WINNERS INCLUDE: Divina Law Law Firm of the Year - Philippines KATS Tax Law, Law Firm of the Year - Uganda
WELCOME
Welcome to The Legal Comprehensive Golden Global Awards 2019 Being recognised by one of the leading legal & financial practitioner directories in the world is a great achievement and something all of our winners should be proud of. LegalComprehensive.com currently lists over 12,000 of the best lawyers/attorneys, 2,000 of the most respected law firms and 4,000 of the most savvy and intuitive corporate finance and taxation experts in the world, making LegalComprehensive.com the only lawyer and financial practitioner search directory you will ever need. Each individual and firm has been selected on the basis of merit. Their listing has been gifted to them on these grounds, it is not possible to buy entry into LegalComprehensive. com. Therefore you can be assured we have been fastidious and honest in our selection and entry has been granted for all the right reasons. Further, it is completely FREE to those wishing to utilise it’s content to search for expert partners. So, if you require a particular specialist legal practitioner, a leading law firm or an expert financial partner to assist in a transaction or advise on a specific requirement, LegalComprehensive.com is the only directory you will ever need. Congratulations to all of our winners and many thanks to all of those firms who have chosen to be part of our 2019 Golden Global Awards supplement.
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WINNER’S INDEX
A
KH Law, Israel.....................................................11
ABR Solicitors, UK.............................................18 AFRA.................................................................................. Panama ASP Law Office.............................................................Indonesia
B
L Liad Whatstein & Co........................................................... Israel Ludovic Timbal Duclaux de Martin...............................France
Bouwers inc..............................................................South Africa Burgi Nageli Lawyers...............................................Switzerland
C
Luke & Associates....................................................... Botswana
M Mahmood Awan & Partners........................................ Pakistan
Camden Associates.................................................................UK
Mediastic.............................................................................France
Campbells...........................................................Cayman Islands
Morales & Besa.................................................................... Chile
Carter Perry Bailey LLP.........................................................UK CCPIT Patent and Trademark Law Office.................... China Cordero & Cordero Abogados.............................. Costa Rica
D
N Natividad Abogados.........................................................Mexico
O
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg.................................. Canada Demotech Inc, USA......................................16-17 Deschenaux, Hornblower & Partners, LLP.........Switzerland DivinaLaw, Philippines.................................12-13
OMC Abogados y Consultores..........................................Peru
P PatentAxis Inc, Canada.......................................5
Dr. Wieland Groth....................................................... Germany
Patentanwalt, Dr. Groth, Germany...................9
Dubinski Jelenski Masiarz and Partners.......................Poland
Premier Financial Services Limited..........................Mauritius Preu Bohlig & Partner................................................. Germany
E Ella Cheong & Alan Chiu........................................ Hong Kong
F
R Rodner, Martinez & Asociados.................................Venezuela
FDR...................................................................................Portugal Financial Marketing Limited..................................................UK
Ron Wheeldon Attorneys.....................................South Africa Rosenblatt.................................................................................UK Rui Bai Law Firm................................................................ China
G Gardos Furedi Mosonyi Tomori................................. Hungary Group Law Firm................................................................Turkey Guevara & Gutierrez........................................................ Bolivia Guyer & Regules............................................................Uruguay
T Tornaritis Law Firm, Cyprus...........................6-7
V Vellani & Vellani............................................................... Pakistan
H
Veritas Legal.......................................................................... India
Herbst Kinsky...................................................................Austria
I
Vilardi & Advogados............................................................Brazil Vitale & Partners....................................................................Italy
Ignatius Andy, Indonesia...................................10
K
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Klinkert, Germany................................................8
W Weinmann Zimmerli...............................................Switzerland
Kather Augenstein....................................................... Germany
Williams Montgomery & John Ltd....................................USA
KATS, Uganda...............................................14-15
Wintertons..................................................................Zimbabwe
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LEGALCOMPREHENSIVE.COM GOLDEN GLOBAL AWARDS 2019
BEST Patent Services Firm & BEST Full Service Patent Advisory Firm CANADA
Ubiquitous Internet access and a pervasive information revolution firmly support globalization trends, including an ever widening awareness and recognition of patent advantages. With the increased global recognition of the benefits of patents has come an increased competition for developing new and useful technologies and filing patent applications to protect the fruits of innovative inquiry. Patentaxis Inc stands ready to help entrepreneurs and innovators protect their inventive technological advances by providing patent analysis, patent filing and patent prosecution solutions. Located in the financial district of Toronto, PatentAxis Inc. is a Canadian patent services firm experienced in navigating international patent procedures for its domestic Canadian clients, while offering its expertise to foreign clients to prosecute patent applications and obtain a grant of patent in Canada. The firm handles all fields of technology and all types of patent preparation and analysis including services related to pursuit of patent protection as well as services related to navigating a patent landscape. Services for obtaining patent protection typically include patentability search and analysis, and patent filing and prosecution and involve expertise in understanding a proposed technology and framing its structure/function to distinguish existing publically available implementations. On the other hand, services for navigation of a patent landscape often include a search and analysis of patents in a technology field to identify active patents that may impact on a commercialization of a proposed technology. Understanding the cost and effort needed to successfully traverse a commercialization plan from proof of principle to profitable product, PatentAxis Inc. delivers cost effective approaches to assist clients with varying budgets. The firm can manoeuver both international and Canadian patent procedures to provide opportunities to defer or expedite prosecution and corresponding costs depending on circumstances best suited to a particular business plan. Patent procedures in Canada are particularly adaptable to
+1 416 556 2999
volatility of business circumstances such as changing economic climate, entrance of new competition, or evolving market preferences. The firm has been fortunate to have a client roster filled with dynamic innovators and conscientious businesses. As a result of the quality of clients, opportunities have always eclipsed challenges throughout the firm’s history. Canadian innovation is based on enduring local talent that will continue to bring new solutions to market regardless of overlying economic conditions. Economic changes can create corresponding budgetary revisions, but as long as the desire to protect innovation is maintained PatentAxis Inc is nimble and adept at providing practical options and tactics to defer costs and adjust to budgetary constraints. Looking forward, the firm’s clients continue to conduct innovative investigation and produce inventive solutions in a variety of industry sectors. Inspired by this talented and dynamic client roster, the firm enthusiastically embraces its future, and is excited by the opportunity to expand its profile. In this regard, PatentAxis Inc. is highly appreciative and grateful for recognition from LegalComprehensive.com and its 2019 Global Awards survey and publication. This recognition will motivate even greater efforts to provide clients with a competitive advantage that comes from successful patent prosecution and analysis. Contact PatentAxis Inc. 67 Yonge Street, suite 602, Toronto, Ontario, M5E 1J8 Canada Contact: Jai Chatterjee E: mail@patentaxis.com T: +1 416 556 2999 www.patentaxis.com
mail@patentaxis.com
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Banking & Finance Law Firm of the Year CYPRUS
TORNARITIS & CO LLC is a dynamic law firm specialising in the provision of legal services to a wide range of local and international clientele from all over the globe. Our knowledge and experience together with our international network provide us with the tools to provide our clients with solutions to their business needs.
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Our team together with our associates is comprised of professionals who are experts in the fields of law, tax planning and business advisory.
service and civil society. Our practice and character are deeply rooted in the firm’s history, as exemplified in the historical profiles of our lawyers and services below:
We further offer our clients with a wide range of corporate administration services including but not limited to company formation, company administration, banking, trust administration, virtual office, fiduciary, corporate secretarial, legal and business consulting. We maintain strong internal control systems to ensure confidentiality and delivery of value added services to our clients. We treat every engagement we undertake with strict professionalism and integrity. Our relationship with clients is our tool to success. We believe that we grow along with our clients and for this reason, we provide our clients with personalized attention for their currents needs and future plans.
• Criton G. Tornaritis QC., started back in 1924 as a young lawyer from Limassol. Among many accomplishments, he came to be the first Attorney General of the Republic of Cyprus. He wrote 65 complete books and more than 5,000 essays, the contents of which were mainly legal. His work is found at universities and libraries around the globe. Among the numerous honours and distinctions which were bestowed upon him were those of the Queen’s Counsel (QC) and the Athens Academy Prize for his outstanding literary work. A fact which is worthy of note is that he became known worldwide for his shrewd legal mind, his sobriety and for always being down-to-earth.
Brief history and development From 1924 to its present day status as a leading law firm Tornaritis Law Firm has demonstrated a sustained commitment to excellence in the practice of law, public
• He was followed by his son George C. Tornaritis, who was registered as advocate in 1959 with the Supreme Court of Cyprus. Since then he was a practicing advocate having defended many famous cases. George
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C. Tornaritis founded the Tornaritis Marine Life Foundation, back in 1992, being its first President. • The Managing Partner today is George C. Tornaritis’ son, Criton G. Tornaritis, registered as advocate in 1989. With long experience of the Eastern European Market and especially the Romanian Jurisdiction. He is the founder and Managing Partner of Tornaritis & Co LLC which was formed in 2009, together with co-founders and Senior Partners Alexandros A. Alexandrou and Marios L. Panayiotou. Today, the firm includes lawyers who have the experience, maturity, and legal skills to handle a wide range of legal problems and issues. Although the firm has matured from its beginnings in the early part of the twentieth century, the character of the firm is still true to the dreams, principles and visions of its founders. We strive to maintain that people working in a professional environment must have a sound knowledge of the principles of their area of specialisation and its allied subjects, together with practical experience in their day-to-day application. We believe that the only way to achieve this is through hard work. There is no substitute for this and it cannot be stressed too strongly that success for members of staff depends upon continuous and consistent application of this principle. The firm takes pride in the high standard of its work. Our breadth of experience enables us to offer a wide range of skills to suit the individual needs and demands of each one of our clients. We conduct our work with a high degree of professionalism and dedication, and provide an expert, sensitive service for all of our clients. We continuously update and adapt to meet the needs of an ever-changing global market and economy. The
+357 2245 6056
firm has a uniquely flexible and entrepreneurial culture that fosters partnerships with our clients. Knowing the law is not enough. We understand our clients’ business objectives and address their legal needs in a manner that is consistent with the “big picture.” We take pride in providing our legal services to a number of the most important “players” both locally and internationally. We have been dealing with the new resolution of credit institutions law and subsequently we have been dealing and advising on such matters as the purchase and transfer of credit institutions mainly in the Eastern European market, and in general we have been providing legal advice and services to the Special Administrator of the Cyprus Popular Bank. We have also been providing advice to one of the biggest corporate receiverships in Cyprus regarding the Orphanides chain of supermarkets. We provide services to banks and have lately been associated with merger and acquisition processes in the pharmaceutical markets. We are close associates with international firms and are continuing our expansion both in Cyprus and abroad. We have earned a reputation for being trusted business advisers, and we demonstrate our value every day in the successful results we achieve. Our firm has been highly commented by legal rating organizations, such as Legal 500. Reflecting the firm’s entrepreneurial spirit with associated offices around the world, we are ready to help you wherever your business takes you. Tornaritis Law Firm aim is to provide quality legal services to clients around the world operating under the highest ethical standards with the principles of time and cost-efficiency in mind.
office@tornaritislaw.com
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Protection of Trade Secrets Law Firm of the Year GERMANY
Klinkert Rechtsanwaelte is foremost a litigation law firm. On top of that our lawyer’s advice selected industries, in particular in the fields of sports, media & entertainment as well as pharmaceuticals and medical technology. Klinkert Rechtsanwaelte is foremost a litigation law firm. On top of that our lawyers provide advice for selected industries, in particular in the fields of sports, media & entertainment as well as pharmaceuticals and medical technology.We bring our many years of litigation experience to the advisory practice, as we know which requirements the advice must meet in court disputes.Vice versa our litigators benefit from the possibilities and tactics of negotiation resulting from our consulting practice.
Dr. Friedrich Klinkert
Klinkert Rechtsanwaelte represent and advise clients in disputes relating to industrial property rights and intellectual property (patents, trademarks, copyrights), commercial criminal law, unfair competition law and the protection of technical trade secrets.
Our trade secret practice, consisting of 2 Partners and 4 Associates, is headed by Dr. Friedrich Klinkert, who is one of the founding partners of Klinkert Rechtsanwaelte (2010). Dr. Klinkert is the firm’s central contact for matters relating to protection of technical trade secrets and unfair competition.
In commercial criminal law, our lawyers have extensive expertise and successful practice in advising and defending individuals and companies. Our expertise and the integration of our civil and criminal law know-how is unique, particularly in the area of protection of trade secrets. Most of our lawyers worked in major international law firms for many years.The firm as a whole has an outstanding and very successful track record with a joint civil/criminal law approach regarding the protection of trade secrets.
+49 (69) 972 65 60 - 30
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At Klinkert Rechtsanwaelte cases are handled by diverse teams with extensive experience in civil and criminal law. Our lawyer’s experience also includes representing clients in U.S. International Trade Commission cases and cooperation with prosecuting authorities in Germany and abroad including the U.S. DOJ and FBI. Furthermore our lawyers have gained comprehensive experience in procuring evidence from other jurisdictions.We were amongst the first to obtain discovery in the U.S. for use in German litigation under 28 USC § 1782.
Contact Dr. Friedrich Klinkert Klinkert Rechtsanwälte PartGmbB Senckenberganlage 16 D-60325 Frankfurt am Main T: +49 (69) 972 65 60 - 30 F: +49 (69) 972 65 60 - 99 E: f.klinkert@klinkert.pro www.klinkert.pro
f.klinkert@klinkert.pro
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Patent Attorney of the Year GERMANY
Patentanwalt Dr. Groth Patent attorney Dr. Wieland Groth legally advises in the area of intellectual property law. We assure high standards and absolute engagement in the pursuance and maintenance of our clients’ rights. Execution of searches, the formulation, the filing and the representation of patents, trademarks and designs in Germany, in Europe and internationally is our daily work. Through long term cooperation with international colleagues we are able to file intellectual property right applications and represent your interests in nearly all countries at short notice. As one of our further services we offer the monitoring of your renewal fees.
Profile Legal advice in the area of intellectual property law, especially: • Patent Law • Utility Model Law • Trademark Law • Design Patent Law • Copyright Law • Employee Invention Law Dr. Wieland Groth
Dr. Wieland Groth is admitted at the DPMA, OHIM, EPO and the WIPO and to appear as Patent Attorney in the competent civil courts in proceedings concerning Protection Rights.
Dr. Wieland Groth, LL.M.
Technical areas of practice: Mechanical engineering, mechanics, renewable energies, physics, surface physics, optics, electronics, electro techniques, semiconductor technology, data storage media, coding of information, medical technology
Dipl.-Phys. Dipl.-Math. German Patent Attorney European Patent Attorney European Trademark Attorney European Design Attorney • Studies in Physics and Mathematics at the Techical University of Clausthal and at the Imperial College of London • Degree in Physics and Mathematics at the Technical University of Clausthal • Awarded the Lower Saxony Graduates Scholarship and PhD at the Arnold Sommerfeld Institute of Theoretical Physics • Qualification and following occupation as Patent Attorney in renowned north German law firms • Studies in Law for Patent Attorneys and European Intellectual Property Law resulting in a Degree in Master of Laws (LL.M.) at the university of Hagen
+49 (0)40 / 303 757 3-0
Philosophy My obligation is to conduct your business concerns rapidly and competently and to promote your interests. We aim to achieve an optimal result for you by answering legal and technical questions in the area of intellectual property law with maximal accuracy and preciseness. Thereby all aspects of consultancy and your economical situation shall be considered. Contact Dr. Wieland Groth Zippelhaus 4, D-20457 Hamburg, Germany T: +49 (0)40 / 303 757 3 – 0 F: +49 (0)40 / 303 757 3 – 9 E: mail@grothpatent.com
mail@grothpatent.com
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Business Competition Law Firm of the Year INDONESIA
Ignatius Andy Law Offices is recognized as a prominent boutique law firm in Indonesia. The firm is established by Mr. Ignatius Andy soon after he developed various experience and skills working in reputable firms in Jakarta. The firm commenced its operation in July 2004 and grows substantially due to rapid expansion of its legal services and clients based. Comprehensive Analyses Ignatius Andy Law Offices believes in professionalism in carrying out instruction from Client. Our approach starts with a mindset that each matter has its own uniqueness and complexity. We carry out a comprehensive examination of all relevant issues before advising client on the most suitable approach to maximize the protection of their interest. In all instances we take great pains to lay out all options as well as the risks and rewards inherent in any option before providing our recommendations.
Pfizer, Danone Nutricia, GlaxoSmithKline, Sumitomo and Mitsui have been relying on our services.
Global Exposure Ignatius Andy Law Offices straddles cultures comfortably. We are attuned to Indonesian, Asian and Western sensitivities and the dynamics at play at each cultural milieu, enabling us to perform optimally both in domestic and international settings. Major multinational corporations and respected local companies such as Kraft, British American Tobacco, Astra International, Air France KLM, Coca Cola, Newmont, Carrefour,
Focus Ignatius Andy Law Offices focuses its practice on business competition law, dispute resolution as well as corporate and finance matters. Ignatius Andy Law Offices’s dispute resolution and litigation services include domestic/international and complex civil and commercial proceedings, bankruptcy, suspension of payment, business competition judicial proceedings, domestic/international arbitration, administrative court proceedings, class action claim and expert witness in foreign court proceedings. Constant Pursuit of Knowledge We are committed to excellence, continuingseeking out and acquiring advanced knowledge in all of our practices areas. This commitment to knowledge enables us to keep intelligence as our strong suit and guarantee commitment to our clients.
+62 215 150 350/527 9033 ignatius.andy@ignatiusandy.com www.ignatiusandy.com 10
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Boutique Law Firm of the Year ISRAEL
Horev & Co. Law Office is a boutique law firm offering its clients individually tailored legal services in various commercial fields. inception and private investors within The firm in the last years has grown to their financial rounds. We view our become an internationally recognized relationship with start-up companies practice providing a wide range of legal as a long-term strategic partnership, services to a global clientele of local understanding the unique challenges for and international individuals and large both companies, founders and investors, business organizations. The firm was and are committed to our client’s selected as one of the leading boutique short-term and long-term success. law firms in Israel in the high-tech We have extensive experience in all industry, specifically in technology and aspects of commercial law and have international transactions. Our principal acted as lead counsels in a wide variety areas of practice include corporate and Karin Horev, Founding Partner of complex international transactions commercial law, primarily representing with very large international entities. Our work high-tech and international companies in all stages includes technology based joint ventures and strategic of operations and providing day-to-day consultation alliances, teaming arrangements and other commercial in various areas of the law. We particularly focus on assistance in a wide range of industries. The firm international commercial transactions, licensing and has extensive working relationships with reputable intellectual property, strategic alliances, private equity international firms and has been involved in significant (representing the company, the founders and the international transactions, particularly representing US investors, as the case may be), project finance, joint based companies in deals within and outside the US. ventures, mergers and acquisitions, technology and other commercial and corporate matters. The firm works at the highest professional standards, and the personal and direct involvement of the We assist our clients in all aspects of commercial firm’s partners ensures the provision of high-quality, activities by managing each transaction with a wellresponsive, accessible, business oriented and effective considered balance of legal and commercial expertise legal services. and business creativity. Our knowledge and experience extend for 20 years and includes a rapidly-growing Above all, our firm combines legal excellence with a client base comprising of reputable international, practical and innovative business approach, providing high-tech and technology-oriented companies, as our clients with an advantage within the industry. well as representing start-up companies from their
+972 3 624 0110
karin@horevlaw.com
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Law Firm of the Year PHILIPPINES
DivinaLaw is a leading full-service law firm in the Philippines. We take pride in advocating and practicing dynamic lawyering - always prompt, proactive and result-oriented. DivinaLaw’s clients include leading companies in banking and finance, manufacturing, retail, power, oil and gas, education, health care and insurance, realty and property development, and technology. Top-tier Litigation Practice DivinaLaw understands the impact of a major litigation. Often costly and inconvenient, we are committed to helping clients avoid them. When litigation becomes unavoidable, we strategize and determine the best course of action to fully protect the client’s interests or to contain the risks and minimize its effects. Our collective litigation experience may be said to be among the most extensive in the country. Many of the cases we have handled have often drawn public attention due to the high profile nature of the work, as well as impact they have for our clients. We have won several landmark cases which eventually found their way in the annals of Philippine jurisprudence. Our roster of satisfied clients includes several highprofile and ranking government officials, former presidents and incumbent presidents of Government Financial Institutions (GFIs), corporate industry leaders and high net-worth individuals being represented by the Firm in various capacities. Top-tier Corporate Law Practice DivinaLaw’s corporate law practice is among the best in the country. We advise and represent businesses, mostly industry leaders, on a wide range of legal and business transactions including negotiation, drafting, and review of contracts and other agreements. Our clients consider us as legal advisers and partners in their growth and expansion. Our lawyers have facility in tax, labor and employment, environmental impact, real estate and competition law, which allow us to provide comprehensive and relevant advisory and transactional work for clients and insulating them, to the best possible extent, from future litigation. Under the helm of the Managing Partner,Atty. Nilo Divina, who is a recognized expert in commercial and corporate law, we have the capacity to discuss the commercial and practical implications of decisions beyond purely technical legal advice.
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Awards and Recognitions With its consistent rendition of high quality swift legal service, it comes as no surprise that the Firm, barely a decade from its inception, has been conferred prestigious excellence awards, including the: • Innovation Excellence Award for Most Outstanding Independent Law Firm in the Philippines for 2015 • CQ Law Award for Leading Independent Law Firm of the Year for 2014 • Corporate LiveWire Awards’ Corporate Law Firm of the Year in the Philippines for 2016 • Asian Legal Business (ALB) Philippine Law Awards’ Labor and Employment Law Firm of the Year for 2016 • Corporate LiveWire Awards’ Banking Law Firm of the Year – Philippines for 2018 • Corporate International Magazine’s Investment Law Firm of the Year in the Philippines for 2016 and 2018 • Corporate International Magazine’s Commercial Litigation Law Firm in the Philippines for 2018 • ACQ Global Award’s Philippine Law Firm of the Year for 2018 • ACQ Global Award’s Corporate Law Firm of the Year for 2018 • ACQ Global Award’s Philippine Law Firm of the Year for 2018 Atty. Nilo T. Divina was given the ACQ Global Award for Managing Partner of the Year for 2015 and 2018. He was also a finalist and the sole Philippine nominee for the coveted Regional Managing Partner of the Year Award. For the Asian Legal Business (ALB) 13th Annual ALB SE
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Asia Law Awards held on 18 May 2018 at The St. Regis, Singapore. Atty. Estrella C. Elamparo, Senior Partner and Head of the Commercial and Criminal Litigation Department, was awarded Woman Lawyer of the Year for the SouthEast Asian Region, while the Firm was named finalist in the Regional Litigation Law Firm of the Year category, in the ALB SE Asia Law Awards. DivinaLaw earlier dominated the ALB Philippine Law Awards 2016 when it was named Labor and Employment Law Firm of the Year, and shortlisted in the Litigation,Arbitration and Investments Law Firm of the Year categories. International Links DivinaLaw is the sole Philippine member of Lawyers Associated Worldwide, a top-rated international association of over 100 independent law firms from more than 50 countries. We are also the only Philippine member of LEGALINK, also a top-ranked global network of 68 independent law firms from a majority of the world’s commercial centers. The Firm’s affiliation with and membership in these top international legal associations gives it access to cross-border information crucial to the handling of international commercial transactions. Expansion to Singapore and Hong Kong Last year, the Firm established its corporate service arm in Singapore to bolster its regional base and complement its increasing domestic presence, with the Firm now having affiliate offices in eight (8) major cities in the Philippines. Building on this success, and DivinaLaw is expanding further to cater to regional
+63 2 822 0808
and global demand for dynamic lawyers. DivinaLaw also plans to expand its overseas operations through a Hong Kong branch within the year. The Managing Partner Nilo T. Divina, managing partner, is a leading counsellor and authority in Philippine corporate law and litigation. He founded the firm in 2006, and has been the Nilo T. Divina, firm’s managing partner managing partner since. He grew the firm from a crew of nine lawyers to the present complement of 54 attorneys and counsels. He is also the dean of the Faculty of Civil Law of the University of Santo Tomas, one of the Philippines’ leading law schools. Atty. Divina’s experience spans some 25 years of appearing before courts of all levels and various quasi-judicial agencies. He led the firm in winning several landmark cases before the Philippine Supreme Court, including cases that clarified important issues in credit transactions, the National Internal Revenue Code, and the Family Code, and helped strengthen parts of the Rules of Corporate Rehabilitation. He is an active member of several Supreme Court committees on reforms in legal education and court procedures, and is currently the Chairman of the Philippine Association of Law Schools. He is recognized as an expert and the youngest Bar Reviewer in Commercial Law in the Philippines.
www.divinalaw.com
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Tax Law, Law Firm of the Year XXXXXXX UGANDA
Katende, Ssempebwa & Co. was founded in 1969 and has since expanded into Uganda’s largest and leading legal practice and now boasts over sixty permanent legal and support staff. Our team comprises highly trained and experienced lawyers and accountants who are well equipped to handle any tax matter. One of the Firm’s Senior Partners, Prof. Edward F. Ssempebwa is widely acknowledged as one of Uganda’s leading Tax Law specialists as he helped draft much of Uganda’s basic tax legislation.
Katende, Ssempebwa & Co. was founded in 1969 and has since expanded into Uganda’s largest and leading legal practice and now boasts over sixty permanent legal and support staff. The Firm has affiliated offices in all the leading capitals in the world and provides legal services as a firm of Advocates, Solicitors, Legal, Investment and Tax Consultants, Commissioners for Oath, Notary Publics, Trademark and Patent Agents, Receivers, Liquidators and Company Secretaries.
We provide specialised advice including; i) T ax Compliance Services – Tax Registration, corporate income tax compliance as well as VAT, WHT, PAYE, Excise and Stamp Duty compliance.
The Firm has 50 years’ experience in providing world-class legal advisory services and has been internationally recognized year-in year-out as the number one law firm in Uganda by the Chambers and Partners Global Guide to the World’s Leading Lawyers. The Firm is a Tier 1 recommended law firm in financial and corporate services and is cited by peers in IFLR 1000: The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms. Our law firm is the LEX Africa representative for Uganda- Lex Africa is the oldest and the leading network of law firms on the African Continent (www.lexafrica.com). We have the necessary experience, expertise, personnel and resources to assist you with any legal or advisory inquiry you may have.
ii) I nternational Tax Structuring and Advisory – We provide optimal tax advice in respect of international restructuring, permanent establishment, profit distribution. iii) Transaction Advisory – we provide due diligence and specific transaction advisory, mergers and acquisitions and corporate restructuring. iv) Customs Compliance and Advisory – PVoC exemptions, tax treatment applications, CET Classification, import taxes (including Import Duty,VAT, WHT, Environmental Levy and Infrastructure Levy)
Tax Experience We are a top-ranking tax law firm in Uganda providing a complete set of tax compliance and advisory services to assist our clients navigate through both routine and complex business transactions at all levels of the business growth cycle.
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v) Exemptions – for Non – Governmental Organizations, deemed VAT, import exemptions vi) Transfer Pricing – we offer transfer pricing advisory services that foster compliance with the Transfer Pricing laws in Uganda as well as the OECD’s Anti Base Erosion and Profit Shifting Initiative (BEPS)
LEGALCOMPREHENSIVE.COM GOLDEN GLOBAL AWARDS 2019
Sim Katende
Sophia S. Nampijja
• Partner – Head of Corporate and Commercial practice
• Senior Associate – 8 years’ experience • Attorney and Counsellor at Law – The State of New York
• 20 years’ experience • Attorney & Counsellor at Law – The State of New York
• Advocate – Uganda • LLM (Houston), LLB(Hons) MAK, Dip LP (LDC)
• Advocate, Commissioner for Oaths, Notary Public, Certified Mediator & Arbitrator – Uganda
• Post Graduate Diploma in Revenue Law and Taxation from the East African School of Taxation
• LLM (Columbia), LLB Hons (MAK), Dip LP (LDC)
vii) Tax Audits and Health Checks – We assist clients through all forms of tax audits by Uganda Revenue Authority including comprehensive audits, VAT and WHT audits as well as Transfer Pricing Audits. We also assist clients to continually assess and improve tax compliance through health checks viii) Tax Objections and Appeals – We assist clients prepare and defend objections to tax assessments/decisions from URA. We represent and advise our clients in numerous tax related litigation matters before Arbitration Tribunals, the Tax Appeal Tribunal, High Court and all other levels of appeal; including multi-million-dollar tax cases involving major oil players in Uganda and insurance companies to mention a few. We maintain close relationships with the four major audit firms and law firms not just in Uganda but in all
+256 414 233770
the world’s major financial centres and tax havens to ensure that our clients capitalize on opportunities. Our major clients include multi-national corporations with subsidiaries set up in Uganda including banking/ finance, manufacturing, insurance, telecom, airlines, agricultural, pharmaceutical and oil and gas as well as mining companies. We also provide services to a wide range of indigenous companies in the real estate and export sectors as well as to high net worth individuals, sports and entertainment personalities. Contact Katende, Ssempebwa & Company Advocates, Solicitors and Legal Consultants Radiant House, 20 Kampala Road P. O. Box 2344 Kampala, Uganda. T: +256 414 233770 F: +256 414 257544 E: kats@kats.co.ug www.kats.co.ug
kats@kats.co.ug
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www.kats.co.ug
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Property & Casualty Insurance Firm of the Year USA
Incorporated in 1985, Demotech, Inc. is a financial analysis firm serving the P&C and Title insurance sectors.We were the first company to review and rate independent, regional and specialty insurers.We were also the first company to have its review and analysis process reviewed and approved by the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation.This eliminated cut-through endorsements for insurers rated A or better. The carriers that we review and rate include independent regional and specialty insurers as well as international carriers, such as Allstate, Fidelity and First American families. Our Review and Analysis Process Once a carrier has been preliminarily identified as financially stable, we provide to them a Preliminary Financial Stability Rating ® (PFSR). The notification includes a request for additional information. The major components are: • assigning a C-suite contact person • providing copies or summaries of all reinsurance treaties • permitting access to management and other professionals such as auditors, actuaries and reinsurance brokers • direct submission of quarterly financial results.
Demotech has received a variety of additional acceptances and accreditations from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, umbrella insurance carriers including Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Group, premium finance companies, reinsurers and others who rely on insurer ratings to protect themselves against exposure to insolvency. Enlightened insurance agent’s E&O carriers extend insolvency coverage to insurers rated A or better by Demotech, whether by reference to Demotech or to carriers covered by a guaranty fund. We have made progress despite the functional monopoly in the insurer ratings sector. Some of our efforts have liberated entire states; other efforts, entire markets. In 1996, when the State of Florida, the Florida Department of Insurance and the secondary mortgage marketplace needed a rating solution to address the distressed property insurance market that existed in the wake of Hurricane Andrew (1992), they contacted Demotech, Inc. We have liberated more than the State of Florida’s property insurers. In 2005, the need for supplemental insurer rating criteria emerged to address the availability and affordability of professional and general liability insurance for nursing facilities. Today, hundreds of senior facilities and hundreds of thousands of beds are insured by carriers rated A or better by Demotech. In 2014, Fannie Mae MultiFamily supplemented its insurer rating criteria by deeming captive insurers and risk retention groups rated A or better by Demotech as acceptable professional and general liability insurers for senior housing facilities. We are listed on DefaultRisk.com, http://www. defaultrisk.com/rating_agencies.htm, as one of a limited number of global rating services.
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www.legalcomprehensive.com
Joseph L. Petrelli, ACAS, ASA, MAAA, FCA (MBA), President and Co-founder
LEGALCOMPREHENSIVE.COM GOLDEN GLOBAL AWARDS 2019
We have the right to review or discuss the independent audit, statement of actuarial opinion, reinsurance treaties and other documents with a professional familiar with the matter at hand. Once a Financial Stability Rating ® (FSR) has been finalized, each quarter’s financial statement is analyzed to ensure that the investment portfolio remains liquid and of high quality, loss and loss adjustment expense reserves remain consistent with the estimate of the Company’s actuary, financial leverage remains within reasonable tolerance and financial criteria continue to meet our standards. Independent Due Diligence and a Comparison to A. M. Best, Moody’s, S&P and Fitch In 2011, Florida State University’s College of Business, Risk Management and Insurance compared our FSRs with ratings issued by A. M. Best, Standard and Poor’s, Moody’s and Fitch. The independent study reviewed thousands of insurer ratings issued over a nine-year period. A Comprehensive Examination of Insurer Financial Strength Ratings concluded: 1. Demotech serves the need of another unique group of insurers, namely those that are geographically focused. 2. Comparisons of Demotech ratings to other agencies show relative consistency in the factors that drive Demotech ratings compared to agencies such as A. M. Best, Moody’s, Standard and Poor’s, and Fitch. 3. There is general consistency in the firms that each agency would categorize as financially secure. 4. These results have important public policy implications for insurers, regulators and consumers as they work to better understand the ratings process. Of particular importance to most is the comparability of Demotech ratings to other agencies.
Sharon M. Romano Petrelli, CPCU, AIAF, CCP, ARC, Vice President and Co-founder
Difference was launched in 2015. Today, more than 14,000 insurance and finance professionals receive the perspectives of Demotech and other subject matter experts quarterly. Summary Financial Stability Ratings® and the review and analysis process underlying them have been scrutinized by several independent parties. Our team of long tenured credentialed professionals reviews quarterly and annual financial statements. With approximately four hundred risk-bearing entities reviewed each quarter, we remain well positioned to assist insurers interested in a reliable, independent analysis based upon objective, quantitative criteria.
5. Given some states require ratings to operate in a state, the results suggest that Demotech serves an important service within the ratings community and plays a very important role in the insurance market.
We are pleased to be recognized as Best US Financial Analysis Firm in the 2016 Legal Comprehensive Golden Globe Award balloting.
Transparency To facilitate transparency of who we are and how we contribute to the insurance sector, The Demotech
Demotech, Inc. 2715 Tuller Parkway Dublin, OH 43017
+1 614 761 8602
jpetrelli@demotech.com
LEGALCOMPREHENSIVE.COM GOLDEN GLOBAL AWARDS 2019
www.demotech.com
www.legalcomprehensive.com
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Fraud Law Firm of the Year UNITED KINGDOM
Rob Rode is a nationally and internationally recognized specialist criminal defence solicitor. An acknowledged specialist fraud (white collar) and regulatory defence solicitor, he is described as “like a terrier that never stops digging”. Rob is a supervisor on the Specialist Fraud Panel and a Higher Court Advocate. “He is a national figure, a leader in the field in Leeds and nationally. A power broker who is held in extremely high regard,”
He represents individuals and companies in the UK and abroad facing investigation/prosecution under the Bribery Act or multijurisdictional legislation including FCPA. He has dealt with prosecution authorities across a number of jurisdictions. Rob undertakes fraud defence, regulatory defence, white collar defence involving cross-jurisdictional issues, defence of tax/VAT fraud, motoring and general criminal matters with “a certain panache”. He has acted as defence solicitor successfully in numerous cases:
“He’s very talented and hardworking and always keeps his client’s best interests at heart.” “He’s an extremely impressive and dynamic team leader who combines fearless tenacity with an exceptionally personable attitude.”
1. d efending historic and present day sexual offence allegations, these may also involve allegations of neglect. He has acted for both individuals and organisations. 2. defending allegations of serious violence and murder he is tactically astute and will ensure that when appropriate a pro-active defence is pursued in all cases. Rob trained at Irwin Mitchell and joined ABR Solicitors in 1998 becoming a partner in 2002 and senior/managing partner in 2013. He was Chairman of the Serious Fraud Association, and a member of SAHCA, CLSA the International Criminal Bar, the American Bar Association and a member of the criminal duty solicitor defence scheme. He is Criminal Law Lawyer of the Year in England (IAE Awards 2017). He is UK-regional Criminal Defence lawyer of the year (ACQ5 Awards 2017). He is ranked a leading figure by Legal 500 and Chambers. Rob & ABR have national and international recognition and awards for their work. Rob is “a tour de force – an ambitious, energetic and thorough lawyer.”
“He is remarkably hands on. He has a great presence in this area (crime and financial crime); he thinks outside the box and always provides good service to his clients. He’s extremely proactive”.
ABR is ranked number one in Yorkshire and number two nationally by Legal 500 and Chambers. The team is described as “excellent”. ABR Solicitors: We know that when your reputation, livelihood or liberty are on the line, you need a lawyer you trust to guide you through a process that can be bewildering and just plain frightening. Our lawyers are experts in the defence of clients in prosecutions brought by all the prosecution authorities, including SFO, FCA, Environment Agency, BIS ,HMRC & CPS. We leave no stone unturned ensuring if a prosecution can be avoided it is avoided, if it cannot, it is defended to the fullest rigour of the law. ABR is a member of the LAA Serious Fraud Panel. “This is a very ambitious firm with a bright future ahead of it.” Head Office Britannia Chambers, 4 Oxford Place, Leeds LS1 3AX
+ 44 0333 600 9222 (National rates) / + 44 07850 899 999 (Out of hours) enquiries@abrsolicitors.com www.abrsolicitors.com 18
www.legalcomprehensive.com
LEGALCOMPREHENSIVE.COM GOLDEN GLOBAL AWARDS 2019
Best Mid-Market Investment Advisory Boutique UNITED KINGDOM
A privately-held advisory firm based in London, Camden Associates is a boutique investment banking firm that has built a solid reputation in international financing, having successfully represented clients all around the world. Offering a range of services from pure advisory to financing to private and public company alike, Camden Associates was created in 2003 under the name Camden Partners. In 2006, after a change of shareholders, it was rebranded as Camden Associates. Initially focusing on Eastern Europe and on large groups such as Bouygues, Rosatom, Gazprom, Lukoil, and Rushydro, the firm changed its focus to smaller, more innovative deals and broadened its scope on a sectors basis including technology, biotech, and mining, all of which are worldwide sectors. “Our unique selling point is our experience of far-away countries and their business practices,” says founder Jean-Claude Gonneau. “After a traditional banking career spanning from M&A at BNP in France to First Boston in New York followed by London, some of us worked in a hedge fund at Duet, creating real estate and private equity funds in Russia and India. “We helped oligarchs monetise their wealth, and also helped create the first Sub-Saharan fund. We are essentially project driven and believe that behind the specifics of a sector there is a unique management with unique abilities and specific problems. We strive to help them solve the particular problem they have at one point in time.” Camden Associates’ overall mission is to get deals done and it prides on its ability to take the necessary action to make those deals a success. “We start from ensuring we fully understand the client’s story as well as understand what the client wants to do. At this stage we like to analyse and see if we can help. We never feel pressure in doing a deal we do not believe in. Once we decide to do the deal, we then try and see how the market will react to the story and act accordingly.” Gonneau believes what sets his firm apart is its adaptability to client needs. “We are not claiming we are better than our competitors. We are simply more
adapted to some of our clients and do not believe two deals are the same.” Acknowledging the challenges of the industry, Gonneau believes quality and talent can always deliver and Camden Associates will continue to move further on its success journey. “I would say yes the recent times has been challenging when you see the new rules and regulations being introduced. MIFID II, for instance, has damaged the industry a great deal in the name of more transparency. The result is that a number of small to midsize firms are giving up. For Camden, too, the result is mostly positive but it definitely is a problem to have legislation made by people who do not understand the basic rules of the financial markets.” In order to be in touch with new developments happening in their areas of specialisation, the team at Camden Associates tries and read the market and the new trends evolving. States Gonneau: “Clearly some powerful new trends are developing in North America including the revival of resources and the brand new cannabis planet. In Continental Europe, new oil saving technologies are all the rage alongside blockchain and healthtec. So we are active in those fields.” For instance, the team is currently working with a company which developed the ‘passcare’ the first portable patient record. “Crypted by blockchain, it will empower patients to control their medical record and their data – and it has attracted the attention of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which is very encouraging.” Camden Associates is at the finalising stage of arranging finance for a company using hydrogen-based techniques to reduce car consumption and pollution drastically – which would mean 30 percent for consumption and up to 70 per cent for pollution.” In the mining sector, the firm has a number of very profitable small-size mining deals with a notable one being in Zimbabwe.
+44 207 290 9812 / (Europe) +336 7498 4104
LEGALCOMPREHENSIVE.COM GOLDEN GLOBAL AWARDS 2019
www.camdenassociates.co.uk
www.legalcomprehensive.com
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