Law Firm Of The Year

Allen & Overy A&O's continued work with the International Swaps and Derivatives Association allows the law firm to maintain its high profile in the industry. This year, it worked on contingent credit-default swaps and loan CDS documentation for ISDA. A&O is viewed as a global firm with outstanding lawyers and a strong Asian practice. Standout partners include Tom Jones and Paul Cluley in Hong Kong and Ed Murray, Simon Haddock and David Benton in London.

 

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft Equity derivative dealers point again this year to Cadwalader's structured notes practice as one factor setting the firm apart from its competitors. Adding to an already strong and competent team, the firm hired Steven Lofchhie from Davis Polk & Wardwell as a partner late last year. Lofchie was also appointed co-chairman of the firm's securities and financial institutions regulation department. New York partner Ray Shirazi is also named as a strong force within Cadwalader's U.S. structured products business.

 

Linklaters Linklaters has been building up in Asia since hiring Chin-Chong Liew and three others from Allen & Overy last year. Dealers credit Liew and his team for knowing the region's regulations well and being adept at tapping external resources when they need additional expertise. Linklaters has been particularly strong in the Hong Kong retail space, dealers said. The firm is "competent, quick, thorough, [and] works on Sunday nights," one market participant summarized, naming London-based partner Alan Davies as a standout. Partner Adam Glass in the firm's New York practice also gets a nod for his work in the collateralized debt obligation market.

 

Simmons & Simmons London-based partners David Roylance, Jeremy Hoyland and Jonathan Hammond were noted for their work on CDOs and for advising on a variety of structured note transactions. Simmons & Simmons' financial services and regulatory practices are among the best in the market, officials said, noting the firm's steady growth of its derivatives groups is beginning to pay off this year.