Winner: Herbert Smith
“When our internal resources were stretched in all directions they simply made our lives easier and contributed immensely to the quality of our decision making.” So observes one satisfied Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer client. The attainment of excellent client feedback was a given for all the shortlisted firms in this category. Large, complex M&A deals may put teams under intense pressure, but they also provide them with opportunities to excel. Freshfields’ corporate team enjoyed another extremely busy year, advising on more than 300 deals valued at more than £300bn. This was an ideal environment for an emerging generation of young partners, including Ed Cole, Bruce Embley, Stuart Grider and Harvey Nugent. Linklaters’ team also received excellent references which highlighted the firm’s ability to provide a consistently good service across many jurisdictions. The judges noted the firm’s continued investment in technology, as evidenced by its role helping to develop an extranet for The Linde Group.
