‘Highly skilled and adaptable’, the commercial and corporate litigation team at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP is renowned for its representation of major entities facing significant financial or reputational risk. The ’consistently brilliant, incisive‘ group also boasts an established class actions practice. The firm’s stellar roster of clients spans a myriad of sectors, from energy and mining to the private equity and TMT. Alan Watts leads and boasts an active cross-border disputes practice, advising on litigation and injunctions across multiple jurisdictions; he specialises in disputes related to reputation, privacy and the misuse of information. Natasha Johnson is a go-to litigator for multi-party disputes, focusing on fraud and negligence claims and economic torts and corporate governance matters. An expert in the technology, consumer and aviation sectors, Gregg Rowan specialises in class actions, while Rachel Lidgate is regularly called upon for IT disputes. Chris Bushell is active in cross-border disputes, while Neil Blake is experienced in the defence of group claims, particularly in the environmental and human rights spaces. Christopher Cox handles disputes around the misuse of confidential information and breach of contract. Julian Copeman, Andrew Cooke and Catherine Emanuel are further key contacts in the team.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The team are consistently brilliant, incisive, available and reliable. The key members of the team are unchanged throughout the engagement which has been very reassuring. Their advice is correct and consistent all the way through.’
‘Natasha Johnson has been a wonderful advisor from the beginning. She provided extensive guidance and reassurance even though the process and issues frequently became more complex and challenging. I was able to reach her or her nominated associates without serious delay as the complexity of the issues in the case against us developed into a highly complex web of issues as charges brought against became more opaque and difficult to understand. I had complete confidence in her and the associates, Christopher Cox (who provided my main day to day support), and his colleague Richard Mendoza, also had my total confidence, proving time and time again the correct advice quickly, in support of Natasha. In the most complex of matters. They were wonderful advisors.’
‘John Whiteoak... quite frankly outstanding. Engaged, passionate and smart in handling a complex case with multiple parties. Always seeking to manage the case in a strategic and pro-active manner and very much seeking to act in his client's best interests to achieve what was ultimately a very successful outcome. Ably supported by the broader HSF team, most notably his fellow partner Natasha Johnson. Together they worked incredibly well together, providing balance and perspective throughout. I would also call out Richard Mendoza, in particular, for his commitment and engagement over a 5-year period. Always on top of the detail and available to the client.’
‘Alan Watts leads a team of commercial litigators with a well-deserved and exalted reputation in the City. They are able to take on a wide range of disputes and to provide an insightful, commercially-minded service to clients of all kinds. Alan is a calm and unflappable leader, who navigates his way through case crises with elan. His lieutenant, Kate Emanuel, is one of the sharpest litigators in the City, with a razor-sharp brain and a robust sense of humour. They make a most effective double-act and are, unsurprisingly, very popular with clients. This is a first-rate duo, whose contrasting skills and talents can be turned successfully to disputes of all kinds. They are never better than when things get tough, draw on reserves of patience under pressure but also of steel.’
‘Andrew Cooke and his litigation team are excellent. Team players, thoughtful and clever.’
‘Rachel Lidgate has a fantastic eye for detail, and is incredibly calm and measured, even in challenging circumstances.’
‘The team at HSF are extremely knowledgeable and understanding of our very specific demands as a client, in particular the very sensitive and public nature of our matter. They are highly skilled and adaptable, always available, and we have absolute confidence in them to advise us in a commercially pragmatic way, whilst translating the law and related procedures into manageable and understandable advice for an international audience.’
‘Alan Watts - a formidable reputation and a key asset to have in any defence. Strong, dependable and efficient. Christopher Cox - extremely knowledgeable, yet able to translate complex legal principles and communicate in an efficient and digestible manner. Sophia Fothergill - an extremely hard worker, always available and an absolute asset to have in any client-facing situation. Excellent interpersonal skills, and a pleasure to work with.’
Key clients
- TPG Group Holdings (SBS)
- Mercedes-Benz Group
- AerCap Ireland Limited
- Jinxin Inc
- Various Toyota entities
- Virgin Enterprises Limited
- Roland Corporation
- Certain of the former non-executive directors of Carillion
- Post Office Limited ("POL")
- CNH Industrial, Iveco Group N.V. and Stellantis (together "Iveco")
Work highlights
- Advising TPG on a $13.8bn claim filed by a jailed Russian oligarch against the TPG Defendants and 15 other defendants.
- Acting for Mercedes-Benz, together with its group companies and several dozen independent authorised dealerships, in defending High Court claims brought in relation to diesel NOx emissions.
- Acting for AerCap in claims under its aviation insurance policies relating to the loss of 116 aircraft and 23 engines in Russia following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the imposition of international sanctions.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
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Leading associates
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Practice head
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Paul Lewis, Alan Watts