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WORLDWIDE FINANCIAL ADVISOR AWARDS MAGAZINE
ANNUAL ADVISERS OF THE YEAR 2015
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Worldwide Financial Advisor Awards Magazine Annual Awards 2015 Worldwide Financial Advisor Awards Magazine is recognised all over the world for our comprehensive awards programs we run, taking votes from countries all over the world to recognise the most prestigious professionals in their specialised areas of practice. The Annual Awards 2015 recognises a select number of leading professional firms around the world working both nationally and internationally in their field of expertise. Worldwide Financial Advisor Awards selects the best professional & financial institutions from around the world and showcases there work ethic and skills within their area of expertise. The Awards Magazine is aimed at not just the large corporations but the smaller companies of the advisory business sector. Worldwide Financial Advisor Awards is currently being read by Lawyers, Advisers, Consultants and corporate executives. We aim to showcase every company individually and to its full potential.
Worldwide Financial Advisor Awards Magazine Annual Awards 2015
A&M Bacon Cost Consultancy Law Firm of the Year – UK Afschrift Tax Law Firm of the Year – Switzerland Akugur Law Firm Real Estate Law Firm of the Year – Turkey Basilio Advogados Commercial Litigation Advisor of the Year BDO South Africa Advisory Services (Pty) Ltd Best Tax Law Firm of the Year – South Africa Deep & Far Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year – Taiwan Demotech, Inc Financial Analysis Firm of the Year – USA Ehrlich & Fenster Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year – Israel Estudio Grispo & Asociados Corporate & Insolvency Law Firm of the Year – Argentina
F Chambers Employment Disputes Law Firm of the Year – Turks & Caicos Intercorp Group Taxation Law Advisers of the Year Natividad Abogados S.C. Labour Law Firm of the Year – Mexico Pang & Co Mergers & Acquisitions Law Firm of the Year – Hong Kong PatentAxis Inc Best Patent Services Firm – Canada Rustem Gurdian Business Crime Law Firm of the Year - UK Sadis & Goldberg Law Firm of the Year – USA Transfer Pricing Romanian Transfer Pricing Advisory Firm of the Year
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Best Patent Services Firm Canada PatentAxis Inc. is a Canadian patent services firm located in Toronto, specializing in patent filing and prosecution. For local clients, patent portfolios and international filing strategies are managed and executed. International clients are represented for Canadian patent prosecution to achieve grant of a Canadian patent. A high premium is placed on client relationships. Whether the client is a local start-up or a large international law firm, PatentAxis Inc. is committed to clear communication, transparent billing and steadfast pursuit of patent protection. Accessibility and prompt and clear responses to clients wishing to discuss strategy or query a patent practice is a cornerstone of PatentAxis Inc.’s service model. Client initiated discussion and questions are encouraged by a policy of not charging for short telephone calls. Every attempt is made to have calls directed to and answered by a relevant patent professional during business hours. Open communication channels provide clients with opportunities to make informed decisions when considering multiple parallel options that can arise during filing and prosecution and ultimately obtain patents that are better correlated with client goals. Billing models can be either based on hourly rates or fixed fees. Historically, a majority of clients provided with both options have chosen fixed fees. Responding to client demand a fixed fee structure has been developed for full Canadian prosecution from filing to grant. PatentAxis Inc. is dedicated to explicit and plain billing, so that invoices are aligned with expectations. A founding principle of PatentAxis Inc. is to treat every client as a premium client, with an emphasis on client communications and client satisfaction. Regardless of the size of the client a concerted effort is made to provide clear and practical advice at each decision point, and whenever relevant set out options with benefits and risks of each option. Comments from Jai Chatterjee, a Director of PatentAxis Inc.: Culturally, one of the more important aspects that permeate the PatentAxis business approach is that client satisfaction trumps billable hours. For example, if a client calls to discuss strategy and the call is less than 30 minutes the client isn’t charged. Personally, I look at every call as an opportunity to reconnect with a client and so I’m quite happy to have a thorough discussion without starting the clock. A related cultural characteristic is an emphasis on getting any inquiry to be answered by a patent professional. I think when one calls during business hours the primary preference is to have the inquiry answered immediately. That’s what PatentAxis tries to do – get a professional on the call immediately, and if not have a professional return the call within a couple of hours. I think the
PatentAxis culture fosters a forthright and open interaction with clients, improves client understanding of the patent process and ultimately improves the work product. PatentAxis Inc. provides core services of searching, filing, analysing and prosecuting patent applications. A distinguishing feature of the PatentAxis approach is to overlay each service client interaction with practical advice that marries patent strategy to business goals and commercialization plans. The firm also benefits clients by assessing and explaining multiple strategies is crucial. PatentAxis tries to propose a patent strategy that is best suited for each client file and avoids a template driven prejudiced approach. The patenting process is complex and nuanced, and frequently a step in the process may have multiple options. The ability to explain multiple available options in the context of client goals provides added value to client service. It is a distinct honour to be recognized within the 2015 Annual Awards presented by the Worldwide Financial Advisor Awards Magazine. I expect that this recognition will inspire even greater efforts to provide clients with a competitive advantage that comes from successful patent prosecution and analysis. These awards are useful indicators of being on the right track, and provide a validation from existing clients without having to impose on these same clients with requests to answer surveys or submit testimonials. PatentAxis Inc., is thrilled to celebrate this award as a reflection of a roster of trusted client relationships and sends heartfelt thanks to those who took time out of their schedules to cast favourable votes and make this win possible.
CONTACT DETAILS Company: PatentAxis Inc. Name: Jai Chatterjee Email: mail@patentaxis.com Web Address: www.patentaxis.com Address: 10 King Street East, suite 500, Toronto, Ontario, M5C 1C3 Canada Telephone: +1-416-556-2999
Devoted to client success www.patentaxis.com
Employment Disputes Law Firm of the Year – Turks & Caicos Mark Anthony Fulford is a Managing Partner at F Chambers Attorneys based in Providenciales. He is an organizer and communicator with extensive experience in public administration and policy making, public relations, banking, sales and marketing. His expertise lies in Inward Investment, Corporate Structuring, Development, Immigration, Employment and Real Estate. He is an outstanding graduate of the University of Buckingham Law School where he was the first Turks and Caicos Islander to receive the coveted Merit Prize Award. At Buckingham University he served as President of the Law Society a position that ushered him into the company of distinguished leaders including His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent. Prior to returning to the TCI where he is now the Managing Partner of F Chambers, he gained work experience in an array of practice areas with reputable law firms in London, and in Bermuda. Fulford has successfully conducted numerous cases in the Magistrate Court, Labour Tribunal, Supreme Court and Court of Appeal in the Turks and Caicos Islands. He serves as the President of the Legislative Committee of the TCI Bar Association. He is a founding member and Chairman of the Advocates Legal Group, which is the largest group of Legal Aid lawyers that undertake litigation for the indigent. He is a member of the International Bar Association and sits on the Law Firm Management committee. Fulford has served as Special Assistant to the first Premier of the TCI and as an Advisor to the second Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands. He regularly provides his opinion on specially commissioned work to the current Premier. Contact Details Unit 007 Emily House, 1105 Leeward Highway, P.O. Box 666 Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands
Email: info@fchamberslaw.com Telephone: +1 649 339 6275 Fax: + 1 649 941 7777
Tax Law Firm of the Year – Switzerland AFSCHRIFT is a multi-awarded 24 lawyer’s boutique law firm established in Brussels, Antwerp, Geneva, Fribourg, Luxembourg, Madrid, Tel Aviv and Hong Kong. The firm provides personalized consultancy services on the fields of direct and indirect taxation, especially (international) tax optimization and (corporate, estate and real estate) planning, while defending taxpayers in tax and white collar crime cases before the courts; it has participated in the major tax trials of the past 20 years. The firm’s clientele includes individuals, industrial and commercial companies, Luxembourgian, Swiss and Belgian banks, as well as companies established out of Belgium. Due to the partners’ expertise on European tax law, as well as their specific knowledge of Swiss, Belgian, Luxembourgian, Spanish and Israeli tax law, AFSCHRIFT’s lawyers are in position to help companies to achieve the best optimization of their tax situation and individuals to optimize the planning of their estate. Managing partner and founder Thierry Afschrift, professor to the Free University of Brussels, deputy judge to the Court of appeal and referred as “Best Tax Lawyer-Belgium 2009” (World Finance Magazine), he is a member of the Brussels, Antwerp while he is admitted to the Geneva, Madrid, Fribourg and Hong Kong bars. Companies and individuals have to face the three principal problems in Belgium: over-regulation (but not always of optimal quality), constant increase of the State’s powers and, also constant, increase of taxes. In this frame, Afschrift’s role is to help its clients to prepare, efficiently and legally, future operations… and/or to mend existing ones. That means that the crisis did not really touched the firm, except on the field of consultancy on commercial operations, as business have been slowed down by the crisis. No special measures have been taken, nor have changes of the firm’s policy been made. AFSCHRIFT’s lawyers still work in the same manner, trying to always achieve the best results for their clients.
From a business point of view, our goal is to reinforce our position in the Benelux and Switzerland and Luxembourg, where the lawmakers prove themselves of a great creativity on the tax field. The firm will also probably spread its activities in Asia, as the situation in Europe risks to worsen, given the increase of sovereign debts, and the austerity policy followed by the most of the European countries, which will probably result in an new increase of taxes, while the business and labor markets will, in the best of the scenarios, only stabilize. This recession, which will probably touch also the Scandinavian countries, as well as the stagnation of the economic growth, will force a number of European companies to extend their activities in other, more distant, markets.
Contact Details Avenue Louise, 208 1050 BRUSSELS BELGIUM T +32 2 646 46 36 F +32 2 644 38 00
Financial Analysis Firm of the Year – USA Demotech, Inc. is a financial analysis firm located in Columbus, Ohio. Since 1985, Demotech, Inc. has been serving the insurance industry by providing actuarial consulting as well as accurate and proven Financial Stability Ratings® (FSRs) for Property & Casualty insurance companies and Title underwriters. FSRs are a leading indicator of the financial stability of an insurer. In 1989 Demotech became the first insurer rating services in the United States to review and rate independent, regional and specialty insurers. Equally important, Demotech did so based upon the Company’s execution of its business model and not its size. The rating process provides an objective baseline as well as insight as to the financial stability of an insurer. Demotech levels the playing field by offering FSRs to insurers of all sizes. Demotech reviews and rates more than 420 carriers domiciled in the United States. Their clients include larger, publicly traded carriers as well as regional insurance companies, title underwriters, risk retention groups and specialty insurance markets such as public entity pools. Financial Stability Ratings® of A or better are accepted by the secondary mortgage marketplace, virtually all mortgage lenders and an increasing number of umbrella insurance markets, insurance agents errors and omissions insurance carriers, reinsurance carriers and other informed third parties. Demotech distinguishes itself from other rating services in many ways. Four distinguishing characteristics are the industry experience of its analysts, the long tenure of its analysts, Demotech’s focus on an insurer’s business model rather than its size, and the transparency of its analysis process. In total, Demotech’s four primary analysts average more than 30 years of progressively responsible insurance experience. Furthermore, the same four primary analysts average more than twenty years of tenure with Demotech. As a result, carriers that contact Demotech can be assured of comparable treatment, institutional memory and consistent outcomes due to the professionalism and tenure of the Demotech staff. Similarly, the transparency of their process is evidenced by quantifiable financial analysis demarcating differences in rating assignments as opposed to the use of subjective criteria. Joseph Petrelli, an actuary with forty years of insurance and financial analysis experience, is the President and Founder of Demotech, Inc. Prior to forming Demotech, Mr. Petrelli was employed by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, Country Way Insurance and ISO. He is a member in good standing of the Casualty Actuarial Society, American Academy of Actuaries, the Conference of Consulting Actuaries and the Society of Actuaries. Mr. Petrelli graduated from The College of Insurance and has an MBA from The Ohio State University. Sharon Romano Petrelli, Co-Founder and Vice President of Demotech, has earned the designations of CPCU, AIAF, CCP and ARC. She has served on the board of an insurer as well as the Board of Governors of the CPCU Society. She has thirty years of insurance experience. Barry J. Koestler, II, Chief Ratings Officer, is a Chartered Financial Analyst and has more than twenty years of insurance and financial analysis experience including rate filings, loss and loss adjustment expense reserving and financial analysis. He has coordinated development and monitoring of FSRs since 1996. Robert M. Warren, CPCU, CPA, Client Services Manager, has served as the chief financial officer of several insurers. His forty years of experience includes more than ten years with Demotech.
Although other rating agencies seem fascinated by the size of an insurer and its diversification, neither size nor diversification has kept larger insurers out of rehabilitation or liquidation. In fact, some of the largest insolvencies in the history of insurance were substantial publicly traded carriers that touted their diversification. As such, Demotech focuses on a carrier’s business model and its execution of that model. In 2007 Demotech introduced its Company Classification System to initiate dialogue on business models as opposed to our competitors’ fascination with size. Although Demotech’s clients currently operate in an environment dominated by low interest rates and the pressure of same on earnings, many of its insurer clients benefit from alternatives to insurance or reinsurance. Additional coverages, such as cyber liability, data breach, and gap coverages associated with addressing the need to supplement personal automobile insurance policies for commercial use associated with transportation network companies focused Demotech’s experienced, professional insurance company analysts on a collaborative role with clients. Demotech’s analysts are well versed in the traditional aspects of insurance and reinsurance. Concurrently, as educated professionals they are comfortable with the development or analysis of creative strategies and products to address emerging consumer needs. Demotech’s experienced and credentialed analysts often provided clients with peer review and independent feedback on several aspects of the client’s current and future operations. In addition to Demotech’s efforts reviewing and rating insurance carriers, three of its new clients during 2015 were the State of Ohio Office of Risk Management, the City of Columbus and State of Iowa Title Guaranty Division. When these public entities needed experienced, credentialed actuaries to assist them with the pricing and evaluation of their casualty insurance exposure and title guaranty exposure, respectively, Demotech’s actuaries were the first choice. Recent acknowledgements of Demotech’s insurer rating capabilities include HUD’s re-affirmation of Demotech’s acceptance in its Section 232 Handbook and expanding Demotech’s acceptance to its Section 241(a) program, the Fannie Mae Multifamily acceptance of risk retention groups and captive insurers rated A or better by Demotech, Demotech’s nomination for Intelligent Insurer’s Global Award – Best Rating Agency (2014 and 2015) and securing the ACQ5 award for US – Niche Financial Analysis Provider – Insurance, two consecutive years, 2014 and 2015. In addition, Demotech was nominated for the Rating Agency of the Year at the fall 2015 Reactions North America Gala. Demotech’s founders also were honored with the Florida Association for Insurance Reform’s Founder’s Award at its 2015 annual meeting. More recently Demotech secured the Financial Monthly – M&A Awards 2015 – Financial Analysis Firm of the Year – USA and the Corporate Vision – Corporate Excellence Award 2015 – Best Evaluator of US Regional and Specialty Insurers & Sustained Excellence in Insurer Financial Analysis. Demotech recently celebrated its 30th anniversary and looks forward to continuing to level the playing field for all insurers. Contact Details: Joseph Petrelli Demotech, Inc. 2715 Tuller Parkway Dublin, Ohio 43017-2310 Main: (800) 354-7207 Direct: (614) 526-2160 FAX: (614) 526-2161 JPetrelli@demotech.com www.demotech.com
DRAGONFLY: 300 MILLION YEARS OLD
T-REX: EXTINCT
Nature knows size and survival are independent. Demotech, Inc. has proven that to the insurance industry.
Regional and Specialty insurers are often mistakenly thought of as financially unstable due to their size.
Financial Stability Ratings® offer the following benefits:
Financial Stability Ratings® look beyond the size of an insurer and evaluate solvency using a quantitative model based on insurance fundamentals.
• Acceptance by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and HUD
Innovative thinking, strategic analysis, commitment, insight and on-going involvement with the insurance industry allow us to provide solutions as unique as your company.
• Eliminate Reinsurance Cut-Throughs • Access to Stand-Alone Umbrella Insurance • Premium Financing Available • Errors and Omissions Insolvency Gap Coverage Available • Much more!
Contact us today to learn how Demotech and Financial Stability Ratings® can help insurers level the playing field. Call 800-354-7207 or visit www.Demotech.com/FSRBenefits
®
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR ISRAEL Ehrlich & Fenster is a leading Israel based Patent and Trademark Attorneys Firm, offering premiere expertise in all matters concerning the protection and prosecution of Intellectual Property. The synergism between highly personalized service and unrivalled expertise in all technological fields has made Ehrlich & Fenster the most reputable IP firm in Israel. The Firm provides Patent, Design, Trademark, Litigation Support and Breeder’s Rights services to Corporations, Institutions, Governmental Institutes, Universities and Individual clients around the world. The firm and its team are renowned for excellence in both the local and international professional arena. Extensive professional knowledge and experience, along with scientific insight enables Ehrlich & Fenster to offer an optimal Intellectual Property strategy, and assisting in managing the intellectual property portfolio, for clients in light of the client’s business strategy, be it in licensing, investment, financing and multi-billion buyout exits and deals. The technical depth of the firm and the industrial and academic experience of the key patent attorneys enables our attorneys to get to the heart of the technical and business aspects of the client’s R&D and product line so that it can provide the protection that the client needs and to which the client is entitled. Key clients include all the major universities and medical and research institutes in Israel such as Ramot at Tel-Aviv University Ltd.; Yeda Research and Development Co. Ltd. at the Weizmann Institute of Science; Yissum Research Development Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Ltd.; Technion Research & Development Foundation Ltd.; Ben Gurion University of the Negev Research and Development Authority. The firm has filed patent applications for several Nobel and Wolf Prize laureates as well. Private and public companies for which the firm have performed substantial Intellectual Property work in the recent year include, inter alia, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.; IBM Corporation; Stratasys; Protalix Ltd.; Cheetah Medical; Ceragon Networks Ltd.; Biosensors International Group, Ltd.; Elminda Ltd.; Mobli Media Inc; Nintendo Co Ltd; Plasson Ltd; Playtech Software Ltd; Real Madrid Club de Futbol; Kaiima Ltd. and Cyber-Ark Software Ltd. Main Areas of Practice: Biotech: The department specializes in IP matters in fields such as nucleic acids, peptides, proteins, diagnostics, cell therapy, embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells, protein production, nucleic acid production, modulation of biochemical pathways, immunoreactive and immunomodulating molecules and cells, and their use in the treatment and/ or diagnostics of cancer, cognitive disorders, diabetes, inflammatory
disorders and genetic disorders, genetically modified organisms and their uses in, e.g., agriculture, plant breeding, hybrid seed technology and nutrition to list a few. Contact: DR Hadassa Waterman, Patent Attorney Email: hadassa@ipatent.co.il Pharma/Chemistry: The department specializes in IP matters in fields such as pharmacology, chemistry, nanotechnology, material science, energy conversion, cleantech, agrochemistry, cosmetics, nutrition, etc. Contact: DR Revital Green, Patent Attorney Email: revital@ipatent.co.il Physics: The department specializes in IP matters in fields such as energy conversion, radiotherapy devices, optical waveguides, micro- and nanotechnology, medical signal analyses, medical devices, mechanical devices, solid state devices and many types of imaging technologies. The department also specializes in protecting of non-tangible inventions such as inventions related to data analysis and image processing. Contact: DR Eran Naftali, Patent Attorney Email: eran@ipatent.co.il Hi-Tech: The department specializes in IP matters in fields such as communications engineering and signal processing, imaging technology, image processing, digital printing technologies, digital electronics, electronic design and simulation technology, semiconductor technology, measurement and sensing, including laser sensing, and ultrasound technologies and touch and smell-based sensing, applications of numerical analysis and algorithms including cryptography and steganography, data security and digital rights management, also Data Storage Technologies and Systems and Data Migration, Network Technologies and Network Management Technologies, including Network Security, and Robotics. Contact: Geoffrey L Melnick, Patent Attorney (Israel), European Patent Attorney, UK Chartered Patent Agent Email: geoff@ipatent.co.il Software, Information System: The Software department has substantial experience in advising clients in relation to intellectual property protection for computer implemented inventions in a wide range of technologies (hardware and software), including search engine technology, electronic commerce and financial services, content distribution, database and memory management, internet security, gaming machines, cellular communications, telecommunications, cloud computing, social network platforms, wireless communication, image processing, multi-media data streaming and management, and network management. In providing invention extraction services to startups and inventors, the Software department includes a team of patent attorneys with strong industry experience and legal background. The department provides services to private inventors, start-up companies, universities, medical centers, and international corporations. Contact: Roy S. Melzer, Advocate, Patent Attorney, Email: roy@ipatent.co.il Medical Devices: The department specializes in IP matters in fields such as Medical Devices and Methods, Cleantech, Mechanics, Bio-Tech & Industrial instrumentation, Medical Imaging and Interdisciplinary fields such as
Bioinformatics and Computational Chemistry. The department also specializes in strategic design of patent portfolios, value-oriented approach to IP decision making, patent mining services for TTOs, managing re-examinations with licensing and litigation at stake and fine-tuning patents and patent applications for specific needs. Contact: Maier Fenster, Patent Attorney, US Patent Agent Email: maier@ipatent.co.il Litigation Support: Headed by Dr. Paul Fenster, who has over 20 years’ experience in this area, this department deals with cases which involve actual or potential litigation or which involve due diligence or analysis of patents or patent portfolios during acquisition or investment. The firm advises clients on preparing for litigation and help clients to find suitable representation overseas. The firm continues to be involved in the technical and interface aspects of these litigations remaining deeply involved in these cases during their entire lifetime. The firm has a major part in cases of this type in the US, the EPO, the UK, Germany, Japan, China and Singapore. The firm also represents clients in discussions with foreign patent holders who assert their patents against our clients. Contact: DR Paul Fenster, Patent Attorney Email: paulf@ipatent.co.il Trademarks, Design Patents: The firm provides trademark availability and infringement analysis, advising clients on practical ways to enhance protection of their IP rights by searching and clearing proposed trademarks, obtaining local and foreign trademark registrations, complex prosecution of 3D trademarks and slogans, trademark oppositions, rival proceedings and cancellation actions before the Israeli Trademark Office. Clients range from individuals and start-ups to large Israeli and foreign companies. Example of foreign clients includes Giorgio Armani, Nintendo, Real Madrid, Ulker, Re/Max International. Contact: Yoel Sztybel, Advocate, Email: yoel@ipatent.co.il
Contact Details: G.E. Ehrlich (1995) LTD., The Rogovin-Tidhar Tower, 15th Floor, 11 Menachem Begin Road, 5268104 Ramat-Gan, Israel Tel: +972-73-7919199 | Fax: +972-73-7919100 | www.ipatent.co.il | patents@ipatent.co.il
Cost Consultancy Law Firm of the Year - UK WHO WE ARE A&M Bacon Limited are an award winning national firm of Civil Litigation Costs Specialists. We have been established for over 25 years and were founded by Michael Bacon, the father of the Leading Costs Counsel, Nicholas Bacon QC. The practice is led by Jessica Swannell and together with Senior Costs Lawyer Caroline Cousins were both awarded the Gold Cup for qualifying as Costs Lawyers as top of their class. A&M are an industry leading practice with a wealth of knowledge in all areas of Legal Costs. A&M are fully regulated by the Costs Lawyers Standards Board and must comply with a strict code of conduct. As fully qualified Costs Lawyers, we have rights of audience in all costs matters up to but excluding the Court of Appeal. We are a special advisors to the Law Society Practice department on practical costs budgeting. WHY A&M A&M are a highly respected firm of Legal Costs Specialists in the Legal Industry. We provide up to date, in-depth knowledge of Legal Costs and we are heavily involved in key industry leading cases and have the experience to back it up. A&M offers technical expertise in all areas of legal costs law. We are concerned with costs relating to every type of legal matter that crosses a Solicitor’s desk. Our Costs Lawyers are therefore not restricted to one narrow area of law and acquire knowledge of law and procedure enabling them to deal effectively with a wide variety of costs work. We handle cases from Tribunals, Arbitrations and the full Court system, Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and Privy Council. A&M offer a personal service providing detailed attention to every case. We are not believers in the ‘production line’ approach but we can react quickly to urgent cases and turn them round promptly in order to maximize our clients’ cash flow. We ensure our service is tailored to suit the
needs of both your client and your firm. We provide detailed, accurate and timely costs information to make the process of legal costs as smooth as possible. A&M do not have different departments for different types of work, the Costs Lawyer who works on your case will be the Costs Lawyer who conducts the file right through to a hearing. You will only ever have to deal with one person on your file throughout the process to ensure consistency and trust. A&M are large enough to cope but small enough to care.
THE KEY TEAM
Jessica Swannell, Senior Costs Lawyer and Practice Manager Jessica Swannell started her career with A&M in 2007 as a Trainee Costs Lawyer. She became a fully qualified Costs Lawyer in December 2011 after sitting the Costs Lawyer examination in which she achieved a 95% pass mark and was awarded the gold cup for achieving the highest marks. Jessica has also attended many training conferences on Management & Leadership to ensure the smooth running of A&M. Jessica provides a personal service to all her clients to ensure that each client has a unique service applicable to their costs needs. Jessica collates a large amount of Management Information to ensure the success of A&M and to continue to improve the high standards of work A&M provide. Jessica Swannell is the designated first choice Costs Lawyer for Gallagher Bassett on Ministry of Defence work. Jessica Swannell was involved in the High Court decision of Patterson v. MoD in which A&M saved the Ministry of Defence millions of pounds. A&M were successful in having the success fee applicable to Non-Freezing Cold Injury cases reduced to 25% based on an Injury rather than 62.5% based on an Industrial Disease. Jessica has vast experience on High Value Complex adverse and recovery cases. E: Jessica.swannell@aandmbacon.co.uk T: 01733 359024
Faith Cosgrove, LLB (Hons), CILEx, Trainee Costs Lawyer and Team Leader Faith joined A & M Bacon in March 2014. Having completed her A-Levels Faith went onto study Law at DeMontfort University in Leicester obtaining a 2:1 degree. She was active with mooting and debating throughout her degree and was Mistress of the Moots for two years. She went onto represent her University in various national competitions. After completing her degree Faith secured a place on the BPTC at Nottingham Trent University. After completion of the BPTC Faith secured a job in legal costs and has continued to work in the sector since. She has worked for several costs companies in and around London, predominantly focused on Defendant work, before relocating back to the Peterborough Area. Faith works as an advocate on Costs hearings and continues to deal with all manner of hearings from applications to CCMC’s and full detailed assessments, even representing clients on a Costs Appeals. She is now in her first year of the Costs Lawyer Course and is an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives and is hoping to become a Fellow in 2016. Faith is also a team leader of A&M to ensure that the high standard of work is maintained in her team. E:faith.cosgrove@aandmbacon.co.uk T: 01733 359028
Hayley Moore, Trainee Costs Lawyer and Team Leader Hayley joined A&M in June 2012, after starting her career as an investigator into legal liability claims. She started with A&M as a Trainee Costs Lawyer / Legal Costs Consultant, having already had experience in legal costs. Hayley started her first year of the Association of Costs Lawyer
course in September 2012 and has now successfully completed the first two years and is now currently working towards her third and final module. Hayley regularly attends training conferences for legal costs, civil and commercial litigation. Whilst working with A&M Hayley has developed a good knowledge of After the Event Insurance and the recoverability of the same. Hayley was involved in the recently published case of Finglands Coachways Ltd v O’Hare which was heard on appeal at the Manchester High Court. A&M were successful in defending the permission to Appeal and the Appeal was dismissed. Hayley has experience in drafting high value Bills of Costs after assisting with 3million Bill of Costs. Hayley is also a team leader of A&M to ensure that the high standard of work is maintained in her team. E:Hayley.Moore@aandmbacon.co.uk T: 01733 359022
A&M also has a highly professional team of a dozen fee earners, these are Costs Lawyers, Solicitors, Trainee Costs Lawyers, dedicated support team and a network of highly respected Costs Counsel. SERVICES A&M provide an in depth service in respect of the following: -
Costs Budgeting Adverse Costs Costs Recovery Advocacy Advice and Consultancy Panel Auditing
CONTACT DETAILS: 300 Eastrea Road Peterborough PE7 2AR 01733 350880 mail@aandmbacon.co.uk
Tax Consulting Firm of the Year – Brazil Intercorp Group is a privately owned high-level consulting firm, which provides tax, estate planning and fiduciary structures solutions to high net worth families. Intercorp Group provides advice with responsibility, liability and execution. It functions as an accessible interface, streamlining intelligence from an elite global network of professionals and specialists; ultimately bestowing on clients knowledge, confidence and solutions to handle their matters in the best possible way. With a strong heritage in tax consulting, the scope of Intercorp Group’s expertise has evolved and developed in observation of its clients’ changing requirements, while maintaining a tradition of outstanding client service and the very best intelligence for our clients. The majority of the firm’s engagements comprise the application of an international perspective to traditional concerns such as estate planning and succession, investment structuring, wealth protection, and corporate restructuring. Intercorp works closely with major law firms, consultancies and professional services firms across the world, commissioning and curating a unique library of tailored expertise. Intercorp Group’s clientele is largely represented by high-net-worth Brazilian families whose circumstances benefit from global expertise in the handling of their matters. Families and family businesses across a diverse range of industries retain Intercorp Group as global counsel to design and implement new solutions through a use of widely international resources. Intercorp therefore, becomes part of a consulting committee, contributing a deep multi-jurisdictional understanding to the complex opportunities and challenges they may face. Because of this, we have accrued an unparalleled understanding of matters in the context of many different sectors, affording us the scope to provide bespoke expertise to each family as their needs diversify and evolve.
The resolved approach is always to maintain an omniscient character to the work we provide, never imparting advice or developing solutions in isolation of the context in which they will operate. Intercorp Group operates as a pivotal structure to reconcile the broader needs and nuances of each family with exceptional skill in handling matters internationally whilst retaining its capability to apply a variety of different solutions to ensure the very best outcome. On the occasion that a client’s needs fall outside our sphere of understanding, we will assume the role of that client, engaging our first-class network of professionals to proffer the most effective result. Through our work with many successful and prosperous families, our consultants have developed a deep understanding of the tax systems throughout many jurisdictions across the globe. This expertise is consulted during each of our engagements, from personal estate planning to corporate restructuring of a family business. Intercorp Group provides counsel to clients who are looking to explore the benefits an international perspective may bestow upon their matters. As part of our promise to clients, advice and execution manifest as one service. Intercorp Group is involved throughout the entirety of the process: from determining the scope of the project and explaining its consequences to carefully mapping out its implementation. We are advisors that see ourselves in alliance with the client both unyieldingly liable and responsible for the advice we provide.
Contact Details E-mail: leonardo@intercorpgroup.com www.intercorpgroup.com
+44 (0) 20 342 733 08
Business Crime Law Firm of the Year - UK Rustem Guardian was founded in 2005 by Managing Partner, Mr. Timur Rustem, after a very successful and high profile career based in the City of London. Just ten years on, Rustem Guardian has established itself as a formidable niche criminal defense law firm in London with a reputation associated with high profile and high complex criminal cases. The firm's reputation means that Timur is regularly invited to comment in the media. Timur Rustem, founder and Managing Partner comments: "We have a small but dedicated team with an enviable reputation for meticulous case preparation and tenacity in defending its clients. We take pride in being a multi-cultural firm with a team of solicitors and paralegals that speak a range of languages. We are a leader in criminal defense work as Rustem Guardian uniquely houses both solicitors and barristers, placing ourselves above other standard practicing law firms. Clients choose Rustem Guardian as the firm is known for its discreet and sensitive approach to what can be complex and life destroying allegations. We appreciate that the law is complex and challenging and we strive to give every client the advice and support they are entitled to. We also recognize that problems can arise at inconvenient times. We are therefore available to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week." Mr. Rustem is a highly sought after Serious Crime Solicitor with over twenty years' experience in the City of London and the highest level of media exposure appearing on Sky, the BBC, Channel 5 and ITV to name a few. Mr. Rustem was named ‘Recommended Lawyer, 2014’ by Legal 500 and has many accolades under his belt including the prestigious ‘Super Lawyer’ award. Mr. Rustem is called upon specifically for his focused specialist areas Sexual Offences, Fraud and Appeals and has built a multiaward winning firm which is now one of the top criminal law firms in the UK. Tim built his reputation in Terrorism Law and is often invited to comment in the media on terrorism legislation. Most recently Rustem Guardian was named ‘Niche Terrorism Law Firm of the Year 2014’ by ACQ5. His tenacious and formidable approach was founded in his representation of a defendant in the Airline Bombing (Terrorism) case in 2006, which won him the ‘Lawyer of the Year’, presented at the House of Lords. His legal expertise covers, but is not restricted to:
• Serious Sexual Offences including Historical Sexual Offences, Rape, Sexual Offences Against Children, Child Pornography, Indecent Exposure, Downloading Indecent Images, Voyeurism, Trafficking and Sex Offenders Register • Serious Fraud including VHCC, Boiler Room Fraud, Insurance Fraud, Mortgage Fraud and Money Laundering • Appeals against Conviction and Sentencing • Serious Violent Offences including Murder • Drug trafficking • Terrorism • Private Investigations and Private Prosecutions • Private Immigration • Blackmail • Drug trafficking • Motoring Offences Sexual Offences Since founding Rustem Guardian ten years ago, Mr. Rustem has an unrivalled reputation in representing those accused of the most serious Sexual Offences and is a sought-after legal expert often invited to comment in the media (please see below). Mr. Rustem holds long-term and trusted relationships with his clients, offering them sophisticated, practical and supportive legal advice. His depth of experience means that he is well accustomed with media attention and is well equipped to keep potentially high profile cases out of the public eye. His high success rate coupled with his media profile is recognized; recently Rustem Guardian was awarded ‘Niche Sexual Offences Law Firm of the Year, 2014’ by ACQ5 in conjunction with the ft.com. Fraud Under Mr. Rustem’s leadership, Rustem Guardian was one of few UK criminal law firms awarded prestigious status to deal with VHCC cases. Mr. Rustem was recently awarded the accolade ‘Super Lawyer, 2013’ for his White Collar Fraud work and ‘Business Crime Lawyer of the Year’, 2014 by Lawyer Monthly. Under Mr. Rustem’s leadership of the Fraud department the firm has built a reputation for taking on the most complex of Fraud cases which is widely recognized. Most recently Rustem Guardian was awarded ‘Business Crime Law Firm of the Year 2014’ by Finance Monthly. Appeals Mr. Rustem is quickly establishing Rustem Guardian as the go-to firm for private Appeals as his case load is growing in number and Mr. Rustem is realising more wins. Mr. Rustem is passionate about fighting for justice and believes there are many falsely accused individuals who have been sentenced unjustly, taking on Appeals at any stage. He understands that in these cases it is the wider family and friends that also victims of convictions, and Mr. Rustem approaches cases with the utmost sensitivity and care. Contact Details: Rustem Guardian LLP 5 Chancery Lane 4th floor London EC4A 1BL
Labour Law Firm of the Year - Mexico Natividad Abogados, S.C., is a Law Firm that has consolidated a position, relations and prestige in the forum, based on development and innovation in consulting, planning and conflict solution, in all areas of Labour Law and Social Security. The Firm is acknowledged expert in Mexico’s labour matters with presence of more than 35 years. We offer our clients integrated solutions, providing the best cost/benefit relation, seeking to increase their competitiveness and security. We are known for offering quality services, business sustainability, opportunities for professional and personal development of our collaborators, making a positive contribution, always based on reason and passion for our work. The Law Firm is member of L&E Global, world-wide alliance of boutique labour law firms in the main countries and key business centers in the world. Our partners can provide advisory services to our clients: www.leglobal.org. We have a portal: Renatio, where our clients can consult the status of their matters. They can enter directly using their user and passwords, thus keeping them continuously informed of their matters. Because of its strengths, the Law Firm is recognized in the Labour Law environment, among other things, because: • We provide direct and personalized attention. • We participate in the work teams of our clients. • We protect exclusively the rights of companies and employers, both national and multinational as well as governmental. • We actively participate in the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, representing employers’ organizations, before the Federal and Local Conciliation and Arbitration Boards, the National Minimum Salaries Commission, as well as in renowned national and international forums. • We promote the Labour Reforms. • We teach courses and give training and education programs which enable compliance of the worker-employer relations; prepare labour diagnostics, elaborate and prepare contracts, deeds and any document our clients may require. The firm has the relations to help and guide our clients to obtain the required legal approvals and has relations with Unions throughout the country. Our unique selling point is collective bargaining in employment relations. Our Director Partner and Founder, Tomas H. Natividad, is member of the Social Security and Labour Committee of the Employers’ Coordinating Council, and Member of the Labour Committee of the Employers’ Confederation of Mexico (Coparmex). Our main clients are Banks, auto parts, food industry and services provision companies. We negotiate collective agreements.
Our main complexities and challenges over the past year were having negotiated with the unions Collective Bargaining Agreements to adjust the benefits taking into account our clients’ economic situation. We have overcome complexities, challenges and changes through our professional negotiators, who are aware of the particular needs of each client.
The law firm has an area of 18 specialized lawyers in collective matters, who are well related with all the Union Centrals throughout the country and can fully handle all union matters, as external advisors or through implant personnel who work for the law firm while directly collaborating at our client’s companies. In 2015/2016 we will continue working in the same way that we have consolidated during these 35 years and negotiate employment conditions that will allow us to maintain competitive sources of work, and observing the rights of the workers. Contact Details: Buffon No. 4, Col. Nueva Anzures, Deleg. Miguel Hidalgo MÊxico Distrito Federal 11590. Contact Number: +52 55 5089 7200 Email Address: gilda.sanchez@natividad-abogados.com.mx
Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year Taiwan Deep & Far attorneys-at-law was founded in 1992 and is dealing with all phases of laws with a focus on the practice in separate or in combination of all aspects of intellectual property rights (IPRs) including patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, unfair competition, and/or licensing, counselling, litigation and/or transaction thereof. Area of Practice: Intellectual Property, including patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret. The patent attorneys and patent engineers in Deep & Far normally hold outstanding and advanced degrees and are generally graduated from the top five universities in this country. Our prominent staffs are dedicated to provide the best quality service in IPRs in this country. As a proof, about one half of top 100 incorporations in this country have experiences of seeking patented their techniques, but more than one fifth of the top 100 incorporations has ever used services of this firm. Furthermore, Hi-Tech companies in the science-based industrial park located at Hsin Chu had ever played the most important role in booming the economy of this country. About one half of them has experiences in seeking patented their techniques, and out of more than 50% of the patent-experienced companies in that park have ever entrusted their IPR works to this firm. Experiences: Mr. Yu-Li Tsai, a patent attorney graduated from Department of Electrical Engineering of National Taiwan University (NTUEE), which is the best engineering school in Taiwan. Because of interest in communication system, he then attended in the Graduate Institute of Communication Engineering (GICE) of NTU. During his research life in GICE, he also started to get involved in knowledge and skills of patent-related matters for taking and receiving the qualification of patent attorney. Mr. Tsai also attended to receive an IP master from Law School of University of New Hampshire, also known as Franklin Pierce Center for Intellectual Property, had an internship with InterDigital, Inc., and passed the U.S. Patent Bar Examination. Currently, Mr. Tsai is working for Deep & Far Attorneys-at-Law as a patent attorney.
It is our philosophy to provide competent legal services that other firm cannot comparably provide. The necessitated ensuing problem is how we can so provide? Deep & Far so achieve by selecting, edifying and nurturing peoples who have the following personalities: learned in expertise, morally earnest and sincerely behaved in mind and strictly disciplined between give and take. It is well-believed that such properties are key factors for peoples to properly and competently behave themselves. Because the clients become more understood in the knowledge of IP and more budget-sensitive, they usually want to select an agent who can more efficiently and effectively deal with their IP matters. They often invite bids, set out tenders and call for interview before they decide to entrust a service provider. Taking patent for example, they gather information of costs for patent prosecution, previous works, and firm introduction materials in a preliminary choice stage, and hold an interview to obtain further details of the firm which has passed the preliminary choice stage. We represent international giants, e.g. InterDigital, MPS, Schott Glas, Toyo Ink, Motorola, Cypress, Google, Armani. We always keep updating the newest state of this firm, recruiting elite patent engineers and strictly training them the essential skills, improving the efficiency and quality of service, and developing new strategies that can assist the clients effectively protecting their intellectual property rights. This firm believes that if the efficiency, quality, and enthusiasm of the services can be consistently monitored and maintained, overcoming complexities, challenges or changes is just a result rather than an issue. Our aspiration and directions would be developing more potential clients either in domestic or foreign countries, and expanding the size of this firm to assist more clients in pursuing most satisfactory IP protection. Although the domestic IP market, especially in the patent field in 2013 shrank a little, we expect this situation may finally change because there is a phenomenon that the gross economy is starting to recover in 2014.
Contact details Deep & Far Yu-Li. Tsai Tel: 886-2-25856688#900 Fax: 886-2-25989900//886-2-25978989 Add: 13th Fl., 27 Sec. 3, Chung San N. Rd., Taipei, Taiwan Web: www.deepnfar.com.tw Email: lawtsai@deepnfar.com.tw
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