June.22.2016
Law360 has once again recognized Orrick on its Global 20 list, a ranking of the world’s leading international law firms. This is Orrick’s fifth appearance on the list. Selection to the list is based on "global presence" and the firm’s record advising on "the largest most groundbreaking international and cross-border matters over the past year."
The firm's client achievements over the past year showcase its focus on three key sectors — E&I, technology and finance. As Orrick Chairman Mitch Zuklie told Law360, technology, energy and infrastructure are “real drivers” of the global economy, with finance funding those sectors. To capitalize on those opportunities, in recent years Orrick has broadened those platforms, which now make up about 80 percent of the firm’s practice, he said.
“We've been pursuing this strategy for about three years, and executing it with greater scale in the past year and a half, attempting to attract more top talent and bring on more laterals,” Mitch said, adding, “It's been a big investment.”
In E&I, the firm's work spanned Africa, Europe, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East, including the largest energy project underway worldwide, the 4,800 MW hydro project Inga 3, which is the first phase of the 40,000 MW Grand Inga Dam. In the tech sector, the firm advised on venture financings in 21 countries worldwide and executed cross-border acquisitions for Microsoft, Telenor and Thales, among others. In finance, the firm advised leading gas company Snam in the first intermediated buy-back in Italy, represented leading electric power producer Tirreno Power in one of the largest Italian restructurings of 2015 and counseled Davidson Kempner in the restructuring of aviation industry leader Latécoère in France. The firm’s litigation successes in several closely watched disputes include securing a €440 million judgment for French government entity Consortium de Réalisation in L’Affaire Tapie, a long-running dispute against Bernard Tapie that centered on his sale of Adidas, and two arbitration victories for the Republic of Guinea in its dispute with French cargo company Getma over a canceled port contract.
Orrick's global platform includes 25 offices across the United States, Europe and Asia. In the past year, the firm established offices in Geneva, Switzerland to serve as a hub for its international arbitration practice and a 40-lawyer office in Houston, Texas as a hub for its global energy & infrastructure (E&I) platform and its Latin America team. Across Europe, the firm has grown significantly in London and Paris, adding oil & gas, E&I, finance and banking capabilities, among others. In Asia, the firm fortified its IP team and Japan cross-border M&A practice.
To read Law360’s full profile of Orrick, please click here.