueye & Associés / Business Law Firm of the Year in Senegal .............................................. 60.

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CLIENT CHOICE - INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING & MARITIME LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN NIGERIA FOUNDATION CHAMBERS Luke Chidi Ilogu, SAN Senior Partner Tel: +234 803 402 1910 c.ilogu@foudationchambers@ yahoo.com www.foundationchambers.com Foundation Chambers is a specialized firm committed to high ethical standards in the provision of integrated legal services to the maritime, aviation and oil and gas industry.

The Partners and majority of the Solicitors have post graduate background in maritime, commercial and oil and gas experience from reputable Universities in the UK. Mr. L. Chidi Ilogu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), graduated with LLB (Hons) from the University of Ife and holds a Master’s Degree (LLM) in Maritime Law from Cardiff University, UK. He is the Senior Partner in Foundation Chambers. He specializes in Ship sale and purchase, ship financing and mortgages and consults from time to time for the National Assembly, the Federal Ministry of Transport and the major maritime parastatals in Nigeria on maritime policies and legislation. He is a Consultant to the International Maritime Organisation on legal matters and Vice President of the Nigerian Maritime Law Association. He is on the board of the Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria. Chidi features regularly as a Resource person at the Maritime Seminar for Judges organized bi-annually by the Nigerian Shippers Council in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute. He is the author of Essays on Maritime Law and Practice published in 2007 and Foundation of Carriage of Goods by Sea, The Nigerian Perspective published in 2016.

Our areas of expertise are International transport Law which includes Maritime Law, International Trade Law and Aviation. We also have an Oil & Gas and Corporate & Commercial Law Practice Areas.

We represented one of the foremost Nigerian Oil Servicing Companies in a breach of drilling contract suit worth $50m involving an IOC operator which was later settled out of Court in favour of our Client.

We acted for two Consortia who bidded for the concessioning of Nigerian Ports by the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), one of which won the bid for a Tin Can Island Port Terminal.

At the start of 2016 we witnessed an increase in our client base from international referrals and that has led to intensified efforts towards expansion of the firm. In that wise we admitted a new Partner to expand the Oil & Gas base of the Firm and the team as a whole. The new cases have given us more exposure in our niche area of transport law and have led to more enquiries from potential Clients.

We plan to expand structurally and also get more involved in Oil & Gas upstream practice.

Our typical Clients are Oil Servicing Companies, Shipping Companies, Shipowners, P&I Clubs, Terminal Operators and Government Agencies in the Maritime Sector.

Our Firm’s expertise and specialist competencies give us a notable advantage in terms of new Clients that we get through networking and referrals from International Law firms and Clients.

BUSINESS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN SENEGAL SCP Mame Adama Gueye & Associés Mame Adama GUEYE Managing Partner Tel: +221 33 849 28 00 magueye@avocats-maga.sn www.avocats-maga.sn SCP Mame Adama Gueye & Associés is a business law firm of reference in Senegal which has a very good reputation and high credibility in the market.

SCP Mame Adama Gueye & Associés is the first law firm certified iso 9001-2008 version in West, North and Middle Africa.

We provide, among others, the following services: • Support and legal advice • Legal Consultancy • Set up of companies • Legal assistance to investors • Representation before courts • Legislative drafting • Legal audit • Due diligence We work in several fields of general law and business law namely in the commercial law, Mining law, Contracts law, Competition law, Banking law, Project finance, Insurance law, Corporate law, Taxation law, Intellectual Property and Copyright law, Labour law, Investment, Civil Aviation and Property law.

Due to the growing complexity and quality of services required by the clients, our firm has adopted a multidisciplinary approach and has developed a real ability to work in a network of partners, experts

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in other disciplines. In addition, thanks to the quality of its services, the law firm was rated A by European Export Insurance Agencies and is recommended by the Embassies of USA, France, Spain and Germany in Dakar.

Our law firm is member of LEXAFRICA network (www.lexafrica. com) which is the most important business law firms network in Africa with members from more than 30 countries. We are also member of WORLD SERVICES GROUP (www.worldservicesgroup. com) which is the most important multidisciplinary network in the world with members from more than 115 countries.

Due to our excellent reputation internationally, our firm has gained the trust of the most famous international law firms. Thus, our firm is proud to be the correspondent in Senegal of Baker & McKenzie, Hogan Lovells, Linklaters, White & Case, Clifford Chance, Freshfields, Denton Sapte, Norton Rose. Our firm has been ranked, continuously, since 2003 by Chambers Global, publication of reference published in London in the top 3 of the best business law firms of Senegal based on survey conducted within the business community. In the 2015 edition, our firm is the best ranked business law firm of Senegal. Moreover SCP Mame Adama Gueye & Associés is one of the few law firms in Senegal which is bilingual and able to meet the demands of its clients in both French and English. In fact, out firm is the counsel in Senegal of multinational corporations based in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia with whom we work daily in English.

LISTINGS

CONTENTS:

Our Listings section contains the details of additional winners from around the world.

Global Market ........................................................... 61.

Europe ...................................................................... 61.

GLO

LAW E X

2016

RTS

Africa & the Middle East .......................................... 89.

AL

PE

Asia & Oceania ......................................................... 82.

B

The Americas ........................................................... 74.

ANNUAL AWARDS WINNER

GLOBAL MARKET THE BEST MEDIATION & ARBITRATION PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR IN THE GLOBAL MARKET Hong Kong Mediation and Arbitration Centre Mr. Albert So Chairman Tel: +(852) 3796 3366 mediation@hkmaac.org www.hkmaac.org

EUROPE BOUTIQUE - REAL ESTATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN AUSTRIA Schmelz Rechtsanwälte / attorneys at law Mag. Eva-Maria Schmelz Managing Partner Tel: +43 2243 327 44 eva.schmelz@rechtampunkt.at www.rechtampunkt.at

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INTERNET & E-COMMERCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN BELGIUM Sirius Legal Bart Van den Brande Managing partner Tel: +32486 901 931 bart@siriuslegal.be www.siriuslegal.be

IMMIGRATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN CYPRUS L PAPAPHILIPPOU & CO LLC Advocates & Legal Consultants Leandros Papaphilippou Managing Partner Tel: +35722271000 info@papaphilippou.eu www.papaphilippou.eu

PROPERTY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN CYPRUS Haris Kalogirou & Co LLC Haris Kalogirou Managing Partner Tel: +357 – 26 220808 info@kalogiroulaw.com www.kalogiroulaw.com

INSOLVENCY ADMINISTRATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Administrace insolvenci CITY TOWER, v.o.s.

Oldrich Rehacek, Ph.D. Insolvency Administrator Tel: +420 222 755 661 info@administraceinsolvenci.cz www.administraceinsolvenci.cz

OUTSOURCING LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN DENMARK Accura Advokatpartnerselskab René Thornfeldt Partner, Attorney-at-Law Tel: +45 3945 2908 rene.thornfeldt@accura.dk www.accura.dk

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BOUTIQUE - BUSINESS CRIME LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN ENGLAND Rahman Ravelli Solicitors Aziz Rahman Senior Partner Tel: +44 (0)1422 346666 enquiries@rahmanravelli.co.uk www.rahmanravelli.co.uk

BOUTIQUE - COMMUNICATIONS SECTOR LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN ENGLAND PREISKEL & CO LLP Daniel Preiskel Senior Partner Tel: +442073325640 dpreiskel@preiskel.com www.preiskel.com

BOUTIQUE - DIVORCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN ENGLAND Alexiou Fisher Philipps Douglas Alexiou Consultant Tel: +44 20 7409 1222 dalexiou@afplaw.co.uk www.afplaw.co.uk

BOUTIQUE - EMPLOYMENT ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN ENGLAND

Redmans Solicitors Chris Hadrill Department Head Tel: +44 (0)20 3397 3601 enquiries@redmans.co.uk www.redmans.co.uk

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BOUTIQUE - TRAVEL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN ENGLAND Stewarts Law LLP Julian Chamberlayne Partner and Head of the Travel Team Tel: +44 (0)20 7822 8034 jchamberlayne@stewartslaw.com www.stewartslaw.com

INDIVIDUAL - CROSS-BORDER M&A LAWYER OF THE YEAR IN ENGLAND CL@CameiraLegal Maria Antรณnia Cameira Managing Partner Tel: +44 (0)207 493 0865 lisbon@cameiralegal.com / london@cameiralegal.com www.cameiralegal.com

INDIVIDUAL - HEALTH & SAFETY BARRISTER OF THE YEAR IN ENGLAND Austin Stoton Barrister

2 Bedford Row

Tel: +44 (0)207 440 888 (clerks and reception) prodgers@2bedfordrow.co.uk / jgrimmer@2bedfordrow.co.uk / clerks@2bedfordrow.co.uk 2bedfordrow.co.uk / tophealthandsafetybarrister.co.uk

INDIVIDUAL - REPUTATION MANAGEMENT LAWYER OF THE YEAR IN ENGLAND MANLEYS Mark Manley Managing Director Tel: +44 1244 230000 mark.manley@manleys-law.com www.manleys-law.com

INDUSTRY CHOICE - COMPETITION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN ENGLAND Walker Morris LLP Trudy Feaster-Gee Partner (Barrister) Head of Competition Tel: +44(0)113 283 4542 trudy.feastergee@walkermorris.co.uk www.walkermorris.co.uk

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LEGAL EXPERT WITNESS ACCOUNTING FIRM OF THE YEAR IN ENGLAND MDD Forensic Accountants Paul Isaac Partner Tel: +44 203 384 5499 pisaac@mdd.com www.mdd.com

NEW BUILD DEVELOPMENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN ENGLAND Stratega Law James Marshall Partner Tel: +44(0)203 301 1023 james.marshall@strategalaw.co.uk www.strategalaw.co.uk

OIL & GAS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN ENGLAND CMS Penelope Warne Chairman, The Senior Partner and Head of Energy Tel: +44 (0)20 7367 3928 penelope.warne@cms-cmck.com www.cms.law

PENSION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN ENGLAND Walker Morris LLP Jo Ratcliffe Partner, Head of Pensions Tel: +44 (0)113 399 1827 jo.ratcliffe@walkermorris.co.uk www.walkermorris.co.uk

PHARMACEUTICAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN ENGLAND / INDIVIDUAL - PHARMACEUTICAL LAWYER OF THE YEAR IN ENGLAND Veale Wasbrough Vizards Paul Gershlick Partner Tel: +44 (0)1923 208 816 pgershlick@vwv.co.uk www.vwv.co.uk

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PUBLIC PROCUREMENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN ENGLAND Veale Wasbrough Vizards David Hansom Partner Tel: +44 (0)20 7665 0808 dhansom@vwv.co.uk www.vwv.co.uk

REGIONAL - SHIPPING LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN ENGLAND LA Marine, Lester Aldridge Linda Jacques Partner Tel: (+44) (0) 23 8082 7403/ +44 (0) 23 8082 7416 linda.jacques@la-law.com www.la-marine.co.uk

BOUTIQUE - TRADE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN FINLAND Railas Attorneys Lauri Railas Partner/Owner Tel: +358 (0)20 7348654 lauri@railas.fi www.railas.fi

INDIVIDUAL - COMPENSATION & BENEFITS LAWYER OF THE YEAR IN FRANCE RIGAUD AVOCATS David RIGAUD Partner Tel: +33 1 53 75 91 91 david.rigaud@rigaudavocats.com www.rigaudavocats.com

BOUTIQUE - TRADEMARK LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN GERMANY Dr. Meyer-Dulheuer & Partners LLP Dr. Tim Meyer-Dulheuer Patent Attorney / Partner Tel: +49 (0) 69/606 278-0 tmd@legal-patent.com www.legal-patent.com

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CLIENT CHOICE - SHIPPING LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN GERMANY Dabelstein & Passehl Rechtsanwälte PartGmbB Dr. Jan Dreyer Managing Partner Tel: +49 40 317797-0 j.dreyer@da-pa.com www.da-pa.com

CLIENT CHOICE - WHITE COLLAR CRIME LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN GERMANY Knierim & Krug Rechtsanwaelte Thomas Knierim Partner Tel: +49 (0)6131 – 906 55 00 knierim@knierim-krug.com www.knierim-krug.com

COMMERCIAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN GERMANY GRP Rainer LLP Michael Rainer Managing Partner Tel: +49 221 2722750 info@grprainer.com www.grprainer.com/en

EDITORS’ CHOICE - INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN GERMANY

Maiwald Dr. Martin Huenges, LL. M. Partner Tel: +49 (0)89 747 266 0 info@maiwald.eu www.maiwald.eu

EU TRADE & CUSTOMS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN GERMANY HAELLMIGK – LAW FIRM Foreign Trade | Export Control | Compliance | Commercial Law Dr. Philip Haellmigk, LL.M. Head of Law Firm Attorney at Law (Germany) Solicitor (England & Wales) Licence en Droit (France) Tel: +49 89 2155 81600 legal.dr.haellmigk@haellmigk.com www.haellmigk.com

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INDIVIDUAL - ARBITRATOR OF THE YEAR IN GERMANY Ziemons & Raeschke-Kessler – Rechtsanwälte beim Bundesgerichtshof Prof. Hilmar Raeschke-Kessler Partner Tel: +49 72 43 17 077 info@zrk-rabgh.de www.zrk-rabgh.de

INDUSTRY CHOICE - PUBLIC PROCUREMENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN GERMANY

Wagner Rechtsanwälte Christian-David Wagner Dr. (Ph.D. in law (Doctor iuris)) Tel: +49 341 / 30 68 65 10 info@wagnerrechtsanwaelte.de www.wagnerrechtsanwaelte.com

INDUSTRY CHOICE - TAX PLANNING LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN GERMANY ROTTHEGE I WASSERMANN PartGmbB Christian Nagel Partner Tel: +49 201 842190 c.nagel@rotthege-wassermann.de www.rotthege.com

INSURANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN GERMANY Dabelstein & Passehl Rechtsanwälte Prof. Dr. Dieter Schwampe Partner Tel: +49-40-31 77 97-0 d.schwampe@da-pa.com www.da-pa.com

LIFE SCIENCES LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN GERMANY Dentons Europe LLP Peter Homberg Partner Tel: +49 (0) 69 45 00 123 11 peter.homberg@dentons.com www.dentons.com

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MID-MARKET M&A LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN GERMANY Deloitte Legal Dr. Michael von Rüden Partner Tel: +49 211 8772 3627 mvonrueden@deloitte.de www.deloittelegal.de

NATIONAL - IP LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN GERMANY Fleuchaus & Gallo Partnerschaft mbB Patent Attorneys • Attorneys at Law Michael Fleuchaus Partner Tel: +49-89-79078690 office@fleuchaus.com www.fleuchaus.com

NATIONAL - IT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN GERMANY Anwaltskanzlei Hild & Kollegen Lawyer Hagen Hild Fachanwalt IT-Recht / Certified Lawyer in IT-Law Fachanwalt Gewerblicher Rechtsschutz / Certified Lawyer in Protection of Industrial Property Tel: +49 (0)821 - 420 795 0 info@kanzlei.biz www.kanzlei.biz

PATENT PROSECUTION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN GERMANY Wuesthoff & Wuesthoff Rainer Gunzelmann Partner Tel: +49 89 621 800 0 gunzelmann@wuesthoff.de www.wuesthoff.de

SHIPPING LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN GERMANY LEBUHN & PUCHTA Hamburg Dr. Johannes Trost Partner Tel: +49 40 37 47 780 johannes.trost@lebuhn.de www.lebuhn.de

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SPECIALIST - BUSINESS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN GERMANY GGV Partnerschaft mbB Tel: +49 69 979610 www.gg-v.com Dr. Kay Jess Managing Partner jess@gg-v.de

Matthias Krämer Partner kraemer@gg-v.de

Dr. Andreas R. Bittner Partner bittner@gg-v.de

TAX LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN GERMANY GRP Rainer LLP Michael Rainer Managing Partner Tel: +49 221 2722750 info@grprainer.com www.grprainer.com/en

INDIVIDUAL - MINING LAWYER OF THE YEAR IN HUNGARY Ecovis Hungary Legal Dr. Kornel Jean Equity partner Tel: +3614391166 jean@ecovis.hu www.ecovis.hu

PHARMACEUTICAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN HUNGARY KNP LAW Nagy Koppany Varga and Partners Kornelia Nagy-Koppany, LL.M. Partner Tel: +36 1 2353060 knagykoppany@knplaw.com www.knplaw.com

IMMIGRATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN IRELAND Donnery & Co solicitors Elizaveta Donnery Principal Tel: +353 1 853 73 01 e.donnery@dtsolicitors.ie www.dtsolicitors.ie

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PPP LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN IRELAND Philip Lee Kerri Crossen Partner Tel: +353 1 237 3700 kcrossen@philiplee.ie philiplee.ie

COMMERCIAL TAX LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN ITALY Genesis Avvocati Fulvio Di Domenico Partner Tel: +39.02.29015148 fulvio.didomenico@genesisalliance.com www.genesis-avvocati.it

CORPORATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN ITALY Ughi e Nunziante Studio Legale Fiorella F. Alvino Managing Partner of the firm’s Milan office Tel: +39 02 762171 ffalvino@unlaw.it www.unlaw.it

INDUSTRY CHOICE - ENERGY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN ITALY Ughi e Nunziante Studio Legale Fiorella F. Alvino Managing Partner of the firm’s Milan office Tel: +39 02 762171 ffalvino@unlaw.it www.unlaw.it

INNOVATIVE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN ITALY SINGULANCE Massimiliano Caruso Partner | Head of Business, Corporate, IP departments Tel: +39 055 005 0177 contactus@singulance.com www.singulance.com

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INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN ITALY mpmlegal Marco Mastracci Founding Partner Tel: +39069359161 m.mastracci@mpmlegal.it www.mpmlegal.it

MID-MARKET CORPORATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN ITALY Tosetto, Weigmann e Associati Fabio Alberto Regoli Partner Tel: +39 02 77679311 fa.regoli@studiotosetto.it www.studiotosetto.it

EDITORS’ CHOICE - WHITE COLLAR CRIME DEFENSE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN ROMANIA

Mares / Danilescu / Mares Mihai Mares Partner Tel: +4 0314 378 324 mihai.mares@mares.ro www.mares.ro

INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN ROMANIA Bogaru, Braun Noviello & Associates Christian Bogaru Managing Partner Tel: +40 21 326 60 53 cbogaru@bbnalaw.com www.bbnalaw.com

BOUTIQUE FAMILY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN RUSSIA “Dmitry Matveev and Partners” attorneys at law Ms. Oksana Zhdanovskaya Partner Tel: +7 (495) 221-8416 zhd@dmpart.ru www.dmpart.ru

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CRIMINAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN SCOTLAND Livingstone Brown Stuart Munro Managing Director & Head of Criminal Litigation Tel: +44 (141) 429 8166 skm@livbrown.co.uk www.livbrown.co.uk

EDITORS’ CHOICE - WILLS & ESTATES LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN SWITZERLAND MCE Avocats Antoine Eigenmann Partner Tel: +41 312 88 88 a.eigenmann@mcelegal.ch www.mcelegal.ch

TAX LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN SWITZERLAND Afschrift Thierry Afschrift Partner Tel: +41 79 544 80 78 avocats@afschrift.ch

TECHNOLOGY IN-HOUSE LAWYER OF THE YEAR IN SWITZERLAND Credit Suisse Paul Lanois Legal Counsel paul.lanois@credit-suisse.com www.credit-suisse.com

REAL ESTATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN TURKEY / EDITOR’S CHOICE - CONSTRUCTION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN TURKEY / INDUSTRY CHOICE - ENERGY AND MINING LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN TURKEY

Marif Ugurlu Law Firm Mr. Oktay A. Ugurlu Partner Tel: +90 212 2802434 ougurlu@mariflaw.com www.mariflaw.com

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CROSS BORDER LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN UKRAINE Lavrynovych&Partners Law Firm Maksym Lavrynovych Managing Partner Tel: +38 044 494 27 27 m.lavrynovych@lp.ua www.Lp.ua

THE AMERICAS BOUTIQUE - PERSONAL INJURY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN CANADA Pipella Law Tara D. Pipella Owner of firm Tel: +1(403)265-8733 tpipella@pipellalaw.com www.pipellalaw.com

CLASS ACTIONS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN CANADA Klein Lawyers David Klein Partner Tel: +1 604.874.7171 info@callkleinlawyers.com www.callkleinlawyers.com

CLIENT CHOICE - ASSET PROTECTION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN CANADA Rogerson Law Group Andrew Rogerson Partner Tel: +1 416 504 2259 andrew@rogersonlaw.com www.rogersonlaw.com / www.torontoestatelawyers.ca

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EDITORS’ CHOICE - CHARITY FORMATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN CANADA Dāna Philanthropy Gina M. Pereira Founder, Barrister & Solicitor Tel: +1 416 536 3465 gina.pereira@danaphilanthropy.com www.danaphilanthropy.com

EDITORS’ CHOICE - CORPORATE IMMIGRATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN CANADA

My Visa Source Sunny S. Dhillon Partner, Co-Founder Tel: +1-888-509-1987 info@myvisasource.com www.myvisasource.com

SPECIALIST - FAMILY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN CANADA Martha McCarthy & Company LLP Martha McCarthy, LSM Partner Tel: +1 416-862-6226 martha@mccarthyco.ca www.mccarthyco.ca

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN CANADA ARCHAMBAULT ATTORNEYS / ARCHAMBAULT AVOCATS Jacques L. Archambault LL.L. CHRP Managing Partner Tel: +1 (514) 736 0707 jla@archambaultavocats.com www.archambaultavocats.com

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS HSM IP Sophie Davies Attorney Tel: +1 345 815 7436 sdavies@hsmoffice.com www.hsmoffice.com

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NATURAL RESOURCES LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN CHILE CAREY&ALLENDE Jorge Allende Senior Partner - Head of Energy and Natural Resources Tel: +562 2 4852000 jallende@careyallende.com www.careyallende.com

COMMUNICATIONS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN COLOMBIA BARRIOS MONTENEGRO ABOGADOS Luis Felipe Barrios Cadena Founding Partner Tel: (+57 1) 555 1350 / (+57) 3102851561 lfbarrios@bmabogados.co www.bmabogados.co

EDITORS’ CHOICE - LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN COLOMBIA Vargas & Vargas Abogados Luis Fernando Vargas Rodríguez Partner Tel: +57 1 530 6971 luisfernando@vargasvargasabogados.com www.vargasvargasabogados.com

INDUSTRY CHOICE - TAX LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN ECUADOR NOBOA, PEÑA & TORRES LAW FIRM​ Dr. Patricio Peña R.​ Founding Partner ​ el: +593 2 2970195 T ​patopena@legalecuador.com www.legalecuador.com​

CLIENT CHOICE - FOREIGN INVESTMENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN MEXICO Ramos, Ripoll & Schuster

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M. Alejandro Ripoll González, Partner

Diego A. Ramos Castillo, Partner

Tel: CDMX. +52(55) 1518-0445, GDL +(52) 33 36 27 50 35, +(52) 33 31 21 30 14 aripoll@rrs.com.mx www.rrs.com.mx

Tel: CDMX. +52(55) 1518-0445, GDL +(52) 33 36 27 50 35, +(52) 33 31 21 30 14 dramos@rrs.com.mx www.rrs.com.mx

LITIGATION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN MEXICO Ramos, Ripoll & Schuster M. Alejandro Ripoll Gonzรกlez, Partner

Diego A. Ramos Castillo, Partner

Tel: CDMX. +52(55) 1518-0445, GDL +(52) 33 36 27 50 35, +(52) 33 31 21 30 14 aripoll@rrs.com.mx www.rrs.com.mx

Tel: CDMX. +52(55) 1518-0445, GDL +(52) 33 36 27 50 35, +(52) 33 31 21 30 14 dramos@rrs.com.mx www.rrs.com.mx

MARITIME BOUTIQUE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN PANAMA LOPEZ, LOPEZ & ASSOCIATES

Juan Alexis Lopez Navarro / Juan Alexis Lopez Amaris Managing Partner / Maritime Advisor

Tel: +507-6614-7100 / +507-6140-5150 jaln@lopezlex.com / jalexisjr@lopezlex.com www.lopezlex.com

INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN PARAGUAY MERSAN ABOGADOS Oscar A. Mersan Galli Senior Partner Tel: +595981402257 oscar@mersanlaw.com www.mersanlaw.com

INDIVIDUAL - M&A ATTORNEY OF THE YEAR IN ALABAMA, US Burr & Forman LLP George M. Taylor, III Partner Tel: +1-205-458-5254 gtaylor@burr.com www.burr.com

BOUTIQUE - BUSINESS LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN CALIFORNIA, US Bergeson, LLP Daniel J. Bergeson Founding Partner Tel: +1 408-291-6200 dbergeson@be-law.com www.be-law.com

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BOUTIQUE - TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN CALIFORNIA, US

COHEN IP LAW GROUP, P.C. Michael N. Cohen Founder of Cohen IP Law Group, P.C. Tel: +1-310-288-4500 mcohen@cohenip.com www.cohenip.com

INTERNET & E-COMMERCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN CALIFORNIA, US Neff Law Firm, a Prof. Law Corp.

Richard E. Neff Founder & Sr. Partner Tel: +1 310 321 7660 richard@nefflaw.com www.nefflaw.com

INTERNATIONAL DISPUTE RESOLUTION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN FLORIDA, US

Diaz, Reus & Targ, LLP Michael Diaz, Jr. Global Managing Partner Tel: +1 305-375-9220 mdiaz@diazreus.com www.diazreus.com

COMMERCIAL LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN HAWAII Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing Paul Alston Director / Shareholder Tel: +1-808-524-1800 palston@ahfi.com www.ahfi.com

ANTITRUST LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN ILLINOIS, US Eimer Stahl LLP Nathan P. Eimer Partner Tel: +1-312-660-7601 neimer@eimerstahl.com www.eimerstahl.com

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EDITORS’ CHOICE - EMPLOYMENT IMMIGRATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN ILLINOIS, US

Minsky, McCormick, & Hallagan, P.C. Margaret H. (Peggy) McCormick Principal Tel: +1-312-427-6163 mmccormick@mmhpc.com www.mmhpc.com

EDITORS’ CHOICE - PREMISES LIABILITY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN ILLINOIS, US

Leynaud & Leynaud Attorneys At Law George Leynaud Senior Partner Tel: +1 815-224-4700 george@leynaudlaw.com www.leynaudlaw.com

SPORTS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN MAINE & MASSACHUSETTS, US Global Sports Advocates, LLC Paul J. Greene Founding Partner Tel: +1-207-747-5899 pgreene@globalsportsadvocates.com www.globalsportsadvocates.com

COMPLEX PERSONAL INJURY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN MASSACHUSETTS, US

Arthur F. Licata, P.C. Arthur F. Licata, Esq. Partner Tel: +1 617-523-9977 arthur@alicata.com www.alicata.com

EDITORS’ CHOICE - BUSINESS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN MICHIGAN, US Demorest Law Firm, PLLC Mark Demorest Managing Member Tel: +1 248.723.5500 mark@demolaw.com www.demolaw.com / www.detroitbusinesslaw.com

GLE Awards 2016

79

DIVORCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN NEVADA, US RIGHT Lawyers Stacy Rocheleau Esq. Owner Tel: +1 (702) 914-0400 info@rightlawyers.com www.rightlawyers.com

INDUSTRY CHOICE - BANKRUPTCY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN NEVADA, US Riggi Law Firm David Riggi Partner Tel: +1 702 463-7777 riggilaw@gmail.com

BANKING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN NEW JERSEY, US

Dilworth Paxson LLP Harold Cohen Partner; Co-Chair, Banking and Financial Services Group Tel: +(1)(856)675-1950 hcohen@dilworthlaw.com www.dilworthlaw.com

Anne Marie Kelley Of Counsel Tel: (+1)(856)675-1952 akelley@dilworthlaw.com www.dilworthlaw.com

BANKING & FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN NEW YORK, US Seward & Kissel LLP Kalyan “Kal” Das Partner Tel: +1 212-574-1391 das@sewkis.com www.sewkis.com

CLIENT CHOICE - BANKRUPTCY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN NEW YORK, US Duke Law Firm, P.C Susan K. Duke Attorney Tel: +1 585 346-3220 skduke@dukelawfirm.net www.dukelawfirm.net

80

GLE Awards 2016

CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN NEW YORK, US Tilem & Associates, PC Peter Tilem Partner Tel: +1 888 840-0043 ptilem@tilemandcampbell.com www.tilemandcampbell.com

MEDICAL LIABILITY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN NEW YORK, US Rosenblum Newfield LLC James Rosenblum Managing Partner Tel: +1 203.358.9200 jbr@jbresq.com rosenblumnewfield.com

ROSENBLUM NEWFIELD LLC

DIVORCE AND FAMILY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN NORTH CAROLINA, US Hartsoe & Associates, P.C Tony Hartsoe Partner Tel: +1 336-725-1985 thartsoe@hartsoelaw.com www.hartsoelaw.com

EDITORS’ CHOICE - LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN WASHINGTON, US Corr Cronin Michelson Baumgardner Fogg & Moore LLP Steven W. Fogg Partner Tel: +1 206-274-8669 sfogg@corrcronin.com www.corrcronin.com

GLE Awards 2016

81

ASIA & OCEANIA

BOUTIQUE - COMMERCIAL LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN AUSTRALIA Gells Lawyers Paul Bailey Solicitor Director Tel: +61 2 9223 2233 paulb@gells.com.au www.gells.com.au

COMMERCIAL LITIGATION CHAMBERS OF THE YEAR IN AUSTRALIA Banco Chambers Mr Elliot Hyde Barrister Tel: +61 2 9376 0678 hyde@banco.net.au www.banco.net.au

CRIMINAL DEFENCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN AUSTRALIA Sydney Criminal Lawyers Ugur Nedim Principal Tel: +612 9261 8881 info@criminallaw.com.au www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au

EDITORS’ CHOICE - SHIPPING LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN AUSTRALIA Cocks Macnish Tim Cocks Senior Partner Tel: +61 8 9321 6676 tim@cocksmacnish.com.au www.cocksmacnish.com.au

82

GLE Awards 2016

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CHAMBERS OF THE YEAR IN AUSTRALIA Nigel Bowen Chambers Alistair Coyne Senior Clerk Tel: +61 2 9930 7900 a.coyne@nigelbowen.com.au www.nigelbowen.com.au

LEGAL REFERENCE WEBSITE OF THE YEAR IN AUSTRALIA Go To Court Lawyers James Stevens Founder and Principal Solicitor Tel: +61 7 3151 7573 solicitors@gotocourt.com.au www.gotocourt.com.au

MIGRATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN AUSTRALIA SHS LAW Pty Ltd Josh Chan Chief Executive Officer, Senior Partner Tel: +61-426 018188 josh@shslaw.com.au www.shslaw.com.au

REGIONAL - FAMILY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN AUSTRALIA Kennedy Partners Ian Kennedy AM Senior Partner Tel: +61 3 9618 7300 ian.kennedy@kennedylaw.com.au www.kennedypartnerslawyers.com.au

BANKING & FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN CHINA Dentons Law Offices, LLP Leo (Liang) Zhou Senior Partner; Head of Banking and Finance, China Tel: +86 13602832372 liang.zhou@dentons.cn www.dentons.com

GLE Awards 2016

83

BOUTIQUE - FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN CHINA RHK Legal Richard Kimber Managing Partner Tel: +86 21 6288 8821 rkimber@rhklegal.cn www.rhklegal.cn

TRUST & ESTATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN CHINA RayYin &Partners P.R.C. Lawyers Hao Wang, Yunhai Yu Senior Partners Tel: +86-10-84683690 Fax: +86-10-84683689 wh@rayyinlawyer.com www.rayyinlawyer.com

EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN HONG KONG Christine M Koo & Ip, Solicitors & Notaries LLP Sarah Wong Partner Tel: +852 2524 8996 sarahwong@cmkoo.com.hk www.cmkoo.com

PATENTS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN INDIA LLS| Lall Lahiri & Salhotra Mr. Rahul Chaudhry Managing Partner Tel: +91 11 4350 0000 gpo@lls.in www.lls.in

ANTI-MONOPOLY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN INDONESIA HADS Partnership Law Office Nurmalita Malik Partner Tel: +6221-22837970 (hunting) / +6281389800223 (mobile) nurmalita.malik@hadspartnership.com www.hadspartnership.com

84

GLE Awards 2016

CLIENT CHOICE - COMMERCIAL LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN INDONESIA

SAP Advocates Grand Slipi Tower 9th Floor, Suite H – I, Jl. S. Parman Kav.22 – 24, Jakarta 11480 Tel: +62 (0)21 290 21 870 (Hunting) Fax: +62 (0)21 290 21 871 infolaw@saplf.com www.sapadvocates.com

EDITORS’ CHOICE - COMMERCIAL LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN INDONESIA

ADNAN KELANA HARYANTO & HERMANTO LAWYERS Stefanus Haryanto Founding Partner Tel: +62-21-5208270 stef@akhh.com www.akhh.com

BUSINESS LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN JAPAN Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP Ryan Goldstein Head of Tokyo Office Tel: +81-3-5510-1711 ryangoldstein@quinnemanuel.com www.quinnemanuel.com

PATENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN KAZAKHSTAN Agency of Intellectual Property Tagbergenova & Partners Tagbergenova Alma Taishevna Partner / Eurasian Patent Attorney (Reg. # 296) / Kazakhstan Patent and Trademark Attorney (Reg. # 37) Tel: +7 (727) 272-77-09, 261-18-47 info@tagberg.kz www.tagberg.kz / www.intellectual.kz

FRANCHISE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN NEW ZEALAND Goodwin Turner Commercial Lawyers Scott Goodwin Director and Principal Tel: +64 9 973 7350 scott@goodwinturner.co.nz www.goodwinturner.co.nz

GLE Awards 2016

85

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN NEW ZEALAND Minter Ellison Rudd Watts Christopher Young Partner Tel: +64 9 353 9910 christopher.young@minterellison.co.nz www.minterellison.co.nz

TAX LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN NEW ZEALAND Denham Martin, Lawyer Denham Martin Principal Tel: +64 9 369 5547 denham@denhammartin.co.nz www.denhammartin.co.nz

TRADEMARKS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN NEW ZEALAND Minter Ellison Rudd Watts Christopher Young Partner Tel: +64 9 353 9910 christopher.young@minterellison.co.nz www.minterellison.co.nz

CLIENT CHOICE - ENERGY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN THE PHILIPPINES PUNO LAW Roderico V. Puno Managing Partner Tel: +(632) 631-1261 rvpuno@punolaw.com www.punolaw.com

CLIENT CHOICE - FULL SERVICE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN THE PHILIPPINES PUNO LAW Helena R. Calo Senior Partner Tel: +(632) 631-1261 hrcalo@punolaw.com www.punolaw.com

86

GLE Awards 2016

LABOR & EMPLOYMENT FIRM OF THE YEAR IN THE PHILIPPINES ANGARA ABELLO CONCEPCION REGALA & CRUZ (ACCRALAW) Emerico O. De Guzman Managing Partner Tel: +(632) 830-8025 eodeguzman@accralaw.com www.accralaw.com

NATURAL RESOURCES LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN THE PHILIPPINES CRUZ MARCELO & TENEFRANCIA Patricia A. O. Bunye Senior Partner Tel: +63 917 843 6976 (mobile); +63 2 810 5858 (office) po.bunye@cruzmarcelo.com natres.department@cruzmarcelo.com www.cruzmarcelo.com

PROJECT FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN THE PHILIPPINES PUNO LAW Jonathan P. Serrano Senior Partner Tel: +(632) 631-1261 jpserrano@punolaw.com www.punolaw.com

READERS’ CHOICE - INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN THE PHILIPPINES

CRUZ MARCELO & TENEFRANCIA Susan D. Villanueva Senior Partner ip@cruzmarcelo.com www.cruzmarcelo.com

TRANSACTIONAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN THE PHILIPPINES PUNO LAW Ma. Elizabeth E. Peralta-Loriega Senior Partner Tel: +(632) 631-1261 meploriega@punolaw.com www.punolaw.com

GLE Awards 2016

87

ADMIRALTY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN SINGAPORE 24 Raffles Place, #18-00 Clifford Centre, Singapore 048621 T. +65 6533 2323 I F. +65 6533 7029 I www.hhp.com.sg Haridass Ajaib

+65 2301 1100

haridass@hhp.com.sg

V Hariharan

+65 230 1114

hariharan@hhp.com.sg

Thomas Tan

+65 2301 1110

thomas.tan@hhp.com.sg

Yoga Sharmini

+65 230 1117

sharmini@hhp.com.sg

Augustine Liew

+65 2301 1111

augustine.liew@hhp.com.sg

Subashini N

+65 230 1122

subashini@hhp.com.sg

PEER CHOICE - INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN SINGAPORE

Ella Cheong LLC Soh Kar Liang Managing Director Tel: +65 66925500 mail@ellacheong.asia www.ellacheong.asia

SHIPPING LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN SINGAPORE HARIDASS HO & PARTNERS Thomas Tan Partner Tel: +65 6230 1110 thomas.tan@hhp.com.sg www.hhp.com.sg

CONSTRUCTION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN TAIWAN FORMOSAn BROTHERS, ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW James C.C. Ku Senior Partner Tel: +886-2-2705-8086 ext.103 james@mail.fblaw.com.tw www.fblaw.com.tw

PHARMACEUTICALS & LIFE SCIENCES LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN THAILAND Domnern Somgiat & Boonma Law Office Limited Prabjote Busdee Partner Tel: +(66 2) 639-1955 prabjote@dsb.co.th www.dsb.co.th

88

GLE Awards 2016

AFRICA & THE MIDDLE EAST

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN CAMEROON AKKUM, AKKUM & ASSOCIATES LLP ATORNEYS-AT-LAW & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ATTORNEYS LICENSED AT THE AFRICAN UNION (O.A.P.I) Senior Barrister Carlton Akkum Managing Partner Tel: +237 222 21 80 43 / Mobile: +237 6988 24935 akkumlaw@yahoo.co.uk / akkumlaw@hotmail.com www.akkumlaw.com

INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN TUNISIA (El AJERI Lawyers) Mohamed lotfi EL AJERI Managing Partner Tel: (+216) 71 28 82 51 / (+216) 71 28 77 38 mlelajeri@eal.tn www.elajerilawyers.com

INTERNATIONAL CORPORATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN TUNISIA Eversheds El Heni Fares Koussay EL HENI Managing Partner Tel: +216 71 860 235 fareselheni@eversheds.com www.eversheds.com

LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN TUNISIA Eversheds El Heni Fares Koussay EL HENI Managing Partner Tel: +216 71 860 235 fareselheni@eversheds.com www.eversheds.com

GLE Awards 2016

89

CLIENT CHOICE - INSURANCE AND REINSURANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN THE UAE

Kennedys Dubai LLP Peter Ellingham Managing Partner Tel: +971 4 350 3600 peter.ellingham@kennedyslaw.com www.kennedyslaw.com/ae

COMMERCIAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN UGANDA CR.AMANYA Advocates & Solicitors Claire Amanya Rukundo Partner Tel: +256 (772) 484003 claire.amanya@cramanya.com www.cramanya.com

90

GLE Awards 2016

A–Z INDEX

A Accura Advokatpartnerselskab ........................................................................................................................... 62.

Administrace insolvencí CITY TOWER ................................................................................................................ 62.

ADNAN KELANA HARYANTO & HERMANTO LAWYERS .................................................................................. 85.

ADNAN SUNDRA & LOW .................................................................................................................................. 50.

Afschrift .............................................................................................................................................................. 73.

AKKUM, AKKUM & ASSOCIATES LLP ............................................................................................................... 89.

Alexiou Fisher Philipps ........................................................................................................................................ 63.

Almeida Guzmán & Asociados ........................................................................................................................... 30.

Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing ..................................................................................................................................... 78.

ANDREW SMITHS PARTNERS .......................................................................................................................... 54.

ANGARA ABELLO CONCEPCION REGALA & CRUZ (ACCRALAW) ................................................................... 87.

Ann Tan & Associates ......................................................................................................................................... 54.

Anwaltskanzlei Hild & Kollegen .......................................................................................................................... 69.

ARCHAMBAULT ATTORNEYS / ARCHAMBAULT AVOCATS .............................................................................. 75.

Arthur F. Licata, P.C. ............................................................................................................................................ 79.

AZB & Partners ................................................................................................................................................... 48.

B Banco Chambers ................................................................................................................................................ 82.

BARRIOS MONTENEGRO ABOGADOS ............................................................................................................. 76.

BARTLAW ........................................................................................................................................................... 29.

2 Bedford Row .................................................................................................................................................... 64.

Beijing Dentons Law Offices, LLP ....................................................................................................................... 47.

Bergeson, LLP ..................................................................................................................................................... 77.

Bergman Dacey Goldsmith ................................................................................................................................. 32.

GLE Awards 2016

91

A–Z INDEX

Berry Law Firm ................................................................................................................................................... 35.

Bogaru, Braun Noviello & Associates ................................................................................................................. 72.

Braumiller Law Group PLLC ............................................................................................................................... 38.

Bray & Krais Solicitors .......................................................................................................................................... 11.

Burr & Forman LLP .............................................................................................................................................. 77.

C CAGNOLA & ASSOCIATI STUDIO LEGALE ....................................................................................................... 16.

CAREY&ALLENDE ............................................................................................................................................. 76.

Chiarottino e Nicoletti Advogados ....................................................................................................................... 27.

Child & Child ......................................................................................................................................................... 9.

Christine M Koo & Ip, Solicitors & Notaries LLP ................................................................................................. 84.

CL@CameiraLegal ............................................................................................................................................... 64.

CMS .................................................................................................................................................................... 65.

Cobalt LLP .......................................................................................................................................................... 33.

Cocks Macnish ................................................................................................................................................... 82.

Co-Effort Law Firm LLP ....................................................................................................................................... 47.

COHEN IP LAW GROUP, P.C. .............................................................................................................................. 78.

Collas Crill (Cayman) ........................................................................................................................................... 29.

Colucci & Umans ................................................................................................................................................ 36.

Corr Cronin Michelson Baumgardner Fogg & Moore LLP ...................................................................................81.

Costas Tsirides & Co LLC ..................................................................................................................................... 8.

CR.AMANYA Advocates & Solicitors .................................................................................................................. 90.

Credit Suisse ...................................................................................................................................................... 73.

CRUZ MARCELO & TENEFRANCIA .................................................................................................................... 87.

Cuddy Law Firm, PLLC ........................................................................................................................................ 37.

92

GLE Awards 2016

A–Z INDEX

D Dabelstein & Passehl Rechtsanwälte ................................................................................................................. 68.

Dabelstein & Passehl Rechtsanwälte PartGmbB ................................................................................................. 67.

Dāna Philanthropy ............................................................................................................................................... 75.

De La Gasca & Cia .............................................................................................................................................. 30.

DeCristofaro Law ................................................................................................................................................ 36.

Deep & Far ......................................................................................................................................................... 55.

Deloitte Legal ..................................................................................................................................................... 69.

Demorest Law Firm, PLLC ................................................................................................................................. 79.

Denham Martin, Lawyer ..................................................................................................................................... 86.

Dentons Europe LLP .......................................................................................................................................... 68.

Dentons Law Offices, LLP .................................................................................................................................. 83.

Diaz, Reus & Targ, LLP ....................................................................................................................................... 78.

Dillon Eustace ..................................................................................................................................................... 15.

Dilworth Paxson LLP .......................................................................................................................................... 80.

DivinaLaw .....................................................................................................................................................51., 52.

“Dmitry Matveev and Partners” attorneys at law .............................................................................................. 72.

Domnern Somgiat & Boonma Law Office Limited ............................................................................................. 88.

Donnery & Co solicitors ...................................................................................................................................... 70.

DR. HELEN G. PAPACONSTANTINOU AND PARTNERS .................................................................................... 14.

Dr. Meyer-Dulheuer & Partners LLP ................................................................................................................... 66.

Duan & Duan ...................................................................................................................................................... 46.

Duke Law Firm, P.C ..............................................................................................................................................81.

GLE Awards 2016

93

A–Z INDEX

E Ecovis Hungary Legal ......................................................................................................................................... 70.

EDMONDS & NOLTE, PC ................................................................................................................................... 38.

Eimer Stahl LLP .................................................................................................................................................. 78.

(El AJERI Lawyers) ............................................................................................................................................. 89.

Ella Cheong LLC ................................................................................................................................................. 88.

Estudio de Diego & Asociados ........................................................................................................................... 25.

Eversheds El Heni .............................................................................................................................................. 89.

F Ferriani e Jamal Sociedade de Advogados ........................................................................................................... 27.

Fleuchaus & Gallo Partnerschaft mbB Patent Attorneys • Attorneys at Law ..................................................... 69.

FORMOSAN BROTHERS, ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW ................................................................................................ 88.

FOUNDATION CHAMBERS ................................................................................................................................ 60.

Fox, Swibel, Levin & Carroll, LLP ........................................................................................................................ 34.

G Gells Lawyers ..................................................................................................................................................... 82.

Genesis Avvocati .................................................................................................................................................71.

GGV Partnerschaft mbB ..................................................................................................................................... 70.

Global Sports Advocates, LLC ............................................................................................................................ 79.

Go To Court Lawyers .......................................................................................................................................... 83.

Goodwin Turner Commercial Lawyers ................................................................................................................ 85.

GRP Rainer LLP ............................................................................................................................................ 67., 70.

Grupo Assist ....................................................................................................................................................... 26.

94

GLE Awards 2016

A–Z INDEX

H HADS Partnership Law Office ............................................................................................................................ 84.

HAELLMIGK – LAW FIRM ................................................................................................................................... 67.

HARIDASS HO & PARTNERS ............................................................................................................................. 88.

Haris Kalogirou & Co LLC ................................................................................................................................... 62.

Hartsoe & Associates, P.C. ..................................................................................................................................81.

Hawkins Delafield & Wood LLP ........................................................................................................................... 37.

Heribert Reiners ................................................................................................................................................. 12.

Hollingsworth LLP .............................................................................................................................................. 40.

Hong Kong Mediation and Arbitration Centre ......................................................................................................61.

HSM IP ............................................................................................................................................................... 75.

K Kelcey & Hall, Solicitors ........................................................................................................................................ 9.

Kennedy Partners ............................................................................................................................................... 83.

Kennedys Dubai LLP .......................................................................................................................................... 90.

KLC Law Firm ..................................................................................................................................................... 14.

Klein Lawyers ..................................................................................................................................................... 74.

Kliemt & Vollstädt ............................................................................................................................................... 13.

Knierim & Krug Rechtsanwaelte .......................................................................................................................... 67.

KNP LAW Nagy Koppany Varga and Partners ..................................................................................................... 70.

Kundra & Associates, P.C. ................................................................................................................................... 35.

GLE Awards 2016

95

A–Z INDEX

L LA Marine, Lester Aldridge ................................................................................................................................. 66.

Lavrynovych&Partners Law Firm ........................................................................................................................ 74.

LEBUHN & PUCHTA Hamburg ........................................................................................................................... 69.

LexDellmeier IP Law ............................................................................................................................................ 11.

Leynaud & Leynaud Attorneys At Law ............................................................................................................... 79.

Link Legal India Law Services ............................................................................................................................. 49.

Livingstone Brown .............................................................................................................................................. 73.

LLS| Lall Lahiri & Salhotra ................................................................................................................................... 84.

LOPEZ, LOPEZ & ASSOCIATES .......................................................................................................................... 77.

M Maitland Chambers .............................................................................................................................................10.

Maiwald ........................................................................................................................................................ 12., 67.

Mamo TCV Advocates ..................................................................................................................................16., 18.

MANLEYS ........................................................................................................................................................... 64.

Mares / Danilescu / Mares .................................................................................................................................. 72.

Marif Ugurlu Law Firm ........................................................................................................................................ 73.

Martha McCarthy & Company LLP ..................................................................................................................... 75.

Mary Alexander & Associates, P.C. ..................................................................................................................... 33.

MCE Avocats ...................................................................................................................................................... 73.

MDD Forensic Accountants ................................................................................................................................ 65.

Merchant & Gould P.C. ....................................................................................................................................... 39.

MERSAN ABOGADOS ......................................................................................................................................... 77.

96

GLE Awards 2016

A–Z INDEX

Minsky, McCormick, & Hallagan, P.C. ................................................................................................................. 79.

Minter Ellison Rudd Watts .................................................................................................................................. 86.

MOUAIMIS & MOUAIMIS LLC ............................................................................................................................ 8.

Mpmlegal ............................................................................................................................................................ 72.

My Visa Source ................................................................................................................................................... 75.

N Neff Law Firm, a Prof. Law Corp. ....................................................................................................................... 78.

NH JURIS, S.C......................................................................................................................................................31.

Nigel Bowen Chambers ...................................................................................................................................... 83.

NOBOA, PEÑA & TORRES LAW FIRM ............................................................................................................... 76.

Nyman Gibson Miralis Criminal Defence Lawyers ............................................................................................. 45.

O Opal Lawyers LLC .............................................................................................................................................. 53.

P Papaphilippou & Co LLC ..................................................................................................................................... 62.

Philip Lee .............................................................................................................................................................71.

Pipella Law ......................................................................................................................................................... 74.

PREISKEL & CO LLP .......................................................................................................................................... 63.

PUNO LAW .................................................................................................................................................. 86., 87.

Q Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP ........................................................................................................... 85.

GLE Awards 2016

97

A–Z INDEX

R Rahman Ravelli Solicitors .................................................................................................................................... 63.

Railas Attorneys .................................................................................................................................................. 66.

Ramos, Ripoll & Schuster.............................................................................................................................. 76., 77.

RayYin &Partners P.R.C. Lawyers ....................................................................................................................... 84.

Redmans Solicitors ............................................................................................................................................. 63.

RHK Legal ........................................................................................................................................................... 84.

Rich IP & Co. ...................................................................................................................................................... 55.

RIGAUD AVOCATS ............................................................................................................................................. 66.

Riggi Law Firm .................................................................................................................................................... 80.

RIGHT Lawyers ................................................................................................................................................... 80.

Rödl & Partner .................................................................................................................................................... 19.

Rogerson Law Group .......................................................................................................................................... 74.

Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & de los Angeles ................................................................................... 53.

Rose Law Caribbean ............................................................................................................................................31.

Rosenblum Newfield LLC ....................................................................................................................................81.

Rothwell, Figg, Ernst & Manbeck, P.C. ............................................................................................................... 39.

ROTTHEGE I WASSERMANN PartGmbB ........................................................................................................... 68.

S Salvador & Associates ........................................................................................................................................ 49.

SAP Law Firm ..................................................................................................................................................... 85.

Schmelz Rechtsanwälte / attorneys at law ..........................................................................................................61.

SCP Mame Adama Gueye & Associés ............................................................................................................... 60.

Seward & Kissel LLP .......................................................................................................................................... 80.

Shanghai Kai-Rong Law Firm .............................................................................................................................. 46.

98

GLE Awards 2016

A–Z INDEX

SHS LAW Pty Ltd ............................................................................................................................................... 83.

SimonetteLewis ................................................................................................................................................. 28.

SINGH THIND & ASSOCIATES ........................................................................................................................... 28.

SINGULANCE ......................................................................................................................................................71.

Sirius Legal ......................................................................................................................................................... 62.

Skarbiec Law Firm .............................................................................................................................................. 19.

Spectrum Legal .................................................................................................................................................. 48.

Stewarts Law LLP .............................................................................................................................................. 64.

Stratega Law ...................................................................................................................................................... 65.

Studio Legale Fabiano ........................................................................................................................................ 15.

Studio Signori ...................................................................................................................................................... 17.

Sydney Criminal Lawyers ................................................................................................................................... 82.

T Tagbergenova & Partners..................................................................................................................................... 85.

Tilem & Associates, PC .......................................................................................................................................81.

Tosetto, Weigmann e Associati ........................................................................................................................... 72.

U Ughi e Nunziante Studio Legale ...........................................................................................................................71.

V Vargas & Vargas Abogados ................................................................................................................................. 76.

Veale Wasbrough Vizards ............................................................................................................................. 65., 66.

Vink & Partners Legal and Tax ............................................................................................................................. 18.

Viseu Advogados ................................................................................................................................................ 26.

GLE Awards 2016

99

A–Z INDEX

W Wagner Rechtsanwälte ...................................................................................................................................... 68.

Walker Morris LLP ....................................................................................................................................... 64., 65.

Watts McCray Lawyers ...................................................................................................................................... 45.

Wuesthoff & Wuesthoff ...................................................................................................................................... 69.

Y The Yerrid Law Firm ............................................................................................................................................ 34.

Z Ziemons & Raeschke-Kessler ............................................................................................................................. 68.

100

GLE Awards 2016

GLE ANNUAL AWARDS GLOBAL LAW EXPERTS www.globallawexperts.com