The Lawyer Network Annual Awards 2023

The Lawyer Network Annual Awards 2023

Welcome to The Lawyer Network’s Annual Awards 2023 edition.

The Lawyer Network is the next generation for finding a specialist lawyer for your global business requirements. When selecting a law firm, most businesses and their directors will have knowledge of qualified law firms to work with in their domestic markets, but will have little or no knowledge of the best firms to work with outside of their own chosen jurisdiction. The Lawyer Network alleviates this problem. The user is therefore provided with a clear and informative recommendation in each jurisdiction and sector. This structure ensures each member builds stronger and ultimately more rewarding relationships, as membership is based around their core area of interest and expertise.

We don’t believe one firm or individual can profess to offer the best advice or the most knowledge across all sectors or fields of advice, within any given country. Consequently, we aim to focus on practice area expertise and the jurisdiction: by bringing the best of each sector and location to the client. We are the only global network of this type.

We are judged by the quality of our award winners; therefore, we select only the highest quality advisers. This doesn’t necessarily mean the largest or top-ranked firm by generic ranking websites, but those who have the necessary skills to assist our readers with their own specific requirements. Our winners range from Magic Circle firms in each country, to boutique practitioners specialising in niche areas of law.

The Annual Awards commemorates those who have been successful over the past 12 months and have shown excellence, not only in expertise, but in service. As part of our process, we received thousands of nominations through our website and undertook detailed investigations through our independent research and editorial teams. We then shortlisted up to five potential winners in each category, and an independent award panel in each country decided on the eventual winner for each specialism.

The following pages feature profiles and listings, detailing our winners from all over the world. Their entries are organised by region, country and practice area for your ease of navigation.

Congratulations to all of our 2023 winners.

Europe Winners

The European economy continues to show resilience in a challenging global context, according to the European Commission. Lower energy prices, abating supply constraints and a strong labour market supported moderate growth in the first quarter of 2023, dispelling fears of a recession. This better-than-expected start to the year lifts the growth outlook for the EU economy to 1.0% in 2023 (0.8% in the Winter Interim Forecast) and 1.7% in 2024 (1.6% in the winter). Upward revisions for the euro area are of a similar magnitude, with GDP growth now expected at 1.1% and 1.6% in 2023 and 2024 respectively. On the back of persisting core price pressures, inflation has also been revised upwards compared to the winter, to 5.8% in 2023 and 2.8% in 2024 in the euro area.

Lower Energy Prices Lift the Growth Outlook

According to Eurostat's preliminary flash estimate, GDP grew by 0.3% in the EU and by 0.1% in the euro area in the first quarter of 2023. Leading indicators suggest continued growth in the second quarter.

The European economy has managed to contain the adverse impact of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, weathering the energy crisis thanks to a rapid diversification of supply and a sizeable fall in gas consumption. Markedly lower energy prices are working their way through the economy, reducing firms' production costs. Consumers are also seeing their energy bills fall, although private consumption is set to remain subdued as wage growth lags inflation.

As inflation remains high, financing conditions are set to tighten further. Though the ECB and other EU central banks are expected to be nearing the end of the interest rate hiking cycle, the recent turbulence in the financial sector is likely to add pressure to the cost and ease of accessing credit, slowing down investment growth and hitting – in particular – residential investment.

Core Inflation Revised Higher but Set to Gradually Decline

After peaking in 2022, headline inflation continued to decline in the first quarter of 2023 amid a sharp deceleration of energy prices. Core inflation (headline inflation excluding energy and unprocessed food) is, however, proving more persistent. In March, it reached an historic high of 7.6%, but is projected to decline gradually over the forecast horizon as profit margins absorb higher wage pressures and financing conditions tighten. The April flash harmonised index of consumer prices estimate for the euro area, released after the cutoff date of this forecast, shows a marginal decline in the rate of core inflation, which suggests that it might have peaked in the first quarter, as projected. On an annual basis, core inflation in the euro area in 2023 is set to average 6.1%, before falling to 3.2% in 2024, remaining above headline inflation in both forecast years.

Labour Market Remains Resilient Against Economic Slowdown

A record-strong labour market is bolstering the resilience of the EU economy. The EU unemployment rate hit a new record low of 6.0% in March 2023, and participation and employment rates are at record highs. The EU labour market is expected to react only mildly to the slower pace of economic expansion. Employment growth is forecast at 0.5% this year, before edging down to 0.4% in 2024. The unemployment rate is projected to remain just above 6%. Wage growth has picked up since early 2022 but has so far remained well below inflation. More sustained wage increases are expected on the back of persistent tightness of labour markets, strong increases in minimum wages in several countries and, more generally, pressure from workers to recoup lost purchasing power.

Public Deficits Set to Decrease, Especially in 2024

Despite the introduction of support measures to mitigate the impact of high energy prices, strong nominal growth and the unwinding of residual pandemic-related measures led the EU aggregate government deficit in 2022 to fall further to 3.4% of GDP. In 2023, and more markedly in 2024, falling energy prices should allow governments to phase out energy support measures, driving further deficit reductions, to 3.1% and 2.4% of GDP respectively. The EU aggregate debt-to-GDP ratio is projected to decline steadily to below 83% in 2024 (90% in the euro area), which is still above the prepandemic levels. There is a large heterogeneity of fiscal trajectories across Member States.

While inflation can support the improvement in public finances in the short term, this effect is bound to dissipate over time as debt repayment costs increase and public expenditures are progressively adjusted to the higher price level.

Downside Risks to the Economic Outlook Have Increased

More persistent core inflation could continue restraining the purchasing power of households and force a stronger response of monetary policy, with broad macrofinancial ramifications. Moreover, renewed episodes of financial stress could lead to a further surge in risk aversion, prompting a more pronounced tightening of lending standards than assumed in this forecast. An expansionary fiscal policy stance would fuel inflation further, leaning against monetary policy action.

In addition, new challenges may arise for the global economy following the banking sector turmoil or related to wider geopolitical tensions. On the positive side, more benign developments in energy prices would lead to a faster decline in headline inflation, with positive spillovers on domestic demand. Finally, there is persistent uncertainty stemming from Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

The Lawyer Network

EU-CELAC Summit: Towards a Closer, Stronger and Renewed Partnership Between Both Regions

On the 17th and 18th of July, the European Union and the Community of Latin American and the Caribbean states (CELAC) held their 3rd Summit in Brussels. The meeting gathered Heads of State and Government of the EU Member States and of the 33 CELAC states for the first time in eight years.

The series of meetings started with an EU-LAC Business Round Table, where Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, presented the EU-LAC Global Gateway Investment Agenda (GGIA). It includes more than 135 projects to make the fair green and digital transition a reality on both sides of the Atlantic, and revolves around four pillars: a fair green transition, an inclusive digital transformation, human development and health resilience and vaccines.

On this occasion, the President announced that Team Europe committed more than €45 billion to support the reinforced partnership with Latin America and the Caribbean until 2027. The Summit further strengthened the partnership between the EU and the CELAC countries on shared priorities, such as the digital and green transitions, the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss, health, food security, migration, security and governance or the fight against transnational crime.

During the Summit, the EU stepped up its energy cooperation with Argentina and Uruguay with the signature of two Memoranda of Understanding (MoU). The former sets out key areas of cooperation, including renewable energy, hydrogen, methane emissions abatement and stresses the need to provide a socially just energy transition. The latter highlights renewable energy, energy efficiency and renewable hydrogen as key areas of cooperation as both the EU and Uruguay strive to reach climate neutrality by 2050.

As part of the EU's Global Gateway strategy, during the EU-CELAC Summit, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Banco Santander signed a €300 million loan to support the installation of a series of small-scale, selfconsumption solar photovoltaic plants in Brazil. Similarly, the EIB also announced a €200 million loan to Banco del Estado de Chile to finance new houses with better energy efficiency standards and a €100 million loan to support Chile's growing renewable hydrogen industry.

The EU also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Chile on establishing a partnership on sustainable raw materials value chains, which will contribute to Europe's security of supply while creating jobs and growth in Chile.

Corporate & Commercial Law Firm of the Year in Albania

Frashëri Law Firm was established with a strong international dimension, well known in Albania and abroad for its practice in professional legal services in domestic cases, and as a Corporate Services Provider. Its core focus is on rendering comprehensive services in litigation and dispute resolution, serving as a one-stop office for easy national or foreign company incorporation – as well as providing added business support for entrepreneurs and SMEs.

Legal Services

The firm has a successful track record in corporate, finance and capital markets law, as well as tax, business formation, real estate and litigation, including consulting and mediation. Its lawyers advise on a full range of issues, spanning: Accounting & Audit, Bankruptcy, Business & Commercial Law, Corporate & Litigation, Civil & Administrative Litigation, Employment and Immigration, etc.

The firm’s legal team offers services in several foreign languages and reflects the importance it places on personalized service, tailored to clients’ needs. Transparency, confidentiality, respect, high moral and professional integrity as well as punctuality are all part of their culture.

The Frashëri Law Firm is a Recommended Firm in Albania by Global Law Experts, which has awarded them the position of exclusive representation of Corporate and Commercial Litigation in Albania.

Global Network

Frashëri Law Firm I SFAI Albania has often attracted the attention of interested parties inside and outside Albania as a partner to be relied on for its expertise.

Today, the firm is part of SFAI Global, an international network of legal professionals with more than 14,000 people in 115 countries, offering professional services in tax law, audit and accounting – to ISA and IAASB standards.

The firm is also the first and only law office in Albania to offer services through AI in the handling of client documentation. As the sole custodian of an AI platform for the legal profession by Luminance, its clients save 85% of the standard operational time, as well as 80% of the financial burden.

Meanwhile, the Honourable Lawyer Kastriot Frashëri has been a member of the British-Albanian Lawyers Association, London, UK for several years, and cooperates with numerous well-known international firms in the EU, the UK, the UAE, the US and other regions around the world.

Furthermore, Mr Frashëri, who has been hugely successful in the legal profession, has been authorized by the Royal Court of Justice – Queen’s Bench Division to serve outside the jurisdiction of the Court Order (SOL –Service Outsider of Jurisdiction) in Albania.

Values

Frashëri Law Firm’s activity is based on the principles of the UN Global Compact to implement universal sustainability principles. Similarly, the firm remains steadfast in adhering to ESG principles and CSR. With the right qualifications and professional experience, Frashëri Law Firm has been endorsed by several prestigious international institutions, all of whom have trusted the firm to provide exclusive representation in Albania.

The Honourable Kastriot Frashëri

The Honourable Kastriot Frashëri is an experienced commercial, corporate, governance and regulatory lawyer, as well as a Recommended Attorney by Global Law Experts in the UK. He is the Founder and CEO of the firm, and leads its established and growing practice with an international network providing a full range of legal services to corporations, financial institutions and high-net-worth individuals in such industries as insurance, finance, luxury assets, energy and technology.

The current field of advocacy in Albania presents a multitude of challenges, which Mr Frashëri is uniquely qualified to navigate. As a rule, around the world, the work of a lawyer is like that of a doctor towards his patient – making his role irreplaceable in society. Mr Frashëri exalts these rules in his role as a respected scholar and forward-thinker.

The Attorney at Law Kastriot Frashëri is a successful lawyer who has massively won all the cases he has represented.

Mr Frashëri has also been invited as a lecturer and has participated in short study programs on specific issues from Trinity College, Oxford University; Kings College, London, UK; University of Toronto, Canada; University of Calgary, Canada; University of Leipzig, Germany, as well as other international institutions.

Last, but not least, he is the author of numerous publications, including: “Crazy Republic – Philosophical Reflections”, 2011; “Canada”, 2008; as well as “Mary Edith Durham – A Great Lady for Albania”, 2004. As a publicist and analyst, he has contributed to more than 500 articles in Albanian and foreign newspapers, and has regularly participated in interviews and debates on television – also presenting at international forums inside and outside Albania on varied topics of Albanian society, peace, current affairs, legal tech, the justice system and the rule of law in Albania.

Education

● 2004: Degree in Law, University of Tirana, Faculty of Law;

● 1999–2000: English Language and Culture, Derby Multicultural Center, Derby, UK;

● 2004: Awarded the title “Lawyer”, National Chamber Advocacy of Albania;

● 2012: Master’s Degree in Science (M.Sc.), Defense Academy in Homeland Security;

● 2020: Degree in “International Law”; “Economics and International Business”; “Finance and Accounting” by International Business Management Institute, Germany;

● 2021: Degree in “Applied Corporate and Business Law”; “Technical Review of Employment Contracts” by Metropolitan School of Business and Management, London, UK.

Frashëri Law Firm | SFAI Albania The

Boutique Litigation Law Firm of the Year in Austria

singer, kessler & partner is a team of experts for precise solutions. Do you have high demands on us? So do we! That’s why our clients get what they deserve: precise and comprehensive solutions, even in really tricky cases. Why are we so successful? Because we think quite differently. How? That remains an open secret...

Legal matters are complex. Therefore, every mandate is a sign of trust in the way a law firm works. It’s a good thing that our clients know what we focus on: as modern entrepreneurs, we advise and support them with heart and mind. Holistic and consistently service oriented. One law firm for all concerns; one personal contact for all areas of law

Our Know-how Carries a Lot of Weight

Because when it comes to expertise, we weigh a lot. As lawyers with different specializations, we see ourselves as the central point of contact for all legal questions. We act efficiently and economically and keep your costs low.

We Have Many Open Ears

Because direct contact with our clients is important to us, our team consists of experts with empathy. Therefore, we meet you in an atmosphere of respect and trust. We also have good coffee and humor. So feel very welcome with us!

We Hold the Rudder Firmly in Our Hands

Because mandates are like boats in a storm, they need a courageous helmsman. We recognize the situation and possibilities of our clients with the necessary foresight. Even under adverse conditions.

We Cooperate with the Best Minds

Because we can’t do everything. For special knowledge such as tax or insolvency law, we have an experienced network at our side. This is how we solve every problem with professionally experienced partners that we trust.

We are Part of Your Big Picture

Because we are more than just legal advisers, we also act as your external legal department involved in operational areas or individual projects – and we network with passion. Whether contacts in culture, business, sports, politics or industry: we are happy to tie the threads for you!

Litigation and Negotiation

We rely on well thought-out strategies. Precise preparation is often half the success of a negotiation, and so we advise and support our clients in all extrajudicial and judicial matters and guarantee comprehensive support throughout the entire process. Our expertise includes civil, corporate and real estate disputes with a particular focus on claims for damages, warranties and liability. Our longstanding clients include companies from the areas of industry, banking and finance, insurance and real estate.

● Representation before Austrian and European courts;

● Advice and strategy development in out-of-court negotiations;

● Arbitration disputes;

● Representation before authorities.

Real Estate Law

We build a reliable foundation for you, because our comprehensive legal consulting services are the best basis for a value-adding future for your property. Whether you are a property developer, project developer, real estate manager, investor, architect, institutional landlord, SME or private individual: we look after and support you right from the start!

Supervision and processing of real estate transactions

We are at home in the market. Because we know the industry like the back of our hand, we are your contact for real estate transactions, including comprehensive due diligence reviews with a particular focus on the purchase and sale of commercial real estate, apartment buildings and real estate portfolios. We also advise private individuals on the purchase and sale of all real estate and draw up all the necessary contracts. And if you need other specialists such as tax consultants or auditors, you can rely on our network.

Legal implementation of property development projects

We can also do it on a large scale, because no project is too complex for us. Our advice therefore also includes the handling of property development projects according to the BTVG, the representation of the persons involved in the building project, the assumption of trusteeships as well as the handling of the land register and legal opinions.

Tenancy and inventory law

We have eagle vision, because we know that in-depth knowledge of the current legal situation is half the battle. We advise our clients on all questions of tenancy and housing law, on the drafting of rental and lease agreements for real estate, residential and commercial space, and on conducting inventory disputes. We also advise and represent both private individuals and property management companies in matters relating to tenancy and residential property law. In addition, we assume representation in judicial and extrajudicial civil and administrative law disputes in all areas of real estate law.

4 Nikolaou Nikolaidi, Center Point, Office 101, 8010, Paphos Cyprus, P.O. Box 63023, 8210, Paphos Tel: +357 26 960980 rodosthenous@charalambideslaw.com www.charalambideslaw.com

Rodosthenous Charalambides Law Firm is a full-service boutique law firm based in Paphos, Cyprus.

Our objective is to provide the highest standards of professional conduct by offering prompt, high-quality legal services to our clients. We aim to assist the client with professional, practical advice and guidance to ensure that they meet their objectives at the best possible outcome.

Every client and every case remains incredibly important to our legal team, and we have made a commitment to provide an effective, professional and strong defense.

Our vision is to build long-term relationships with clients based on integrity and mutual trust.

Personal Injury and Accident Claims

Our lawyers are ready to provide legal advice and assistance in all areas of Personal Injury as well as Accident claims. We have the ability of negotiating and settling cases by assisting clients in reaching mediated settlements, to avoid the expenses and stress of Court proceedings. However, our team has extensive experience concerning preparation and effective representation of the client’s case in Court.

We undertake cases of all levels, including:

● Road traffic accidents

● Accidents in the workplace

● Occupier’s liability

● Professional negligence

● Clinical negligence

● Fatal accidents

Corporate and Commercial

Our firm’s lawyers have an extensive experience in advising international and local clients on Corporate and Commercial matters, and you can rely on our knowledge and experience in this area.

We deal with a wide range of corporate services, including:

● Corporate management, secretarial services, domiciliation services

● Internal corporate procedures

● Shareholders’ agreements and corporate governance

● Company liquidation and winding up

● Bankruptcy

● Drafting and reviewing of contracts and agreements

● International trade and commerce

Real Estate and Property

Our firm deals with all matters relating to real estate, including transactions and disputes concerning commercial and residential property.

We provide a full scale of services concerning all aspects of a transaction, including the below:

● Drafting, reviewing or amending of sale agreements

● Acquisition of property in Cyprus by EU and third-country citizens

● Property management

● Estate planning and administration

Wills and Trust

Our team offers professional advice on estate planning for Cypriot assets to individuals of any nationality to ensure that their wishes are fulfilled.

We offer a full range of services on all aspects of Wills, Trusts and Probate, including the below:

● Legal advice, drafting, sealing and resealing of wills

● Formation of trusts

● Executor and administrator services

● Trustee services

● Court proceedings relating to probate disputes or contested wills

Why Cyprus?

Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean, with an area of 9,251 km and a population estimated to be 854,800. The strategic location of the island has played an important role in establishing it as a business centre since antiquity and as a very popular tourist destination.

Cyprus has been a member state of the EU since 2004 and a member of the Eurozone since 2008. The combination of the unique location of the island, business infrastructure and availability of investment opportunities makes Cyprus an ideal business hub in the region.

Among the numerous advantages that Cyprus has to offer as an international business centre are its reliable legal system, the simple and fast procedure of registering a company, the favourable tax legislation, the double tax treaties that the country has signed and the high-level corporate services.

The country has become an attractive jurisdiction in which thousands of new companies are set up each year, leading it towards recognition as a major international financial and business centre. Indeed, Cyprus is one of the most popular locations for registering companies, and the procedure is simple, straightforward and quick. The first stage is the approval of the proposed company name by the Registrar of Companies, and then the required documentation must be filled. This procedure takes around eight working days.

Moreover, there is no tax on profits from the sale of shares and other financial instruments that carry a title, such as bonds and debentures.

There is no tax on Capital gains arising from the sale of property abroad, including shares and immovable property, and excluding sale of immovable estate situated in Cyprus.

Payments to non-resident companies are not taxed (dividends, interest and royalties).

Confidentiality and anonymity of the beneficial owners.

High level of corporate services offered by lawyers and accountants, who are highly skilled.

Net profits of companies are subject to corporate tax at the rate of 12.5%, which is one of lowest in Europe.

Dividend income is exempt from tax.

Effective tax rate of 2.5% or less on royalty income.

Tax losses can be carried forward for up to five years.

Companies registered in Cyprus also benefit from the double tax treaties that have been established between Cyprus and around 45 other countries.

Cyprus provides a modern banking system, which can support the operation of companies, offering a secure environment for business.

Rodosthenous Charalambides Law Firm Rodosthenis M. Rodosthenous Founder

Litigation Law Firm of the Year in Cyprus

Our ambition is to deliver exceptional legal advice and service excellence.

Legal science is evolving at a very fast pace, and staying on top of changes is key for future growth. The need for lawyers to develop their skills in the various fields of legal science is not only imperative, but is also an integral part of the duties of all respectable and reliable professionals mastering the subject of their field. Like every well-established and successful team of professionals, our law firm is composed of associates, each of whom plays an important role in the success of the firm and is an expert in his/her field of specialization. Our team consists of competent and experienced associates, as well as invaluable, young and highly promising lawyers in the field of legal science. Our team is growing with each passing day through individual and collective development, respect and appreciation received from both our associates and our clients.

Christoforos Florou

Mr. Christoforos Florou is a graduate of the Law School of the University of Portsmouth University of the United Kingdom (LLB Bachelor Degree) and holder of the Master’s degree studies LL, Corporate and Governance Law/GRAD ICSA. During his career, he has successfully handled court cases both before the Cypriot Courts and CY Sovereign Base Area Courts, the Judicial Bodies of FIFA as well as the Court of Arbitration for Sport, based in Lausanne, Switzerland (CAS). Mr. Florou is a member of the Cyprus Bar Association and specializes in legal cases related to Criminal Law, Corporate and Commercial Law, Labor Law, Immigration Law and Naturalization Law, Law of Real Estate as well as Sports Law.

Practice Areas

● ·Judicial Department & Dispute Resolution Procedures

● ·Labor Law, Immigration Law & Naturalization Law

● ·Corporate & Commercial Law

● ·Real Estate Law

● ·Football Law & Other Issues Related to Sports Law

Litigation & Arbitration

Court and arbitration proceedings concern the proceedings for resolving disputes of an economic or other nature between legal or natural persons. The procedure followed to establish the criminal liability of a natural/ legal person charged with committing a criminal offense also constitutes a court proceeding before the Criminal Courts of the Republic of Cyprus.

Court proceedings (litigations) are governed by rules regulating the proceedings before the Court and seek to protect parties and persons who appeal to the Courts for the settlement of their disputes, as well as the fair and effective legal process for the final settlement of any dispute.

The purpose of the Court is to safeguard the proper administration of justice, while the responsibility for this achievement is borne by the lawyers handling each court case. It is common for personal and professional relationships to end up in disagreements that the parties fail to solve amicably. As a result of this occurrence, the parties seek legal advice from experienced and qualified legal advisors who can solve any possible disputed issue that may arise from such relationships.

The fact that our law firm has many years of experience in various fields of law, in combination with the great number of court cases dealt with over the years, makes our lawyers experts in effectively and successfully handling our clients’ cases.

The services provided by our law firm extend to the areas of criminal law, family law, accidents, civil law, commercial law, labor law, contract law, land law and property law. Our main concern is the timely and successful handling of our clients’ cases, as well as the proper guidance and consultation of our clients, with achieving the best possible result for them being our ultimate goal.

Business Crime Law Firm of the Year in France

Comprising five partners and 15 associates, Lombard Baratelli Astolfe & associés is driven by a constant concern to be present and supportive of its clients.

Its areas of expertise span general criminal law, economic criminal law as well as financial criminal law, specifically including:

● Criminal law

● Business criminal law

● Stock market, banking and tax criminal law

● Criminal consumer law

● Health and environmental criminal law

● Criminal labor law

● Comprehensive support for companies and executives, whether accused or victims, in relation to economic and financial offences

● Internal investigations

● E-reputation

● Cybersecurity procedures

● Social networking

Press Law, New Technologies, Communication

● Defamation and insult proceedings

● Information and communication

● Right of reply and crisis management, press releases

● Image and privacy rights

● Harassment on social networks, online hate

General Business Litigation, Industrial Claims and Insurance, Arbitration

● Disputes affecting the life and operation of the company

● Shareholder disputes, post-acquisition litigation

● Commercial, distribution, product liability and intellectual property disputes

● Intellectual and industrial property, bankruptcy proceedings, competition law

Labor and Social Security Law

● Management of individual and collective labor relations

● Audits for compliance, URSSAF control, securing practices, acquisitions or disposals

● Assistance and advice to executives, senior managers and/or corporate officers in the performance of their duties or on termination of these duties

● Assistance and training in health, safety and psycho-social risks

● Management of individual or collective litigation (including TASS)

Development and Results of Business Crime Law Activity

Lombard Baratelli Astolfe & associés was founded in 1952 and is one of the longest serving law firms in Paris. Its 70 years of existence make it one of the key players in the French legal landscape and have enabled it to develop irreplaceable experience, particularly rich in the fields of general criminal law, business criminal law, health criminal law and all other branches of criminal law.

This expertise extends from the most classic components of the sector (business criminal law, general criminal law, labor criminal law and tax criminal law) to more recent issues, such as e-reputation, social networks, online harassment and hatred, as well as crisis management.

The firm was born of the conviction of its founders, Paul Lombard – a “legend” of the Paris Bar, who passed away in 2017 – and Olivier Baratelli – company partners for 25 years – that their professional practice requires independence, flexibility and responsiveness, and is based on a strong intuitu personae between lawyer and client. With this in mind, Lombard Baratelli Astolfe & associés aims to combine the excellence of business law firms with the proximity of human-scale structures.

Today, the firm assists companies and managers in all their pre-litigation and litigation issues – anticipating and managing crises, as well as defending their interests before the relevant courts. To this end, the firm defends a number of CAC 40 companies and many well-known business leaders, as well as assisting well-known foreign companies and intervening before the French authorities (AMF, ARCOM, Parliamentary Commissions, Cour des Comptes, etc) or European authorities on behalf of these numerous French and foreign companies and their executives (FRG, Kingdom of Morocco, etc).

Moreover, Lombard Baratelli Astolfe & associés is commissioned by several of its clients to conduct effective programs that combat corruption, third-party economic interference in companies, computer fraud, counterfeiting, copyright infringement, trademark infringement, patent infringement as well as design infringement.

The firm has also been a key pro bono partner for the Fondation pour l’Enfance, a non-profit foundation set up in 1976 by Anne-Aymone Giscard d’Estaing to combat all forms of child abuse. In this context, the firm has been involved in more than 300 criminal cases since 2015 (concerning paedophilia, child pornography, corruption of minors, rape of minors and sexual abuse, etc).

In addition, Lombard Baratelli Astolfe & associés works with the Fondation pour l’Enfance to enable the latter to develop its public information initiatives – for example: combating ordinary educational violence, as well as combating access to online pornography.

Maître Olivier Baratelli Avocat Associé-Gérant

Maître Céline Astolfe Avocat Associé

Distribution Law Firm of the Year in France

Founded in 1992, SIMON ASSOCIÉS is a multidisciplinary business law firm with nearly 200 lawyers in France (Simon Associés and Réseau Simon Avocats) and an international network of nearly 20,000 lawyers worldwide. In France, SIMON ASSOCIÉS has its offices in Paris, Lille, Lyon, Montpellier, Nantes, Toulouse, Versailles and Nice. The SIMON Avocats network is present in 23 cities in the region. Internationally, the firm has developed a network of strategic alliances with leading law firms in more than 67 countries, including 65 offices in China.

As the legal landscape is often complex and difficult to navigate, we offer a range of tools designed to help our customers deal with their legal affairs. These include:

● Legal Client Management Platform (www.simonassocies.com/legal-client-management-plateforme): a comprehensive platform that provides clients with an overview of their legal affairs, aiding effective decisionmaking;

● Simon EQS Alert (www.simonassocies.com/simon-eqs-alerte): providing real-time updates on changes in the legal landscape, helping customers to adapt quickly and effectively;

● Public aid assistance (www.simonassocies.com/aides-publiques): helping customers identify, secure and manage public aid, simplifying the process and ensuring compliance;

● GDPR compliance assistance (www.simonassocies.com/mission-rgpd): ensuring that our clients’ practices are aligned with RGPD regulations, mitigating risks and promoting data security.

In addition, the firm has set up a Scientific Committee, whose mission is to train our teams and continuously strengthen their legal skills and knowledge to offer ever more effective, relevant and high-quality advice to our customers, thanks to teams at the cutting edge of their fields of expertise.

About the Distribution Department

Our Department works alongside heads of networks (around 200), in all forms of distribution, including: franchising, commission affiliation, concessions, cooperatives, selective distribution, lease management (with or without investment), among other areas. It has a long history of working on behalf of customers operating in a wide variety of sectors, such as: food retail, ready-to-wear clothing and sports equipment, flowers and plants, bakery, perfumery, jewelry, automotive equipment, tires, toys, hotels, fast food / themed food, real estate, renewable energy, personal services and business consultancy.

We assist our clients in all legal aspects of their businesses and all stages of their projects, particularly:

● Drafting of agreements: we assist our clients in drafting all their commercial agreements required to secure their business;

● In contentious matters: we assist our clients during all their negotiations and represent them in court as well as arbitration proceedings;

● International development: over the years, we have developed close links and cross-border agreements with a large number of law firms that we feel are similar to us – allowing us to provide clients with rapid and secure support in their deployment.

Our Department was voted:

● No.1 in franchise law from 2015 to 2023 by the Décideurs Magazine;

● No.1 in distribution law for the 7th time from 2015 to 2023 by Le Monde du Droit – Association Française des Juristes d’Entreprises – Cercle Montesquieu (a French trade association representing in-house counsels);

● among the “TOP 3” in competition law from 2019 to 2023;

● -« 5 stars » by the « Le Point – Statista » ranking in 2023, 2022 and 2021.

About François-Luc SIMON and Sandrine RICHARD

François-Luc is the Co-founder and Managing Partner of SIMON ASSOCIES. He is the author of numerous publications, including “Théorie et pratique du droit de la Franchise” (Theory and practice of Franchise Law), published by Joly.

Sandrine RICHARD has been a lawyer at SIMON ASSOCIES since 2007 and has been a Partner at the firm since 2015.

François-Luc SIMON and Sandrine RICHARD are the heads of the Distribution Department. They have developed an extensive experience in franchise law, economic law and distribution law.

Meanwhile, François-Luc SIMON and Sandrine RICHARD act as experts for the following federations:

● François-Luc SIMON has been a member of the College of Experts of the Fédération française de la Franchise (Franchise French Federation) since 2009;

● François-Luc SIMON and Sandrine RICHARD have been experts of the Fédération du Commerce Associé (Commerce Federation) since 2023.

François-Luc SIMON Co-founder / Managing Partner

Sandrine RICHARD Lawyer / Partner

Biotech Patent Law Firm of the Year in Germany

Stolmár & Partner is a full-service pan-European IP boutique headquartered in Munich, with further offices in Hamburg, Zurich, Salzburg, the Allgäu, and the Lake Constance region. We have been providing our clients with dedicated, competent service for more than 20 years, both in hard and soft IP – at a national, European and international level.

A Thriving Biotech Practice

Besides its established engineering and chemistry departments, the firm sports a thriving biotech and pharma group that has seen tremendous success during the pandemic. “While other colleagues had to reduce working hours, our clients used the lockdown months to develop their IP strategy – we were busier than ever in 2020 and 2021,” says Dr Denise Nestle-Nguyen, Head of the Life Science Team at Stolmár & Partner.

Tel: +49-89-2323670

info@stolmar-ip.com

www.stolmar-ip.com

Dr Nestle-Nguyen has worked for Stolmár & Partner since 2015. Having obtained a PhD from Technical University of Munich (TUM) in Molecular Biotechnology, she is well versed in all fields of life science, including antibodies, protein engineering, RNA technology and CRISPR/Cas. Besides being qualified as a German and European patent and trademark attorney, Dr NestleNguyen is also a Swiss IP specialist, following training with the Swiss Patent Office (IGE), as well as a European Patent Litigator. “I believe that there is no legal domain that is as international as IP law. Understanding different jurisdictions is key in devising a successful IP strategy for the client,” adds Dr Nestle-Nguyen, who is fluent in Chinese and also manages Stolmár & Partner’s China desk.

In her day-to-day practice, Dr Nestle-Nguyen advises a variety of clients ranging from universities to SMEs and large multinationals. She not only handles all stages of prosecution work, including patent application drafting, but has also led a row of successful opposition cases at the EPO.

Clients praise Dr Nestle-Nguyen‘s high work ethics, her dedication, analytical skills and scientific competence. “Denise has helped us develop a bespoke IP strategy that fits our company‘s needs perfectly. She is always available to discuss new ideas and ready to go the extra mile,” says one client from a Swiss biotech startup.

Customized IP Counselling

This attitude is something that all clients of the firm have come to cherish. Stolmár & Partner’s motto is as simple as it is intriguing: “We make your IP work.” Clients are not just a reference number – all attorneys and an experienced team of paralegals are always at the clients’ disposal, ready to listen to their specific needs, no matter the time zone. This was the vision that Dr Matthias Stolmár set out for when he founded the firm in 2001: “I wanted to create an IP boutique firm that offers more than just standard IP management. Legal advice should be service oriented. Therefore, based on our extensive experience, our clients from all over the world can expect tailor-made solutions.” Indeed, many of the attorneys at Stolmár & Partner have previously worked as in-house counsel and are therefore not only technical experts, but also well acquainted with the industry’s needs.

Automated EP Validation Service

The firm’s unique automated validation service for European patents is a prime example of how this expertise is put to the clients’ benefit. Not only does the standardized order process save valuable time, but it also enables Stolmár & Partner to offer highly competitive prices that easily match those of service providers, while offering the additional benefit of supervision by a qualified lawyer.

A One-stop Shop

Stolmár & Partner does not only provide consulting on patents and patent law. Instead, the expertise of the more than 10 attorneys also extends to many other aspects of intellectual property rights, including trademarks and branding, design law as well as copyright and unfair competition law. In addition, the firm has an extensive practice in medical device law and even covers niche sectors, such as wine law.

“While many smaller firms focus on either ‘hard’ or ‘soft’ IP, we believe that clients, no matter whether they are large multinationals or startups, benefit from a bird’s-eye view on their IP rights. We first develop an overall strategy before we zoom in on individual aspects,” explains Dr Stolmár, who also handles cross-border litigation cases that involve a mix of patent and design right enforcement. “The upcoming unitary patent system is only going to reinforce the need for creative lawyers who can think outside the box.”

Experienced Litigation Team Ready of the Unified Patent Court

Speaking of which: with three qualified European Patent Litigators and a team of national litigation specialists, including Attorney-at-Law Elisa Hirtreiter and Chemistry Partner Dr Wolfgang Bublak, Stolmár & Partner is well positioned to handle its first

cases at

the Unitary Patent Court.

“While a new system always carries certain risks, we believe that the UPC, with its highly qualified judges and modern court system, also bears great potential – especially for biotech and pharma clients, whose cases are notoriously complex,” adds Dr Nestle-Nguyen.

Stolmár & Partner

Dr Denise Nestle-Nguyen

Head of Life Science Team Blumenstr. 17, 80331 München, Germany

Private Client Lawyer of the Year in Gibraltar

ISOLAS is a full-service Gibraltar law firm providing commercial and pragmatic advice to our corporate and personal clients.

We are an award-winning, market-leading practice based on putting our clients first – matching the needs of the client with the best person for the job. With the expertise and dynamism of a firm at the vanguard of developments in legal solutions designed to tackle an ever-evolving range of issues, ISOLAS stays ahead of the curve and makes sure its clients do too.

The firm is proud of its reputation for combining expert legal advice with commercial pragmatism, and we are valued by our clients and partners for being practical and confident in the advice we give.

Our lawyers provide a full range of personal and business legal services in Gibraltar as well as internationally, with a strong focus on financial services. As a result, ISOLAS is consistently ranked as one of Gibraltar’s leading law firms and is described as an outstanding firm by legal directories. We are a market leader in the Fintech industry, having worked closely with the Government of Gibraltar and the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission to shape regulations concerning the Fintech sector.

In addition, ISOLAS’ commercial and corporate team has a wide breadth of corporate transactional and regulatory expertise in the insurance and gaming sectors, including restructuring and insolvency, corporate governance and joint ventures.

ISOLAS dispute resolution lawyers are described as top-class litigators by the Legal 500. Their expertise ranges from employment, landlord and tenant disputes to advocacy before the Supreme Court of Gibraltar, as well as representing clients in civil litigation regarding insolvency, fraud and contentious trusts.

Meanwhile, our specialist sector teams have strong track records within the gambling and online gaming sectors, investment funds, real estate and shipping. We are advisers to Gibraltar’s public sector, international businesses and Gibraltar’s wealth of dynamic entrepreneurial companies.

Private Client

ISOLAS’ Private Client team can provide you and your clients with the kind of attentive and focused service such clients expect and deserve.

With a full range of expert practitioners in every aspect of private client practice, we are able to assist in succession planning, wealth preservation, trusts, family office matters and, in particular, the benefit and act of philanthropy.

As a trust jurisdiction with exciting developments on the horizon for the trust and financial services industries, Gibraltar is an attractive choice of location for the private client practitioner and his/her clients from around the world.

Adrian Pilcher

Adrian’s background is predominantly in trusts and private client matters.

Recognised as an expert in the area of trusts, Adrian has been instrumental in the development of the law in this area, having been involved in the drafting of the Private Trust Companies Act 2015 and the Private Foundation Act 2017, as well as transposing into Gibraltar law the EU’s fifth anti-money laundering directive via the Proceeds of Crime 2015 (Amendment) Regulations 2020. Since then, Adrian has been regularly instructed by HMGoG to further develop the financial services regulatory landscape, particularly in relation to matters concerning compliance and transparency, and has consequently contributed to the drafting of the Proceeds of Crime 2015 (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2021, the Proceeds of Crime 2015 (Transfer of Virtual Assets) Regulations 2021 and the Proceeds of Crime 2015 (Relevant Financial Business) (Registration) Regulations 2021.

Adrian’s technical expertise in this area also led to his instruction during the authorised administration of one of Gibraltar’s largest professional trustee service providers, where his brief included overseeing the transfer of trusteeship of all active trusts to alternative licensed service providers.

Recognised also as an expert in the area of pensions, Adrian has been instrumental in the development of the law in this area too, having been involved in the drafting of the Financial Services (Pensions) Regulations 2017 (later replaced by the Financial Services (Personal Pensions) Regulations 2020).

The above notwithstanding, Adrian remains most active in the private client and family office space, advising high-profile, high-net-worth individuals and families, locally and internationally, on a wide array of matters, including wealth and succession planning, tax and family governance. He acts as trustee in relation to a number of private family trusts and as director of various familyowned investment holding corporate entities.

Last, but not least, Adrian was appointed Chair of the Gibraltar branch of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) on 22 June 2023.

Dispute Resolution Law Firm of the Year in Greece

Sardelas Petsa Law Firm is an established law firm with a strong international dimension, well known in Greece and abroad for its top-drawer specialised professional service in complex cross-border and domestic cases, focusing, among other areas, on providing comprehensive legal services in litigation and dispute resolution. We have a solid track record in the areas of banking law, NPEs and NPLs, real estate, corporate, finance and capital markets law, as well as tax, litigation and alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration.

Sardelas Petsa has provided high-quality services to a variety of high-profile clients in both the private and public sector, domestic and foreign. Our clients, among whom are banks, credit institutions and funds – as well as leading companies in the investments, capital markets, real estate and development, energy, pharmaceuticals and commerce sectors – include Greek credit institutions and financial organisations (the National Bank of Greece, Alpha Bank, Eurobank, Piraeus Bank, Optima Bank), international financial sector organisations and groups (Euroclear Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, JP Morgan, Citigroup, BNP Paribas, DEXIA Group, DZ Bank, UBS, Goldman Sachs, ING, Raiffeisen Bank, Ziraat Bank and Cantor Fitzerald Europe), “Bad Banks”/ Liquidators and NPL Portfolio managers (TT Postbank under Liquidation, ATE under Liquidation, PQH Single Special Liquidation, CPB Cyprus Liquidation and APS), Greek investment firms, collective investment managers and pension funds (Euroxx Securities, Merit Securities, Alpha Finance, CPB Mutual Funds Management, the Employees Mutual-help Fund and the Agricultural Bank Employees Special Account Fund), Greek insurance companies (ATE Insurance and Laiki Cyprialife), real estate funds, managers, developers and operators (Prodea, Trastor, Noval, Piraeus Real Estate, Alpha Real Estate), pharmaceutical and health sectors (Athens Medical Centre, CSL Behring, ELPEN Group and DEMO), the IT and telecommunications sectors (IBM, Intracom-Telecom, Nokia, MLS Information Systems and Think Digital), the food & beverage sector (Soya Mills Group, Macedonian Dairy Industry, Hellenic Breweries of Atalanti and Vivartia Group), the energy and energy commodities sectors (Public Power Corporation, PPC Renewables, Motor Oil Group, Terna Energy and Glencore International), the media & entertainment sector (Minos EMI and Universal Publishing), and the retail goods and services sector (Cocomat, Dufry, Fourlis Group and UPS).

We also have a strong track record and experience in advising Greek state and public sector enterprises, most notably acting as adviser to the Ministry of Finance and the Hellenic Republic Assets Development Fund in relation to the Greek privatisation programme, local government organisations, Hellinikon SA in relation to its real estate assets, the Hellenic Horse-race Betting Organisation (ODIE), Public Power Corporation and PPC Renewables.

Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department

Our Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department has successfully handled a wide array of cases, including:

● Consulting and legal support, resulting in a comprehensive multimillion-euro dispute resolution between major companies in the energy sector;

● Legal support in resolving a multimillion-euro real estate issue between a major real estate development company and an international institution concerning prime property;

● Representing a multinational company in a landmark cross-border tax case and pursuing a breakthrough interpretation of tax legislation relating to a special NATO tax regime and international tax treaties;

● Securing the nationwide first-ever provisional protection for a private investor’s claim against a listed company on account of fraudulent financial statements;

● Negotiating and finalising dispute resolution agreements between companies and/or individuals regarding various civil and commercial claims, stepping in and successfully resolving longpending disputes even after litigation has been initiated;

● Representing companies and individuals in capital markets litigation cases, including damages claims stemming from fraudulent embezzlement allegations;

● Consulting domestic and international clients on complex legal matters, including tax disputes, cross-border disputes and international jurisdiction queries;

● Representing major publishing companies in IP cases, including claims based on copyright and related rights, as well as provisional measures for emergency protection;

● Providing legal support and representation to various clients in solvency matters, NPLs and collection-of-claims cases.

Alexandra Petsa

Alexandra Petsa is the Managing Partner of Sardelas Petsa, over seeing the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department. She is a Supreme Court lawyer wi th a broad-based Greek and EU legal practice.

She holds a law degree and a postgraduate degree in Commercial Law from the law school of the University of Athens. She is the author of “The Law of Stock Exchange Transactions” (in Greek), 2005, and has numerous contributions in academic and practitioners’ Greek and international legal journals.

Alexandra is an expert practitioner in the fields of NPEs, restructuring and insolvency, judicial enforcement, real estate, tax and employment & social security law, having handled advisory, transactional and litigation work in relation to said fields for domestic and international clients from a plethora of business sectors.

Sardelas Petsa Law Firm

Business Litigation Lawyer of the Year in Italy

Dr. Simone Calzolai is the Founder and General Counsel of Calzolai Law Firm. After graduating and serving as personal law clerk to the Magistrate of the Court of Prato, Dr. Calzolai founded Calzolai Law Firm, which specializes in complex business litigation, white-collar criminal defense, labor and employment litigation.

Dr. Calzolai, as an Italian Qualified Lawyer, can represent and assist clients before the High Courts. As a European Lawyer, being of Counsel of London-based Adam Nelson Law Firm, Dr. Calzolai represent clients in the European Union and the United Kingdom. Dr. Simone Calzolai is also an active member of ABA (the American Bar Association).

For many years, Dr. Calzolai has acted as a qualified lawyer in the Florence US Consular District. In the United Kingdom, Dr. Calzolai is similarly listed as an English-speaking Italian solicitor held by the UK Government.

Professional Qualifications

● January 1994: Beginning of law practice

● May 1995: Enrolment in the Prato’s Bar Association section of Trainee Lawyers

● 1997: End of law practice

● 09/02/2000: Admitted in the Register of Lawyers at the Prato Bar Association

● 2000: Consultant of the American Embassy – Consular District of Florence

● 2010: Consultant of the British Consulate in Florence

● 25/05/2012: Admitted to practice before the Supreme Court and Higher Jurisdictions Courts

Education

● 1984–1993: University of Florence – Faculty of Law – Florence

● 06/12/1993: Degree in Law

● Thesis: Criminal Law – “Crimes of arbitrary exercise of one’s own reasons” – supervisor prof. Ferrando Mantovani

Languages

Native Italian, English, German, French, Spanish, Russian.

Today, Calzolai Law Firm’s primary areas of practice include intellectual property, real estate and commercial litigation. The firm offers its consultancy and assistance from the constitution phase of the company (including transformation, merger and demerger operations), up to the management of insolvency procedures, as well as the dissolution, cancellation or in any case extinction of the same for the conclusion of liquidation or insolvency procedures, including bankruptcy procedures.

Specifically, the firm manages contract and business disputes, including:

● Partnership/shareholder disputes and dissolutions;

● Real estate litigation (with expertise across a broad spectrum of transaction types);

● UCC merchant disputes;

● Copyright and trademark disputes;

● Construction litigation;

● Healthcare litigation;

● Disputes in energy sectors;

● Enforcement of non-compete agreements (restrictive covenants);

● Trade secrets.

Furthermore, Calzolai Law Firm has extensive experience in merchandising and licensing, employment and consulting agreements and private financings. Among these sectors, Dr Calzolai and team has worked the entire range of business incorporations from startups, development-stage companies as well as fully mature business incorporations.

The firm represents public corporations, high-net-worth individuals, privately held companies and foreign investors. In addition, Calzolai Law Firm has expertise in the field of appellate advocacy; meanwhile, Dr. Calzolai is admitted to practice in the Supreme Court and has been closely involved in the resolution of many cases of media interest.

In order to cope with a constantly evolving professional reality even outside EU boundaries, Calzolai Law Firm has combined its expertise and developed it in a stable partnership with Ascheri & Partners Tax and Commercial Firm in London (UK) in a way that best covers the needs of national and international clients.

Calzolai Law Firm

Insurance & Reinsurance Law Firm of the Year in Italy

PG Legal is an independent law firm with an international network providing a full range of legal services to corporations, financial institutions and highnet-worth individuals in the insurance, finance, luxury assets, energy and technology industries.

Whether operating in Italy on a cross-border or establishment basis, PG Legal advises leading global insurance and reinsurance groups, brokers, agents and other distribution networks on all aspects of Italian insurance law. PG Legal Insurance Team assists insurance operators in compliance activity, claims handling, inspections and other dealings with the Italian Insurance Regulator.

Moreover, the firm provides its clients operating in the insurance and reinsurance market with expert and up-to-date legal advice on life (IBIPS and NON IBIPS product) and non-life insurance regarding the D&O, financial lines, PI and marine and cargo sectors.

In particular, PG Legal’s Insurance team presently assists clients in: drafting of insurance contracts, such as policy conditions, application forms and other documentation required by Italian insurance law regulating products; developing specialised insurance products, such as life insurance policies, unit-linked and index-linked policies, health insurance policies, D&O liability policies and financial line policies; advising on tax matters concerning complex life insurance products; assistance to insurance carriers operating on a cross-border basis; advising on regulatory issues relative to the incorporation of Italian-based companies, establishment of branches of insurance companies in Italy and notices of insurance products via the Internet; drafting and negotiating distribution agreements between insurance undertakings and their distributors; advising on the incorporation of insurance undertakings in other jurisdictions; advising on captive insurance and participating cell companies; monitoring the market and keeping clients abreast of developments in Italian legislation; as well as representing major insurance companies in complex professional indemnity litigation matters.

As an additional service, PG Legal offers preliminary risk assessment evaluations to provide clients with claims evaluation, assessment and risk analysis. PG Legal’s tax specialists provide the expertise required for the full spectrum of tax aspects; meanwhile, its experts confer closely with a team of actuaries and loss adjusters for life insurance business queries.

PG Legal is a member of AIDA (the International Insurance Association) and a best-friends network of top insurance law firms based in London, Paris, Madrid, Cologne, Munich, and with offices in the main financial centres worldwide.

About Giovanna Aucone

Giovanna Aucone is a Partner and Head of PG Legal Insurance Team. Giovanna’s work focuses on providing legal assistance to insurance companies with particular emphasis on structuring complex insurance products. Her insurance experience also includes the drafting of contractual documentation required for compliance with the Italian Regulators; assistance on the establishment of subsidiaries or branches of insurance undertakings in Italy. She is also an experienced litigator with an impressive track record of significant cases regarding D&O and Financial Lines’ policies. In addition to her solid and versatile knowledge of insurance law, she is often invited as a speaker at conferences and seminars to discuss the hottest topics of insurance law. She is recommended by Chambers Europe (Europe’s Leading Lawyers for Business) for Insurance in Italy and is authorised to represent the clients before the Italian Supreme Court.

Ms Aucone noted: “Despite the COVID situation, it has been a good year for the insurance sector. We have advised the largest Italian and international insurance groups operating in Italy on contentious and compliance insurance matters, being awarded for our in-depth industry knowledge and legal expertise.

“We have assisted a global insurance group in structuring private insurance products. This activity has implied the structuring of complex unit-linked policies customised under the specific requests of the client. The contract was issued on a cross-border basis; therefore, particular attention has been paid to the different regulations applicable both to the contract and to the financial investment. We have provided the client with ‘tailor-made’ contracts suitable to the end-customer’s requirements and advised on the structuring of the contract path – including the agreements with the distributor banks and trust companies. We have also advised on matters concerning all fiscal issues related to a foreign company operating in Italy under the principle of the freedom to provide services. We have drafted the country manuals for use by the Compliance and Operation departments of the company and have structured PIP – individual pension plans – through a unit-linked product. We took care of the Implementation of IDD, review, and amendments to the distribution contract.”

Ms Aucone added: “We at PG Legal understand the complex technical, regulatory and commercial challenges that leading global insurance groups face, many of whom are our clients. We work to help our clients exploit existing and new business opportunities against a backdrop of increasing reporting and regulation, intense pressure on costs and margins, and a more cautious climate as regards risk and management of capital. For some clients, we act as the inhouse commercial legal team, while we provide a supporting role for others.

“Looking to the future, we intend to continue to offer comprehensive and high-quality legal assistance by expanding the range of services within the various branches of law as to privacy, AML and others with which insurance operators must comply.”

PG Legal Avv. Giovanna Aucone Partner and Head of Insurance Team Via Ombrone, 14 Rome – 00198; Via Sant’Andrea, 3 Milan – 20121 Tel: +39

Immigration Law Firm of the Year in Luxembourg

Pooling complementary skills and experience, WIES & HERTZOG is a human-scale firm located in the heart of Luxembourg City, providing legal services in many areas of law to a diverse clientele. Our mission is to provide advisory, assistance and legal representation services to both individuals and legal entities in all areas of public and private law.

Activities

Advice prior to proceedings, conclusion of contracts or any other commitment on your part towards third parties. A knowledge of applicable laws; the latest introduced amendments and their interpretations by the courts and tribunals are essential in deciding on the likelihood and prospects of success of any legal action that you are proposing to engage in.

Assistance in your negotiations and/or transactions by seeking the solution that best suits your situation and, if necessary, drafting acts on your behalf, for use in your day-to-day life (residential leases, loans, etc.) or in a professional context (contracts and commercial transactions, etc.).

Legal representation before any court of law (civil, criminal, administrative or social), at first instance and on appeal, whether you are the plaintiff or the defendant – whether you are being sued before a court of law, or whether you wish to take legal action yourself.

Our firm has a wealth of experience, and its advisory offering includes the following (among many other key areas):

● Immigration and nationality law

● Residence and work permits (granting and withdrawal)

● Family reunification

● Recognition of refugee status

● Acquisition of Luxembourg nationality

● Civil status difficulties

Frank Wies

Graduated in law from the University of Liège (B) in June, 1998. He attended additional classes in Luxembourg law until he was sworn in at the Diekirch bar in April, 1999.

He first worked within the legal firm URBANY until March, 2002, then set up on his own after that date.

Alongside his professional activities, he is involved in the promotion and defense of human rights within Amnesty International Luxembourg and the Lëtzebuerger Flüchtlingsrot.

Member of the Consultative Commission on Human Rights, former elected member of the Council of the Bar Association of Luxembourg. Chairman of the Legal Aid Committee and member of the Immigration and Asylum Committee at the Luxembourg Bar.

He also acts as a counsel for various associations and has a regular slot on a public radio programme (FM 100.7).

Mr. Wies will correspond with you in Luxembourgish, German, French and/or English.

WIES & HERTZOG

Public Law Expert of the Year in Portugal

The law firm Abecasis, Moura Marques & Associados, Sociedade de Advogados, SP, RL. (AAMM) is widely recognised in the areas of public law, tax and private clients due to the excellence and rigour of the services it provides to its clients, with proven results.

AAMM is a law firm that stands for “getting it right”, with a team of specialist lawyers with recognised expertise in their respective practice areas. Our lawyers focus on guaranteeing the highest standards of excellence, providing tailor-made legal advice and support to meet the needs of every client and help them develop solutions for the present and strategies for the future.

We provide legal advice and representation in Portugal, and support our clients in the international markets wherever they do business.

We are involved in major projects on a national and international level, but we also have social concerns, and social responsibility is a core value at AAMM.

What Sets Us Apart

● A global and in-depth vision of our clients’ businesses: we see the big picture and the detail;

● A systematic approach to finding the right solutions to bring added value to our clients’ activities and optimise their investments. We understand our clients’ needs and can find the legal approach that best addresses every challenge they face;

● Excellence in legal services;

● An efficient, dedicated, committed, innovative and practical team;

● A close partnership with the client;

● Exceptional know-how, specialisation and an unparalleled track record;

● Trusted ties with leading international law firms.

Our clients include market-leading Portuguese and international companies as well as private clients. A number of our international clients are Fortune 500 companies, and most of our Portuguese clients appear on the list of the country’s 1000 largest companies.

The public law practice is one of AAMM’s strongest features and an area in which it leads the market.

The public law team provides legal advice in all areas of public law to public bodies (central administration, public institutes, local administrations and public companies), as well as to private entities.

AAMM prides itself on having a multidisciplinary team that includes specialised lawyers renowned for knowledge and experience that is unparalleled in the area of public law. These lawyers advise on a full range of issues, including:

● Administrative law

● Constitutional law

● Administrative litigation and arbitration

● Public-private partnerships

● Health

● Public services

● Public procurement

● Expropriation

● Public domain

● The environment

● Territorial planning

● Urban planning

● Tourism

● Energy

● Water

● Telecommunications

● The public sector

Working Alongside International Law Firms

AAMM also specialises in handling public debt settlement operations, public law litigation and arbitration, territorial planning and redevelopment of urban areas, and the delimitation of the public domain. The firm provides legal advice and support to both Portuguese and foreign entities.

AAMM works alongside international law firms to provide support to its clients with greater proximity, regardless of where they are doing business.

About Paulo de Moura Marques

Paulo de Moura Marques is an AAMM Founding Partner and Head of the Public Law Practice with around 25 years’ experience in legal practice. He is known for his experience and expertise in all fields of public law and administrative litigation and arbitration. Renowned for his professional merit and leadership as well as negotiation skills, he is recommended by the main international directories – Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500. He is closely involved in the largest, most complex cases and transactions, representing marketleading companies, and he is the choice of international entities for advice concerning both the Portuguese and international markets. His clients come from a range of sectors, chiefly: life sciences, public governance, aviation and aeronautics, tourism, urban planning and construction.

Abecasis, Moura Marques & Associados, Sociedade de Advogados, SP, RL. Paulo de Moura Marques

Company Formation & Advisory Law Firm of the Year in Romania

Badet Law is a Romanian business law firm based in Bucharest, founded in 2013 by Alexandru Badet, a leading lawyer with a solid track record in providing legal advice with a business-oriented approach. Alexandru has worked as senior associate and partner with reputed international and local law firms. Following an experience of 10 years as litigator and consultant, he started his own Consulting Business.

We deliver expert legal advice in a pragmatic, responsive and cost-effective way via our dedicated practice areas, primarily focusing on aviation, corporate and commercial, employment, banking, finance, real estate, construction, litigation and arbitration. Given the various aviation projects, involving clients such as air operators, handling companies, brokers and financiers, the firm gained extensive experience in the aviation field.

The team approaches both their clients and their businesses, applying their expertise to help achieve the objectives which have been set. Investing time in forming lasting relationships and gaining a good understanding of their clients’ affairs, the team at Badet Law build their practice on a strong set of values that guide them in all that they do and that enables them to achieve the highest standards in all their actions: an excellent quality of service, a passionate and fresh approach to any matter and client happiness.

Expertise and Key Competencies: Aviation Transactions, M&A Transactions, Company Restructuring, Corporate Advisory, Employment, Real Estate Development, Fundraising, Dispute Resolution.

Know-how in Industries: Aviation, Real Estate Development, Corporate and Commercial, IT, Renewal Energy, Retail, Real Estate and Construction, Franchise Expansion, Banking and Finance.

Aviation: We have in-depth knowledge, understanding and experience in the aviation industry and have advised on key commercial and operational issues in the aviation sector.

Banking & Finance: We have experience acting for financial institutions in a wide variety of transactions and provide clients with legal assistance on matters varying from project finance to electronic payment to restructuring loans.

Corporate: We combine our top legal expertise with a sharp commercial approach to provide clients with a wide range of legal services related to corporate law, from company formations to corporate re-organizations to everyday strategic advice.

Employment: We advise both companies and individual clients on all aspects of working relations, from contracts and policies matters to termination agreements to visa and working permits.

Energy: We have a deep understanding of the energy sector and legislation in Romania, and advise clients with respect to power generation and sale projects, with a focus on renewable energy projects, from wind to photovoltaic and biomass investments.

Litigation and Arbitration: We deal with disputes across a wide range of industries and represent clients before state courts and arbitral tribunals.

Mergers & Acquisitions: We assist on acquisitions and mergers involving private and public companies, providing legal advice and guidance throughout the entire transaction process, from identifying potential opportunities to successful completion.

Real Estate & Construction: We have experience in advising clients in matters relating to real estate development, construction, property investment, portfolio management, disputes, property finance & banking, residential property and lease extensions.

Shipping: We advise shipping clients on a variety of legal matters from industry-specific business operations to shipping insurance, finance and disputes.

Taxation: We provide clients with tax advice that is cost effective and geared to maximizing our clients’ tax benefits.

Our clients are Romanian companies of all sizes, foreign companies and their subsidiaries located in Romania, as well as Romanian and foreign individuals.

We build our practice on a strong set of values that guide us in all that we do and that enables us to achieve the highest standards in all our actions: an excellent quality of service, a passionate and fresh approach to any matter and client happiness.

Our firm’s focus is on our clients and their businesses, and we apply our expertise to help achieve their objectives. We invest time in building lasting relationships and a good understanding of our clients’ affairs in order to know what matters, and our advice is relevant, effective and appropriate.

Our clients tell us that our professionalism, ability to tackle complex problems and strong emphasis on communication are the reasons why they work with us. We are proud of our creative and fresh approach and aim to continue investing in improving our service.

Looking ahead to what the future holds, the team at Badet Law will continue to deliver an exceptional level of service which not only fulfils the requirements set by their clients, but also surpasses their expectations.

Global Mobility and Immigration Expert of the Year in Spain

BRS Global Mobility understands that every relocation is unique. That’s why the firm offers a comprehensive range of services to cater to the diverse needs of its clients. From immigration and administrative services to expense management and move coordination, BRS has the expertise and resources to make every step of a relocation journey seamless and hassle-free.

Navigating the complexities of immigration and administrative procedures can be overwhelming, and so the firm offers a team of experts specialising in immigration law, who can assist you with visa applications and work permits as well as other legal requirements.

In her role as the Co-founder and Managing Director of BRS – with more than 20 years’ experience in the industry – Beatriz Carro de Prada has played a significant role in establishing and growing the firm’s service offering. Her extensive experience within the sector has allowed her to develop a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and complexities involved in relocation and immigration. Moreover, her leadership and commitment to excellence have positioned the firm as a trusted and reliable relocation and immigration services provider in Spain. She is both GMS and CRP2 certified and, in 2012, was the recipient of the “Rising Star in Relocation” award from Re:locate Magazine.

According to Ms Carro de Prada, following a pause in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the last two years have shown significant growth in terms of business activity, meaning that BRS was prompted to increase its workforce by 20%. Specifically – during that period – the firm gained a substantial number of public (European Commission) and private tenders from international corporations relocating to Spain, particularly from such sectors as pharma and the IT/ software industries.

She noted: “At the end of 2022, we managed a group move for a large German IT company from Moscow to various cities in Spain. In a period spanning less than four months, our team of immigration lawyers – comprising six people – managed 900 work permits for highly qualified Russian IT and telecoms engineers as well as their families.”

This followed a period of transition, wherein many companies had shifted to remote work arrangements. For a mobility service provider such as BRS, this meant adjusting services delivery. Meanwhile, additional challenges included regulatory adjustments – as immigration and visa compliancy requirements are consistently subject to change, impacting the mobility of employees – as well as economic uncertainty, since fluctuations can impact the demand for international services in the event that clients reduce their mobility budgets.

In order to overcome these challenges, adaptability, innovation and strong communication, combined with a client-centric approach, have been key strategies for BRS.

Regarding the firm’s international scope, Ms Carro de Prada added: “We commenced our activity in Spain in 2001 from scratch and, more than 20 years later, we are now a recognised and admired company, certified both ISO:9001 and ISO:14001, a member of EURA and the ERC Worldwide Workforce – as well as a recipient of numerous international awards in both the UK and the US for our commitment to excellence.

“Today, we cover all territories of Spain with a team of more than 30 relocation consultants, and also offer our services in Andorra, Gibraltar and Portugal with our own staff, as well as further afield – such as the African continent – in partnership with reliable companies from our industry.”

In addition, despite recent global events, such as the “polycrisis” of the war in Ukraine, inflation and the pandemic, 2022 was BRS’s best year on record. This is partially because the conflict in Ukraine created a higher demand from those clients who decided to relocate their teams from Ukraine and Russia to Spain. Inflation, however, led to new pressures for the real estate market, meaning that housing conditions became more challenging for new arrivals.

Looking to the future, Ms Carro de Prada said BRS’s plans include maintaining a leading position in the Spanish market by continuing to offer an outstanding level of service to a broad client base – and, she stated, “reinforcing our core company values in regards to sustainability as well as social responsibility.”

BRS Global Mobility

Beatriz Carro de Prada Co-founder / Managing Director Paseo de Gracia 52 – 08007 Barcelona (Spain)

International Tax Law Firm of the Year in Sweden

Skeppsbron Skatt is Sweden’s largest independent tax adviser, with around 70 employees at our offices in Stockholm, Malmö and Gothenburg. We are a full-service adviser, handling all types of tax issues for both large and small companies.

Full Service and Independence

We possess the skill and expertise to deal with tax issues of all kinds. Our consulting is independent from auditing. We offer a unique alternative to the tax advice provided by audit firms. Sector-specific Expertise

We have the sector-specific expertise needed to provide advice that is tailored to our customers’ business – advice that adds value.

Specific Advice

We provide clear, specific advice, whatever the question. We give honest answers and have long experience of advising on a broad spectrum of complex tax issues.

Global Network

Skeppsbron 20

SE-111 30 Stockholm

Tel: +46 73 640 91 52

magnus.larsen@skeppsbronskatt.se www.skeppsbronskatt.se

Skeppsbron Skatt is part of Taxand, the world’s leading international network of independent tax advisers, which currently includes more than 2000 tax consultants in around 60 countries. This enables us to offer high-quality advice, regardless of where in the world you as a customer have your business.

Skeppsbron Skatt, a Part of Aspia

Through our merger with Aspia (www.aspia.se), we are now part of Sweden’s new leading business partner for business-related services. For you as a customer, this means that you get access to an additional 1,450 specialists in payroll management, accounting and consulting, in more than 70 locations throughout Sweden, and specialists throughout the Nordic region.

Magnus Larsén

Focus Areas

● Income Tax

● International Taxation

● M&A and Private Equity

● Tax Disputes

Magnus advises clients in various sectors, with a particular focus on clients within M&A and private equity. He advises his clients in compliance-related matters, as well as in connection with restructurings and transactions. In addition, Magnus has vast experience in advising clients in respect to tax litigation. He is often engaged as a speaker, and has also written a Swedish Branch report for the International Fiscal Association (IFA).

Career

● Skeppsbron Skatt, 2012 – present

● Morgan Stanley, 2004–2012

● Linklaters, 2001–2004

● KPMG, 1997–2001

● Court Gothenburg, 1995–1997

● Master of Law, Uppsala University, 1995

Skeppsbron Skatt Magnus Larsén Partner

Capital Markets, Securitization & Structured Finance Lawyer of the Year in Switzerland

Orrick is a global law firm focused on serving the technology & innovation, energy & infrastructure and finance sectors. Founded more than 150 years ago in San Francisco, today Orrick has offices in 25+ markets worldwide.

From single-lender corporate loans to heavily structured syndicated or bespoke transactions, we offer premier, tailored advice to clients around the globe.

Both lenders and borrowers have turned to us for more than 100 years for counsel on a wide array of finance transactions, from acquisition finance to recapitalizations, work-out financings to asset-based lending facilities, municipal lending to project finance, structured finance and capital markets, and all manner of other lending arrangements.

Our large international group of Banking & Finance lawyers works as a cohesive team across North America and Europe to deliver flawless execution on the most demanding finance transactions. Whether they’re bulge bracket investment banks, new alternative lenders, large corporate borrowers or governmental entities, our clients choose us when quality and value are their highest priorities.

Our work has earned us recognition worldwide. Major legal magazines rank us as a leading firm in 2022 for Banking & Finance in the U.S., Switzerland, France and Italy

Orrick’s structured finance and debt capital markets practice consistently operated on the market’s top mandates across a wealth of structures and, time and again, innovated new structures.

Hervé Touraine

Hervé Touraine is Head of Finance Europe, based in Geneva and also with an office in Paris, where he spends a significant part of his time.

Hervé represents international financial institutions, corporates, sponsors, investors, insurance companies, asset managers and alternative capital providers on domestic and cross-border transactions. He advises on banking, structured finance, securitization and capital markets transactions.

Hervé has worked on numerous complex, strategic and/or innovative transactions (including many firsts in France and Europe) such as international securitization transactions, covered bonds, corporate structured bonds, project bonds, debt funds, direct lending and the establishment of dedicated origination and refinancing platforms.

He also acted on transactions for financing or refinancing purposes (including liquidity), and for off-balance sheet or regulatory capital purposes. As such, he has developed particular skills in handling multi-jurisdictions and multi-practice transactions.

He has developed a substantial experience in the energy and infrastructure sector in the context of financing and refinancing transactions, using classical bank structures as well as Euro PP, bond and project bond structures, specialized credit institutions and dedicated debt funds.

Over the recent years, Hervé has also developed a unique expertise in the non-performing loans markets and in accompanying tech companies and newly formed companies in raising innovative and tailor-made sources of financing.

Hervé is described by his clients as a “key person” for structured finance deals, noting: “When we’ve got a problem, he’s there. We know we can count on him.” Clients further comment: “He is dedicated and innovative, and an expert in his field. We see him as a business partner of ours, rather than a lawyer.”

Hervé is an active participant in drafting securitization and structured finance legislation and regulations in France. He regularly publishes and speaks in relation to structured finance markets and related points of interest and deals.

Before joining Orrick in 2016, Hervé was at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, where he worked for 20 years, including 18 years as a partner.

Pension Schemes Lawyer of the Year in the United Kingdom

Travers Smith is a leading full-service UK law firm, conducting cutting-edge and industry-first work for clients across key sectors, having carved a market-leading reputation for its expertise in international asset management, cross-border M&A as well as global dispute resolution and investigations. Amongst its most innovative practices is the firm’s Derivatives & Structured Products team, led by Jonathan, which is a pre-eminent adviser for buy-side participants in the London derivatives market, with a particular reputation for advising some of the UK’s largest and most sophisticated pension schemes, banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions – also serving asset managers, funds, FinTechs, and corporates.

The distinguishing feature of the practice is its broad experience and expertise at both partner and associate level. The team predominantly advises on transactions that combine diverse aspects and products to deliver a turn-key solution that will address each client’s needs, combining a busy transactional practice with forward-thinking and technically excellent advisory capabilities. In conjunction with Travers’ market-leading financial services regulatory colleagues (ranked in Band 1 by IFLR as well as Chambers and Partners), the team advises on all regulation relevant to its clients and the products and transactions they undertake.

Jonathan’s practice also encompasses all aspects of pensions investment work from both a transactional and advisory perspective. He advises pension scheme clients on investment strategies, hedging, risk management, funding and insured solutions. Jonathan also regularly advises on complex funding arrangements as well as de-risking. He is recognised as a “Leading Individual” by both Chambers UK and the Legal 500.

Jonathan regularly advises on derivatives, repo and securities-lending mandates (including as part of LDI and CDI strategies) for asset manager and pensions clients, both involving bilateral relationships and the establishment and use of agency arrangements, as well as compliance with EMIR, SFTR and other regulation affecting derivatives, repo, securities-lending and other key investment arrangements. He also advises on the structure and documentation of bespoke transactions to hedge exposure to key market risks, including interest rate, inflation, FX and longevity; and advises on investment management, custody, clearing and collateral management arrangements, in addition to pension scheme funding and risk transfer.

Advisory services also extend to the transition away from the use of LIBOR as a benchmark interest rate and issues arising from the proposed changes to the use of RPI as a benchmark measure of inflation; evolving ESG and sustainability investment policies and compliance with ESG and sustainable finance regulations. In relation to ESG, he serves on various working groups of the UK Sustainable Investment & Finance Association and the Governance Committee of the UK Voluntary Carbon Market Forum, having also been appointed to the UK Regional Board for the Global Alliance of Impact Lawyers.

Mr Gilmour noted: “With the growing significance of ESG considerations and ESG-related regulation – combined with clients setting net-zero targets against which they need to demonstrate progress – we are able to use our already significant experience in this area to assist a broad range of clients now and in the years to come.”

Mr Gilmour is heavily involved with industry associations, including his role as Chair of the Association of Pension Lawyers’ Investment & DC Sub-committee, as a member of the Society of Pension Professionals’ Investment Committee and the Financial Markets Law Committee’s Insurance & Pensions Scoping Forum, as well as Treasurer of the Pensions Management Institute’s London Group Committee.

Travers Smith LLP

Trademark Law Firm of the Year in the United Kingdom

Brandsmiths is a multi-award-winning boutique intellectual property law firm.

It opened its doors in 2014 to fill a gap in the market: to combine city-quality legal expertise in intellectual property and litigation with an innovative, responsive and flexible approach to service delivery. The firm has grown over this time from a team of three, to more than 65 people. Each Brandsmiths lawyer is a specialist in the fields of intellectual property and/or litigation. The firm combines critical legal expertise with commercial nous and strategic thinking. Brandsmiths lawyers are not just lawyers; they are consultants, specialists, facilitators and dealmakers.

Brandsmiths understands the need for cost-efficient solutions and the importance of technology in achieving this. Technology and innovation are at the heart of everything they do, and they are committed to providing the highest quality legal advice and innovative strategies via a costefficient solution.

It is Brandsmiths’ drive, ambition and “can do” attitude towards achieving best value for its clients, coupled with the firm’s willingness to embrace innovative technological solutions, that has been key to the firm’s meteoric growth and has garnered its reputation for excellence. The firm’s centre of excellence has been focused on its “soft” intellectual property practice, primarily its trademark work in the courts and before the Intellectual Property Offices.

Brandsmiths is a genuine “one-stop shop” for trademarks – undertaking the protection and enforcement of national and international trademark rights, providing filing and prosecution services in addition to enforcement and commercial work. In short, the team who files the trademark applications is made up of the same people who: enforce those rights before the courts and Intellectual Property Offices alike; draft commercial agreements, including settlements, licences and assignments; and record the transfer of rights before the Intellectual Property Offices around the world.

The firm is made up of trademark attorneys, solicitors and specialist paralegals. Many Brandsmiths attorneys and solicitors have rights of audience in the highest UK courts, and every member of the team is a trademark or litigation specialist. Brandsmiths handles trademark portfolios, large and small, from startups through to household names – as well as their court litigation, company name tribunal disputes, domain name recovery actions and commercial transactions.

Brandsmiths team members are highly skilled before Intellectual Property Offices (IPO) around the world and have handled in excess of 5000 trademark oppositions, revocations and invalidations before the UK IPO and EU IPO. Moreover, Brandsmiths has been ranked by the Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys as number one for the most appearances before the UK Intellectual Property Office in trademark matters over the last five years.

In addition to undertaking their own advocacy before the UK IPO, and at first instance before the UK Courts, Brandsmiths lawyers regularly appear on appeal before the UK Courts, the Appointed Person, and have appeared before the General Court of the European Union.

Brandsmiths’ intellectual property litigation experience is, therefore, second to none, and they litigate in relation to the full range of intellectual property rights with an emphasis on trademarks and designs. Last year alone, Brandsmiths had eight trials listed, went to the Court of Appeal twice and had four cases pending before the Supreme Court.

Brandsmiths act in cutting-edge cases, such as the “Only Fools and Horses” case – the first dealing with parody defence for copyright; and the leading cases on directors’ liability for intellectual property infringement (Lifestyles Equity v Ahmed) and (Lifestyles Equity v Amazon) – both to be heard by the Supreme Court shortly. Brandsmiths also represented band members in the Court of Appeal on the “Love Injection” case – the leading case on abandonment of goodwill – and are acting for EOne in the high-profile “Peppa Pig” case, which involves a range of intellectual property rights, such as copyright, trademark and passing off.

Internationally, Brandsmiths’ intellectual property litigation expertise is unequalled. They are experts in interlocutory injunctions, cross-border disputes and seizing jurisdiction in the UK, having coordinated and conducted numerous multi-jurisdictional trademark disputes.

Brandsmiths has sought interlocutory injunctions in various EU countries, including Spain, Germany, Denmark, Portugal and Austria, and has been before the Court of Appeal in Greece, Germany and Spain, as well as the Supreme Court in France and Turkey. Beyond the EU, Brandsmiths’ team members have litigated with specialist local counsel in Ghana, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia and the US. Currently, the Brandsmiths team is seeking a worldwide injunction in relation to the copyright aspects of the aforementioned “Peppa Pig” case, which is set to be the leading case in this area.

While Brandsmiths lawyers are fierce litigators, they are always mindful of client expectations and appreciate that settlements can provide commercial certainty via a quicker and more costefficient route than trial. Their approach to litigation is strategic and creative – aimed at always providing the best outcome for the client.

UK Visa Law Firm of the Year in the United Kingdom

Global Immigration Law is an advanced lawful administrations supplier that has practical experience in providing superb movement legal guidance to organizations as well as people.

We are based in the City of London with a group of six experts, including specialists and legal help. Our method is to set up a strong working association with our customers and guarantee that client care is at the forefront of everything we do. Rendering migration advice isn’t merely a box-ticking exercise; it requires a groundbreaking and proactive methodology. If there is an issue, most times out of 10, we will provide the answer. Thinking outside the box and devising imaginative solutions is the approach you can anticipate from us.

Our lawyers provide fair counsel, informing clients of the reality of their case (rather than simply what they wish to hear) – illuminating the qualities and shortcomings that should be considered when reaching towards the clients’ goal.

Fixed Expense

No hourly rates; only one fixed expense for the administration you need – ensuring a responsible pricing structure.

Our bilingual staff will ensure that clients around the world receive a customized methodology, coordinated in person and online as required.

WHAT WE DO?

Our services

Skilled Worker Visa

A Skilled Worker visa allows you to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with an approved employer. This visa has replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa. We are making skilled worker visa applications to bring skilled workforce to the companies that require additional skilled employees.

Sponsor Licence

A Sponsorship Licence application is a necessary part of the process of employing certain foreign workers. If you intend to hire anyone from outside the EEA, you must first apply for a Sponsor Licence, including if you are a small business or charity.

Global Business Mobility Visa

The Global Business Mobility routes are for workers based outside the UK who are undertaking a temporary work assignment in the UK as a Senior or Specialist Worker, Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier or Secondment Worker. We are applying for these routes for the companies outside the UK to open up their branches in the UK or for intra-company transfers.

Temporary Work Visa

If you wish to work in the UK for 12 months or less, but are subject to immigration control, you may apply for a Temporary Worker Tier 5 Visa. You can apply for this visa if you wish to work in a role such as charity worker, artist, entertainer, diplomat or sportsperson.

Sponsor Licence Application

A Sponsorship Licence application is a necessary part of the process of employing certain foreign workers. If you intend to hire anyone from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) you must apply for a Sponsor Licence, including if you are a small business or charity.

Sponsorship Licence Renewal

A Sponsor Licence renewal is a process that lets you continue to employ foreign workers legally in the UK. You can renew your Sponsor Licence within three months of the expiry of your current Sponsor Licence.

Sponsor Licence Suspension

If you fail to undertake your duties as a Tier 2 Sponsor Licence holder, you may have your Sponsor Licence suspended. Your migrant employees will still be permitted to work while your licence is suspended, but you risk losing them if your licence is revoked.

Sponsor Licence Revocation

A Sponsorship Licence revocation is issued by the Home Office to state that your business cannot continue to hire foreign workers.

Certificate of Sponsorship

A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is necessary for migrant workers who are applying for their Tier 2 or Tier 5 Visa. As a UK employer, you will need to hold a valid Sponsorship Licence to apply for the Certificate of Sponsorship for each employee you bring over.

Global Immigration Law

Construction Lawyer of the Year in Austria

KWR Karasek Wietrzyk Rechtsanwälte GmbH

Dr. Georg Karasek Partner

Fleischmarkt 1, A-1010 Vienna

Tel: +43 1 24500-3155 georg.karasek@kwr.at www.kwr.at

Projects & Energy Lawyer of the Year in Austria

Schoenherr Vienna Christian Schmelz Partner

A-1010 Vienna, Schottenring 19 Tel: +43 1 534 37 0 office.austria@schoenherr.eu www.schoenherr.eu

Energy Law Expert of the Year in Belgium

Fieldfisher Belgium

David Haverbeke Head of EU Regulatory l’Arsenal, Bd Louis Schmidt 29 box 15, 1040 Brussels

Tel: +32 2 742 70 13 david.haverbeke@fieldfisher.com www.fieldfisher.com/en/locations/belgium

Social Security Law Firm of the Year in Belgium

Bellaw – Van Eeckhoutte, Taquet & Clesse

Willy van Eeckhoutte Founding Partner

Drie Koningenstraat 3, 9051 Ghent (Flanders, Belgium)

Tel: +329 220 82 00 info.ve@bellaw.eu www.bellaw.eu

Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year in Bulgaria

Dimitrov, Petrov & Co

Metodi Baykushev Partner 28 Todor Alexandrov Blvd., Fl. 7, Sofia 1303

Tel: +359 (2) 421 42 01 info@dpc.bg www.dpc.bg

Šavoric & Partners

Branko Bulat Partner

Ilica 1/A, Zagreb Eye, 14th–15th floor, 10 000 Zagreb Tel: +38514855900 branko.bulat@savoric.com www.savoric.com

Boutique Corporate Law Firm of the Year in Cyprus

Alexandrou & Papatheodorou LLC

Alexandros Ch. Alexandrou Managing Partner 24 Gregoriou Xenopoulou, Office 301 Kyzas Bldg, Block A, 1061, Nicosia Tel: (+357) 22 262 268 aca@apllc.eu www.apllc.eu

International Corporate Law Firm of the Year in Cyprus

AGP LAW FIRM | A.G. PAPHITIS & CO. LLC

Angelos G. Paphitis Managing Partner AGP Chambers, 84 Spyrou Kyprianou Avenue, 4004 Limassol, Cyprus Tel: +357 25731000 agp@agplaw.com www.agplaw.com

IP Lawyer of the Year in Cyprus

Lellos P Demetriades Law Office Achilleas Demetriades Partner The Chanteclair House, 2 Sophoulis Str. 9th fl, 1096 Nicosia Tel: +357 22 676060 achilleas@ldlaw.com.cy www.ldlaw.com.cy

Exchange Chambers

David Fearon Barrister and Mediator 201 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3NW Tel: +44 (0)161 833 2722

fearon@exchangechambers.co.uk www.exchangechambers.co.uk

International Sanctions Law Firm of the Year in England

Zaiwalla & Co

Leigh Crestohl

Managing Partner

Holborn Tower, 137–144 High Holborn, London, WC1V 6PL

Tel: +44 (0)207 312 1000

leigh.crestohl@zaiwalla.co.uk

www.zaiwalla.co.uk

Contested and Hostile Bids Expert of the Year in France

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Mr. Armand Grumberg Partner, Mergers and Acquisitions

68 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 75008 Paris, France

Tel: +33.1.55.27.11.95

armand.grumberg@skadden.com

www.skadden.com

Intellectual Property Advisory Expert of the Year in France

FIDUCIAL LEGAL BY LAMY

Karine Disdier-Mikus Avocat à la Cour / Partner

Paris: 13 boulevard Bourdon F 75004 Paris

Lyon: 40, rue de Bonnel CS 63647 F 69484 Lyon Cedex 03

Tel (Paris): +33 1 53 05 91 90;

Fax: +33 1 53 05 91 99

Tel (Lyon): +33 4 78 62 14 00;

Fax: +33 4 78 62 14 99

karine.disdier.mikus@fiducial-legal.net

www.fiducial-legal.com

M&A Lawyer of the Year in France

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Mr. Armand Grumberg Partner, Mergers and Acquisitions

68 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 75008 Paris, France Tel: +33.1.55.27.11.95

armand.grumberg@skadden.com

www.skadden.com

Public and Private Acquisitions Expert of the Year in France

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Mr. Armand Grumberg

Partner, Mergers and Acquisitions

68 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 75008 Paris, France

Tel: +33.1.55.27.11.95

armand.grumberg@skadden.com

www.skadden.com

Trademark Law Firm of the Year in France

Promark

Alain Berthet Partner

62 av. des Champs-Élysées, 75008 Paris – France

Tel: +33 (0)1 56 59 60 80 contact@promark.fr

www.promark.fr

Intellectual Property Advisory Expert of the Year in Germany

Samson & Partner Patentanwälte mbB

Dr. Tobias Stammberger Partner

Widenmayerstr. 6, 80538 Munich, Germany

Tel: +49 89 2919820

email@samson-partner.de

www.samson-partner.de

Life Sciences Law Expert of the Year in Germany

Ehlers, Ehlers & Partner Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbB

Dr. iur. Christian Rybak Lawyer; Partner / Wirtschaftsjurist (Univ. Bayreuth)

Widenmayerstr. 29, 80538 Munich

Tel: +49 89 210 969 0

c.rybak@eep-law.de

www.eep-law.de

Trademark Expert of the Year in Germany

Samson & Partner Patentanwälte mbB

Michael Turi Partner

Widenmayerstr. 6, 80538 Munich, Germany

Tel: +49 89 2919820

email@samson-partner.de

www.samson-partner.de

Private Equity Transactions Law Firm of the Year in Ireland

ByrneWallace LLP Feargal Brennan Managing Partner 88 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2, D02 DK18, Ireland

Tel: +353 1 691 5000

fbrennan@byrnewallace.com

www.byrnewallace.com

Giovanna Bagnardi Legal

Giovanna Bagnardi Partner

Via Sassoferrato, 1Milan 20135, Italy

Tel: +39 3478661266

giovannabagnardi@gmail.com

Giovanna Bagnardi

International Crime and Tax Litigation Law Firm of the Year in Poland

8, 04–691 Warszawa

+48 791 35 16 09

adwokat@marcinmalinowski.pl www.MMLegal.com.pl

FinTech & Cryptocurrencies Lawyer of the Year in Romania

SLV Legal

Alexandru Stanescu Partner

18 Londra Street, Bucharest, 0117763, Romania

Tel: +40 745.772.762

alexandru.stanescu@slvlegal.com www.slvlegal.com

International Transactions Law Firm of the Year in Romania

CHRISTIAN BOGARU LAW FIRM

Christian Bogaru Founding Lawyer

41D Barajul Arges Street, 1st District, Bucharest, Romania

Tel: +40 21 326 60 53

admin@bchlaw.eu www.bchlaw.eu

Investments Lawyer of the Year in Romania

SLV Legal

Alexandru Stanescu Partner

18 Londra Street, Bucharest, 0117763, Romania

Tel: +40 745.772.762

alexandru.stanescu@slvlegal.com www.slvlegal.com

Cross-Border Trusts & Estates Expert of the Year in Switzerland

Erismann Legal

Erik Erismann

Founding Partner Avenue de la Fusion 42, 1920 Martigny | Suisse Tel: +41 27 721 68 28

erik@erismannlegal.ch

www.erismannlegal.ch

Private Client Law Firm of the Year in Switzerland

Blum&Grob Attorneys at Law Ltd

Dr. Natalie Peter Attorney at Law, LL.M., TEP Neumuehlequai 6, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland Tel: +41 58 320 00 00

n.peter@blumgrob.ch

www.blumgrob.ch

Banking Litigation Lawyer of the Year in the United Kingdom

Walker Morris LLP

Louise Power Partner

33 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 4DL Tel: +44 (0) 113 283 2542

louise.power@walkermorris.co.uk

www.walkermorris.co.uk

Commercial Construction Law Expert of the Year in the United Kingdom

Trowers & Hamlins

Stephanie Canham Partner

3 Bunhill Row, London, EC1Y 8YZ Tel: +44 (0)207 423 8000

scanham@trowers.com

www.trowers.com

Independent Mediator of the Year in the United Kingdom

Andrew Paton Mediator

Independent Mediators Ltd.

Capability House, Building 31, Wrest Park, Silsoe, Bedfordshire, MK45 4HR

Tel: +44 (0)20 7127 9223

imoffice@independentmediators.co.uk

www.independentmediators.co.uk

The Americas Winners

Foreign Direct Investment in Latin America and the Caribbean Rose by 55.2% in 2022, Reaching an Historic High

In a recent report, ECLAC calls on countries to improve their policy design to take advantage of the contribution that FDI can make to the energy transition and to the region’s sustainable productive development.

In 2022, Latin America and the Caribbean received $224.579 billion dollars in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), a figure that is 55.2% above 2021 levels and marks the highest value on record, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) revealed.

This result is mainly attributable to the increase in FDI in some countries, particularly in Brazil; to growth in all the components of FDI, especially earnings reinvestment; and to the increase in FDI in the services sector. This dynamic is consistent with the post-pandemic recovery, and it is unclear whether it will stay at similar levels in 2023, according to the annual report, “Foreign Direct Investment in Latin America and the Caribbean 2023”.

FDI inflows to Latin American and Caribbean countries had not topped $200 billion dollars since 2013. These flows also increased as a share of regional GDP in 2022, accounting for 4.0%, the document stated.

“The challenge of attracting and retaining Foreign Direct Investment that contributes effectively to the region’s sustainable and inclusive productive development is more relevant than ever. There are new opportunities in an era of reconfiguration of global value chains and geographic relocation of production in the face of a changing globalisation,” noted ECLAC’s Executive Secretary, José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, who presented the study’s main conclusions during a press conference in Santiago, Chile.

The senior United Nations official emphasised that “the challenge is not only to attract and retain, but also to maximise FDI’s contribution to development – and to this end, countries must focus on postestablishment, productive development policies, which include the promotion of productive linkages, policies for adding value and moving up value chains, for human resources development, infrastructure and logistics, and building local capacities.”

The global FDI scenario in 2022 was heterogeneous, ECLAC indicates. While these flows grew in Latin America and the Caribbean, and in other regions of the world, they decreased in the US and in some EU countries. Overall, global FDI inflows shrank by 12% versus 2021, totalling $1.29 trillion dollars.

According to the report, nearly all the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean received more FDI in 2022. Leading the list were Brazil (which received 41% of the regional total and ranks as the No. 5 destination for global FDI), followed by Mexico (17%), Chile (9%), Colombia (8%), Argentina (7%) and Peru (5%).

Costa Rica was the main FDI recipient in Central America. In Guatemala, these flows showed a significant decline due to an extraordinary value recorded in 2021, but they returned to their historical average.

There was also a positive change in FDI inflows to the Caribbean, predominantly fuelled by greater investment in the Dominican Republic, which was the second-largest recipient country after Guyana.

At a regional level, 54% of FDI went into the services sector, although both the manufacturing and natural resources sectors also rebounded. Financial services; electricity, natural gas and water; information and communications; as well as transportation-related services had the largest share of investments in the services sector as a whole.

The US (38% of the total) and the EU (17%, excluding the Netherlands and Luxembourg) were the main investors in the region, while FDI coming from countries within the Latin America and Caribbean region experienced a significant increase, rising from 9% to 14% of the total.

In fact, the document points to a more than 80% increase in FDI from Latin America and the Caribbean to destinations both inside and outside the region. In 2022, the amount invested abroad by transnational Latin American companies, known as translatinas, reached an historic high: $74.677 billion dollars –which is the highest figure recorded since this series began to be compiled in the 1990s.

Furthermore, the amount of FDI project announcements in Latin America and the Caribbean grew by 93% in 2022, totalling nearly $100 billion dollars. For the first time since 2010, the hydrocarbons sector (coal, oil and gas) led the announcements, with 24% of the total, followed by the automotive sector (13%) and renewable energies (11%).

The study also includes two chapters that analyse FDI trends in non-renewable and renewable energies in the context of the energy transition and fulfilment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In addition, they address the key role of governments in this area, identifying challenges and opportunities in addition to making policy recommendations.

The energy transition is identified by ECLAC as one of the sectors driving economic growth that can become a major engine for the region’s productive transformation, which means that countries and their territories should prioritise it within their productive development policies and agendas.

The percentage of installed capacity of renewable energy in Latin America and the Caribbean is higher than the global average, and the electrical power generation matrix is among the cleanest in the world. Therefore, if the region were to increase its supply of renewable energy, it could become a place of origin for the production of goods that are being produced today in countries with comparatively less clean matrixes. FDI can play a critical role in accelerating the energy transition, facilitating technology transfer and enabling emerging technologies.

Governments must lead the coordination of strategies for the energy transition’s success in the region, the Commission underscores. “They are responsible for making sure that non-renewable energy activities are reduced radically, as required by the climate commitments, while managing to mitigate their negative effects and their economic and social costs, especially in terms of investments, employment and income. One of their central functions is to develop long-term policies that promote investments in renewable energy sources, so that the transition is rapid and secure, and does not leave the region lagging behind in a context in which energy from clean sources is a factor of competition,” the study states.

Nonetheless, ECLAC also warns that in this process, consideration must be given to the importance that the non-renewable energy sector still has for some countries in the region – especially in terms of generating revenue to address social demands, those related to productive development and to energy security.

Beyond the challenges of the energy transition, the report insists that Latin American and Caribbean countries must improve the design of policies to attract investment and strengthen their institutional capacities in this area. It is essential that progress be made on articulating efforts to attract FDI with countries’ and territories’ productive development strategies, and that FDI begin to be used with greater directionality as a strategic tool for furthering sustainable productive development processes.

M&A Lawyer of the Year in Argentina

Marcelo Bombau is one of the partners in Bomchil’s Mergers and Acquisitions and Telecommunications and Media Law departments and heads the Entertainment Law department.

He specializes in the structuring and negotiation of corporate sales transactions and continuing advice to boards of directors (of which in many cases he is a member) and in-house legal departments of firms operating in a wide range of fields. The majority of his clients belong to international groups, with emphasis on companies dedicated to mass consumer products and audiovisual media and entertainment.

His expertise and dedication to issues entrusted to him have earned him the highest respect from clients and colleagues, as well as uninterrupted recognition from specialized publications such as Latin Lawyer and Chambers Latin America, among others.

As a result of a combination of the above, he was elected Chair of the ABA International Law Section for 2014–2015, an historical appointment as the first non-US qualified lawyer to occupy a similar position in more than 135 years of the American Bar Association.

Education and Training:

– Universidad Nacional de la Plata Law, 1981

Distinctions:

Av. Corrientes 420, C1043AAR, Buenos Aires

Tel: (+54 11) 4321 7503

marcelo.bombau@bomchil.com www.bomchil.com.ar

Chambers Global

Band 2 (Corporate/M&A) – Marcelo Bombau: Band 4

Chambers Latin America

Band 2 (Corporate/ M&A) – Marcelo Bombau: Band 4

Band 1(Telecommunications, Media & Technology) – Marcelo Bombau: Band 2

– Legal 500

Band 3 (Corporate/M&A) – Leading Individual

Band 1 (Telecommunications, Media & Technology) – Leading Individual

The Best Lawyers in Argentina (2019 Edition)

Corporate and M&A Law

Entertainment Law

Media Law

Private Equity Law

– IFLR 1000

Tier 4, M&A (2018)

LACCA

Approved lawyers, Corporate/M&A, 12, Thought Leader (2020)

Bomchil

Bomchil is considered one of the leading full-service law firms in Argentina. Since the firm’s foundation in 1923, it has participated in some of the country’s most complex and significant transactions and disputes.

The firm’s highly specialized practice areas allow it to build tailor-made teams to meet its clients’ multidisciplinary needs. The firm’s commitment to excellence prompts its partners to take a hands-on approach to work, within a dynamic, cooperative organization.

To reach its goals, the firm recruits and develops exceptional people from a wide array of law schools across Argentina, giving them the tools to excel in a challenging environment.

The firm’s clients include multinational companies, large and medium-sized regional companies, banks, financial institutions and funds, governments, foreign embassies and non-profit organizations.

Bomchil attempts to excel through collaborative effort and a desire to share its expertise. The varied spectrum of work it undertakes is mirrored in the profiles of the firm’s team. The team has a strong spirit of membership in the firm, of the firm’s identity and of its working practices. The team shares a positive working environment, where they value and appreciate everyone’s ideas, concerns and contributions.

Bomchil’s work ethic defines it as a firm and is one of the reasons for its continuing success. The firm is locally and internationally renowned as experts in a variety of practice areas. The team is particularly known for its rigorous attention to, and quality oversight of, its work.

The firm is also committed to its society, having promoted pro bono work for the last two decades. In 2018, Bomchil was recognized by Latin Lawyer and The Vance Center with the Pro Bono Leading Light distinction due to its contribution to pro bono culture in Argentina.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Bomchil has broad and renowned experience in advising local and foreign investors on issues relating to mergers and acquisitions.

The firm handles all aspects of the transactions, from determining the most appropriate corporate structure and its tax planning to undertaking “due diligence” procedures and the drafting and negotiation of transfer and shareholder agreements.

Due to its long-standing experience, the firm is in a position to swiftly identify any potential problems and obstacles. The team then offers creative solutions based on its expertise gained over decades of professional practice.

Bomchil offers its clients a collaborative working environment. The team communicate in the most suitable and convenient language for the transaction, adding value to the deals and associated documentation.

The firm’s reputation rests not only on the accuracy of its legal work but also on the speed of completion and its handling of the corporate and antitrust/competition elements, ensuring a successful outcome to the matters entrusted to it. The team combines this with a profound understanding of the economic sectors in which it practices and a practical legal insight of the businesses it handles. The team positions itself as true “partners” of its clients.

Among a range of leading companies, Bomchil has represented those in the food, automobile, beverages, clothing, energy, communications media, pharmaceuticals, tourism, software, oil and advertising sectors, among many others.

Bomchil Marcelo E. Bombau Partner

Real Estate Financing Transactions Law Firm of the Year in Canada – Ontario

Knowledge is essential, relationships are paramount and timing is everything. Our business is to help build yours.

For more than 50 years, these principles have guided us at Schneider Ruggiero Spencer Milburn LLP (SR Law). Our firm focuses exclusively on creating meaningful relationships to build a strong Ontario commercial real estate practice for leading clients, including banks, trust companies, pension fund advisors, insurance companies, builders and developers. Their multifaceted, high-value property transactions require an acute attention to detail and a devotion to customer service: these are the highest priorities at SR Law.

Our practice encompasses all aspects of commercial financing and real estate development, including construction and permanent lending for condominium projects, apartment buildings and other commercial ventures, as well as condominium and fractured ownership projects, ownership/equity restructuring, mortgage enforcement and remedies, leasing and corporate and commercial litigation

Maintaining our boutique size and sharp focus has been integral to SR Law continuing to provide the responsiveness and quality of work clients should expect of a legal partner. With the fast-evolving landscape of real property financing, development and legislation in Ontario, it is crucial today that builders and lenders work with a proven, focused legal partner. SR Law has the in-depth knowledge, contacts, and experience in complex commercial financing and real estate development that is essential to get the job done properly, on time, for a reasonable fee.

SR Law’s internal procedures include project management protocols with multiple checkpoints, and biweekly review of client files by senior members of the team to ensure nothing slips between the cracks. Most importantly, clients and lawyers are capably supported by a first-rate team of law clerks and sophisticated technology solutions, including specialist software for closing multi-unit/lot subdivision and condominium sales.

Our Philosophy

At Schneider Ruggiero Spencer Millburn, we work hard to be exceptional at commercial mortgage and real estate law, rather than trying to be all things to all people. We believe we are in the business of helping our clients succeed and be profitable, and our dynamic team is guided by these values:

Knowledge is Essential – a commitment to continuous learning, sharing our knowledge with each other and clients, and investing the necessary time to stay on top of emerging issues and legislation that affects our clients.

Relationships are Paramount – we are building relationships for life. Every day we strive to fulfill our pledge to understand your business goals, charge a reasonable fee for our work, and utilize our network to bring people together to contribute to our mutual success.

Timing is Everything – acting quickly and with clear purpose is a critical benefit in the real estate business. We have a passion for client service that exceeds all expectations, delivering on-time results and ensuring detailed follow-through with reports and paperwork.

George N. Ruggiero, the firm’s Managing Partner, has practised commercial real estate law exclusively since his call to the Bar in 1984, working only for builder/developer and institutional and private lender clients. He has completed legal work for land development projects from land acquisition to house and condominium unit sales, including financings and joint ventures. George joined the firm in 1991, became a partner in 1994 and a name partner in 2000.

In 1993, George was the first editor of the firm newsletter, which continues today as a valuable communication tool for clients. The SR Law Annual Builders’ Lunch, pioneered by George in 1993 as a networking opportunity for builder and lender clients, is highly regarded in the industry. He has written for the Ontario Lawyers Weekly, instructed at the Bar Admission Course and has been a frequent speaker at industry conferences. George was one of only a handful of students admitted to the University of Toronto Law School after only two years of undergraduate study; he graduated from Law School in 1982 and completed his undergraduate degree in Economics at the University of Toronto while articling. George was one of only two students to graduate with High Distinction. George obtained the degree of Juris Doctor from the University of Toronto on October 3, 2005.

Active in the community, George was on the Board of Directors for Providence Healthcare in Scarborough from 2006 to 2014. George and his wife, Carmelanna, are proud to be patrons of the highly acclaimed Salon Speakers Series.

Schneider Ruggiero Spencer Milburn LLP George N. Ruggiero Managing Partner 1000-120 Adelaide Street West Toronto, ON M5H 3V1 Tel: +1-416-363-2211 ext. 215 gruggiero@srlawpractice.com www.srlawpractice.com

Dispute Resolution Law Firm of the Year in the Cayman Islands

Campbells is a leading full-service offshore law firm established in 1970. From our offices in the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands and Hong Kong, we provide comprehensive corporate and litigation advice and services to clients worldwide in relation to Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands law. We are regularly trusted to advise some of the most prominent names in finance, investment and insurance, and we are frequently involved in the largest and most complex transactions, disputes and insolvencies in both jurisdictions.

Our legal team is internationally recognised for its expertise by leading directories and trade publications, and we are also proud to be actively involved in the development of legislation, sitting on critical government legislative committees. To this end, Campbells is a member of the international legal networks Meritas and World Law Group.

Our clients rely on our knowledge, expertise and ability to create the best possible outcome for any given scenario. This skill comes from years of dedication and a relentless commitment to putting our clients first, every time.

Through our state-of-the-art offices in Cayman, the British Virgin Islands and Hong Kong, we are able to offer our clients and business partners the highest level of facilities, real-time advice and business continuity protection.

Dispute Resolution

Litigation continues to be the dominant method of dispute resolution in both the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands; however, arbitration and mediation are increasingly prevalent in both jurisdictions as parties become more familiar with the potential benefits of these alternative methods of dispute resolution.

Campbells is at the forefront of arbitration and mediation in both jurisdictions. We have a number of attorneys with highly specialised international arbitration and mediation experience gained onshore in major arbitration and mediation centres.

The enactment of the Arbitration Act, 2012, in the Cayman Islands and Virgin Islands Arbitration Act, 2013, in the BVI – both based on the UNCITRAL Model Law – modernised the arbitration framework. The BVI statute established the British Virgin Islands International Arbitration Centre, which opened in 2016. Both the Cayman Islands and the BVI are pro-arbitration jurisdictions, with a legal framework and Government policies aimed at encouraging arbitration as an alternative to litigation.

We have experience of arbitration and mediation, both as counsel for parties and as qualified and accredited arbitrators and mediators. We also represent clients in connection with the enforcement of arbitral awards in the Cayman Islands and the BVI, both of which are parties to the 1958 New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Arbitral Awards.

The potential advantages of arbitration are manifold. Chiefly, clients are attracted by the enforceability of arbitral awards, the confidentiality of the process, and the flexible and tailored procedure that it offers.

Mark Goodman

Mark is a Partner in our Litigation, Insolvency & Restructuring Group, where he specialises in insolvency, restructuring and investment fund litigation. Mark advises and appears in the Cayman Islands Courts on behalf of provisional and official liquidators, creditors, shareholders, directors, managers and other professional service providers in relation to a broad range of pre- and postliquidation disputes. He has acted in litigation involving widely varying commercial contexts and structures, but his practice principally involves distressed and failed investment funds.

In addition, Mark regularly publishes articles and speaks at seminars and conferences on issues relevant to insolvency, restructuring and investment fund litigation. He is also the current Chair of the Recovery & Insolvency Specialist Association (Cayman) Ltd. Board.

Work Highlights

Acting for the JPLs of Luckin Coffee, Inc., a holding company for a group owning and running coffee shops throughout the People’s Republic of China, in a US$1 billion debt restructuring suit.

Acting for the Receivers of Green Dragon Gas, the largest company involved in the production of Coal Bed Methane gas and its distribution and sale in the PRC, in a US$300 million cross-border transaction wherein Campbells is appointed as bond trustee.

Acting for a major fiduciary services provider in third-party proceedings against Tangerine Investment Management Limited in a GBP150 million vicarious liability and breach-of-contract claim.

Acting for the trustees of a high-value family trust, LOPAG Trust Reg, who are defendants to proprietary claims by two of the discretionary beneficiaries.

Recognition and Awards

Mark was named 2021 Cayman Islands – Litigation Lawyer of the Year in Gamechangers’ (formerly ACQ5) Global Awards.

2021 Chambers and Partners rankings described Mark as “a keen tactician who is very experienced and commercial in his approach”, adding that he is “very knowledgeable and experienced in all aspects of financial services”. He is especially noted for his restructuring and insolvency work, with additional expertise in investment fund litigation.

Legal 500 ranked Mark as a “Leading Individual” in Dispute Resolution, Cayman Islands, 2020, stating that he is “very strategic and astute, and he understands clients’ business extremely well. He meets issues and strong personalities head on and holds his ground, and his advice is always pragmatic”.

International Trade Law Expert of the Year in Colombia

Espíndola International Consultants, founded in 1979, is an office of lawyers and consultants specializing in national and international business and international trade.

Our office is a versatile, flexible, professional and competitive organization of lawyers that has successfully addressed the legal and strategic needs of Colombian and multinational companies located throughout the Americas, respecting the highest professional and ethical standards.

We are prepared to accompany entrepreneurs to face the challenges derived from the trend of regional and worldwide integration, creating projects, designing strategies and practical solutions within multijurisdictional legal parameters.

Our portfolio of services includes participation in the decision-making processes of our clients, not only from a legal perspective, but also from a strategic point of view through integrated logistics. In Colombia, we have offices in Cali and Bogota D.C., as well as correspondent offices in the most important financial centers of the world.

For Espíndola International Consultants, customers are the great value bet, the true vouch of the company and the greatest guarantee of continuity. For this reason, we thank them for the trust they have given us throughout our career – a support that has allowed us to be a consolidated company with a great future projection.

(602) 488-0378 cespindola@espindola-ic.com www.espindola-ic.com

International Trade and Customs

We advise our clients and accompany them in the planning, analysis and implementation of alternatives that allow the optimization of their resources and sustainability of their business in the areas of foreign trade and international business, offering as an added value in our services the experience and innovation of the global consultancy team.

Service Portfolio

● Accompaniment and advice on procedures of customs and foreign trade, claims and appeals before competent authorities;

● Advice on customs valuation, antidumping practices and trade defense measures, such as safeguards and countervailing duties;

● Audit and implementation of compliance manuals in customs, tax and exchange for international operations and foreign trade;

● Training and education on international contracting, international business and internationalization strategies;

● Consultancies on tariff classifications, splitting and tariff and/or tax effects;

● Consultancy in the implementation of international trade terms (“Incoterms”);

● Design of strategies for the use of foreign trade promotion mechanisms;

● Customs planning and transnational operations of goods and services flow.

Carlos Espíndola-Scarpetta

As a Doctor of Jurisprudence and a Master of Laws Ll.M., Carlos is the Founder of Espíndola International Consultants, which has dedicated itself to specialized matters such as international contracting, private international law, international conflict resolution, maritime law, transport and insurance law, international trade, customs law and exchange, as well as compliance in customs and international exchange.

During the course of his long career, Carlos has advised prominent national and international companies, such as Colombina S.A., ADM Colombia and Bolivia, Chicle Adams S.A., Cadbury Adams, Abbott, Sanofi, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, among others.

He is currently a professor of the postgraduate course in customs law and international trade at the Universidad Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario, Bogotá, D.C., and is an undergraduate and graduate professor at several Colombian and foreign universities. In addition, he is an international lecturer in international business and contracting, as well as in international trade.

He is the author of numerous articles in indexed magazines specialized in foreign and international trade, especially in the publications of the Colombian Institute of Tax and Customs Law-ICDTA, and is a Member of the ICDTA Academic Customs Commission, also acting as a panelist and speaker at the annual ICDTA conference. Moreover, he is an Associate Judge of the Valley Administrative Court for more than 15 years, as well as a Senior Member of the InterAmerican Bar Association, Washington D.C., since 1992.

Last, but not least, Carlos has been awarded – both nationally and internationally – for the performance and contribution of his firm to society, with the following recognitions:

● Legal 500, ranked Top Tier 1, Latin America, 2023;

● Legal 500, ranked Top Tier 1, Colombia, 2022;

● Editor´s Choice, International Trade Law Firm of the Year, Colombia, 2019, Lawyer International Legal 100, UK;

● International Trade Law Firm of the Year in Colombia, 2018, Corporate INTL Global Awards Winner, UK;

● International Trade Consulting Firm of the Year in Colombia, 2016, Corporate INTL Global Awards, UK;

● Outstanding Attorney of the Year, 2016, Bristol Who’s Who, US;

● Elite International Trade Lawyer in Colombia, 2015, Corporate Livewire Legal Awards, UK;

● International Trade Law Firm in Colombia, 2015, Corporate INTL Legal Awards, UK;

● International Trade Law Firm in Colombia, 2014, Legal’s Finest 200 Awards, UK;

● International Lawyer of the Year, Colombia, 2013, Latin Corporate Legal Awards, UK.

Espíndola International Consultants

Carlos Espíndola-Scarpetta Founder

Calle 21 Norte No. 5AN-45, Piso 6, Edificio Gualcalá, Cali, Colombia Tel: +57

Employment Litigation Law Firm of the Year in Mexico

Guerra Gómez Abogados was founded in 1968 by Lic. Antonio Guerra González as a legal firm dedicated to providing labor legal support and support to companies at a local and national level.

Since then, and without interruption, we have provided legal advisory services with proven experience and professional solvency in various areas of labor law.

Currently, Guerra Gómez is a law firm that, faithful to its origins, continues to provide labor legal support and support to companies at a local, national and international level, achieving great renown and prestige among our clients, who are attracted by:

● The quality of the service;

● The personalized treatment;

● The results obtained;

● The experience and solid training of our lawyers;

● The recommendation of our already very large group of clients.

At Guerra Gómez, we have clearly defined our quality philosophy, and all the activities we carry out are strictly adhered to.

Guerra Gómez Abogados Antonio Guerra Gómez Managing Director México 125, Col. Obispado, Monterrey, N.L., MX Tel: +2

Business Litigation Law Firm of the Year in US, California

Bergeson, LLP is one of Silicon Valley’s leading litigation law firms. Founded in 1990, the firm has established a reputation for representing individuals and companies in high-profile and high-stakes litigation throughout the country.

Bergeson, LLP’s practice encompasses all aspects of business litigation, with an emphasis on the areas of intellectual property (patent, copyright, trade secrets, and trademark), securities and derivative litigation, commercial litigation, media law, employment law, as well as counseling clients and companies on how best to address legal issues and to minimize future litigation. In addition, the Firm has extensive experience conducting internal investigations on behalf of audit committees and special litigation committees for public and privately held companies.

Consistently hailed as a Go-To Law Firm® in Fortune Magazine’s Directory of In-House Law Departments at the Top 500 Companies, and armed with attorneys honored as Best Lawyers in America® and Northern California Super Lawyers®, Bergeson, LLP prides itself on providing outstanding, result-oriented service in an efficient and cost-effective manner. The Firm’s smallfirm environment allows its attorneys to provide close personal attention to the needs of its clients and devise an effective, pre-trial strategy.

Bergeson, LLP’s attorneys have extensive trial experience, having collectively tried more than 100 cases before federal and state court judges, juries, and arbitrators. At the start of each case, the Firm assigns a trial team to efficiently and strategically litigate the matter through its conclusion with trial strategy in mind every step of the way. The Firm’s impressive trial experience also provides powerful leverage for settlement.

Bergeson, LLP offers exceptional legal talent. The Firm’s attorneys graduated from top law schools, and many of the attorneys practiced with the largest and most prestigious law firms in the country prior to joining the Firm. They have wide-ranging experience practicing in state and federal courts throughout California and the western United States. Their expertise encompasses a vast range of substantive areas, and includes extensive bench trial, jury trial, appellate, and arbitration experience. In addition, the Firm’s attorneys are proven leaders, with several of its attorneys serving as members of Boards of Directors and Executive Committees of leading legal and community organizations.

Employee Rights Litigation Expert of the Year in US, California

Carol Gillam is Founder and President of The Gillam Law Firm, a firm devoted principally to employee rights litigation. Carol has been named one of the top employment lawyers in California by the Daily Journal 11 consecutive times.

Carol is an acclaimed trial lawyer, having won many challenging and hard-fought cases in federal and state courts throughout California. She has litigated in states across the country, and before federal and state agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Merit Systems Protection Board. She has brought and successfully resolved numerous cases alleging gender, race and religious discrimination and failure to accommodate, in addition to handling age, disability, FMLA, sexual harassment, whistleblower and other challenging cases.

Whistleblower Litigation

Recently she has received nationwide coverage of her work in a prominent federal whistleblower case that has resulted in four published opinions expanding the rights of whistleblowers.

Class Action Work

Carol has successfully litigated several class action cases recently, being appointed as class counsel and achieving millions of dollars and other relief for California workers.

Carol’s Presentations at Conferences

Carol has moderated and presented to national conferences of lawyers, including the American Bar Association and the National Employment Lawyers Association. Topics have included: trial techniques in federal court; proving harassment in cases involving religious, racial and other (non-sex) harassment issues; religious harassment and accommodation; workplace feedback issues; and LGBTQ issues in the workplace. She also conducted a mock trial before a statewide audience of lawyers – a demonstration of how to try a sexual harassment case.

Carol has also demonstrated how to conduct jury voir dire in a conference for trial lawyers, how to take a deposition and how to examine an expert witness. Other topics she has spoken on to large audiences include the subjects of cultural competence for lawyers; class action waivers in arbitration; how to try a disability case; the intersection between disability and workers’ compensation; how to prepare and try an employment case; the use of character and “me too” evidence in trial; and meeting the challenges of dealing with difficult opposing counsel.

Carol’s Writing and Editing Work

Carol has published articles in law journals on the Private Attorneys General Act; on no-fault attendance policies; and an article entitled “Lessons from History: What Title VII Can Teach Wage and Hour Practitioners”. Carol is on the editorial board of Labor and Employment Law Review, which is published six times annually.

Carol’s Service as Arbitrator, Mediator and Expert Witness

Carol serves as a mediator on the Central District of California’s federal mediation panel, appointed by the judges of that court. She also serves as an arbitrator through the American Arbitration Association. Carol has qualified as an expert witness and had her testimony accepted as the basis for finding liability.

Carol’s Past Work Experience

After stints at Keck Mahin & Cate in Chicago and Irell and Manella in Los Angeles, Ms. Gillam became an Assistant United States Attorney in the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney’s Office, Central District of California in 1988. While there she prosecuted numerous well-publicized cases, including a notorious case involving abuses of migrant workers that resulted in worldwide publicity and the largest restitution award achieved to that date by the U.S. Department of Justice in such a case.

Since leaving the government in 1994 to open her firm, Ms. Gillam has obtained numerous seven-figure settlements and verdicts (and scores of six-figure verdicts and settlements) in employment cases. She has litigated in federal and state courts throughout California and in states across the country, as well as before the EEOC and MSPB, handling a wide variety of complex cases.

Carol’s Teaching and Educational Background and Honors

She graduated from Northwestern University with honors in 1974 and holds a law degree from Loyola University of Chicago (1978), where she graduated near the top of her class, was associate editor of the law review, oversaw a symposium on employment law, published an oft-cited law review article, was her Class Representative and received a fellowship to help draft a treatise on tax consequences of dissolution of marriage. Carol also attended the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. She served as an adjunct professor of antitrust law for three years.

Carol’s Service to the Bar and Peer Recognition

The State Bar of California appointed Carol to the Executive Committee of its Labor and Employment Section, where she served for five years and chaired its annual conference.

Ms. Gillam has also been a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers since her induction in 2010. Election as a Fellow is the highest recognition by one’s colleagues of sustained outstanding performance in the profession, exemplifying integrity, dedication and excellence. Carol has been named a Superlawyer every year from 2010 through 2022.

The Gillam Law Firm A Professional Law Corporation

Intellectual Property Law Expert of the Year in US, California

Joe Hamilton, a partner with Perkins Coie, has devoted more than 20 years to guiding life science and technology companies through their most significant patent disputes.

Based in the firm’s Los Angeles office, Joe has been recognized by Intellectual Asset Management in the IAM Patent 1000 and as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers Magazine. Following implementation of the America Invents Act (AIA), Joe has developed a comprehensive litigation approach for his clients, managing and coordinating litigation in federal district courts, the U.S. International Trade Commission, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), where Joe has been ranked for most active matters and best performance in the IPR space in Patexia’s 2019 IPR Intelligence Report

In addition to litigating, Joe counsels companies and research institutions on the establishment, development, and maintenance of patent portfolios in a variety of technologies, including drug delivery and medical devices, computer hardware and software, and chemical and drug processing and manufacturing. Joe’s representative clients range from start-ups and venture-backed companies to members of the Fortune 500.

Joe is also an active member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and the University of Southern California Law School Alumni Association, where he mentors rising law students interested in patent law.

Personal Injury Lawyers of the Year in US, California

Nick T. Movagar co-founded M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers with the goal of championing and defending the interests of individuals who have been physically injured or killed as a result of the negligence of another party. M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers elected to practice within this area of the law because personal injury victims are often the most vulnerable people who need legal representation the most. These victims have just undergone a serious injury and are not in a position to bring a personal injury claim and/or pursue a lawsuit. Also, because most people are unfamiliar with their rights in connection with a personal injury claim, the other side may take advantage of them by either denying their claim or offering to pay them much less than their claim is worth. This is where M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers steps into the case, to ensure all of their clients’ rights are protected and that all clients get just and full compensation.

4929 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 960, Los Angeles CA 90010

Tel: +1-877-771-8175

nick@mylawcompany.com

www.mylawcompany.com

Mr. Movagar currently represents wrongful death heirs and Plaintiffs throughout the state of California that have been injured in every conceivable type of accident involving the negligence of another party. These include, but are not limited to, car accidents, motorcycle accidents, boating accidents, trucking accidents, premises liability cases, and animal attacks. Mr. Movagar works tirelessly to ensure each and every client gets just compensation and all necessary medical treatment so that they are made whole from the losses they sustained as a result of the accident.

Mr. Movagar has proudly recovered tens of millions of dollars for his clients and has been recognized by numerous publications, such as National Trial Lawyers, Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Super Lawyers magazine and the Los Angeles Magazine, for the results he has obtained on behalf of his clients. For five separate years, Mr. Movagar has been selected as a “Rising Star” on the Southern California Super Lawyers list – an award given to less than 2.5% of practicing attorneys. In 2016, Mr. Movagar was recognized as a Super Lawyer by the California Super Lawyers Magazine. Mr. Movagar has also been recognized by the National Trial Lawyers Magazine as a top 100 trial lawyer in the country, and is a proud member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, which is a distinction for attorneys who have recovered $2 million or more on a single case.

Prior to co-founding M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers, Mr. Movagar worked at an elite law firm in west Los Angeles. While there, Mr. Movagar represented Hilton Hotels Worldwide, Inc. (the world’s largest hotel company), Apartment Investment and Management Company (one of the nation’s largest owners and operators of apartment communities), Anschutz Entertainment Group (one of the leading sports and entertainment presenters in the world and the owner of the Staples Center), and Union Carbide Corporation (a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company).

Mr. Movagar received his Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School in downtown Los Angeles in 2004 and graduated Cum Laude with Order of the Coif Honors. While at Loyola Law School, Mr. Movagar was an Editor on the Entertainment Law Review and volunteered at the Disability Rights Legal Center, an organization that champions the civil rights of people with disabilities through advocacy, education and litigation. While in law school, Mr. Movagar also served as an extern at the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. In 2004, Mr. Movagar received the Commercial Law Student of the Year Award from the Los Angeles County Bar Association.

Education

● Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, J.D. (2004)

● Florida State University, B.S. (2001)

Bar & Court Admissions

● California

● U.S. District Court, California, Central District

● U.S. District Court, California, Northern District

● U.S. District Court, California, Eastern District

Memberships

● Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA)

● Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC)

● National Trial Lawyer

● Million Dollar Advocates Forum

● Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum

Awards

● Selected as “Rising Star” Attorney by Super Lawyers Magazine

● Rated as a “Top Attorney” by Los Angeles Magazine

● Rated as one of the “Best Attorneys of America” by Rue Ratings

● Member of Million Dollar Advocates Forum

● Recipient of Avvo’s “Client Choice” Award

● Selected as “Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers Magazine

● Selected as “Top 100 Trial Lawyers” in the country by National Trial Lawyers

● Member of Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum

M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers

Nick T. Movagar Co-Founder

Insurance Law Firm of the Year in US, Hawaii

Carlos D. Perez-Mesa, Partner at Clay Chapman Iwamura Pulice & Nervell, has been an active civil trial attorney in New Jersey and Hawaii since 1986.

He has a wide range of experience practicing in both federal and state courts, handling a broad range of litigation, including products liability, employment discrimination, personal injury, the Americans with Disabilities Act, environmental law, automobile and slip-and-fall accidents, as well as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

He has handled more than 500 arbitrations and mediations involving all types of civil actions, including auto accidents, sexual harassment, age discrimination, wrongful discharge, and racial discrimination cases. In addition, he has tried 20 cases in Hawaii State and Federal Courts, and has three published Hawaii Supreme Court Decisions.

Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Perez-Mesa served as a law clerk to Judge Nicholas Mandak, Passaic County, New Jersey.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Perez-Mesa focused on litigation concerning personal injury, employment discrimination, products liability and condominium law.

He defended AIG™ and Farmers™ Insurance insureds involved in automobile and slip-and-fall accidents.

Mr. Perez-Mesa worked for seven years as a trial attorney for AIG™’s Staff Counsel’s office in Honolulu.

Practice Description: Civil Litigation, Insurance Defense, Employment Discrimination Law, Personal Injury.

Industrial Sector Expertise: Insurance Defense. He currently represents several major national and international companies.

Career History: Licensed attorney from 1987 to present.

Career Education: Bachelors in English (1983), Washington University in St. Louis; Honors English Program; J.D. (1986), Rutgers Law School-Newark, General Editor of the Rutgers Law Review

Career Admissions: New Jersey Bar (1986); Hawaii State Bar (1991); United States District Court for the District of Hawaii (1991).

Membership Associations: Hawaii State Bar Association; United States District Court for the District of Hawaii (1991); Defense Research Institute; American Bar Association; ALFA International.

Clay Chapman Iwamura Pulice & Nervell

Perez-Mesa Partner

Class Actions Litigation Expert of the Year in US, Louisiana

Walter J. Leger, Jr. is a Partner in the law firm of Leger & Shaw. The Louisiana Bar Journal named Leger a “Louisiana Legal Legend,” along with Louisiana Chief Justice Bernette Johnson, former US Supreme Court Chief Justice Edward Douglas White, Jr., and only nine others. BIZ Magazine called him a “larger-thanlife legal legend.”

Leger has spoken widely on legal issues at Harvard Law School, Tulane, LSU, Loyola, and others.

Leger was a finalist for the “National Trial Lawyer of the Year” Award, has been named to Louisiana “Super Lawyers,” New Orleans Magazine’s “Top Lawyers” and Citybusiness Newspaper’s “Leaders in Law Hall of Fame.” He received the “President’s Award” for leadership and public service from the New Orleans Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association, and the Louisiana Association of Justice. He has been named “Volunteer of the Year” by both the Southern Economic Development Council and the Louisiana Industrial Development Executives Association. The Louisiana State Bar Association has given him its “Citizen Lawyer Award.” Lawyers Monthly Magazine named him “Admiralty and Maritime Lawyer of the Year – USA” for 2021.

He is counsel to numerous governments in the nationwide Opioid Litigation. He represents numerous parties, including businesses and insurers in the Hard Rock Hotel Collapse Litigation and was appointed by the Court as Co-Lead Counsel of the Plaintiffs Steering Committee on behalf of businesses, injured persons, and families of those killed.

He was Special Trial Counsel in the BP/DEEPWATER HORIZON Oil Spill Case. He was the lead negotiator on behalf of Louisiana local governments in the historic government settlements with BP. He represented hundreds of businesses, citizens, and governments in the litigation.

Appointed by a federal judge to the Claimants’ Steering Committee, he represented businesses and governmental entities (including the Port of New Orleans and the St. Bernard Port) damaged from a massive Oil Spill in the Mississippi River in 2008. Leger was appointed as Chairman of the Plaintiff’s Committee and served as Lead Appellate Counsel in the case of The State of Louisiana, ex rel. v. M/V TESTBANK, involving the claims of more than 2,000 fishermen and businesses damaged as a result of a ship collision causing the spill of PCP into the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet. Representing dozens of businesses, he was appointed by US District Judge Morey Sear as Co-Lead Counsel in the M/V BRIGHT FIELD/Riverwalk Disaster.

Leger represented the Louisiana Attorney General and was one of the lead counsel in cases against the tobacco industry in numerous states, involving the Castano Tobacco Litigation, California Tobacco Litigation, and the Brown Case. He was Trial Team Leader in Louisiana’s longest jury trial (three years) in a class action against the tobacco industry. He was Class Counsel in Louisiana Breast Implant Litigation. After Hurricane Katrina, he was appointed by the Court to Plaintiffs’ Legal Committee in the Murphy Oil Spill Litigation. He was appointed by the federal court to the Plaintiffs’ Legal Committee in the Education Testing Services Litigation. In the Billieson Lead Paint Class Action, he was appointed as Class Counsel. Leger was also a member of F. Lee Bailey’s Litigation Sub-Committee in the Bhopal, India/Union Carbide Disaster.

Other Honors and Awards:

● Lawyer Monthly Magazine, “Admiralty and Maritime Lawyer of the Year – USA,” 2021

● Best Lawyers in America” – Admiralty and Maritime Law, Commercial Litigation, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs

● Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, “Man of the Year,” 2021

● Louisiana Bar Journal, “Louisiana Legal Legend” 2018

● Louisiana State Bar Association “Citizen Lawyer” Award 2018

● Cancer Crusaders, Survivor of the Year, 2017

● Co-Chairman, The Whitney Zoo-To-Do, 2014

● Co-Chairman, Key to the Cure / Louisiana Cancer Research Center Drive, 2011

● 10–12 Magazine, Players in the Region, 2009

● New Orleans CityBusiness “Leadership in Law Hall of Fame,” 2009 to present

● New Orleans CityBusiness “Leadership in Law,” 2007, 2008, 2009

● “Louisiana’s Super Lawyers,” 2007–2022

● New Orleans Magazine, “Top Lawyers”

● U.S. Coast Guard Commendation for Rescue and Lifesaving, 2008

● Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Award – US Sailing Association, 2008

● New Orleans Bar Association President’s Award, 2009

● Louisiana Association of Justice President’s Award, 2008

● Federal Bar Association President’s Award, 2007

● “Ten Outstanding People,” Family Services Foundation, 2007

● “Man of the Year,” St. Bernard’s Business & Professional Women’s Club, 2006

● “Role Model” Young Leadership Counsel, 2005

● “National Trial Lawyer of the Year” Award, Finalist – Lawyer’s for Public Justice Foundation, 2005

Leger & Shaw

Walter J. Leger, Jr. Senior Partner

Business Immigration Lawyer of the Year in US, Massachusetts

The Law Office of Goss and Associates, LLC is a law firm for US employers, their employees, individuals, and families. Clients trust the firm’s ability to navigate the ever-changing complexities of US immigration law. With a combined 40+ years of experience, it has a proven track record of success, with thousands of clients served from every corner of the globe. Quite simply – Goss Associates’ service model works.

The team is committed to delivering comprehensive strategies for both the short- and longterm. Communication is vital to the process, and this is achieved by providing a clear and transparent roadmap of the process to ensure understanding. The firm’s processes and systems function to keep clients abreast of the progress of their case, utilizing onboarding information in conjunction with direct meetings to outline the process and provide a timeline in combination with expectations.

Goss Associates’ CEO Elizabeth Goss was admitted to practice in the state bars of Massachusetts and New York, as well as Federal Court. As an experienced immigration attorney with nearly three decades working in the field, Ms. Goss is nationally and internationally recognized for her legal representation to multinational corporations, entrepreneurial universities, and research institutions.

Today, she specializes in securing temporary and permanent visas for business owners, physicians, researchers, professors, and artists under the extraordinary ability, outstanding researcher, and national interest waiver categories. She is one of only a few attorneys nationwide to have obtained an international entrepreneur parole visa for startups, as noted by Forbes. In addition, she has held several national leadership positions in both the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the Association of International Educators (NAFSA).

A skilled writer, Ms. Goss is also a contributor to prominent legal publications, including AILA professional publications, and is a frequent guest lecturer at universities on obtaining work permits and permanent residence for international scholars and students. She is frequently quoted on a variety of immigration topics by the media, including Politico, the New York Times, Forbes, and the Boston Globe, among others.

She noted: “Goss Associates has recently introduced additional staff to manage increasing requests from clients. We are primarily a business immigration firm, with clients from both the academic and global business community who focus on hiring the best talent for their organizations.

“In terms of our day-to-day practice, we provide comprehensive assistance with visa life-cycle processing. One of the most challenging issues at present is the lack of immigrant visa quota numbers. Because the current system only allows for a small number of legal permanent resident or immigrant visas per year under the employment categories, we are faced with multiyear strategy considerations for individual clients. Entrepreneurs in particular – or rising innovators and job creators – require a strategy that allows them the flexibility to do the work they need to do to grow their businesses. Strategy considerations also involve personal needs, such as the ability for a spouse to secure work permission, and children who may turn twenty-one before a process can be finalized – meaning they may not be able to secure an immigrant visa with the rest of their family. This can trigger years, if not decades, of harm.”

In the firm’s cross-border work, it is highly active in advising clients on international business immigration strategies for employees, as well as assisting with visa applications, work permits and permanent residency. Ms. Goss is also a board member of the Immigrants’ List – fighting for immigration reform for her clients through her affiliate activities with this organization.

According to Ms. Goss, the changing shape of immigration laws is the greatest challenge that Goss Associates currently faces; however, the firm’s ability to stay current on every change is one of its greatest strengths. The long path to employment requires constant communication and updates, as the immigration system is facing unprecedented procedures – adding to the need for firms to stay current and conversant when guiding clients through the process.

She added: “Recent global events have affected immigration law firms by creating changes in client demand due to shifts in immigration policies and regulation. Economic factors, such as inflation, could influence clients’ ability to afford legal services; meanwhile, the pandemic may have led to operational challenges and fluctuations in the way services are delivered – which is why Goss Associates is adaptable, to meet these changes head-on.”

The Law Offices of Goss & Associates, LLC (“Goss Associates”)

Matrimonial Lawyer of the Year in US, New York

Robert Stephan Cohen is an American attorney specialising in divorce cases. He is a Senior Partner at Cohen Clair Lans Greifer Thorpe & Rottenstreich LLP, a 21-person family law firm in New York City and one of the most prominent matrimonial law firms in the United States. Its partners and associates write, lecture and teach throughout the country as well as internationally on important issues relating to matrimonial and family law. They represent individuals and their spouses across a broad spectrum of industries and professions, and have handled many of the largest matrimonial matters in New York and elsewhere in the US. As a result, they have expertise in negotiating and litigating cases that present sophisticated and specialised valuation issues. The firm also brings extensive experience towards child custody, with a keen focus on difficult issues such as relocation and parental access. Due to the firm’s expertise and experience, its lawyers are often called upon to serve as counsel or advisers in jurisdictions across the US, as well as Europe and Asia.

Mr Cohen was born in Brooklyn, New York, and was the first member of his family to graduate from college. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Alfred University in 1959 when he was 20 years old and worked three jobs to put himself through Fordham University’s School of Law, where he received his JD in 1962 and served as a Member of the Law Review. Today, he is a nationally recognised divorce attorney, holding an adjunct professorship at the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Following his graduation from Fordham School of Law, Mr Cohen worked from 1963 to 1968 with Roy Cohn, an American lawyer who was a member of the US Department of Justice’s prosecution team at the espionage trial of Soviet spies Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, in commercial litigation and matrimonial law. In 1969, he left to become the co-founder of another firm, and in 1984 became a founding partner of Morrison Cohen Singer & Weinstein, where for 19 years he was the firm’s Chairman and headed its matrimonial practice. In 2003, Mr Cohen started Cohen Lans LLP, which in 2011 merged with Clair, Greifer LLP to form Cohen Clair Lans Greifer & Thorpe LLP. Both predecessor firms had been named among Best Law Firms by US News & World Report in its 2010 inaugural edition, and Cohen Clair Lans Greifer & Thorpe has been named “Best” in each subsequent year.

In 2016, Governor Andrew C Cuomo named Mr Cohen Chairperson of the Judicial Screening Committee for New York State’s First Judicial Department, a committee he has been a member of since 2012. He was also designated as a member of the State Judicial Screening Committee by the Governor in 2016. He was appointed in 2016 by the Administrative Judge at that time of the Supreme Court, New York County, as Chairperson of that Court’s Matrimonial Committee. In 2018, Mr Cohen was reappointed to that position. In 2019, he was appointed by The Second Judicial Department to its Mediation Panel. In 2019 he was appointed to the Appellate Division, Attorney Grievance Committee for the First Judicial Department. All of the appointments are in New York State.

Mr Cohen has lectured in the US, Europe and Hong Kong. Since 2003, Mr Cohen has served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Pennsylvania School of Law, where he teaches a course entitled “Anatomy of a Divorce”. He is a member of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers and a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. His biography appears in the current and past editions of The Best Lawyers in America, Who’s Who in the World, Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Law, Best lawyers in New York and Super Lawyers. He is a former JAG officer and member of JAG Corps, representing members of the military and their families.

In addition, Mr Cohen has been principal attorney in a number of high-profile, high-net-worth dissolutions for clients in a variety of industries, including finance, entertainment, real estate and politics, in New York and other states and internationally. These include Melinda Gates, Michael Bloomberg, Christie Brinkley, Swedish countess Marie Douglas-David, James Gandolfini, Henry Kravis, Dina Lohan, Marla Maples, Tommy Mottola, Athina Onassis, Chris Rock, Charlotte Sarkozy, Uma Thurman and Ivana Trump.

Mr Cohen is the author of the “anti-divorce book”, Reconcilable Differences, published by Simon & Schuster. He has been recognised by The New York Times as one of the most important divorce lawyers in the US, and has been profiled by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and Business Insider. Chambers has designated him in its highest category. He was also an avid marathoner and completed the New York City Marathon in 1983 and 1984, and marathons in London and Paris.

Securities Litigation Law Firm of the Year in US, Ohio

Koehler Fitzgerald provides a full array of legal services to the financial services industry.

James F. Koehler focuses on complex securities litigation and arbitration, financial institution litigation, regulatory investigations and inquiries, and broker-dealer liability defense, in which he represents brokers, broker-dealers, investment advisors, banks, and insurance companies in claims involving allegations of professional misconduct. He has represented clients in a variety of securities cases, including class and derivative actions under Sections 11 and 12 of the Securities Act of 1933 and Sections 10(b), 18 and 20 of the Securities Act of 1934.

Jim has varied litigation and trial experience in trial and appellate courts across the U.S. and has handled court cases involving federal securities laws, attorney and accountant malpractice, the U.C.C., contracts, finance, lender liability, international banking, RICO, corporate law, partnership law, employee relations, real estate and estates and trusts. He has argued several cases before the Ohio Supreme Court.

Jim was jointly selected by plaintiffs’ and defense counsel to conduct the administration of the settlement of a national class action involving fraud claims asserted against a large insurance company headquartered in Ohio.

The firm’s lawyers regularly represent broker-dealers, registered investment advisors and associated persons in regulatory compliance and enforcement matters before FINRA, the S.E.C. and various state regulatory authorities. The firm also assists its clients in establishing, reviewing and auditing their compliance and anti-money laundering procedures.

Jim Koehler has decades of experience in defending FINRA Dispute Resolution arbitrations throughout the U.S. for wirehouses, bank-affiliated broker-dealers, and national and regional independent broker-dealers and their employees and agents in matters involving customer claims of fraud, unsuitability, selling-away, breach of fiduciary duty, and violations of federal securities and state blue-sky laws.

Jim is a graduate of Hawken School, The College of Wooster, and Case Western Reserve University School of Law. He is the Founding Partner of Koehler Fitzgerald LLC with offices in Cleveland, Ohio.

Beverage Alcohol Law Expert of the Year in US, Pennsylvania

610 Smithfield St., Ste 300, Pgh., PA 15367 Tel: +1 412-298-1833

rj@flaherty-ohara.com www.flaherty-ohara.com

Flaherty & O’Hara, P.C.

(“F&O”) was established in 2001 and provides the highest quality advice in alcohol beverage law.

We have the most experience and offer the most comprehensive service in our field. Since its founding, our firm has grown from four to 31 employees.

We represent many of the largest retail licensees in the country, offering one point of contact for renewals, licensing, and alcohol-related needs.

F&O is the largest full-service renewal provider in the country – handling thousands of liquor and non-liquor renewals annually.

Our cloud-based renewal software is custom designed, based on our years of experience. Today, Flaherty & O’Hara, P.C. is one of the largest liquor licensing practices in the country, maintaining an unmatched understanding of beverage alcohol laws. We represent hundreds of establishments and institutions on liquor licensing and beverage alcohol matters, and we have assisted in some of the largest mergers, public offerings and other multi-unit transactions in the history of the restaurant and hotel industries.

The beverage alcohol industry is complex and highly regulated. At Flaherty & O’Hara, P.C., in order to stay ahead of the curve, we have developed close working relationships with members and officials in local, state and national regulatory agencies, professional and trade associations, lobbying and special interest groups. We have drafted legislation and have been leaders in setting the standard for practice in the industry we serve.

With well over 100 years of combined experience, our support staff can augment in-house resources for maximum efficiency. Our staff can coordinate and process renewals, transfers and regulatory reporting requirements for individual as well as multi-unit operators. Prompt, professional, courteous and cost-effective service is the hallmark of our support staff.

We assist businesses of all sizes, from national chains to small local businesses, through the entire liquor license process. We guide our clients from the initial due diligence to the application process and license issuance.

R.J. O’Hara

R.J. regularly advises clients on complex national licensing issues arising from mergers, acquisitions and corporate restructuring. He also provides general licensing counsel, oversees litigation, citations and hearings, and assists clients in complying with tied house and trade practice laws.

His practice also involves advising clients on the legality of national beverage alcohol promotions and marketing and conducting seminars for industry members regarding liquor liability and related restaurant and beverage alcohol management issues.

R.J. is Co-Chair of the ABA Alcohol Beverage Subcommittee and a founding member of the Alliance of Alcohol Industry Attorneys & Consultants, a group of professionals whose practices are focused in the alcohol beverage industry.

Recent Experience

● Fogo de Chao in its acquisition by Rhone Capital

● KKR & Co. in its strategic investment in Lemonade Restaurant Group

● Foreign pension investment manager in its bid for European brewery assets to be sold by Anheuser-Busch InBev NV

● Golden Gate Capital in its restructuring of Red Lobster restaurants

Publications/Presentations

● Craft Beer / Craft Alcohol

● Moderator: “Let’s Get Crafty”

● NCSLA Regional Conference – Atlantic City, NJ – 9/2018

● Moderator: “The Future of Craft Beer – Can the Explosive Growth of Craft Beer Be Sustained, or Are We Approaching Peak Craft Beer?”

● NCSLA Regional Conference – Traverse City, MI – 10/2016

● Panelist: “The Stills Are Coming – Small Craft Distilling, Craft or Artisan Distillers, Emerging Industry Trends that Regulators Will Have to Deal With”

● NCSLA Regional Conference – Kansas City, MO – 10/2008

The Alcohol Beverage Industry and Prohibition

● Moderator: “The State of the Industry in Today’s Dynamic Marketplace”

● NCSLA Annual Conference – Denver, CO – 6/2017

● Moderator: “When Innovation Meets Regulation”

● NABCA Annual Legal Symposium on Alcohol Beverage Law & Regulation – Alexandria, VA – 3/2017

● Moderator: “Ask the Regulator” Panel

● NALCP Annual Conference – New Orleans, LA – 10/2016

● Moderator: “Cutting Edge Retail Practices – Balancing Consumer Demand, Market Forces & Regulations”

● NCSLA Annual Conference – Chicago, IL – 6/2016

● Moderator: “Prohibition: The Legacy of the Days of Speakeasies & Bootlegging

Flaherty & O’Hara, P.C. R.J. O’Hara Partner

At Womble Bond Dickinson, we have an exceptional team of talented lawyers and business professionals. Our people have been advising sectors and industries for decades, and offer guidance and solutions for your business.

Our strength? It lies in our local knowledge, our sector insight and our unrivalled transatlantic footprint. This means we can support all your business needs – from small-scale regional projects through to far-reaching, international ambitions. Our UK and US outfit is supported by strong networks and alliances across the globe.

Our lawyers and professionals have shared ambitions, common values and a flexible working style that combine with strong personal connections to deliver outstanding levels of client service across every office. Collaboration provides a fertile ground for exploring new ways to better serve our clients, where we find new ways of working; use technology to drive practice innovations; and invest in our people to ensure we deliver high-quality, cost-effective and personal service. With the busy life sciences sector spanning an impressive number of specialisations, be assured that as a life sciences law firm, we have experience working alongside companies in the areas of pharmaceuticals, animal health, biodefense and more.

Our multidisciplinary team also serves clients as a biotechnology law firm and medical device law firm, and many of our professionals have gained first-hand experience at companies in the industry, having worked as in-house counsel and scientists, as well as former patent examiners and FDA regulators.

On top of these qualifications, our pharmaceutical law firm is also a long-time sponsor of the Pharmaceutical Trade Marks Group (PTMG), a UK-based organisation of brand professionals working in the pharmaceutical space. This not-for-profit organisation includes in-house trademark attorneys at many of the largest pharmaceutical companies, and meets regularly to discuss matters related to the pharmaceutical industry.

Through Womble Bond Dickinson’s connection to PTMG and the scientific background of many of our professionals, we have developed a detailed understanding of this incredibly specialised sector.

Between the Womble Bond Dickinson life sciences law firm and our pharmaceutical law firm, our lawyers have extensive experience in the following disciplines:

● Counselling international, innovator pharmaceutical companies and representing them in Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) litigation and inter partes proceedings;

● Providing further FDA regulatory support to international companies by utilising our pharmaceutical law firm lawyers’ in-depth scientific knowledge of drugs, biologics and medical devices, as well as cutting-edge biosimilars and regenerative therapies;

● Providing litigation support from both legal and technical perspectives with our life science intellectual property law firm team;

● Handling complex transactional issues and giving general client advice regarding a wide range of corporate and commercial concerns within the pharmaceutical industry;

● Investigating and procuring patents on behalf of pharmaceutical and life sciences clients, utilising our dedicated trademarks, database and copyright team;

● Utilising our life science law firm’s far-reaching experience to advise clients within the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry on their intellectual property rights;

● Providing a comprehensive and practical approach to advising and defending against tort law cases involving pharmaceutical and life sciences products.

Joshua P. Davis

Josh represents stakeholders and defendants in intellectual property matters involving a variety of technologies. Josh has significant experience litigating patent infringement and validity issues in U.S. district court cases and at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, as well as at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the U.S. International Trade Commission. Many of Josh’s cases concern pharmaceutical products, biotechnology or medical devices. He has also represented companies in high-stakes matters involving chemical processes and manufacturing, wireless communication technologies, personal computing, operating and networking systems, semiconductor layout and design, as well as hardware and software implementations.

Josh participates in all stages of litigation, from initial pre-litigation counseling through case development, trial and appeal. He has extensive experience in Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) cases, and has represented clients in district courts across the country, including the District of Delaware, District of New Jersey, Eastern District of Texas and Northern District of California. In addition, he has represented patent holders and challengers in post-grant proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, including inter partes reviews.

Representative Experience

● Represented a large brand pharmaceutical company in ANDA litigation regarding a drug to treat allergic rhinitis – secured verdict that the patent-in-suit was infringed and valid, upheld on appeal;

● Represented a large brand pharmaceutical company in multiple ANDA litigations regarding patents covering a drug to treat nasal symptoms related to allergic rhinitis and nasal polyps –secured verdicts confirming patent validity despite multiple challenges, upheld on appeal;

● Took over representation of a large brand pharmaceutical company during the appeal of a district court’s adverse judgement in an ANDA litigation that a patent covering a chemotherapy drug used to treat brain cancer was unenforceable – secured reversal of district court’s judgement on appeal.

Zoning & Land Use Lawyer of the Year in US, Washington

Cairncross & Hempelmann is a full-service law firm in Seattle, Washington. Formed in 1987, the firm now has 40 award-winning attorneys providing legal services in multiple practice areas, including real estate, business, litigation, bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, construction, employment, tech, finance and M&A. The firm is one of the top real estate firms in the region emphasising real estate development, land use law and permitting, and real estate finance and acquisitions.

In the real estate development sector, the firm represents developers, builders and investors from throughout the US and overseas. The types of development projects supported include housing, apartments and condominiums, high-rise office buildings, industrial complexes and warehouses, churches, schools, golf courses, master-planned developments and resorts, mining, forestry and other types of natural resources projects. In addition, the firm has a major construction law group that provides services to architects, engineers and contractors, and its award-winning attorneys have advised clients within the industry in major construction-related litigation. Several firm partners, including John Hempelmann, have been selected by their peers as Lawyer of the Year in Land Use Law or in Real Estate Litigation.

As one of the founders of Cairncross & Hempelmann, John Hempelmann has achieved his objective of building a firm of great lawyers who work together. The firm maintains a unique culture in that its members do not compete among themselves, but find the best lawyers to serve client needs. Respect for every person in the firm, from the newest staff person to the most senior attorney, is a central part of its culture. Mr. Hempelmann is recognised by his peers and the development community as one of the top land use lawyers in the region. He has helped write the State land use laws, and worked on development regulations in many cities and counties. Occasionally, he has served as a special attorney for select cities and counties. He has argued precedent-setting cases in the State and Federal trial and appellate courts, including the Washington State Supreme Court. Moreover, he has helped clients develop housing, offices (including the tallest building in Seattle), churches and schools, factories, master-planned developments, golf courses and multiple transit-orientated developments. He has served as the Chair of the Urban Land Institute’s national Transit Oriented Development Council and currently serves as Co-Chair of ULI Northwest’s TOD Council.

Mr. Hempelmann is especially proud of his projects that have helped preserve the environment, including major transfers of development rights on both coasts of the US. He noted: “I love my work because I am helping to build the region for our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.”

Regarding his recent casework, as well as the current working landscape, he commented:

“The firm is very busy of late because the Seattle Metro Region has experienced rapid growth in the past decade. We currently represent national and local developers, as well as local companies, such as Microsoft, who continue to expand. Another major focus has been on Asian company investments in real estate development in the Seattle Metro Region. If we were to highlight one notable case, I would cite Suncadia, which is a very successful, five-star, master-planned resort in central Washington. It was the first resort of its type in the State, and I was pleased to help change State law to allow the development, as well as defending numerous legal challenges to its creation.

“However, without doubt, maintaining the firm culture during the COVID-19 pandemic has been a big challenge. Fortunately, we have been successful in addressing the issues and have created many options and programmes to bring our attorneys and staff together, physically and virtually. We also recognised and accommodated the different types of challenges and stress different people experienced due to the disruptions of the pandemic.”

Today, Cairncross & Hempelmann represents clients from many countries doing business in the Northwest. As a local law firm with a national and international outlook and client base, the firm also utilises the resources of Mackrell International’s impressive network to best serve its clients on a regular basis. The firm is proud to have been a member of Mackrell since 2002, as it is one of the world’s largest networks of independent legal firms – with 90 firms in 170 offices and 60 countries, Mackrell provides access to 4,500 lawyers worldwide.

Mr. Hempelmann added: “Looking ahead, we will continue to hire extremely qualified attorneys and staff. At the same time, we prize the relatively small size of our firm. We will grow carefully to maintain our high-quality work and our special culture – and we are very proud that so many of our clients praise our attorneys and staff. We are also very proud that our peers in the legal system rank our attorneys so highly.”

Cairncross & Hempelmann PS

Technology Sector Antitrust Law Firm of the Year in US, Washington DC

We are proud to be recognized by The Lawyer Network’s 2023 Annual Awards as the Technology Sector Antitrust Law Firm of the Year in Washington, D.C.

Lowenstein Sandler is a national law firm with more than 350 lawyers based in New York, Palo Alto, New Jersey, Utah, and Washington, D.C. The firm represents leaders in virtually every sector of the global economy, with particular emphasis on investment funds, life sciences, and technology.

Tel: +1 202.753.3820

lblad@lowenstein.com

For more than 30 years, we have been pioneers in competition issues facing technology companies. As each generation of technology enabled new forms of competition, we mastered the technology and business issues to help clients navigate this ever-changing landscape. We play key roles in technology competition issues and Internet services, software publishing and data analytics, the pharmaceutical industry, and other technologybased sectors.

● Fintech: We work with electronic payment companies on both the issuer and merchant sides, with companies providing transaction acceptance, fraud protection, and remediation, and on the complex interactions between merchants and card network rules.

● Telecommunications and Internet Services: We work on network construction, operation, and interconnection; spectrum auctions and disputes; clearing disputes among providers and with regulators and customers; and new wired and wireless technologies.

● Software Publishing and Data Analytics: We assist companies with antitrust counseling related to exclusivity, monopolization, and joint venture formation; with IP issues; and with the formation and clearance of transactions.

Tel: +1 202.753.3810

jblumenfeld@lowenstein.com

● Pharmaceutical Industry: We represent pharma companies in multiple and overlapping complex litigations of civil and criminal issues – federal and state – and help companies on both the seller and buyer sides shape and negotiate transactions and clear regulatory hurdles.

As our clients’ competitive concerns over the past two decades grew to include intellectual property issues, our work with clients expanded to standards setting and collective IP licensing, including patent pools, collective defense, standard essential patents, FRAND/ RAND licensing, and litigation.

Tel: +1 202.753.3830

zjaramillo@lowenstein.com

Understanding that legal strategy must serve business strategy, we counsel clients’ business teams – from early-stage, venture-backed tech companies to major brands – on business structures; distribution; and disputes with competitors, suppliers, and customers and on transaction negotiation and regulatory clearance in the United States and abroad.

Bringing deep litigation skill and experience to the table, we represent companies in criminal antitrust matters (investigations and trials), class action antitrust lawsuits, actions brought by customers and suppliers, actions by or against competitors, and monopolization cases.

And because we are sector specialists rather than forum specialists, we are able to advocate in whatever forum will best accomplish our clients’ business purposes, whether at the negotiating table, in state or federal courts, or at the Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, state antitrust agencies, the Federal Communications Commission, state regulatory agencies, and competition agencies throughout the world.

Tel: +1 202.753.3824

jlewis@lowenstein.com

2200 Pennsylvania Avenue

N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037

Tel: +1 202.753.3800

www.lowenstein.com

Leiv Blad Co-Chair, Antitrust & Trade Regulation

LOWENSTEIN SANDLER LLP

Jeffrey Blumenfeld Co-Chair, Antitrust & Trade Regulation

Zarema A. Jaramillo Partner, Antitrust & Trade Regulation

Jonathan L. Lewis Partner, Antitrust/Competition

Insolvency Law Firm of the Year in Anguilla

WEBSTER LP

Pam Webster Managing Partner

Victoria House, The Valley, Anguilla, British West Indies

Tel: +1 (264) 497 2060

pwebster@websterlawbwi.com

www.websterlp.com (under construction)

International Tax Law Firm of the Year in Anguilla

WEBSTER LP

Pam Webster Managing Partner

Victoria House, The Valley, Anguilla, British West Indies

Tel: +1 (264) 497 2060

pwebster@websterlawbwi.com

www.websterlp.com (under construction)

Real Estate Lawyer of the Year in Argentina

Beccar Varela

Pedro Nicholson Partner

Edificio República, Tucumán 1, 3rd Floor C1049AAA Ciudad Autónoma De Buenos Aires

Tel: (+54) (11) 4379 6898

pnicholson@beccarvarela.com

www.beccarvarela.com

Arbitration Law Firm of the Year in Brazil

Basilio Advogados

Ana Tereza Basilio Founding Partner

Av Presidente Wilson, 210 / 11o e 12o andares – Centro –Rio de Janeiro/RJ – CEP: 20030-021

Tel: +55 21 2277-4200

abasilio@basilioadvogados.com.br

www.basilioadvogados.com.br

Commercial Litigation Law Expert of the Year in the British Virgin Islands

McW Todman & Co

Nelcia St Jean Partner

McNamara Chambers, 116 Main Street, Road Town, Tortola, P.O Box 3342

Tel: +1 284-494-3810

nstjean@mctodman.com; mail@mctodman.com

www.mctodman.com

Lawyer of the Year in Mexico

Canales

Emilio Sáenz

Partner

Ricardo Margain 240, 3er. Piso, Col. Valle del Campestre, San Pedro Garza García, N.L. México, C.P. 66265

Tel: +52 (81) 8378.1887

emilio@canales.com.mx www.canales.com.mx

Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year in Nicaragua

Consortium Legal

Gerardo Hernández

Partner

Del antiguo Hospital Militar, 1 cuadra al Norte. Edificio Consortium Legal.

Managua

Tel: +505 2254 5454 ext. 106

ghernandez@consortiumlegal.com

www.consortiumlegal.com

Real Estate Lawyer of the Year in Nicaragua

Arias

Róger Pérez

Partner

Pista Jean Paul Genie, Edificio Escala, Piso 3, Managua

Tel: +505 2298-1360

roger.perez@ariaslaw.com

www.ariaslaw.com

Business Law Firm of the Year in Peru

Estudio Flores-Araoz Abogados

Antero Flowers-Araoz

Lawyer

José 200 200, San Isidro 15036 Tel: +(511) 224-2773

WhatsApp: 957474068

estudio@flores-araoz.com

www.flores-araoz.com

Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year in Peru

Estudio Delion

Fayssy C Delion

Founding Partner

Enrique Palacios 360, Office # No.505 Miraflores 15074, Lima

Tel: +(51) (1) 222-2795

dmatos@estudiodelion.com.pe

www.estudiodelion.com.pe

Asia & Oceania Winners

South Asia Faces Weakening Growth Amid Tightening Financial Conditions

South Asia’s growth prospects have weakened due to tightening financial conditions, with large downside risks in most countries given limited fiscal space and depleting reserves, says the World Bank in its twice-ayear regional update. The report stresses the need to roll back market distortions introduced during the pandemic and address debilitating socioeconomic divides that constrain South Asia’s potential.

The latest South Asia Economic Focus, “Expanding Opportunities: Toward Inclusive Growth”, projects regional growth to an average 5.6% in 2023, a slight downward revision from the October 2022 forecast. Growth is expected to remain moderate at 5.9% in 2024, following an initial post-pandemic recovery of 8.2% in 2021.

South Asia’s outlook is shaped by a combination of good and bad news in the global economy. Lower commodity prices, a strong recovery in the services sector and reduced disruptions in value chains are aiding South Asia’s recovery, but rising interest rates and uncertainty in financial markets are putting downward pressure on the region’s economies.

“South Asia’s economies have been scarred by a combination of extreme shocks over the past three years, and the recovery remains incomplete,” said Martin Raiser, World Bank Vice President for South Asia.

“Countries should use the opportunity of lower energy prices and improving trade balances to move away from ad hoc measures, such as fuel subsidies and import restrictions implemented to address these shocks, and focus on reforms needed to build resilience and boost medium-term growth.”

All countries in the region except Bhutan have downgraded their forecasts. In India, South Asia’s largest economy, high borrowing costs and slower income growth are expected to dampen consumption and lower growth to 6.3% in FY2023/24. Growth in Pakistan – which is still reeling from the impacts of last year’s catastrophic floods and facing supply chain disruptions, deteriorating investor confidence as well as higher borrowing and input costs – is projected to drop to 0.4% this year, assuming agreement on an IMF programme is reached. In Sri Lanka, GDP is expected to contract by 4.3% this year, reflecting the lasting impact of the macro-debt crisis, with future growth prospects – following recent IMF programme approval – heavily dependent on debt restructuring and structural reforms. The resumption of tourism and migration has supported growth in the Maldives and Nepal. But high external debt and tightened global financial conditions pose risks to the Maldives’ fiscal and external accounts, and in Nepal, external shocks, domestic import restrictions and monetary tightening are expected to hamper growth.

Inflation in South Asia is set to fall to 8.9% this year, and to below 7% in 2024. However, weaker currencies and delayed domestic price adjustments are contributing to a slower than anticipated decline in inflation. Elevated global and domestic food prices are contributing to greater food insecurity for South Asia’s poor, who spend a larger share of income on food.

To go from recovery to sustained growth, South Asia needs to ensure economic development is inclusive. The region has among the world’s highest inequality of opportunity. Between 40 and 60% of total inequality in South Asia is driven by circumstances out of an individual’s control, such as place of birth, family background, caste, ethnicity and gender. Intergenerational mobility is also among the world’s lowest. Data highlighted in the report shows that fewer than 9% of individuals whose parents have low levels of education reach education levels of the upper 25%. Such disparities lead to differences in access to jobs, earnings, consumption and welfare, and to calls for redistributive policies.

“South Asia’s stark socioeconomic divides are both unfair and inefficient. They keep talented individuals from contributing to society, reduce incentives to invest in human capital and derail long-term economic growth,” said Hans Timmer, World Bank Chief Economist for South Asia. “Addressing these structural issues is vital to ensuring the region can achieve its full potential.”

Indian Economy Continues to Show Resilience Amid Global Uncertainties

India’s growth continues to be resilient despite some signs of moderation in growth, says the World Bank in its latest India Development Update, the World Bank India’s biannual flagship publication.

The Update notes that although significant challenges remain in the global environment, India was one of the fastest growing economies in the world. The overall growth remains robust and is estimated to be 6.9% for the full year, with real GDP growing 7.7% year-on-year during the first three quarters of fiscal year 2022/23. There were some signs of moderation in the second half of FY 22/23. Growth was underpinned by strong investment activity bolstered by the government’s capex push and buoyant private consumption,

particularly among higher income earners. Inflation remained high, averaging around 6.7% in FY22/23, but the current-account deficit narrowed in Q3 on the back of strong growth in service exports and easing global commodity prices.

The World Bank has revised its FY23/24 GDP forecast to 6.3% from 6.6% (December 2022). Growth is expected to be constrained by slower consumption growth and challenging external conditions. Rising borrowing costs and slower income growth will weigh on private consumption growth, and government consumption is projected to grow at a slower pace due to the withdrawal of pandemic-related fiscal support measures.

“The Indian economy continues to show strong resilience to external shocks,” said Auguste Tano Kouame, World Bank’s Country Director in India. “Notwithstanding external pressures, India’s service exports have continued to increase, and the currentaccount deficit is narrowing.”

Although headline inflation is elevated, it is projected to decline to an average of 5.2% in FY23/24, amid easing global commodity prices and some moderation in domestic demand. The Reserve Bank of India has withdrawn accommodative measures to rein in inflation by hiking the policy interest rate. India’s financial sector also remains strong, buoyed by improvements in asset quality and robust private-sector credit growth.

The central government is likely to meet its fiscal deficit target of 5.9% of GDP in FY23/24, and combined with consolidation in state government deficits, the general government deficit is also projected to decline. As a result, the debt-to-GDP ratio is projected to stabilise. On the external front, the current account deficit is projected to narrow to 2.1% of GDP from an estimated 3% in FY22/23 on the back of robust service exports and a narrowing merchandise trade deficit.

“Spillovers from recent developments in financial markets in the US and Europe pose a risk to short-term investment flows to emerging markets, including India,” noted Dhruv Sharma, Senior Economist, World Bank, and lead author of the report. “But Indian banks remain well capitalised.”

Unfair Competition Law Expert of the Year in China

Corner Stone & Partners is a boutique law firm specialising in intellectual property matters. Our team of experienced professionals is dedicated to delivering quality services and solutions to address clients’ IP needs in China.

Our practice includes prosecution and enforcement of trademarks, patents and copyrights. We also assist clients with domain name registration and enforcement, customs-related matters as well as unfair competition claims.

Corner Stone & Partners’ prestigious client base is comprised of well-known domestic, international and multinational enterprises, law firms and IP agencies.

Meanwhile, Corner Stone & Partners are proud members of INTA (the International Trademark Association), ECTA (the European Community Trademark Association), MARQUES (the Association of European Trade Mark Owners), AIPPI (the Association Internationale pour la Protection de la Propriété Intellectuelle), CTA (the China Trademark Association), ACLA (All China Lawyers Association), as well as BLA (the Beijing Lawyers Association).

Practice Areas:

● Trademark

● Patent

● Copyright, Domain Name & Customs Record

● Anti-infringement & Anti-counterfeiting

● Litigation

Firm Honors:

● Winner of QBPC (Quality Brands Protection Committee of China Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment) Top 10 Cases 2022–2023

● Top 10 Trademark Firms in China 2023

● Winner of China Business Law Awards 2023

● Top 10 Firms on IP Litigation 2020–2021

● Elite Law Firm for Trademark Administrative Litigation During 2018–2019 in China

● Top 10 Law Firms in Fighting Against Infringement and Counterfeits in China

Representative Cases:

● Nestlé Waters Wins Trademark Infringement and Unfair Competition Case

- Highlights: The court ruled that the Defendants shall cease the unfair competition activities and indemnify the Plaintiff against its economic losses amounting to CNY120,000 (USD 18,000). The second instance court also maintained the said ruling.

The above case involves the issue of a two-dimensional trademark being used in a threedimensional representation and has no precedent for reference. The trial and judgement of the above case may offer a reference for similar cases in the future in China.

● Reusch Unfair Competition Case

- Highlights: The Court in the second instance held the following: The adverse party’s use of the words “Reusch GmbH” on the tag of its products is liable to mislead consumers who have special needs for our client Reusch’s goods into associating its goods with Reusch. In accordance with Article 5 of the Anti-Unfair Competition Law of PRC, the adverse party’s act aforesaid constituted unfair competition. The court ordered that the adverse party cease its infringing act and pay our client CNY 77,600 (USD 12,000) in damages.

Comparatively speaking, since foreign trade names are not registered in China – and foreign trade names in foreign languages are little known to Chinese consumers – it is more difficult to secure protection for their trade name right. We analysed a case that was lost at first instance but won at second instance to see how protection was secured for the right to a foreign trade name where the defendant did not use it prominently.

Brenda Zhao

Brenda Zhao is a Senior Partner of Corner Stone & Partners and served as Chair of the AsiaPacific Subcommittee of the ADR and Mediation Committee of INTA (2018–2020). With more than 20 years’ experience in the IP field, Brenda is highly proficient in Chinese and foreign IP laws, regulations and policies, and has sound knowledge and expertise concerning IP matters. Over the past two decades, she has been engaged in IP protection, practising the philosophy “A Foundation to Your Success” – addressing clients’ needs and providing clients with high-quality, efficient and thoughtful law services as best as she can with her down-to-earth and meticulous work attitude.

As an excellent trademark attorney, Brenda is committed to providing clients with overarching IP protection services and diversified dispute resolution methods to find the best and most cost-effective solutions. With her great legal expertise and remarkable communication skills, she has provided effective advice to many clients, especially handling a number of significant IP protection cases for many world-famous companies. Her service has achieved exceptional results in the protection of clients’ rights and interests, and earns her positive recognition from her clients. In addition, she has published numerous professional articles in relevant national or international magazines, presided and/or spoken at national/international IP forums, and has organised IP roundtables to share her experience in the field and contribute to IP protection and maintenance of a fair competition environment.

Corner Stone & Partners, Leading IP Law Firm in China

Brenda Zhao Senior Partner / MARQUES Unfair Competition Team Member 1905, Tower B, Tian Yuan Gang Centre, No. 2, Dongsanhuan North Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100027 Tel: +86 10 84464600 brenda.zhao@cornerstoneip.com.cn www.cornerstoneip.com.cn

Real Estate Law Firm of the Year in India

Poovayya & Co.’s real estate lawyers act for clients across the full range of real estate matters, including corporate occupier matters, development projects (both commercial and residential), urban regeneration projects, direct and indirect investment transactions, real estate financing, equity investment structuring, portfolio deals as well as dispute resolution. The Real Estate Practice Group is proficient in handling a variety of matters on a Pan-India basis.

Today, the Indian real estate sector is growing in terms of complexity and sophistication. Investors, corporations, asset and fund managers, financial institutions, lessors and lessees in the real estate sector require a legal team that can offer strategic transactional support combined with the right negotiations. We are one of the few law firms with the experience, skill and depth of resources necessary to deliver a high level of service to real estate sector participants based anywhere in the country. Our lawyers advise on the entire life cycle of a real estate transaction – from title diligence, structuring, preparation of transaction documents, negotiation support and closing. Moreover, the firm regularly advises on joint ventures and collaborations in the real estate space, encompassing the setup of manufacturing units, acquisitions and leasing of development land, industrial and logistics parks, power projects, special economic zones as well as sale-andleaseback arrangements.

The practice group acts for clients in relation to private equity and debt investment in real estate projects and exit mechanisms. While a significant part of the firm’s real estate practice is non-contentious, advisory and transactional in nature, the firm has also handled complex legal disputes pertaining to real estate.

Poovayya & Co.’s cross-practice expertise in ADR and commercial law is also brought to the table while handling matters. The firm combines its legal expertise with a sound knowledge of the local regulatory environment in delivering customised and results-orientated solutions to its clients. To this end, the team is highly experienced in settling claims arising due to – but not limited to – contracts, title or construction disputes, etc.

With its key focus on real estate transaction support and conveyancing, in addition to regulatory compliance, the team is a perfect amalgamation of experience and a hands-on practical approach. Our in-depth knowledge of Indian property laws, inheritance and regulations – especially RERA, coupled with a commercial understanding of this sector – gives us a cutting edge in the industry

Further, the firm handles all aspects of real estate and construction laws in-house, providing bespoke solutions to clients on matters that range from the routine to complex – guiding clients through the labyrinth of Indian real estate laws.

Multinational Clients and Blue-chip Indian Companies

Poovayya & Co.’s Real Estate practice has, over the years, built a privileged blue-chip client base. These clients are demanding, and operate to the highest international standards, turning to the firm for its domain expertise and service delivery.

Expertise in the Technology Sector

Technology companies form a large part of our clientele. The firm advises them on setting up offices, data centres, R&D and outsourcing facilities in special economic zones (SEZ) as well as in software technology parks.

Expertise in Restructuring and Refinancing Real Estate Assets

The firm’s lawyers have domain expertise in structured debt deals and asset-backed securitisation. Indeed, the firm has represented some of the major financial institutions and banks on their investments into / financing of real estate projects – extending to due diligence, advising on restructuring of the debt, drafting of the transaction documents as well as providing closing assistance.

Business Law Firm of the Year in Indonesia

Kartika Hermawan & Partners is an Indonesian Law Firm with its main goal to provide legal services for both domestic and International clients. Our proven legal expertise and experiences cover various legal issues in areas of general law, business, commercial, corporate, investment, insolvency & bankruptcy, debt recovery, intellectual property, labor & employment, marriage & family as well as litigation matters.

The Law Office was established in 2005 by Mrs. Kartika Mirda after having a high level of experience being a lawyer in various prominent law offices and several private sector companies. Our Law Office has a number of skilled and experienced lawyers to assist the clients in handling their legal matters.

Kartika Hermawan & Partners has commitment to achieving their clients’ interest or business target by ensuring their legal documents comply with Indonesian Regulations. They can also become the clients’ proxy in solving their various legal problems, and will continue their commitment to give the best legal services for clients.

Our law offices always pursue a continuing relationship with clients, as mentioned in our mission and vision statement below:

● To solve and provide any legal solutions for clients;

● To guide clients with highly qualified and experienced lawyers;

● To deliver any legal documents beyond the expectations of clients;

● To handle any legal matters in an effective way, punctually and cost efficiently;

● To render a world-class legal service, covering the full spectrum of Indonesian legal matters.

Kartika Hermawan & Partners has a number of lawyers (three Partners & five Associates) who are highly conversant in Indonesian laws and regulations, with many links to Indonesian Courts and Arbitration, Foreign Investment Boards, the Indonesian Government, Indonesian Notary, and other Indonesian legal institutions.

Mrs. Kartika Mirda is the Managing Partner of Kartika Hermawan & Partners. She holds a law degree with an excellent grade from Padjadjaran University, Bandung (1997). She practiced as a lawyer since 1998 with many well-known law firms and multiple private companies before establishing Kartika Hermawan & Partners Law Firm in 2005. She has particular expertise in: Business & Commercial; Investment & Foreigner Laws; Corporate Matters; Labor & Employment; Marriage & Family; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Insolvency & Bankruptcy; Intellectual Property Rights; as well as Litigation in general.

Business & Commercial Law

Kartika Hermawan & Partners has extensive experience in representing Indonesian parties and/ or foreign parties in negotiating and drafting various contracts, such as cooperation agreements, distributorship agreements and agency agreements. Over the years, it has also assisted in negotiating and drafting contracts in connection with the acquisition of companies, as well as handling any legal disputes pertaining to business activities.

16th Floor, Marunouchi Park Building, 2-6-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8222

Tel: +81-3-6266-8529

toshimitsu.nemoto@mhm-global.com www.mhmjapan.com/en

Mori Hamada & Matsumoto (MHM) has been at the forefront of the Japanese capital markets practice since the 1970s, completing pioneering work in this area and accumulating significant experience and expertise across a 50-year career.

Today, MHM advises both domestic and international issuers and underwriters in some of the largest and most complex securities offerings, including initial public offerings, global equity offerings, euro-convertible bond offerings and mutual funds offerings. The capital markets team is renowned for advising major clients on substantial issuances and complex deals with precedent-setting elements, with some of its cases being among the highest profile in the market.

This year, Toshimitsu Nemoto, Partner at MHM, won the annual awards of Capital Markets Lawyer of the Year 2023 and IPOs Lawyer of the Year 2023 at the same time. In addition, he is awarded as Corporate Lawyer of the Year 2023.

Mr Nemoto is one of the most successful and dynamic capital markets practitioners in Japan, and is widely recognised as a leading player in startup IPOs. He is broadly engaged in diverse matters relating to capital markets, such as global IPO/POs, Euro CB, bond issuances and rights offerings, and is actively engaged in PIPES, venture capital, investment and M&A. He is also especially knowledgeable on disclosures in accordance with the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act and financial instruments exchange regulations, the large shareholding report, and insider trading regulations.

Having acted for the managers on freee’s follow-on offering in 2021, he also co-led the team for Japan Post Holdings (issuer) and the Japanese government (selling shareholder) on the Japan Post Holdings global offering in 2021, which is one of the largest ever equity offerings in Japanese capital markets history, and consequently won the “Equity Market Deal of the Year” in ALB Japan Awards 2022. Commentators note that it is rare in the traditional capital markets practice for a young lawyer to advise on so many high-profile deals in the position of Team-Head Partner. However, Mr Nemoto has fulfilled this role for SBI Sumishin Net Bank, freee, Finatext Holdings, TESS Holdings and coconala’s Global/International IPO, Menicon and Raksul’s Euro CB offering, JMDC, Raksul and Sanbio’s international offering, as well as A.D.Works’ rights offering – among many other deals.

Mr Nemoto is ranked as a “Leading Individual” by Chambers Global 2021 and 2022, and Chambers Asia Pacific 2021 and 2022, who noted: “Toshimitsu Nemoto is increasingly instructed to lead large international debt and equity offerings, as well as hybrid placements. Interviewees attest to his ‘excellent business, negotiation and deal management skills’, as well as his ‘dedication to the deal’.”

He has also been ranked as a “Highly Regarded Lawyer” by IFLR 1000; a “Global Leader” by Who’s Who Legal for Capital Markets; and was described as a “Notable practitioner” by Asialaw Leading Lawyers. Moreover, he is recognised as a leading individual for Capital Markets Law in Best Lawyers in Japan, which showcased his established position as a go-to lawyer in the market. An interviewee noted: “Especially for startup ventures where the client always challenges unprecedented disclosures, the firm gave us reasonable judgement considering client legal risk and a marketing perspective.”

Last, but not least, Mr Nemoto’s publications include “Global Legal Insights – Initial Public Offerings 2020 – Japan Chapter” (Global Legal Insights, 2020): “Doing Business in Japan” (LexisNexis, 2016): “The Equity Capital Markets Handbook 2015: (Capital Markets Intelligence, 2015);”The Financial Instruments and Exchange Law: Takeover Bids and Substantial Shareholding Reporting” (Shojihomu, 2017); “Theory and Practice for Substantial Shareholding Report System” (Shojihomu, 2017); “The Theory and Practice of Equity Finance” (Shojihomu, 2022); “The Financial Instruments and Exchange Law: Capital Markets and Disclosure” (Shojihomu, 2015); as well as “Trading of Listed Shares” (CHUOKEIZAI-SHA, 2019).

Mori Hamada & Matsumoto

Toshimitsu Nemoto Partner

Litigation Law Expert of the Year in Japan

Asai & Partners has an extensive litigation practice that has covered a wide variety of litigation and dispute resolution cases, including international, corporate and commercial, intellectual property, tax, employment and corporate criminal defense.

The firm’s advisers always ensure that their focus and efforts are directed towards achieving the best possible outcome for their diverse client base.

In order to win the cases, they strive on a daily basis to expand and share knowledge regarding the latest laws and court decisions, and handle cases in close cooperation with experts in other practice areas.

At all times, Asai & Partners makes it possible to achieve the best outcomes for clients based on a strong track record, extensive experience and sophisticated expertise in the areas of litigation and dispute resolution.

Daisuke Asai

Daisuke Asai is the Founder and Chair at Asai & Partners, who is admitted in Japan and New York and specializes in litigation, restructuring and M&A – both domestic and international.

Today, Mr Asai has a broad-based experience in cross-border litigation and dispute resolution and has represented domestic and foreign clients in many large dispute resolution cases for global businesses.

He earned his LL.B. in 2005 and J.D. in 2007 from the University of Tokyo, as well as earning his LL.M. from Cornell Law School in 2015. Moreover, he has experience practicing with a US law firm in Washington DC during the years 2015–2016; he served as a lecturer at the University of Tokyo, Faculty of Law, during 2017–2018; and was a Partner at Mori Hamada & Matsumoto during the period spanning 2020–2022.

Mr Asai noted that the firm’s litigation cases are referred by past clients who are satisfied with their outcomes, and are conducted on a case-by-case basis, meaning that the firm has accumulated extensive experience across a broad set of industries.

Recent Cases Include:

● Represented a listed company in a complex litigation case against a financial securities company in Japan in the Tokyo District Court;

● Represented a defendant in a large litigation case in the Tokyo District Court, the Tokyo High Court and the Japanese Supreme Court, as well as protecting the client from more than 10 billion dollars in claims;

● Represented a real estate developer in a large litigation case in the Tokyo District Court against a construction company;

● Represented a Japanese company in an ICC arbitration case against an American company;

● Represented a Japanese company in a large JCAA arbitration case against a UK company;

● Managed more than 100 sizeable lawsuits in Japan regarding leasing contracts, rent reductions, the professional liability of a tax accountant, fraudulent abuse of the system of corporate stock splits, etc.

Mr Asai noted: “I am able to assist foreign clients by communicating and explaining the legal analysis in the requisite detail in English. Furthermore, I have dealt with lots of complex litigations in relation to stock valuation and can achieve the best outcome for clients through collaboration with other experts – since I have a wide network I can tap into, comprised of financial advisers and CPAs.”

Asai & Partners

Daisuke Asai

and Chair

Restructuring Law Expert of the Year in Japan

Asai & Partners has an extensive insolvency practice, acting on behalf of both debtors and creditors, as well as sponsors, from a variety of jurisdictions, in all types of Japanese bankruptcy and reorganization proceedings.

The firm continually ensures that its focus and efforts are directed towards achieving the best possible outcome for clients; meanwhile, its advisers take pride in their high success rate in restructuring cases, and especially in out-of-court workouts.

In order to accomplish the restructuring of corporations enduring difficulties, Asai & Partners strives on a daily basis to expand and share knowledge about the latest laws, court decisions and restructuring cases – as well as handling c ases in close cooperation with experts in other practice areas. To this end, the firm enables corporate reorganization and restructuring based on a strong track record, extensive experience and sophisticated expertise in the area of corporate restructuring.

Daisuke Asai

Daisuke Asai is the Founder and Chair at Asai & Partners, who is admitted in Japan and New York and specializes in restructuring, litigation and M&A, both domestic and international. He has broad experience in cross-border restructuring and bankruptcy, and has represented domestic and foreign clients/trustees in many large bankruptcy cases of global businesses.

He is a member of various associations for restructuring practitioners, including INSOL, EAAIR (the East Asian Association of Insolvency and Restructuring) and III (NextGen).

He earned his LL.B. in 2005 and J.D. in 2007 from the University of Tokyo, as well as earning his LL.M. from Cornell Law School in 2015 and has experience practicing with a US law firm in Washington DC during 2015–2016. Furthermore, he served as a lecturer at the University of Tokyo, Faculty of Law, during 2017–2018 and was a Partner at Mori Hamada & Matsumoto during the period 2020–2022.

Mr Asai noted that the firm’s restructuring cases are referred by banks and financial advisers, and are conducted on a case-by-case basis, meaning that the firm has accumulated extensive experience across a broad set of industries.

Recent Cases Include:

● Advised a UK-based global parent company on purchasing the whole business of a Japanese company, which was under an out-of-court workout at the SME Business Rehabilitation Support Co-operative;

● Acted as local counsel for a Japanese subsidiary with respect to its inevitable bankruptcy after entering into administration in the UK of its UK-based global parent company;

● Represented a Japanese business partner of a French company, which was under the conciliation proceedings and subsequent receivership proceedings in France in close coordination with French counsel;

● Assisted a company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, which was under criminal investigation by the Securities and Exchange Surveillance Committee for misstatement of financial statements, in negotiation with around 30 banks to reschedule its loan repayments;

● Represented a large creditor in an international bankruptcy case filed in Tokyo and Delaware, collecting the maximum possible debt and effectively controlling the bankruptcy procedure;

● Represented debtors in many out-of-court workouts at the Japanese Association of Turnaround Professionals, leading to successful restructuring;

● Represented lots of overseas creditors in Japanese bankruptcy and reorganization proceedings.

Memberships/Associations

● Member of the Japanese Association of Turnaround Professionals;

● Member of the Japanese Association for Business Recovery;

● Member of the Japanese Federation of Insolvency Professionals;

● Member of the Daini Tokyo Bar Association Insolvency Law Study Group;

● Member of the East Asian Association of Insolvency & Restructuring;

● Member of the International Association of Restructuring, Insolvency & Bankruptcy Professionals;

● NexGen member of the International Insolvency Institute.

Asai

Commercial Law Firm of the Year in Malaysia

Messrs. Calvin Khoo (or better known as “CK Law”) was established in 2020 when its Principal, Calvin Khoo, decided to embark on his own career.

The work of the Firm ranges from general civil litigation in areas such as corporate disputes, intellectual property matters, commercial disputes, construction disputes, banking-related matters, defamation, and land law matters, to corporate advisory and restructuring. In recent years, the Firm has been engaged by corporations and conglomerates (some of which are on the Forbes list) as their dedicated service provider for all legal matters.

At Messrs. Calvin Khoo, we understand the importance of a lawyer’s role in ensuring smooth facilitation of our clients’ needs. We always ensure that all legal solutions provided and/or offered are specifically tailored to resolve present matters and cater for ease of mind in the long term. Our focus has always been to ensure excellent, practical, and quality service in everything that we deliver. We pride ourselves on our ability to understand and adapt quickly to the demanding and ever-changing landscape of the commercial world. The provision of legal solutions can no longer be dealt with in a traditional manner, and we strive to provide such legal solutions at the convenience of our clients.

Over the past two years, the Firm directed most of its resources to “service” corporations/ conglomerates on a “retainer basis” – this would mean that the Firm is responsible for all legal services and/or requirements of these corporations/conglomerates. To ensure efficiency and “ease of access”, the Firm would set up offices which are close / next door to these clients, allowing them to secure “on call” advice and/or services, which better boosts their productivity and profitability.

For example, one of the Firm’s current clients is on Malaysia’s Forbes List of “Top 50 Richest Individuals” with businesses across the world, in countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, the United States of America, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and many others. By setting up an outfit at the client’s headquarters in Malaysia, we act as a “go-to” central location for all legal matters.

These legal matters and/or queries range from being involved in commercial discussions, filing legal suits to protect the client’s interests, reviewing, and vetting legal instruments, offering advice on legal and commercial terms, as well as attendance at Court to argue legal disputes which the client may be involved in.

The vibrant team at Messrs. Calvin Khoo are heavily involved in commercial, corporate, construction, defamation, family, intellectual property, land, and general civil litigation matters, representing multinational companies, developers, SMEs, individuals, families, estates, and various startups. In addition to our usual constant presence in Court, the Firm actively assists our clients on all their commercial and corporate needs, providing advice, strategies, reviews, and input, as and when necessary.

The Firm’s wide expertise and experience in corporate and commercial law provide clients with an insight into all relevant applicable laws and practical business considerations, when making any decision, be it a personal or commercial one.

This makes the Firm the “law firm of choice” for clients from all walks of life – our approach to resolving issues is not purely based on “fees you pay” or the “law of the land”. The Firm prides itself by being able to offer solutions which achieve a “global arrangement” or “win-win situation” for all parties involved.

In recent years, Messrs. Calvin Khoo received various recognitions from esteemed and established institutions, such as being a finalist for the ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2022, being recognised as a Recommended Attorney and Recommended Firm by the Global Law Experts, and being the winner of the Global Law Experts 2023 Annual Awards in the field of Commercial Law. As the Firm continues expanding into the horizon, its clients are never left behind, paving the path to greater heights together.

The major practice areas of Messrs. Calvin Khoo include:

● Corporate & Commercial Law

● Land Law

● Property Law

● Commercial Law

● Intellectual Property Law

● Construction Law

● Family Law

● Defamation Law

● Inheritance Law

● Corporate & Commercial Advisory/ Consultancy

● Mergers & Acquisitions

● Trespass Law

● Bankruptcy Law

● Company Law

● Tort Law

● Contract Law

● Personal Injury Law

● Citizenship Law

The Firm strongly believes that with such “credentials” as above, Messrs. Calvin Khoo is truly different from the norm and stands out as one of the best law firms in the Malaysian legal market.

Messrs. Calvin Khoo (“CK Law”) Calvin Khoo Principal

D-05-02 & D-05-03, Plaza Kelana Jaya, Jalan SS7/13A, Kelana Jaya, 47301 Petaling Jaya Selangor Darul Ehsan & Unit 17.01, Level 17, Menara MBf, Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur Tel: +603 – 7865 8071; +603 –2181 5072; +6012 – 542 1608 inquiry@cklaw.co; calvin@cklaw.co www.cklaw.co

Full Service Law Firm of the Year in Sri Lanka

Julius & Creasy is one of the longest running civil law firms in Sri Lanka. Founded in 1879, the firm has established itself on rich tradition and the highest professional principles. Moreover, the firm’s wealth of expertise and experience in a wide range of specialised fields enables it to offer innovative legal and business solutions to a diverse, sophisticated and high-profile clientele.

The firm, from its inception, has been involved in intellectual property work. Today, it advises on all aspects of IP related to both contentious and non-contentious matters. Its experts file a significant number of trademark applications for overseas clients, who are instructed by the firm’s associates in numerous prominent locations around the world, including the UK, the EU, the US, India, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, as well as Korea.

In addition, Julius & Creasy is actively involved in registering overseas trademarks of well-known exporters of Sri Lankan products.

Mrs Anomi Wanigasekera, Partner, noted: “In contentious matters, we represent clients both at the National Intellectual Property Office in opposition proceedings, and in infringement proceedings before the courts. Infringement proceedings are instituted in the Commercial High Court and, where necessary, criminal proceedings are also instituted in the Magistrate’s Court.

“The firm has a substantial portfolio of patents – filing a number of design applications for overseas clients in Sri Lanka, as well as for Sri Lankan clients overseas through our associates in various countries. We complete patent drafting on behalf of our clients through our trained staff, and also advise on copyright issues – including review of copyright agreements – in addition to advising publishers. We engage ourselves in IP due diligence work, and also register trademarks with the Sri Lankan customs.”

Mrs Wanigasekera – holder of LL.M (Wales) and Diplomas in Intellectual Property Law, International Trade Law, Banking and Insurance Law from the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies of the Incorporated Council of Legal Education – is in charge of the Intellectual Property Division of Julius & Creasy. She works alongside such professional associates as Ms Sayo Adachi, holder of LL.B (London); Ms Charuni Hewage, holder of LL.B (London), B.A. (University of Kelaniya); Ms Randula Seneviratne, holder of LL.B (Honours) (London); Ms Janaki Wanninayake, holder of B.Sc. Special (Honours) in IT (SLIIT); and Ms Sabeera Shariff, Attorney-at-Law. Their areas of specialisation encompass: providing expert opinion on all aspects of IP, including patents and copyright; contract drafting and review; drafting of cease & desist letters; as well as rendering advice on regulation compliance as it impacts food, drugs, cosmetics, tobacco and narcotics, etc; due diligence; litigation; advising on commercial issues; as well as legal research and arbitration.

Further, Mrs Wanigasekera is a prominent Council Member of the Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA) as well the Trade Mark Committee, and is an active Member of the International Trademark Association (INTA) in its Anti-Counterfeiting Subcommittee – affiliations that have proven beneficial in understanding how other jurisdictions are affected by universal issues in the area of IP. Julius & Creasy offers services in Sri Lanka concerning all aspects of IP, from prosecution to enforcement, receiving instructions from all over the world and engaging overseas associates for filings and enforcement across diverse jurisdictions. As a member of INTA’s Anti-Counterfeiting Subcommittee, the firm is especially active in organising training programmes for enforcement authorities – such as customs and consumer affairs authorities –on counterfeiting issues as well as brand identification.

According to Mrs Wanigasekera, there has been an increase in local patent filings in Sri Lanka, and as a result, local artists are concerned on receiving their royalty payments through CMOs because the law related to this matter is yet to be regulated.

The firm has, in recent times, otherwise been occupied with many matters pertaining to trademark infringements as well as parallel importation.

Mrs Wanigasekera added: “In terms of our recent work, we have been successful in a raid conducted by the CID following a complaint made on behalf of a client wherein infringing goods (refrigerator gas) were illegally imported – placing the brand owner’s mark for sale in the market. This was not only an IP issue, but also related to violating the environment law provisions of Sri Lanka. This matter is currently pending before the Magistrate’s Court.

“Elsewhere, the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic affected the global community, and had a drastic impact on the national as well as international trade and economy. Sri Lanka was further hit by economic crisis; however, our firm continued to work as before in rendering comprehensive assistance to our broad client base through every method possible.”

Patent Law Expert of the Year in Taiwan

Sigma IPR, as the symbol “Σ”, is devoted to providing excellent services to accumulate our clients’ intellectual property rights with fine quality. Our team members have various technical backgrounds and are specialized in the prosecution of patents and trademarks as well as the maintenance of the rights obtained therefrom. The team can provide not only customized advice and service for research results in different fields, but also excellent services for interdisciplinary cases. Our services cover, but are not limited to, the affairs regarding the application, invalidation, litigation and search of patents/trademarks.

The Managing Director of Sigma IPR, Ms. Clarice (Tsui-Hua) Chen, has devoted herself to the intellectual property field since 1990, handling many patent dispute cases, and is highly regarded as having the knowledge and skills related to this area. Ms. Chen takes charge of the technical strategy for the cases she is involved with and has gained recognition from a significant client base. Education

● B.S. and M.S. in Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University

● LL.M., Shih-Hsin University

● Research in Intellectual Property (IPSI & ALI), Franklin Pierce Law Center

Qualification

● Patent Attorney / Member of Taiwan Patent Attorneys Association (TWPAA)

● Trademark Agent / Member of Taiwan Trademark Association

● Member of Asian Patent Attorney Association (APAA)

● Member of AIPPI

● Registered Professional Industrial Engineer in Environmental Engineering

Selected Experience

● Director of Patent Examination Practice Committee, Taiwan Patent Attorney Association

● Editor for Taiwan area of “Manual for the Handling of Applications for Patents, Designs and Trademarks throughout the World” (“The Brown Book”)

● Patent Counselor Assigned by Taiwan Intellectual Property Office for providing pro bono patent services

● Speaker of “How to prepare and handle patent infringement litigation”, Chang Chun Group

● Speaker of “Patent Protection of Biomedicals and Its Relationship to Clinical Trial”, China Medical University, Taiwan

● Speaker of “Patent Protection of Novel Technology”, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology

● Speaker of “Patent Protection, Limitation and Extension,” 7th Pan Pacific Symposium on Stem Cells and Cancer Research (PPSSC)

● Speaker of “Protection, Limitation and Infringement of Biotechnology Patent in Taiwan,” 6th Pan Pacific Symposium on Stem Cells and Cancer Research (PPSSC) in conjunction with the 1st Biotechnology Industry Forum of Hsinchu Biomedical Science Park

● Speaker of “Patent Infringement and Design Around,” Industrial Development Bureau, MOEA (invited by Medical and Pharmaceutical Industry Technology and Development Center)

● Speaker of “Principles of Patent Infringement Assessment, Design Around and Case Studies,” Ministry of Education (invited by China Medical University)

● Speaker of “Introduction of Patent-Related Provisions,” Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA)

● Speaker of “Patent Prosecution Practice and Procedures,” Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA)

● Speaker of “Pharmaceutical Patents and Cases,” Roche Products Ltd., Taiwan

● Speaker of “Patent Infringement Litigation,” Taipei Biotech Association

● Speaker of “Patent Infringement and Related Examples Analysis,” Taipei Biotech Association

● Speaker of “Patent Infringement Analysis,” Pharmaceutical Industry Technology and Development Center

● Speaker of “Patent Invalidation Practice and Procedure and Related Administrative Remedy Proceedings,” Chinese National Federation of Industries

● Speaker of “Patent Prosecution Practice and Procedures,” Chinese National Federation of Industries

● Advanced Patent Practice Training Seminar sponsored by Chinese Society of Inventions

● Speaker of “Patent Law and Related Regulations,” China Industrial & Commercial Research Institute

Publications

● Patent Protection of Medical Use in Taiwan, January 2017

● Textbook entitled “Practice of and Guidelines for Patent Application Procedures“ for TIPA (2005)

● Textbook entitled “Practice of and Guidelines for Patent Application Procedures (Advanced)” for TIPA (2009)

● Study on Patent Term Extension System, June/July 2008, Intellectual Property Right Journal (published by the Taiwan Intellectual Property Office)

Sigma IPR Intellectual Property Law Firm

T.H. Chen

Real Estate & Construction Law Firm of the Year in Vietnam

T&P Law Firm (T&P) is one of the few law firms specialised in advising on real estate projects (development, investment, construction and operation), M&A and corporate restructuring in Vietnam. Going beyond the commonly seen services in the market, T&P aims to resolve client matters using multi-angle business views to arrive at the best solutions in both the short and long term.

T&P was established by – and is managed by – Dr. Le Thanh Vinh, an entrepreneur with nearly 20 years’ experience in practicing law, building and enforcing business legalities and policy, developing and operating many successful large-scale housing, resort and industrial zone projects in Vietnam. Such multi-industry, multi-perspective and multi-level business and legal experience (of both Dr. Vinh and his associates) has fundamentally differentiated T&P’s consultancy services from its peers: “Comprehensive solutions to business matters rather than purely legal solutions,” he notes.

Today, T&P is a synergistic combination of in-depth understanding of modern theories of investment project management and hands-on experience in setting up, developing and executing multi-sector business systems in Vietnam’s highly competitive but often unexplored market. The firm’s consultancy solutions are deeply enhanced by the mindset of a business owner employing a legal perspective. “What values can we really contribute to clients’ sustainable and effective business development?” is always at the top of T&P’s mind.

Our

Clients & Partners

T&P’s key clients are real estate developers in Vietnam and abroad, for whom the firm deals with all matters arising during the process of idea formation, approval, construction, M&A, acceptance and operation of projects. Its advisers commit to accompanying clients through the entire life cycle of their projects and business operations in Vietnam – strongly believing that: “Achievement of a specific objective is just the happiness at a point of time. Achievement of final business objectives of projects and clients is what we really aim at and look forward to witnessing.”

The firm’s primary partners are market study and development agencies, professional consultants on exploration, planning, design, project management, tax and finance advisory firms, hotel and building operators as well as financial institutions. These partners are the extended hand that helps T&P implement its consulting solutions in the most comprehensive manner suitable for the clients’ demand.

Real Estate & Construction

Real estate & construction is a core element of T&P’s practice. In this area, the firm provides clients with integrated solutions to all matters that may arise throughout the lifetime of their real estate and construction projects. This encompasses: project development consultancy; suggesting investment land sites and checking the relevant legal information; developing investment ideas and roadmaps as well as checking the feasibility of investment ideas; implementing procedures for investment, investor selection bidding, land use rights auction, land lease/grant and land use right certificates, design appraisal and construction permits; suggesting investment counterparts and composing cooperation agreements; handling the review and assessment of ongoing projects; due diligence; M&A; sales consultancy; advising on settlement of contract disputes; advising on the electronic game business licence in 5* hotels; as well as checking already-completed projects for any retrospective compliance measures.

Dr. Le Thanh Vinh

Dr. Vinh has nearly 20 years’ experience in practicing law at the leading law firms in Vietnam (YKVN LLC., SMiC), drafting and enforcing law and policy (Ministry of Industry and Trade), as well as organising and executing business at high-level positions (Board of Directors) at FLC Group and its affiliates (real estate, construction, hotel and golf management). In his dual role of lawyer and CEO, Dr. Vinh has successfully organised numerous business operations, developed real estate projects, and has been highly involved in dispute settlement at Vietnamese and foreign courts.

During his early career at the leading law firms in Vietnam, wherein he assisted clients with legal matters and witnessed first-hand the weaknesses in existing law firm structures, Dr. Vinh aspired to develop a law firm in his own way. When these aspirations were not immediately realized, other opportunities led him to experience the dynamic and challenging environment of a leading multi-sector private conglomerate in Vietnam. Here, as the highest executive member of staff, he realised that he needed to think like a real business owner in order to take the decisive actions that would lead to success. He also understood that many law firms and lawyers were not yet placing themselves in the role of advisee as business owner, and therefore, their consultations were self-protective and solely legal-perspective solutions.

Such observations moved him and his associates to establish T&P – with the shared ambition of promoting breakthrough changes in Vietnamese law practice. “We shall, together with our clients, look for solutions to business matters from a legal perspective, [and] we must look into and solve client matters from a comprehensive perspective, rather than a purely legal view.”

Boutique Insurance Law Firm of the Year in Australia

McMahons Lawyers

Bryan McMahon LLM (Syd)

Accredited Specialist Commercial Litigation (Insurance)

25 Martin Place, 19–19 Martin Place

Sydney NSW 2001 Tel: +61 432 766 868

bmcmahon@mcmahons-lawyers.com.au

www.mcmahons-lawyers.com.au

Criminal Defence Law Firm of the Year in Australia

Sydney Criminal Lawyers Ugur Nedim Principal

503/267 Castlereagh Street, Sydney, NSW Tel: +612 9261 8881

adminteam@sydneycriminallawyers.com.au

www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au

Criminal Law Expert of the Year in Australia

Sydney Walker Criminal Lawyers

Brian Walker Barrister

Level 21, 133 Castlereagh Street, SYDNEY NSW 2000

Tel: +61 2 7258 2369

admin@walkercriminallawyers.com.au

www.walkercriminallawyers.com.au

Probate and Estates Law Firm of the Year in Australia

National Probate and Estates Group

Gennadi Dobrinski Director

Level 1, 83 York Street, Sydney NSW 2000

Tel: +61 (2) 8880 8030

gennadi.dobrinski@nationalprobate.com.au

www.nationalprobate.com.au

TMT Sector Lawyer of the Year in China

Commerce & Finance Law Offices

Andrew ZHANG Managing Partner

12–14th Floor, China World Office 2, No. 1 Jianguomenwai Avenue, Beijing 100004, China

Tel: +86 10 6563 7181

zhangxinyang@tongshang.com

www.tongshang.com

Construction Law Expert of the Year in Hong Kong

Paul K.C. Chan & Partners

Paul K.C. Chan

Principal Solicitor Suite A, 20th Floor, C.M.A. Building, 64 Connaught Road Central, Hong Kong

Tel: +(852) 2868 1388

pkc@lawcpa.hk; pkc@lawyer.com

www.lawcpa.hk

M&A Law Expert of the Year in Hong Kong

LC Lawyers LLP Rossana Chu Managing Partner Suite 3106, 31/F One Taikoo Place, 979 King’s Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong Tel: +852 9733 6010

rossana.chu@eylaw.com.hk

www.eylaw.com.hk

Biotech Sector Patent Litigation Lawyer of the Year in India

SINGH & SINGH LAW FIRM LLP

Bitika Sharma

Trademark & Patent –Prosecution & Litigation

C-139 DEFENCE COLONY, NEW DELHI, 110024, INDIA Tel: +911 149876099

bitika@singhandsingh.com

www.singhandsingh.com

FinTech Law Firm of the Year in India

Common Law Chambers

Sunayana Basu Mallik Partner

210, 2nd Floor, Bindu Galaxy Tower, West of Chord Road, Rajajinagar, 560010 Bangalore

Tel: +91-7619552716

sunayana@commonlawchambers.com

www.commonlawchambers.com

Litigation Law Firm of the Year in India

Agarwal Law Associates

Mr. Mahesh Agarwal Managing Partner

19, Babar Road, Bengali Market, New Delhi – 110 001

Tel: +91 11 42200000; +91 9811080285 (mob)

mahesh@aglaw.in

www.aglaw.in

Tax Lawyer of the Year in India

Economic Laws Practice

Rohit Jain Partner

Mafatlal Centre, 9th Floor, Vidhan

Bhavan Marg, Nariman Point, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400021

Tel: +91 22 6636 7000

rohitjain@elp-in.com

www.elplaw.in

TMT Lawyer of the Year in India

Spice Route Legal

Mathew Chacko

Founding Partner

No. 201, 2nd Floor, B Wing Pinnacle Corporate Park, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East, Mumbai, 400051

mathew@spiceroutelegal.com

www.spiceroutelegal.com

White Collar Crime Lawyer of the Year in India

MZM Legal

Zulfiquar Memon

Managing Partner

1D, One Forbes, Dr. V.B.Gandhi Marg, Kalaghoda, Mumbai 400001

Tel: +91-22-22643333 / 22646666 / 22648888

zulfim@mzmlegal.com

www.mzmlegal.com

Corporate Crime Lawyer of the Year in Japan

Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

Shin Mitarai Associate

JP Tower, 2-7-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-7036

Tel: +81-3-6889-7000

shin_mitarai@noandt.com

www.noandt.com

Data Protection Lawyer of the Year in Japan

Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

Shin Mitarai Associate

JP Tower, 2-7-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-7036

Tel: +81-3-6889-7000

shin_mitarai@noandt.com

www.noandt.com

Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

Shin Mitarai

Associate

JP Tower, 2-7-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-7036

Tel: +81-3-6889-7000 shin_mitarai@noandt.com www.noandt.com

IP Litigation Law Firm of the Year in Japan

Hino Law and Patent Office

Nobuo Hino Representative Attorney 2-17-17-316, Nagatacho, Chiyoda, Tokyo 100-0014, Japan

Tel: +81-3-5510-7373 nobuo.hino@nifty.com www.hinolaw.com

Trademark Law Firm of the Year in Japan

ASAMURA IP P.C.

Masahiro Asamura

Senior Managing Partner

Otemachi 1st Square West Tower 17F, 1-5-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0004, Japan

Tel: +81 3 6840 1536 asamura@asamura.jp

www.asamura.jp/en

Gaming Lawyer of the Year in Macau

Lobo Vilela – Advogado • 大律師 • Lawyer

António Lobo Vilela 温令韜

Lawyer

265 Avenida da Praia Grande, Kam Lai Kok Building, 2 Floor, Suite D, Macau SAR

Tel: +853 66675755 lobovilela@me.com

www.macaugaminglaw.com

Real Estate Lawyer of the Year in Malaysia

ADNAN SUNDRA & LOW

Ng Yoke Mui

Partner

Level 25, Menara Etiqa, No. 3, Jalan Bangsar Utama 1, 59000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Tel: (+60)3 2279 3288 yokemui.ng@asl.com.my www.asl.com.my

Corporate Law Firm of the Year in Pakistan

Kabraji & Talibuddin

Kairas N Kabraji

Senior Partner

406-407, 4th Floor, The Plaza at Do Talwar, Block 9, Clifton, Karachi-75600

Tel: +9221 35838871 – 6

kairas.kabraji@kandtlaw.com

www.kandtlaw.com

Foreign Investment Law Firm of the Year in Pakistan

Kabraji & Talibuddin

Kairas N Kabraji

Senior Partner

406-407, 4th Floor, The Plaza at Do Talwar, Block 9, Clifton, Karachi-75600

Tel: +9221 35838871 – 6

kairas.kabraji@kandtlaw.com

www.kandtlaw.com

IP Law Firm of the Year in the Philippines

Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura

Sayoc & De Los Angeles

Rogelio Nicandro

Senior Partner

21st Floor, Philamlife Tower, 8767 Paseo De Roxas, Makati City

Tel: +632.555.9555

rogelio.nicandro@romulo.com

www.romulo.com

Boutique Conveyancing Law Firm of the Year in Singapore

SONG LING & PARTNERS (FOUNDED 1994)

Lim Kim Song

Managing Partner

151 Chin Swee Road, #02-02, Manhattan House, Singapore 169876

Tel: +(65) 6238 8968 (Line 1);

+(65) 6238 8936 (Line 2)

Mob: +(65) 9758 7687

songling@singnet.com.sg

www.elawyer.com.sg; www.elawyer.sg

Merger Control Law Firm of the Year in Taiwan

YangMing Partners

Fran Wang

Partner

10F., No. 89, Song Ren Rd., Xinyi Dist., Taipei City 110

Tel: +886-2-8725-6677

franwang@yangminglaw.com

www.yangminglaw.com

Africa & the Middle East Winners

Growth Slows for Most MENA Economies Amid Double-Digit Food Inflation

Economies in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are expected to grow at a slower pace in 2023, as double-digit food inflation adds pressure on poorer households and the impact of food insecurity can span generations, according to a recent economic update from the World Bank.

Titled “Altered Destinies: The Long-Term Effects of Rising Prices and Food Insecurity in the Middle East and North Africa,” the report forecasts MENA’s GDP will slow to 3.0% in 2023, from 5.8% in 2022. Oil exporters, who benefited from a windfall in 2022, will experience slower growth, but a large gap remains between high-income countries and the rest of the region. Real GDP per capita growth, a better proxy for living standards, is expected to slow to 1.6% in 2023 from 4.4% in 2022.

Inflation in the region rose dramatically in 2022, especially in countries that experienced currency depreciations. The report focuses specifically on the impact of food price inflation on food insecurity, finding that eight out of 16 countries suffered from doubledigit food price inflation or higher – affecting poorer households the most, as they spend more of their budgets on food than those better off.

The twice-yearly report found that average year-on-year food inflation across 16 MENA economies between March and December 2022 was 29%. This was higher than headline inflation, which rose on average to 19.4% year-on-year during that period, compared to 14.8% between October 2021 and February 2022, the month of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Across all four MENA subgroups covered in the report – developing oil importers, developing oil exporters, conflict countries and the GCC – inflation accounts for 24% to 33% of 2023’s forecast food insecurity.

According to the report, the increase in food prices from March–June 2022 may have increased the risk of childhood stunting by 17%–24% in developing countries in MENA, which translates to around 200,000 to 285,000 newborns who are at risk of stunting. More generally, research indicates that child malnutrition leads to poor performance in school, lower incomes as well as poorer health.

The report suggests policy tools that could help alleviate food insecurity before it escalates into a full-blown crisis, including targeted cash and in-kind transfers that could be introduced immediately to stem acute food insecurity. Mothers, who play a vital role both in utero and in early childhood, would benefit from improved parental leave, childcare and medical care.

Improved and more current data on the state of childhood health and nutrition are required, along with better access to administrative information that would help target priorities and reach vulnerable populations more easily. Making food systems more resilient and strengthening supply chains, especially in the face of climate and future market shocks, is essential.

Addis-Djibouti Corridor to Get Major Upgrade that is Key to Unlocking Connectivity and Trade for Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa

The Addis-Djibouti corridor, a vital trade route and a lifeline for Ethiopia’s 120 million people, will get a significant upgrade thanks to the newly approved Horn of Africa Initiative’s Regional Economic Corridor Project. The project, endowed with a $730 million grant from the International Development Association (IDA), aims to improve regional connectivity and logistics efficiency in Ethiopia along this key trade route connecting landlocked Ethiopia to the port of Djibouti.

More than 95% of Ethiopia’s import-export trade (by volume) uses the Addis-Djibouti corridor. The project aims to upgrade the road to Djibouti, including the Mieso-Dire Dawa section, which is currently in poor condition and unsuitable for growing truck traffic. This section forces road users to take a longer route through Mille, adding 146 kilometers to their journey. Upgrading the Mieso-Dire Dawa section to a four-lane expressway will reduce transport time, enhance road safety, save fuel and maintenance costs as well as reducing pollution. This upgrade is crucial for Ethiopia’s economic growth and social development, as it will improve the efficiency and capacity of this crucial trade route.

IMF Staff Concludes Staff Visit to Iraq

A staff team of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), led by Tokhir Mirzoev, visited Amman, Jordan in May to discuss with the Iraqi authorities the recent economic developments and outlook, as well as policy plans in the period ahead.

Mr Mirzoev issued a statement saying: “The Iraqi economy’s growth momentum has slowed in recent months. After recovering to its pre-pandemic level last year, oil production is set to contract by 5% in 2023 owing to the OPEC+ production cut and outage of the Kirkuk-Ceyhan oil pipeline. The foreign exchange (FX) market volatility in the wake of tighter anti-money laundering / combatting the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) controls by the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) on FX sales has adversely affected import-dependent non-oil sectors. Real non-oil GDP is estimated to have contracted by 9% (year-on-year) in the last quarter of 2022, negating its growth during the previous three quarters. With the FX market appearing to be stabilising,

helped by CBI’s actions, growth of real non-oil GDP is expected to resume and reach 3.7% in 2023. After spiking to 7% in January, inflation has begun to moderate – reflecting lower international commodity prices as well as a 10% revaluation of the dinar –and is projected to average 5.6% in 2023.

“Favourable oil market conditions have supported Iraq’s fiscal and external positions, but structural imbalances continue to widen. In 2022, fiscal and external current account surpluses have reached 7.6 and 17.3% of GDP respectively on the back of record-high oil revenues. The CBI’s FX reserves rose to US$97 billion (11 months of imports), including US$16.3 billion (6% of GDP) in fiscal savings accumulated by the government. At the same time, a large fiscal expansion has widened the non-oil primary deficit from 52 to more than 68% of non-oil GDP in the course of 2022.

“An even bigger fiscal loosening envisaged in the draft 2023 budget law would widen the non-oil primary fiscal deficit further to 75% of non-oil GDP and bring the overall fiscal balance to a deficit of 6.5% of GDP. The combined effects of increased government spending, the exchange rate revaluation and reduced oil production would bring the fiscal break-even oil price to $96 per barrel.

“In the short run, implementation of the authorities’ fiscal plans could re-ignite inflation and FX market volatility. Over the medium term, continuation of current policies in the presence of substantial uncertainty about the future path of oil prices poses critical macroeconomic stability risks. Barring a large increase in oil prices, the current fiscal stance could lead to mounting deficits and intensifying financing pressures in the coming years.

“A significantly tighter fiscal policy is needed to strengthen resilience and reduce the government’s dependence on oil revenues while safeguarding critical social spending needs. Key priorities include diversifying fiscal revenues, reducing the oversized government wage bill and reforming the pension system to make it financially sound and more inclusive. While supporting the government’s plan to increase social assistance, the mission recommends stronger targeting to ensure that it is directed to those who are most vulnerable.”

Commercial Law Firm of the Year in Djibouti

Cabinet Avocats & Associés Abayazid & Abdourahman (CAA Law Firm) is recognized as one of the leading Djiboutian law firms in consulting in areas of activity such as bank financing and structured financing, mergers and acquisitions, infrastructure financing, public sector legal reforms, mining, oil, taxation and litigation.

Knowledge of Djiboutian law and sub-regional regulations (IGAD countries, EAC, COMESA) allows our firm to develop specializations within it and thus offer companies, public administrations, communities and individuals global expertise, in addition to multidisciplinary legal and judicial advice and assistance.

Today, our firm has the reputation of being particularly proactive, combining working methods corresponding to quality requirements close to the standards of major European firms with an ethical and deontological approach in the processing and management of cases.

Meanwhile, the firm maintains valuable partnerships with many foreign law firms from the bars of Romano-Germanic traditions and common law – especially through the Pan-African network of which it is a founding member, Africa Business Legal Expertise (ABLE Net Work Club 54).

Why Choose Us

Local Expertise and Global Collaboration

Cabinet Avocats & Associés Abayazid & Abdourahman (CAA Law Firm) is a known as a prominent Djiboutian structure composed of young and dynamic lawyers and collaborators with skills in diverse fields of the law, offering services of advice and assistance to its clients.

Notably, the firm takes a practical and commercially mindful approach to solving problems. CAA Law Firm is often appreciated for its team of affordable and attentive lawyers, who have been described as “very well connected locally, regionally” and “honest and frank”, providing a “business-focused legal contribution”.

We advise, inform, assist and defend in all sectors, encompassing:

● International Business Law

● Litigation and Dispute Settlement

● Real Estate Law

● Financial and Banking Law

● Environmental Law

● Digital Law

● Employment Law

● Criminal Law

Mohamed Abayazid Houmed

● Research Professor at the Law Faculty of Djibouti

● Lawyer in contract law (engineering and construction – oil and energy)

● PhD in international private law contracts (thesis on the pre-period)

● Master II Research in International Business Law

● Master I Business Law and Business

● Consultant to the National Office for Water and Sanitation in Djibouti

● Consultant in energy law and environmental law

● Project monitoring of seawater desalination in Djibouti

Cabinet Avocats & Associés Abayazid & Abdourahman (CAA Law Firm)

Mohamed Abayazid Houmed CAA Attorney / Lawyer at the Bar of Djibouti Route de la Siesta –Villa à la Brise de Mer, BP: 1740, République de Djibouti Tel: +(253) 21 35 40 17 avocat.abayazid@gmail.com

Corporate Law Firm of the Year in Iraq

With a legacy dating back to 1981, Al Wakeel has proudly upheld a tradition of legal excellence for an impressive 42 years, making it the leading law firm in the region.

With strategically located offices in Erbil, Basrah, and Sulaimani, Al Wakeel is uniquely positioned to provide comprehensive legal solutions to both Iraqi and multinational corporations operating within Iraq. Our commitment to delivering exceptional legal counsel has earned us the trust of esteemed clients, including Gazprom Neft, Rosneft, Lukoil, Korek Telecom, IraqCell, Halabja Group, and numerous others.

At the heart of our practice lies a steadfast focus on corporate law. We understand the intricate challenges and opportunities that businesses face in the region, and we are dedicated to providing insights that empower our clients to make informed decisions. However, our expertise extends far beyond corporate law. Al Wakeel offers a diverse array of services, spanning civil law, labor issues, taxation matters, telecommunications regulations, oil and gas regulations, NGO affairs, as well as immigration law.

One of the cornerstones of our success is our track record of accomplishments. Having successfully handled more than 1000 lawsuits, we proudly boast an impressive 90% success rate – a testament to our unwavering dedication to securing favorable outcomes for our clients. This record is a reflection of the meticulous attention to detail and the strategic acumen that our legal experts bring to each case.

What truly sets Al Wakeel Law Firm apart is our genuine commitment to our clients’ success. Our team of experienced legal professionals is not only well versed in the intricacies of Iraqi law, but also deeply attuned to the cultural and business nuances that shape the local landscape. This holistic approach allows us to provide tailored solutions that align with the unique needs of each client.

Whether you are a multinational corporation venturing into Iraq, or a local business seeking expert legal guidance, Al Wakeel Law Firm is your partner of choice. With a rich legacy, decades of experience, and a proven track record of success, we stand ready to navigate the legal challenges you face and pave the way for your success in the Iraqi market.

Handren Othman Kalid

Handren Othman Kalid is an exceptional legal luminary and the driving force behind Al Wakeel Law Firm’s success as its Managing Partner. With an illustrious career spanning more than 25 years, Handren’s profound legal acumen has left an indelible mark on Iraq’s legal landscape.

Handren Othman Kalid embarked on his journey to legal excellence by attaining a Bachelor’s degree in Law (LLA) from Salahaddin University in Erbil, solidifying the foundation of his legal expertise. Over the course of his remarkable career, he has emerged as a true authority in the field, with a focus on Corporate Law, Telecommunication Law, as well as Oil and Gas Law.

What truly sets Handren apart is his extensive and diverse experience in navigating the intricacies of Iraqi courts. He has successfully handled a multitude of lawsuits in various courts across the nation, including those in Baghdad, Basrah, Erbil, Sulaimani, Duhok, Kirkuk, Mosul, and even the esteemed Iraqi Federal Supreme Court. His ability to navigate the complexities of these legal systems demonstrates his unparalleled skill in advocating for his clients’ best interests.

Handren’s expertise isn’t confined solely to his legal practice. He has taken it upon himself to foster the growth of future legal professionals. By sharing his insights and knowledge, he has mentored and trained tens of lawyers, leaving an enduring impact on the legal community. His bilingual proficiency in Arabic and Kurdish further underscores his commitment to bridging cultural and linguistic divides, enabling him to effectively communicate with clients from diverse backgrounds and regions.

As a visionary leader, Handren Othman Kalid continues to spearhead Al Wakeel Law Firm’s journey as a pillar of legal excellence. His dedication, extensive experience, and unwavering commitment to the principles of justice have positioned him as a role model and a key figure in the Iraqi legal arena. With a career spanning over a quarter-century, Handren’s legacy is not only a testament to his own achievements, but also an inspiration for aspiring legal minds in Iraq and beyond.

Al Wakeel Law Firm

Handren Othman Kalid

Partner / CEO

Litigation Law Firm of the Year in Nigeria

BA LAW LLP is a firm of legal practitioners established in 1989. Our core expertise covers litigation and commercial practice; meanwhile, our major asset is the ability to form an effective working partnership with clients to achieve their desired corporate and individual results. Currently, the firm has an integrated network of more than 25 legal professionals in Nigeria and the UK.

Our dynamic team is up to date on evolving areas of law, possessing a well-equipped modern library with the resources to meet the requirements of our clients, implementing tailor-made solutions to their every transaction. We are also legal advisers and solicitors to various companies quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

We specialise in litigation/ADR as well as corporate/commercial, and our lawyers have wide expertise in areas such as: oil and gas disputes, cross-border litigation, real estate, recoveries, dispute resolution, criminal law, probate, securing of pre-emptive and protective court orders, family law, employment law, land law, election petitions, banking/finance, debt recovery, insolvency, maritime, taxation and international law.

N0 136, Awolowo Road,

Tel: +234 813 546 4452; +234 8033041974

info@ba-law.org

www.ba-law.org

Our head office is located in Ikoyi, the heart of commercial activities in Lagos. In addition, we have offices in Abuja and Ibadan, as well as a representative office in London to serve our growing international clientele. At BA LAW, we undertake every legal service with an eye for detail, and are solutions-driven to achieve the desired results.

Non-contentious Work

Today, BA LAW serves its clients in myriad ways. We handle non-contentious matters wherein there is no dispute or court proceedings, but for which legal documents must be prepared and advice given, including the sale of real estate and property transactions, tenancy agreements, contracts of employment, wills, trusts, transmission of shares and the administration of estates. We have been lead advisers and joint advisers in relation to mergers, acquisitions and the restructuring of companies – having also carried out substantial work within the defence industry

Contentious Work

We have a wide range of experience dealing with contentious legal work in civil litigation, criminal litigation, commercial litigation, family proceedings, contentious probate, local and international commercial investments, litigation, as well as other contentious matters.

Litigation

Our litigation team provides timely and solutions-driven services in legal disputes and court proceedings where we are involved in disputes that cannot be settled amicably. We realise that success is not just about legal skills, and so our matters are handled with experience, precision, hard work and diligence. We also strive to pay attention to details, and give priority to each client`s peculiar situation. We have been, and remain, involved in cross-border litigation.

Trust Services

At BA LAW, we have a modern and resourceful team that provide services to assist clients in analysing the validity of disputes, trustee actions, beneficiary claims and other connected legal issues.

Selected Case Studies

In Suit No: FHC/L/CS/1730/13 ELS DOORHEIN (as trustee of Emerge Hoofdorp B.V) v ARIK AIR LIMITED & 2 ORS, wherein we represented the plaintiff, we were able to recover a debt already adjudged a bad debt by our clients.

We also successfully deployed the principle of Anti-Suit Injunction in a case between ACORN PETROLEUM PLC. (our client) and MORGAN STANLEY CAPITAL GROUP INC. (MSCGI).

The firm was recently involved in litigation concerning the Oil Subsidy Program on behalf of our client, YANATY PETROCHEMICAL LTD.

We continue to advise other clients with respect to disputes that may arise over recovery of funds. Such clients who instruct us on a regular basis include MOBIL OIL NIG PLC, STERLING BANK PLC and SKYE BANK PLC (now POLARIS BANK LIMITED).

Aside from the above, our firm undertakes significant pro-bono work in the civil and criminal courts, advising – without fee – indigent clients who require legal advice to tackle employment housing and human rights issues. To this end, we are officially affiliated with the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria; meanwhile, our Principal Partner, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde SAN, has served as Chairman of the Legal Aid Council, Nigeria, and was a Member of the Presidential Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy.

Chief

The team of lawyers to take on any instruction will be led by Chief Bolaji Ayorinde SAN, Principal Partner of BA LAW since 1990 and Member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the International Bar Association, the Nigeria-British Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Nigerian Belgian Commercial Centre.

He was appointed Notary Public in 1994 and was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2005. In addition, he is the author of numerous publications, such as “Securing and Enforcing Maritime Claims”, Juriscope 1st Edition – 2001 Series; “Wills and Testamentary Disposition”; “Judicial Precedent, Law Reporting and the Need for Regulation”; as well as “Justice Delivery and Judicial Bias”.

Bolaji Ayorinde SAN

Chief Bolaji Ayorinde SAN, OFR, FCArb. Chairman – Board of Partners

Ikoyi, Lagos State, Nigeria

Technology Law Firm of the Year in Nigeria

Pavestones is a modern law firm established by two female founders, Seun Timi-Koleolu and Aderonke Alex-Adedipe, with a current composition of two partners and ten associates. We are a client-focused and commercially savvy full-service law practice, formed in September 2018. Pavestones was borne out of a desire to meet the legal requirements of today’s businesses, by adopting a modern, cost-effective approach to legal service delivery.

Our key practice areas are Corporate and Commercial, Technology and Innovation, Foreign Investments, Data Protection Compliance Services, and Banking and Finance.

At Pavestones, we ensure that we understand the vision and goals of each of our clients’ businesses so as to provide practical and timely legal services in furtherance of those goals. The founding partners, who have worked in top law firms and multinational organizations, collectively bring to bear their solid experience in providing a broad range of legal services to SMEs and large corporations.

Pavestones actively supports companies in the Technology industry in bringing innovative ideas to life and also in ensuring the continuity and scalability of those ideas. We have broad experience in providing legal advice on market-entry strategies; protecting intellectual property rights; negotiating and preparing technical agreements; advising and negotiating investment options (such as venture capital, angel investments or crowdfunding).

As one of the first licensed Data Protection Compliance Organisations in Nigeria, our services on compliance and data privacy advisory have been retained by several multinational and indigenous companies in Nigeria. We bring additional value to our multinational clients by liaising with a network of data professionals globally to support their compliance needs in other countries. We ensure that we understand the technical nature of each client’s business, and how the solution or innovation is intended to work – in order to provide suitably protective and effective legal services.

This year, Pavestones launched the Pavestones Women in Tech Empowerment Program, an initiative aimed at providing free legal services to 10 female-owned tech businesses yearly. We also provide sponsorship to selected promising indigent Nigerian law school aspirants with an interest in technology and innovation. We look forward to continuing our progression as one of the leading technology law firms globally. A brief profile on each of the founding partners is highlighted below.

Seun Timi-Koleolu

Pavestones Legal

3A Gbenga Ademulegun Lane, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos State Tel: +234-903-089-2112 info@pavestoneslegal.com www.pavestoneslegal.com

Seun Timi-Koleolu is the Managing Partner/Co-Founder of Pavestones Legal. Her practice areas include Technology, Foreign Investments, Data Protection and Corporate Commercial Law.

She has substantial experience in protecting the interests of businesses in various industries and driving the successful completion of major regional and cross-border transactions, including the first major Information Technology Outsourcing Project in Africa.

She has played a pivotal role in structuring, from a legal standpoint, the successful entry into and operation in the Nigerian market by Foreign Direct Investors from various countries, including South Africa, Malta, Hong Kong, Greece and England.

As a result of her passion for technological disruptions that solve key problems, Seun also works with and guides various startups / technology companies in navigating the Nigerian regulatory landscape and successfully operating within the confines of the law. Seun Timi-Koleolu was conferred with the prestigious award of Partner of the Year 2021 at the African Legal Awards.

Aderonke Alex-Adedipe

Aderonke Alex-Adedipe has been in active legal practice for over a decade. She also advises local and foreign investors on the Nigerian business environment regulatory requirements, business formation, corporate structures, investment incentives, immigration, local content requirements and general corporate commercial transactions.

In addition, she has a keen interest advising clients within the technology sector, including agrotech, fintech and e-sports.

She has acted in conjunction with both indigenous and international law firms in advising on several commercial transactions. She currently leads the team advising a tech multinational giant on the Nigerian regulatory terrain and general business environment.

Aderonke was recognised by IFLR 1000, a guide to the world’s leading financial law firms, as a Highly Regarded Lawyer in the Project Finance, Oil and Gas and Real Estate sectors in 2018. She was also recognised by the Esquire Nigerian Legal Awards as one of 40 outstanding lawyers under the age of 40 who have distinguished themselves and are setting new standards in the legal sector.

Seun Timi-Koleolu Managing Partner / Co-Founder

Aderonke Alex-Adedipe Partner / Co-Founder

Boutique Corporate Immigration Law Firm of the Year in South Africa

Nora Dawud, LLM is a qualified German attorney and international immigration lawyer with degrees and qualifications from the University of South Africa, Columbia Business School and IE Law School.

She is the CEO & Founder of Black Pen Immigration, an internationally recognised legal immigration company formed to operate worldwide and bring people closer together.

With its headquarters in Cape Town, Black Pen offers a comprehensive, global solution, combined with local knowledge and expertise.

The firm is diverse, innovative and 100% female-owned. It is held in high regard due to the simplified and transparent immigration solutions it renders for individuals and startups, as well as large corporations, always in the language preference of the client.

Nora specialises in the acquisition of all work visas and residence permits for a prestigious client base comprised of individuals and some of the foremost international companies operating today.

In addition, Nora has featured regularly on leading radio stations in South Africa, such as Heart FM and Good Hope FM, and has also made a prominent appearance on SABC 3’s Expresso Morning Show, which is broadcast live across the country.

To see all of Nora’s appearances in the media, please visit: www.blackpen-immigration.com/press

Main Visa Categories:

● Critical Skills, Intra

● Company Transfer

● General Work

● Corporate Work Visa

● Business and Entrepreneur Visa

● Spousal and Life Partner Visa

● Accompanying Minors

● Extension of Visitors

● Study, Volunteer Visa

● Retired Persons

● Financial Independence Visa

● Permanent Residence

Boutique Dispute Resolution Law Firm of the Year in UAE

Motei & Associates is a boutique law firm formed in 2002 in the UAE.

On a par with the UAE government’s bold, forward-looking vision, the firm prioritises professionalism along with a creative legal approach, flexibility, and most importantly, open-ended and responsive client-attorney communication.

Motei & Associates’ success can be further attributed to its deep understanding of tradition, as well as the unique complexities and challenges faced by living in a country with multiple legal systems. Today, the firm delivers legal solutions and advice to private and corporate clients of either local or international origin, based in Dubai/UAE, or with business interests in the country. Specifically, it assists in diverse legal practice areas, including business setup, commercial transactions, construction, corporate restructurings, dispute resolution, employment, personal and family affairs, as well as real estate – also offering advice in native Arabic.

Ashraf El Motei is the Founder of Motei & Associates and also leads the dispute resolution practice. He advises clients on complex civil, commercial and corporate litigation, such as contract disputes, joint ventures, shareholder disputes, business crime, construction, professional negligence, agency and employment disputes. Mr El Motei has over two decades’ recognised expertise in real estate disputes and has represented buyers in wide-ranging cases, encompassing sale and purchase disputes, delayed handovers, discrepancy in saleable areas, project cancellations, as well as landlord and tenant disputes.

He also has a high level of expertise in international arbitration, representing clients in a broad range of arbitrations under the rules of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFCLCIA) and the Dubai International Arbitration Centre.

Mr El Motei noted: “Typically, our clients range from an individual who runs a growing private business, the UAE branch of a multinational company, an established entrepreneur or an investor wishing to invest in the UAE. Our cases include a landmark decision wherein Motei & Associates was instructed to represent a 12-year-old child – the claimant – against a car racing organiser (the defendant) in Dubai, in relation to personal injuries caused by the defendant’s negligence. In reaching its final decision, the Dubai Court decided that the defendant was at fault as a result of its negligence to maintain a go-cart, thus causing injury to the child, and must therefore be subject to compensation. The Court found that the waiver of a liability document was void, and would not be taken into consideration, ordering the defendant to pay the father – in his capacity as the child’s guardian – a sum of AED200,000. It became clear in this case that the courts will hold companies liable for any damage and injury due to their negligence, as well as strict liability for the products/services they make available for consumers, and that merely because the parties sign a waiver of liability, this does not mean that these companies will not be held liable.”

Mr El Motei went on to explain how the UAE is a unique example of how multiple legal systems – French/Egyptian law, Sharia law and English law – can, in fact, be effectively practised within the same geographical boundaries of a country. He noted: “After spending five years observing the legal industry in the UAE, I recognised the dire demand for ‘blended’ law firms, meaning a small law firm that combines on-the-ground, French/Egyptian law system experience with international-standard quality services. With that in mind, I decided to establish Motei & Associates in 2002.”

Motei & Associates continues to utilise this “blended” approach to this day. Moreover, it is able to meet its clients’ increasingly international requirements through its network of law firms, which operates in most jurisdictions around the world. Its professional partnership with these carefully curated firms arose from relationships that the firm has nurtured during its two decades of practice in the UAE.

Looking to the future, Mr El Motei added: “I am fully aware that digital transformation is revolutionising every industry and creating growth for those who embrace the use of such technologies; yet, at the same time, this can turn into a roadblock for who are hesitant to adopt it. I am a firm believer that innovation goes beyond what we might attribute at first glance to efficiency or a cost-optimising element. Rather, I see innovative technologies as an opportunity to fundamentally transform our industry – by identifying what slows us down and consumes valuable time and money in finding solutions to cases.

“For example, sourcing information on laws and court decisions, or perhaps collecting facts/ data during a trial pre-discovery phase, is time consuming for a lawyer and will certainly have a negative impact on performance and efficiency. To this end, the purpose of adopting Big Data and AI is to address such challenges and transform them into opportunities. This allows us lawyers, who truly enjoy the art of law, to have a more proactive knowledge-sharing tool – and actually focus on practising law in alignment with a client’s bespoke requirements.”

Insurance & Reinsurance Law Firm of the Year in UAE

BSA is a regional law firm in the Middle East with nine offices across five countries. Our diverse team of 150 lawyers are from 35 different cultural backgrounds and can speak 22 languages.

We are market leaders in new and evolving sectors, partnering with our clients towards a sustainable, progressive future. More than just a law firm, we pride ourselves on being connective: sparking collaboration, creating synergy and driving change.

Established for 20 years, we are expanding organically, nourishing our talent and investing in our people.

What Makes Us Different?

Our client care: we are trusted counsellors who provide flexibility, strength of expertise, dynamic fee structures and a focus on personal relationships. Our clients appreciate that they will receive clear advice with strategic recommendations, including any potential risks, directly contributing to the success of their latest challenge.

We apply this ethos to everything we do. From working with grassroot startups to multinational corporations, from pro bono legal clinics to our employee programmes – we understand the importance of a holistic approach.

Simon Isgar

Simon has 20 years of experience representing international insurers and intermediaries throughout insurance markets globally. Previously the Head of Corporate & Regulatory Insurance, MENA, at Kennedys, Simon joined BSA as Partner and Head of Insurance/Reinsurance in 2018, where he undertakes both contentious and non-contentious insurance/reinsurance work. His specialist, niche areas of practice involve international private medical insurance and international health regulations. Simon also leads the firm’s Middle East Cyber Response Team, working with Munich Re and several cedent insurers. He is frequently instructed by leading law firms in the UK and Europe as regional counsel, and was recently involved in the negotiations and settlement of an $85 million USD claim.

Simon is a barrister, called to the Bar (England & Wales) in 1998. His professional memberships include DIFC Insurance Association, British Insurance Lawyers Association (BILA) and the International Bar Association.

He noted: “With large insurance/reinsurance teams in the Middle East, we have advised regulators and national governments on legislative developments for the insurance sector, and assist legislative bodies in drafting insurance laws. We have also been involved in some of the region’s largest and most groundbreaking deals. Our clients have ranged from local cedent insurers to multinational insurers/reinsurers, MGAs and brokers, for whom we have advised across the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq as well as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I am also often instructed as regional counsel by several UK leading law firms specialising in (re)insurance law.

“Today, we act for reinsurers and insurers in all aspects of disputes, including local court litigation – through our local litigation teams with full rights of audience – mediation, arbitration, DIFC courts and legal support with various claims committees under regulatory bodies, such as the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority, the UAE Federal Insurance Authority as well as other regulators. We provide coverage advice on complex issues for reinsurers and legal support in the local courts and arbitration. In addition, we provide cyber-defence legal support in the local Middle East courts with a unique team of experts, including criminal and civil lawyers, which also forms part of a cyber-response team with Munich Re.”

BSA is currently acting for reinsurers in respect of a large loss fire claim to the value of USD $100,000,000 million – providing regional insurance/reinsurance expertise in terms of mitigating risk to reinsurers and negotiating/drafting settlement terms in Saudi.

Meanwhile, BSA is instructed from London counsel in respect of a complex legal dispute related to the application of several governing laws and jurisdictions regarding insurance claims funds. The team is acting for the overseas reinsurer in respect of a dispute with a local cedent, which has involved a complex analysis of the multiple documents, witness evidence, without prejudice negotiations and meetings. The firm has provided representation for the client with the aim to settle what might be a very long and expensive legal dispute.

BSA also represents a global reinsurer in mediation (engaged as retrocessionaire) related to a large loss fire claim of a Dubai-based building arising from a Property All Risks coverage. In this instance, BSA has provided UAE law coverage advice and UAE litigation advice – as well as advising London counsel with various negotiations in respect of disputed coverage points with the reinsurer and cedent.

Mergers & Acquisitions Expert of the Year in UAE

Stuart James is a Partner in Ashurst’s Abu Dhabi office. He specialises in major cross-border and domestic transactions in the energy, resources and infrastructure sectors, including mergers and acquisitions, strategic investments, joint ventures and commodity sales and marketing arrangements, in addition to general corporate and commercial matters.

Stuart has extensive experience advising multinational corporates and state-owned enterprises on their strategic transactions around the world, particularly in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions. He has significant international and in-house experience, having previously practised as a corporate/M&A lawyer in London, Sydney and Perth, and having worked on a secondment basis with Mitsui, BHP, Woodside and Bank of America.

Recent Experience

Stuart’s recent work includes advising:

● ADNOC on the sale of a 49% interest in ADNOC Gas Pipelines (a new subsidiary holding interests in gas pipeline assets valued at US$20.7 billion) to a consortium of investors comprising Global Infrastructure Partners, Brookfield Asset Management, Singaporean sovereign wealth fund GIC, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board, NH Investment & Securities and Snam. PFI Awards – Middle East Infrastructure Deal of the Year, 2020;

● ADNOC on the sale of a 10.2% indirect interest in ADNOC Gas Pipeline Assets LLC (a company holding interests in gas pipelines assets valued at US$20.7 billion) to the Abu Dhabi Pension Fund and ADQ for US$2.11 billion;

● ADNOC on the sale of a 49% interest in Abu Dhabi Property Leasing Holding Company (a new subsidiary holding select real estate assets valued at US$5.5 billion) to accounts and entities owned and/or advised by Apollo Global Management Inc;

● ADNOC on the sale of a 15.3% indirect interest in Abu Dhabi Property Leasing Holding Company RSC Ltd (a company holding select real estate assets valued at US$5.5 billion) to the Abu Dhabi Pension Fund for US$900 million;

● Abu Dhabi Catalyst Partners on its seed capital investment in Alphastream Limited, a newly incorporated ADGM entity conducting a mining streaming and royalties business;

● LG International Corporation in relation to the divestment of a 20% equity interest in upstream oil and gas assets in Chile and Colombia to GeoPark Limited;

● Woodside in relation to the US$2.75 billion acquisition of interests in the Wheatstone LNG project and Kitimat LNG project from Apache Energy.

Ashurst – A Leading Global Law Firm

Ashurst is a leading global law firm with world-class capability and a prestigious global client base. The firm’s in-depth understanding of its clients, and commitment to providing exceptional standards of service, has seen it become a trusted adviser to local and global corporates, financial institutions and governments on all areas of commercial law around the world.

Ashurst has 29 offices in 17 countries and a number of referral relationships that enable it to offer the reach and insight of a global network. With more than 400 partners and a further 1,600 lawyers working across 11 different time zones, the firm is able to respond to clients wherever and whenever required.

Across the globe, Ashurst’s clients can access deep local knowledge and on-the-ground support wherever they do business, from people they know and trust.

Ashurst in the Middle East

Ashurst has been working on deals involving the Middle East for more than 100 years. Across the firm, they have a team of more than 90 experienced lawyers, who have worked extensively on regional deals and offer a wealth of practical advice to clients in a wide range of business sectors.

Ashurst’s Middle East business operates out of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Riyadh and Jeddah (in association with Faisal Adnan Baassiri Law Firm). From these offices, they resource and coordinate deals across the MENA region, including all of the GCC countries.

The focus of Ashurst’s Middle East business is on the energy, resources, infrastructure, transport and industrial sectors. They serve these industries across a wide range of core legal practice areas, including corporate, commercial, banking and finance, projects, regulatory and dispute resolution.

Ashurst’s UAE Corporate Practice

Ashurst has one of the leading on-ground corporate teams in the UAE, covering M&A, private equity, venture capital, joint ventures, commercial contracts, restructuring, corporate governance, corporate establishment, as well as general corporate and commercial advice. They are trusted advisers to global and local private and public companies, executing the most complex, highprofile and groundbreaking transactions in the region.

From their UAE offices, they act on a range of deals across the full M&A spectrum – from multibillion-dollar deals relating to infrastructure assets of national significance, to seed capital investments in startups. They pride themselves on their deal execution, commerciality and risk management skills in all aspects of public and private M&A.

The Ashurst UAE corporate team recently won Corporate Team of the Year at the ALM Middle East Legal Awards in recognition of their key roles in recent industry-leading transactions.

Trademark Lawyer of the Year in UAE

Our trademark lawyers work with some of the world’s biggest brands. We also work with smaller, more regional clients. Our team can assist with every aspect of trademark law, from providing search and watch services to filing, resolving infringement matters and protecting and enforcing your marks wherever you operate.

The team’s ability to “think regional, act local” allows us to align the advice we provide in one jurisdiction with your regional or global strategy. If a mark faces the same issue in multiple countries, we’ll develop a bank of evidence that we can use across the region to save you time and cost.

When our clients create a new brand or copyright work, CWB helps them to protect and enforce their rights in the region.

We can help you during the creation phase by:

● Advising on Arabic translations and/or transliterations of your trademarks;

● Assisting you to navigate any moral or culturally sensitive considerations in our region;

● Helping you to select a brand by conducting pre-filing searches to ensure a mark is free to use before it is launched.

Our trademark specialists draw on decades of experience to protect our clients’ trademarks across the region.

We devise bespoke regional filing and prosecution strategies – whether it be words, logos, or non-traditional marks. We take a coordinated approach throughout the region, to ensure that any multi-jurisdictional hurdles are taken care of in the most cost-efficient way possible.

We handle examination objections and trademark oppositions before the Trade Marks office throughout the region, and consistently achieve high rates of registrations for our clients.

Our team advises clients on the most strategic way to enforce their rights against third-party infringers in the region. We handle all manner of contentious trademark matters for our clients, including infringement disputes, cancellation actions, domain name disputes, as well as licensing and franchising disputes. For the most egregious cases that warrant further escalation or that result in a substantial damages award, we work closely with litigators to support our clients in civil litigation cases.

Moreover, for administrative and/or criminal cases involving counterfeit goods – either online, at the border or in the market – our team works hand-in-hand with our anti-counterfeiting team to enforce our clients’ rights.

Theuns van de Merwe

Theuns was admitted as an attorney in South Africa in 2009; he then qualified as a Trade Mark Attorney through the South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law, and later became a Fellow member. Theuns joined CWB in 2012.

From 2012, Theuns managed CWB’s Qatar office, which received recognition as IP law firm of the year. He regularly engaged with small, medium and large enterprises in IP training, and was appointed to the external panel of advisors of the Qatar Development Bank. In 2017, Theuns was promoted to Partner and relocated to CWB’s Dubai Office.

For more than a decade, Theuns has served as counsel for some of the largest businesses in the world. He manages portfolios for major, international businesses and advises on IP licensing, strategy, risk assessment, clearance, prosecution, litigation, marketing and alternative dispute resolution work.

Theuns specialises in a wide range of industry sectors, including entertainment, consumer goods, cosmetics, clothing and apparel, technology, hospitality, real estate, tourism, food and beverage, manufacturing and construction.

Experience

● Nominated as co-preferred counsel for the largest hospitality group in the world, and managing their MENA trademark portfolio, trademark clearance, strategy, enforcement, licensing, branding and marketing and dispute resolution undertakings in the region.

● Assisting a US law firm, with the Global Trade Mark Report Card, submitted to the Office of the US Trade Representative, the US Patent and Trade Mark Office and other agencies of the US government. The contribution covered 22 countries and centered on well-known trademarks, landlord liability for trademark infringement, statutory damage claims and border measures against counterfeits.

● Advising one of the world’s largest insurance providers on trademark infringement matters in the United Arab Emirates, including on potential civil injunctive proceedings as well as criminal and administrative complaints before local authorities.

● Providing ongoing assistance to the world’s leading electronics company on contentious and non-contentious trademark matters in the MENA region – including on trademark prosecution, opposition, litigation and marketing clearance work.

Cedar White Bradley (CWB)

van de Merwe Partner

Corporate Lawyer of the Year in Angola

Dentons LEAD Advogados

Djamila Pinto de Andrade

Managing Partner

Avenida de Portugal 31-35 Edifício Dália

Plaza, 2nd floor, right side, Luanda

Tel: +244 944 873 242

djamila.pintodeandrade@dentons.com

www.dentonslead.com

Banking & Finance Lawyer of the Year in Cameroon

Chazai & Partners

Aurélie Chazai Managing Partner

149, Bld. de la République, Immeuble DHL/ SUNU Assurances (à côté Hôtel SOMATEL), 4ème étage, Bali PO Box 4937 Douala

Tel: +237 233 432 617

achazai@chazai-partners.com

www.chazai-partners.com

Energy Lawyer of the Year in Egypt

Mazghouny & Co

Donia El-Mazghouny

Managing Partner

15 Abou El-Feda Street, Zamalek, Floor 5, Unit 18, 11211 Cairo

Tel: (+202) 2735 2678 / 2735 2682

d.elmazghouny@mazghouny.com

www.mazghouny.com

Competition & Antitrust Lawyer of the Year in Israel

Tadmor Levy & Co.

Shai Bakal Head of Competition/Antitrust

5 Azrieli Center, The Square Tower, 33rd–34th floors, 132 Begin Road, Tel Aviv

Tel: +972-3-6846010

shai@tadmor-levy.com

www.tadmor.com

Shipping & Maritime Law Firm of the Year in Israel

Harris & Co. Maritime Law Office

Adv. Yoav Harris Managing Partner & Leading Litigator

Shipping and Maritime Law | International Law | Commercial Litigation | Arbitration

16 Pal-Yam St., “Beit Shaarei Mishpat” Bldg.

5th floor, Haifa 3309523

Tel: +972.(0)4.845.4040

office@maritime-law.co.il

yoavh@maritime-law.co.il www.lawships.com/en

BLK Partners

Ziad El-Khoury

Chief Executive Officer

8418 King AbdulAziz Rd, 4272 Al Yasmeen Dist. 13325,

P.O. Box: 66144, Riyadh 11576, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Tel: +966 56 993 3337

ziad.elkhoury@blkpartners.com

www.blkpartners.com

Competition Litigation Lawyer of the Year in South Africa

Fairbridges Wertheim Becker

Lucinda Verster Director

2 Pybus Road, Sandton

Tel: +27 (0)11 268 0250

Mob: +27 (0)83 345 6448

lucinda.v@fwblaw.co.za

www.fwblaw.co.za

Corporate Legal Consultancy Firm of the Year in UAE

Ambition Legal Consultancy

Elsie Habib, LLM – US

Founder / “IMI” Qualified Mediator

RAKEZ Business Parks, United Arab Emirates

Tel: +971 50 7129334

elsieh@ambitionlc.com

www.ambitionlc.com

M&A Lawyer of the Year in UAE

White & Case LLP

Marcus Booth Private Equity Partner

Dubai

Tel: +971 4 381 6291

mbooth@whitecase.com

www.whitecase.com

Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year in Zimbabwe

BMatanga IP Attorneys

Brenda Matanga Head of Practice

15 Downie Avenue, Belgravia, Harare, Zimbabwe

Tel: +263 772 808 403

brenda@bmatanga.com

www.bmatanga.com