Francesca Richmond
Baker McKenzieDrawing on the firm’s global reach, Baker McKenzie remains a go-to firm for multijurisdictional litigation. The ‘hugely hardworking, responsive and insightful’ dispute resolution team has specialised knowledge of key industries, with a diverse roster of clients spanning the full range of sectors. Praised by clients for its ’technical sophistication’, the team also boasts expertise in fraud, financial crime and regulatory investigations. ‘Sophisticated and brilliantly strategic lawyer’ Hugh Lyons leads the team, representing corporates, financial institutions and insolvency practitioners, and boasts particular expertise in financial disputes. Marc Thorley’s practice ranges from M&A litigations to shareholder and directors’ duties disputes, while Marc Florent is active in multijurisdictional cases. Francesca Richmond specialises in class actions and mass torts litigation, while Carinne Kamdar is another name to note.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
'The technical sophistication, great team work, and depth of experience makes this team stand out.'
‘Hugh Lyons is a sophisticated and brilliantly strategic lawyer, who knows how to manage the most challenging pieces of litigation. ’
‘Great strength in depth; excellent leadership at partner level; very easy to work with; hugely hard-working, responsive and insightful.’
‘Charles Thomson - great team leader; thoroughly modern in approach; a pleasure to work with. Marc Thorley - excellent instinct. Ben Ko - impressive senior associate. Owen Wilkinson - phenomenally hard working and able junior associate.’
‘Hugh Lyons is top notch. One of the best fraud litigators around. He has a particular understanding of the MENA region. Clients appreciate his frank and knowledgeable advice.’
‘Francesca Richmond leads a great team with amazing legal knowledge, very good client handling skills and sound judgment. She leads a strong team of Gareth Roberts, a diligent with good client handling skills and huge dedication to the case, and Phoebe Bruce who always gets the job done and is a great team player.’
‘I have worked with Ed Poulton and Benjamin Levitt on a complex longstanding international dispute involving criminal and civil proceedings and enforcement issues relating to both. I was impressed with the strength of their technical legal advice as well as their meticulous management of local legal advisors in a challenging foreign jurisdiction. I am particularly impressed by Ed Poulton's commitment to the client relationship and his involvement in the day-to-day advice to us.’
‘Having worked with many London commercial litigation teams is London, this is without caveat, the best of a very strong field. The team which is led by Marc Florent and Charles Thompson is exceptional - with huge experience, technical knowledge, responsiveness, commerciality and a great team cohesion. Marc Florent is a master of strategy. He is firm, fair, intelligent and commercial, and the person you would want on your side in a massive legal fight. Charles Thompson is a pleasure to work with, highly intelligent, an excellent tactician with excellent instincts and is tireless in pursuit of his clients' interests.’
Key clients
- Bank of Baroda
- Virgin Media
- Kuwait Department of Legal Advice and Legislation (DLAL), the Kuwait Ports Authority (KPA) the Kuwait Public Institution for Social Security (PIFSS)
- BNP
- Barclays
- Dr Winston Wong
- Abdullah Nasser Bin Obaid
- James Palmer/ Eve Connect
- TBC Bank
Work highlights
- Acting for the Bank of Baroda in fraud claims brought by the administrators of the collapsed private healthcare fund NMC group of companies, both before the English High Court and the Abu Dhabi Global Market.
- Acting for BNP Paribas Trust Corporation (BNPP) in connection with a complex bond claim against Uro.
- Acting for the Kuwaiti State Legal Department (DLAL), and two emanations of the State of Kuwait (KPA and PIFSS), in connection with a claim worth in excess of $150m brought by KPA and PIFSS relating to their $125m investment in The Port Fund.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Hugh Lyons