WINNERS

• 1st - Linklaters
Having built up an exceptional leverage finance practice in the UK, Linklaters was always going to be among front runners. Advising on the financing on private equity house KKR bid for Alliance Boots earned the magic circle top marks and cemented an outstanding 2007 and 2008 for the firm - underlined by the firm's ability to attract top laterals such as David Ereira and Brian Gray from Freshfields.
Linklaters’ banking team has been at the forefront of innovative financing techniques that shaped the landscaped with partners such as Nick Syson and Gideon Moore driving the team to success in recent years. Advising on the two first covenant-lite deals in Europe in 2007 demonstrated the firm’s banking prowess in the market. Last year also saw Linklaters win a role on Tata Steel’s iconic $13bn acquisition of Corus, advising the banks on financing of the deal. It will take more than a row with JPMorgan to stop this unstoppable team.

• 2nd - Clifford Chance
Clifford Chance took the lead role advising banks Credit Suisse, RBS and Societe Generale on the $40bn financing of Rio Tinto’s acquisition of Canadian steel company Alcan. The financing represented the largest ever loan to a UK listed company.

The banking and finance team has maintained its strong place in the market since the onset of the credit crunch advising on deals such as the aucton of EMAP which was acquired by private equity house Apax and Guardian Media Group.

• 3rd - Allen & Overy
BHP Billiton’s $147bn acquisition of Rio Tinto hit the headlines as the largest ever syndicated loan in history. Allen & Overy’s role advising the financing banks demonstrates the firm’s dedication to sustaining a successful banking team. Last year the firm also advised on the EUR35bn financing for Enel’s joint bid with Acciona for Spanish energy company Endesa.

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This category is open to both private practice and in-house legal teams at corporates, governmental or professional regulatory bodies.

Judges will be looking for evidence of:

• Full details of the transaction or case. For contentious work, please illustrate any precedents set
• Consistent technical excellence and evidence of tactical thinking
• Transactional entries must demonstrate how the regulatory aspects determined the success of the deal

Submissions should focus on a single transaction but we welcome overviews of team activity throughout the course of the year. In the case of competition, the transaction may be work based in either London or Brussels.

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

Previous Winners:
2007	Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
2006	Addleshaw Goddard
2005	Allen & Overy LLP