WINNERS

• 1st - Linklaters
One of the deals of the year was undoubtedly the acquisition of ABN Amro’s assets by a consortium led by Linklaters client Royal Bank of Scotland. The deal was hugely complex and RBS’ late entry into the fray really tested its lawyers’ mettle. Aside from time pressures - the consortium’s offer was made on 23 July and accepted on 5 October - the lawyers were breaking new ground by advising on a cross-border acquisition involving a three-way consortium. In addition, ABN’s board had already approved an earlier approach from Barclays, making it loathe to co-operate with information requests from Linklaters. The Linklaters team, led by stalwarts Robert Elliot and Matthew Middleditch, battled against time constraints and worsening market conditions to ensure its client was victorious. In total Linklaters fielded a massive team of around 400 lawyers from 24 offices, making this the firm’s biggest ever undertaking in terms of staffing and co-ordination.

• 2nd - Lovells
When it comes to the insurance market Lovells is head and shoulders above its rivals. It’s unsurprising, then, that Equitable Life should instruct the firm on the transfer of £1.8bn of with-profits annuity business to Prudential. This highly-complex transaction saw Lovells build on an already solid relationship with Equitable that is due to continue as the firm works with other advisers on a plan for the life company’s future. Corporate partner Charles Rix led the transaction along with a three-strong team of associates while partner Kevin Ashman and associate Graham Samuel-Gibbon provided tax advice.

• 3rd - Herbert Smith
Herbert Smith landed an instruction to die for last year when long-standing client Resolution turned to it for advice on a proposed merger with fellow life company Friends Provident. This proved to be the icing on the cake of a very successful year for the team, with bid and counter bid eventually leading to Resolution being taken over by zombie fund rival Pearl. The Herbert Smith team acting on the transaction was led by corporate partners James Palmer and Malcolm Lombers. The instruction consolidated an existing relationship with Resolution that saw the firm act on the creation of the company via the 2005 merger between Resolution Life Group and Britannic Group.

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This category is open to transaction teams. We are looking for excellence in one of the following fields: IPO’s (main list or AIM), public M&A, private equity or corporate reorganisations. Entries are welcomed from both domestic and cross-border work. Submissions should relate to deals over £500m.

Judges will be looking for evidence of:

• Full details of the transaction(s), with particular emphasis on structural innovation and market contest
• A list of all major parties involved in the transaction, including advisers

Submissions should focus on a single transaction but we welcome overviews of team activity throughout the course of the year.

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

Previous Winners:
2007	SJ Berwin
2006	Slaughter and May
2005	Clifford Chance
2004	Travers Smith Braithwaite
2003	Linklaters