C 6 8
NT EN T S
Afschrift
Anand & Anand
10 Avocate au Barreau de Neuchâtel 12 Basillio Advogados
14 Derra, Meyer & Partners, Warsaw 16 Gurlich & Co
18 Hoffman & Baron 20 M&M Bomchil
21 Media Law Firm of the Year USA 22 Minter Ellison
24 NCI Law Group
26 ROTHWELL, FIGG, ERNST & MANBECK, P.C. 27 Spiteri Bailey & Co. 28 Stites & Harbison
32 Studio Legale Delfino E Associati 33 Vedder Price
34 Wilkie Farr & Gallagher
LEGAL AWARDS 2014
International Tax Law Firm of the Year - Belgium Corporate IP Law Firm of the Year - India Tax Law Firm of the Year - Switzerland
Litigation Law Firm of the Year - Brazil Law Firm of the Year - Poland
Law Firm of the Year - Czech Republic IP Law Firm of the Year - New York Law Firm of the Year - Argentina Marc Jacobson
IP Law Firm of the Year – New Zealand Law Firm of the Year - Cyprus
Copyright Law Firm of the Year - USA
Business Advisory Firm of the Year - Europe Class Action Adviser of the Year - USA Law Firm of the Year - Italy
Data Privacy Law Firm of the Year - USA Law Firm of the Year - Belgium
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The Professional Sector Network is a leading choice for professional and corporate individuals from around the world. Our subscribers and users trust the Professional Sector Network to deliver leading advisers and hotels globally to them every day. The Professional Sector Network is the leading monthly source of business and dealmaker intelligence for those trading in today’s global corporate marketplace.
Unrivalled in both market and geographic reach, the diversity ofthe Professional Sector Network’s global users and subscribers is one of the many things that distinguishes us from other international networks. Our audience’s come from a multitude of disciplines, business activities and sectors worldwide. Nowhere else can you find access to and regularly updated information on all these corporate professionals on just one site. This truly diversified global audience is made up of key senior corporate executives ranging from (among others) chief executive officers, chief operating officers and finance directors to managing directors, partners and managers at national and international businesses, including: • Mid-market and SME public and private businesses • Large multinational businesses • Private and institutional investors • Private equity and venture capital firms and associations • Asset base lenders • Banks leveraged, commercial and acquisition finance • Law firms • In-house general counsel of leading corporations • Government organisations • Investment and fund managers • Fund administrators and custodians • Financial advisory and accounting firms • Due diligence advisers • Public relations • Brand managers • High-net-worth individuals
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The Network Coming from every corner of the global corporate marketplace, each and every member of the Professional Sector Network has been selected using a rigorous validation process. The Professional Sector Network profiles only the individuals that qualify. This ensures that they fit perfectly into our methodology of networking the leading advisers with the international professional business community. The Professional Sector Network offers adviser’s the unique opportunity of being able to target readers across every market in the international corporate world using just one website something that sets us apart from the rest.
Our large group of experts, each with specific expertise and knowledge in their area, allow us to offer a network system which provides a comprehensive solution for the user. Our work is highly personal and our vast network works to expand your network of contacts and
direct referrals based exclusively around your business’ core area of interest and expertise. This customized approach means that our clients build deeper, more effective relationships with their respective markets.
In addition to our active networking and referral services, we also provide our clients with a profile which they can use and update to further reach out to their market. These profiles may include a variety of information such as news items, details about products/services, and opportunities. Once a client provides this information for their profile, we circulate it through our vast network, via our website, newsletter and social media channels.
We also give advisers worldwide the opportunity to showcase their services to this audience and demonstrate the help they can provide within their jurisdictions. Profiling with the Professional
Sector Network is the most profitable way to reach the global corporate marketplace using just one cost effective solution. With a targeted audience that spans the globe, our clients are assured that our corporate distribution list is made up of senior professionals worldwide who are in a position to take adviser’s up on the services offered.
We bring all the markets together in one site, delivering a unique insight into the global corporate world by covering the full range of marketplace topics in one place, including, among many others: legal, financial, energy, M&A, pharmaceutical, real estate and capital markets.
The consistently high quality of both the design and content of our work, the extent of and continued exposure it receives and our competitive prices are the reasons that our clients say they choose us over the rest.
The Professional Sector Network
Alongside our network, the Professional Sector Network provides business and professional advisory insight, essential market intelligence, analysis of the international marketplace and timely thought-provoking editorials of a consistently high quality. It is this consistently high level of quality that our clients remark
on time and again.
Our news section delivers a constantly updated resource of key deals and business news, to ensure readers and clients are always up-to-date within their particular fields. The Professional Sector Network is a media partner to the United
Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative’s Global Roundtable; the single largest biennial conference devoted exclusively to sustainable finance issues, spanning the banking, investment and insurance industries. The Global Roundtable is a critical learning and outreach opportunity for practitioners globally.
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INTERNATIONAL TAX LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR - BELGIUM
Afschrift Law Firm Telephone: +32 2 646 46 36 www.afschrift.com Avenue Louise, 208, 1050 BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
The Afschrift Law Firm is more than just an association of tax lawyers. All our members share the same vision of our profession and support the same commitment to advise and defend taxpayers, be they individuals or businesses, both in Belgium and abroad.
Created in 1994 by Thierry Afschrift, this law firm brings together lawyers with extensive knowledge in every field of tax law in the widest sense of the term. All our lawyers share the same values values. They fully understand the importance of adopting a global vision in every situation, in response to queries from our clients on the management of their professional businesses or their private assets. They also know that the success of their interventions depends upon speed, efficiency and confidentiality.
Aware of the increasing internationalisation of our clients’ private and professional activities and of the complex nature of their taxation matters, we have opened offices at Antwerp, Madrid, Geneva, Luxembourg, Tel Aviv and Hong Kong. Clients who would like face-to-face meetings with our lawyers, may make appointments in any of these offices.
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CORPORATE IP LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR - INDIA Pravin Anand Anand and Anand www.anandandanand.com Managing Partner Telephone: +91-120-4059300 pravin@anandandanand.com First Channel Building, Plot No. 17 A Sector 16 A, Film City, Noida - 201 301 Pravin Anand, managing partner of the Firm, completed his law studies in New Delhi in 1979 and since then has been practicing as an advocate and a patent and trademark attorney. He has been a counsel in several landmark IP cases involving the first Anton Piller Order (HMV cases); the first Mareva Injunction Order (Philips case); the first Norwich Pharmacal Order (Hollywood Cigarettes case); Moral rights of Artists (Jatin Das case); Recognition for Pro-Bono work for rural innovators at the grass root level’ (National Innovation Foundation Award - Govt. of India); India’s first framing case (TATA diamonds case); First order under the Hague Convention (Astra Zeneca case) and the most recent big ticket Patent litigation cases filed against Novartis, Pfizer and Roche. He is the chairman of the IPR promotion advisory committee (IPAC) constituted by the government of India, and IT committee set up by FICCI. He is the past president of the Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA India) and was director on the board of INTA from 2006 to 2008. He is currently President of both AIPPI and FICPI (Indian group). He has appeared as an expert witness before parliamentary committees to give evidence on amendments to trademark, patent and copyright laws. He is a co-author of the two volumes of Halsbury’s Laws of India on Intellectual Property and serves on the editorial board of several international IP journals. Author of India chapter in Copyright Throughout the World- WEST (Thomson Reuters). He has spoken extensively at various forums including WIPO, AIPPI, INTA, LES, IBA, LAW ASIA and the UN Conference on LDCs in the Digital World. • The prominent awards and accolades accorded to Mr. Anand recently include • Best of the Best - (Legal Media Group Expert Guide) • ILO Client Choice Award- India, 2012 • IAM Patents1000 Gold (2013) Category Lawyer • ‘Star Litigator’ - Benchmark Litigation Survey (2013) • ”Highly Recommended Leading Lawyer” in intellectual property - Chambers and Partners (2013). • ‘Leading Individual’ for intellectual property - Legal 500 (2014)
The Firm
Anand and Anand, established in 1979, is a full service IP law firm, providing end-to-end legal solutions covering all the cross-sections of IP domain. The firm is professionally managed by a partnership board comprising of 18 partners, 3 directors, supported by a management team comprising of CEO, CFO, CIO and chartered accountants, business consultants and IT experts. The firm’s current strength is 270 which include over 90 qualified attorneys, engineers, and 180 members strong support team including paralegals and researchers. Their lawyers are fluent in English and Hindi and are based in New Delhi, Noida, Chennai and Mumbai.
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The firm’s clients consist of several large multinational and Indian companies representing a broad spectrum of industries, including healthcare, electronics, consumer goods, industrial goods, automobiles, wind energy, technology, financial institutions, hospitality and entertainment. The firm has an extensive intellectual infrastructure in all aspects related to trademark registrations, copyright registrations and IP monetisation, as well as in-licensing and franchising. The firm also has an in-house anticounterfeiting and anti-piracy team, dedicated to providing clients with proactive and robust legal protection for safeguarding their brand identities in the commercial space. Anand and Anand is a leading firm in the IP space. Its expertise is widely acknowledged in addressing complex IP challenges of all types. It services a diverse portfolio of clients in conventional IP areas such as trademarks, patents, designs, trade secrets and confidential information, as well as in expanding areas of intellectual property such as domain names, media and entertainment law, information technology and e-commerce, technology transfer and internet and privacy laws. Anand and Anand specialises in copyright in media and entertainment law, and represents authors, musicians, software programmers, artists, designers and many others from the fraternity of copyright owners, as well as collecting societies such as the Indian Performing Rights Society. The firm has substantial techno-legal expertise and valuable insight into strategic and procedural issues, as well as a wealth of experience in patent prosecution and litigation to advise, assist and equip international and domestic clients with comprehensive and innovative IP solutions in this domain. The firm’s capabilities include drafting, filing and prosecuting patents in diverse disciplines. The firm has received many prominent accolades for 2012, such as Managing Intellectual Property – IP Contentious Firm of the Year and an ILO Client Choice Award.
Awards and Accolades
• The firm has received many prominent accolades: • Managing Intellectual Property-IP Contentious Firm of the Year (2012) • ILO Client Choice Award (2012) • ‘Asia IP Trademark Firm of the Year - India (2013)’ • ‘Gold Band Category’ - IAM 1000 Patent (2013) for IP Litigation and Licensing • Ranked under the respective Tier 1 categories for prosecution and contentious work by Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 for the Year 2014 • ‘Gold Band Category’ World Trade Mark Review (WTR 1000 - 2014) • ASIAN-MENA COUNSEL IP Law Firm of the Year – India (2013) • Managing Intellectual Property Tier 1 Patent Prosecution and Contentious (World Patent Survey 2014)
Dr Sibilla G. Cretti SGC Avocat Etude Sibilla G. Cretti www.sgc-avocat.com Partner-Owner Telephone: +41 32 725 12 07 sibilla.cretti@sgc-avocat.com 22, Rue de l’Hôpital, P.O. Box 271, CH – 2002 Neuchâtel
Education The Partner-Owner is holder of a PHD in Law and an LL.M in international Taxation; she is also holding the STEP Swiss Certificate in Trust Management. The Partner-Owner is attorney at law and admitted to Bar in Neuchâtel and in Geneva.
Biography
Born in a multilingual environment with professional stays in various cantons in Switzerland and abroad, the Partner-Owner can rely on a longstanding and in depth professional experience in the field of Private Clients and Tax issues. Thanks to clients’ and peers’ recommendations, the Law Firm has known a continuous growth since its creation in 2010. The Partner-Owner is the author of numerous publications in the fields of specialization of the Law Firm and a welcome speaker. Among publications which have been welcomed by a large audience in Switzerland: - Le trust - Aspects fiscaux, Helbing & Lichtenhahn, Bâle 2007
- Successions internationales - Aspects de droit fiscal – Les conventions fiscales conclues par la Suisse dans le domaine des impôts de successions, Helbing & Lichtenhahn, Bâle 2014
Other Practice Areas • Succession law
• Trust and foundation law • Corporate law
Information about the Firm
Founded in January 2010, the Law firm’s objective is to offer its clients a dedicated and bespoke, multilingual and solution oriented service. High quality services, based on a profound knowledge and a longstanding professional experience, are a must. Directed by an independent and entrepreneurial spirit, the Law firm will privilege with its clients, with is competitors and with the competent authorities, namely the tax authorities, relationships based on reciprocal respect and transparency.
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TAX LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR - SWITZERLAND
The Law firm offers its services in French, English, German and Italian. The mastery of foreign languages and the constant strive for excellence through continuous formation and publications, in Switzerland and abroad, are the characteristics of the Law firm. In an international context, the Law firm has the privilege to be able to rely on a net of outstanding professional correspondents.
The Law firm covers the following fields of specialization: - Swiss and international taxation of private clients and enterprises
- Relocation to and from Switzerland of private clients, covering tax and legal aspects such as residence permits and permits to acquire immovable property
- Tax and estate planning in a Swiss and international context
- Estates and marital regimes in a national and international context - Swiss foundation Law
- Taxation of artists and sportsmen in a Swiss and international context
- Representing clients in front of administrative, tax and judicial authorities in Switzerland, in the fields of specialization of the Law firm
Through its Partner-Owner, the Law firm is a member of the following professional associations: - International Fiscal Association (IFA)
- International Tax Planning association (ITPA)
- Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners (STEP) - Swiss Bar Association
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LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR - BRAZIL Ana Tereza Basilio Telephone: 55 (21) 2277 4200 Fax: 55 (21) 2210 6316 abasilio@basilioadvogados.com.br www.basilioadvogados.com.br Avenida Presidente Wilson, número 210 – 12º andar, Centro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil – (zip code) Cep 20030-021
ANA TEREZA BASILIO – specialist in civil and commercial litigation as well as in arbitration. Bachelor of Law from Universidade Cândido Mendes, worked in large offices of Brazil, among them, Sergio Bermudes’ firm, where she worked during eleven years. She was also a partner of Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Firm (Baker & McKenzie), being responsible, in Brazil, for the civil and commercial litigation area, from July, 2002 to December, 2005.
She is a post graduate in North American Law from Wisconsin University, and is a specialist in civil and commercial litigation as well as in arbitration. She taught Civil Law in the Post Graduation Course of the Escola Superior de Advocacia (Lawyer’s Superior School), from 1993 to 2001, and she’s the author of several books about corporate law.
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LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR - POLAND Dr. Robert Lewandowski M.A. DMP Derra, Meyer, R. Lewandowski sp. K. General Partner Telephone: +48 22 1010 740 www.derra.eu r.lewandowski@derra.pl ul. Żurawia 43 lok. 12, PL-00-680 Warszawa / Poland Derra, Meyer & Partners was founded in 1980 by Hans-Jörg Derra and has grown in recent years to comprise an efficient team of more than 45 lawyers. The Warsaw branch of Derra, Meyer & Partners is a well known and established legal firm in the heart of Warsaw offering a comprehensive range of services and legal advice fully tailored to our Polish and International clients demands and expectations.
Languages: Polish, English, German and Russian and we are one of the very few legal firms based in Poland to provide legal advice in Italian.
During the second half of 2010, DMP Warsaw established an Italian Desk. Currently Derra, Meyers & Partner have seven offices in Germany (Ulm, Dresden, Berlin, Chemnitz, Bamberg, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf), two offices in
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Italy (Bologna, Milan) and two offices in Poland (Warsaw, Wrocław). During recent years we have been successfully involved in a number of cases with an international flavor. We have advised a Chinese construction giant in setting up a Polish subsidiary and assisted them to enter the lucrative Polish market of road building, sport stadiums and shopping mall investment. Additionally, we represented Warsaw City Council during negotiations with UEFA regarding the staging of the 2012 European Football Championship in Poland and Ukraine. Furthermore, we have advised international volleyball stars from Germany, Italy, Spain and Slovakia during negotiations with their clubs and contractual dispute settlement. DMP Warsaw is a member of DIRO (www.diro.eu) - one of the largest law firm networks in Europe - and a member of International REFERRAL (www.international-referral.com) which allows us to provide our services at a Pan- European level and also to Non – EU countries.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR - CZECH REPUBLIC Richard Gürlich GÜRLICH &Co. Advokátní kancelář Partner Telephone: 00420 222101591 www.akrg.cz info@akrg.cz Politických vězňů 19, Prague 1, Postal code 11000 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.
Currently, the firm consists of many lawyers who are supported by a qualified office staff. Besides, on a case to case basis, we would invite for cooperation many other external specialists and free-lance lawyers. This law firm is 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. We are capable of providing legal services in the Czech and English languages. 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.
Scope of Legal Services:
Business Transactions Civil Law Intellectual Property Corporate Law and Business Law, Public Procurement Labour Law Real Estate Litigation
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Lou A. Budzyn Hoffmann & Baron, LLP Partner Telephone: (973)331-1700; Fax: (973)331-1717 www.hbiplaw.com lbudzyn@hbiplaw.com Parsippany, NJ 07054
Overview of the America Invents Act What is the AIA? The America Invents Act (“AIA”) was enacted into law on September 16, 2011. The most significant patent legislation in quite some time, the AIA substantially changes patent practice in the United States. For several reasons, the full effect of the AIA is still difficult to fully appreciate at this time. It impacted many different aspects of patent law, including administrative, procedural, and substantive changes.
First Inventor to File
With the whole world utilizing a “first to file” system, whereby superior patent rights are established by the first entity to file a patent application, the US historically has utilized a “first to invent” system in which parties seek to prove first inventorship, independent of patent application filing dates, to determine superior rights. The AIA abolished the “first to invent” system, effective March 13, 2013, and instituted what is being referred to as a ”first inventor to file” system. Under “first inventor to file”, the first entity to file a patent application establishes superior rights, with one caveat: the entity needs to be
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the inventive entity. The AIA provides for an inter partes derivation proceeding where a patent applicant can be challenged as deriving the invention from the challenger. The derivation proceeding will be conducted before a newly constituted Patent Trial and Appeal Board (“PTAB”).
Practical Considerations of First Inventor to File
It is generally recognized that efforts are being made to file a patent application as early as possible under the new system. However, concerns exist over possible sacrifices being made in the interest of expediency. For example, the full scope of an invention may not be appreciated, and thus not captured, with a rushed filing. The question then arises, was the “invention” truly filed since it was not fully appreciated. This can be addressed by serially filing patent applications to affirmatively stake filing dates as improvements are realized. This can lead to additional costs and possible uncertainty over true dates of invention. Nevertheless, this may be better than the alternative where time is spent waiting for full development of an invention, resulting in possible loss of rights because of an intervening filer. Under the AIA, it would be good practice to file a patent application before public disclosure
IP LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR - NEW YORK
of an invention. Various factors, including development of the invention, should be considered in evaluating the timing of any such filings. Once filed, it would be prudent to check patent filings against any actual product, prior to publicly disclosing, to ensure that the details of the product are fully embodied in a filed patent application. This best ensures that the invention is fully filed before public disclosure. A string of patent applications may need to be relied upon to best ensure such coverage.
Third Party Challenges
Under the AIA, two forums of reexamination are offered which allow for a third party to callange the validity of an issued Patent. There is ex parte reexamination which is conducted by a Patent Examiner with minimal involvement by the third party once filed. There is additionally inter partes review (“IPR”) which are conducted before the PTAB, not an Examiner. The AIA also provides for two new PTAB procedures for challenging a patent’s validity: post grant review (“PGR”), and the Transitional Program for Covered Business Method Patents (“TPCBM”). A PGR is akin to an opposition proceeding and must be filed within nine months of issuance of a patent. A PGR can be based on any basis of invalidity (e.g., inventorship), in contrast to IPR’s which must be based on only patents or printed
publications. A TPCBM is a limited proceeding for challenging the validity for certain business method patents. This proceeding can only be filed in response to a party being sued for, or charged with, infringement of the patent. The Patent Office shall in time define which business method patents are covered by this provision. IPR’s, PGR’s, and TPCBM’s all came into effect on September 16, 2012. These proceedings may provide cost-effective measures to attack a patent’s validity while avoiding litigation. It should be noted that some estoppel provisions exist which should be carefully considered in deciding what action to take.
Conclusion
Although the full scope of the AIA is difficult to appreciate at this time, general information is available which can be considered in developing prospective strategies. Developments are continually filtering out of the Patent Office. The Patent Office maintains a micro-site at http://www.uspto.gov/aia_implementation/ index.jsp on which AIA developments are posted. It may be good practice to consider updates in real time in preparing for the upcoming changes. Please contact us to discuss any aspect of the AIA.
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LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR - ARGENTINA M. & M. Bomchil Telephone: (+54 11) 4321-7500 www.bomchil.com info@bomchil.com Suipacha 268 12 floor - C1008AAF Buenos Aires – Argentina
Guido Santiago Tawil
Rafael Manóvil
M. & M. Bomchil, founded in 1923, is one of the most prestigious law firms in Argentina. The firm provides comprehensive legal advice to local and international clients in different areas of the law. Our lawyers are highly specialized in commercial, administrative, competition, regulatory, tax, labor, and environmental law, among other areas. Our organization is especially designed for timely meeting our clients’ needs. Our firm is totally devoted to meeting our clients’ demands.
Our clients include multinational companies and regional big and medium-sized companies from different sectors of the economy, as well as governments, foreign embassies and non-profit organizations.
We are committed to the full satisfaction of our clients´ legal needs in our practice areas, through a service of excellence oriented to provide precise and constructive solutions to their problems and align behind their interests, while conducting ourselves with honesty and integrity within a cordial and loyal professional relationship.
The firm increased its international arbitration practice after the incorporation of Guido Santiago Tawil as a partner in 1993. Since then, the firm has developed substantial experience in arbitration proceedings under the ICC, UNCITRAL, ICDR and ICSID rules, among others. Today, with more than 20 practitioners in the field, M. & M. Bomchil is a regional leader. M. & M. Bomchil’s partners regularly participate as lawyers, arbitrators or experts in key conflicts related to commercial, regulatory matters and foreign investment disputes. The firm has represented companies as Endesa, CMS, Azurix, Telefónica, Siemens, Camuzzi, Enron, Disco (former subsidiary of Ahold), Wintershall Energía (Basf Group), among others, in some of the major investment and commercial disputes in the region, holding one of the most diverse portfolios of claims in Latin America in the past few years. The arbitration group of the firm has been consistently ranked as one Argentine leading team (tier No. 1) in international and local surveys. The firm has been actively involved in well-known investment disputes submitted to ICSID arbitration, the majority of which were won by our clients or ended by settlement. These disputes amounted to an aggregate sum of more than US$ 5.000 MM. These cases were handled by Guido
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Francisco Gutierrez
Maria Corra
Tawil, Francisco Gutiérrez, Maria Inés Corrá and Héctor Huici. The firm has successfully represented a Chilean distributor (respondent) in an international arbitration under the ICDR arbitration rules in a dispute of more than US$ 40 MM. The case was handled by Guido Tawil and Maria Inés Corrá. The firm has also handled several disputes dealing with energy matters, corporate conflicts and the pesification of foreign currency denominated debts, among others. Such disputes have been submitted either to domestic courts, or to domestic or international arbitral tribunals. These cases have been handled by Guido Tawil, María Inés Corrá, Héctor Huici and Federico Campolieti.
The firm has represented an Argentine renewable energy company, in a contractual conflict with regard to the fulfillment of a supply and installation agreement and a service and maintenance agreement for more than 40 wind turbine generators. The dispute amounted to more than U$S 40 million and dealt with issues such as additional costs and the impact of exchange controls imposed by Argentine Government on payments due under the contracts, among others. The case was settled in December 2012. The case was handled by Guido Santiago Tawil, María Inés Corrá and, Francisco Gutiérrez. The firm also represented an Argentine real estate company in a contractual conflict with regard to the fulfillment of a hotel operating agreement against the French leading hotel operator. The firm also represents one of Argentina’s main financial institutions in cross-lawsuits filed with minority shareholders, which –once decided– could turn out to be leading cases on novel legal questions. This matter has been handled by Rafael Manóvil. The firm is currently acting as lead counsel in an ICC arbitration between a Chilean gas distributor and three Argentine gas producers related to the performance of a gas supply contract. The dispute deals with the impact of the Argentine Government measures on the execution of long term contracts for gas exports to Chile and involves a claim over US$ 500 MM. The case may lead to claims from our client against other parties. Guido Santiago Tawil and María Inés Corrá are handling this case.
MEDIA LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR - USA Marc Jacobson MARC JACOBSON, PC Owner Telephone: +1.242.245.8955 www.marcjacobson.com 770 Broadway, New York, NY 1003.
Biography Selected by Chambers USA every year since 2005 and by Super Lawyers since 2008 as one of the top Entertainment Lawyers in NYC, Jacobson built his unique practice by focusing on his two passions: music and film. He represented the estates of George & Ira Gershwin, Elvis Presley and Duke Ellington and important songwriters such as Jimmy Webb, Shakira and Annie Roboff. He handled films like “Conviction” with Hilary Swank & Sam Rockwell, represented Oscar Nominee Rip Torn and is now Executive Producer of Dennis Hopper’s final film. He also held senior executive positions at several major internet companies. Jacobson is the Founding Chairman of the NYS Bar Association Section on Entertainment Arts & Sports Law, testified before Congress and WIPO regarding the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, and was Adjunct Professor of Entertainment Law at Fordham University Law School, CUNY Law School and The New School. He is licensed to practice law in New York, California (inactive) and Florida.
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IP LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR – NEW ZEALAND Christopher Young Minter Ellison Rudd Watts Partner Telephone: +64 9 353 9910 www.minterellison.co.nz christopher.young@minterellison.co.nz Lumley Centre, 88 Shortland Street, Auckland 1010, NZ Minter Ellison Rudd Watts (MERW) has a dedicated Intellectual Property (IP) practice and is internationally recognised: • We are unique in the New Zealand market as we are part of an Australasian practice. We work closely with the Minter Ellison Legal Group’s IP practice, which is a strong and experienced team. • We have a very wide range of clients and depth to our practice, industries and work types for both local and international companies (including privately owned, SMEs and large public and multinational companies). The examples of work in this submission and the referees from a range of different business types have been selected to demonstrate this. • We advise on all aspects of IP work (except patent registration), and are best known for:
o
Commercialisation of IP, including structuring, licensing, using IP as security, IP financing, and effective tax structures
o Branding strategy, trade mark registration and portfolio management locally and internationally o
IP aspects of a range of major corporate transactions, including IP due diligence, preparing practical commercial due diligence reports, and dealing with IP in commercial transactions, including negotiating IP aspects of sale and purchase contracts and licensing resulting from the transaction (mergers, acquisitions, asset transfers, licensing, joint ventures, development agreements, and capital raisings)
o
IP dispute resolution and litigation including trade mark, copyright, Fair Trading Act, passing-off, confidential information
o
Marketing and advertising
o
Film, television and related advisory work, advising major studios and independent producers on production and post production including structuring, contracts, New Zealand and cross border IP advice.
o IP relating to major sporting events. IP forms a significant part of our sports law practice.
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LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR - CYPRUS Ioannis (John) Neocleous NCI LAW GROUP LLC Managing Partner Telephone: (+3579) 22 510031 www.ncilawgroup.com info@ncilawgroup.com 8 DASOUPOLEOS, 2015 STROVOLOS, NICOSIA, CYPRUS NCI LAW GROUP is an International law firm having its headquarters in Cyprus and representative offices and branches in Switzerland, USA and Canada. NCI Law Group offers national & international legal advice, services, solutions, transactions & dispute resolutions to a wide range of global corporate clientele on all aspects of law. We specialise in the provision of global corporate structuring and in advising businesses and individuals seeking to protect wealth, and who wish to trade and invest beyond their own national borders. Our primary focus is to understand, assess, design and implement a solution that best fits our clients’ specific needs and goals while maximizing the available benefits. Our law firm renders a wide range of highly
professional services within the framework of national and international law. NCI Law Group offers a broad array of capabilities in virtually all areas of the legal practice. The Firm’s broad areas of practice include Corporate Law, Commercial Law, Banking Law, European Union Law, Litigation and Arbitration, Business Immigration, Tax Law, Criminal Law, Trustee Services, and Real estate. Our dedication to maintaining and growing a wide range of more discrete practice areas enables us to identify options and offer the legal assistance needed to address clients’ needs creatively. Our philosophy to legal advice and services is simple - quality, commercial, practical legal advice, delivered with the best technology
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results in cost effective legal advice and services and repeat clients. We have already provided legal and business consultation services for both local and foreign clients for several years. We know the importance of our clients planning their legal and financial affairs and this is why we reassure our clients that our resources are used in the best possible manner to carry out their requirements. Our business values and codes is our guidance for success. We deal with every client situation as if it is our own and we enjoy the challenge of providing solutions to the questions brought forward to us by our clients.
COPYRIGHT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR - USA Rothwell, Figg, Ernst & Manbeck, P.C. Telephone: +1 202 783 6040 www.rfem.com info@rfem.com 607 14th Street NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20005
Rothwell Figg is a quality-focused firm for high stakes intellectual property matters. We have over 50 lawyers and IP professionals representing a wide range of clients on a global basis, from emerging businesses to Fortune 500 companies. Our experienced lawyers can administer any type of IP matter no matter the size or complexity. We understand that intellectual property is a key factor in a company’s success. Our lawyers and IP professionals take a strategic, cross-disciplined approach, with business oriented insight to IP matters. Through our multifaceted perspective, technical competency, and sharp understanding of our clients’ business, we bring a tailored strategy and deeper insight to our clients’ matters positioning them the with best chance of attaining their goals.
Our lawyers have the experience and the technical knowledge required to handle the most sophisticated IP matters. Many of our lawyers and IP professionals have first-hand industry experience in engineering, research, development and design, and many hold advanced scientific degrees. Additionally, Rothwell Figg is home to many former patent examiners, as well as a former Patent and Trademark Office Solicitor, Administrative Patent Judge. We are uniquely positioned to represent and counsel clients in a wide range of capacities. Our lawyers are lead litigators in IP matters of every kind and at every level. Our patent litigation practice is recognized as one of the best in the nation, and we are frequently lead trial counsel in jurisdictions across the country in cases involving large competitors as well as those involving non-practicing entities. Rothwell Figg has substantial experience handling cases involving trade identity (trademark), copyright and licensing areas, character rights, publications relating to education, and unique trade identity cases involving color and size of pharmaceuticals and parallel imports. We have extensive experience before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, specifically the Patent Trial and Appeal Board in matters involving post-grant proceedings and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board involving trademark opposition and cancellation proceedings.
Patent prosecution remains one of the firm’s strongest practices. Our patent lawyers are securing IP protection, rendering opinions, and providing advice on activities worldwide. Our patent prosecution clients are engaged in sophisticated technological areas such as computer hardware and software; semiconductors; advanced electronics; telecommunications; e-commerce and the Internet; financial services; biotechnology and pharmaceutical fields; medical devices and a variety of mechanical systems devices.
In addition to our litigation and patent prosecution practices, we provide strategic counseling, patent infringement and validity opinions; we also handle licensing and other IP-related transactional as well as due diligence matters. We have a significant trade identity and copyright practice, representing clients in the fields of trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyright, unfair competition, character protection, and the like. We pride ourselves on providing clients the highest quality professional services in a timely manner at a reasonable cost. Open communication is one of the keys to Rothwell Figg’s success and we recognize the importance for our clients to stay informed on their matters they have entrusted us to handle which is why our firm has a regular communication policy, ensuring that our clients will always know the progress of their matter.
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BUSINESS ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR - EUROPE William Spiteri Bailey Spiteri Bailey & Co. Senior Partner Telephone: (00356) 21499250 www.spiteribailey.com william@spiteribailey.com Spiteri Bailey & Co. Triq Dun Karm, Birkirkara By-Pass, Birkirkara BKR9038, Malta
Spiteri Bailey & Co. is a mid-sized Multi-Disciplinary Firm, an independent member of PrimeGlobal, one of the largest associations of independent accounting firms in the world.
Malta has proved to be an attractive tax and cost-efficient Eurozone jurisdiction for financial services, trading and holding activities. The Maltese economy is a very open one in which foreign direct investment in many of its sectors is vital to its continued growth. The overriding climate is one of encouraging and assisting inward investment particularly in key and targeted sectors such as financial services and related industries. The reasons why an investor should consider Malta as a jurisdiction for doing business include … •
A stable political situation and a strong industrial relations record
•
An educated and skilled English-speaking labour force
•
An excellent communications infrastructure
• A reasonably-priced location where the cost of living and cost of labour are relatively low by European standards • •
An attractive EU-approved Tax Refund and Participation Exemption regime Absence of withholding taxes
• Exemption from tax on transfers of shares and securities held by non-residents (except for shares in companies owning real estate in Malta) and other exemptions • •
An extensive double taxation treaty network (including all EU Member States)
Convenient time zone (GMT+1) and location in the centre of the Mediterranean
Spiteri Bailey & Co. is in a position to provide a complete range of services in support of International
companies establishing a commercial presence in Malta. The Firm offers all the back office services including payroll administration, Accounting, Audit, Tax and VAT compliance and Company Secretarial Services. Spiteri Bailey & Co. is also well established and qualified to provide audits of Funds and SICAVs. It also has a well established department to provide the full service of liquidation of companies including liquidation of Funds and SICAV’s.
Spiteri Bailey & Co. has an expert team that can assist clients in developments in International Financial
Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the EU, or in General Accounting Principles for Smaller Entities (GAPSE) which has been an important step towards simplification in Malta; Spiteri Bailey & Co. has been heavily involved in the development of GAPSE in Malta.
When one becomes a client of Spiteri Bailey & Co. , our first step is to understand the personal, business and investment goals. That understanding provides us the foundation to be of the most value to the clients when advising them on specific issues. First and foremost is the attention we give to year-round planning and open dialogue. A truly successful relationship means that one can count on us to be a sounding board for ideas and recommendations and a resource to enhance the profitability and wealth of one’s business. From the onset the main aim of the Firm was to provide clients with the best professional service they expect.
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CLASS ACTION ADVISER OF THE YEAR - USA Chadwick A. McTighe Stites & Harbison, PLLC Attorney (Member) Telephone: (502) 681-0392 www.stites.com cmctighe@stites.com 400 West Market Street, Suite 1800, Louisville, Kentucky 40202 Chadwick is an attorney and member of Stites & Harbison, PLLC. He practices in the firm’s business litigation service group where he represents a wide range of clients in many different types of matters. He practices extensively in class action litigation and complex litigation involving a number of industries and substantive areas of the law (including, for example, insurance and annuities, consumer fraud/consumer protection, data breaches, fiduciary duties, financial institutions, employment and wage and hour issues, real estate, telecommunications and utilities, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and the Fair Credit Reporting Act). Chadwick is admitted to practice in Kentucky, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky and for the Southern District of Indiana. He regularly advises and represents clients located throughout the United States and conducting business throughout the world. In addition to representing his clients, Chadwick enjoys taking opportunities to provide educational and general advisory services to the legal and business communities. He has given presentations on various topics, particularly through Continuing Legal Education programs, and he has written articles that have appeared in local and international publications. Chadwick believes strongly in giving back to the community through public service and takes an active role in charitable and civic organizations. Chadwick received his juris doctorate from the University of Notre Dame in 2004 and his bachelor of arts from the University of Notre Dame in 2001.
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LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR - ITALY Maurizio Delfino Delfino e Associati Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP Partner Telephone: +39 02 76 363 1 Milan; +39 06 68 636 1 Rome www.willkie.com; mdelfino@delfinowillkie.com Via Michele Barozzi, 220122 Milan, Italy Via di Ripetta, 14200186 Rome, Italy
Maurizio Delfino Maurizio Delfino is a partner in Corporate and Financial Services Department of Delfino e Associati Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP. Mr. Delfino specializes in M&A, private equity, capital markets and regulation of the securities markets, and antitrust. Chambers Europe (2013) and Chambers Global (2013) rank Mr. Delfino among the leading individuals practicing in the area of Corporate/M&A in Italy. Mr. Delfino is a member of the Italian Association of European Lawyers, the Italian Association of Administrative Lawyers, the American Bar Association, and the International Bar Association.
Mr. Delfino has been teaching public economic law on a part-time basis since 1979 at the University of Rome Law School. He has written several monographs and has had numerous articles published in major law reviews in the fields of securities regulation, corporate finance, the protection of minority shareholders, and antitrust. He is a frequent lecturer at national and international symposia in these fields and occasionally holds a course on privatization at the University of Rome Law School. Mr. Delfino is fluent in Italian, English, and French. Mr. Delfino is admitted to the Bar of Rome.
Delfino e Associati Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP operates in Italy through its affiliate - Delfino e Associati Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP (hereinafter D-WFG).
Delfino e Associati Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is an Italian law firm with offices in Milan and Rome. D-WFG consists of experienced professionals with a well-established practice, clientele and personnel basis and it is one of the most important Italian law firms. D-WFG operates in the fields of Mergers and Acquisitions and Private Equity, Restructuring and Insolvency, Corporate Law and Contracts, Capital Markets, Banking and Finance, Labour Law, Tax, Competition Law, Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution and in the field of Trust.
The offices of D-WFG are well integrated into the overall structure of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP. Therefore, while maintaining high quality local standards, the Firm is in a prime position to assist clients on deals that span multiple jurisdictions. The ability to combine the international reach of Willkie and local market expertise has allowed to develop an unparalleled practice in financial markets while offering clients cutting edge solutions to their legal needs. D-WFG is deeply rooted in the local context, so our clients may rely on us and become real insiders in the relevant Italian market. The Firm has been involved in some of the largest transactions which took place in Italy and is now regarded as one of the leading M&A law firms in the country.
D-WFG is well reputed for both its solid technical-legal level as well as for its creative and problems solving approach to extraordinary
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management corporate issues, also thanks to the ability of professionals working at D-WFG to adapt innovative solutions, already successfully tested in other jurisdictions, to the Italian legal environment.
D-WFG has also developed significant skills and expertise in the fields of Project Finance, Energy Law and related regulatory and compliance issues. In recent years, we have advised on many headline M&A transactions that are reshaping the energy and utilities sectors. This expertise is the result of the involvement of D-WFG’s attorneys in complex transactions and the legal assistance rendered to major players in the field wishing to break into the European market. Members of the Rome office of D-WFG have developed excellent working relationships with public authorities and have significant expertise in such specialized fields as Administrative Law, Antitrust, Regulation of Insurance, Banks, Energy, Financial Intermediaries and Telecommunication. The Tax Department of the Firm provides tax expertise on the occasion of the transactions handled by D-WFG. Besides interacting on an as needed basis with corporate and regulatory attorneys on the occasion of the due diligence of targets, our tax counsel have specialized in international corporate tax issues, with an emphasis on cross-border transactions and compliance related issues. They have broad experience in structuring cross border acquisitions and dismissals, including transactions with government entities.
DATA PRIVACY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR - USA Bruce A. Radke Vedder Price Telephone: +1 (312) 609 7689 www.vedderprice.com bradke@vedderprice.com 222 North LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60601
Vedder Price is a thriving general-practice law firm with a proud tradition of maintaining long-term relationships with our clients, many of whom have been with us since our founding in 1952. With approximately 300 attorneys and growing, we serve clients across the globe in virtually all industries from our offices in Chicago, New York, Washington, DC, London and San Francisco. We provide clients with personalized service, distinctive credentials, competitive rates with a particular focus on efficiency, strong professional relations and sound leadership with long-term stability. We provide legal services to clients ranging from large publicly held corporations to small emerging companies, as well as numerous partnerships and individuals. Our attorneys primarily focus their work in three key areas: corporate, labor and employment, and litigation services. The corporate practice is Vedder Price’s largest practice area, handling all types of business and financial matters for clients, including bankruptcy and reorganizations, corporate and commercial finance, fund formation, global transportation finance, insurance and risk management, intellectual property, international transactions, mergers and acquisitions, securities, and venture capital and private equity. We are also acknowledged as a premier labor and employment law firm, serving clients in a variety of matters including employment discrimination, global business immigration, EEO, ERISA and employee benefits, labor relations, and wage and hour claims. Our litigation group has extensive experience representing clients in a wide variety of matters in trial and appellate courts, before administrative agencies, and in arbitration and other alternative dispute resolution contexts. In today’s business environment, protecting confidential and proprietary information is not just a competitive issue; it is a growing regulatory requirement. The data privacy and security team at Vedder Price has the experience to help clients comply with the various laws and standards governing the collection, use, sharing and protection of personal data. We provide a full spectrum of services—from data breach response, internal investigations and litigation to policy development and industry-specific compliance and regulatory counseling. Our interdisciplinary approach focuses on all aspects of information management, including privacy, data
protection and information security, to help prevent data breaches. We have also assembled a rapid-response capability to assist our clients in responding to the legal, operational and reputational risks associated with a data breach.
Few segments of our economy have been able to avoid data security breaches. We provide data privacy and security assistance to organizations across a wide range of industries, including banking and financial institutions, retail, health care, manufacturing, life sciences and pharmaceutical, and education, as well as to state and local governments. Our attorneys represent public- and private-sector clients affected by data security incidents, including data loss and/or the wrongful disclosure of consumer data or personally identifying information. We provide comprehensive assistance with data security breaches, including customer notification, state and federal regulatory negotiations, and discussions with payment card issuers as well as call center and investor relations communications. In addition, we help clients plan for and prevent data security breaches by:
• Formulating and implementing data privacy policies and procedures, including data collection, security, sharing and processing • •
Developing data security incident response plans, including templates, workflows and checklists Investigating and responding to data security incidents and resultant litigation
• Conducting data privacy and security risk management assessments •
Providing privacy and data security counseling and training
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LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR - BELGIUM Xavier Dieux Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP Managing Partner Telephone: +32 2 290 18 20 www.willkie.com xdieux@willkie.com Avenue Louise 480/3b
Education Université Libre de Bruxelles, PhD in Law, Summa Cum Laude, 1994.
Université Libre de Bruxelles, Special Degree in Economic Law, Summa Cum Laude, (1979) and J.D. (Licence en Droit), Summa Cum Laude (1978).
Biography
Xavier Dieux is a partner in the Corporate and Finance Department and in the Litigation Department of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP Brussels.
His practice areas encompass Public Offerings (including TOB), Capital Market Operations and Regulation, Mergers & Acquisistion, Corporate Governance and Financial Regulation, as well as Litigation in all areas of Financial, Corporate, Commercial and Contract Law. As to his Litigation practice, Xavier Dieux is also frequently appointed as arbitrator with respect to international or domestic proceedings. He practices in French and in English. Chambers has been ranking Xavier Dieux as a leading individual for the last 15 years.
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Selected Professional and Business Activities Xavier Dieux serves as a (part time) Professor at the Faculty of Law of the « Université Libre de Bruxelles », where he served also as Dean of the Faculty from 1996 to 2000. He currently teaches Company Law, Financial Law and Art of Pleading in Economic Law, after having been in charge of the following courses : Contracts and Torts, Theory of Law and International State Contracts. He is the author of two books, in the areas of Contracts and Torts (« Le Respect Dû aux Anticipations Légitimes d’Autrui ») and of Company Law (« Corporate Governance », with Didier Willermain). He is also the author of numerous articles in all his areas of practicing and teaching. Some of them have been recently collected in a book : « Droit, Morale et Marché »). Xavier Dieux is a member of the Corporate Governance Commission which devised the Belgian Corporate Governance Code for Listed Companies, designated as the Code of Reference by a Royal Decree dated of 6 June 2010.
He is a Member of the Royal Academy of Belgium and Honorary Member of the Banking and Finance Commission.