Continent Awards 2019

WORLDWIDE FINANCIAL ADVISOR AWARDS MAGAZINE

CONTINENT AWARDS 2019

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Worldwide Financial Advisor Awards Magazine Continent Awards 2019 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.

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professional & financial institutions from around the world and showcases there work ethic and skills within their area of expertise.

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Continent Awards 2019 Index Basilio Advogados Commercial Litigation Law Firm of the Year – Brazil Deep & Far Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year – Taiwan Dr. Lukas Fantur Company Law Firm of the Year – Austria Handler Thayer LLP International Business Planning Law Firm of the Year – USA Infinity Partnership Limited Accountancy Business Services of the Year – UK K Law Solicitors Insurance Litigation Law Firm of the Year – UK Law Office of Ramni Taneja Constitutional Law Firm of the Year – India NCI Law Group Immigration Law Firm of the Year – Switzerland PC Capital Investment Banking Firm of the Year – Mexico Private Advising Group, P.A. Corporate Law Firm of the Year – USA Sadis & Golberg Law Firm of the Year – USA Sturgeon Ventures LLP Start Up Compliance Consultancy Firm of the Year – UK The Richard L Rosen Law Firm PLLC Franchising Law Firm of the Year – USA Tuli & Co Insurance & Reinsurance Law Firm of the Year - India

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 wellbelieved 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 budgetsensitive, 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

Franchising Law Firm of the Year – USA The Richard L. Rosen Law Firm, PLLC and its predecessors have been providing high

quality legal services for over 40 years. While the firm is located in New York City, at 110 East 59th Street, and services many clients in the tri-state area, it also represents franchise clients nationwide. The Richard L. Rosen Law Firm has earned Martindale Hubbell’s highest rating for legal ability and integrity, listed by US News and World Report as being among the best franchise law firms in the United States and Richard Rosen is rated amongst Martindale Hubbell’s list of Preeminent Attorneys. In 2018 and 2019 The Richard L. Rosen Law Firm, PLLC was named one of the 50 Best Law Firms in the World by LegalComprehensive.com.

The Firm is familiar with virtually every franchise related issue that its clients may face, whether it be buying or selling a franchise, negotiating a lease for a new restaurant, setting up a franchise program and preparing the necessary agreements and disclosure documents, forming or counseling a franchisee association or litigating, arbitrating, mediating (or negotiating) a dispute. The Firms experience, gained in hundreds of transactions, enables it to guide and counsel its clients effectively and efficiently wherever they are located.

Richard L. Rosen, the founding member of The Richard L. Rosen Law Firm, PLLC, has been

actively engaged in the practice of franchise law in New York City for over 40 years, during which time he has represented countless franchisors and franchisees, both as counsel and as a business adviser. Richard Rosen has been engaged in virtually all aspects of franchising during his career. He has counselled and represented franchisors in the setting up of franchising systems and programs; formed franchising entities; drafted and negotiated franchise agreements, multi-unit area development agreements, master franchise agreements, registration statements, disclosure and other ancillary franchise documents; represented franchisees and franchisee associations; litigated in both state and federal courts; and mediated, arbitrated and litigated matters on behalf of both franchisors and franchisees. He has represented franchisors and franchisees in virtually every field, including: fast food, fitness, education, senior care, clothing sales, real estate brokerage, eyewear, auto care, party planning, health care, coffee shops, ice cream shops, fitness and gyms, employee staffing, nutrition centers, child care and learning, tanning salons, yogurt shops, gas and service stations, sign design and more.

Mr. Rosen is a founding member and immediate past chairman of the Franchise,

Distribution and Licensing Law Section of the New York State Bar Association, a member of the Steering Committee of the National Franchise Mediation Program, The CPR Institute For Dispute Resolution, Distinguished Panel of Neutrals and a member of the Executive Committee of the Business Law Section of the New York State Bar Association.

He is the chairman of the American Association of Franchisees and Dealers’ Fair Franchising Standards Committee and a member of the AAFD’s board of directors. In 2008 he received the AAFD’s Total Quality Franchising Lifetime Achievement Award for his

contributions to the field of franchising. Richard Rosen and his firm have earned Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating for legal ability and integrity, and Richard is rated amongst Martindale Hubbell’s list of Preeminent Attorneys. Richard has frequently lectured on a variety of franchise topics before various groups and organizations, including the American Bar Association, the International Franchise Association, the New York State Bar Association, The Association of the Bar of the City of New York and the American Association of Franchisees and Dealers. He has been interviewed on both television and radio, the American Bar Association Journal, the Franchise Times and Forbes Magazine, regarding franchising. Mr. Rosen is a contributor to “Franchising 101, The Complete Guide to Evaluating, Buying and Growing Your Franchise Business” compiled by the Association of Small Business Development Centers and has written many articles on the legal and business aspects of franchising. Mr. Rosen and his firm are the authors of the sections on Franchise Law in the United States which appear in the Third, Fourth and Fifth Editions of the (International) Franchise Law Review, as well as the US Franchise Law Analysis which appears in The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Franchise, in 2017, 2018 and 2019 Editions.

Mr. Rosen is listed in: Who’s Who in America; and recently received the Marquis Who’s Who Lifetime Achievement Award; Who’s Who in American Law; Who’s Who in the World; Best Lawyers in America; “101 Best Franchise Lawyers in America” (the Franchise Times); the Franchise Times’ “Hall of Fame” of Franchise Attorneys (a charter member); Best Lawyers in the US; Franchise Attorney of the Year, New York, 2015; America’s Super Lawyers; Chambers; Best Attorneys In America; Who’s Who Legal: Franchise; and International Who’s Who Legal (compendium edition), and is a recipient of the Global Award for Franchise Law. In 2016, 2017 and 2018, Richard Rosen was named Franchise Attorney of the Year for the United States by Lawyer Monthly. He received the Global 100 Award as Franchise Attorney of the Year in the USA in 2017. Richard was named Franchise Lawyer of the Year in the United States by Intercontinental Finance and Law in 2017 and 2018. In 2018 and 2019, Richard was named one of the 100 Best Attorneys in the World by LegalComprehensive.com.

Richard L. Rosen and his firm are engaged in a general, commercial practice which includes active involvement in the fields of franchising, corporate, real estate and trust and estates law. Mr. Rosen has been a real estate developer for many years and has represented many commercial clients in their real estate development, acquisition and leasing endeavors. The firm also maintains an active state and federal court litigation practice and regularly engages in other forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution, including arbitration and mediation.

Contact Details: The Richard L. Rosen Law Firm PLLC 110 E. 59th Street, 23rd Floor New York, NY 10022 212-644-6644 212-644-3344 (fax) www.richardrosenlaw.com

Arbitration & Litigation Advisor of the Year – Indonesia Lubis Ganie Surowidjojo (LGS) was founded in 1985 by Timbul Thomas Lubis, Mohamed Idwan (‘Kiki’) Ganie and Arief Tarunakarya Surowidjojo. LGS specializes in both Commercial Transactions and Commercial Disputes, including criminal law. As well as helping to put the deal together we can also help to prevent or solve problems in its implementation.

Our lawyers are specialized in confirming what the legal problem is, but do not leave the solution to the client, they are also trained to suggest commercial solutions to what has started as a legal problem or legal solutions to what has started as commercial problems.

Mohamed Idwan (‘Kiki’) Ganie is the Managing Partner of Lubis Ganie Surowidjojo (LGS). He graduated from the Faculty of Law of the University of Indonesia and holds a PhD in Law from the University of Hamburg. Dr. Ganie is a Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Anti-Trust Lawyers, a member of the Regional Panel of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), and a fellow (FSIarb) of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators.

Dr. Ganie has more than 30 years of legal experience, and specializes in commercial transactions and commercial litigation, including alternative dispute resolution and has acted as an expert in a number court and arbitration proceedings. His expertise covers general corporate/company law, banking law, finance, bankruptcy and restructuring, mining, investment, acquisitions, infrastructure projects/project finance, antitrust, and shipping/aviation, with a particular focus on corporate governance and compliance.

Founding Partners: Mr. Timbul Thomas Lubis heads the Lubis Ganie Surowidjojo litigation section. Mr. Lubis specialises in commercial transactions and company law, as well as labour, property and real estate law.

Dr. Mohamed Idwan Ganie is the Managing Partner of Lubis Ganie Surowidjojo. Dr. Ganie specializes in commercial transactions and commercial dispute resolution, and has a focus on corporate governance.

Mr. Arief Tarunakarya Surowidjojo specializes in corporate law and has acted as the lead lawyer in hundreds of IPOs, rights issues and other capital market transactions, and more than 100 M&A deals.

Partners: Mr. Abdul Haris Muhammad Rum’s field of expertise includes general corporate, restructuring, capital markets, M&A, project finance, syariah, and oil and gas law.

Mr. Harjon Sinaga has a strong general corporate background and specializes in commercial litigation, concentrating in the fields of bankruptcy and antitrust.

Mr. Rofik Sungkar’s practice focuses on litigation, debt restructuring and general corporate law.

Ms. Dini Retnoningsih specialises in corporate transactions.

Mr. Mochamad Fajar Syamsualdi specialises in M&A. Mr. Ahmad Jamal Assegaf specialises in restructuring, investment, M&A, and telecommunications.

LGS has experience representing a diverse range of clients, including domestic and multinational corporations, public and private companies, Government instrumentalities and State Owned Enterprises.

Dr. Ganie’s international commercial transaction and litigation clients include: Goldman Sachs (US), Temasek Holdings (Singapore), Hutchison Whampoa (Hong Kong) and Mitsui (Japan).

Clients are increasingly looking for stability (or better: sustainability) and strategic direction. We have made it our mission not only to service existing but also anticipated client needs. We are therefore skilled not only to advice what the "the law says", but also what the clients could or should do to solve the legal aspects of a legal or commercial problem or to support our Clients' strategic direction.

In three years’ time we see the firm to have achieved its mission to be the Indonesian firm with the largest transaction and dispute resolution division and with the largest network of branch offices throughout Indonesia to provide not only expertise on central government laws, regulations and policies, but also regional laws, regulations and policies, and to provide assistance wherever the legal issues arise within Indonesia. All that with a view to increase value, to be more effective and cost efficient for the benefit of our clients and also to assist other firms who require legal services in the region (provinces) of Indonesia.

Contact Details: Dr. Mohamed Idwan (‘Kiki’) Ganie Managing Partner Lubis Ganie Surowidjojo

Address: Menara Imperium 30th Floor Jl. H. R. Rasuna Said Kav. 1 Kuningan Jakarta 12980, Indonesia

Tel: +62 21 831-5005, 831-5025 Fax: +62 21 831-5015, 831-5018 Email: ganie@lgslaw.co.id Website: www.lgsonline.com

Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year – India The Firm Singh & Singh Lall & Sethi (SSL&S) is a merger of two highly acclaimed IP Law Firms of the country. The merger took place in April 2015. The merger brought professionals passionately dedicated to create perfect synergy with specialist IP practitioners and litigators in different fields of intellectual property law. The firm serves as a one stop solution for IP, Telecom, Competition laws, Information Technology and related aspects, as also technology, media and telecommunication laws with a wide bandwidth to handle large portfolios and litigation across all areas.

The firm also handles a large number of non-IP matters especially in the field of pharma regulatory, arbitrations, policy making in IP and Telecom Sectors, including Compulsory Licensing and Copyright Amendment Act 2012.

The firm not only represents a large volume of Patent and Trademark litigation cases in India, but also provides unrivalled IP services, including but not limited to domestic and international filing and prosecution.

The firm currently has offices in New Delhi, Mumbai, Colombo and Kathmandu.

The Founders and Partners The founders are four of the most prolific litigators of the country. Mr. Sandeep Sethi, Mr. Maninder Singh and Ms. Prathiba M. Singh are all designated Senior Advocates. Mr. Chander M. Lall took over the mantle from the founders and is the Founding and Managing Partner of the merged firm.

SSL&S is a professionally managed firm with 9 partners, over 40 attorneys and patent agents and a total strength of over 120 personnel. Out of the 9 partners in the Firm, the Managing Partner and two other Partners are involved in Patent litigation. One Partner heads the Patent Prosecution.

Four Partners are heading IP Prosecution and Enforcement teams and one partner is involved in Telecom & Broadcasting. There is an entire team of lawyers and patent agents working under each Partner.

Patents The patent professionals of SSL&S have wide ranged experience in drafting applications of various technologies and liaising with inventors, technical experts and in-house patent counsels in the preparation of specifications. Because of its day to day experience in patent litigation, SSL&S is able to provide assistance in strategizing complex innovation related issues, enforcement of patents, and analysing strength of patents prior to enforceability, streamline prosecution etc.

SSL&S is estimated to be engaged in over 70% of the patent litigations currently pending in the country concerning technologies like pharmaceuticals, bio-similar, medical devices, mechanical engineering, chemicals, electrical and electronics, to name a few. In the area of Standard Essential Patents (SEPs), the firm is engaged in virtually all pending cases in India and is instrumental in assisting development of the law in this field.

Trademarks On the trademarks front, SSL&S has been instrumental in laying down the law in several areas such as comparative advertising, trade dress protection and a wide variety of internet and IT law related issues. The firm has been involved in many civil and criminal anti-counterfeiting actions.

The firm currently represents 7 of the top 25 of the world renowned trademarks listed by

Interbrand. SSL&S is the preferred firm not just in India but the entire South Asian region, including Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Maldives and Bhutan.

Telecom and Broadcasting SSL&S practices extend beyond core IP. It has a strong presence in the area of telecom and broadcasting representing a large number of broadcasters in different forums including the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT).

Bespoke IP Management Software All the work is carried out on a unique bespoke IP management software platform ClickIPR. The software has IP law engines for all jurisdictions around the world ensuring automated docketing of files worldwide and populating of forms. The use of the software system, which is far superior to any known IP software system, ensures that deadlines are never missed and costs are kept low.

The firm was perhaps the first in the world to maintain all its files in electronic form.

Clients SSL&S has a very wide list of clients from all over the world which include The Coca-Cola Company, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Eli Lilly, GSK, Bayer, Merck KgaA, Monsanto, Citibank, Mondelez, KraftHeinz, Diageo, Warner Bros., Twentieth Century Fox, United Technologies Corporation, Kimberly-Clark, Lacoste, Gant, Hewlett Packard, Nike, Ebay, Cisco, Amazon, Samsung, Reckitt Benckiser, Panasonic, DuPont, to name a few International one with an equally impressive list of Indian clients which includes Zee, Marico, Havells, Woodland, HCL, NIIT, Essel, ITC, Eicher, HeroEco and Fabindia.

Awards SSL&S is the more extensive awarded firm of 2016 being acknowledged as a leader in IP law. The firm has bagged several awards and maintains highest rankings in many categories. The `Managing Intellectual Property` has ranked Singh & Singh Lall & Sethi as Tier 1 for Patent Contentious, Trade Mark Contentious and Copyright respectively for 2016. The `Chambers & Partners` has ranked the firm as `Band 1 in Intellectual Property` and Chander Lall as `Band 1 Intellectual Property Litigation Lawyer in India`. `Legal Era` positioned Singh & Singh Lall & Sethi as the `IP Law Firm of 2015`. The firm also bagged `WTR Gold award for Enforcement and Litigation` and Chander bagged the `Gold award` in individual category. The firm shot the `Deal of the Year 2015` award for representing Glenmark Pharmaceuticals in Merck Sharp & Dohme and Sun Pharma v Glenmark Pharmaceuticals by India Business Law Journal besides bagging the `2015 - Indian Law Firm Awards - Intellectual Property`. The M&A magazine declared the firm as the Law Firm of the Year - Intellectual Property – India. `Professional Sector Network` has accolade the firm with `IP Law Firm of the Year – India`. WIPR chose Chander Lall as `Leaders 2016 in Patents & Trademark`, while Sudeep Chatterjee was chosen for Trademarks.

CHANDER M. LALL- FOUNDER & SENIOR PARTNER Co- founder of the previously reigning IP boutique, Lall & Sethi Advocates, Mr. Chander M. Lall is currently the Managing Partner and spear-head of the merged entity ‘Singh & Singh Lall & Sethi’ (Singh & Singh is India’s leading IP litigation firm – the two firms merged to form this IP Powerhouse since April 2015).

An adventure sports enthusiast by heart and a successful Advocate by profession, Mr. Lall is a renaissance man, who has many firsts in his name in the legal profession. He was the first to have the foresight to commence patent drafting outsourcing to India in the year 2002, when the concept was relatively unknown. Under his mentoring and leadership, in the year 2007, his firm developed one of the world’s first proprietary IP Management Software (Click IPR) for international filing and management. His firm went completely paperless as long back as in the year 2010, perhaps one of the first, internationally. He argued his first case with the complete file on a tablet in that year itself.

In court, Mr. Lall is rated amongst the best IP litigators. He was counsel for a winning cause in two of the lead decisions (whirlpool and Ocuflox) of the Supreme Court of India on well-known and famous marks – decisions which were path-breaking not just in India, but internationally. His litigation and enforcement foresight is legendary when one considers the impact his strategies had on bringing down film piracy levels in India whilst representing a consortium consisting of the Motion Pictures Association of America, the leading Hollywood studios and many leading Indian film producers. The Supreme Court decision on curtailing cable piracy stands at the forefront of this initiative. He is widely acknowledged as one of the best in the field of copyright and copyright litigation.

Post his graduation, Mr. Lall enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of India in 1989. He has been practicing in various forums including the Supreme Court of India, Delhi High Court, in addition to other High Courts around the country for over 25 years. He was also a part of the Core Group to make amendments in the copyright laws of India. Mr. Lall is a leading member of the Pharmaceutical Trade Marks Group and advises and represents many leading pharmaceutical companies including Pfizer, Eli Lilly, Bayer and Merck on various IP issues. His firms protects 8 of the top 30 brands of the world listed in the Interbrand 2014 Rankings.

Besides having an illustrious career as a litigator, Mr. Lall is also a proud member of various globally renowned network and associations. He was perhaps the youngest, and the first Indian and south Asian member to be on the Board of Directors of the International Trademarks Association (INTA), a world-wide association of trademark owners & professionals from the year 1998 to 2000. He was also the Chairperson of the World-Wide Anti-Counterfeiting and Enforcement Committee at INTA for a two year term and also serves as the President of the Intellectual Property Rights Attorney Association. Besides his exceptional litigating skills, Mr. Lall demonstrated his outstanding writing abilities by being the contributing Author and Editor for the publication entitled "Trademark AntiCounterfeiting in Asia and the Pacific Rim". He has also authored the chapter on Indian law in both the editions of the publication of INTA entitled "Trademark Law and the Internet".

Mr. Lall has is consistently listed as one of the leading IP practitioners in India by virtually all leading international publications. He frequently attends and speaks at national and international IP conferences and is on the WIPO Panel of speakers and resource persons for their Training of Trainers (TOT) Programs. He has participated in well over 20 TOT programs in over 3 continents including Africa, South America and Asia.

In addition to being a distinguished lawyer, Mr. Lall is an advanced certified scuba diver, a fervent mountaineer, an avid and former national lever cyclist, a bold bungee jumper, a one-time sky diver, a wanna-be Harley Davidson Hog and a passionate water and alpine skier.

Contact Details Chander M. Lall cmlall@indiaip.com D - 17, South Extension II, New Delhi - 110 049, India Ph: 91-11-4289 9999 Website

Law Office of Ramni Taneja Constitutional Law Firm of the Year - India Ramni Taneja is a citizen of India, having been educated in Mumbai, India, and London, England.

She enrolled as an Advocate on 17th October 1980, on the Roll of the Bar Council of Maharashtra, [Mumbai], India; subsequently transferred to the Bar Council of Delhi, India, on 20th October 1997. On 3rd March 1997, she was admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales, [now known as the Senior Courts of England and Wales]. In 1999, she was appointed as a Notary by the Government of India, New Delhi, India.

Since 1997, Ramni Taneja practises in New Delhi, India, as an Advocate in the Supreme Court of India and the High Court of Delhi, apart from various other tribunals and courts in Delhi and in India. From 1980 till 1982 she practised as an Advocate with Little & Co., Advocates and Solicitors, Mumbai, India; she headed the office of Little & Co., Advocates, in New Delhi, India, from 2002 till 2006. From 1983 till 1997, Ramni Taneja was licensed and practised as a Legal Consultant with A.R. Hilal & Associates, Advocates and Legal Consultants, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Her law firm, Law Office of Ramni Taneja, began in New Delhi, India in August 2006.

Ramni Taneja completed her school education in the United Kingdom [UK] at Grey Coat Hospital, Westminster, London, England, UK, as a consequence of which she obtained the University of London, General Certificate of Education, Ordinary Levels and Advanced Levels, between 19721974. She obtained her BA Honours [First Class Honours] Degree in English Literature [Major] French Literature [Subsidiary] in 1977 from Elphinstone College, University of Bombay, India. She obtained her LLB Degree [First Class] in 1980 from Government Law College, University of Bombay, India. She was awarded the Diplôme Supérieur d’Etudes Françaises Modernes in 1975 by l’Alliance Française, Paris, France, [Mention Tres Honorable: i.e. Distinction] and was ranked first in the examination in 1975 in India and Asia.

Ramni Taneja is the author of Foreign Direct Investment and Globalisation, published by Eastern Book Company, 2014. She has written legal articles that have been published in international and Indian legal journals on various legal issues Ramni Taneja’s principal areas of legal practice covering litigation and transactional legal work are: all areas of commercial law, civil law, corporate law, constitutional law and criminal law.

Other areas of legal practice covering litigation and transactional law inter alia are: Arbitration [international and domestic], air law, banking law, consumer protection law, due diligence, direct and indirect taxation and international taxation, extradition law, laws relating to asylum, family law, foreign direct investment, including foreign exchange law, insurance law, initial public offerings, intellectual property law, infrastructure law, employment law, laws governing the media, mergers and acquisitions, immigration and nationality law, maritime law, succession law, private international law, public international law and property law.

Contact Details:

RAMNI TANEJA, Advocate and Notary LAW OFFICE OF RAMNI TANEJA Address: A 34 DEFENCE COLONY NEW DELHI 110024, INDIA Telephones: +91 11 4155 2051; +91 11 4155 2052 Fax: +91 11 4155 2053 email id: ramni@ramnitaneja.com http://www.ramnitaneja.com

Law Firm of the Year – Czech Republic The law office GÜRLICH & Co was founded on 1st February 2002. All members of the firm are experienced lawyers possessing outstanding professional expertise in various branches of law.

Skilled lawyers, qualified office staff and a lot of experience – that’s our law firm. We are fully capable of offering legal Services to both individuals and legal entities in almost all fields of civil and commercial law, all over the territory of the Czech Republic, both in Czech and English language. We also cooperate with a number of external lawyers, all experts in their respective fields, to ensure the best possible outcome for our clients.

In the event of cross-border transactions and litigation, this office hires its cooperating international law offices as well as external foreign lawyers. Still, this Law Firm remains a purely Czech legal office free of any financial or other influence exerted by foreign and/or local nationals. This allows the firm to provide its services in compliance with law, professionally and independently.

Our law firm focuses mainly on the following areas of law: Civil law, Corporate and business law, Real Estate law, Intellectual property, Labor law and Litigation.

Above all we deal with, among the advisory on real estate property transactions (e.g. sale, purchase or lease of apartments and commercial property), drafting all documents relating to real estate financing, drafting all security related documents (mortgages, lien over property and other assets including sets of movable assets, lien over IP or a business or part thereof, security / collateral agreements relating to banking accounts, shares and ownership interests, as well as numerous fiduciary assignments of rights demanded by banks), arranging registration and all other related steps, including advice on governing law. Moreover, we focus on advisory to developers, on investment in real estate, lease and sublease agreements, liens on real estate, creation of easements, building law.

Our law firm provides its services at a high professional level, quickly and with complete independence. Two of our key values that help to drive businesses of our clients are flexibility and personal approach that we manage to maintain through the hard work of our young but skilled colleagues who are at all times prepared to offer tailor-made solutions. Within the scope of legal assistance, our law firm provides prevailingly advisory services in selecting the most suitable procedure with a view to client’s needs, prepares various documents and arranges for the preparation of opinions and legal analyses.

The highest level of professionalism that we try to maintain encompasses taking into account forthcoming legal amendments, detailed continuous study of judicature of both

the national and European courts. However, while focusing on professionalism we never forget that it goes hand in hand with a personal approach which ensures that clients can always rely on our services and we provide our best in the shortest possible time with a broad level of transparency and detailed records of our performance.

Scope of Legal Services: Business Transactions Civil Law Intellectual Property Corporate Law and Business Law, Public Procurement Labour Law Real Estate Litigation Contact details: GĂœRLICH & Co Politickych veznu 19 110 00 Prague 1 Czech Republic tel.: +420 222 101 591 fax: +420 222 101 590 email: info@akrg.cz web: www.akrg.cz

Financial Analysis Firm of the Year - USA Demotech, Inc. is a financial analysis firm located in Columbus, Ohio. Since 1985, Demotech 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 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 distinguishes itself from other rating services in many ways. Four distinguishing characteristics are the industry experience of our analysts, long tenure of our analysts, our focus on an insurer’s business model rather than its size, and the transparency of our analysis process. In total, our 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 our staff.

As noted, our analysts, including myself, are experienced professionals. I am an actuary with forty years of insurance and financial analysis experience. Sharon Romano Petrelli, co-founder 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, a Chartered Financial Analyst, 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 the 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 insurers out of 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 we introduced our Company Classification System to initiate dialogue on business models.

A Comment from Joseph Petrelli: “I am the President and Founder of Demotech, Inc. Organized in 1985, Demotech is a Columbus, Ohio based financial analysis company. Demotech reviews and rates more than 420 carriers domiciled in the United States. Our clients include larger, publicly traded carriers as well as regional insurance companies, title underwriters, risk retention groups and specialty insurance markets. 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.

Prior to forming Demotech, I was employed by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, Countryway Insurance and ISO. I am a member in good standing of the Casualty Actuarial Society, American Academy of Actuaries,

The Conference of Consulting Actuaries, and the Society of Actuaries. I graduated from The College of Insurance and have an MBA from The Ohio State University.”

In addition to our efforts reviewing and rating insurance carriers, two of our clients during 2015 were the State of Ohio Office of Risk Management 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, our actuaries were the first choice. Recent acknowledgements of our insurer rating capabilities include HUD’s re-affirmation of our acceptance in its Section 232 Handbook and expanding our acceptance to its Section 241(a) program, Fannie Mae Multifamily acceptance of risk retention groups and captive insurers rated A or better, our 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. We were also honored with the Florida Association for Insurance Reform’s Founder’s Award at its 2015 annual meeting. More recently we 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.

Our clients operate in an environment dominated by low interest rates and the pressure that places on earnings from an underwriting profit. Emerging coverages, such as cyber liability, data breach, or gap coverages associated with addressing the need to supplement personal automobile insurance policies for commercial use associated with transportation network companies focus our experienced, professional analysts on a collaborative role with clients. Our 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. Our experienced and credentialed analysts often provided clients with peer review and independent feedback on aspects of the client’s current and future operations.

Demotech is focused on continuing to grow and serve our current and our future clients. With a team of experienced, credentialed professionals, we are uniquely positioned to address the current as well as the emerging issues that must be addressed. In May 2016, we will host a seminar addressing the needs of regional and specialty carriers in the important areas of product development, client retention, and the identification and response to emerging issues.

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

Accounting Firm of the Year – UK Please introduce yourself, detail your areas of expertise and your experience.

John Harrison and Company have offices in Worksop, Nottinghamshire. We are an innovative firm and have won many international awards for our work. We have recently won the Corporate Livewire award for the Best Financial Management Services in the UK for 2017 for the second year in a row and won the Acquisition International s award for the Most Innovative for Financial Management Services in the UK.

Please provide an overview of your firm’s history and areas of expertise.

Our Financial Management Service is designed to provide a full outsourced finance department to owner managed businesses. It is tailored to their needs to provide them with information and support that will help them manage their businesses more profitably.

We specialise in helping businesses to become more successful. Using our skill with numbers, and the ideas of some of the world’s leading business thinkers and achievers, we’ve developed a series of processes, systems and tools to help businesses become much, much more successful. We believe that our clients should always have access to the best business development support that is available.

We also believe that our clients should not pay any more tax than the law requires them to pay. So using our Tax Mitigation Service we plan our clients’ tax affairs so that they pay the least amount of tax possible.

To provide the full range of specialised services our clients will require from their ‘back office’ finance department, we have put together a network of professional service providers covering business cost reduction services; an online debt recovery system; corporate and personal finance; tax mitigation; wealth management; research and development tax credits, insolvency support and so on.

What’s your firm’s unique selling point?

There are two things which differentiate us in the accountancy profession. First, we see our role as helping owner managed businesses build better businesses and have better lives, hence our strapline ‘Better Business, Better Life’ Our Business Development Programme takes business owners through a full process from goal setting, through strategic planning, business modelling, customer service standards, team building, operational efficiency and so on through to creating a Management Control Plan.

The second is that we believe in setting the highest possible service standards which are backed by these guarantees: We guarantee that our fees will be agreed in advance for all the assignments that we undertake; we will always take our clients’ telephone calls when we are in our office or return them within seven working hours, failing which we will send our client £50; we will meet the deadlines that are set for any assignment or that assignment is free; and we will pay any penalties, interest and surcharges which might arise from our shortcomings. On top of all that, if anything we do falls short of our clients’ expectations we will refund our fee in full without question, or allow our client to reduce the fee to whatever level they feel

Please tell us about the firm’s management in this (these) areas and their specific abilities.

These are the core values upon which our business success has been built and on which our future success will be built.

Work Expectations. Our work experience has to be sufficiently varied to give all team members exposure to all of the types of work that general practice, and our practice in particular, can give. The work we do has to be challenging and enjoyable.

Client Relationships. At all times, we have to maintain personal relationships with our clients. They must be made to feel welcome on every contact with our practice. They must always be aware of the work we are performing for them, the desired results, anticipated time scale and, most importantly, the progress we are making on their behalf.

Client contact will always take precedence over anything else that we are doing at the time.

Team Management, Development and Relationships. The personal development of all of our team members is vital for our own self esteem and for our future as a practice. We have to regard learning as a lifetime commitment. Our internal procedures have to ensure that every team member always has a personal development programme and given every assistance necessary to carry it out.

We will always be aware of the maxim that ‘business creates life’ in the sense that we go to work to provide the means to make a better life for ourselves. We will always remember that our responsibilities to our families always take precedence over our professional ones as the latter can be delegated in times of need.

Personal Standards. Greet and farewell clients by name, with eye contact and handshake if appropriate.

Always speak politely using a person’s name, ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ as appropriate.

If you have an issue with someone, talk about it with them and in private and resolve the issue. When you talk to a person who is not present, speak as if they are listening to your conversation. Apologise and make restitution if someone is rightfully upset by your actions.

Blame a system, not a person for errors or omissions. When things go wrong it is inevitably because our procedures have not been documented properly rather than individual incompetence.

Always tell the truth. Trust is one of the most important factors in professional relationships. Once it is lost, the relationship is likely to be lost too.

Quality. The quality and accuracy of our work should always be the highest level possible commensurate with its value to our client and naturally the amount they are prepared to pay for it. All of the work we do must be subject to review before it is submitted to our clients.

Leadership. We have to be innovative in our service delivery. We have to always be aware that our clients’ needs will change over time so we must always observe those changes and amend our service offering where necessary. The role of leader is to provide the vision of our business progression, to carry out the necessary research, communicate it to the team members and provide them with the means to carry it out.

Please detail any significant clients your firm has worked with and/or projects undertaken by your firm in the past year.

We have been engaged by a $500 million American company which deals with liquid handling and has decided to expand into Europe. It handles any kind of liquid: water, wine, oil, corrosives; farm slurry and so on. They are a big contractor to the fracking industry in the US and are bringing their knowledge and experience into the European marketplace. At the moment they are open in the UK, Netherlands and Germany and our software is ideal for them as it is multi lingual, multi currency, allows branch reporting and consolidating accounts. We can send financial reports either in the local currency or over to the US in US dollars. We get two days after the month end to complete management accounts and we’re never late.

“Outstanding product, outstanding service, I would not hesitate to recommend Mr. Harrison’s accounting and consulting services to any company that is considering opening a business in the United Kingdom”.

Richard Stanton, (of the American company)

“Dear Richard, I’m glad to hear that Mr. Harrison has provided you with a variety of accounting and consulting services. I will keep Mr. Harrison in mind for future US companies who are considering opening a business in the UK.” Ondre Seltzer, Business Development Associate, UK Trade & Investment, British Consulate-General | 2029 Century Park East, Suite 1350, Los Angeles.

Also we’ve recently been appointed by a British company which has invented the greenest lightweight aggregate in the world which is used for concrete manufacture using raw material all of which goes into

landfill at the moment. We are working with them on their business plans and assisting them arranging the funding for the first UK plant which will generate sales of £50 million per annum.

We have been chosen because our systems are expandable, fully documented in the cloud and we have access to efficient offshoring services which will provide any labour that we cannot source in the UK

What challenges, complexities or changes has the firm experienced this year particularly bearing in mind the tough economic downturn we are all encountering?

When I first obtained my practising certificate I could provide any of the services that my clients might require: accounts and tax returns; audit; wealth management and insolvency work. Over the years the latter three have been denied to us through regulation and licensing.

When computers first became commercially available they gave us an exceptional technological advantage because in the small business sector only professional practices could afford to buy them.

Things are very different now. People can go to college for three years, buy a £400 laptop and all of a sudden they can set up across the road as an ‘accountant’ at about 1/3rd of the fee we charge. So there we were. The last of our core services and the margin on it was falling through the floor.

How did you overcome the complexities, challenges or changes?

Around the end of 2013 I was at a 2020 conference where Chris Fredrikson was speaking. He was extolling the virtues of a book that had been written by Jim Collins and was the most read book on business management on the planet..

I had that book, but never read it. It was called ‘Built to Last’. Collins had carried out a study of businesses that had started out over 100 years ago and were still with us today and compared them with similar companies that set up at the same time but failed.

He discovered that each of the long lasting companies had a mission. He didn’t mean one those woolly Mission Statements thought up by marketing gurus, he meant they has a real purpose, for example, GalxoSmithKline whose mission was to improve human health so if they are fighting cholera or polio or aids or some future disease it makes no difference..

So that set me thinking about my accountancy practice which had been founded in 1928. What had been our mission that had seen us through the last 90 years or so that would be relevant for the next 90 years? I knew from an old cash book that we still had that in the 1930s most of the work was insolvency work. As the Second World War came along accounts preparation became prevalent; in the 1970s when tax rates hit 98% tax mitigation was a big factor; from the 80s onwards computerised accounting services were prevalent.

To me the common thread seemed to be that we were helping business owners build better businesses and in Paul Dunn’s words provide a better life for the owners, the workers and their customers so the strapline ‘Better Business, Better Life was born.

I wondered what services can we provide that would fit into that definition in this digital age and I came to the conclusion that it would be financial management services, helping business owners set their long term strategic goals and achieve them. At its heart would be a Financial Management System and started researching electronic systems using the cutting edge technology that was becoming available at the time.

Purchase invoices were e-mailed into the system, approved online and supplier payments sent into an online system for authorisation and release to our clients’ bank accounts; bank transactions were streamed into the accounting system and real time financial reports sent straight to our clients’ phone. The year end figures go into financial performance review software for graphical analysis, forward projections and financial modelling.

You might have noticed that no single entry has been typed into the accounting system with a keyboard. Not a single one. And so it is with month end journals. Spreadsheets are created for things such as petty cash transactions, expense claims, month end journals and these are linked to a template which is used to upload the transactions into our accounting software, eliminating the possibility of keyboard error.

What are the future aspirations and directions for the firm? How do you see the market progressing in 2018?

Business for Good

As part of our initiative to help spread the word about businesses giving back to the community, we play a big part in this thanks to Buy 1 Give 1. Due to B1G1’s incredible charities and stories, we are able to choose what charities and what giving we want to do.

We have decided to link various tasks we complete to giving so that when we complete a certain task we will give to a project on our client’s behalf. The point of B1G1 is becoming a business for good.

Here are some of the examples of the charitable giving that we make: •

As it means a lot to us to gain a new client at John Harrison and Company, when someone new signs we provide five hot, nutritious meal to persons in need in the UK.

•

A business diagnostic is a great way for business owner to improve their business so when we complete a diagnostic we send a birthday treat to an orphaned child in South Africa

•

Our Profit Improvement Programme really is a very valuable tool to help businesses grow. As it is so important tour clients, we have decided that when we complete this programme we shelter a child for a week in Nepal

•

It’s really good for our cash flow when a client pays our fees on time so when they do we provide hospital patients with clean water for a day in Kenya.

•

When file accounts at Companies House, we provide one square metre of rainforest protection in Australia

•

When we file a tax return, we give seven days of access to warm clothes for winter protection in Ukraine.

Get and Give a Million We have just launched major new initiative called Get and Give A Million to help the region’s businesses put £1 million into their bank accounts and make the world a happier place by creating a million smiles We want to make a real impact on the lives of business owners. An impact that flows over into their families, communities, economies and the wider world. An impact that will help make the world a better place for us all. We launched “Get and Give A Million” as a free initiative that helps in two ways. Firstly, by using our skills and experience to find ways of putting £1 million into the bank accounts of our clients to give better lives for business owners, their team members and loved ones (this is the “Get A Million” part). And secondly by helping them to fulfil their corporate social responsibility by giving which creates impacts and a million smiles around the world supporting the UN’s Global Goals (this is the “Give A Million” part).

Contact Details: John Harrison & Company 78 Carlton Rd Worksop Nottinghamshire S80 1PH 01909 472310 john@johnharrison.co.uk

Corporate Finance Accountancy Firm of the Year—Greece KPMG in Greece is member of the global KPMG network of professional services firms. With a presence in Greece since 1971, we are 400 outstanding local professionals providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services, to help our clients meet their goals. Our team combines cumulatively over 100 years of expertise related to various industries and areas of expertise, such as investment banking, industrial companies, audit, tax and legal, thus being able to source the ideal experts for each engagement in order to deliver a unique and value added service to the client.

The corporate finance practice of KPMG Greece has served as a pioneering advisor to a large number of clients and decision makers including global corporations in the retail/consumer goods industry, manufacturing, telecoms, banking, infrastructure and pharmaceuticals. Services offered include M&A, Valuations, Capital Raising, Restructuring, and Structured Financial Modelling as well as Private Equity Advisory services. KPMG’s corporate finance arm has been among the leading advisory firms to be appointed as advisors to the Hellenic Republic in advising them in privatizations and restructuring projects. Our Corporate Finance practice is led by professionals having a vast combined experience of over 30 years in advisory and investment banking practices.

Certain macroeconomic conditions in Greece have driven many companies in financial difficulties and indebtedness. In this context, companies have to strive dealing with correlated difficulties such as high unemployment, low private consumption, lack of liquidity, low investing appetite, real estate properties devaluation and increased corporate taxation.

KPMG has met each client’s expectation in a very challenging and demanding environment, where creativity is also required when taking all these factors in consideration when providing the best advice to our clients.

Indicative List of Clients we have worked with recently, include: Forthnet S.A. (listed telco) Power Public Corporation National Bank of Greece Ilva Group A leading resorts operator (undisclosed) Eurobank SA Starbulk (NASDAQ listed company) Hellenic Republic – restructuring and privatization projects Delhaize Group Goodyear Hellas

Dromeus Capital We normally build our solutions based on our previous experience in similar cases, and are flexible enough to draw on the relevant expertise outside our organization when required.

That being said, we do also deliver tailor made services to meet our clients’ objectives in very complex projects.

The local market will be highly affected by the progress in the political scene and the results of the elections which are to take place by the end of January. The debate for the so-called “Gr-exit” has come up again, but we believe that a smoother solution will prevail.

Assuming that no macroeconomic accident will occur in 2015, we will continue to grow the Corporate Finance practice with a focus on the most promising sectors of the Greek economy such as tourism, the financial sector and telecommunications. Debt restructuring and refinancing issues will continue to be of priority within 2015 too.

Contact Details KPMG Greece Thanos Tsotsoros Director, Financial Advisory Services, Head of Corporate Finance & Restructuring. atsotsoros@kpmg.gr tel. + 30 210 60 62 100

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 multi-award 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

Business Advisory Firm of the Year – UK For nearly 30 years, Cavendish has only acted for business owners. In the last past year, we have advised on the sale of 19 businesses, helping proprietors achieve the best possible price for their companies, finding new owners who can take those businesses forward and accelerate their growth and performance.

Understanding the range of businesses and technologies to a micro level is the challenge we at Cavendish have set ourselves. Helping us achieve this objective are our specialist team led by experts with backgrounds in fields such as engineering and finance together with years spent in corporate finance.

Our entrenched expertise in so many subsectors is matched by unrivalled contacts with leading UK and multinationals. In addition, we can leverage centres of excellence within Oaklins such as the oil and gas team in Dallas, our aerospace team in Seattle or the automotive and aerospace hub in Germany.

Oaklins is the world’s most experience mid-market M&A advisor. Over the last 5 years, Oaklins specialists have closed over 1,500 deals involving industry specialists, taking a global view and leveraging our deep local connections.

The relationships across the alliance underpin our commitment to continuous investment in innovation, leadership and the incorporation of best practices from across all of our business activities.

To achieve such success, in a challenging market wrestling with the challenges of Brexit, we have developed an unrivalled knowledge of potential buyer pools and established teams of sector specialists, who are recognised authorities in their areas offering business owners expert advice on the best preparation, strategy and likely buyers to ensure a successful sale. Utilising our international network of M&A advisors we have continued to source overseas buyers, who typically pay a premium for UK businesses – about half of the companies we sold last year were to international buyers.

There are almost no other firms that operate in the corporate finance arena that have the sole purpose of selling businesses; most represent buyers as well and this invariably begs the question by astute owners of business, are our advisors completely aligned with us? For nearly 30 years, Cavendish’s answer has been unequivocally “yes”.

Contact Details: Company: Cavendish Corporate Finance Email: info@cavendish.com Web Address: www.cavendish.com Address: 40 Portland Place, London W1B 1NB Telephone: 020 7908 6000

Tax Advisory Firm of the Year – Portugal PwC firms collaborate with organizations and individuals to create the value they seek. PwC, a network of independent firms, is present in 157 countries and has approximately 223,000 employees who share the objective of providing quality services in auditing, consulting and taxation.

PwC in Portugal, Angola and Cape Verde has 34 partners, of which 21 are in the Lisbon office, 9 in Porto and 4 in Luanda, and some 1,300 permanent employees in the Lisbon, Porto, Luanda and Praia offices. The vast majority of professionals are licensed in business management, finance, economics, accounting, law, engineering or social sciences, all being offered the chance to complement their academic training, and often receive specific professional training.

Jaime Carvalho Esteves, is Partner of PwC and heads the taxation department of PwC in Angola, Cape Verde and Portugal. He is also the leader of the Government and Public Sector area of PwC. He is a referee of the Administrative Arbitration Center (CAAD) and a member of the Board of Directors of the Forum for Competitiveness.

He specializes in national and international tax planning, transfer pricing, mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, ultra and high net worth individuals and family businesses, including family offices .

He holds a law degree from the Catholic University of Porto. Postgraduate in European Studies from the Catholic University of Lisbon and in Commercial Law from the same University. Executive training at the New Forum of the New University of Lisbon, INSEAD and IMD. He collaborates regularly with several institutions of higher education and with the media, and has published several studies in the area of taxation. He frequently participates as a speaker in courses, seminars and conferences related to taxation in Portugal and abroad.

Throughout his career he has been distinguished with several nominations and awards attributed by entities of reference in the area of taxation. Recently he was recommended by Who's Who Legal as one of the world's leading practitioners in the following areas: Corporate Tax 2017 and Consulting Experts 2017.

Contact Details: Tel: +351 213 599 601 Email: jaime.esteves@pt.pwc.com

Legal Costs Specialists 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.

TO ADVERTISE HERE PLEASE CONTACT: ADMIN@WFAAMAG.CO.UK

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