Scott Barshay is a well-known face on the M&A scene and is revered for his legal prowess and high-profile client list. He has represented IBM in 11 separate matters since 2010 and also recently assisted Deutsche Börse and Barnes & Noble. Sources say: "His clients come to him because of his real way with covering salient points. He also has a very strong business orientation and brings all parties together."

Richard Hall is leader of the firm's M&A practice. He is highly respected in the industry and sources describe him as a "good practitioner, very thoughtful, thorough and very knowledgeable." He recently advised private equity firm Rosetta during its USD575 million sale to Publicis Groupe.

Faiza Saeed is an active and highly esteemed partner who advised The Williams Companies on its USD8.7 billion bid for Southern Union. Sources say she is "a superstar and deserves every accolade."

Robert Townsend is currently assisting with two pending acquisitions - for Johnson & Johnson and for Arch Chemicals. One source states: "I have tremendous respect for him. He is an extremely smart lawyer and clients think incredibly highly of him."

Philip Gelston is currently representing Kraft in splitting into two multibillion-dollar public companies. Clients like his "practice-oriented advice, huge knowledge base and experience, calmness under pressure and can-do attitude."

Adel Aslani-Far is global co-chair of the M&A practice group. Clients are impressed with his ability to "combine superior legal knowledge with great negotiating skills and a singular focus on protecting his clients' interests in all circumstances." His client service skills set him apart, thanks to "around-the-clock responsiveness and his do-anything-necessary attitude." He acted for Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods on PepsiCo's multibillion-dollar purchase of the Russian dairy and juice producer.

Orange County-based Charles Ruck is "very level-headed, gets things done and always looks for solutions." Deal highlights include assisting JPMorgan Securities as adviser to Pfizer on its USD360 million acquisition of King Pharmaceuticals.

Christopher Kaufman is universally well respected in California for his corporate practice. Clients say he is "actively involved and extremely hands-on." He recently advised Merrill Lynch on the USD4.3 billion acquisition by Western Digital of Hitachi Global Storage Technologies.

Alan Mendelson is "extremely proactive and very experienced – he's very smart and client service-oriented," say sources. One commentator enthused: "He is one of the most outstanding corporate M&A attorneys I know." Recent highlights include acting on the USD885 million acquisition of ZymoGenetics by Bristol-Myers Squibb.

In Los Angeles, the "outstanding" Paul Tosetti co-chairs the firm's global M&A practice. He represented Beckman Coulter in its USD6.8 billion acquisition by Danaher.

As global co-chair of the firm's M&A practice, Mark Gerstein is commended by clients for being "amongst the best M&A lawyers out there." Peers are also quick to acknowledge that "he clearly has a lot of strength." He recently assisted A.O. Smith with its sale of the Electrical Products Company for USD875 million.

Renowned as an expert in Latin American transactions, Antonio Del Pino is "bilingual, bicultural and really invests in the project." Clients also highlight his "excellent negotiating skills."

Gary Horowitz is described as a "phenomenal lawyer, smart guy, hard worker and a pleasure to work with." His recent work includes representing Varian Semiconductor in its USD4.9 billion acquisition by Applied Materials.

Lee Meyerson is head of the firm’s M&A group and one of the nation's pre-eminent financial services M&A lawyers. He was also the lead partner on Petrohawk's acquisition by BHP. Clients say he is "very straightforward and very effective."

Robert Spatt specialises in commercial and corporate governance advice to public and private company boards of directors. Sources particularly note his impressive understanding of Delaware corporate law.

Alan Klein is lauded as a strong and effective cross-border M&A lawyer. Recent highlights include assisting Microsoft with its largest corporate addition to date, the USD8.5 billion acquisition of Skype.

Richard Beattie is chairman of the firm. His main focus is advising boards of directors and non-management directors on governance issues. One client enthuses: "He's a true businessman's lawyer – an adviser with enormous experience and common sense. Someone we've grown to trust and respect."

Casey Cogut is a "very talented" and experienced attorney who recently advised Sealed Air on its USD4.3 billion acquisition of Diversey Holdings.

Patrick Naughton is noted for his fantastic grasp of private equity investments and LBOs. Having previously practised out of the firm's Hong Kong office, he is particularly adept at handling work involving Hong Kong and China.

David Williams adds a wealth of experience to the Latin America group. "He is absolutely bilingual, truly understands Latin American culture and legal systems, and has a no-nonsense approach. Definitely a welcome hand in every deal," sources enthuse.

Peter Allan Atkins is celebrated by his clients as being "a very thoughtful guy. When I've had complicated governance corporate matters, he's the best." Peers say he is "fabulous" and "exceptionally talented." He has an incredibly impressive profile in the tech space and recently advised L-1 Identity Solutions on its USD1.6 billion acquisition by Safran.

Lou Kling recently advised leading client DuPont on its purchase of Danisco, a cross-border deal worth USD6.3 billion. Clients say he is "excellent, we use him all the time."

Brian McCarthy is "effective, experienced and very practical," say sources. He recently advised Nationwide Health Properties on its USD7.4 billion acquisition by Ventas and represented the special committee of the board of directors of Wesco Financial in its USD548 million merger with Berkshire Hathaway.

Charles Mulaney is a prominent presence in the Chicago community. In the past year he represented Exelon in its USD7.9 billion merger with Constellation Energy Group. He also assisted medical device manufacturer Kinetic Concepts with its acquisition by Apax Partners. Commentators say: "He's right at the top of the corporate market."

Eileen Nugent is a superb M&A partner who recently advised Cephalon on defending a hostile takeover bid from Valeant Pharmaceuticals, and then acted for the company on its subsequent USD6.8 billion sale to Teva. Sources offer rave reviews, with one commenting: "She's fantastic, I can't say enough great things about her," and another saying that she is "an absolute pleasure to work with; a good lawyer and a good person."

Kenton King is the global co-head of the firm-wide corporate transactions practice. He frequently leads on key deals, including advising Goldman Sachs as financial adviser to Intel on its USD7.7 billion acquisition of McAfee. He garners much praise from market sources, who say: "He's amazing – he makes you feel as if you're his only client."

Paul Schnell is described as "very experienced and a very good negotiator who represents his clients well." His principal client is Pfizer, which he has represented in a number of advisory and transactional matters, including its USD2.4 billion sale of Capsugel to KKR.

Stephen Arcano leads the New York M&A team. He represented Validus Holdings in its unsolicited USD3.5 billion bid to merge with Transatlantic Holdings. In addition to praising Arcano's technical skills, sources "like him a lot, he's a pleasure to work across from."

Howard Ellin is global co-head of the corporate transactions and M&A practices. He recently acted for Landis+Gyr on its USD2.3 billion acquisition by Toshiba. Sources say he is a "terrific practitioner."

Thomas Kennedy was lead partner advising Genesis HealthCare on the USD2.4 billion sale of most of its real estate assets to Health Care REIT. He also assisted GTCR with its USD390 million acquisition of Fundtech.

Michael Gisser leads the firm's Asia-Pacific practice and is noted for his substantial cross-border expertise. He recently advised a South Korean fund on its USD100 million investment in a US company developing oil and gas properties in Texas, and acted for Joltid on Microsoft's acquisition of Skype. He also counts Harbin Electric and Chemspec amongst his significant international client list.

Terrific practitioner Phyllis Korff is based in New York and comes highly recommended for intricate transactions involving Israel.

Harold Moore co-heads the firm's energy and infrastructure projects group. His forte lies in complex deals involving Qatar.

Yossi Vebman is particularly skilled in matters relating to Israel. Sources applaud his expert guidance and advice on a range of corporate finance matters.

Colombia native Paola Lozano is an outstanding younger member of the team. She has been active on a large number of Skadden's recent deals and was described by sources as "one of the best and most hard-working Latin American lawyers in the market today."

The firm has recently suffered the tragic loss of Morris Kramer, who was known to be one of the foremost transactional lawyers in the country.

One client neatly sums up market sentiment towards Rodgin Cohen, describing him as "the best lawyer in the world." His impressive workload has included advising ING Groep on the USD9 billion sale of ING Direct USA's online banking operations to Capital One Financial.

Joseph Frumkin is managing partner of the M&A group. He is described as being "very impressive and able to grasp difficult concepts very quickly and focus on core issues with precision." He advised the special committee of the board of Southern Union on Energy Transfer Equity's purchase of Southern Union for USD9.4 billion.

Francis Aquila's peers say he "has a results-oriented approach. He is very, very good." Clients are similarly enthusiastic, lauding his outstanding team management skills: "We have had superb support from Frank and the entire S&C team. He also has a very good sense of the business principles in our industry and understands how to structure deals."

James Morphy is an "outstanding negotiator and able to look at the big issues and come up with solutions that will reflect his clients' needs, but simultaneously be acceptable without giving up anything that he or his clients want. He has the highest ethical standards." He represented Barrick in its purchase of Equinox Minerals for USD7.7 billion.

Stephen Kotran is highly regarded and respected by his clients, who remark: "He is one of our go-to counsel in the M&A space; we rely on him and trust him. He knows the industry, he knows the market practice, he is very thoughtful in his response, clearly very intelligent and up to speed on all of the current issues. That's what makes him stand out."

The "very smart and talented" Alison Ressler enters the rankings, with sources acknowledging her "terrific reputation in strategic M&A." She represented Skype Global and Silver Lake Partners in connection with the USD8.5 billion acquisition of Skype by Microsoft.

UK-based Richard Morrissey is highly rated by numerous sources. One client calls him "a big player who knows how to deal in very complex issues." He was recently involved in the multi-jurisdictional Silver Lake Partners and Skype transaction.

New York-based Sergio Galvis is hailed by sources as "a phenomenal M&A lawyer," and is universally respected for his wealth of experience, which spans more than 25 years' practice. He is an expert on Latin America matters.  

Andrew Brownstein has been described as a "very practical, smart and results-oriented attorney." "He really does his clients a great service by focusing on what matters." He recently worked on the high-profile USD20 billion sale of Genzyme to Sanofi.

Edward Herlihy handles some of the firm's most impressive M&A mandates, a recent highlight including advising Capital One Financial on its USD9 billion acquisition of ING Direct USA's online banking operations.

David Katz is lauded by peers and clients as an "impressive practitioner who is very smart and thoughtful." He possesses the skills to handle some of the country's most high-value and sensitive M&A deals.

Adam Emmerich is a "terrific practitioner" who led for AMB Property on its merger with ProLogis, one of the market's largest real estate deals to date.

Daniel Neff is a "very experienced transactional lawyer" who successfully advised Airgas on defending a hostile takeover bid from Air Products & Chemicals. After a year's effort, the team secured a victory for Airgas in Delaware's chancery court.

Andrew Nussbaum is well known for his cross-border expertise. Sources respect him for being "a very, very good lawyer. He has grown up at Wachtell and landed some huge clients."

Steven Rosenblum serves as co-chair of the firm’s corporate group and is currently advising Duke Energy on its pending multibillion-dollar acquisition of Progress Energy.

Martin Lipton is a founding partner of the firm and specialises in advising major corporations on M&A, corporate policy and strategy. He is universally known and acclaimed in the market.

David Shapiro is lauded by clients for being "tremendously professional, bright and practical – a real pleasure to deal with."

Victor Lewkow represented Alpha Natural Resources in its USD8.5 billion acquisition of Massey Energy. He also represents Citi on a regular basis, and is acclaimed as an "excellent, terrific" attorney.

Paul Shim is regarded as being "very well grounded, very disciplined and well versed in the law. He is focused on his clients and their business." He acted for Nortel Networks on the Section 363 bankruptcy sale of USD4.5 billion in patent assets to a consortium including Apple, Ericsson, Microsoft and Sony.

Michael Ryan's practice focuses on financial and corporate matters, in particular M&A deals and securities offerings. His private equity work draws wide acclaim from the market.

Daniel Sternberg led as US counsel to the target company in Johnson & Johnson's acquisition of Crucell for USD2.4 billion. His practice deals with public and private M&A transactions.

Jaime El Koury is a long-standing counsel to Latin America's largest bottler, Mexico's Coca-Cola FEMSA, which he advised on its acquisition of Grupo Tampico's drinks business. "He is 100% bicultural and bilingual – a key asset when doing business in the region," clients noted.

Latin America expert Jorge Juantorena's experience spans finance and capital markets as well as M&A, and his clients include Mexican mortgage loan provider Hipotecaria Su Casita. Interviewees regard him as "very business-minded."

Peers commend Jeffrey Lewis as "a spectacular lawyer" who is "delightful to work with." One source went on to add: "He gets to the core of the deal and doesn't create unnecessary issues." He is particularly adept at handling matters involving Latin America.

Francesca Odell is an expert on deals involving Brazil. Recent highlights include advising the underwriters' syndicate – comprised of Credit Suisse and several other leading financial institutions – on the BRL401.3 million IPO of Brazilian watchmaker Technos.

Scott Senecal is based in the firm's Moscow office and draws strong praise for his work on financial transactions and corporate law. Particularly lauded is his borrower-side representation.

Ward Greenberg leads the firm's Frankfurt-based US desk and earns accolades for his vast experience of both US and German issues.

The "impressive" George Bason is the global co-head of Davis Polk’s M&A group. He recently advised VF Corporation on its acquisition of fellow apparel company Timberland for USD2 billion, in additional to several other high-profile deals.

David Caplan is the other practice co-head; he comes highly recommended by sources for possessing "excellent judgement on client skills, client relationships and difficult questions." He often advises Aetna on its nationwide M&A work.

Client favourite Louis Goldberg recently advised CVS Caremark on the USD1.25 billion acquisition of Universal American's Medicare Part D business. Sources say he is "a terrific deal lawyer. He is good counsellor who can look at complex transactions and problems strategically."

Phillip Mills works on a broad spectrum of M&A matters covering cross-border transactions, private equity and joint venture work.

John Amorosi acted for GP Investments on its acquisition of a controlling stake in Brazilian restaurant chain Fogo de Chão.

Manuel Garciadiaz is a driving force in the world of finance, but has also emerged as a strong M&A and corporate player, especially in Latin America. "He understands the complexities of these deals and doesn't cause any unnecessary drama," peers note.

Jeffrey Rosen is chair of the corporate department and is, according to one impressed client, "the best M&A practitioner I've ever dealt with. He has a thorough command of everything. He's a complete practitioner."

Paul Bird is co-chair of the corporate department and M&A group. Clients are delighted with Bird's "very commercial, level-headed and constructive" approach. He is also lauded for his "analytical head in tense situations, which makes him a top-notch M&A lawyer."

Clients value the "sensible and sound advice" of Michael Gillespie. Much of his work is focused on Brazil, where he acted for mining giant CBMM on two recent equity investments, each of USD1.95 billion, by consortia of Chinese, Japanese and Korean investors.

Peter Wand is based in Germany and draws widespread praise for his business-focused approach. "He's an excellent bridge between US and German cultures and comes up with creative proposals for both jurisdictions," say sources. 

Lauded for his Latin American expertise, Gregory Gooding regularly works on behalf of clients in the financial services industry, and is described as "a talented lawyer, who is highly sensitive to Brazil's corporate and legal environments."

Based in Century City, the "outstanding" Jonathan Layne is described as a "talented and experienced" attorney who is "very willing and able to bring the right resources to his speciality." He has a strong profile in the financial services sector and recently represented Goldman Sachs as financial adviser to Beckman Coulter in its USD6.8 billion sale to Danaher.

Dennis Friedman is "outstanding in every respect." He has both domestic and cross-border commercial expertise and recently advised Baldor Electric in its USD4.2 billion sale to ABB.

Joseph Barbeau "knows the ins and outs of getting a deal done," say sources. He handles a wide range of cross-border transactions and has deep expertise in matters involving China and Hong Kong.

In Paris, Bernard Grinspan is lauded as a "good and very professional counsel," and a strong choice for complex cross-border transactions. Financial investments, joint ventures and M&A all fall within his area of specialisation.

The "smart and service-minded" Markus Nauheim is qualified in Germany and the USA. He handles a range of cross-border matters including joint ventures, private equity investments and M&A.

William Campbell typically advises clients in the energy and infrastructure sectors, particularly in Brazil. He is widely respected for his 30 years' energy industry experience.

David Fox is regarded as "an exceptionally good lawyer." He led for Teva in its USD6.8 billion acquisition of Cephalon. He is roundly praised by peers and clients for the outstanding transactional expertise he has built up over decades in the market.

Stephen Fraidin is an M&A expert in representing both major companies and investment groups. He recently advised Pershing Square on the corporate ramifications of its investment in JC Penney.

Scott Falk is well known in the Chicago M&A community. His practice includes tender offers, joint ventures and subsidiary divestitures. A notable mandate saw him advise Baxter on its USD380 million acquisition of Baxa and the USD338 million acquisition of Prism Pharmaceuticals.

Sources observe that Srinivas Kaushik, who leads the India initiative at Kirkland, "brings a sense of rigour and clarity to drafting, which we find very useful."

Michael Aiello is co-head of the private equity and M&A department. He is known as a "deal maker" and "great personality." He acted on behalf of pharmaceutical company Sanofi on its USD20.1 billion takeover of Genzyme in 2011.

Howard Chatzinoff represented GE and NBCUniversal during GE's high-profile USD37.25 billion joint venture with Comcast.

Thomas Roberts's practice focuses on domestic and cross-border M&A deals, divestitures and contested takeovers. He advised Kinder Morgan on its pending USD21 billion net-of-debt acquisition of El Paso.

Richard Climan is lauded for his "cutting-edge knowledge and up-to-date advice," with one client adding: "He makes a real effort." He recently arrived at the firm from Dewey & LeBoeuf together with Keith Flaum, who has had a dynamic year. Flaum currently serves as the vice-chair of the M&A committee of the American Bar Association's section of business law. "He is a tremendous M&A lawyer," commentators note.

David Dederick is managing partner of the firm's office in Budapest, in Hungary. Clients note that "his understanding of key legal concepts in several jurisdictions is a huge asset that makes him a great counsellor in multi-country activities."

Israel specialist Philip Rosen is praised for being able to handle both the debtor and creditor sides of a deal. He "cuts through the heart of the matter, and is businesslike and great on structuring deals," say sources. He advised Centro Retail Trust on its sale to The Blackstone Group, a deal of some USD9.4 billion.

Philip Richter is co-chair of the firm’s M&A group. He advised on the Genzyme deal and also represented the financial advisers, Deutsche Bank and Merrill Lynch, in Teva's acquisition of Cephalon. One client said Richter "has been fantastic – we have used him on a large number of large M&A transactions."

David Shine is the other M&A group co-chair. "He's a partner who very much rolls up his sleeves, gets down and understands the issues. He has a great wealth of experience." He has acted for Merck on several recent deals, including its USD430 million purchase of Inspire Pharmaceuticals.

Arthur Fleischer is the firm's senior partner and has been practising law for over 40 years. He represented Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse in their capacity as financial advisers to Genzyme during its sale to Sanofi.

Wade Angus divides his time between São Paulo and New York, and greatly impresses peers with his extensive knowledge of the Latin America market.

Oliver Passavant has practised in the firm's Germany, US and Saudi Arabia offices, and as such is well placed to handle complex cross-border transactions. He currently serves as partner-in-charge of the Alkhobar office in Saudi Arabia. 

Partner-in-charge of the Frankfurt office, Jürgen Reemers is held in high regard for work on cross-border divestitures and acquisitions, frequently advising foreign investors on their activities in Germany.

In the same office, Jörg Rehder handles US-German inbound and outbound corporate investment. 

Ansgar Rempp is lauded as a commercial and intellectual lawyer who provides a "thoughtful and ingenious perspective." He specialises in cross-border restructurings, transactions and corporate governance matters and is based in Germany.

Frankfurt-based My Linh Vu-Grégoire is admitted to the New York and Paris Bars. She spends a large proportion of her time advising from the firm's Paris office. She is praised by US and European clients for her intelligence and relationship management skills.

Since publication, Jörg Rehder has joined SCHIEDERMAIR Rechtsanwälte

Robert Schumer is chair of the corporate department and "a good lawyer and businessperson." Clients say he is "very smart and understands our business in great detail." He represented Warner Music Group in its USD3.3 billion sale to Access Industries.

Toby Myerson is co-head of the firm's M&A group. Clients remark that he is "incredibly knowledgeable and has mastered his craft very well." He acted on behalf of Sumitomo Metal Industries and Sumitomo Corporation on the USD340 million acquisition of Standard Steel.

Co-head of the capital markets group, Edwin Maynard is widely regarded as a leader in the Canadian market: "He is involved in all the biggest Canadian deals,” say sources. He represented Ivanhoe Mines in a USD1.2 billion rights offering.

Andrew Foley divides his time between the firm's New York and Toronto offices. He focuses on capital markets and securities law, and regularly represents Canadian oil and gas companies such as EnCana, Shell and Husky Energy.

Tarun Stewart is a "knowledgeable and diplomatic lawyer" who comes highly recommended for his expertise with transactions involving Indian jurisdictions and clients.

Patrick O'Brien and Paul Kinsella are both based in Boston and together co-head the firm's securities and public companies practice.

Peter Lyons is a seasoned M&A attorney with a special focus on joint ventures and asset acquisition and disposal. He acted for Gambro on its USD2.6 billion agreement to sell CaridianBCT to Terumo, a deal which reflects his presence in the healthcare space.

John Marzulli dedicates his time to international corporate finance with an emphasis on cross-border M&A. He counts some of the world's leading financial institutions amongst his clients.

Clare O'Brien is a highly experienced attorney who focuses on public and private M&A and restructurings. She is known for being "a solid attorney" and a "deal maker." She recently led on Boston Scientific's USD1.5 billion sale of its neurovascular business to Stryker.

Gregory Tan is co-deputy head of the firm's project finance and development group, and is highly respected by his peers. Sources note: "He is very calm and doesn't get flustered in negotiations." He comes highly recommended for Latin America deals.

Observers describe Thomas Cole as "the full package." He is highlighted for his deep expertise in public company M&A. Clients say: "The test of time has really proven the value of this brilliant corporate strategist." A key mandate saw him advise Central Vermont Public Service Corporation in its USD702 million sale to Gaz Métro.

The "very well-regarded" Frederick Lowinger heads the Chicago corporate group and co-leads the firm's M&A and private equity practice. He recently represented the board of Nicor in its USD3.1 billion sale to AGL Resources.

In London, US-qualified Thomas Thesing handles a wide range of matters including financial restructurings, M&A and issues relating to corporate governance.

Samir Gandhi is "an outstanding attorney who really knows his subject matter," comment clients. He acts for underwriters and issuers, with highlights including acting as issuer's counsel to Maiden Holdings North America on an issue of notes.  

Alyssa Grikscheit has superb international experience, particularly in Latin America. "She is outstanding at client service," remarked one interviewee.

Senior counsel Andrew Quale has many years' experience advising on M&A and corporate restructuring, and is similarly renowned for his expertise in matters involving Latin America.

Stephen Massad is noted for his impressive experience and described as "very bright and very smart." He combines "great judgement" with effective communication skills.

Thomas Moore recently joined the firm from Dewey & LeBoeuf. He continues to be a lauded expert in the oil and gas sector, providing corporate, commercial and financial services to an array of organisations. He is highly respected throughout the USA and is increasingly active in energy work abroad.  

Sina Hekmat "is a most competent and highly experienced lawyer, dedicated to his clients and the success of their businesses," say sources. Cross-border transactions, M&A and corporate finance are areas of particular expertise.

Waajid Siddiqui comes highly recommended for India deals. "He is client-oriented, smart, and comes up with creative ideas," say clients.  

Miguel Zaldivar is renowned for his outstanding knowledge of the energy sector. A prominent client remarked: "He gets involved and invests a lot in the transaction, really trying hard to understand our needs and address them." 

Tobias Böckmann is based in Germany but is also admitted to practice in New York. He advises clients on international transactions and general corporate law.

Luis Perez is a regular adviser to the likes of News Corporation and Fox International regarding acquisitions, disposals and broadcasting joint ventures across Latin America.

San Francisco-based Bruce Mann handles matters including M&A, public offerings and venture capital matters, displaying particular strength in deals involving Israel.

Market sources have a "tremendous amount of respect" for Mark Kelly, who is always "very practical and calm." In a busy year, his highlights include providing ongoing advice to Anadarko.

Highly talented attorney Michael Wortley focuses on representing private equity funds. He is highly regarded by interviewees, who were quick to highlight his effective negotiating style.

Jack Nusbaum is a senior partner in the M&A group. He brings a wealth of experience to the table on deals and advisory matters. One source refers to him as "a super-duper lawyer."

Carl-Olof Bouveng heads the US desk at this firm in Stockholm. He has extensive experience in all aspects of corporate/M&A and is a member of the New York Bar. He was previously the chairman of the International Section of the New York State Bar Association.

International firm Garrigues offers excellent cross-border expertise, and is especially recommended for the strength of its Portuguese and Spanish teams in US-related transactions. Its USA desk is led by Madrid-based Javier Marzo. Diogo Leónidas Rocha and Miguel Reis are the primary points of contact for Portugal.

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The US desk of this Spanish firm comprises a team of experts able to advise American clients in Spain on a range of issues, including tax and labour law, as well as assisting its Spanish clients with their work in the USA.

This leading global firm is noted for its role in high-value M&A transactions, such as counselling Shell on the USD614 million sale of its Chilean downstream operations to Quiñenco. The firm co-ordinates some of its Latin American matters from its office in São Paulo, while the core of the team is located in New York.

Gernot Wagner heads the US law group at Allen & Overy LLP's Frankfurt office. He specialises in equity capital markets and is active on Austrian deals with cross-border elements.

Avila Rodriguez is a Miami-based firm with a superb reputation for its Latin America expertise and connections. Key in its practice is Marco Ferri, a "very able, multi-talented" and "terribly bright lawyer who understands he's there to get the deal done." A significant part of his practice involves representing Latin American businesses wishing to expand into the USA.

Germany specialist Dieter Schmitz "is a real force. He is incredibly responsive to his clients and assembles a team of M&A attorneys that will do whatever it takes to successfully complete a project." Strategic alliances, joint ventures, acquisitions and divestitures are areas of particular strength.

Based in Tijuana, Mexico, Jose Larroque heads the Latin America and Mexico real estate departments at Baker & McKenzie.

Jennifer Wisnia is a US attorney working as an associate in Baker & McKenzie's Santiago office, where she regularly assists multinational corporations doing business in Chile with their international transactions.

Liliana Espinosa Reboa of Estudio Echecopar in Peru is widely praised for her excellent grasp of corporate M&A matters. Having previously worked for O'Melveny & Myers in the USA, she is well placed to handle complex multi-jurisdictional transactions.

Carter Ledyard has a superb reputation for its strength in matters involving Israel. Steven Glusband chairs the corporate department and securities practice group. He speaks Hebrew and comes recommended for deals in Israel.

Talbert Navia leads the firm's private funds group and is co-head of Chadbourne's Latin America practice. He receives high praise for his "commercial approach" and his ability "not only to advise on legal matters but also on aspects of deal-making."

Ayşe Yüksel is the managing partner of the firm's Istanbul office. She enjoys a broad-based transactional practice and is highlighted by clients for her impressive understanding of US law.

Allen Miller's recent experience includes acting for a consortium comprising Macquarie Asset Finance, Macquarie Mexican Infrastructure Fund and FEMSA on the acquisition from Spanish developer Preneal of a 396 MW wind farm in Mexico.

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Jay Gavigan comes highly recommended for the integral part he plays in the firm's Latin American practice. He recently advised on the acquisition of continent-wide pension plan and asset management businesses by Grupo de Inversiones Suramericana.

In Covington's London office, Peter Laveran-Stiebar is highlighted for work on cross-border M&A, US securities offerings, corporate finance matters, and venture capital and private equity transactions.

Carmen Chang joined Covington & Burling LLP's Silicon Valley office as senior counsel in February 2012. She specialises in corporate and securities law and is widely acknowledged for her expertise in matters involving China. Peers describe her as "incredibly smart."

Ralph Voltmer heads the firm's India practice group, and focuses on working with both US and foreign clients in cross-border transactions. He is well known in the broadcast area, and was recently retained by Disney in an offer to buy out the public shareholders of Indian-listed company UTV Software Communications. Sources admire his "impressive interpersonal and communications skills," adding that he is "noticeably good in resolving challenging issues."

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Stuart Berkson leads the Latin America practice at DLA Piper LLP (US). He is an expert on M&A and international investment, and is licensed as a foreign legal consultant in Brazil.

In May 2012, Paul Chen joined DLA from Dewey & LeBoeuf, where he was managing partner of the firm's Hong Kong office. He comes highly recommended for his international expertise, particularly in matters involving Chinese jurisdictions.

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Neil Gold is a strong choice for deals in Israel and plays a key role in the firm's focus in the area. His practice covers securities issuances, M&A, roll-up transactions and LBOs.

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Dennis Block is senior chairman of Greenberg's corporate and M&A practice group. Sources say: "He is a terrific corporate counsellor with excellent judgement and a broad grasp of different areas of law."

"A pillar of the legal community," Gary Epstein is an "outstanding lawyer" and the leader of the firm's corporate and securities practice, as well as co-chair of its Israel practice group. Peers continue to be impressed by his work, with one stating: "There is no superlative that I wouldn't ascribe to him."

Latin America specialist Randy Bullard has a broad practice encompassing M&A, capital markets and finance transactions. He assists clients throughout Central and South America, the Caribbean, Europe and the USA.

Juan Pablo Cappello is a "very loyal and bright guy," who peers describe as "excellent." He led the team advising MasterCard on its payment services joint venture with global telecoms group Telefónica, which affected customers throughout Latin America.

Robert Grossman is applauded by clients for his excellent work in corporate M&A deals. He co-chairs the firm's Israel practice group, recently representing various underwriters in public offerings of Israeli companies.

Patricia Menéndez-Cambó chairs the firm's global practice group. She is lauded as "an excellent, outstanding lawyer" and highly commended for her work in Latin America. She was lead counsel to Rowland Coffee Roasters on its USD360 million brands and businesses sale.

International tax specialist Seth Entin is also highlighted for his expertise in Latin American matters. He is described by clients as "a hands-on, knowledgeable lawyer who can explain any issue in a straightforward way."

David Schulman is highlighted for his recent experience working on Israeli matters.

George Harper is a founding partner of this excellent Miami-based firm, which itself is highly recommended for its proficiency and experience with Latin American deals. He is fluent in Spanish and has over 30 years' experience advising on cross-border business deals between the USA and Latin America.

Larry Pascal is chair of the firm's Americas team, and co-chair of its international practice group. He is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, and was recently engaged by Texas-based alternative energy provider Perfectly Green in connection with its power purchase agreements in Puerto Rico.

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George Mencio leads the international and cross-border transactions practice at Holland & Knight LLP, and is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese. He represented cookware manufacturer Industrias Metalúrgicas Unidas in its sale to Groupe SEB Colombia, and is providing ongoing counsel to Intercontinental Hotels regarding developments in Latin America.

Liberia expert Brad Berman is praised for his extensive experience from his time at the LISCR.

Nancy Hengen is one of the leading US shipping lawyers advising on Liberian matters.

Jovi Tenev is highlighted as a key player in the team handling Liberian shipping matters.

Federico Goudie is chair of the firm's excellent Latin American practice group. He splits his time between Miami and New York. He recently guided BAC Credomatic Holdings through the sale of a 25% stake in its business to GE, a deal with implications for its operations across Central America.

Amy Dulin is also key in the firm's Latin American practice. Sources highlight her "high level of technical expertise, which means she's well respected by lawyers across the table."

The Miami office's current Latin American focus was established by Timothy McCarthy, a practitioner with nearly 40 years' experience who is widely celebrated for his extensive knowledge of the Brazilian market.

This firm comes highly recommended for its international prowess, particularly in India and across Latin America. Fernando Alonso receives high praise from a wide range of clients and peers for his Latin American expertise. "Fernando is incredibly knowledgeable and proactive. I regard him as a top-calibre lawyer and trusted adviser," said one interviewee.

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Key in the firm's highly respected Latin American practice, Argentina expert Alejandro Fiuza is lauded for his private equity expertise and also handles areas including antitrust, international trade, M&A, and cross-border and multi-jurisdictional transactions.

Soren Lindstrom, a native of Denmark, comes recommended for work on tender offers, strategic alliances and M&A. He frequently advises Scandinavian companies on their activities in the USA and internationally.

Richard Winston's practice involves advising US and Latin American clients on cross-border tax structuring. According to sources he "understands the complexity on both sides." One of his major clients on Latin American operations is the Secretary of State of Delaware.

Talat Ansari is applauded by peers for his sharp intellect. He chairs the firm's India practice and focuses his practice on areas including tax, corporate restructuring, joint ventures, litigation and arbitration.

Raj Mahale is also a key member of the firm's India practice, representing US and foreign clients in a whole host of international matters.

UK and Spanish-qualified Alex Guillamont heads the Miami office and is praised by market commentators for his work developing the firm's Latin America practice. He stands out for his "attentive client service and creative solutions to complex problems," according to clients.

Associate Michael Hennessy is a "rising star," according to market commentators.

Rahul Patel is an expert on transactions involving Indian companies. "He is fantastic – I think very highly of him both personally and professionally," enthuses one source. He plays an integral part in the firm's reputation for undertaking cross-border transactions involving Indian jurisdictions and clients.

Cristina Ferraro recently joined King & Spalding LLP as an associate from Crowell & Moring. She is particularly experienced in deals involving Peru.

Richard Gilden and Ernest Wechsler come highly recommended for their roles in the firm's superb Israel practice group. Gildens' practice extends from handling M&A and corporate finance to providing general corporate advice to clients. He is a popular choice with Israeli companies seeking counsel in cross-border and multi-jurisdictional deals. Wechsler works on a variety of corporate and M&A matters. He frequently advises on bankruptcy-related transactions, and is very active in the Israeli M&A market.

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Linklaters has a high profile in Latin America through its formal association with Brazil's Lefosse Advogados, which reached its tenth anniversary in 2011. Recent highlights include acting as counsel to an investment consortium on a USD1.8 billion nvestment in BTG Pactual.

Alberto Luzarraga, in New York, is a key contact for the firm's Brazil practice.

Sources praise Scott Davis for his "superb professional judgement." He heads the firm's M&A group. Recently, he represented a special committee of the board of directors of Pre-Paid Legal Services in the USD650 million sale of the company.

Doug Doetsch leads the Latin America practice from the firm's Chicago office.

McDermott has been making leaps and bounds in its expertise and capabilities with US-South Korea transactions, having recently opened a new Seoul office.

In-Young Lee recently moved to head the firm's new Seoul office. He is recommended in particular as an expert in advising financial institutions on US-Korea transactions.

Milbank's international capabilities are especially renowned in relation to India. Key India expert Glenn Gerstell has long been a pre-eminent figure in communications financing and his presence is widely respected. His practice centres around financings and transactional matters for a clutch of industry leaders.

Mintz Levin has a dedicated Israel practice group which receives high praise for the sophisticated nature of its US-based team's international workload. Yael Biran, based in Herzliya in Israel, is managing director of the firm's Israel business group.

Carlos Treistman is co-chair of the firm's Latin America practice group. He continues to act as legal counsel to AeroMexico with regards to its USA, China and Japan operations. Peers highlight his "impressive knowledge" of the nuances of M&A work.

His colleague in Russia, Brian Zimbler, is amongst the most experienced US lawyers in the market and is applauded for his rainmaking skills as well as his legal proficiency. He heads the Moscow office and is the main contact for both corporate and private equity matters.

Associate Humberto Padilla Gonzalez continues to impress with his diligence and expertise in Latin American transactions.

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Senior partner of the firm's Asia practice group, Howard Chao divides his time between Menlo Park and Hong Kong.

Sam Zucker is also rated for his focus on Asia, and serves as the co-chair of O'Melveny's healthcare and life sciences practice. He splits his practice between California and New York.

Eric Zabinski is applauded by clients for his strong negotiation skills. An expert on China deals, he frequently undertakes work on cross-border strategic alliances, M&A and venture capital financings.

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Carlos Martinez leads the firm's Latin America practice group and has over 20 years' experience working in Latin American M&A transactions. His recent deal experience includes advising on the sale of Mexican drilling contractor Global Drilling and its subsidiaries to Swiss-owned Weatherford International.

Since joining the practice in 2010, Daniel Ganitsky has received great acclaim as one of the most promising younger partners in the Latin American market. He is praised as "a hardcore M&A lawyer."

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Thompson & Knight's Latin America practice group offers the full gamut of corporate legal services, particularly in Mexico, in tandem with offices in Mexico City and Monterrey. The firm is steadily increasing its activities in other Latin American jurisdictions, which are co-ordinated by its offices in Texas and Mexico.

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Morton Pierce's recent arrival at White & Case LLP from Dewey & LeBoeuf is a major boost to the practice. He is described by sources as an "extremely effective M&A attorney."

Emilio Alvarez-Farré is a strong choice for deals in Latin America. Clients applaud his very strong negotiation skills: "You want to have him on your side." Peers agree that he is both practical and responsive.

Colin Diamond earns accolades for his responsiveness and availability. He has a wealth of expertise in matters involving Israel.

Nandan Nelivigi heads the firm's India practice, focusing on the development and financing of infrastructure and energy projects.

James Black is based in White & Case's Frankfurt office. He spearheads the firm's US securities and M&A practice in Germany and comes recommended for his responsiveness and dedication to his clients' needs.

The "phenomenal" Aslı Basgöz of White & Case Müsavirlik Limited Sirketi in Turkey is highly experienced in advising on privatisations, joint ventures and cross-border transactions for multinationals.

The Budapest-based Robert Irving leads the firm's CEE private equity practice group. He is admitted to practice in New York.

Victor Alvarez has represented clients in acquisitions and dispositions throughout Latin America. He is highly respected within the profession.

Carlos Viana becomes involved in some of the firm's most significant Latin American transactions, and recently assisted Creditcorp, Peru's largest financial holding company, and its subsidiary Grupo Crédito, with a combined acquisition of stakes in Pacífico Seguros and Pacífico Vida from American Life Insurance.