Golden advisor awards 2017

WORLDWIDE FINANCIAL ADVISOR AWARDS MAGAZINE

GOLDEN ADVISOR AWARDS 2017

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Worldwide Financial Advisor Awards Magazine Golden Advisor Awards 2017

Worldwide Financial Advisor Awards Magazine is recognised all over the world for our comprehensive awards programs we run, taking votes from countries all over the world to recognise the most prestigious professionals in their specialised areas of practice.

The Golden Advisor Awards 2017 recognises a select number of leading professional firms around the world working both nationally and internationally in their field of expertise.

Worldwide Financial Advisor Awards selects the best professional & financial institutions from around the world and showcases there work ethic and skills within their area of expertise.

The Awards Magazine is aimed at not just the large corporations but the smaller companies of the advisory business sector.

Worldwide Financial Advisor Awards is currently being read by Lawyers, Advisers, Consultants and corporate executives.

We aim to showcase every company individually and to its full potential.

DRAGONFLY: 300 MILLION YEARS OLD

T-REX: EXTINCT

Nature knows size and survival are independent.

Demotech, Inc. has proven that to the insurance industry.

Regional and Specialty insurers are often mistakenly thought of as financially unstable due to their size.

Financial Stability Ratings® offer the following benefits:

Financial Stability Ratings® look beyond the size of an insurer and evaluate solvency using a quantitative model based on insurance fundamentals.

• Acceptance by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and HUD

Innovative thinking, strategic analysis, commitment, insight and on-going involvement with the insurance industry allow us to provide solutions as unique as your company.

• Eliminate Reinsurance Cut-Throughs • Access to Stand-Alone Umbrella Insurance • Premium Financing Available • Errors and Omissions Insolvency Gap Coverage Available • Much more!

Contact us today to learn how Demotech and Financial Stability Ratings® can help insurers level the playing field.

Call 800-354-7207 or visit www.Demotech.com/FSRBenefits

®

Golden Advisor Awards 2017 Index Afschrift Tax Law Firm of the Year – Belgium AXIS Legal Counsel Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year – USA Deep & Far Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year – Taiwan Douglas Silas Solicitors Education Law Firm of the Year – UK Esquivel Advogados Projects Law Firm of the Year – Portugal Frenkel & Associes Tax Litigation Law Firm of the Year - France Gaggar & Partners Full Service Law Firm of the Year – India GÜRLICH & CO. ADVOKÁTNÍ KANCELÁŘ Law Firm of the Year – Czech republic Horev & Co., Law Office Commercial Law Firm of the Year – Israel Kather Augenstein Rechtsanwalte Intellectual Property Law Advisor of the Year – Germany Kemp Little Commercial Technology Law Firm of the Year – UK KPMG Certified Auditors ΑΕ Advisor of the Year – Greece – Corporate Finance Accountancy Firm of the Year Linklaters Public & Private Mergers & Acquisitions Law Firm of the Year – Belgium Minter Ellison Rudd Watts Christopher Young IP Law Firm of the Year – New Zealand PAPAPOLITIS & PAPAPOLITIS Mergers & Acquisitions Law Firm of the Year – Greece PWC Tax Advisory Firm of the Year - Portugal

Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year—Taiwan Deep & Far attorneys-at-law was founded in 1992 and is dealing with all phases of laws with a focus on the practice in separate or in combination of all aspects of intellectual property rights (IPRs) including patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, unfair competition, and/or licensing, counselling, litigation and/or transaction thereof.

Area of Practice: Intellectual Property, including patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret.

The patent attorneys and patent engineers in Deep & Far normally hold outstanding and advanced degrees and are generally graduated from the top five universities in this country. Our prominent staffs are dedicated to provide the best quality service in IPRs in this country. As a proof, about one half of top 100 incorporations in this country have experiences of seeking patented their techniques, but more than one fifth of the top 100 incorporations has ever used services of this firm. Furthermore, Hi-Tech companies in the science-based industrial park located at Hsin Chu had ever played the most important role in booming the economy of this country.

About one half of them has experiences in seeking patented their techniques, and out of more than 50% of the patent-experienced companies in that park have ever entrusted their IPR works to this firm.

Experiences: Mr. Yu-Li Tsai, a patent attorney graduated from Department of Electrical Engineering of National Taiwan University (NTUEE), which is the best engineering school in Taiwan. Because of interest in communication system, he then attended in the Graduate Institute of Communication Engineering (GICE) of NTU. During his research life in GICE, he also started to get involved in knowledge and skills of patent-related matters for taking and receiving the qualification of patent attorney. Mr. Tsai also attended to receive an IP master from Law School of University of New Hampshire, also known as Franklin Pierce Center for Intellectual Property, had an internship with InterDigital, Inc., and passed the U.S. Patent Bar Examination. Currently, Mr. Tsai is working for Deep & Far Attorneys-at-Law as a patent attorney.

It is our philosophy to provide competent legal services that other firm cannot comparably provide.

The necessitated ensuing problem is how we can so provide? Deep & Far so achieve by selecting, edifying and nurturing peoples who have the following personalities: learned in expertise, morally earnest and sincerely behaved in mind and strictly disciplined between give and take. It is wellbelieved that such properties are key factors for peoples to properly and competently behave themselves. Because the clients become more understood in the knowledge of IP and more budgetsensitive, they usually want to select an agent who can more efficiently and effectively deal with their IP matters. They often invite bids, set out tenders and call for interview before they decide to entrust a service provider. Taking patent for example, they gather information of costs for patent

prosecution, previous works, and firm introduction materials in a preliminary choice stage, and hold an interview to obtain further details of the firm which has passed the preliminary choice stage. We represent international giants, e.g. InterDigital, MPS, Schott Glas, Toyo Ink, Motorola, Cypress, Google, Armani.

We always keep updating the newest state of this firm, recruiting elite patent engineers and strictly training them the essential skills, improving the efficiency and quality of service, and developing new strategies that can assist the clients effectively protecting their intellectual property rights. This firm believes that if the efficiency, quality, and enthusiasm of the services can be consistently monitored and maintained, overcoming complexities, challenges or changes is just a result rather than an issue.

Our aspiration and directions would be developing more potential clients either in domestic or foreign countries, and expanding the size of this firm to assist more clients in pursuing most satisfactory IP protection. Although the domestic IP market, especially in the patent field in 2013 shrank a little, we expect this situation may finally change because there is a phenomenon that the gross economy is starting to recover in 2014.

Contact Details: Deep & Far Yu-Li. Tsai Tel: 886-2-25856688#900 Fax: 886-2-25989900//886-2-25978989 Add: 13th Fl., 27 Sec. 3, Chung San N. Rd., Taipei, Taiwan Web: www.deepnfar.com.tw Email: lawtsai@deepnfar.com.tw

Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year – USA Axis Professional Law Corporation is a California Law Firm primarily representing individuals, businesses and entertainment client in a variety of transactional and Dispute & Litigation matters.

Axis have counselled clients from across the US nation as well as 18+ other counties in California matters.

Rabeh Soofi is the founder or Axis Legal and also the managing attorney for the company. She has spent most of her legal career at a large national law firm of 300+ lawyers involved in million and billion dollar disputes. Rabeh’s focus is on making world class legal skills available to clients in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, to offer exceptional legal services in a client-focused, cost-effective and strategic manner. She is hired most often for her unique practice philosophy and is known among the legal community as an attorney with a no-nonsense and solutions-oriented approach to legal engagements. She has represented clients from all over the U.S. and from 18+ countries.

Practice Areas: Lawsuits & Disputes Corporate/Transactional Entertainment & Creative Arts Intellectual Property/Technology Labour/Employment Healthcare & Privacy Start-ups & Small Businesses Venture Capital & Private Equity International Trade & Trade Regulation Estates/Trusts/Probate Charities & Non Profit Contact Details: RABEH M. A. SOOFI MANAGING ATTORNEY Direct Phone: Direct Fax: Email: LinkedIn:

213.403.3218 213.403.0132 rsoofi@axislegalca.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/rabehsoofi

Criminal Law Firm of the Year – Brazil Moraes Pitombo Advogados was founded in 2001, with the scope of harmonically combining two different qualities of contemporary legal practice: personally tailored client service – which is characteristic of small Law Firms – and the cutting-edge technology and organization of big law Firms.

The firm provides expert legal services in litigation, mainly in the criminal area, focusing on white-collar crimes, money laundering and corporate-related issues. It is also specialized in international cooperation, having dealt with several cases involving international mutual legal assistance, working with top firms from the United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland and Luxembourg, among others.

The office is based in Sao Paulo, the financial capital of Brazil. It has also offices in Rio de Janeiro and in Brasilia, where all the Superior Courts are located, providing a much closer follow-up of the procedures.

In the past 15 years, the firm earned a reputation as a leading practice in the field, working in high profile and mediatic cases, and being recognized for dedication, best knowledge of the cases and skilled performance.

Moraes Pitombo Advogados’ attorneys are recruited from the best law schools in Brazil and are also encouraged to engage an international experiences, such as LLM courses and interships abroad.

The founder Antonio Pitombo has a Master’s Degree in Criminal Law with the dissertation “The Specificity of the Predicate Crime in Money Laundering”, and a PhD degree in Criminal Law with the thesis “The Specificity of the Criminal Organization” at Law School of the University of Sao Paulo. He also concluded his Postdoctoral studies in Democracy and Human Rights at Coimbra University, in 2013, with the dissertation entitled “The impartiality of the jurisdiction: current criminal procedure issues.”

He is the author of several newspaper articles, magazines and compilations specialized in Law and criminal procedure. He is also a member of the Brazilian Institute of Criminal Science (IBCCRIM); of the Institute Manoel Pedro Pimentel; of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; of the Association Internacionale de Dróit Pénal; and the Association Internationale des Avocats de la Défense.

Contact Details: Antônio Sérgio A. de Moraes Pitombo Partner/Founder Tel: +55 11 30473131 email: apitombo@mpp.adv.br website: www.moraespitombo.com.br Address: São Paulo (SP) Rua Pequetita, 215 - 8º andar Cep: 04552-060 - São Paulo - SP Tel: +55 11 30473131 Fax: +55 11 30473141 Brasília (DF) Setor de Autarquias Sul, Quadra 01 Bloco N, salas 410/411, Ed. Terrabrasilis Cep: 70070-010 - Brasília - DF Tel / Fax: (55 61) 3322-7690 Rio de Janeiro (RJ) Rua Da Assembléia, 10 Conj. 3520 Centro – Rio de Janeiro – RJ CEP: 20011-000 Tel: (55 21) 3974-6250

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ms. Dini Retnoningsih specialises in corporate transactions.

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

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

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

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

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

Contact Details: Dr. Mohamed Idwan (‘Kiki’) Ganie Managing Partner Lubis Ganie Surowidjojo Address: Menara Imperium 30th Floor Jl. H. R. Rasuna Said Kav. 1 Kuningan Jakarta 12980, Indonesia Tel: +62 21 831-5005, 831-5025 Fax: +62 21 831-5015, 831-5018 Email: ganie@lgslaw.co.id Website: www.lgsonline.com

Financial Analysis Firm of the Year - USA Demotech, Inc. is a financial analysis firm located in Columbus, Ohio. Since 1985, Demotech has been serving the insurance industry by providing actuarial consulting as well as accurate and proven Financial Stability Ratings® (FSRs) for Property & Casualty insurance companies and Title underwriters. FSRs are a leading indicator of the financial stability of an insurer. In 1989 Demotech became the first insurer rating services in the United States to review and rate independent, regional and specialty insurers based upon the company’s execution of its business model and not its size. The rating process provides an objective baseline as well as insight as to the financial stability of an insurer. Demotech levels the playing field by offering FSRs to insurers of all sizes.

Demotech distinguishes itself from other rating services in many ways. Four distinguishing characteristics are the industry experience of our analysts, long tenure of our analysts, our focus on an insurer’s business model rather than its size, and the transparency of our analysis process. In total, our four primary analysts average more than 30 years of progressively responsible insurance experience. Furthermore, the same four primary analysts average more than twenty years of tenure with Demotech. As a result, carriers that contact Demotech can be assured of comparable treatment, institutional memory and consistent outcomes due to the professionalism and tenure of our staff.

As noted, our analysts, including myself, are experienced professionals. I am an actuary with forty years of insurance and financial analysis experience. Sharon Romano Petrelli, co-founder of Demotech, has earned the designations of CPCU, AIAF, CCP and ARC. She has served on the board of an insurer as well as the board of governors of the CPCU Society. She has thirty years of insurance experience. Barry J. Koestler, II, Chief Ratings Officer, a Chartered Financial Analyst, has more than twenty years of insurance and financial analysis experience including rate filings, loss and loss adjustment expense reserving and financial analysis. He has coordinated the development and monitoring of FSRs since 1996. Robert M. Warren, CPCU, CPA, Client Services Manager, has served as the chief financial officer of several insurers. His forty years of experience includes more than ten years with Demotech.

Although other rating agencies seem fascinated by the size of an insurer and its diversification, neither size nor diversification has kept insurers out of liquidation. In fact, some of the largest insolvencies in the history of insurance were substantial publicly traded carriers that touted their diversification. As such, Demotech focuses on a carrier’s business model and its execution of that model. In 2007 we introduced our Company Classification System to initiate dialogue on business models.

A Comment from Joseph Petrelli: “I am the President and Founder of Demotech, Inc. Organized in 1985, Demotech is a Columbus, Ohio based financial analysis company. Demotech reviews and rates more than 420 carriers domiciled in the United States. Our clients include larger, publicly traded carriers as well as regional insurance companies, title underwriters, risk retention groups and specialty insurance markets. Financial Stability Ratings® of A or better are accepted by the secondary mortgage marketplace, virtually all mortgage lenders and an increasing number of umbrella insurance markets, insurance agents errors and omissions insurance carriers, reinsurance carriers and other informed third parties.

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

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

In addition to our efforts reviewing and rating insurance carriers, two of our clients during 2015 were the State of Ohio Office of Risk Management and State of Iowa Title Guaranty Division. When these public entities needed experienced, credentialed actuaries to assist them with the pricing and evaluation of their casualty insurance exposure and title guaranty exposure, respectively, our actuaries were the first choice. Recent acknowledgements of our insurer rating capabilities include HUD’s re-affirmation of our acceptance in its Section 232 Handbook and expanding our acceptance to its Section 241(a) program, Fannie Mae Multifamily acceptance of risk retention groups and captive insurers rated A or better, our nomination for Intelligent Insurer’s Global Award – Best Rating Agency (2014 and 2015) and securing the ACQ5 award for US – Niche Financial Analysis Provider – Insurance, two consecutive years, 2014 and 2015. In addition Demotech was nominated for the Rating Agency of the Year at the fall 2015 Reactions North America Gala. We were also honored with the Florida Association for Insurance Reform’s Founder’s Award at its 2015 annual meeting. More recently we secured the Financial Monthly – M&A Awards 2015 – Financial Analysis Firm of the Year – USA and the Corporate Vision – Corporate Excellence Award 2015 – Best Evaluator of US Regional and Specialty Insurers & Sustained Excellence in Insurer Financial Analysis.

Our clients operate in an environment dominated by low interest rates and the pressure that places on earnings from an underwriting profit. Emerging coverages, such as cyber liability, data breach, or gap coverages associated with addressing the need to supplement personal automobile insurance policies for commercial use associated with transportation network companies focus our experienced, professional analysts on a collaborative role with clients. Our analysts are well versed in the traditional aspects of insurance and reinsurance. Concurrently, as educated professionals they are comfortable with the development or analysis of creative strategies and products to address emerging consumer needs. Our experienced and credentialed analysts often provided clients with peer review and independent feedback on aspects of the client’s current and future operations.

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

Contact Details: Joseph Petrelli Demotech, Inc. 2715 Tuller Parkway Dublin, Ohio 43017-2310 Main: (800)354-7207 Direct: (614) 526-2160 FAX: (614) 526-2161 JPetrelli@demotech.com www.demotech.com

Law Firm of the Year – Czech Republic The law office GĂœRLICH & 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.

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

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

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

The highest level of professionalism that we try to maintain encompasses taking into account forthcoming legal amendments, detailed continuous study of judicature of both the national and European courts. However, while focusing on professionalism we never forget that it goes

hand in hand with a personal approach which ensures that clients can always rely on our services and we provide our best in the shortest possible time with a broad level of transparency and detailed records of our performance.

Scope of Legal Services: Business Transactions Civil Law Intellectual Property Corporate Law and Business Law, Public Procurement Labour Law Real Estate Litigation

Contact details: GĂœRLICH & Co Politickych veznu 19 110 00 Prague 1 Czech Republic tel.: +420 222 101 591 Fax: +420 222 101 590 Email: info@akrg.cz Web: www.akrg.cz

Corporate & Commercial Leading Lawyer – Thailand SCL Law Group (formerly known as Chavalit Law Group) provides a full range of legal services to serve the needs of clients. We have structured our group of law firms in such a way that general legal work, such as corporate, securities, banking and finance, corporate recovery services, expatriate services, labour, mergers and acquisitions, property, taxation, litigation and arbitration, are handled by Siam City Law Offices (SCL); and intellectual property, information technology and telecommunications work is handled by Chavalit & Associates (CA).

Our clients are both domestic companies and multinational corporations. We have worked with law firms in many jurisdictions for cross-border transactions.

The firm was started with 4 partners and a number of support staff, totalling 30 people and now after 11 years, our staff count is 100 people with head office in Bangkok and branch office in Hua Hin, along with offices in Myanmar, Loa PDR and Cambodia.

Nilobon Tangprasit is one of the founding partners of Siam City Law Offices Limited (SCL Law Group). Prior to the group’s establishment, she was a partner and member of the Corporate & Commercial Practice Group of International Legal Counsellors Thailand Ltd. (ILCT) (Russin & Vecchi). Her previous professional experience includes a three-year period as an in-house lawyer with B. Grimm & Co., in addition to successful stints with Siam Yamaha Co., Ltd. and Coopers & Lybrand Associates Ltd. Nilobon Tangprasit is a well-renowned corporate attorney within the Thai legal industry and has headed the Corporate Practice Group of SCL Group since its inception. In a career that has spanned more than 25 years, she has gained extensive expertise in advising and assisting international and Thai corporations, both in the private and public sectors, in the areas of business organisation and structure, foreign business law, investment law, joint ventures, dissolution and liquidation, corporate recovery, M&A, taxes, exchange control laws, share sales and purchases, public offerings and listing and delisting from the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET). In addition, Nilobon Tangprasit also has vast litigation and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) experience involving general commercial and corporate matters.

The Partners and the team manage each and every case in an individual manner. Great emphasis is given to the fine details of each matter. No one case is the same. We always try to understand what our clients want not only immediately but also for the long team goals of our client. This creates the trust and ultimate establishing a long working relationship. Being in the Asean region, often there is much cross boarder transections and client trust us in handling these matters. The fact that we have offices in Myanmar, Lao PDR and Cambodia makes is easier for us to provide values added service to our clients.

We have been in the business in this region for over 35 years and with it comes a vast amount of experience and a great deal of knowledge of how business is done in this region and specifically Thailand. This knowledge and expertise is used in assisting our clients in obtaining the best deals in negotiations and in various areas of our practice. We understand what our clients want and we deliver quality service, be it the setting up of a new company or restructuring a company, just as an example.

With this amount of experience comes by itself the strong business network that has been established over the years. Some of our partners have over 35 years of working experience. They know who to go for different matters, especially when dealing with Government officials.

A few prominent cases are as follows: i.

A major deal involving an aerospace supplier/manufacturer based in the USA and a leading premium built-to-measure warehouse, distribution centre and factory developer, both in Thailand and the South East Asia region.

ii.

iii.

iv.

The closing of a lucrative deal between an industrial packaging container supplier/manufacturer based in Germany; and Thailand’s leading developer of industrial estates, utilities, and power and property solutions.

Assisted in a consortium agreement between a prominent utilities management services company, and (undisclosed), a division of a foreign company, the world’s largest supplier of water services; with regard to the purchase of the bid documents on the hire of work via an e-auction system from the local water authority. The result of this is that its name is on the recipient list of the bid documents regarding hire of work with the e-Auction System of PWA. Assisted (undisclosed) on a contract on hire of work for water system supervision, operation and management at Suvarnabhumi Airport with Airports of Thailand PCL (“AOT”).

This year has been a tough year indeed, but we have always been in close contact with our client and have always provided them with top notch quality service. There have been compromises that we have made for our clients. These go towards showing that we value our clients and we are not merely counsels for hire. We go beyond our expectation to provide best value added service and provide the best possible solution to our clients.

We as a law firm have always believed in evolving with the times and changes in the legal frame work. A most significant development this year has been the implementation of the Asean Economic Community (AEC). We as a group have embraced this significant change and gone further to advice clients on not just their needs for Thailand, but the AEC as a whole. Educating the clients of the momentous cooperation and getting them to look beyond just Thailand, and how they can benefit and venture out into the Asean countries. When there is complexity and challenges, or changes we look at how it can work well not just for us as lawyers but also for our clients.

Our goals have always been clear for us – always provide service excellence to our clients. In achieving this aim we evolve as a group, we better ourselves in learning and adapting ourselves and our practice group in servicing our clients.

We would like to be known as a leading firm, not only in Thailand but a firm with an excellent reputation in the Asean region.

Other notable awards to evidence our excellent service are: Asian Women in Business Law Awards in the following categories: 1. Best firm in Thailand; and 2. Best national firm for work/life balance.

Contact Details: Siam City Law Offices Limited Rajanakarn Building, 20th Floor 3 South Sathorn Road, Yannawa Sathorn, Bangkok 10120, Thailand Tel: +66 (0) 2 6766667-8 Fax: +66 (0) 2 6766188 www.siamcitylaw.com

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

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

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

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

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

SSL&S is a professionally managed firm with 9 partners, over 40 attorneys and patent agents and a total strength of over 120 personnel. Out of the 9 partners in the Firm, the Managing Partner and two other Partners are involved in Patent litigation. One Partner heads the Patent Prosecution. Four Partners are heading IP Prosecution and Enforcement teams and one partner is involved in Telecom & Broadcasting. There is an entire team of lawyers and patent agents working under each Partner.

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

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

Trademarks

On the trademarks front, SSL&S has been instrumental in laying down the law in several areas such as comparative advertising, trade dress protection and a wide variety of internet and IT law related issues. The firm has been involved in many civil and criminal anticounterfeiting actions. The firm currently represents 7 of the top 25 of the world renowned trademarks listed by Interbrand. SSL&S is the preferred firm not just in India but the entire South Asian region, including Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Maldives and Bhutan.

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

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

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

Awards SSL&S is the more extensive awarded firm of 2016 being acknowledged as a leader in IP law. The firm has bagged several awards and maintains highest rankings in many categories. The `Managing Intellectual Property` has ranked Singh & Singh Lall & Sethi as Tier 1 for Patent Contentious, Trade Mark Contentious and Copyright respectively for 2016. The `Chambers & Partners` has ranked the firm as `Band 1 in Intellectual Property` and Chander Lall as `Band 1 Intellectual Property Litigation Lawyer in India`. `Legal Era` positioned Singh & Singh Lall & Sethi as the `IP Law Firm of 2015`. The firm also bagged `WTR Gold award for Enforcement and Litigation` and Chander bagged the `Gold award` in individual category. The firm shot the `Deal of the Year 2015` award for representing Glenmark Pharmaceuticals in Merck Sharp & Dohme and Sun Pharma v Glenmark Pharmaceuticals

by India Business Law Journal besides bagging the `2015 - Indian Law Firm Awards - Intellectual Property`. The M&A magazine declared the firm as the Law Firm of the Year - Intellectual Property – India. `Professional Sector Network` has accolade the firm with `IP Law Firm of the Year – India`.

WIPR chose Chander Lall as `Leaders 2016 in Patents & Trademark`, while Sudeep Chatterjee was chosen for Trademarks.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Contact Details: Address: D-17, South Extension – II, New Delhi – 110 049.

Tel: 91-11-4289 9999.

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

Business Crime Law Firm of the Year—UK Rustem Guardian was founded in 2005 by Managing Partner, Mr. Timur Rustem, after a very successful and high profile career based in the City of London. Just ten years on, Rustem Guardian has established itself as a formidable niche criminal defense law firm in London with a reputation associated with high profile and high complex criminal cases. The firm's reputation means that Timur is regularly invited to comment in the media.

Timur Rustem, founder and Managing Partner comments: "We have a small but dedicated team with an enviable reputation for meticulous case preparation and tenacity in defending its clients. We take pride in being a multi-cultural firm with a team of solicitors and paralegals that speak a range of languages. We are a leader in criminal defense work as Rustem Guardian uniquely houses both solicitors and barristers, placing ourselves above other standard practicing law firms.

Clients choose Rustem Guardian as the firm is known for its discreet and sensitive approach to what can be complex and life destroying allegations.

We appreciate that the law is complex and challenging and we strive to give every client the advice and support they are entitled to. We also recognize that problems can arise at inconvenient times. We are therefore available to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week."

Mr. Rustem is a highly sought after Serious Crime Solicitor with over twenty years' experience in the City of London and the highest level of media exposure appearing on Sky, the BBC, Channel 5 and ITV to name a few. Mr. Rustem was named ‘Recommended Lawyer, 2014’ by Legal 500 and has many accolades under his belt including the prestigious ‘Super Lawyer’ award. Mr. Rustem is called upon specifically for his focused specialist areas Sexual Offences, Fraud and Appeals and has built a multi-award winning firm which is now one of the top criminal law firms in the UK. Tim built his reputation in Terrorism Law and is often invited to comment in the media on terrorism legislation.

Most recently Rustem Guardian was named ‘Niche Terrorism Law Firm of the Year 2014’ by ACQ5.

His tenacious and formidable approach was founded in his representation of a defendant in the Airline Bombing (Terrorism) case in 2006, which won him the ‘Lawyer of the Year’, presented at the House of Lords. His legal expertise covers, but is not restricted to: • Serious Sexual Offences including Historical Sexual Offences, Rape, Sexual Offences Against Children, Child Pornography, Indecent Exposure, Downloading Indecent Images, Voyeurism, Trafficking and Sex Offenders Register • Serious Fraud including VHCC, Boiler Room Fraud, Insurance Fraud, Mortgage Fraud and Money Laundering • Appeals against Conviction and Sentencing

• Serious Violent Offences including Murder • Drug trafficking • Terrorism • Private Investigations and Private Prosecutions • Private Immigration • Blackmail • Drug trafficking • Motoring Offences Sexual Offences Since founding Rustem Guardian ten years ago, Mr. Rustem has an unrivalled reputation in representing those accused of the most serious Sexual Offences and is a sought-after legal expert often invited to comment in the media (please see below). Mr. Rustem holds long-term and trusted relationships with his clients, offering them sophisticated, practical and supportive legal advice. His depth of experience means that he is well accustomed with media attention and is well equipped to keep potentially high profile cases out of the public eye. His high success rate coupled with his media profile is recognized; recently Rustem Guardian was awarded ‘Niche Sexual Offences Law Firm of the Year, 2014’ by ACQ5 in conjunction with the ft.com.

Fraud Under Mr. Rustem’s leadership, Rustem Guardian was one of few UK criminal law firms awarded prestigious status to deal with VHCC cases. Mr. Rustem was recently awarded the accolade ‘Super Lawyer, 2013’ for his White Collar Fraud work and ‘Business Crime Lawyer of the Year’, 2014 by Lawyer Monthly. Under Mr. Rustem’s leadership of the Fraud department the firm has built a reputation for taking on the most complex of Fraud cases which is widely recognized. Most recently Rustem Guardian was awarded ‘Business Crime Law Firm of the Year 2014’ by Finance Monthly.

Appeals Mr. Rustem is quickly establishing Rustem Guardian as the go-to firm for private Appeals as his case load is growing in number and Mr. Rustem is realising more wins. Mr. Rustem is passionate about fighting for justice and believes there are many falsely accused individuals who have been sentenced unjustly, taking on Appeals at any stage. He understands that in these cases it is the wider family and friends that also victims of convictions, and Mr. Rustem approaches cases with the utmost sensitivity and care.

Contact Details: Rustem Guardian LLP 5 Chancery Lane 4th floor London EC4A 1BL

Business Advisory Services Firm of the Year – Ireland Firm Profile: Averian Global was established in 2008 to meet the needs of clients undergoing organisational or strategic change. The firm has grown organically and through acquisition (most recently Bridgewater Management in Ireland) to become one of the leading consulting firms in Europe and the Middle East offering Strategic, Technical and Solution Consulting to clients of all sizes.

Averian Global now helps meet the needs of the world’s largest companies experiencing strategic challenges and undergoing significant business transformation. Since formation, the company has built a client base of successful SME’s, multinational and blue chip clients.

Averian has been instrumental in adding significant value to these organisations and has a track record of success across many sectors to include Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, Financial Services, Insurance, Utilities and Telecommunications.

Our team of experienced and dedicated strategy professionals are chosen for their broad range of skills and are expected to have practical hands on entrepreneurial experience allied with sound academic knowledge.

Our consultants have experience in delivering business strategies, transformation and organizational change programs. Through our innovative ‘CSI’ offering (C-Suite Initiatives) we focus on the achievement of business value along with very strong analytical and communication skills which enable us to manage change initiatives to solution delivery. To date we have created initiatives valued at over $1bln for our clients. On our Technical side, we have built specialist SWAT teams – experts in Software Analysis and Testing to ensure clients position only the best and most appropriate solution to meet their needs.

Averian has also recently acquired BusinessChallenger.com, an innovative cloud based solution to provide consistent and expert reviews of business documents in order to remove ambiguous or vague requirements within initiatives from the earliest possible stage. This solution is currently in use amongst several Enterprise Support agencies and bodies across Ireland and the UK. At Averian, we understand the link between People, Process and Technology – we build on this and develop practical workable solutions through strategic guidance, business analysis, design, and planning and solution delivery. It is our passion for helping businesses grow that makes Averian the best there is.

Areas of Expertise: Our service offerings are as follows – •

Strategy / Business Model Development / CSI – C Suite Initiatives • Technical and Solution Design and Programme Management • SWAT – Software Analysis and Testing • Financial/Accounting Services/ PMO / Test Services • Business Restructuring – Operational, Organisational, Strategic • Business Planning and Feasibility Studies • Training & Business Mentoring

Contact Details: Averian Global – Alan Carey, Chief Executive Limerick Office: Bridgewater House 89 O’Connell Street Limerick, Ireland T: +353 61 512122

Offices in Dublin, London, New York and Dubai

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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