(London) – The Legal 500 United Kingdom 2021 has recognized a number of Akin Gump practices and individuals in the firm’s London office as being among the leaders in their respective fields. This annual, independent guide ranks law firm practices and lawyers and provides editorial analysis of law firms operating in the United Kingdom.

For the seventh consecutive year, Akin Gump’s financial restructuring practice received top rankings in the Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency category. Financial restructuring practice co-heads James Roome and Barry G. Russell were both named in The Legal 500’s Hall of Fame for the third year in a row. Mr. Russell was also named a “leading individual” along with the following Akin Gump partners:

• Robert William Aulsebrook (finance)
• Liz Osborne, Emma Simmonds and James Terry(financial restructuring)
• John Daghlian, Tim Pearce and Daniel Quinn (investment funds)
• Davina Garrod, Hamish Lal, Helen Marshall and Justin Williams (litigation).

Four of the firm’s partners were recognized among The Legal 500 UK’s “next generation” [Aleksander Bakic (investment funds), Sophie Donnithorne-Tait (tax), Weyinmi Popo (corporate) and Ezra Zahabi (litigation)] and four counsels were named to its “Rising Stars” [Hamish Annandale (investment funds), Jenny Arlington (nee Grozdanova) (litigation), Serena Lee (tax) and Scott Pettifor (international trade)] in their respective fields.

In total, 20 of the firm’s practices were ranked and 59 Akin Gump lawyers were recommended:

Corporate and commercial - Corporate tax

• Matthew Durward-Thomas
• Serena Lee
• Sophie Donnithorne-Tait
• Stuart Sinclair

Corporate and commercial - EU and competition

• Davina Garrod
• Alaric Green
• Scott Pettifor

Corporate and commercial - EU and competition - trade, WTO anti-dumping and customs

• Jasper Helder
• Chiara Klaui
• Daniel Lund

Corporate and commercial - Financial services - contentious

• Joe Hewton
• Helen Marshall

Corporate and commercial - Financial services - non-contentious/regulatory

• Helen Marshall
• Ezra Zahabi

Corporate and commercial - M&A - upper mid-market and premium deals, £500m+

• Shaun Lascelles
• Sebastian Rice
• Simon Rootsey
• Weyinmi Popo
• Daniel G. Walsh
• Gavin Weir

Corporate and commercial - Private equity - transactions – mid-tier – up to £250m

• Harry Keegan
• Shaun Lascelles
• Sebastian Rice
• Simon Rootsey
• Weyinmi Popo
• David N. Sewell
• Daniel G. Walsh
• Gavin Weir

Crime, fraud and licensing - Fraud - civil

• Mark Dawkins
• Richard Hornshaw
• Kambiz Larizadeh
• Justin Williams

Dispute resolution - Banking litigation - investment and retail

• Sheena Buddhdev
• Mark Dawkins
• Richard Hornshaw
• Srishti Kalro
• Tom Laidler

Dispute resolution - Commercial litigation

• Jenny Arlington (nee Grozdanova)
• Sheena Buddhdev
• Mark Dawkins
• James Glaysher
• Richard Hornshaw
• Tom Laidler
• Kambiz Larizadeh
• Aimee Smart
• Justin Williams

Dispute resolution - International arbitration

• Jenny Arlington (nee Grozdanova)
• Sheena Buddhdev
• James Glaysher
• Richard Hornshaw
• Hamish Lal
• Kambiz Larizadeh
• Justin Williams

Finance - Bank lending - investment grade debt and syndicated loans

• Robert William Aulsebrook
• Sam Brodie
• Michael Gustafson
• Inderveer Hothi
• Mark Mansell
• Thomas F. O’Connor
• Stephen Peppiatt
• Tori Weir

Finance - Corporate restructuring & insolvency

• Tom Bannister
• Lois Deasey
• Liz Osborne
• Lauren Pflueger
• James Roome
• Barry G. Russell
• Emma Simmonds
• James Terry

Finance - Debt capital markets

• Robert William Aulsebrook
• Sam Brodie
• Michael Gustafson
• Mark Mansell
• Thomas F. O’Connor
• Barry G. Russell
• Tori Weir

Finance - Emerging markets

• Robert William Aulsebrook
• Inderveer Hothi
• Shaun Lascelles
• Julian Nichol
• Weyinmi Popo

Investment fund formation and management - Hedge funds

• Hamish Annandale
• Ian Meade
• Tim Pearce

Investment fund formation and management - Private funds

• Aleksander Bakic
• John Daghlian
• Thomas John Holton
• Mary Lavelle
• Daniel Quinn

Projects, energy and natural resources - Oil and gas

• Shaun Lascelles
• John C. LaMaster
• Julian Nichol
• Weyinmi Popo
• Simon Rootsey
• Justin Williams

Projects, energy and natural resources - Power (including electricity, nuclear and renewables)

• Shaun Lascelles
• Julian Nichol
• Weyinmi Popo
• Simon Rootsey

Real estate - Construction - contentious

• Hamish Lal

For further details on the firm’s rankings and commentary, please click here.

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers and advisors in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Founded in 1945, the firm is proudly celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2020. #AkinGump75

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