Page 22 Admiralty & Maritime Lawyer of the Year USA Leger & Shaw Walter Leger, Jr.
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Welcome to the 2021 edition of the Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards! To say that the past two years have been a trying time for business would be to understate their impact. Between the mass disruption brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and continued political shifts at home and abroad, global organisations have faced uncertainty like never before. Against this backdrop, the legal profession has stepped up its support. Lawyers and legal experts across the world have continued to prove worthy of the trust their clients place in them, tirelessly taking each new obstacle in stride. The Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards aims to shine a spotlight on the best of these unswerving professionals. The Legal Awards are the result of several months of research and preparation with the aim of recognising the firms and individual legal experts who have delivered exceptional results for their clients. Winners are selected from all areas of the legal sector, with junior associates and veteran barristers alike receiving accolades provided that they have influenced the wider legal profession in their jurisdiction. The 2021 publication includes exclusive interviews from these winners, including the likes of Walter Leger Jr, who has fought for justice in some of the largest maritime disasters of the past century. Also featured are the highflying sports law team at Armstrong Teasdale and prolific international lawyer Conan J Higgins, among several other winners of distinction. Each of these high achievers have graciously revealed some of the secrets of their growing success and a glimpse into their plans for the future. We at Lawyer Monthly are proud to present this special publication. Congratulations to all of our winners! LEGAL AWARDS 2021
INTRODUCING THE WINNERS Page 16 Sports Law Firm of the Year United Kingdom LAWYER MONTHLY LEGAL AWARDS 2021 INDEX LEGAL AWARDS 2021
Europe Jim Diamond Jim Diamond Costs Lawyer Costs Lawyer of the Year Austria TAIYO Legal – Dr. Alexander T. TAIYO Legal – Dr. Alexander T. Scheuwimmer Rechtsanwalts GmbH Scheuwimmer Rechtsanwalts GmbH Banking and Finance Law Firm of the Year Belgium Christophe Baekeland Tecola Property Law Lawyer of the Year 40 Emiel Haesbrouck Emiel Haesbrouck Civil Litigation Lawyer of the Year 42 Joachim Meese Joachim Meese Criminal Law Lawyer of the Year Croatia Eugen Zadravec Eugen Zadravec Company Law Lawyer of the Year Czech Republic Alžběta Jurtíková INPROCHES Patents Lawyer of the Year Andrea Povazanova Cermak a spol. Unfair Competition Lawyer of the Year 43 Denmark VALUA ApS VALUA ApS Patents Law Firm of the Year Finland Markus Manninen Hannes Snellman Sports Law Lawyer of the Year France Armand Grumberg Skadden Corporate and M&A Adviser of the Year Calmann Bellity Bredin Prat Litigation Lawyer of the Year Caroline Duclercq MEDICI Arbitration Lawyer of the Year Joseph Smallhoover Addleshaw Goddard (Europe) LLP Commercial Law Lawyer of the Year Julien Rivet ALLIUM Distribution & Licensing Attorney of the Year 44 Jérémie Palacci Cabinet Netter Patents Law Lawyer of the Year Thomas Amico Delsol Avocats Business Crime Lawyer of the Year Walter Leger, Jr. Leger & Shaw Admiralty and Maritime Lawyer of the Year FEATURED WI NNER USA 22 7 www.lawyer-monthly.com LAWYER MONTHLY LEGAL AWARDS 2021 INDEX
Germany Alexander Sperber Sperber Steuerberater Tax Law Lawyer of the Year Andrea Mangold Armedis Medical Law Lawyer of the Year 45 Constantin M. Lachner LΛCHNΞR LΛW Notarial Procedures Adviser of the Year Diana Zettl Media Kanzlei Media Law Firm of the Year Elmar Kloss Dr. Caspers, Mock & Partner Information Technology Lawyer of the Year Eric Wagner Gleiss Lutz Arbitration Lawyer of the Year Frank Hartmann Hartmann Frank Rechtsanwalt Tenancy Law Lawyer of the Year 46 Gerhard Ruby RUBY ERBRECHT Inheritance Law Firm of the Year 48 Helge-Marten Voigts Jansen • Hemmerich-Frank • Bartscht Agricultural Law Lawyer of the Year Helmer Tieben mth Tieben & Partner Employment Law Lawyer of the Year Jan Heuvels Ince Arbitration, Dispute Resolution & Mediation Lawyer of the Year 49 Lars Jaeschke IP Jaeschke Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year Maike Tallen TALLEN Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB Contract Law Lawyer of the Year 51 Marko Oldenburger ROSE & PARTNER Family Law Lawyer of the Year Mathias Brenner Stirnweiss | Brenner Rechtsanwälte Criminal Law Lawyer of the Year Michael Andreas Müller Dr. Wolfgang Drasch LL.M. Inheritance Law Lawyer of the Year Michael Andreas Müller Dr. Wolfgang Drasch LL.M. Notarial Affairs Lawyer of the Year Olga Hamama V29 Legal Arbitration Law Firm of the Year Oliver Klaus OK Ostheim & Klaus Rechtsanwälte PartmbB Insurance Law Firm of the Year 52 Peter Chrocziel VINDELICI LEGAL Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH Competition Law Lawyer of the Year Peter Petrat Rechtsanwaltskanzlei Petrat Copyright and Publishing Lawyer of the Year Philipp Ehring Branmatt Legal Energy Law Lawyer of the Year Thomas Kimpfbeck Rohde & Schwarz Patents Law Lawyer of the Year Ireland Caolan Doyle DOYLE & COMPANY LLP Property Law Lawyer of the Year Jon Legorburu ByrneWallace LLP Litigation Lawyer of the Year 32 Marie O’Brien A&L Goodbody LLP Banking & Finance Lawyer of the Year Italy Barbara Veronese Oxera Consulting LLP Antitrust and Competition Economist of the Year 54 Conan J. Higgins Veteran Carriers General Counsel of the Year FEATURED WI NNER USA 32 8 www.lawyer-monthly.com LAWYER MONTHLY LEGAL AWARDS 2021 INDEX
Chiara Bicci Grimaldi Studio Legale Arbitration, Dispute Resolution & Mediation Lawyer of the Year Claudio Russo SLCR Law Firm Insurance Law Lawyer of the Year Francesca King Studio Legale Per Le Famiglie Collaborative Practice Lawyer of the Year Luxembourg Romain Sabatier Nauta Dutilh Insolvency Lawyer of the Year 56 Poland Anna Banaszewska Kancelaria Prawo Gospodarka Zdrowie Banaszewska Modro sp.k. Pharma/Biotech Law Lawyer of the Year 58 Bartosz Krakowiak Polservice Trademark Law Lawyer of the Year Grzegorz Rogala Notariusz Kancelaria Notarialna Notarial Procedures Lawyer of the Year 60 Malta Adrian Attard FENECH & FENECH ADVOCATES Shipping & Transport Lawyer of the Year Netherlands Alexander Fortuin Hogan Lovells International LLP Tax Law Lawyer of the Year Norway Dag Drevvatne Advokat International Business Law Lawyer of the year Portugal Evo Fernandes Linklaters LLP Real Estate Law Lawyer of the Year Manuel Moniz Pereira Gastão da Cunha Ferreira Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year Miguel Silva Cordeiro CTSU - Sociedade de Advogados Banking and Finance Lawyer of the Year Rita Galrão SÉRVULO TMT Law Lawyer of the Year Russia Anthony Walker Rybalkin, Gortsunyan & Partners Corporate M&A Adviser of the Year Spain Bernardo Cremades Bernardo M. Cremades Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year Rosa Castro Abencys Restructuring SLP Insolvency and Restructuring Law Firm of the Year Vicente Rodriguez Legal Agrifood Food Law Firm of the Year Sweden Emelie Svensson NJORD Law Firm Advokatpartnerselskab Copyrights Lawyer of the Year Switzerland Dr. Gilles Reiss-Hürlimann Patent Attorney Patents Law Lawyer of the Year Erik Erismann Erismann Legal Private Client Lawyer of the Year 61 Jelena Madir Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance Healthcare Law Adviser of the Year Katja Ziehe Goldbach Law Matrimonial and Cohabitation Lawyer of the Year Lorenzo Croce Croce & Associes SA Private Client Law Firm of the Year REBER Law Firm REBER Law Firm Employment Law Firm of the Year 62 9 www.lawyer-monthly.com LAWYER MONTHLY LEGAL AWARDS 2021 INDEX
Turkey Begüm Durukan Özaydın DURUKAN+PARTNERS Corporate M&A Lawyer of the Year United Kingdom Adrian Bennett AA Thornton Patents Law Lawyer of the Year Altass-Cheshire Altass-Cheshire Mental Health Experts of the Year Amy Rose ClientEarth Non-Profit Environmental Law Lawyer of the Year 66 Andrew Gilchrist Lupton Fawcett LLP UKs Employment & HR Lawyer of the Year Andrew Greenwood Emsleys Solicitors Personal Injury & Dispute Resolution Solicitor of the Year Andrew Rowland Capsticks Solicitors LLP Employment Law Firm of the Year Andrew Hill Fox Williams LLP Securities Litigation Lawyer of the Year Carruthers Law Carruthers Law Defamation Law Firm of the Year 68 Chris Hadrill Redmans Solicitors Employment Law Lawyer of the Year Elaine Palser Outer Temple Contentious Trusts and Probate Barrister of the Year Emma Johnson Armstrong Teasdale LLP Sport Law Firm of the Year Emma McAndrey Essential Mediation Solutions Mediation Expert of the Year Fabien Bénédicte Suant CHAPLIN, BÉNÉDICTE & Co Taxation Lawyer of the Year 70 Helen Clifford Helen Clifford Law Personal Injury Solicitor of the Year John Sturrock Core Solutions Group Limited Dispute Resolution Mediator of the Year Katherine Newey TAYLOR ROSE MW Crime & Extradition Lawyer of the Year Lijeh Perez DAC BEACHCROFT CLAIMS LIMITED Administrative Law Lawyer of the Year Mark Hurst Hamlins LLP Real Estate Law Lawyer of the Year Martin Medforth Eynhallow Mediation Commercial, Civil and Workplace Mediation Law Firm of the Year Martyn Haines MH Marine Limited Civil Mediation Lawyer of the Year 72 Michael Higgins Lovetts Solicitors Debt Recovery Lawyer of the Year Richard Scott-Watson RSW Medico Legal Orthopaedic Therapy Services of the Year 73 Parminder Badhan DAC Beachcroft LLP Insurance Law Lawyer of the Year Polde Petek Linklaters LLP Capital Markets Lawyer of the Year Snezhina Yankova Osbornes Law Personal Injury Lawyer of the Year Stuart Chapman International Dispute Resolution Centre Civil Mediation Adviser of the Year Stuart Henry TAYLOR ROSE MW Civil & Commercial Litigation Lawyer of the Year Tanya Gross Ankura Data & Technology Law Adviser of the Year Victoria Riddleston Ellis Jones Solicitors Contentious Trusts and Probate Solicitor of the Year Waleed Hassan WH Solicitors Immigration Law Firm of the Year 10 www.lawyer-monthly.com LAWYER MONTHLY LEGAL AWARDS 2021 INDEX Jon Legorburu ByrneWallace LLP Litigation Lawyer of the Year FEATURED WI NNER IRELAND 32
Americas Argentina Santiago R. O’Conor O’Conor Power-IP LAW Intellectual Property Lawyer of the Year 76 Brazil Juliana Nascimento Compliance Women Committee Anti-Corruption Lawyer of the Year Karina Carmona David do Nascimento Advogados Intellectual Property Expert of the Year Letícia S. Baddauy L. Baddauy Advocacia Agribusiness & Business Adviser of the Year 78 Mauricio Lopes de Oliveira Raimundo Lopes de Oliveira Intellectual Property Lawyer of the Year British Virgin Islands Hana Doumal BVI International Arbitration Centre Arbitration Adviser of the Year Canada Andrew Foti Avokka Professional Corporation Best General Counsel Service Anthony Strawson Felesky Flynn Corporate Tax Planning Lawyer of the Year Brenda Picard Prince Edward Island Human Rights Commission Human Rights Law Adviser of the Year Denis A. Chamberland Fogler, Rubinoff LLP Procurement Law Lawyer of the Year Evan Cooke Eyford Partners LLP Municipal Law Lawyer of the Year Hong Guo Guo Law Corporation Commercial and Corporate Lawyer of the Year 81 J. Najeeb Hassan BC Labour Relations Board Labour Law Adviser of the Year Jeffrey Meyers Thompson Rivers University Constitutional Law Expert of the Year Jennifer Woodruff Collaborative Lawyer & Mediator Collaborative Divorce Lawyer of the Year Jen-Yii Liew Gelgoot & Partners LLP Family Law Lawyer of the Year Linda Galessiere Camelino Galessiere Corporate Commercial Litigation Lawyer of the Year Lynn Korbak Toromont Industries Ltd. General Counsel of the Year Michael Birdsell Birdsell Grant LLP Real Estate Law Firm of the Year PatentAxis Inc. PatentAxis Inc. Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year 82 Sarita Samaroo SST Law Professional Corporation Real Estate Law Lawyer of the Year Sébastien Lanctôt University of Sherbrooke Insurance Law Lawyer of the Year 11 www.lawyer-monthly.com LAWYER MONTHLY LEGAL AWARDS 2021 INDEX Helen Clifford Helen Clifford Law Personal Injury Solicitor of the Year FEATURED WI NNER UNITED KINGDOM 38
Sophie Mongeon Desroches Mongeon Avocats Inc Personal Injury Lawyer of the Year 85 Uzo Aghaegbuna Stanley Law Office Immigration & Refugee Law Firm of the Year Colombia Alfonso Venegas Venegas Medina y Asociados Commercial Law Lawyer of the Year Ecuador Lenin Navarro Moreno Navarro Arbitration, Dispute Resolution & Mediation Adviser of the Year Mexico Abraham Alegría Alegría Martínez & Fernandez Wong, S.C. Intellectual Property Lawyer of the Year Dario Lamanna Woods & Smith LLP Energy Law Firm of the Year USA A.G. Burnett McDONALD CARANO Gaming Law Lawyer of the Year Adina Ostoia KJ Injury & Accident Lawyers, PC Litigation Lawyer of the Year Amy Snyder Clawson and Staubes Appellate Lawyer of the Year Ana Isabel Vallejo VIDA Legal Assistance, Inc Not-for-Profit Legal Advisory Firm of the Year Andrew R. Hein Crown Point Advisors Intellectual Property Adviser of the Year 30 Anne Carrión Toale Maglio Christopher & Toale Law Firm Vaccine Injury Lawyer of the Year Ayse Lowe Bench Walk Advisors LLC (New York Office) Dispute Resolution Expert of the Year Barry Ader Wolters Kluwer ELM Solutions Legal Technology Executive of the Year Brian Downing State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company Defense Lawyer of the Year Carolyn Reiser Shartsis Friese LLP Private Funds Lawyer of the Year Christina Farley Long Mario Gunde Peters & Kelley Family Law Of Counsel of the Year Conan J. Higgins TSI Legal Enterprises, PC General Counsel of the Year 32 Dan Hughes Anthony Harper Debt Lawyer of the Year Diane Mispagel Realty Law Partners, PC Landlord and Tenant Law Lawyer of the Year Drew Wilson Lewis Roca Copyrights Lawyer of the Year Erin Ezra Berger Kahn Labor & Employment Law Lawyer of the Year Faye D. English Chapter 13 Trustee Chapter 13 Trustee of the year Fred E. Karlinsky Greenberg Traurig, LLP Insurance Law Lawyer of the Year 86 Fred Weil Wells Small Fleharty & Weil Tax Law Lawyer of the Year Gail A McQuilkin Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton Fraud and Ponzi Schemes Lawyer of the Year Gerald Rosen JAMS Alternative Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year Harsh Arora Kelley Kronenberg Corporate Law Lawyer of the Year J. Cullens Walters, Papillion, Thomas, Cullens Business Litigation Lawyer of the Year 88 Joseph Loggia Buxbaum Loggia Insurance and Reinsurance Expert of the Year 89 12 www.lawyer-monthly.com LAWYER MONTHLY LEGAL AWARDS 2021 INDEX
Jody Valdes WEEKLEY | SCHULTE Civil Trial Lawyer of the Year Jon Morse The Morse Law Group Business and Commercial Law Lawyer of the Year Jessica R. Galletta Galletta Law Firm Bankruptcy and Debt Defense Lawyer of the Year 90 Joshua J. Schroeder Law Offices Of Joshua J. Schroeder Internet Law Lawyer of the Year Katerina Perreault Katerina Perreault Law Accident & Injury Law Firm of the Year Katharine Tremblay Beck Tremblay Beck Law Employment Law Lawyer of the Year Kathy Boucher Boucher Accounting Tax Services, Inc. Accounts & Tax Services Adviser of the Year Kenneth Hamner The Entrepreneur Law Center, PL Travel & Tourism Lawyer of the Year Kristen Rosati Coppersmith Brockelman PLC Health Care Law Lawyer of the Year Latanya Sewell Law Offices of Family Law Lawyer of the Year Leora Coleman-Fire AJINOMOTO NORTH AMERICA DIVISION In-House Counsel of the Year Mark Allen Wilson COMMUNITY LEGAL ADVISORS INC. Real Property Law Lawyer of the Year Marty Nicholson Nicholson Law Firm Trusts & Estates Lawyer of the Year Matthew Mitzner Mitzner LLP Business Law Lawyer of the Year Peter Kang Baker Botts Intellectual Property Lawyer of the Year Rich Leonard Campbell Law School Bankruptcy Law Lawyer of the Year Richard L. Rosen Rosen Law LLP Franchise Law Lawyer of the Year 92 RIVERO MESTRE RIVERO MESTRE White Collar Criminal Defense Law Firm of the Year Stefania Boscarolli Lazer, Aptheker, Rosella & Yedid, P.C. Real Estate Lawyer of the Year Stephen Whetstone WHETSTONE LEGAL, LLC Property Insurance Law Firm of the Year Stewart Young U.S. Department of Justice White Collar Crime Lawyer of the Year Tafadzwa Pasipanodya Foley Hoag LLP Arbitration Lawyer of the Year Tricia Rose Tanoos Cox, Zwerner, Gambill & Sullivan, LLP Elder Law Lawyer of the Year Valencia Poitier American Integrity Insurance Group Property Litigation Lawyer of the Year Vincent Paul Sorrentino Better Call Vinny Paul Personal Injury Adviser of the Year Walter Leger, Jr. Leger Shaw Admiralty and Maritime Lawyer of the Year 22 William Cheek Waller Law Food and Beverage Law Lawyer of the Year William Webb Webb Legal Group Litigation Lawyer of the Year 91 Wolters Kluwer CT Corporation Wolters Kluwer CT Corporation Best Corporate Transaction Filing Provider Wolters Kluwer ELM Solutions Wolters Kluwer ELM Solutions LegalVIEW Insights Thought Leadership Innovation of the Year 13 www.lawyer-monthly.com LAWYER MONTHLY LEGAL AWARDS 2021 INDEX Andrew R. Hein Crown Point Advisors LLC Intellectual Property Lawyer of the Year FEATURED WI NNER USA 34
14 www.lawyer-monthly.com LAWYER MONTHLY LEGAL AWARDS 2021 INDEX ASIA China Fang (Helen) Liu Tiantai Law Firm Corporate Law Lawyer of the Year 36 WANG Jinglin Beijing WANG IP Agency, Ltd Intellectual Property Lawyer of the Year Hong Kong Amita Haylock Mayer Brown Technology, Media & Telecommunications Law Lawyer of the Year David Bulley Applyby Global Mergers & Acquisitions Lawyer of the Year Ganesha Leung INTERSHORES Financial Services Limited Corporate Services Firm of the Year 96 JC Legal JC Legal Venture Capital Law Firm of the Year Jill Wong Howse Williams Antitrust and Competition Law Lawyer of the Year Peter Clayton Parkside Chambers Construction Lawyer of the Year India Tempus Law Associates Tempus Law Associates Commerical Law Firm of the Year Iran Behrooz Akhlaghi Dr. Behrooz Akhlaghi & Associates International Trade Law Firm of the Year Manuchehr Ahmadvand Central Bar Association and Member of International Bar Association Banking Law Lawyer of the Year Japan Masatake IDE M. IDE & Co. Patents Lawyer of the Year 98 Ryota Hara Asamura Patent Office Trademarks Lawyer of the Year Shimon Takagi Takagi Law Office Private Client Lawyer of the Year Korea Claire (Mi-Jin) Kim Kim & Chang Banking and Finance Lawyer of the Year Kuwait Wadih Ph. Khalaf AlOthman & Khalaf Litigation Lawyer of the Year 99 Philippines Rainier Mamangun Mamangun Law Office Family Law Lawyer of the Year 100 Raymond Joseph D. Pascua Pascua & Pascua Law Offices Personal Injury Lawyer of the Year Sonya Margarita Benemerito-Castillo Kapunan & Castillo Law Offices Labor & Employment Law Lawyer of the Year Qatar Pamela McDonald Pinsent Masons Arbitration Lawyer of the Year Saudi Arabia Nasreen Alissa The Law Firm of Nasreen Alissa Information Technology Lawyer of the Year 102 Singapore Michelle Woodworth Quahe Woo & Palmer LLC Family and Matrimonial Practice Lawyer of the Year 104
Taiwan Lipu Lee Formosan Brothers Attorneys-at-Law Business Law Firm of the Year Thailand Jim Bradley Hunton Andrews Kurth Projects and Infrastructure Lawyer of the Year United Arab Emirates Ashleigh Beresford Horizons & Co Law Firm Dispute Resolution Yousif Ahmed Richmond Sterling Law LLC Commercial Law Lawyer of the Year AFRICA Cameroon Prime Time Law Offices Prime Time Law Offices Litigation Lawyer of the Year Rwanda Asante Twagira Corban Business Law Lawyer of the Year South Africa Dr Enslin (J.F.) Enslin Olivier Incorporated Arbitration Lawyer of the Year 109 Marlon Shevelew Marlon Shevelew and Associates Inc. Property Law Lawyer of the Year AUSTRALASIA Australia Adam Butt 8 Wentworth Chambers International Arbitration Barrister of the Year Andrew Davies O’Sullivan Davies Family Dispute Lawyer of the Year 113 Robert Ishak William Roberts Litigation Lawyer of the Year 114 Bill Petrovski William Roberts Class Actions Lawyer of the Year 115 Debbie Sapountzis Archer & Sapountzis Property Law Lawyer of the Year Jehane Ghabrial Trust Chambers Traffic Law Barrister of the Year John Mccann John Mccann Intellectual Property Lawyer of the Year 116 Michelle England Michelle England Criminal Law Barrister of the Year Rebecca Baggiano Fragomen (Australia) Pty Limited Immigration Law Counsel of the Year New Zealand Jeanne Heatlie Court One Asset Recovery Lawyer of the Year 117 Mathew McKay BELL GULLY Corporate Tax Lawyer of the Year 15 www.lawyer-monthly.com LAWYER MONTHLY LEGAL AWARDS 2021 INDEX
Armstrong Teasdale LLP www.armstrongteasdale.com Sports Law Law Firm of the Year Armstrong Teasdale is a 121-year-old law firm with 14 offices across the US and one in London. The firm is ranked among the top 200 law firms in the US and boasts more than 370 lawyers serving over 125+ Fortune 500 companies. Some of the world’s largest brands, professional athletes, sporting events, rightsholders and governing bodies have long turned to Armstrong Teasdale for counsel in all aspects of global brand management and protection, reviewing and negotiating commercial contracts (including endorsements and sponsorship opportunities) and the handling of complex litigation. Our attorneys have decades of experience in the sports, media and entertainment sector, including as former licensed sports agents, personal counsel to professional athletes, in-house counsel for iconic Fortune 500 brands, event organisers and executive leadership for sporting organisations. In recognition of their representations, Armstrong Teasdale is recognised by the Legal 500 UK as a ‘Leading Firm’ for Sports Law, with one lawyer described as “an institution in the world of Sports Law.” In addition, our lawyers have written articles and given interviews to international broadcast media on current Sports Law issues. As such, our experienced attorneys are recognized as being at the forefront of the development of Sports Law in football, rugby, horse racing, cricket, golf, cycling, motor racing and tennis, and have led groundbreaking work involving complex litigation on issues such as competition, ticketing and brand infringement. LAWYER MONTHLY LEGAL AWARDS 2021 UNITED KINGDOM Zane Shihab Armstrong Teasdale 200 Strand, London, WC2R 1DJ Tel: +44 20 7539 7320 Email: zshihab@atllp.co.uk www.armstrongteasdale.com Contact 16 www.lawyer-monthly.com
18 www.lawyer-monthly.com Our UK Sports team is led by Zane Shihab, who has been practicing law since 2009 and has represented many of the world’s largest brands throughout his career. His unrelenting passion for sports, coupled with obtaining a law degree at a time when ‘Sports Law’ was just being recognised as a valid description of a system of law governing the practice of sports, meant that his gravitation to Sports Law was somewhat inevitable. At Armstrong Teasdale, Zane provides practical commercial advice to global sporting brands, international sporting bodies and events and high-profile individuals. Zane specialises in intellectual property, data protection and drafting commercial contracts including sponsorship, joint venture, merchandising, broadcasting, new media, agency, distribution, franchise and image rights agreements, venue agreements and IP and software licences. He has negotiated numerous lucrative sponsorship and supplier agreements and other event-related contracts on behalf of sporting events and governing bodies including in golf, athletics, marathon running, horse racing, cycling, tennis and football. James Thorndyke is a partner in our Sports department. He acts on behalf of sportsmen and women as well as sporting bodies and has extensive experience in resolving contractual disputes in a variety of sports including tennis, motorsport, football, athletics, cricket and rugby union. James has particular experience in advising on regulatory and disciplinary issues. He has acted for clients in proceedings involving the Football Association, the British Horseracing Authority, the Motor Sports Association and the Football League. He acts for and is the main point of contact for event organisers and governing bodies when enforcing ticket terms and conditions to major sporting events. This involves advising clients on the process of obtaining interim injunctions against third parties selling ticket-only or hospitality packages to well-known sporting events taking place in England and Wales without authority to do so and acting for clients in the ensuing court proceedings. Nick Bitel is a consultant at Armstrong Teasdale and was Chair of Sport England from 2013-2021; Chief Executive of the London Marathon, the world’s most successful city centre marathon since 1995; a Board Member of UK Sport, and a Trustee of the Wimbledon Foundation. Nick is a past Chairman of the British Association of Sport and Law. Before his current appointment (through being Chair of Sport England), Nick was also Board Director of UK Sport for six years when it was the UK anti-doping agency. Nick has acted for some of the most iconic events in British sport. As Chair of Sport England, Nick has had detailed involvement in the government’s approach to the funding, organisation and regulation of Sports. Emma Shaw is an associate in our Sports team and has a wealth of experience in both contentious and non-contentious sporting matters. She advises clients across a variety of sports including tennis, football and rugby on the enforcement of their ticket terms and conditions and assists these clients in obtaining interim injunctions. Emma also has extensive experience in civil contempt where both interim and permanent injunctions have been breached, including three successful outcomes before the Court of Appeal in this area. Her previous experience includes assisting on domestic and international disputes in a variety of sports including football, athletics, rugby, MMA and motor sport. She has substantial experience of proceedings brought before the High Court and has also acted on disputes brought in arbitral forums including the Court of Arbitration for Sport and the European Court of Arbitration. Emma has carried out dispute work for clients and negotiated image rights and endorsement agreements for high-profile sports personalities. Philippa Kwok is one of the firm’s newest solicitors on the Sports team. Prior to being named a solicitor, Philippa was a trainee at Armstrong Teasdale. She works with clients in the sports, media and technology sectors on matters including commercial contracts, and also has experience in corporate law and capital markets. Matt Santer (solicitor) and Mark Galli (associate solicitor) were tremendous additions to our team this year. Both work across our portfolio of high-profile clients, providing commercial and regulatory advice. Matt and Mark are highly experienced in advising on a wide range of commercial arrangements including agreements relating to suppliers, sponsors, brand partners, IP, data protection and image rights. Mark has previously been seconded to the in-house team at the Premier League. We asked Zane Shihab to provide information about Armstrong Teasdale’s renowned Sports Law practice. The following is a summary of his responses: Armstrong Teasdale has a significant platform that we found very attractive, and similarly, we saw an opportunity to support their expanding global platform given our longstanding experience in London and Europe. LAWYER MONTHLY LEGAL AWARDS 2021 UNITED KINGDOM
19 www.lawyer-monthly.com What first attracted you to working at Armstrong Teasdale? In February 2021, London law firm Kerman & Co. combined with Armstrong Teasdale, myself included. Armstrong Teasdale has a significant platform that we found very attractive, and similarly, we saw an opportunity to support their expanding global platform given our longstanding experience in London and Europe. The firm serves clients around the world and having access to a robust team of attorneys and other professionals across practice areas at our disposal is certainly a great asset, and one we can offer our sport clients as well. For me personally, the opportunity to lead the firm’s sport practice was of great interest and has been rewarding over the past year as we’ve continued to advance our efforts and grown our team. Why did you gravitate towards Sports Law in particular? I have always been passionate about sports and obtained a law degree at a time when the associated laws and governance were just coming into play. It seemed to be a natural opportunity for me to combine my interests with an emerging and interesting area of law. What would you consider the team’s proudest achievement to date? The COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause huge disruption to major sporting events around the world. As such, in terms of recent achievements, we would have to say that the advice we have provided since the beginning of 2020 to those of our clients who stage sporting events in the UK and across Europe (including in tennis, football and marathon running) has been some of the most challenging but rewarding work we have undertaken to date. This advice has included advising on the operational side of the events with respect to both cancellations and rescheduling; drafting and enforcing ticketing terms and conditions; negotiating hospitality and concessionaires’ agreements; drafting the COVID-19 codes of conduct in relation to players, officials, accredited persons and spectators; running antiinfringement programmes to prevent unauthorised sales of
20 www.lawyer-monthly.com Developing and expanding our team is essential to our success.
21 www.lawyer-monthly.com LAWYER MONTHLY LEGAL AWARDS 2021 UNITED KINGDOM tickets and hospitality; liaising with governments with respect to entry and exit requirements, COVID-19 measures and stadia requirements; onsite assistance in relation to brand protection and ticketing, and obtaining and coordinating advice across Europe. What motivates your team to achieve the best possible results for your clients? The Sports Law practice at Armstrong Teasdale is not a side-line or occasional area of interest. It is the core and sole focus of the department’s work. As such, we really do believe that many of our longstanding sporting clients see us as an extension of their business, rather than just an external law firm who they instruct occasionally. For example, for many of our clients, our work has gone beyond that of legal advice and expanded into event management and delivery. In addition, achieving the right results for our clients is key in ensuring we both maintain our reputation as one of the leading firms in Sports Law and in retaining our unrivalled list of clients. How do you measure your success? Aside from the volume of deals agreed, the number of events staged and the key litigation successes, all assisted by the advice we have provided, the key barometers of measuring success are the breadth of sports we cover, the retention of established clients and the gaining of new clients. Over the last year, the firm has attracted further clients in this sector, many of which have come to us via referrals, and has expanded and developed the work carried out for longstanding clients. In what ways has the team developed in the past 12 months? Developing and expanding our team is essential to our success. We have amassed a team of talented and engaged individuals and strive to create an innovative atmosphere that encourages cooperation, teamwork, and trust among its members. Three new solicitors have joined the department in the last year alone and this allows us to handle an ever-increasing volume of work, whilst also broadening our depth of experience (for example, in technology). We also have expanded our team geographically – collaborating with our new US colleagues. Can you tell us anything about the team’s plans for the coming year? In 2020 and 2021, we expanded our technology practice within the sporting sector, and we expect this area to grow significantly over the coming year, particularly in relation to virtual/augmented reality, the metaverse, cryptocurrency and nonfungible tokens. We already regularly advise on contracts for tech services, whether as provider or procurer, including managed or outsourced services and SaaS and on legal and regulatory challenges of dealing in or with the tech sector, from privacy/GDPR issues to financial services regulation, especially in emerging technologies including blockchain, AI/machine learning, smart contracts, and nanotechnology. To further strengthen this, we are actively looking to bring highly experienced patent lawyers on board in the UK. This will further enhance our ability to provide management service across all stages of the innovation life cycle. Our team will continue to grow its presence as a ‘Leading Firm’ for Sports Law through thought leadership such as speaking opportunities at top sports conferences like LawInSport and the British Association for Sport and Law annual conference. We will be developing a series of communications and webinars, and we will continue to share critical legal updates and new insights on hot topics as the year moves forward.
Walter Leger, Jr Leger & Shaw Admiralty and Maritime Law Lawyer of the Year Walter Leger, Jr has been called “a larger-than-life legal legend” by BIZ Magazine. The Louisiana Bar Journal, celebrating the 300th anniversary of New Orleans and Louisiana listed him as one of the 12 “Louisiana Legal Legends”. The other “legal legends” included the first governor of Louisiana, a US Supreme Court Chief Justice, a Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice, and other historically prominent Louisiana lawyers. He and the Louisiana Supreme Court Justice are the two only living honorees. Much of this recognition has come from his service to the community as well as the legal profession and his clients. The New Orleans Bar Journal in an article citing his extensive litigation experience and his community service quoted Louisiana’s governor, a senator, and a prominent news journalist. Former Governor Kathleen Blanco said: “Walter Leger played an essential role in the early years of Louisiana’s recovery [from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita]. As an LRA Board Member he went above and beyond the call of duty, travelling to our nation’s Capital to fight for the resources necessary to help our people rebuild..." US Senator Mary Landrieu said of his work over the years: “Walter Leger is a pillar of the New Orleans community and a tireless advocate for our state. From leading the New Orleans Regional Chamber of Commerce to making his mark as one of Louisiana’s finest attorneys, Walter brings an excellence to everything he does... Without question, Louisiana is a better place because of Walter Leger...” LAWYER MONTHLY LEGAL AWARDS 2021 USA Walter J Leger, Jr Leger & Shaw New Orleans Exchange, 935 Gravier Street, Suite 2150, New Orleans LA 70112 Tel: +1 504-588-9043 E: wleger@legershaw.com www.legershaw.com Contact 22 www.lawyer-monthly.com
24 www.lawyer-monthly.com Further, WWL radio talk show host Garland Robinette – famous for championing the recovery from Hurricane Katrina – said: “I’ve interviewed multiple Presidents, Mother Teresa, have known Popes ... but I don’t think I’ve met anyone as extraordinary as Walter Leger.” (Editor’s Note: Leger thinks that quote is somewhat exaggerated). The Path to Maritime Law Walter Leger, Jr’s path to maritime law is not surprising. His grandfather, Captain Mitchell Leger, was a troop and cargo ship captain during World War II. He sailed primarily in the European theater. His other grandfather was a sailor in United States Navy in the Pacific theater. Walter’s father, inspired by his dad, became a mariner as well. He attended the Maritime College of New York. He was a member of the Navy reserve and sailed the high seas in the Merchant Marine working his way up from Ordinary Seaman to ship’s Mate and eventually obtaining a Ship Master’s License like his father before him. After marriage, he wanted to stay closer to home to raise his family. In those days mariners were gone for many months at a time with no communication back home. After several attempts, the senior Walter Leger entered the apprentice program to become a Mississippi River Bar Pilot. These pilots direct the operation of large seagoing ships from the Gulf of Mexico through the shallow waters of the mouth of the Mississippi River on the way upriver to various ports in New Orleans and beyond. The junior Leger had a youthful interest in public service and politics. But the “salt in his blood”, and his dad, directed him toward maritime law. After graduating from high school with honors and receiving numerous honors while pursuing a degree from Louisiana State University, he graduated from Tulane University School of Law with a concentration in Maritime Law. There he was Managing Editor of the Tulane Maritime Law Journal and received the American Admiralty Law Institute Award for highest grades. Upon graduation and interviewing with major maritime law firms, he joined the Phelps Dunbar law firm in New Orleans, one of the most prominent and oldest maritime law firms in the United States. The focus of his early practice involved the representation of large oceangoing ships, tugboats and barges on the Mississippi River and the thriving offshore oil exploration industry in the coastal marsh waters of Louisiana and the deep waters offshore. He worked with what he considered to be some of the top maritime lawyers in the United States, and perhaps the world. He later left to form his own firm joining up with one of his former classmates, who had been at another highly regarded maritime law firm. In the years that followed, Leger was involved in nearly every major maritime litigation in Louisiana and the United States. LAWYER MONTHLY LEGAL AWARDS 2021 USA
25 www.lawyer-monthly.com Since 1981, Leger has been recognized as a “Proctor in Admiralty” by the Maritime Law Association of the United States. He is a member of the Southeast Admiralty Law Institute and the maritime law sections of the American Association of Justice, the Louisiana Association of Justice and other bar organizations. Over the years he has lectured extensively and written on maritime law and complex litigation topics at Harvard Law School, Tulane Law School, Loyola Law School, the University of New Orleans, LSU Law School, and various law associations. He is Past President of the New Orleans Bar Association and the New Orleans Bar Foundation and has served in numerous capacities in other bar and legal associations. Notable Maritime Cases Notably, Leger was Special Trial Counsel in the relatively recent BP/Deepwater Horizon oil spill case and was a member of the Phase I and Phase II Trial Team. He was the lead negotiator on behalf of Louisiana local governments in the historic government settlements with BP. He represented hundreds of businesses, citizens, and governments in the litigation. In the early stages of the litigation, Leger was asked by US Senator Mary Landrieu to work with and advise attorney Kenneth Feinberg, who had been brought in by BP to attempt to develop a mass settlement with the numerous claimants involved. Ultimately, this program and the successor program exceeded more than $65 billion to businesses, fishermen, and government entities. This case is undoubtedly the largest maritime environmental disaster in history. As part of the discovery team, Leger and others travelled to London to depose corporate executives of BP in addition to the 300 depositions taken in New Orleans. But Leger’s involvement in high profile maritime disasters dates to 1980 when a Peruvian cargo ship, the M/V INCA TUPAC YUPANQUI, lost steerage and collided with a butane barge on the Mississippi River. Leger had only months before formed his own firm and was asked by a lawyer representing three of the horribly injured and burned Peruvian seamen to represent them. He had previously represented primarily vessel and shipowner interests. The case was anything but routine, as it turned out that the ship was owned by the Peruvian government, and the collision became a major political issue in the first presidential elections in Peru in many years. The young lawyer suddenly found himself against many of the top maritime lawyers in the country. After weeks of depositions in New Orleans, lawyers travelled to Peru and Germany for depositions. The young Leger had to borrow money to finance the travel and litigation. While in Peru, they faced demonstrations and political intrigue. One of the more mysterious cases in which Leger was involved was the case of the M/V POET. The POET, a cargo ship with 25 crewmen, left the port of Philadelphia bound for Egypt. It disappeared and was never heard from again. The most extensive search in maritime history followed. Nothing was ever found. Leger represented the families of five of the crew members. There was never real closure for them, as rumors circulated in the news media and in the maritime community that either the ship had been involved in the famous “arms for hostages” scandal or that it had been taken by pirates. This disappearance remains one of the mysteries of the sea. A relatively minor collision of two ships on the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet generated a case of major legal import. When the M/V TESTBANK and the M/V SEA DANIEL collided, a container full of toxic chemicals spilled into the waters of the Gulf Outlet, causing toxic exposure to the important seafood, shrimping and oyster industry in that area. Leger was appointed chairman of the Plaintiffs Steering Committee by the Federal Judge overseeing the case. The case involved more than 50 lawyers and thousands of members of the seafood industry. While the court ultimately ruled in favor of claims of oystermen and fishermen, it historically denied the claims of land-based seafood restaurants, marinas, tackle shops, etc. which had sustained economic losses but no physical damage. The ruling was based on a long-held maritime concept known as the Robins Drydock rule. Leger appealed the case to the US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and ultimately the appeal was heard en banc. To this day, this case and its progeny continue to guide the determination of economic loss and business damages in maritime cases. Interestingly, the unfairness of the TESTBANK/Robins Drydock rule was highlighted in the legal aftermath of the EXXON VALDEZ oil spill in Alaska, which led Congress to pass the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 – which ultimately played such an important role in the BP/DEEPWATER HORIZON oil spill. In 1997, ten shopping days before Christmas, a Chinese freighter – the M/V BRIGHTFILD – lost steering power on the Mississippi River and crashed into a shopping center located on the riverfront in downtown New Orleans. Leger was appointed Notably, Leger was Special Trial Counsel in the relatively recent BP/Deepwater Horizon oil spill case and was a member of the Phase I and Phase II Trial Team. LAWYER MONTHLY LEGAL AWARDS 2021 USA
26 www.lawyer-monthly.com Committee in the Murphy oil spill litigation. He was appointed to Plaintiffs’ Legal Committee in the Education Testing Services litigation. In the Billieson lead paint class action, he was appointed as Class Counsel. Leger was also a member of F Lee Bailey’s Litigation Sub-Committee in the Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal, India. He currently serves as Co-Lead Counsel in the litigation surrounding the collapse of the Hard Rock Hotel in New Orleans, involving injuries to hundreds of people and loss of business and property damage to numerous businesses near the site. Leger represents numerous Louisiana local governments in the nationwide prescription opioid litigation. He is involved in coordinating nearly 200 local governments in Louisiana regarding settlement discussions and development of future litigation strategy. He also serves as class counsel in class actions against the insurance industry following losses sustained because of Hurricane Ida in South Louisiana. by the federal district judge as Co-Lead Counsel on behalf of the many businesses damaged. It was determined that the ship was owned by the communist Chinese government. Leger proved that the captain and officers of the ship had lied under oath before the United States Coast Guard and had destroyed logs and documents of the ship. The litigation team travelled to Hong Kong to depose and expose corporate officials of the CCP ownership. Other notable maritime cases handled by Leger include the M/V TEXACO NORTH DAKOTA (an oil tanker which hit a post hurricane damaged and unlit oil platform off the coast of Louisiana while headed to Texas, resulting in a fiery explosion.); M/V MISS CHRIS/Claiborne Ave. Bridge (an allision and collapse of a motor vehicle bridge involving a tug and barge over a ship channel); M/V LEE III/M/V ZIM MEXICO III (A collision in the Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River causing the deaths of the entire crew of one of the vessels and closure of the river and port) and M/V MEL OLIVER / M/V TINTAMARA (Leger was appointed by the Federal Judge as a member of the Claimants’ Steering Committee, representing businesses and governmental entities damaged because of the collision of a ship and barges causing a massive oil spill in the Mississippi River). He presently represents the families of three of the men who perished in the capsizing and sinking of the M/V SEACOR POWER in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana in 2021. Leger has represented individuals, businesses, port authorities, towing companies, barge owners, shipyards, and ship pilots, officers, and crew in courts and Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board hearings. Other Notable Cases Leger’s experience and leadership extends far beyond admiralty and maritime law. In the historic Castano v American Tobacco litigation, he served on the Trial Team, Discovery Committee, Science Committee and Administrative Committee. This case was brought against the tobacco and cigarette industry in numerous states. Leger also served as counsel to the Attorney General of the state of Louisiana, in litigation against the tobacco industry. The Castano litigation and the Attorney General lawsuits resulted in the largest settlement in history at approximately $250 billion on behalf of the various states. The Scott v. American Tobacco litigation was a class action tried against the tobacco industry. Leger was one of the Trial Team leaders. The case, from jury selection to verdict, took approximately three years to try. It stands as the longest jury trial in the history of Louisiana and resulted in a verdict of over $600 million. The judgment now funds smoking cessation programs in the state of Louisiana. In Louisiana breast implant litigation, Leger was Class Counsel. After Hurricane Katrina, he was appointed to Plaintiffs’ Legal LAWYER MONTHLY LEGAL AWARDS 2021 USA The Castano litigation and the Attorney General lawsuits resulted in the largest settlement in history at approximately $250 billion on behalf of the various states.
27 www.lawyer-monthly.com Civic Leadership Leger has actively served the people of his community and Louisiana. He was appointed by Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards to the Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans and the Board of the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad. He is a past Chairman of the Board of the New Orleans Regional Chamber of Commerce, Co-Chairman of the MetroVision Regional Economic Development Partnership and the St Bernard Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the Louisiana Committee of 100 for Economic Development, the Southeast Louisiana Business Council Coalition, the New Orleans/Baton Rouge Super Region Committee, and the Board of Trustees of the Greater New Orleans Foundation and the Louisiana Cancer Research Center. He was Chairman of the St Bernard Economic Development Foundation/Commission. He was a Founding Director of GNO Inc. In addition to service as Vice-Chairman of the Louisiana Recovery Authority, Chair of the Louisiana Land Trust and Co-Chair of the St Bernard Citizen’s Recovery Committee, he has served on the Boards of the World Trade Center, the New Orleans Bar Association, the New Orleans Bar Foundation, the LSU Health Science Center Foundation, the Delgado Community College Foundation, Nunez Community College Foundation, Tulane Cancer Center, LSU Cancer Center, and the Louisiana Cancer Research Center. After Hurricane Katrina, Leger was appointed by Governor Kathleen Blanco to the Louisiana Recovery Authority where, according to the Governor, he travelled “to our nation’s capital to help fight for resources necessary to help our people rebuild. Walter developed an expertise in answering complicated questions in ways people could appreciate and understand.…” Governor Bobby Jindal re-appointed Leger and he served as Vice-Chairman. He was also appointed by both Governors to serve as Chairman of the Louisiana Land Trust and by Mayor Mitch Landrieu to the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (NORA). Leger became well known as the co-host with Garland Robinette of a WWL radio show on hurricane recovery issues, prompting Robinette’s gratuitous comments quoted above. Leger also testified before the US Senate Sub-Committee on Disaster Recovery, whose participants included Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu, Senator Joseph Lieberman, and Senator Barack Obama. Leger appeared on behalf of the homeowners of Louisiana before five Congressional and Senate committees and sub-committees and met numerous times with Senate and House of Representatives staff and committee staffs, and with US Senators, Congressmen, and editorial and news staff of the New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times and Associated Press. He has also made appearances on ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, CNN, PBS, LPB and numerous local and national television and radio stations. Today he is often consulted by members of the media for his expertise on maritime and complex litigation issues. Leger is a former President and part-owner of the New Orleans Zephyrs Triple A Professional Baseball Team and the New Orleans Storm Professional Soccer team. Awards and Recognitions Leger was a finalist for the “National Lawyer of the Year” Award, has been named to Louisiana “SuperLawyers”, Citybusiness Newspaper’s “Leaders in Law Hall of Fame” and Best Lawyers in America (Admiralty and Maritime Law). He received the “President’s Awards” for leadership and public service from the New Orleans Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association, and the Louisiana Association of Justice. The Louisiana State Bar Association has given him its “Citizen Lawyer Award”. BIZ Magazine recently named him as one of 35 lawyers in the list of “New Orleans 500”. He has been named "Volunteer of the Year" by both the Southern Economic Development Council and the Louisiana Industrial Development Executives Association. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society named him “Man of the Year”. A two-time cancer survivor, he was named one of the “Survivors of the Year” by the Cancer Crusaders. He and his younger son, now Captain Rhett Leger (today a Mississippi River Bar Pilot), received commendations from the US Coast Guard for “Rescue and Life Saving” for venturing out into rough seas to rescue three people whose boat had sunk. LAWYER MONTHLY LEGAL AWARDS 2021 USA
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