Lawyers World Law Awards 2019 by WideWorldMedia

Law Awards

2019

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WINNERS

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Welcome

TO LAWYERS WORLD 2019 LAW AWARDS The worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading professional firms are called upon to assist with transactional matters throughout the deal process. Helping the corporate team on matters of vital importance in areas associated with the location and the sector that a business may operate within. Regulatory, compliance, property, environmental, fund formation, and employment law amongst others all rank high on the agenda. Recognizing the experience and skills that many of the developed nations have, we know how important it is to be recognized as a leader in your field of expertise The LAWYERS WORLD 2019 LAW AWARDS recognize a select number of leading professional firms, across the globe, for their individual areas of specialization, within their geographical location. We recognize and salute the organizations & advisers that have performed to exceptional levels during the most difficult period that the global economy has experienced for decades. The poll represents who the readership believes are the leading professional firms, within the various areas of specialization, across the various geographical regions. Congratulations to all the winners from everyone at Lawyers World. Roger Black â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Editor

LW Monthly is published by Virtuoso Publishing Limited. Circulation details can be found at www.lawyers-world.com The views expressed in the articles within LW Monthly are the contributors own, nothing within the announcements or articles should be construed as a profit forecast. All rights reserved. Material contained within this publication is not to be reproduced in whole or part without the prior permission of Virtuoso Publishing Limited.

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and the winners are.... A

ACCURA Denmark 4

KPMG Abogados, S.L.

AFRA Panama

Aleman, Cordero, Galindo & Lee

LawFed Studio Legale e Tributario BRSA

Panama

B Brazil

Luke & Associates

Bernitsas Greece

Luthi & Co.

BEST Rechtsanwälte PartmbB

Germany 6-7

Botswana Israel

Mediastic France

Camden Associates

UK 5

Mila Federis

CCPIT Patent and Trademark Law Office

China

Miller Thomson

Philippines 12 Canada 11

Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg

Canada The Netherlands

Donna J. Jackson & Associates

USA 8

Dr. A. Klagsbald & Co. Law Offices

Israel

Nassar Abogados

Costa Rica 13

P Pacific Equity Partners

Australia

Pacific Risk Advisors Ltd

Hong Kong

Parriswhittaker Bahamas 14

Edwin T. Nobbs, Q.C. Erhartová Gürlich Vítek & Partners

Italy

LMA-Advog Portugal

Basilio Advogados

Dirkzwager Legal & Tax

Spain

Canada Czech Republic 9

Estudio Juridico Otero

Chile

Preu Bohlig & Partner

Germany

R RICH IP & Co.

Taiwan 15

Rui Bai Law Firm

F Faus & Moliner

Spain

Felsberg Advogados

Brazil

Samuriwo Attorneys

Financial Marketing Limited

China

Zimbabwe

Stewart Germann

New Zealand

G George Z. Georgiou & Associates LLC

Cyprus

Tuli & Co

India

H Havel & Partners

Czech Republic

VCI Legal

Vietnam

Hechanova & Co., Inc.

Philippines 10

Vellani & Vellani

Pakistan

Heussen

The Netherlands

Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz

JDV Mexico

Wintertons Zimbabwe

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USA

LAWYERS WORLD 2019 LAW AWARDS

M&A Law Firm of the Year DENMARK

ACCURA We are not a traditional law firm. ACCURA ADVOKATPARTNERSELSKAB Tuborg Boulevard 1 2900 Hellerup Copenhagen Denmark T: +45 3945 2800 F: +45 3945 2801 E: info@accura.dk W: www.accura.dk

THINKING BUSINESS Since Accura was founded in 1999, the firm has undergone considerable expansion, and it did not take long for us to establish ourselves as a major player among Danish law firms. Today, we have 200 on staff, approximately 140 of whom are in the legal profession. The reason for this expansion lies in our unique business-minded approach to our assignments. Accura is not a traditional law firm. For us, the law is not an end unto itself, but a means to ensure added business value for our clients. We also have a deep and detailed understanding of the business of each of our clients, which means that we always find effective solutions that add value to our clients’ businesses. We have built our own business up around providing advisory services to the Danish and international business community; among our clients are a large number of major national and multinational business clients, financial institutions, private equity funds, government investment funds, utility companies, public authorities, governments as well as private companies and their owners.

HOW DO WE WORK? All our work processes are anchored firmly in the needs of our clients and aimed at creating effective and value-added solutions. We select a special group of key staff to work together with each client so that each of our clients has a team of employees to draw on in all important advisory areas. Some assignments require larger teams to be involved. Exactly who is on these teams will be decided from assignment to assignment in consultation with the client and with a strict focus

on the nature of the work to be done. At Accura, we always select the staff best suited to handle the assignment at hand. The pay received by our employees and partners encourages specialisation and putting client interests ahead of personal ones. Our clients are often only interested in a telephone consultation or a short reply by email. At other times, a formal response in the form of a memorandum or an actual legal opinion is necessary. Accura supplies useful and timely value-added legal services, however our clients wish to receive them. There is always one partner responsible for ensuring that an assignment is handled to the highest professional standards in the field and in a cost-efficient way.

INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE Many of Accura’s clients either have activities outside Denmark or are part of a foreign group of companies. As a result, international matters and considerations are an important part of many of our cases, and Accura’s staff have vast experience in handling cross-border issues. Accura has built up an extensive network of leading law firms in many European countries and in the rest of the world. These are lawyers we often work together with and who can step in and lend a hand on very short notice. We have one or more different collaboration partners in all major jurisdictions, which allows us to select exactly the foreign partner with the best skills to serve the client and handle the assignment at hand. LW

+45 22 +41 3945 5602800 60 36 www.accura.dk www.afschrift.com 4

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Best Mid-Market Investment Advisory Boutique UK

CAMDEN ASSOCIATES 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.

CAMDEN ASSOCIATES 27 Hill Street London W1J 5LP T: +44 207 290 9812 M (Europe): +336 7498 4104 W: www.camdenassociates.co.uk

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 faraway 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.

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“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: “With asset prices falling, corporates with strong balance sheets are likely to see some very attractive opportunities.Chinese acquisitions in Europe and the US are an ongoing area of activity for debt-raising for M&A. Across almost every sector, corporate clients are facing disruption and some kind of existential threat around technology or competitor innovation to which they need to respond, which, in turn is helping to create a backlog of potential M&A activity.Technology and innovation are evolving so fast many players need to scramble to simply remain in existence.” Therefore we are currently working on a very diverse set of assignments. These vary from a canadian/ danish company producing diesel fuel from wood residues and rubbish collection, a novel disruptive CAR T Cell technology poised to slash the cost of reprogramming cells, and a canadian gold company moving to producing cobalt to address the ever increasing needs of the technology markets.” LW

+44 207 290 9812 www.camdenassociates.co.uk LAWYERS WORLD 2019 LAW AWARDS

Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year GERMANY

BEST RECHTSANWÄLTE ATTORNEYS

BEST Rechtsanwälte PartmbB was founded in 1998 by Dr. Michael Best and his partner. Based in Frankfurt, Germany, the firm has recently opened an Indian Desk in Kolkata, India, providing the same reliable and high quality services to its clients in this country. The firm was established as a spin-off from the Hoechst group in 1998. Among the firm’s early clients were the many companies, subsidiaries and joint ventures which resulted from the restructuring of the Hoechst group. Many of these are still valued clients. Yet the client base of the firm has changed and broadened significantly over the last twenty years and now extends across numerous sectors of industry and commerce. The firm’s clients include utility, pharmaceutical and chemical companies, power and automotive companies, as well as manufacturers of highly specialized fabrics and materials, cosmetics and fashion labels and other consumer goods. Since its foundation, the firm has continued to grow continuously and currently the team consists of thirteen highly motivated and experienced attorneys, paralegals and support staff. In 2009 Udo Pfleghar joined the firm as a partner after several years as head of the group trademark and domain law at the Boehringer Ingelheim group and as a senior examiner at the OHIM (now EUIPO) in Alicante. With the appointment of Miléa Giannakoulis as a partner, and with Steffen Schäffner acting of counsel for the firm, this growth is continuing. Steffen has a strong litigation and industry background, having represented the OHIM (now EUIPO) in numerous proceedings before the Courts in Luxembourg and having been inhouse with MERCK in the past, while Miléa has an equally strong trademark clearance and

LAWYERS WORLD 2019 LAW AWARDS

unfair competition background and has been with the firm for more than a 15 years. Since its beginning, the firm has focused exclusively on trademarks, designs, domains, unfair competition and copyright matters and related areas such as data protection and licensing to provide the best possible service to its clients in its areas of specialization and expertise. Most recently, the firm was able to extend this expertise to India with the opening of its Indian Desk, which is headed by Poroma Banerjee, a highly qualified Indian attorney with both law firm and in house experience. This desk not only makes it possible for BEST to offer the high quality and reliable services expected by its clients in India, but also provides Indian clients a gateway to the protection of IP rights not just in India, but also in Germany and the European Union and its member states. Profile BEST Rechtsanwälte PartmbB is a boutique law firm specialised in Intellectual Property Law. The firm was founded in 1998. The three partners, together with further experienced attorneys and highly trained and motivated paralegals and support staff, ensure that the firm is well established to handle large quantities of work quickly and efficiently while maintaining the high quality standards expected by clients and instructing counsel.

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We work so closely with many of our clients that we are in the position of an outsourced trademark department, providing legal advice based on the knowledge we have of the particular industry and the clients involved. BEST Rechtsanwälte PartmbB is located in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, in one of the busiest commercial regions of Germany and Europe. With its large international airport, Frankfurt is an important centre of international finance and industry. It is easy to reach and the location in the heart of Europe makes it easy for us to go where we can help our clients. Most recently, its Indian Desk was opened in Kolkata, India. Currently, we are responsible for the trademark, design and domain portfolios and cases of a number of national and multinational companies from various countries on both national and international levels. We are able to call on the extensive experience of our partners and staff in dealing with such portfolios during the course of their careers (both in house and as external counsel for their clients), making it possible for us to offer high quality and cost effective solutions. The firm’s clients include pharmaceutical and chemical companies, power and automotive companies, cosmetics and fashion labels, name creation agencies and industrial designers, consumer goods manufacturers, to name just a few. Of course, we also act on behalf of numerous law firms based outside Germany, who entrust the representation of their clients to us before the German courts and the German Patent and Trademark Office or in matters involving Community Trademarks and Designs. Our services in regard to our clients’ portfolios can include all aspects from searching, prosecution, opposition proceedings, litigation, drafting and negotiation of license agreements, assignments, co-existence agreements, watching, etc. Our experience makes it possible for us to provide these services to our larger clients on the basis of a “Legal Service and Counseling Agreement” which is invoiced at an annual flat rate.

Philosophy At BEST Rechtsanwälte PartmbB, we believe that we should concentrate on the things we know how to do best. This makes it possible for us to offer first class service to our clients. The strong background of our partners as in house trademark attorneys and in private practice as well as the highly qualified staff make it possible for us to meet our clients’ expectations and to offer our services at very competitive rates. We strive to continuously improve our services in order to meet the needs and expectations of our clients. For that reason we are active in: 1. Lecturing on subjects related to trademark, design and domain matters. Udo and Steffen are lecturers in law at the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences. 2. Committees in professional associations such as INTA, MARQUES and ECTA. Of course we also strive to attend the annual meetings of the associations we are members of. 3. Meetings with offices such as the German Patent and Trademark Office and the European Intellectual Property Office in Alicante We also regularly take part in seminars and training sessions in order to keep up to date with current developments. Overall, it is our philosophy to offer the best possible service to our clients at competitive rates. This is where our industry experience meets client expectations. LW

+49 69 8700 200 30 www.best-ip.eu WWW.LAWYERS-WORLD.COM

LAWYERS WORLD 2019 LAW AWARDS

Estate Planning Lawyer of the Year USA

DONNA J. JACKSON & ASSOCIATES Donna J. Jackson & Associates, PLLC is a law firm dedicated to providing the best estate planning services including revocable, irrevocable, special needs, (d)(4)(A), veteran asset protection, and Medicaid asset protection trusts that are customized to fit every client’s needs.

Donna J. Jackson Attorney at Law DONNA J. JACKSON & ASSOCIATES, PLLC 10404 Vineyard Blvd, Ste E Oklahoma City, Ok 73120 T: + 1 405 840 1874 F: + 1 405 840 1880 E: donnajacksonlaw@ outlook.com W: www.okcestatelawyer.com

Comprised of attorneys who work together to put together the best estate plan for you and your family. Our firm has a team of lawyers who all have different strengths and backgrounds who will collaborate to get the results you seek. We’ve been practicing business law for over 25 years and we’ve found that our clients truly appreciate the time and effort we put into every aspect of their business. We’re here to help you succeed and that’s something we don’t take lightly. At Donna J. Jackson, Attorney at Law, PC we are here to listen to your needs and help you accomplish your business goals in any way we can. We know that starting a business can be tough on your wallet, and we’ve got a number of different options that you and your company can review to keep costs as low as possible.

PRACTICE AREAS Estate Planning Do you want to specify exactly where your assets will go after you pass away? Do you want to avoid the probate process? Do you want to make certain that assets won’t be given outright to a minor or that your young children are responsibly taken care of – money wise? Then it is time to start considering estate planning. Whether you are single, married, have children, or have fur children, our goal is to make sure your surviving spouse, surviving children, and/or surviving animals are provided for as you see fit. This can be done with an array of estate planning techniques. Please call the office, ask to speak with Linda, and schedule an appointment with our team to help you accomplish your estate planning wishes. Trusts No, the rumor is not true – you do not need a million dollars in assets to have a Trust. You may want to make sure minor children, pets, a person with special needs, or your family, in general, are taken care of and are able to avoid the probate process with the help of a Trust. There are many different types of Trusts, including: Special Needs Trusts, Revocable Trusts, Irrevocable Trusts, Medicaid Asset Protection Trusts, Veterans Asset Protection Trusts, Charitable Trusts, etc.

Durable Power of Attorney, Health Care Power of Attorney, HIPAA Authorization & Advance Directive (a/k/a Living Will) These are all helpful tools to have in your estate planning toolbox. Who can write checks on your behalf, who can doctors talk to and ask medical questions, who can get access to your medical records. These documents help instruct others of your desires on who you have selected to act in your stead and in your best interest. Probate It is always difficult when a loved one dies, but the situation can become even more complicated when assets are left in that person’s name and need to be transferred to others. For example, if a mother passed away and left a house in her name, then that asset is stuck and has nowhere to go. A probate attorney can help you (the heirs) to get the Judge to allow those assets to be transferred to the rightful people. If a person dies with a valid will, that person is said to have died testate. If someone dies without a will or without a valid will, then the person is said to have died intestate. With either situation, it is advisable to speak with an attorney to determine is any assets need to be probated or if there is another way to get a small asset transferred out of the decedent’s name and into the rightful heir’s name. Guardianship When it is necessary or convenient, a guardianship may be appointed over a minor or an adult and over the person or the person’s property. A judge will determine what is in the best interest of the individual potentially needing the guardianship over him or herself. There are several reasons why one might needs a guardianship, e.g., enrolling a minor into school or daycare, allowing the guardian to obtain medical treatment, etc. The petition to obtain guardianship should be filed in the county court where either the potential ward lives or where the proposed guardian lives. Guardianships can be temporary or long-term. We all want what is in the best interest of the potential ward (adult or minor needing the guardianship). Please contact us today to schedule an appointment to discuss the matter further! LW

+1 405 840 1874 www.okcestatelawyer.com 8

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Law Firm of the Year CZECH REPUBLIC

ERHARTOVÁ GÜRLICH VÍTEK & PARTNERS GÜRLICH & Co law firm was established on 1st February 2002. All members of the firm are experienced lawyers possessing outstanding professional expertise in various branches of law. The firm is part of AEA International Lawyer Network represented in all countries of the world. Thus, we are in a position to provide our legal services throughout this network worldwide. We are delighted to inform you that GÜRLICH & Co. and ERHARTOVÁ VÍTEK & PARTNERS law firms joined their forces on 1 November 2019. The new law firm resulting from the merger is ERHARTOVÁ GÜRLICH VÍTEK & PARTNERS.

JUDr. Richard Gürlich, Ph.D CEO, Attorney-at-law ERHARTOVÁ GÜRLICH VÍTEK & PARTNERS Šafaříkova 201/17 120 00 Prague 2 Czech Republic T: +420 224 409 920 E: info@akegv.cz W: www.akegv.cz

ERHARTOVÁ VÍTEK & PARTNERS has groomed a team of experienced lawyers to provide legal services since 2003. It has received a number of awards, over the years; e.g. it was ranked among highly recommended law firms in the “Law Firm of 2015” ranking by EPRAVO.CZ in the telecommunications and media category. It received this award also in 2018 in the categories of telecommunications and media, public procurement, and information technology law. The merged law firm ERHARTOVÁ GÜRLICH VÍTEK & PARTNERS moved into new, grade-A office space at the Delta Haus in Vinohrady, Prague. We trust that by merging our two reputable law firms, we will be providing our clients with complex services in various areas on a high and professional level, hand in hand with a personal approach. Our law firm delivers complex legal advisory services to Czech, Slovak and international clients, and also small and medium enterprises, sole proprietors, housing associations and cooperatives. The primary focus of our advisory services is on real estate transactions: the sale, purchase, or lease of real estate, housing and commercial property, including any documentation related to real estate financing and/or collaterisation. As part of collateralization, we process mortgages, pledges on real estate and other assets, including aggregate immovable assets, pledges on intellectual property, on an enterprise or a part thereof, security arrangements, mortgaging any related bank accounts, shares, shareholdings, and assignments of rights as required by banks. Naturally, we also process the registrations and any other related steps, including advice on governing law. We also focus on advisory services to IT developers.

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We provide our services on a highly professional level, quickly, and completely independently. Two of our core values that help our clients manage their businesses are flexibility and a personal approach, which we uphold through the hard work of our young but qualified colleagues, who are absolutely ready to offer a tailor-made solution. In providing legal services, our law firm chooses the most suitable solution to achieve the goal as defined by the client, delivering legal opinions and analysis. The highest level of professionalism which we strive to preserve includes the consideration of legislative changes in progress, and a detailed and ongoing analysis of court judgements, both Czech and European. While focused on professionalism, we never forget that it goes hand in hand with a personal approach to ensure that clients can always rely on our services and the provision of the best possible outcome in the shortest possible time period, maintaining a high level of transparency and detailed records of our performance.

AREAS OF LAW WE SPECIALIZE IN: • Civil Law • Commercial Law • Intellectual Property • Corporate Law and Commercial Law, Public Procurement • Labour Law • Real Estate • Litigation • Cryptocurrencies • IT Law • Media and Advertising LW

+420 224 409 920 www.akegv.cz LAWYERS WORLD 2019 LAW AWARDS

Patent Prosecution Firm of the Year PHILIPPINES

HECHANOVA & CO., INC. The HECHANOVA Group, comprising of four companies, serves the IP requirements of owners and users interested to protect their IP rights in the Philippines. HECHANOVA & CO. INC. Ground Floor Salustiana D. Ty Tower, 104 Paseo de Roxas Avenue, 1229, Philippines T + 632 8888 4293 + 632 8812 6561 F + 632 8888 4290 E: mail@hechanova.com.ph

HECHANOVA & CO., INC., member of the HECHANOVA Group is an IP consulting firm handling patent and trademark prosecution, copyright, domain name, plant variety, product registrations, all types of searches, freedom to operate searches, patent drafting, maintenance services for patents and trademarks, valuation services for trademarks and food technologies, advising on labeling, product registration requirements of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), plant variety registration, advising on advertising materials and registration with the Department of Trade and Industries (DTI), consulting on IP creation and protection, and other non-contentious IP services. Founded on Dec. 12, 2005, the company has now grown to thirty-one (31) professionals and support staff. The legal, business, technical and management experience of the professionals comprising the Company, coupled with in-depth knowledge of

relevant local, regional and international laws and IP practices allows it to understand and give better advise. True to its slogan of â&#x20AC;&#x153;passion for service, service with integrityâ&#x20AC;?, it has established itself as a reliable IP service provider and has been awarded by the IPOPHL as Top Patent Filer (rank #2) for the years 2010-2014, and Top Trademark Filer (within top 20) for the years 2010-2014 by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines. HECHANOVA & CO., INC. has risen to #1 position as top patent filer for 20152019 as informed by the IPOPHL. LW

+632 8888 4293 www.hechanova.com.ph 10

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Tax Lawyer of the Year CANADA

DAVID W. CHODIKOFF David W. Chodikoff, Certified Specialist (Taxation), LSO, B.A. (Spec. Hons.), M.A., LL.B., specializes in civil and criminal tax litigation and is the national leader in the Tax Disputes Resolution group at Miller Thomson LLP.

David W. Chodikoff Partner Leader, Tax Disputes Resolution Certified Specialist (Taxation), LSO MILLER THOMSON LLP Scotia Plaza 40 King Street West Suite 5800 P.O. Box 1011 Toronto, Ontario M5H 3S1  T: +1 416 595 8626 F: +1 416 595 8695 E: dchodikoff@ millerthomson.com

David was a former counsel and a Crown Prosecutor at the Department of Justice. David has over 100 reported decisions and has appeared in over 570 cases before the courts. David has been recognized by Canadian, American and European authorities as one of the leading tax controversy leaders in the world. He has edited and contributed to nine tax books. David is the recipient of numerous national and international awards including the 2018 Ontario Bar Association’s Award of Excellence in Taxation Law. David is the Editor-in-Chief of Taxes & Wealth Management a Thomson Reuters Publication. He is also an Editor of the Tax Litigation Journal, Federated Press. David is a regular speaker on tax matters for the Advocate’s Society, Ontario Bar Association, Canadian Bar Association, Canadian Tax Foundation, International Bar Association and The Law Society of Ontario. Presently, David is completing his 10th tax book. He is co-authoring a tax litigation work with the immediate past Chief Justice of the Tax Court of Canada, the Honourable Gerald Rip, expected to be published in 2020. David has recently been awarded the following awards: • Selected, Tax Expert of the Year In Canada, Leaders In Law – 2020 Global Awards, UK

• Corporate International Magazine Global Award, International Tax Lawyer of the Year in Canada, 2020 • The Best Lawyers in Canada – Tax Law, 2020 • Tax Controversy Leaders, The Comprehensive Guide to the World’s Leading Tax Controversy Advisers (World Tax, in association with International Tax Review), (Rated: Highly Regarded) 2020, Tax Lawyer of the Year in Canada.

AREAS OF PRACTICE Tax litigation (civil and defence), transfer pricing, tax evasion/tax avoidance, audit defence, audit support, MAPs/ADRs, controversy management, corporate taxes, international tax advisory, GST, cryptocurrency and customs.

SECTOR SPECIALISATIONS Taxation, financial services, accounting, real estate, technology and telecoms, pharma and life sciences, investment management and gaming. LW

+1 416 595 8695 www.millerthomson.com WWW.LAWYERS-WORLD.COM

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Trademark Practitioner of the Year PHILIPPINES

MILA FEDERIS Mila Federis is the co-founder and managing partner of Federis & Associates Law Office, a boutique law firm. Federis is one of just a handful of Philippine law firms whose practice is exclusively focused on IP law.

Mila Federis Co-founder and managing partner FEDERIS & ASSOCIATES Suites 2004 & 2005 88 Corporate Center Valero corner Sedeño Streets Salcedo Village, Makati City 1227 Philippines T: +632 889 6197 F: +632 889 6132

Ms. Federis works with clients from a wide range of industries, including pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, hotel, leisure, electronics, automotive, telecommunications and IT. Her extensive experience in an IP-focused practice involves copyright, trademark and design prosecution, enforcement, licensing, advertising and privacy issues. She manages a range of trademark work, from clearance to prosecution and maintenance. Her enforcement work includes cease and desist letter campaigns, raids, coordination with government officials and court actions. Ms. Federis began her IP career during her first job after law school. At that firm, she handled a large portfolio of trademark and patent applications. She also prepared pleadings and memoranda in trademark oppositions, interference, cancellations, unfair competition and trademark infringement actions. Furthermore, Ms. Federis collected and presented evidence in cases, prepared complaints and affidavits for search warrant applications and coordinated with criminal enforcement agents in raids against counterfeiters. Her initial training in IP was supplemented by several years of experience working in a law firm in the United States with more than 120 lawyers.

She managed the filing of trademark applications with the US Patents & Trademarks Office (USPTO). She also handled and coordinated applications filed in foreign jurisdictions, supervised trademark disputes in different countries, prepared and filed post-registration maintenance Affidavits of Use with the USPTO. Ms. Federis is involved in committee work for professional organizations. She organized a roundtable conference for the International Trademark Association (INTA), moderated an INTA conference panel discussion and represented INTA at an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation IP Rights Experts’ Group consultation. She is a regular contributor to the Philippines section in INTA publications: Anti-Counterfeiting in Asia and the Pacific Rim, the International Oppositions Guide, Country Guides and the Madrid Practitioner’s Guide. Ms. Federis is also the regular contributor to the Getting the Deal Through: Patents Edition and Getting the Deal Through: Trademarks Edition. In addition to her professional activities, Ms. Federis devotes time for pro-bono cases. She acted as defense counsel for students accused in antisubversion cases and was defense counsel for seven women accused in a criminal case for malicious mischief. This case was filed by a prominent political family who illegally constructed fish pens in a lake that was declared by the government as a fish sanctuary. Ms. Federis is also a passionate proponent for the firm’s annual gift to the Office of Legal Affairs at the University of the Philippines College of Law and is a regular contributor to the funding of non-government organizations involved in the rescue and rehabilitation of street children. LW

+632 889 6197 www.federislaw.com.ph 12

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Central American Law Firm of the Year COSTA RICA

NASSAR ABOGADOS Nassar Abogados is the Central American law firm with its own offices operating in five different jurisdictions (Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala), complementing our regional coverage through alliances with prestigious firms in Panama and the Caribbean, providing therefore, and interdisciplinary and regional service. NASSAR ABOGADOS 784-1000 San JosĂŠ Costa Rica T: +506 2257 2929 F: +506 2258 3180 E: info@nassarabogados.com W: www.nassarabogados.com

Nassar Abogados is a full service and resultoriented law firm, with internationally recognized strategic experience in a variety of areas of law. With over 30 years of experience, the Firm holds a longstanding tradition of legal consulting and services designed under standards of the highest quality and constant innovation. The growth model of Nassar Abogados in Central America, and the fact that its presence in the region is through its own offices without involvement of third parties, allows the Firm to offer its clients unique benefits in the market of legal services in Central America, which may be summarized as follows: Excellent customer service standards, through a single communication, coordination and monitoring channel of all matters handled in the region, all of which allows the Firm to offer real, cost-effective and time-efficient legal products and solutions. Our regional operations are controlled by the Firmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Partners without additional cost for the client, ensuring effective and daily control of legal services and offering a high level of consultancy in all Central American countries. In addition, our Regional Operations Department not only coordinates the legal matters handled by Nassar Abogados, but it

also controls the performance, response times and responsibilities of each of the lawyers throughout the region. Every service requested to the Firm has a deadline, even when not required by the client. Nassar Abogados offers to its regional clients a group of lawyers with experience in different subjects of Central American and international law, which differentiates them from professionals whose careers have been focused on a domestic law profile, providing therefore, an interdisciplinary and regional service to clients. This team, mature and consolidated, represents a competitive advantage for Nassar Abogados, whose benefits are transferred on a daily basis to our regional customers. LW

+506 2257 2929 www.nassarabogados.com WWW.LAWYERS-WORLD.COM

LAWYERS WORLD 2019 LAW AWARDS

Shipping & Maritime Law Firm of the Year BAHAMAS

PARRISWHITTAKER World-Class Service to World-Wide Clients Our practice was engineered to provide custom solutions for our clients, with fees designed to give you value over boosting our bottom line. Whether local or international, businesses interested in keen local insight, solid community connections and a 24/7 results-oriented relationship will find that here with us. While our suite of services is extensive, real estate, banking and litigation are what we do best.

A. KENRA PARRIS-WHITTAKER A seasoned young litigator, Kenra believes that justice prevails. She also believes that justice is on her side–regardless of superficial facts, and even of prior governmental rulings. This gives rise to tremendous confidence—short of an actual guarantee. The Nassau-born, Canadian-educated litigator attributes her success to thinking a few steps ahead of her opponent. She has a strong sense of moral values—and operates nimbly on surprisingly little sleep. The daughter of Bahamas-real estate guru Arthur Parris, Kenra always knew she would be an attorney. She enrolled in law school (University of Buckingham, 2001, and later Inns of Court School of Law, 2004), then joined Callenders & Co., where she became a senior associate litigating commercial, probate and maritime cases Now, as an admiralty, maritime, personal injury and commercial litigator, Kenra frequently represents crew members, vessel repair shops, shipyard owners, injured plaintiffs, and others wronged without recourse. She has obtained millions on her clients’ behalf—through judgment or settlement. She also represents clients who are seeking or defending a judicial review (in the Supreme Court) on governmental rulings such as a Port Authority license granted or denied. She has been uncannily successful in all these endeavors. Kenra has a thriving probate practice as well. As an attorney for executors and executrices, she can often halve the waiting time for hearings, particularly for large estates. LW

PRACTICE AREAS • Vessel Lease Agreements • Maritime Disputes and Litigation • Shipping and Aircraft

A. Kenra Parris-Whittaker

• Commercial, Civil & Trust Litigation • Estates, Probates, Wills and Trusts • Estate Litigation • Trusts Litigation • Shareholder Disputes • Fatal Accident Claims • Personal Injury Litigation • Construction Disputes and Litigation • Property Disputes and Litigation • Employment and Immigration • Company Law • Commercial/Contractual Disputes • Contentious Probate Issues • Insurance Litigation • Corporate Services

QUALIFICATIONS • Inns of Court School of Law, 2005 • University of Buckingham, LLB (Hons), 2004 • University of Western Ontario, History, BA, 2002

MEMBERSHIPS • England & Wales, Barrister (2005) • The Bahamas, Attorney-at-Law (2005) • Bar of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (“BVI”) (2013) PARRISWHITTAKER Suite 10 Seventeen Centre Bank Lane Freeport Grand Bahama T: +242 352 6110 E: kw@parriswhittaker.com W: www.parriswhittaker.com

+242 352 6110 www.parriswhittaker.com 14

LAWYERS WORLD 2019 LAW AWARDS

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Patent & Trademark Law Firm of the Year TAIWAN

RICH IP & CO. Rich IP & Co. (RichIP) consists of a team of attorneys and engineers with deep, varied educational and experiential backgrounds, providing professional patent and trademark law services in Taiwan, the Chinese Area and worldwide.

Clarice Chen Managing Partner/ Patent Attorney RICH IP & CO 6F, No. 261, Sec. 3, Nan-king E. Rd, Taipei, Taiwan, T: +886 2 2713 1060 # 328 E: clarice.chen@richip.com W: www.richip.com

All co-founders of RichIP were from the largest firm in Taiwan, and all the managing staff of RichIP are in IP field for more than twenty-five (25) years. Operating as one of the leading IP firms within Taiwan, RichIP is unique in IP field and especially specialized in patent and trademark dispute matters. The team of RichIP stands out from its competitors thanks to its excellent response rate, detail-orientated approach, and disciplined nature in which it produces outstanding results for the clients. Throughout the area, there are only a handful of IP firms which are equipped with a full-fledged chemical and biochemical team, and RichIP has been recognised by clients as an excellent company. The

technical fields covered by the unique chemical/ biotech team of RichIP include, but not limited to, chemistry, chemical engineering, polymer, semiconductor, pharmaceutical, agricultural, life science and biotechnology. As the slogan of RichIP, we always do our best to match the clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; needs. LW

+886 2 2713 1060 # 328 www.richip.com WWW.LAWYERS-WORLD.COM

LAWYERS WORLD 2019 LAW AWARDS

Law Awards 2019