WINNERS

• 1st - Bird & Bird
Bird & Bird has transformed itself from an IP and IT boutique into an international full service firm with a series of office launches. This year’s financial results show the benefit of the firm’s expansion strategy, which has driven the firm into new jurisdictions from Sweden to Spain and Shanghai, and placed more than 50 per cent of its lawyers outside the UK. Bird & Bird has seen its revenue jump 24 per cent to reach £142m, which is not bad going for a firm that turned over £48m in 2001.
But the firm has not stopped there. Over the past 12 months the firm launched a Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) practice with the hire of former Linklaters CEE technology head Stephen Kines; it opened in Finland via a merger with Fennica Attorneys; and the firm opened an Indian practice with the hire of White & Case partner Nipun Gupta.

• 2nd - Salans
The credit crunch has hardly grazed Salans and the firm is expanding at a faster rate than ever. The firm managed an enormous 35 per cent hike in turnover to hit $280m (£156m). The firm’s engine is its practice in Central and Eastern Europe which has grown this year to become the envy of many much bigger firms. Salans has made major hires in Russia, Poland and Turkey, building up its real estate and capital markets groups. Next stop: China. Salans has launched an office in Hong Kong, grown its Shanghai base and applied for a licence in Beijing.

• 3rd - White & Case
White & Case was one of the first firms to pursue an international strategy. With 38 offices world wide the US firm has successfully built a global network that is hinged on its hub offices in London and New York.
The firm’s global head of finance, New York partner Eric Berg, has been instrumental in creating a global finance capability focusing on its London New York axis. Despite a turbulent year for White & Case London finance team, the firm has maintained an excellent transatlantic banking and finance team with global clients such as Deutsche Bank.

---

Open to International firms in any jurisdiction.

Judges will be looking for evidence of:

• Strategic vision tailored to international client base
• Consistent delivery of client service
• Strong financial performance and growth
• Local client wins
• Details of strong international management

NB: ‘Best Friends’ or associations are not eligible for entry.

Entries welcome from:
Private practice teams	√
Nominations by in-house teams	√

Previous Winners:
2007	Kirkland & Ellis
2006	Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
2005	White & Case
2004	Weil, Gotshal & Manges
2003	Latham & Watkins