Sullivan, Skadden stars top European rainmaker table

Skadden stars top European rainmaker table" />Corporate partners from Sullivan & Cromwell, Skad-den Arps Slate Meagher & Flom and Chiomenti Studio Legale have emerged as the top European rainmakers.

As first reported on www.thelawyer.com last Wed-nesday (13 July), Sullivan corporate partner Garth Bray topped the individual partner value table for the period 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005, according to Mergermarket. Bray, who is based in Sullivan's London office, advised on 11 deals totalling €78.77bn (£54.04bn) in the past 12 months. He is currently working on the HVB/Unicredito Italiano merger, where he is acting for Goldman Sachs, one of the financial advisers on the deal.

Skadden Arps partner Scott Simpson and Chiomenti partner Enrico Giordano came second and third respectively. Simpson advised on 13 deals totalling €39.56bn (£27.14bn) while Giordano handled four transactions worth €39.37bn (£27.01bn).

Overall, the value table was dominated by partners based in domestic Italian firms, thanks mainly to Weather Investments' €9.99bn (£6.85bn) bid for Telecomunicazioni and the sale by Italmergia of Edison for €8.1bn (£5.56bn).

Meanwhile, Eversheds corporate partner Robin Johnson topped the individual partner by volume table for the past 12 months. He advised on 16 deals totalling €922m (£632.6m). Michael Hatchard, the London-based Skadden partner who topped the by value table for the period 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005, ranked number two. Hatchard worked on 14 deals totalling €16.5bn (£11.32bn).

Other partners featured in the by volume table include Clifford Chance private equity stars Simon Tinkler and Adam Signy, who ranked fifth and eighth respectively, and the head of Travers Smith's private equity practice Charles Barter, who takes the number six spot.