Five Star Lawyers 2018

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LAWYERS WORLDWIDE AWARDS MAGAZINE Five Star Lawyers 2018


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Lawyers Worldwide Awards Magazine Five Star Lawyers 2018 Lawyers Worldwide Awards is recognised all over the world for our comprehensive awards programs we run, taking votes from countries all over the world to recognise the most prestigious professionals in their specialised areas of practice. The 2018 Awards recognises a select number of leading professional firms around the world working both nationally and internationally in their field of expertise. Lawyers Worldwide Awards selects the best professional & financial institutions from around the world and showcases there work ethic and skills within their area of expertise. The Awards Magazine is aimed at not just the large corporations but the smaller companies of the advisory business sector. Lawyers Worldwide Awards is currently being read by Lawyers, Advisers, Consultants and corporate executives. We aim to showcase every company individually and to its full potential.


Lawyers Worldwide Awards Magazine Five Star Lawyers 2018 David McCrum LTD Employment Solicitor of the Year – UK Deep & Far Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year – Taiwan Francis Scarpulla Competition: US Plaintiff Law Firm of the Year Lamont Pridmore Dynamic Advisory Firm of the Year – UK Lee International Mergers & Acquisitions Law Firm of the Year – South Korea Polski Adwokat Aleksandra Kowalik Londyn UK Criminal Defence Law Firm of the Year – Poland Squire Patton Boggs Moscow LLC International Dispute Resolution Law Firm of the Year – Russia Sturgeon Ventures LLP Start Up Compliance Consultancy Firm of the Year – UK Tuli & Co Insurance Law Firm of the Year - India


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.


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. Yu-Li Tsai: Partner & Patent Attorney Practice area/industry focus: Intellectual Property, Unfair Competition, Litigation Career highlights: Mr Tsai is a patent attorney who holds a degree from the Department of Electrical Engineering and Master’s degree from the Graduate Institute of Communication Engineering, both awarded from the National Taiwan University. His practice covers patents, trademarks, copyright, trade secrets, unfair competition, licensing and litigation. Mr Tsai also studied and gained a Master’s degree from the Law School, University of New Hampshire, also known as Franklin Pierce Centre for Intellectual Property. Upon graduation, he worked for InterDigital, Inc. in Delaware for a short period and later studied and passed the US Patent Registration Examination. 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 60% of the patent-experienced companies in that park have ever entrusted their IPR works to this firm. Certainly, we must also represent international giants, e.g. InterDigital, MPS, Schott Glas, Toyo Ink, Motorola, Armani… 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. Deep & Far (D&F) is willing to take challenges to prove that it is the best IP firm, and to verify its supreme competence by e.g.: 1) Sending to D&F a pending or granted patent for its comments about how it can improve the claims;


2) Sending to D&F a pending patent specification without the claims for it to draft the claims for comparison with the original claims; or 3) Sending to D&F and the firm the client is currently using at the same time an initial disclosure so that the client can compare and find out where better claims are. Deep & Far assures the clients that no competitors can escape from the patent rights D&F safeguards for the clients at reasonable service fees. Because the tough economic downturn we are encountering in Taiwan, we are also encountering severe price competition. This situation also leads to that there are too many poor quality patents being granted because most enterprises do not have proper knowledge of the importance of patents. For example, they might only want to spend lower cost to file a patent application without considering the quality, or could not be alerted timely that narrow claims can protect their products of the current version only although there are reduced fees in responding to office actions. Therefore, the patent agents or firms of the enterprises sometimes cannot help but sacrificing the quality to keep profits under the limited budgets of the clients. Under such social environment, it is very hard to anticipate that the clients have strong patents, or the patent firms or attorneys can nurture the ability of drafting wonderful scope of the claims. Accordingly, it will not be surprised to find that there are some patent firms which cannot provide competent services but offer extreme low price to attract clients only caring about the price of filing a patent. This does also explain that there are poor quality patents being granted We persist in providing quality service rather than participating into the price war because we believe the Client will finally find the quality is the most important thing for intellectual property. If you sacrifice the quality and surrender to the price, you actually get negative return because .a poor quality IP is valueless. We did suffer a little last year in view of the reduced local generated works, but we see the situation began to change this year. This firm is used to focusing on IPR, and takes deliberate steps to practice in all fields of law. In recent year, we make progress in either general civil law, business law or criminal law fields. Contact Details 13th Fl., 27 Sec. 3, Chung San N. Rd., Taipei 104, Taiwan, R.O.C. ': 886-2-25856688 7: 886-2-25989900/25978989 Email: email@deepnfar.com.tw www.deepnfar.com.tw


Fraud Law Firm of the Year – UK Edmonds Marshall McMahon was founded in February 2012 to offer a novel service to companies and individuals who have been the victims of crime. Our success is based on the creation of a private, high-powered team of senior prosecutors with an unrivalled track record in conducting major fraud prosecutions and regulatory work. We have invested significant time into making sure that we can always provide the services our clients require, including working with other specialist firms where this is in our client’s best interest. We also guarantee our clients that their case will be managed and overseen by one of the firm’s directors. Edmonds Marshall McMahon has three founding partners each with vast but varying expertise and experience: Tamlyn Edmonds – Tamlyn was called to the Bar in 2000, prior to founding EMM she specialised in the most complex and high-value prosecutions on behalf of the DWP & Pensions and Department of Health. She was chosen to lead the Department of Health, Medicines and healthcare produces Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA) specialist team of prosecutors, a role in which she gained an impressive reputation. During this time she had conduct of the largest fraud and trademark cases for the Department of Health, including the largest ever counterfeit medicines case. Tamlyn has considerable experience in restraint and confiscation & enforcement. She also has significant experience in the area of extradition, both within and outside the EU. Andrew Marshall – Andrew is a barrister of almost 30 years’ experience has led the prosecution of major fraud and regulatory matters for a range of government agencies. He has been involved in the notoriously difficult prosecutions of many corporates such as Shell and Schindler Lifts. He is a committed and experienced advocate whose former practice principally relates to large scale, organised crime cases requiring a strategic overview, normally concerning complex fraud or drugs. Other areas of work include wide ranging advisory and review work on criminal and quasi-criminal matters (with a particular speciality in disclosure) appellate work and asset forfeiture and restraint. In addition to being a Grade 4 Advocate for the CPS, Andrew was appointed to the A-G’s list of prosecuting counsel in 1990 and to the list of Standing Counsel in 2005. In June 2012 he was appointed to the Regulatory list of Advocates for the Health & Safety Executive, Office of Rail Regulation and Environment Agency. Kate McMahon – Kate is a specialist, dual-qualified prosecutor. Prior to founding EMM she prosecuted for the Serious Fraud Office where she works as a senior lawyer on some of the


UK’s largest criminal prosecutions. Kate has also prosecuted a number of high-profile, highvalue international ‘boiler room’ frauds operating across a number of countries, involving thousands of victims. Kate also has significant experience in the area of confiscation, having obtained confiscation orders in excess of £1m. She has also successfully conducted many large-scale fraud trials, including the famous ‘transit thefts’ of pharmaceuticals in transit from the EU factories to wholesale dealers in the UK. She has also prosecuted serious and violent crime in Australia as a Crown Court Advocate. Since founding EMM, Kate has specialised in cases involving serious fraud, serious and violent crime, international crime and perverting the course of justice. Edmonds Marshall McMahon is the first and only specialist private prosecution law firm in the UK. Edmonds Marshall McMahon is described by the UK Legal 500 (2013) & (2014) as a leading firm in “Fraud: white collar-crime”. The firm is staffed by highly experienced prosecutors and offers tailor-made private prosecution services to companies and individuals. The Directors have a combined total of 45 years of experience in criminal justice and are focused on helping victims negotiate the system. We are fully versed in all manner of fraud or offending and however complex, understand the problem. We don’t believe in a ‘one size fits all’ approach, we prefer to use our extensive experience, hard won reputation and expertise in criminal law to provide the most effective solution to a problem.

• R (Mirchandani) v Ketan Somaia Ketan Somaia was convicted in June 2014 following a private prosecution brought by Mr Mirchandani for 9 counts of obtaining money transfer by deception totalling $19, 6960,000, Following conviction, Edmonds Marshall McMahon were instructed to commence confiscation proceedings in order to deprive Mr Somaia of the benefit of his criminal conduct, after State bodies indicated that they did not have the capacity to pursue the matter. Restraint proceedings were instituted in the High Court. Following the trial, EMM were able to secure the largest ever confiscation order for a private prosecutor in the sum of £20,434,691 in confiscation to the state, £18,220,723 compensation in favour of Mr Mirchandani and £200,233 compensation in favour of a second victim, Mr Shah.

• R (William Orenstein) v Soloman Pradhan. Following an 8 day trial, Mr Pradhan was convicted and sentenced to 8 months imprisonment for charges of Perverting the Course of Justice & Fraud. Mr Pradhan, who owned a property which shared a border with Mr Orenstein’s tenanted property, knocked through a wall, commandeered Mr Orenstein’s rear yard and erected a hookah bar. When Mr Orenstein tried to claim his property back, Mr Pradhan claimed that he had acquired the title by way of adverse possession, deliberately lied in his application to the land registry and enticed others to lie on his behalf. These individuals eventually gave statements to support the prosecution at trial.


• TM EYE Ltd - Edmonds Marshall McMahon prosecutes a range of cases on behalf of TM Eye Ltd, nationwide. TM Eye represent a number of well-known clients including the manufacturers of brand named, high class, luxury goods such as designer label clothes, handbags, perfumes and watches. They are one of the few organisations in the UK that carries out proactive actions against those involved in this form of criminality. They are experts in surveillance, case preparation, disclosure and giving evidence and have brought the tactics used in fighting organised crime into the area of Intellectual Property theft to catch and convict those involved. Edmonds Marshall McMahon and TM Eye have so far achieved a 100% conviction rate with sentences ranging from fines to 6 months imprisonment. During a recent, ongoing operation, goods valued in the region of £1m were seized.

• Edmonds Marshall McMahon is providing ongoing advice to a high-net worth individual based offshore, with significant corporate and beneficial trust interests, in relation to the potential prosecution of an associate for bribery. The advice provided is set against the background of high-profile civil litigation involving a global corporation, a cash seizure and subsequent investigation by multiple authorities. Edmonds Marshall McMahon are strategizing to manage the client’s exposure to a bribery prosecution and assisting with dealings with the authorities. The case additionally requires consideration of bribery, before and after the introduction of the Bribery Act 2012. The economic downturn has meant that there have been further cuts to the justice budget, in particular with police forces and the CPS. This has meant that more and more people are feeling unsatisfied with the way their cases have been dealt with and many feeling that justice has not been achieved for them. In times such as these more and more people are looking to other means of obtaining justice and private prosecutions are a key tool in this. Edmonds Marshall McMahon have found that not only has there been an increase in financial crime cases but in other types of crime also. Our firm is growing rapidly to accommodate the increase in cases being referred to us. It is a very exciting time for the Edmonds Marshall McMahon team! Contact Details: Edmonds Marshall McMahon 2-5 Warwick Court, London, WC1R 5DJ DX 450 LDE Office: 0207 583 8392


Mergers & Acquisitions Advisor of the Year – Germany GSK Stockmann + Kollegen is one of Germany's leading independent commercial law firms focusing on real estate, corporate, banking/finance and projects & public sector. GSK concentrates on handling projects and advising national and international businesses, banks and financial institutions, corporations and public bodies as well as governments and ministries. GSK was established in 1997 as a coalescence of lawyers from leading German and international commercial law firms. Today, more than 140 lawyers and tax advisors, acquainted with international projects and transactions are at our clients' disposal in our offices in Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Heidelberg, Munich, Brussels and Luxembourg. We regularly advise our clients on cross-border transactions in conjunction with our alliance partners of the Broadlaw Group. The exclusive network includes more than 1000 lawyers, based in 28 cities, covering the most important financial and economic centres of Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. For further information please visit www.broadlawgroup.com. Practice Areas: Employment Law Compliance Corporate Real Estate Company Law IP / IT Capital Markets / Initial Public Offerings / Delistings Antitrust / Merger Control Groups and Affiliated Companies Mergers & Acquisitions Private Equity / Venture Capital Privatization Restructuring and Insolvency Reorganizations and Changes of Registered Office (Seat) Corporate Finance Company Succession / Estate Planning Distribution Systems / Contract Law We understand our business and that of our clients. Our core competences have always particularly included the structuring of businesses and corporate finance, mergers & acquisitions and assisting with strategically important projects. We not only advise businesses and their owners, but we lend them support until the best solution has been reached. Contact Details: Dr. Andreas F. Bauer Tel: +49 89 288174-0 Mail: andreas.bauer@gsk.de


Full Service Law Firm of the Year – UK Mackrell Turner Garrett is an award-winning, full service London law firm, with a truly global reach. Headquartered in central London with an additional office in Surrey, we have been providing high quality legal advice and services since 1845. As a firm, we are here to make your life easier. Providing clear, practical solutions through an otherwise complex web of legal jargon, our ability to make legal advice accessible has resulted in us maintaining an impressively high retention rate amongst our clients. Despite significant growth in recent years we remain personal enough to provide the tailored service clients look for and every case is supervised by one of our Partners, working closely with our team at all levels throughout. We are also large enough to offer comprehensive and practical expertise so our clients are able to use our firm to deal with all of their legal needs, no matter what the scale or complexity may be. Being a full service firm also allows us to easily refer work between departments– avoiding outsourcing of parts of a client’s legal requirements saves the client both time and money; something we are able to provide both domestically and internationally through our international association Mackrell International. We are founders of Mackrell International, a world leading global network of approximately 5000 lawyers across 60 countries, enabling us to offer the added value of immediate international legal advice and assistance in any jurisdiction worldwide. We are a worldwide web of lawyers, with local knowledge. Our expertise is also widely recognised within our profession, in the UK and further afield. In 2015, we were named Litigation Law Firm of the Year and Dispute Resolution Firm of the Year, and in 2016, Full Service Law Firm of the Year and Arbitration Law Firm of the Year Mackrell Turner Garrett – an innovative, traditional, local and truly global firm, in one. Nigel is the Managing Partner and Head of Litigation and Dispute Resolution in the London office of Mackrell Turner Garrett. He is experienced in complex litigation matters, and various forms of dispute resolution. Clients include in the banking and hedge fund sector [Indus Capital LLP, KBC Bank NV]; Information Technology and Management [AFD Software, Blue Cube Group]; Property [William Pears Group]; Motor [JLC Ltd (Jaguar Land Rover), Imperial Carriages Limited]; Publishing [Financial-I, Grapo AS]; Restaurant & Entertainment [Sketch, Wainscott Studios]; Architecture & Design [Space Projects Ltd]. A brief look at his experience of acting in the last year including cases with potential injunctions includes:-


Acting for a US hedge fund against a UK bank in a claim for in excess of $10m claiming misrepresentation Acting for a UK based software company in a claim for £15m against a UK infringer claiming commercial infringement Acting for a US film producer in a claim against a UK media company claiming commercial infringement of rights Acting for a US high net worth individual in a claim against a UK architect designer claiming substantial over invoicing Acting for a SA company in a £12m claim against a Canadian conglomerate – share dispute Acting for a UK motor trader in a £1m+ claim against a UK individual – breach of guarantee Acting for a UK company director in defending a claim against an Iranian state owned business – alleged misallocation of payments Acting for a Middle Eastern Royal in defending a £20m+ claim made by a UK bank – alleged bank guarantee default. Nigel has considerable experience in defending FCA prosecutions, and HMRC Appeals. He is an International committee member for EMEA on Mackrell International, the independent network of 80+ law firms around the world and Chairman of the Membership Committee for Mackrell International. As a result of the firms membership of Mackrell International, Nigel is very experienced in cross-border disputes, and multi jurisdictional litigation. Nigel studied at Caterham School, City of London University before training at Mackrell & Co who he joined in 1988. He was made partner at Mackrell Turner Garrett in 1991. In 2012 Nigel was named England and Wales Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year as well as being appointed Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, Member of the Diversity Law Institute and Member of the Trial Law Institute. Contact Details: Tel: 00 44 (0) 207 240 0521 Fax: 00 44 (0) 207 240 9457 Email: nigel.rowley@mackrell.com


Patent.Live Patent Law Firm of the Year – Russia Sergey Zuykov graduated from the State University of Management. In 2015 graduated from the law faculty of the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia. From December 2008 Sergey Zuykov is a patent attorney in the field of inventions, utility models, industrial designs, trademarks and appellations of origin of goods. During the work Sergey Zuykov proved its ability in organizing the work of their subordinates, in full compliance with corporate rules and regulations, an experienced leader who has great skills of business communication, aimed at improving his professional skills. Accomplishments • •

Membership in international associations: INTA, AIPLA, AUTM, ECTA, ITMA, MARQUES, PTMG and ABA. In 2010 Sergey Zuykov was elected as President of the Noncommercial partnership "Guild of patent attorneys and patent experts", members of which are more than 50 patent attorneys of the Russian Federation.

Work experience Sergey Zuykov has work experience in the field of intellectual property from 1995. • • • • •

1994–2002 — General Director of the LLP “Akorus”. 1998–2004 — Executive Director of the Regional common organization “Center of assistance in protection of legal and individual entities rights”. From 2004 — General Director of the “Zuykov & partners”, which provides services in all fields of industrial and intellectual property protection. 2010–2014 — President of the Noncommercial partnership "Guild of patent attorneys and patent experts", members of which are more than 50 patent attorneys of the Russian Federation. In 2016 Sergey Zuykov was elected as Vice-President of the Association of patent attorneys and specialists, members of which are more than 100 patent attorneys of the Russian Federation and specialists Contact Details: sergey@zuykov.com


Business Criminal Defence Law Firm of the Year – Canada Fenton, Smith Barristers* is one of Canada’s leading criminal law firms with offices based in downtown Toronto. Our firm provides best-in-class professional legal advice and legal services to individuals, corporations, and governmental clients in a broad range of criminal, quasi-criminal, regulatory and professional disciplinary matters. Our professional services range from private consultative and advisory retainers to attending on all forms of criminal, quasi-criminal, and regulatory trials, tribunal proceedings, reviews and appeals. Fenton, Smith Barristers* Practice Areas: •Criminal litigation •Competition law •Corruption of foreign public officials •White collar crime •Professional discipline matters •Appeals •Judicial Review •Securities enforcement litigation •Occupational Health & Safety, Environmental Law, and other Regulatory matters Scott Fenton is a senior criminal defence lawyer experienced in criminal, quasi-criminal, constitutional and special prosecution matters. He has appeared as counsel on numerous trials, argued many appeals in the Court of Appeal for Ontario and has had multiple appearances in the Supreme Court of Canada, including R. v. Stillman, R. v. Goldhart, R. v. Silviera, R. v. Farinacci, R. v. Jarvis, R.v. Ling, R. v. Harrison, and R. v. Wallace. Scott Fenton is experienced in all types of criminal cases, including individual representations and corporate/commercial crime, white collar crime, cross-border investigations, foreign corruption, tax evasion, anti-trust/competition, securities, Elections Act, administrative monetary penalties (AMPs), policing (Special Investigations and Police Service Act matters), internet gaming, professional disciplinary matters, proceeds of crime and provincial regulatory prosecutions. Contact Details: Fenton, Smith Barristers* Registered business name of Scott Fenton Professional Corporation Address: 235 King Street East, 2nd Floor, Toronto, ON, M5A 1J9 Tel: 416-955-1611 | Fax: 416-955-1237


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 The Richard L. Rosen Law Firm, PLLC was named one of the 50 Best Law Firms in the World by LegalComprehensive.com. As practitioners in the field of franchise law for over 40 years, 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 MartindaleHubbell’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 both the 2017 and 2018 Editions.

Mr. Rosen is listed in: Who’s Who in America; 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; 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, 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


Insurance Litigation Law Firm of the Year – USA McKennon Law Group PC represents a full range of individuals, professionals, and businesses in all types of insurance coverage, including bad faith litigation, disability insurance, life insurance, health insurance, ERISA/employee benefits, long-term care insurance, property & casualty insurance, professional liability insurance, insurance agent & broker liability, unfair competition and business litigation matters. We primarily specialize in disability insurance; life insurance and ERISA litigation matters and we have been doing so for over 30 years. Our law firm is committed to the highest level of client service while maintaining the highest standards of legal excellence and professional ethics. Our litigation practice is thoughtful, experienced, and integrated with each client’s needs, budgets, and goals. We pride ourselves on our impeccable reputation for work product and professional and client relationships along with our intelligent, innovative and practical approach to the practice of law. McKennon Law Group’s attorneys have attended the top law schools in the country and bring a strong sense of pride and quality work ethic to everything they do. McKennon Law Group’s attorneys have big firm experience because they previously practiced at some of California’s finest law firms. Therefore, they combine a rare mix of big firm expertise and legal quality with small firm attention to your case. We are also able to provide our clients with a level of trial experience rarely found in firms of our size. McKennon Law Group PC and its attorneys have also received many prestigious awards and recognitions. Our law firm specializes in arbitrations, trials and appeals on all lines of ERISA/Employee, insurance—life, health, disability, property/casualty, commercial general liability, professional liability, officers and directors liability, employment practices liability, and homeowners and business owners property and liability— successfully resolving both coverage and bad faith claims on behalf of our clients. We represent our clients’ interests in all state and federal courts in California and in federal courts nationwide. We have been involved with recovering multi-million dollar judgments, arbitration awards, and settlements for our clients. Our attorneys have extensive experience representing insurance companies and policyholders in life, health, disability and ERISA litigation, and in general liability, environmental, marine, and property/casualty litigation. We have been involved with recovering several multi-million dollar judgments, arbitration awards, and settlements for our clients. Although we primarily litigate in California, we take cases nationally and we have extensive experience litigating cases in other states, especially in the western United States, including Hawaii, Arizona and Nevada. Most of our consumer litigation cases, and many of our business litigation cases, are taken on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing and we recover nothing unless you win your case by way of settlement or verdict. We welcome referrals from the legal community, and honour referral fee commitments in keeping with the rules of professional conduct. Robert J. McKennon is a founding shareholder of McKennon Law Group PC. He represents individuals and small-to-large corporations in sophisticated litigation matters in state and federal court. He has recovered millions of dollars for our clients from such insurance companies as: Unum, Prudential, Lincoln National, Standard Life, Sun Life, Met Life, Hartford Life, Mass Mutual, Paul Revere, Provident, Trustmark and Aetna for all types of insurance claims, including:

Disability Insurance

Life Insurance


ERISA

Health Insurance

Long-Term Care

Property & Casualty

Mr. McKennon is admitted to all federal and state courts in California, and regularly handles litigation matters in federal courts in the Western United States. He is a nationally recognized expert in insurance litigation matters and has tried, litigated, and resolved hundreds of insurance litigation matters, including ERISA/employee benefit, life, health and long-term disability and short-term disability insurance, insurance coverage, insurance bad faith, unfair trade practices, and insurance agent/broker litigation. Mr. McKennon has also handled numerous business litigation cases in the areas of general business and contract disputes and unfair competition. Mr. McKennon frequently serves as a guest speaker at local and national conferences concerning life, health, long-term disability, short-term disability and ERISA issues, and has chaired numerous national conferences on these topics. Mr. McKennon formerly represented numerous insurance companies in first-party insurance lawsuits involving life, health and short-term and long-term disability insurance disputes, insurance bad faith and punitive damages for over twenty-four years. He now represents insureds, claimants, businesses and other consumers who believe that their insurance companies have improperly denied their claims for insurance benefits. Mr. McKennon was the founder and editor of the Life, Health & Disability Insurance Law Blog at lifehealthdisabilityinsurancelaw.com while he was a partner at Barger & Wolen LLP. He is currently the editor of the California Insurance Litigation Blog at californiainsurancelitigation.com. He is also a regular contributing author of insurance articles in the Los Angeles Daily Journal, the most read and respected legal journal in California. The nationally respected Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory and the nationwide Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers has awarded Mr. McKennon their highest possible rating, “AV.” This assessment is based on confidential recommendations received exclusively from lawyers and judges. The rating highlights an attorney’s competence, ethical conduct, professional ability, diligence and overall performance. Mr. McKennon has been also awarded AVVO’s rating of “Superb,” 10.0 out of a possible 10.0, which also highlights an attorney’s competence, ethical conduct, professional ability, diligence and overall performance. Mr. McKennon has also been recognized as a 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 Southern California “Super Lawyer,” which recognizes him as one of California’s top attorneys in ERISA and insurance coverage matters. Mr. McKennon was recently profiled in Forbes, American Lawyer, Coast magazine, Los Angeles Times, Corporate Counsel, and National Law Journal as a top Southern California insurance and business litigation attorney. Mr. McKennon was named as one of Orange County Register Metro’s Top Southern California Attorneys for 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. Mr. McKennon was also named as a Corporate Livewire’s Global Awards for several years as Newport Beach, Orange County, California “Insurance & Reinsurance” Lawyer of the Year. The American Society of Legal Advocates has recognized him as one of the top 100 Insurance lawyers in the State of California for several years. Aggressive Advocacy Unlike many firms that are interested in doing as little work as possible because they know they will settle all cases, we aggressively litigate our cases, and we are not afraid to take our cases to trial. Our attorneys have extensive trial experience, and our strong reputation for excellence in trial advocacy will inure to your benefit when settlement discussions occur. This will maximize your settlement potential.

Integrity We place a very high value on integrity and fidelity to our clients’ interests. You will get an honest assessment of your case during all phases of the pre-litigation and litigation process. You can expect a full and honest


accounting of expenses relating to your case, including outlays for court costs, preparation of exhibits, hiring expert witnesses, obtaining medical records and depositions. Excellence Our attorneys are graduates of the top law schools in the country and previously have practiced law at large firms where we honed our litigation skills. We take pride in the quality of law that we practice. We engage in the necessary investigation and preparation of your case to ensure we achieve the best possible results for our clients. This preparation will include thorough investigation of facts and documentation, appropriate legal research, development of appropriate courtroom exhibits, hiring of experts, engaging in necessary discovery and more. Trust We pride ourselves on the relationships we have built with our clients. Our practice has been built on the confidence our clients have placed in us. When we commit ourselves to your case, you can count on the fact that you will receive the best representation available. We maintain regular and appropriate communication with you throughout your case and treat you as a vital and necessary team member as we litigate your case. As a result, we are proud of the referrals we receive from our clients, other attorneys and professionals. Personal Attention Rather than create a high-volume law practice, we limit the cases we accept to provide you with the personal attention you need and deserve. You will not be passed off to case managers or intake personnel, a common practice in many firms. We are committed to the highest level of client service and we are committed to ensuring you are satisfied with our level of service to you and the results we receive on your behalf. As your case progresses, you will be apprised of developments and important events as they occur Experience There are few firms anywhere that have more experience in handling insurance coverage, ERISA and insurance bad faith litigation than our firm, and we bring that experience to bear in every case we litigate. For nearly 30 years, we have successfully arbitrated and litigated insurance, business and employment litigation cases. Mr. McKennon is an accomplished trial attorney and is a nationally recognized expert in disability insurance, life insurance and ERISA/employee benefits litigation. He has chaired, and been a frequent speaker at, numerous local and national conferences on the subjects of disability insurance, insurance coverage, and life insurance and ERISA/employee benefits litigation. He has also authored numerous articles and book chapters on the subjects of disability insurance, insurance coverage, and life insurance and ERISA/employee benefits litigation. Mr. McKennon has received the highest possible rating for legal ethics and legal abilities. He is AVŽ Peer Review Rated and has received the highest AVVO rating of “Superb.� Mr. McKennon was recognized as a 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 Southern California Super Lawyer, a recognition given to fewer than 5% of attorneys in the country. As indicated in his attorney profile section of this website, Mr. McKennon has been recently profiled in several magazines and other articles, and has received several recognitions and awards as a top California insurance coverage, ERISA and business litigation attorney. Contact Details: Robert J McKennon Address: 20321 SW Birch St., Suite 200, Newport Beach, California 92660 Tel. (949) 387-9595 Fax: (949) 385-5165 Email: rm@mckennonlawgroup.com Web: www.mckennonlawgroup.com Blog: www.californiainsurancelitigation.com


Francis Scarpulla Competition: US Plaintiff Law Firm of the Year The Scarpulla Law Firm handles antitrust and other competition claims in the United States, Canada, the European Union, and Taiwan. We profiled the firm as we gained an insight into the success and strategy of the business from Francis O. Scarpulla. Based in California, the Scarpulla Law Firm works with a variety of clients, including Fortune 500 companies, government entities, small businesses, and natural-person consumers. The team operates with an overall mission of recovering the highest amount of damages for clients, and it achieves this by prosecuting their claims to the fullest extent of the law. Operating exclusively as a litigation boutique, the firm only accepts cases which it believes are winnable, either because there has already been a governmental-entity investigation, or because the client has inside information which is sufficient to support the claims. After taking on the case, the firm's team works alongside the client every step of the way to ensure that the desired outcome is achieved. Taking an individual interest in each client, staff consult with them on a regular basis and involve them in all major decisions. If the client is not interested in pre-trial resolution of claims, then the team are always prepared to try their cases. Ensuring that the firm can adapt to daily developments within the legal industry, attorneys read all new case-law precedent, the rules of procedure, and statutes in the competition/antitrust discipline, including how these substantive laws relate to class action procedures. Ensuring that the best result is reached, the law firm's attorneys consult with each other, as well as with staff daily to ensure that there is no important information overlooked. In addition to being admitted to the Bar of the United States Supreme Court, Francis is admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in England, Wales and the Republic of Ireland. Expanding its international competition practice in addition to its Canadian and EU competition cases, the firm will consider the viability of cartel claims in China and India. Francis has been the recipient of a number of accolades, including: The California State Bar Antitrust Lawyer of the Year; Al — Most Outstanding Law Firm of the Year; Global Leading Lawyers — Competition — US Plaintiffs Law Firm of the Year; and Lawyers of Distinction — Civil Litigation — Top 10% in USA to name a few. Ultimately, building on the success of its achievements, there are exciting times ahead for the Scarpulla Law Firm. Francis and the team believe that for EU member states to protect their citizen-consumers from price-fixing cartels, these states should adopt uniform competition damage statutes, permit cross-border service of process and discovery, and enact uniform optout class action procedures, as well as permitting contingent fee contracts. Contact Details: Company: Scarpulla Law Firm Address: 456 Montgomery Street, 17th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104, USA Contact: Francis O. Scarpulla Phone: 001 (415) 788-7210 Website: www.scarpullalaw.com


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 honoured 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 of same on earnings yet many of our insurer clients benefit from alternatives to insurance and reinsurance. Additional coverages, such as cyber liability, data breach, and gap coverages associated with addressing the need to supplement personal automobile insurance policies for commercial use associated with transportation network companies focused our experienced, professional insurance company 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 were 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 several 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


Overall Tax Law Firm of the Year – 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, Luxembourg, Tel Aviv and Hong Kong. Clients who would like face-to-face meetings with our lawyers, may make appointments in any of these offices. Our services: Lawyers in the Afschrift Law Firm advise, in equal measure, private individuals, companies and legal entities on every aspect of their business. When it comes to taxation questions, these days it is vital to be versatile. The vast majority of business transactions carried out by taxpayers, whatever their nature and legal status, have some sort of tax implications. Our lawyers stand ready to provide assistance, from planning to the execution of these transactions, and to defend your interests when confronted by tax authorities, both in Belgium and abroad. To find out more, please click on the links below to see in detail the whole range of our services: •private individuals •international •Islamic finance •companies and legal entities Contact Details: Avenue Louise, 208 1050 BRUSSELS BELGIUM T +32 2 646 46 36 F +32 2 644 38 00


Corporate & Financial Services Law Firm of the Year – Belgium Willkie is an elite international law firm of approximately 650 lawyers located in nine offices in six countries. For more than 125 years, we have represented companies across a wide spectrum of businesses and industries, most notably financial services. The firm is comprised of attorneys who are recognized as some of the world’s foremost practitioners in their respective areas. Xavier Dieux is a partner in the Corporate and Finance Department and in the Litigation Department. His practice areas encompass Public Offerings (including TOB), Capital Market Operations and Regulation, Mergers & Acquisitions, 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 is also frequently appointed as arbitrator with respect to international or domestic proceedings. He practices in French and in English. Practice Areas: Corporate & Financial Services Finance Capital Markets Mergers & Acquisitions Private Equity/Venture Capital Structured Finance & Derivatives Business Reorganization & Restructuring Litigation Compliance & Enforcement Insurance & Reinsurance Securities, Litigation & Enforcement Complex Commercial Disputes

Contact Details: Avenue Louise, 480 / 3B 1050 Bruxelles T +32 2 290 18 20 F +32 2 290 18 21 E: xdieux@willkie.com


Accounting Firm of the Year – Mexico KSI México is a global network, member of KS International, an association of independent accountancy firms with over 100 offices; we operate in some 50 countries around the world to deal with your international business need. KSI México offers a personal service, focused on the growth and success of our clients. We outstand for the quality of our services, offering a complete solution for each client. We provide a wide range of business service to companies in a variety of industries. The firm specializes in corporate finance advice, accounting, tax planning, consultation, and auditing services. We belong to the PCAOB (Public Company Accounting Oversight Board), as a corporation to oversee the audits of public companies in order to protect the interests of investors and further the public interest in the preparation of informative, accurate and independent audit reports. Our commitment is to help your business succeed by keeping up-to-date with your affairs and offering a high standard of both commercial and supportive advice. The Key to our approach is to build a close relationship between partner and client. Qualities you will find in a KSI México firm include: A real understanding of your business. The partners are in tune with your needs and aspirations. Regular attention and support from accessible partners. Commercial realism in the advice you receive. Technically reliable responses to your enquiries. Additionally, KSI México firm attach great importance to recruiting and training quality staff.


DEEP & FAR Attorneys-at-Law 13th F1., No. 27, Sec. 3, Chung San N. Rd. Taipei 104, Taiwan, R.O.C. Tel: +886-2-2585-6688 Fax: +886-2-25989900/25978989 email@deepnfar.com.tw Deep & Far was founded in 1992 and is one of the largest law firms in this country. The firm is presently focused 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, counseling, litigation and/ or transaction thereof. Since this firm edges itself into the IPRs field, the firm quickly comes to fame. As an illustration, this firm often is one of the largest sources from which foreign filing orders originate. The fascinating rise of this firm begins from the founder of Deep & Far attorneysat-law, C. F. Tsai, who is the one first patent practitioner in this country who both has technological and law backgrounds and is qualified as a local attorney-at-law. The patent attorneys and patent engineers in this firm normally hold outstanding and advanced degrees and are generally graduated from the top five universities in this country and/or the university in the US. Our prominent staffs are dedicated to provide the best quality service in IPRs. 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 are/were clients of this firm. Furthermore, Hi-Tech companies in the science-based industrial park located at Hsin Chu play an important role in booming the economy of this country. About one half of which have experiences in seeking patented their techniques, and out of more than 60% of the patent-experienced companies in that park have ever entrusted their IPR works to this firm. We have experienced in seeking IPR-protections for our clients in more than 100 territories all over the world. We have thousands of IPR-cases respectively prosecuted before official Patent Offices of major industrialized countries. This firm not only is the most competent in IPR-related matters in this country but also is very familiar with IPR-practices in major industrialized countries. As a matter of fact, this firm oftentimes tries and makes precedents of new claim-drafting styles. While we might have become wonderfully famed locally with remarkable appreciation and respects, we would like to extend our services for internationalized or quality service-requiring foreign conglomerated giants, corporations or individuals. We strongly believe that we will win more

www.deepnfar.com.tw


LAWYERS WORLDWIDE AWARDS MAGAZINE


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