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2026 marks Corporate INTL’s 19th Global Awards.
Over the past year, Corporate INTL’s research team has undertaken an extensive review process, gathering insight from business leaders, advisers and investors across the globe. Their nominations have been carefully assessed to create a final shortlist of candidates. This publication will be distributed to the readership of our monthly magazine, and is also available on our website, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors.
Our readership includes investment managers, private equity and hedge fund professionals, investment and business bankers, asset-based lenders, as well as high-net-worth individuals, among other industry specialists. Meanwhile, each award category offers regional and practice exclusivity, making a Global Award a particularly distinguished honour. The recipients reflect a broad and diverse mix of lawyers, law firms and consultants from a wide range of complementary industries.
In the following pages, readers will find details of the services provided by our featured firms and individuals across numerous practice areas and jurisdictions. Award winners have chosen to mark their success through industry commentary, firm profiles and/or informative advertisements. This edition also includes Listings – presented in a business card-style format – for recipients who have elected to showcase their expertise and service excellence through the contact details of a nominated representative.
All featured inclusions can be located via the A–Z Index at the back of this edition.
We extend our congratulations to each of this year’s winners, and wish them every success in the months ahead.
Edited by Ryan Daff (ryandaff@corp-intl.com)
publishers cannot accept responsibility for any errors and subsequent claims made by any third parties.
Europe closed 2025 with a familiar mix of resilience and constraint: growth that surprised on the upside in parts of the year, price pressures that continued to ease towards central-bank targets, and a foreign-trade environment that both spurred temporary front-loading of activity and left a longer-term cloud of uncertainty over investment and external demand. Official EU numbers and the Commission’s Autumn 2025 forecast show the bloc growing at only a modest pace – real GDP in the EU is projected to expand by roughly 1.4% in both 2025 and 2026 – but those headline rates disguise important cross-regional divergences, the effects of shifting trade policy and structural drags on productivity that will shape how rapidly the recovery can gain traction in 2026.
Two themes dominated the policy narrative through 2025 and will set the texture of the year ahead. First, the macroeconomy has been surprisingly adaptive: after a period of tighter financial conditions in 2023–24, global and European financial markets stabilised in 2025, firms resumed investment in areas tied to digitalisation and AI, and industrial production showed renewed life late in the year – a development commentators in the financial press, such as Reuters, have noted as evidence of a “resilience” story in the euro area. Yet the boost was uneven, concentrated in tradeable-goods sectors and in pockets of advanced-economy manufacturing where firms could front-load exports or where adoption of productivity-enhancing technologies was fastest.
Second, trade policy shocks and heightened policy uncertainty materially altered the timing and composition of activity in 2025. Both Commission analysis and IMF commentary point to a pattern in which exporters accelerated shipments into early 2025 to beat tariff changes and to reconfigure supply chains in response to a more volatile world trading environment. That front-loading temporarily lifted output and investment figures, giving the impression of stronger momentum in the first half of the year; but the aftermath has left growth in 2026 dependent on domestic demand, services-sector strength and the pace at which investment in AI and green transition yields productivity gains. The IMF has emphasised that such one-off boosts can reverse and that persistent uncertainty – including tariff oscillations and currency shifts – poses a clear downside risk for next year’s outlook.
On prices and monetary stance, the disinflationary trend continued in 2025. Across the euro area, headline inflation fell towards levels consistent with the European Central Bank’s goal, and the Commission anticipates inflation settling close to the 2% area through 2026. That reprieve from the elevated rates seen earlier in the decade has created room for central banks to transition from emergency tightening to a more neutral real-rate environment, but it is not an automatic invitation to rapid loosening. Policymakers have stressed the need to guard against a premature easing that could re-ignite inflation expectations; staff forecasts from the OECD and other multilateral bodies expect the euro-area expansion to remain below historical averages, leaving central banks balancing modest growth against still-fragile labour markets.
Regionally, large-economy dynamics determined much of the picture. Germany’s manufacturing sector showed signs of life late in 2025 after a difficult spell, helped in part by inventory rebuilds and a rebound in investment tied to automation and energy transition projects. France and the Netherlands exhibited steadier domestic demand, with services and consumption proving more durable than many had feared. Conversely, parts of southern and eastern Europe faced weaker growth as tourism and remittance flows normalised from post-pandemic highs and as structural weaknesses – particularly low productivity growth and constrained labour mobility – limited the upside from cyclical recovery. The World Bank’s Europe and Central Asia update documented this unevenness, noting that growth in the developing economies of the region slowed to 2.4% in 2025, with the Russian Federation a conspicuous drag on regional aggregates.
Financial conditions and the banking sector ended 2025 on a cautiously optimistic note. European banks reported stronger earnings, helped by higher net interest margins earlier in the tightening cycle and by substantial efficiency programmes, including experimentation with AI tools that many analysts expect will trim operating costs over time. Market commentary – including reporting in Reuters – has pointed to a rally in bank equities as investors priced in better earnings prospects and a potential stabilisation of interest margins. While this readjustment reduces one source of systemic risk, the underlying credit cycle remains sensitive to the pace of business investment and to commercial real-estate stress in certain local markets.
Labour markets stayed relatively tight in 2025, but with early signs of softening that warrant attention going into 2026. Job vacancies in many advanced European economies trended down from their peaks, and measures of hiring intentions cooled in the final quarter. The OECD has flagged that the aggregate unemployment rate across member countries remains low by historical standards but that frictional weaknesses – mismatches between skill supply and demand – are constraining productivity and wage growth in ways that are difficult to address without targeted structural reforms. This is important for forecasts: persistent skills shortages in high-productivity sectors would limit the capacity of European economies to translate higher investment into output gains next year. Looking ahead to 2026, the central projection across major multilateral institutions is for modest growth but clear downside risks. The European Commission’s outlook – grounded in its Autumn 2025 forecast – pegs EU growth at around 1.4% in 2026 with inflation close to the ECB’s target zone, while the IMF’s European desk offered slightly weaker numbers for the euro area in the autumn, highlighting a need for structural policy to raise potential output. The OECD’s December outlook similarly projects a small deceleration in global growth from 2025 into 2026 and assumes a euro-area growth rate in the low-1% range. Taken together, these institutional forecasts imply that 2026 will be a year of consolidation rather than acceleration: economies will aim to digest the one-off impulses of 2025 and to crystallise gains from digital and green investment, but headline expansion will likely remain subdued.
Policy priorities for the year ahead are accordingly clear. Short run macro management should focus on preserving price stability while allowing balance sheets and capital spending plans to adjust to lower, but steadier, inflation. Over the medium term, the debate is about supply-side levers: labour participation and the removal of frictions that prevent capital and labour from concentrating where productivity is highest; more aggressive but well-targeted investment in skills, R&D and digital infrastructure; as well as regulatory approaches that facilitate cross-border market integration in Europe’s single market. The IMF’s regional notes underscore that a significant part of Europe’s income gap with the US reflects lower productivity, not a shortage of labour or capital – a conclusion that puts reform and structural policy at the centre of anything that meaningfully raises trend growth.
External demand – the single largest source of forecast uncertainty – will hinge on developments outside Europe. Slower growth in major trading partners, renewed bouts of protectionism or currency volatility could all erode export prospects. Conversely, if the global cycle stabilises and investment in AI and clean-energy supply chains accelerates, Europe could capture disproportionate gains in newly expanding tech-intensive segments. The World Bank and OECD both highlight the asymmetric ways in which these channels operate across the region: energy-intensive economies and smaller open exporters are more vulnerable to global headwinds, while high-skilled, innovation-driven clusters stand to gain.
Emiel Haesbrouck
Emiel Haesbrouck Lawyer
Tel: +32 (0)496 55 06 04 advocaat.emiel.f.haesbrouck@ gmail.com www.emielfhaesbrouck.be
IP Consulting Ltd.
Aglika Ivanova Partner, Head of Alicante Office
Tel: +34 96 599 8837 office@ipconsulting.eu www.ipconsulting.eu
About Emiel Haesbrouck
• Started at the Bar of Kortrijk as an Intern Lawyer in 1970;
• Elected as a Town Councillor in Kortrijk (West Flanders) in 1970 (until end 1982);
• Employee of the Department of Foreign Affairs / Development Cooperation (1982–1983);
• Employee of the Services of the Prime Minister (1983–1985);
• Appointed Clerk Rapporteur of the Dutch-speaking Council of Appeal in the office of the Prime Minister, by decision of the Prime Minister dated April 6th 1984;
• Member of the Council of State of Belgium – Auditors’ Office – (1985–2008);
• Researcher at the study department at the ministry of the Secretary for the Reform of the State Ferrdinand De Bondt (September 1977 – April 1979): preparing laws concerning the reform of the State: first texts concerning the “Arbitragehof”, current Constitutional Court;
• Member of the National Board of the CVP (political party, 1973–1986);
• Representative for Belgium at the first UN Congress on International Law in New York (13th–17th of March 1995);
• Grand Officer in the Order of the Crown (Royal Decree of 29th of April 2008);
• Commandeur in the Order of Leopold (Royal Decree of 11th of April 2000);
• Honorary Lieutenant in the Reserve (2nd June 1992);
• Outright winner of 2021 Lawyer Monthly Legal Award.
IP Consulting Ltd. is a leading Bulgarian IP law firm renowned for its comprehensive, cross-border expertise and innovative approach to protecting and managing intellectual assets. Established in Sofia, with a European branch in Alicante, Spain, the firm serves as a trusted regional hub for IP protection, enforcement and strategic development across the EU and Southeastern Europe.
The firm’s portfolio includes registration and enforcement of patents, utility models, trademarks, geographical indications, industrial designs, plant varieties and copyrights. The firm is equally active in domain name protection, unfair competition law and consumer protection, as well as border control and enforcement. The strength of IP Consulting Ltd. lies in its ability to provide comprehensive management of IP rights through a single, coordinated structure covering the EU and South-East Europe. Each client benefits from a unified service model, allowing multinational clients to navigate complex jurisdictions with ease and efficiency.
The team comprises highly qualified IP attorneys, lawyers and technical specialists with strong backgrounds in both law and engineering. IP Consulting Ltd. is also a proud member of leading international professional organisations, including INTA, ECTA, AIPPI, AmCham Bulgaria, FICPI, UNION, TMOBG and EPI. These memberships reflect the firm’s active participation in shaping the future of IP practice.
A central figure in IP Consulting Ltd.’s continued success is Aglika Ivanova, Partner and Head of the Alicante Office. A seasoned attorney and respected
IP specialist, Ivanova has been with the firm since 2004, and represents Bulgarian and international clients before all instances of the Bulgarian courts, as well as before the Commission on Unfair Competition, the Commission on Consumer Protection and the Bulgarian customs authorities in matters related to border enforcement of IP rights. She further advises on criminal proceedings pertaining to IP infringements, and has extensive experience in mediation and dispute resolution before the EUIPO.
Aglika holds a Master’s in Law from the University of National & World Economy, and completed a specialisation in Patent Law at the Technical University of Sofia. Her professional development includes participation in the US Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) on the protection of IP rights; meanwhile, she is a graduate of the EUIPO Trade Mark & Design Education Programme (ETMD EP 2018–2019). In addition to her role as Partner, she serves as Executive Secretary of the Association of Trademark Owners in Bulgaria – and acts as a consultant for major national IP platforms, such as copyrights.bg and ipbulgaria.bg.
Lastly, Aglika is the author and co-author of several key publications, including “Building & Enforcing Intellectual Property in Bulgaria” (IP Value, WhiteHouse Publications, 2006), “Successful Implementation of Administrative Measures for Protection of IP Rights” (IP Bulgaria, 2008) – as well as numerous works for World Trademark Review and IP Bulgaria Publishing House.
Wandall Law Firm
Dr Rasmus H Wandall, PhD Founder
Tel: +45 2099 5754 rw@wlaw.dk www.wlaw.dk
Rasmus H Wandall, barrister (L) PhD, possesses extensive experience in criminal law case matters, both domestically and internationally, as well as being active as a court-appointed mediator who is highly established in the realm of dispute resolution. In addition to founding Wandall Law Firm, he is a board member of the non-governmental organisation Human Rights in Action and the author of several academic books, articles and EC research reports on civil rights and transnational criminal procedure.
Today, Dr Wandall is known for his expertise in criminal law, sentencing and human rights, having advised on numerous significant cases locally and overseas. He routinely represents both individuals and companies from Denmark, Europe and other key locations, spanning various continents. Meanwhile, in his role as court-appointed mediator, he is highly regarded for blending a principled approach with a hands-on, practical and strategic attitude to arriving at apt solutions. Harnessing the comprehensive resources of Wandall Law Firm, he is notably proficient at handling cases that cover the full spectrum of criminal and administrative law matters.
Dr Wandall has previously served as General Counsel of the International Association of Prosecutors in The Hague, as Chief Adviser to the Director of Public Prosecutions of Denmark – and as an expert adviser to both the European Commission and European Parliament on criminal law and civil rights in the EU and globally. He has lived and worked in the US and England, as well as on
International Dispute Resolution Centre
Michel Kallipetis KC FCIArb Commercial Mediator
Tel: +44 (0)20 7127 9223
+44 (0)77 6262 5865 (mob) michel@kallipetis.com www.independentmediators.co.uk/ our-mediators/michel-kallipetis-kc
the African continent (in Ethiopia) for almost ten years, though he has been based in Copenhagen, Denmark, since 2020. With an accumulated professional experience across more than 30 countries – throughout Europe, Asia, Africa and North America – he has collaborated with privates, ministries, universities and international organisations on diverse topics related to transnational criminal law, sentencing, criminal procedure, transnational cooperation, Interpol and civil rights.
In essence, Dr Wandall brings a uniquely global reach to his work, allowing him to assist clients via investigations and proceedings, combining legal precision and a nuanced understanding of the human, cultural and institutional frameworks that, in real-world application, factor into how cases and disputes are conducted and resolved.
He has been appointed as an expert to the EuroMed Justice IV project, as well as taking the lead in studies for the EP Libe committee on Human Rights’ challenges to arrest orders, further advising the European Commission on challenges to Interpol Red Notices and diffusion orders.
Last, but not least, Dr Wandall has held academic positions at NYU Law School, UC Berkeley, the University of Oxford, Addis Ababa University, the University of Copenhagen and the University of Bergen. He currently serves as a Research Fellow at Lund University, where his scholarly work in criminal justice and civil rights is widely acclaimed, and continues to inform his professional practice.
The International Dispute Resolution Centre (IDRC) in London is widely regarded as a leading venue for arbitration, mediation and hybrid hearings, offering modern facilities, advanced virtual-hearing technology and comprehensive support services for high-value disputes. Although not itself a law firm or panel provider, it functions as a neutral, state-of-the-art hub where parties, counsel, mediators and arbitral tribunals can convene in a secure and professional setting. Within this environment, practitioners of the highest calibre frequently conduct mediations, and among the most prominent is Michel Kallipetis KC FCIArb.
Michel is a former Head of Littleton Chambers with more than 40 years’ experience at the Bar and a background that includes sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge in the Queen’s Bench, Chancery and Technology & Construction Court. In 2006, he founded Independent Mediators Ltd and transitioned to full-time mediation practice, drawing on a distinguished legal career that had already established him as a leading figure in commercial, employment and professional-negligence disputes. His professional accreditations include CEDR and ADR Chambers, Fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and appointments to the mediator panels of both the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre and the Singapore International Mediation Centre. His international reputation is reflected in repeated accolades from major directories, including recognition as a global Thought Leader in mediation and tier-one rankings in the UK’s principal legal guides.
Michel is regularly instructed in banking, finance and insurance disputes, high-value commercial and corporate conflicts, multi-party construction and engineering matters, claims involving professional negligence, as well as complex employment cases. He further mediates property-related disputes, including boundary issues, rights of way and contentious trust or probate claims. Many of his cases involve international parties or cross-border issues, and he has been appointed as mediator by such institutions as the ICC and the AAA in disputes valued in the hundreds of millions of pounds.
Drawing on his judicial and advocacy experience, he is able to shift effortlessly between facilitative and evaluative techniques, tailoring his approach to the dynamics of each dispute. He is known for building trust early in the process and for dealing frankly but constructively with parties and counsel – while also guiding even entrenched negotiations towards resolution.
Beyond his mediation practice, Michel has made a significant contribution to the development of ADR policy and education. He served as the first Chair of the Bar Council’s ADR Committee for nine years, assisted in drafting the EU Code of Practice for Mediators and advised the European Parliament during the development of the EU ADR Directive. He has represented ADR interests before UNCITRAL’s Working Group II in relation to what became the Singapore Convention on Mediation. His teaching and training work has reached lawyers and judges in the UK and abroad.
Rainer Hughes LLP
Tel: +44 (0)1277 226644 enquiries@rainerhughes.com www.rainerhughes.com
Chantler Kent Investments
Claude Carletide Partner
Tel: +44 (0)1689 607007
claude@cki.london
www.chantlerkent.co.uk
Rainer Hughes is a Lexcel-accredited UK law firm recognised for its specialist expertise in VAT, HMRC and customs matters. With more than two decades’ experience, the firm has built a national reputation for advising and representing clients in some of the most complex and high-stakes tax disputes in England.
The firm’s VAT & Excise practice is widely regarded as one of the strongest in the country, regularly acting in matters involving HMRC investigations, civil and criminal tax disputes, customs enforcement and allegations of tax evasion. Moreover, Rainer Hughes has been decorated with multiple awards in VAT and tax-related fields, reflecting the depth of its expertise, as well as its consistent results.
What sets Rainer Hughes apart is its agile, decisive and highly strategic approach. The firm’s specialist team provides clear, practical and commercially focused advice – guiding clients through every stage of the process with precision and confidence. Whether advising corporates or individuals, the firm is known for its ability to respond swiftly and effectively in urgent and sensitive matters.
Rainer Hughes acts for a diverse client base, including businesses, corporates and individuals across such sectors as retail, media, finance, technology and healthcare, among other areas. The firm has successfully represented both claimants and defendants in
landmark excise and VAT cases, with proceedings conducted across the Criminal and Civil Courts, the Queen’s Bench and Chancery Divisions of the High Court, as well as the Court of Appeal, in both civil and criminal matters.
This recognition reflects the collective expertise and dedication across Rainer Hughes – combined with a consistently high standard of service. The firm remains committed to delivering outstanding results while continuing to strengthen its presence in London and expand its reach nationally and internationally.
To learn more about Rainer Hughes and its services, please visit www.rainerhughes.com
What sets Rainer Hughes apart is its agile, decisive and highly strategic approach. The firm’s specialist team provides clear, practical and commercially focused advice – guiding clients through every stage of the process with precision and confidence. Whether advising corporates or individuals, the firm is known for its ability to respond swiftly and effectively in urgent and sensitive matters.
Established in 1993, Chantler Kent Investments (CKI) is an independent financial advisory firm based in England, renowned for its bespoke financial planning services. With more than three decades of experience, CKI has cultivated a reputation for delivering tailored financial solutions that align with clients’ personal and corporate objectives. The firm’s mission is to treat clients fairly, fostering long-term relationships built on trust and mutual respect.
CKI’s strength lies in its team of seasoned professionals, including financial advisers, chartered advisers, paraplanners and experienced administrative staff. Among the founding partners is Claude Carletide, who brings more than 35 years’ experience in financial advising. Claude specialises in wealth management, retirement planning, commercial finance and mortgages – offering clients comprehensive strategies to achieve their financial goals.
CKI’s dedication to client-focused financial planning has earned it accolades in the industry. In 2022, the firm was recognised as the “Leading Corporate Finance Management Firm of the Year – Kent” by Acquisition International. This award highlights CKI’s unique approach to financial advising, emphasising clients’ life goals over mere financial metrics.
Services Offered
Lifestyle Financial Planning: CKI adopts a holistic approach to financial planning, focusing on clients’ long-term aspirations. This service
involves understanding what clients wish to achieve in their lifetime, and structuring their finances to support these objectives. Cash flow modelling is utilised to illustrate how clients can attain their desired lifestyle, ensuring that financial plans are aligned with personal values and goals.
Wealth Management: CKI’s wealth management service is designed to optimise the use of clients’ resources, maximising income and savings. The firm assesses clients’ attitudes to risk, tax opportunities, as well as income and growth requirements. Services include annual review meetings, unlimited access to advisers, valuation reports, strategic updates to other professional advisers, inheritance tax and estate planning, as well as portfolio construction.
Corporate Financial Services: For corporate clients, CKI offers a range of services, including financial planning, commercial mortgages and business protection. Moreover, the firm advises on director pensions, shareholder and partnership protection, key person insurance and employee benefits – such as critical illness, medical insurance, pensions, income protection, life assurance and relevant life insurance.
Personal Finance: Last, but not least, CKI provides tailored advice on pensions and retirement planning, investment portfolios, life assurance, mortgages and later life advice. To this end, the firm assists in selecting appropriate pension vehicles, managing investment portfolios with tax efficiency – as well as planning for later life through such services as equity release and inheritance tax advice.
Liliana Bakayoko INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS LAW FIRM
Dr Liliana Bakayoko Founder
Tel: +33 6 03 71 96 82 liliana.bakayoko@gmail.com gb.liliana-bakayoko-avocat.com
Dr Liliana Bakayoko stands among the most accomplished and forward-thinking international business lawyers of her generation. As the Founder of Liliana Bakayoko INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS LAW FIRM, headquartered in Paris, she has dedicated more than two decades to advising multinational corporations, entrepreneurs and innovators navigating the complexities of international trade, corporate governance, IP and emerging technologies. Her legal insight, combined with a visionary approach to the evolving business landscape, has earned her global recognition and numerous prestigious awards.
In 2026, Dr Bakayoko was honoured as International Business Lawyer of the Year in France by the Corporate INTL Global Awards, an accolade that crowns a series of international distinctions. She was previously named Leading International Business Law Firm 2025 by the Global 100 Awards and Business Lawyer of the Year – Global for both 2024 and 2025 by International Elite 100 Global. Additional recognitions include Top International Business Lawyer of the Year 2024 and Empowered Woman of the Year 2025, both awarded by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) in New York.
Dr Bakayoko’s firm was celebrated as Best International Business Law Firm 2024 – EMEA by Corporate Vision Global Business Awards, and her individual profile was highlighted in USA Today’s list of Top Outstanding Lawyers to Know About in 2025. Further distinctions from Microsoft MSN placed her among the Top 10 Leading Lawyers and Top 10 Self-Made Entrepreneurs of both 2024 and 2025 – reflecting her growing influence not only within the legal profession but also across the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem.
With more than 20 years’ legal expertise and a Doctorate in Law, Dr Bakayoko has cultivated a career that bridges rigorous academic foundations and practical, results-driven counsel. Before founding her own practice in 2004, she served as a Professor of Law, sharing her deep knowledge of international business law, contract law and EU regulations with future generations of legal professionals. This academic grounding continues to inform her analytical precision and her commitment to advancing legal education and thought leadership on a global scale.
Her Paris-based firm operates at the intersection of international business, digital transformation and technological innovation, providing comprehensive legal support to corporations engaged in cross-border transactions, M&A, joint ventures and complex regulatory environments. The firm further assists clients with compliance strategies, IP protection and dispute resolution, ensuring that legal structures become catalysts for growth rather than barriers to progress.
One of the most defining aspects of Dr Bakayoko’s career is her development of a unique legal philosophy she calls the “positive perception of the law”. Unlike the conventional view that sees legal compliance as restrictive or burdensome, she champions
the idea that law can – and should – be harnessed as a strategic instrument for innovation, competitiveness and creativity. This approach empowers businesses to turn regulatory requirements into opportunities for differentiation, resilience and ethical growth. Through this lens, the law becomes not merely a framework of limitations, but a blueprint for sustainable success, guiding companies to act responsibly while unlocking new business models and partnerships. Her clients consistently attest to the transformative impact of this mindset, which has enabled them to navigate complex legal systems while staying agile and forward-looking.
Dr Bakayoko is also at the forefront of the rapidly evolving fields of digital law, AI and neurotechnology regulation. Her research and advocacy explore the profound ethical and legal challenges that arise as technology increasingly interacts with human cognition and decision-making. She has introduced the concept of “Neurocognitive Trade Secrets”, a groundbreaking idea that calls for expanded protections for IP in the age of brain-computer interfaces and thought-interpreting technologies. As AI systems become more capable of analysing human mental states, she argues that legal frameworks must evolve to defend individual autonomy, privacy and creativity.
Her commitment to shaping responsible innovation extends to her support for legal personhood for AI systems and the implementation of neurorights, ensuring that advancements in neurotechnology are aligned with fundamental human rights and dignity. These initiatives place her at the cutting edge of global debates about the future of law and ethics in the digital era. Beyond academia and theory, Dr Bakayoko’s practice has had a tangible impact on major international projects. Notably, she advised Linden Energy, LLC, an American energy company instrumental in the realisation of the Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB) pipeline – a landmark project that strengthened energy independence and security across Eastern Europe. Her role in providing cross-border legal counsel and strategic coordination underscored her ability to manage high-stakes, multinational undertakings with both legal precision and diplomatic sensitivity.
Her expertise in energy, technology and international corporate governance continues to attract clients from around the world who seek innovative yet legally sound solutions to complex business challenges. Looking ahead, Dr Bakayoko remains deeply committed to empowering businesses to unlock their innovative potential through intelligent use of the law. Her mission is to help companies “create their own rules within the rules” – leveraging compliance as a pathway to growth rather than a constraint. She advocates for a new generation of corporate leaders who view legal literacy as a core component of strategic management. Her ongoing work in shaping legislative advancements in AI and IT law reflects her dedication to aligning regulatory systems with the realities of digital transformation. Through her writing, public speaking and consultancy, she continues to inspire legal professionals and entrepreneurs alike to embrace the law as an enabler of progress.
EBA Endrös-Baum Associés
Florian Endrös Senior Partner
Tel: +33 (0)1 53 85 81 81 florian.endros@eba-avocats.com www.eba-avocats.com
Cabinet Dreyfus & Associés
Nathalie Dreyfus Founding Partner
Tel: +33 1 44 70 07 04 contact@dreyfus.fr www.dreyfus.fr
EBA Endrös-Baum Associés is renowned for its extensive capabilities in handling complex industrial cross-border matters across Europe, with particular emphasis on matters involving German-speaking countries. The firm accompanies international insurers and companies from various industrial sectors, namely the automobile industry, the health sector, medical devices, solar industry and power plants, as well as renewable energy projects and electromobility.
Its dynamic team is composed of eight Partners: Dr Florian Endrös, Marguerite de Vaublanc, Myriam Bennaïm, Muriel Mazaud, Céline Lustin-Le Core, Anke Sprengel, Alexandra Berbett and Jessika Da Ponte. In 2019, EBA Endrös Baum Associés opened a third office in Marseille, and in 2020, a fourth in Lyon.
The multilingual team comprehensively assists clients in French, German, English, Danish, Portuguese, Hebrew and Turkish. Meanwhile, each team member has acquired specialist cross-border expertise in the fields of product liability and industrial risk, allowing them to consistently innovate while ensuring clients can expect streamlined, efficient –and timely – solutions for challenging cases.
At the interface between law and science, product liability cases almost systematically involve an expertise proceeding, which takes place prior to the main proceeding on the merits. Accordingly, each team member is accustomed to this specific type of proceeding, which involves going beyond pure legal thinking, instead bringing into focus a more scientific, technical approach. In this regard, EBA Endrös
Baum Associés has established a substantial network of experts spanning diverse industrial fields –a factor that allows for more well-rounded and upto-date counsel, drawing upon an array of unique perspectives.
EBA Endrös Baum Associés is further cognisant that its multinational clients are, in their day-to-day matters, confronted with legal and communication difficulties in their ongoing business endeavours. The firm has therefore made it a priority to accompany and guide them through all stages of the relevant proceedings, taking special care to ensure they are fully informed about the progress of their matter, that they are aware of the potential risks, and to expose them to opposing options and strategies. The team’s understanding of clients’ specific requirements reflects in its capacity to tailor its services accordingly.
In essence, EBA Endrös Baum Associés’ main strength resides in its ability to continually think outside the box. To this end, the team routinely advises on matters that deal with evolving legal systems and requirements, and this helps to develop the creativity of each team member when it comes to arriving at an appropriate methodology. EBA Endrös-Baum Associés is additionally mindful of the current drive towards automation in legal services, which has the potential to place less onus on the individual client. Rather than relying solely on established norms of legal practice, the team’s aim is, while embracing new technological means, to remain an adviser that favours bespoke solutions – never losing sight of each client’s specific needs.
For more than 25 years, Cabinet Dreyfus & Associés has stood at the forefront of IP law in France and beyond, renowned for its strategic, business-focused approach to trademark protection and enforcement. Founded and led by Nathalie Dreyfus, a French and European Trademark Attorney and Judicial Expert before the French Cour de Cassation, the firm has built an international reputation for excellence, innovation and client commitment.
From its base in Paris, Dreyfus & Associés offers a full spectrum of trademark services, from clearance and filing to litigation, portfolio management and anti-counterfeiting enforcement. The firm’s global clientele – ranging from leading multinational corporations to pioneering startups – relies on its deep understanding of both legal intricacies and commercial realities.
As Founding Partner, Ms Dreyfus’s career combines legal precision with strategic vision, honed through decades of advising clients on complex, cross-border trademark issues. She has been a leading voice in the IP community, regularly publishing articles and lecturing on trademark law and brand strategy. Her thought leadership and status as an expert before France’s highest court underscore her authority in the field.
What sets Dreyfus & Associés apart is its distinctive, business-orientated approach. Rather than viewing IP as an isolated legal discipline, the firm integrates legal excellence with commercial insight. Each matter is approached with a focus on practical results – delivering solutions that not only protect rights but also generate long-term value.
With a diverse team fluent in multiple languages and versed in the nuances of various jurisdictions, Dreyfus & Associés anticipates challenges across borders and delivers seamless global service. Its extensive network of trusted IP specialists in the US, UK, Germany, China and Japan, as well as in key French regions, allows the firm to provide comprehensive support wherever clients operate. This cross-border capability has made Dreyfus & Associés a preferred partner for companies seeking unified, strategic brand protection in an increasingly interconnected world.
Technological transformation has further shaped the firm’s evolution. Ms Dreyfus believes that while AI and digital tools have enhanced efficiency and global collaboration, they have not diminished the importance of human judgement – emphasising the irreplaceable role of ethical reasoning, contextual understanding and strategic foresight in legal practice. The firm has embraced digital innovation, integrating AI-driven research and virtual collaboration to serve clients swiftly and effectively, while maintaining the human insight that defines exceptional counsel.
The past year has brought notable successes. The firm resolved a complex trademark dispute involving inaccurate corporate registration and unauthorised use of a protected mark, securing corrective action and reaffirming its client’s rights. It also advised a pioneering nanotechnology company on aligning its IP and regulatory strategy with EU standards – an achievement that highlighted the firm’s multidisciplinary approach and capacity to bridge law, technology and commerce.
Kador & Partner
Bernhard Pillep Partner
Tel: +49 89 2015252 bernhard.pillep@kadorpartner.com www.kadorpartner.com
& PARTNER
With more than 25 years’ experience in IP law, Bernhard Pillep has dedicated his career to helping clients protect, enforce and strategically manage their innovations. As a European and German Patent and Trademark Attorney, and a representative before the Unified Patent Court, he focuses on patent prosecution, opposition and appeal proceedings before the European Patent Office. His practice further encompasses freedom-to-operate analyses, validity and infringement opinions, IP due diligence and employee invention law.
Dr Pillep’s academic background in chemistry and chemical engineering provides a strong technical foundation for his work. During his doctoral studies at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, he also conducted research at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. This experience allowed him to combine scientific precision with international collaboration – an approach that continues to inform the analytical and cross-disciplinary perspective he brings to his clients’ cases today.
Over the years, Dr Pillep has developed a deep appreciation for the value of partnership – both with clients and within the firm. At Kador & Partner, where he serves as a Partner, this spirit of collaboration guides all aspects of the firm’s practice. Founded in 1974 by Dr Utz Kador, Kador & Partner celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024. What began as a small patent practice has evolved into a full-service IP law firm that unites the expertise of patent attorneys and attorneys at law.
The firm represents clients before all major European and German patent authorities and courts,
including the GPTO, EPO, EUIPO, the German Federal Patent Court, the Federal Supreme Court and the Unified Patent Court. Its services cover every aspect of IP law – patents, trademarks, designs, licensing and beyond. Kador & Partner assists clients not only in securing and defending their IP rights but also in resolving disputes through agreements, crafting mutually beneficial contracts and identifying economically advantageous solutions. This philosophy – “Building Bridges” – reflects the firm’s commitment to achieving success through cooperation and understanding.
Kador & Partner’s client base is remarkably diverse, ranging from established multinational corporations to individual inventors, entrepreneurs and startups. This variety enables the firm to tailor its strategies to each client’s commercial and technological context.
Moreover, the firm maintains a strong international presence and active participation in global IP organisations, such as AIPPI, FICPI, INTA, ECTA, GRUR and LES. Embracing technological innovation, including AI and digital communication tools, allows Kador & Partner to deliver efficient, forward-looking services worldwide.
Looking ahead, Dr Pillep and the firm remain committed to supporting innovation through carefully considered and forward-looking IP strategies. By combining technical expertise with legal precision and a spirit of collaboration, they help clients transform ideas into lasting value – continuing to contribute reliably to the evolving global IP landscape.
Tel: +49 40 22864877-0 eva.vonau@vc-legal.eu www.vc-legal.eu
Michael C Frege Partner
Tel: +49 69 71701 300
Fax: +49 69 71701 367 michael.frege@cms-hs.com www.cms-hs.com
For Eva Vonau, media law is not just a legal discipline – it’s a lifelong passion rooted in hands-on experience within the media industry itself. Before embarking on her legal career, Eva completed an apprenticeship as a sound and video technician at one of Germany’s largest television production studios. This early immersion gave her a unique, insider’s perspective on how the media industry truly operates, both technically and commercially. Today, that understanding forms the foundation of VC Legal, a boutique law firm recognised for its sharp focus on media and online communications law.
Based in Hamburg, VC Legal provides specialist advice and representation in all areas of media law, with particular emphasis on online advertising, marketing and defamation matters. The firm operates both in and out of court, handling a wide range of disputes and advisory mandates for corporate clients who rely heavily on their online presence and reputation. A defining feature of the firm’s litigation practice is its expertise in obtaining preliminary injunctions, a crucial tool in swiftly addressing harmful or unlawful content online before it causes irreparable reputational damage.
VC Legal’s client base consists primarily of businesses with strong digital operations – companies for whom brand image, online marketing and digital communication are critical business assets. The firm does not represent private individuals but instead serves corporate clients seeking strategic, pragmatic and business-focused legal solutions. Eva’s prior production experience equips her and her team with the ability to anticipate practical
challenges and communicate effectively with media professionals. This unique insight allows VC Legal to advise not just on the law, but on what will work in practice.
Over the past year, VC Legal has handled a number of groundbreaking cases related to Germany’s recent developments in the legalisation of medical cannabis. These cases explored complex questions around the advertising of medical services offering cannabis treatments via online consultations. Through strategic litigation and targeted legal clarification, VC Legal has helped shape a more defined understanding of the boundaries of such advertising under German law.
The firm’s work increasingly intersects with technology and AI, both as subjects of legal inquiry and as tools that enhance client service. VC Legal frequently advises on the legal implications of AI use in media and marketing, while also integrating digital tools and virtual hearings into its own practice.
On an international level, its strategic advantage lies in the German preliminary injunction system, which enables rapid intervention against unlawful online statements. While technically limited to German jurisdiction, these injunctions often lead to the global removal of content, offering clients an efficient means of reputation protection that extends beyond borders. Coupled with Eva’s experience in a leading international law firm, the practice is well equipped to handle cross-border coordination and advise global clients navigating EU media regulations.
CMS Hasche Sigle is one of Germany’s foremost law firms in the field of restructuring and insolvency, known for its long-standing and highly sophisticated practice. With a dedicated Restructuring & Insolvency team that has delivered advisory and insolvency administration services for more than 30 years, CMS offers clients a full-service approach rooted in both legal depth and practical sensibility. The firm’s capacity to serve stakeholders across the full life cycle of a distress situation – from preventative restructuring and crisis advisory to formal insolvency proceedings – makes it a trusted partner for corporations, banks, creditors and investors navigating complex financial challenges.
At the heart of this practice stands Dr Michael C Frege, the lead partner in restructuring and insolvency at CMS. Based primarily in Frankfurt am Main, Berlin, Düsseldorf and Leipzig, he brings decades of experience both as a lawyer and a court-appointed insolvency administrator. Over his career, Dr Frege has overseen a large number of national insolvency processes, acting across a wide range of sectors, including industry, the services sector and banking, often in high-stakes, cross-border matters. His leadership in this domain is complemented by his role as an author of leading specialist publications, including the chapter on German insolvency law in Beck’s Handbook of Legal Practice, as well as a monograph on negotiation strategies in corporate crisis and restructuring.
Under Dr Frege’s leadership, CMS has developed a reputation for handling complex turnaround
mandates and formal administrations in Germany’s major financial centres – notably Frankfurt am Main, Berlin, Munich and Düsseldorf. He further handles cross-border insolvency mandates in the US, England and Australia; similarly, the firm is regularly appointed to administer insolvency estates, and in doing so it strives not merely to wind down companies but to preserve value, safeguard jobs and maximise returns for creditors.
What sets CMS apart is its ability to combine restructuring advice, crisis consultancy and insolvency administration in a seamless, integrated way. Its team works with both distressed companies and their stakeholders from an early stage, positioning itself not just as legal counsel but as a strategic partner in value preservation and recovery. Its insolvency administrators – including Dr Frege – are certified to high professional standards, operating in accordance with quality norms, such as ISO 9001:2015, as well as standards set by the Gravenbrucher Kreis professional body.
Accordingly, CMS’s restructuring and insolvency offering has been recognised by leading legal directories for its strength and influence. The team’s cross-border reach, capacity to handle distressed M&A and ability to manage stakeholder negotiations make it a go-to firm across Germany and beyond. In supporting clients through difficult transitions, the practice combines deep local expertise in German insolvency law with the scale and coordination of an international law firm – ensuring clients receive both legally rigorous advice and pragmatic commercial solutions.
Georgaki & Partners Law Firm
Christina Georgaki
Founder
& Managing
Partner
Tel: +30 210 3610111 +30 2310552777
c.georgaki@georgaki.com www.georgaki.com
Georgaki & Partners Law Firm is a leading Greek international law practice, highly regarded for its specialisation in FDI and investment migration. Under the direction of its Founder and Managing Partner, Christina Georgaki, the firm has established itself as a go-to adviser for international clients seeking to invest in Greece, obtain residence permits and navigate cross-border legal, tax and corporate issues. With offices in Athens, Thessaloniki and London, the firm offers a comprehensive, multilingual service – encompassing legal, tax, corporate, real estate, immigration and strategic investment advisory – tailored to highnet-worth investors, business owners, expatriates and international families.
Over the past 18 years, Georgaki & Partners has built a formidable track record. Under Christina’s stewardship, the firm has completed more than 11,000 FDIs and secured more than 5000 residence permits for clients across seven languages. Their work spans a broad set of sectors, including real estate, hospitality, agriculture, energy, infrastructure and pharma – demonstrating versatility and deep sectoral knowledge. The firm’s services cover the full life cycle of investment: from acquisition and due diligence to corporate structuring, regulatory and tax compliance, residency permit management (Golden Visa, Digital Nomad Visa, FIP permits), long-term tax planning, as well as ongoing post-investment support.
Christina brings particular strength and experience to this practice area. Since 2007, she has focused on international law and specialised in FDI and investment migration. Her credentials include a law degree from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and an MBA from the University of Macedonia. In addition, she is a certified mediator in both Greece and the UK, as well as being a Chartered International Arbitrator. Her commitment to continuous learning has led her to pursue a PhD focused on FDI at Warwick Business School; meanwhile, she serves as a Teaching Fellow at Alba Graduate Business School — The American College of Greece. This blend of academic grounding and practical experience underpins the firm’s globally-orientated, high-quality advisory work.
What distinguishes Georgaki & Partners from many other practices is the firm’s “turnkey” methodology and client-centred approach. Rather than offering narrow legal services in isolation, the firm combines legal, financial and strategic consulting into bespoke, integrated solutions. For clients –often high-net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs, multinational professionals or foreign families – this means they can rely on Georgaki & Partners to handle every step of their project: legal due diligence, property acquisition, company formation, tax structuring, banking compliance, immigration applications, post-investment monitoring and family-office structuring. The firm’s multilingual team and international reach enable it to coordinate complex, multi-jurisdictional transactions – an essential advantage for investors operating across borders.
Clients of Georgaki & Partners often face a number of serious challenges: regulatory uncertainty in foreign jurisdictions, shifting immigration laws, complex tax compliance, legal and administrative burdens associated with real estate acquisition, as well as the difficulty of making strategic decisions remotely. The firm’s strength lies in its ability to package and manage these diverse issues under one roof. By offering a fully delegated model – including property due diligence, residency-permit management, proxy-based execution and longterm compliance – the firm removes friction and mitigates risk for clients. Whether the investment route is real estate under a Golden Visa, a term deposit, a Digital Nomad Visa or a FIP permit, Georgaki & Partners guides investors through clearly defined procedures and timelines, helping ensure smooth, efficient and secure outcomes.
In recent years, technological change has only enhanced their business model. The widespread adoption of video conferencing, secure digital documentation and AI-enabled legal research has allowed Georgaki & Partners to provide remote-friendly services. These improvements have increased operational efficiency, reduced turnaround times and enabled the firm to maintain high responsiveness – critical in a world where many clients have demanding international lifestyles. As Christina herself has noted, these advances allow many clients to complete the full investment and residency process without ever setting foot in Greece.
Over the past 12 months, Georgaki & Partners has reinforced its strong market position with multiple high-value real estate transactions and Golden Visa approvals, using a variety of investment routes, including property, term deposits and tax-based relocation models. Their ability to support clients via fast-track residency, proxy-based execution and multi-jurisdictional strategies has only enhanced their reputation as a trusted partner for seamless entry into Greece. This success is particularly noteworthy given broader global economic uncertainty. Despite policy shifts, inflationary pressures and evolving investor priorities, the firm has maintained robust performance by expanding its services to include alternative pathways, offering clients a diversified set of options beyond the traditional Golden Visa route.
Looking ahead, Georgaki & Partners aims to expand further into new international markets and deepen their digital client-service infrastructure, while continuing to reinforce their multidisciplinary approach that blends legal, tax and investment consultancy. With changing investment patterns and evolving residency requirements, such as updated zoning thresholds for Golden Visa and growing demand for alternative residency routes, the firm is well positioned to adapt. It plans to broaden its reach among emerging categories of investors and continue offering tailored, high-end solutions, combining strategic foresight with legal excellence.
BELLANTE & LA LUMIA –LEGALASSOCIATI VERONA
Piero Bellante Lawyer, Patronage in Cassation
Tel: +39 45 8035957 bellante@legalassociati.com www.bellantelalumia.it
BELLANTE & LA LUMIA – STUDIO LEGALE was formed in 2000 from the experience of its two founders. The firm’s advisers listen to understand, as only in this way can they propose the solutions they deem most appropriate to achieve their core goal: to achieve the clients’ best interest.
In order to prevent conflicts as far as possible, they offer preventative advice in the areas of their competence. They will propose litigation only when it is inevitable, and they believe in mediation as a time-efficient and effective tool to achieve this goal.
In law, there are rarely watertight compartments. Sometimes for the solution of complex problems, it is necessary to build a team composed of several experts. BELLANTE & LA LUMIA does its part and, where necessary, will involve trusted external professionals and consultants who deal with matters other than those of the firm’s strict competence.
Moreover, the firm is a partner and founder of LegalAssociati, a prestigious network formed in 2001 and present in the main Italian cities. For BELLANTE & LA LUMIA, customs law is a specialist area of expertise – due to the fact it is a vast and complex discipline that every operator who intends to seriously enter the international scene must deal with effectively. The consequences of incorrect customs planning can lead to significant problems. BELLANTE & LA LUMIA’s strengths include export control, origin of goods, determination of customs value, correct labelling and product safety.
Piero Bellante was admitted to represent clients before the Italian Supreme Court and other higher courts. He has studied customs law since 1980, and has acquired considerable experience in conducting civil, administrative and criminal litigation in the areas of customs, export controls and sanctions, as well as product compliance. In this field, he collaborates as a contract lecturer with the Departments of Legal Sciences & Business Economics of the University of Verona. He speaks at seminars and conferences on customs topics or those organised by professional and entrepreneurial associations; he collaborates with sector journals and is the author of publications on this subject. He is a member of the Disciplinary Board for the Veneto & the Trentino Alto Adige Regions at the Regional Council of Customs Brokers of the Veneto Region. He is Chairman of the Chamber of Tax Lawyers of Verona, which is a member of the National Union of Tax Lawyers’ Chambers (UNCAT), and he acts as coordinator of the Tax Commission of the Verona Bar Association (2022–2026).
Last, but not least, he is a member of the Veneto Branch of ANTI, as well as UIA – and of Turin’s research centre for criminal tax law. For G Giappichelli Editore, he has published a complete and up-to-date handbook on EU Customs Law.
The firm is a partner and founder of LegalAssociati, a prestigious network formed in 2001 and present in the main Italian cities.
WH Partners
Massimo Baldi Pergami Belluzzi Partner
Tel: +39 328 0040065 massimo.baldi@whpartners.eu www.whpartners.eu
WH Partners is an international law firm distinguished by its commitment to delivering sophisticated, business-orientated legal advice through an integrated, cross-border model. The firm operates across multiple jurisdictions, including Malta, the UAE, Poland, Romania and the Czech-Slovak region. At the core of its European footprint lies the Rome office, which serves as a central hub for WH Partners’ continental operations. From this base, the Italian team combines deep domestic insight with international reach, advising corporate clients, financial institutions and high-net-worth individuals navigating complex and highly regulated legal frameworks.
In Italy, WH Partners stands out for blending the strength of the country’s legal tradition with a modern, agile and innovative approach. Its Rome office, located on Via Tirso, benefits from proximity to Italy’s primary business, legal and regulatory institutions. From here, the firm supports both domestic and international clients on matters that often cross legal borders, providing strategic guidance that connects local expertise with global awareness.
Unlike firms that divide their practice areas into rigid silos, WH Partners Italy delivers a unified service experience across disciplines. Its lawyers work collaboratively across such areas as corporate and commercial law, M&A, banking and finance, capital markets, as well as employment law. The team further advises on specialised issues, including anti-money laundering compliance, data protection, cybersecurity – and particularly criminal tax and white-collar crime.
Over recent years, WH Partners Italy has undergone substantial expansion, driven by the arrival of talented professionals and strategic lateral hires. Among the most significant of these is Massimo Baldi Pergami Belluzzi, whose appointment as Partner has elevated the firm’s white-collar crime and criminal tax practice to new prominence. His addition strengthened the litigation and criminal defence capabilities of the Rome office, positioning WH Partners among Italy’s foremost firms for complex corporate crime and financial misconduct cases.
With more than two decades’ professional experience, Massimo is recognised as one of Italy’s leading practitioners in criminal tax and white-collar crime. He has been honoured with the Lawyer of Excellence Award (2021) and the Rome Bar Association Award (2024). Before joining WH Partners, he led his own boutique litigation practice and acted as external general counsel for several major industrial groups. These roles provided him with a comprehensive understanding of both Italian criminal procedure and the operational realities of large corporations. A lawyer qualified to appear before the Supreme Court, Massimo brings extensive litigation experience to cases involving tax audits, fraud investigations, bribery, embezzlement, cybercrime and international corruption.
Clients turn to him and his team for strategic assistance at every stage of proceedings – from initial investigations through trial and appeal. Their services include risk assessments, compliance reviews, negotiations with authorities, internal inquiries and full defence representation in criminal courts. Within the field of corporate criminal liability, the team also designs and reviews compliance frameworks under Legislative Decree 231/2001, helping organisations mitigate risk and reinforce accountability in highly regulated industries.
A defining feature of WH Partners Italy is its ability to respond swiftly and effectively in crisis situations. The firm acts decisively in cases involving dawn raids, regulatory inspections, whistleblower claims and reputational threats, providing stability and guidance during periods of uncertainty.
Although litigation and defence are central pillars of the practice, the firm’s work extends well beyond courtroom advocacy. Much of its engagement focuses on preventative and strategic measures – conducting due diligence during corporate transactions, assessing governance structures, evaluating cross-border tax exposure and developing crisis management protocols. As Massimo notes, hard work is fundamental, but truly forward-thinking clients need lawyers who are dynamic, responsive and ready to face the challenges of today, tomorrow and beyond.
Massimo’s contributions extend to the broader legal community. He plays an active role in the Rome Bar Association’s Tax Commission and the Italian Bar Association, and is engaged in professional education initiatives where he mentors younger lawyers and contributes to the development of best practices.
Meanwhile, the firm’s international structure enhances its capacity to manage matters that span multiple jurisdictions. Many issues in tax and white-collar crime are inherently cross-border, requiring coordinated responses. Through collaboration with its offices abroad and its global network of partner firms, WH Partners Italy ensures seamless cooperation across countries, delivering consistent, compliant and strategic outcomes for clients. Its lawyers are adept at navigating both EU and domestic regulations, and can engage efficiently with foreign authorities when cases extend beyond Italy’s borders.
Looking ahead, WH Partners Italy is well positioned for continued growth. Its white-collar and criminal tax practice is expected to expand further as regulatory scrutiny and tax enforcement intensify. The firm also anticipates deeper engagement in such sectors as financial services, real estate, digital technology and environmental compliance – areas that increasingly demand sophisticated advice at the intersection of business, regulation and criminal law.
SCA Sioufas & Colaboratorii
Andreea Calciu Coordinating Attorney –Consultancy
Tel: +40 372 171 769 andreea.calciu@sioufaslaw.ro www.sioufaslaw.ro
www.youarecapital.com
Sioufas & Associates Law Firm, operating on the Romanian market under the name Sioufas & Colaboratorii, is a distinguished legal practice with deep roots in Greece and a strong presence in Bucharest. Established in 1999 in Athens, the firm has since extended its footprint to Thessaloniki, Patra, and – more recently – Romania, where its Bucharest office opened in 2014.
The firm’s philosophy is centred on truly understanding its clients’ businesses – whether they are multinational corporations, fast-growing SMEs, financial institutions or non-financial corporates – and aligning legal advice with their strategic goals. Its clients in Romania span a wide range of sectors, including telecoms, agriculture, cosmetics, operational leasing, FMCG and banking.
At its core, Sioufas & Colaboratorii combines seasoned legal expertise with a collaborative, client-orientated approach. The firm does not treat legal issues in isolation; instead, it seeks to provide integrated, high-quality services tailored to each client’s needs. Its service offering is broad and sophisticated, encompassing banking and finance, corporate and commercial law, restructuring and insolvency, real estate and construction, dispute resolution, IP, procurement and public contracts, energy and environmental law, employment and social security, data protection, as well as administrative law.
Sioufas & Colaboratorii has earned strong recognition in the legal market. Its Greek head office holds ISO certifications, affirming its commitment to quality, environmental management and integrity.
The firm is also consistently acknowledged in international directories: for instance, in the Legal 500 EMEA 2023 rankings, Sioufas was recommended in such areas as dispute resolution, banking and finance, IP and real estate.
One of the standout figures in the Romanian office is Andreea Calciu, who serves as the Coordinating Attorney for Consultancy. In addition, she heads the B2B department, where she leverages more than two decades’ experience in advising on corporate law, M&A, banking and finance, regulatory compliance, real estate, IP and data protection. Her reputation as an expert has been celebrated by her peers and through her involvement with prominent legal networks. Under her leadership, the firm’s M&A practice in Romania has flourished. Clients benefit from her nuanced understanding of both domestic and cross-border dealmaking, her grasp of regulatory challenges and her capacity to structure transactions efficiently. As an award-winning M&A adviser, Andreea’s role underscores Sioufas & Associates’ strategic ambition: to be not just a trusted legal practitioner, but a partner in business growth and transformation.
The firm’s values are deeply embedded in its day-to-day operations. It places a premium on professionalism, respect for clients, efficiency, integrity and consistency. These are not just words on a page: they guide how teams work, how advice is given and how relationships are built. The Romanian office participates fully in these values, offering clients practical, business-orientated legal solutions that align with both their immediate needs and long-term objectives.
Founded by seasoned professionals with a shared entrepreneurial mindset, You are Capital has built a strong reputation for advising on small and mid-market transactions while supporting visionary leaders seeking to grow, transform or exit their businesses in an ethical, sustainable and people-driven way.
Headquartered in Madrid, with offices in Barcelona, Paris, Milan, Amsterdam, Düsseldorf and Istanbul, You are Capital operates at the heart of Europe’s most dynamic mid-market corridors. The firm is further strengthened by a global network of more than 20 partners, each bringing over three decades’ experience across multiple jurisdictions and industries. At the helm is Jean-François Alandry, CEO and Managing Partner, whose career spans more than 35 years in M&A and corporate finance. As co-founder of You are Capital, and previously Eurohold, he has advised on hundreds of transactions involving industrial groups, private equity firms and entrepreneurs. His sector experience is broad, covering technology, healthcare, environmental services and B2B services, and is underpinned by a strong academic background that includes an MBA in Finance from EM Lyon Business School and a PhD in Financial Technique from ESSEC Business School in Paris.
Today, You are Capital’s core services include M&A, private equity advisory, fundraising and debt raising. The firm is particularly active in midcap transactions, where strategic nuance, cultural understanding and senior judgement are critical to achieving optimal outcomes. Clients benefit
from a comprehensive, end-to-end advisory approach that allows them to pursue corporate transactions without being drawn into the operational front line, enabling management teams and shareholders to remain focused on running their businesses. Regardless of transaction size, each mandate is led by experienced professionals with more than 20 years’ deal-making experience. In essence, the firm’s partners are sector specialists who think creatively and challenge conventional approaches to uncover opportunities that are often overlooked by larger, more standardised advisory platforms. As an independent firm, You are Capital ensures that its interests are fully aligned with those of its clients, with success measured by long-term value rather than short-term volume.
The firm’s client base is truly diverse and international, encompassing multinational corporations, entrepreneurs, private equity and venture capital funds, institutional investors, family offices and high-networth individuals. Meanwhile, recent technological advances – including AI-driven analytics, video conferencing and FinTech solutions – have further enhanced the firm’s ability to identify the most appropriate international partners and execute transactions efficiently. Accordingly, over the past 12 months, it has reinforced its market position through a series of high-profile cross-border transactions in Spain, including the sale of Quantion to Astek, the sale of Corus Consulting to Alten, as well as the acquisition of Between by Montefiore Investments.
Looking ahead, You are Capital aims to further consolidate its leadership in Southern Europe while expanding its presence in France, Italy and Portugal.
José Antonio Choclán Montalvo Managing Partner
Tel: +34 91 781 41 50 info@bufetechoclan.com www.bufetechoclan.com
Awarded Criminal Law Firm of the Year in Spain for 2026, BUFETE CHOCLÁN is recognised for its sustained excellence in handling highly complex and high-stakes criminal matters, particularly in economic and corporate criminal law.
The firm has earned a reputation for operating at the highest level of technical and strategic sophistication, advising and representing individuals, senior executives and corporate entities in proceedings of exceptional legal, institutional and strategic complexity.
Founded in 2004 by its Managing Partner – Dr José Antonio Choclán Montalvo, a former career magistrate appointed by competitive examination, who served exclusively in criminal courts, including as a magistrate of the Criminal Division of the Spanish National High Court, and holds a PhD in Law – BUFETE CHOCLÁN has, for more than 20 years, combined deep procedural expertise with a refined understanding of judicial reasoning and decision-making at the highest level.
The firm’s practice is defined by rigorous legal analysis, strategic precision and absolute discretion. BUFETE CHOCLÁN is regularly entrusted with matters within the jurisdiction of the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office and specialised economic crime units, as well as proceedings with significant institutional impact and cross-border dimensions.
• Criminal Defence: Comprehensive representation at all procedural stages and before all courts, including Supreme Court appeals and constitutional proceedings.
• Corporate Defence & Compliance: Criminal defence of companies and senior management, including criminal risk assessment, complex financial analysis and preventative compliance frameworks.
• Tax Criminal Law: Excellence in handling highly complex tax crime matters involving both individuals and corporate entities, from preventative advisory work to representation in criminal and administrative proceedings.
• International Criminal Procedure: Extradition proceedings, European Arrest Warrants (EAWs) and cross-border transfers of criminal proceedings.
• Reports & Legal Opinions: Authoritative reports and opinions in matters of particular complexity and institutional relevance. Recognised as the leading criminal law firm in Spain, BUFETE CHOCLÁN continues to set the benchmark for expertise, strategic insight and results at the very highest level – reflecting more than two decades of sustained excellence and leadership in the field.
BUFETE CHOCLÁN is regularly entrusted with matters within the jurisdiction of the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office and specialised economic crime units, as well as proceedings with significant institutional impact and cross-border dimensions.
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP
Stephen Jagusch KC Partner, Chair
Tel: +44 (0)20 7653 2050 stephenjagusch@quinnemanuel. com www.quinnemanuel.com
Stephen Jagusch KC is a Partner and the Global Chair of Quinn Emanuel’s International Arbitration Practice. He specialises in international commercial and investment treaty arbitration, having acted as adviser and advocate in dozens of ad hoc and institutional international arbitrations, conducted in many countries around the world, and subject to a wide variety of governing substantive and procedural laws. A great many of Stephen’s cases have been for or against sovereign states or substantial multinational organisations; meanwhile, he has been lead counsel in many of the world’s leading investment treaty cases.
He is recognised as a leading expert in the field of international arbitration and disputes arising under contracts and bilateral or multilateral investment treaties, and is highly ranked by international and domestic legal publications. Leading directories recognise Stephen as a leader in his field and have described him as “one of the most impressive advocates around”, “a masterful cross-examiner”, a “tenacious fighter”, the “maestro of strategy”, “one of the gurus in the field” and “one of the pre-eminent ICSID arbitration experts in the world”, praising his “finely honed instincts for strategy in advocacy”.
He speaks at leading conferences and seminars, and is widely published on the subject of international arbitration, having won the inaugural (and subsequent) Client Choice Award for Best Arbitration Lawyer in the UK. Chambers and Partners and Super Lawyers both rate Stephen as one of the leading lawyers in the UK across all fields of practice. More recently, he was awarded “Best Lawyer in the UK for International Arbitration” by Best Lawyers. Prior to joining the firm, he was Chair of the Global International Arbitration Practice of Allen & Overy LLP.
In addition, Stephen regularly sits as an arbitrator; has fulfilled the role of Chair, Sole or Co-Arbitrator in dozens of cases around the world in both commercial and investor-state arbitrations; and is a member of the BCDR Board of Trustees (BoT).
Quinn Emanuel has one of the pre-eminent arbitration practices globally, befitting of its position as the largest business disputes firm in the world. The Wall Street Journal describes the firm as a “global force in business litigation”. Its international arbitration practice encompasses: international commercial arbitration, US and other domestic arbitration, investment treaty arbitration, as well as international arbitrations between sovereign states.
Today, the firm has international arbitration experts in all of its offices, offering specialism in both common law and civil law traditions, combined with expertise in all of the major languages in which international arbitration is commonly conducted. It operates as a single, integrated team – representing some of the world’s largest companies and state-owned entities, as well as high-net-worth individuals – practising in all of the world’s major arbitration centres and under all major applicable legal systems, including public international law. The lawyers have decades of experience in handling disputes, both as counsel and arbitrators under major international arbitration rules, including: the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC); London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA); American Arbitration
Association (AAA); International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR); International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID); UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL); Swiss Chambers of Commerce Rules of International Arbitration (Swiss Chambers); Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC); Hong Kong Centre for International Arbitration (HKIAC); China International Economic & Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC); Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB); Arbitral Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (SCC); Moscow Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI); Russian Federation Chamber of Commerce Rules of the International Commercial Arbitration Court (ICAC); Vienna International Arbitral Centre (VIAC); Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC); GCC Commercial Arbitration Centre (GCCCAC); Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA); as well as the Mauritius International Arbitration Centre (MIAC).
The practice arbitrates and tries more cases per year than any other firm. This gives it an outcome-driven perspective, which creates cost-efficiencies without sacrificing quality. Its “end game” perspective extends to related court proceedings, allowing it to best position clients in the myriad forms of litigation – from compelling arbitration, to discovery requests, to challenging and enforcing arbitral awards – that often accompanies complex international arbitration proceedings. The professionals understand that the best outcome for a given client may not always be an award after a full hearing – and they take seriously the responsibility to devise and fashion creative mechanisms to settle international arbitration disputes in a manner that will best achieve clients’ objectives.
Moreover, Quinn Emanuel and the individual partners who lead the global international arbitration groups are consistently recognised as leading experts in the field of international arbitration, and have been ranked as such by the major legal publications. Its lawyers not only possess broad experience as advocates, but some also have substantial experience as chairs or members of arbitration panels.
As advocates, many of the arbitration lawyers have decades of experience in arbitrating complex cases involving virtually every type of business endeavour.
As arbitrators, the lawyers regularly serve on panels in major arbitration proceedings that concern business disputes of all kinds. This gives them invaluable perspective on how to present all aspects of cases most effectively to arbitration panels.
As arbitration scholars, they work hard to stay abreast of – and contribute to – important developments in the study and practice of arbitration. To the same end, they regularly sponsor and present arbitration seminars for clients and arbitration practitioners.
The team includes three King’s Counsel: Duncan Watson KC, Stephen Jagusch KC, as well as Michael Young KC.
Quinn Emanuel has one of the pre-eminent arbitration practices globally, befitting of its position as the largest business disputes firm in the world.
Peter Sprecher Founder & Chairman, Platinum Capital Management Ltd, Platinum Trading Management Ltd; Managing Member, Platinum Capital Management (USA) LLC
Thea Sprecher
Managing Director & Member of the Investment Committee, Platinum Capital Management Ltd; Managing Director, Platinum Capital Management (USA) LLC
Platinum Capital Management Tel: +44 (0)20 7024 9840 info@platinumfunds.com www.platinumfunds.com
Platinum Capital Management, specialising in alternative and long-term equity strategies, is a London-based investment firm that has grown organically from a family office into a manager of single-strategy funds and funds-of-funds for investors around the world.
The firm’s footprint is deliberately international: its headquarters in Mayfair anchor a network that includes affiliate offices in the Isle of Man and LA, reflecting both a European centre of operations and a reach into North American markets. Authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority, it is an active member of prominent industry bodies, such as AIMA, GARP and HFA. Similarly, a number of Platinum funds are registered with the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, and certain strategies are components of recognised hedge fund indices, such as the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Hedge Fund Index. This geographic configuration supports Platinum’s dual aim of delivering locally compliant products while offering global access to investment opportunities.
What defines Platinum is a consistency of purpose rather than a desire to be everything to everyone. The firm concentrates on a compact set of investment propositions – strategies that include global growth equities, dividend-orientated portfolios, essential natural resources exposure and diversified alternative allocations, each designed with a clear mandate and distinct risk controls. These offerings are positioned to meet differing investor needs: the Global Growth product focuses on quality companies with sustainable earnings momentum and attractive valuations; Global Dividend looks to combine income with capital appreciation; Essential Resources targets long-run secular demand in energy and materials; whereas the Rising Stars and All Star vehicles aggregate speciality managers and strategies to pursue absolute, low-volatility returns. Across these products, the emphasis is on fundamental research, active management and disciplined capital preservation, with UCITS and other jurisdictional wrappers available where relevant.
Behind the funds, Peter Sprecher – the firm’s Founder and Chairman – brings decades of investing experience and an entrepreneurial pedigree rooted in family office stewardship. Peter founded Platinum in 1999 out of the Sprecher family office, where he has headed the family’s stock, bond, venture capital, international real estate and alternative investment activities since 1970. Platinum’s organic growth has been the result of Peter’s fundamental long-term investment values and unique investment experience. With more than 40 years as a professional investor, financier and entrepreneur, he has been involved in a diversified range of industries, including consumer durable goods, manufacturing, rental and retail, real estate development, as well as the licensing of food production technology. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Madison with a BS in Political Science, before attending the University of Southern California’s Graduate School of Business MBA programme. Peter currently serves as a trustee or director of several
organisations, including as a Member of the Board of Directors of the University of California LA Health System, which is consistently ranked one of the top five hospitals in the US.
Elsewhere, the investment team includes academically credentialled specialists and practitioners with long industry track records. The roster of senior professionals highlights a governance structure that mixes investment oversight with operational rigour: a Chief Investment Officer with an academic and portfolio background, a Head of Equity Research now running global equities, as well as a Chief Operating Officer with extensive alternative investment operations experience. This notable architecture supports Platinum’s mission to marry deep fundamental analysis with robust operational controls.
At the centre of client-facing leadership is Thea Sprecher, who serves as Managing Director and as a member of the firm’s investment committee. Her path into Platinum combined strategic marketing and communications across entertainment and luxury sectors with entrepreneurial initiatives in marketing and the arts, bringing to the investment world a client-centric sensibility and a reputation for disciplined stewardship.
In addition – in October 2025 – the firm appointed Guna Mahalingam as Chair of its Global Advisory Board. Guna is the Founder & CEO of Strategic Swiss Partners AG and Honorary Consul for the Consulate of Malaysia in Zurich, Switzerland. With more than 30 years’ entrepreneurial experience in the investment and financial services sector, he has built a distinguished career spanning Europe, the Middle East and Asia. His global perspective and extensive network of trusted industry leaders is set to further strengthen Platinum’s international growth strategy. He noted: “I am honoured to join Platinum Capital Management as Chair of the Global Advisory Board. What excites me most is the strength of Platinum’s flagship product, the Platinum All Star Fund. By giving investors access to an elite group of alternative investment managers – many of whom have delivered consistent success for over 20 years and collectively manage more than $750 billion – Platinum offers a rare opportunity that is normally closed to new investors. The Fund’s global diversification, disciplined risk management and exclusive access make it a truly distinctive solution for clients worldwide.”
Today, the firm’s product suite demonstrates a strong commitment to combine concentrated, quality-led equity approaches with diversified alternative strategies, while its governance and compliance staples – FCA authorisation, industry memberships and published policies – support a message of controlled, regulated growth. Prospective clients seeking an investment firm that leans into both fundamental stock selection and multi-manager alternative construction will find in Platinum a coherent proposition shaped by decades of professional investing, alongside a management team that foregrounds client stewardship and operational discipline.
AFortiori Legal Counselors
Av Dr Brikena Kasmi Corporate Lawyer
Tel: +355 68 201 0106 bkasmi@afortiori.al www.afortiori.al
M&A Law Firm of the Year in Andorra
Emindset Law Firm
Oriol Giró CEO & Founder
Tel: +376 728882 | +376 678882 (WhatsApp) oriolgiro@emindsetlaw.com contact@emindsetlaw.com www.emindsetlaw.com
Koutny & Klemm Rechtsanwalts-GmbH & CO KG
Christian Klemm Partner
Tel: +43 1 513 06 06–13
christian.klemm@klemmrae.at www.klemmrae.at
Gheneff-Rami-Sommer-Sauerschnig Rechtsanwälte GmbH und Co KG
Mag Nikolaus Sauerschnig, LLM Partner
Tel: +43 1 50 124
n.sauerschnig@law-in-austria.at www.law-in-austria.at/de/nikolaus-sauerschnig
SAXINGER Rechtsanwalts GmbH, Austria
Dr Michael M Pachinger, CIPP/E
Abogado & Partner, Avocat inscrit (Paris), Abogado inscrito (Valencia)
Tel: +43 664 3407334
m.pachinger@saxinger.com at.schindhelm.com
META LEGAL – Raffling Tenschert Lassl & Partner
Philip Raffling Founding & Managing Partner
Tel: +43 1 99 727 49 philip.raffling@meta-legal.at www.meta-legal.at
Inheritance Law Firm of the Year in Austria
Fürst Skalitzky Rechtsanwälte GmbH
Mag Patrick Skalitzky Partner
Tel: +43 1 2264427 office@pdorf.legal www.pdorf.legal
Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year in Austria
BINDER GRÖSSWANG Rechtsanwälte GmbH
Mag Dr Ivo Rungg Partner
Tel: +43 1 534 80–510 rungg@bindergroesswang.at www.bindergroesswang.at/en/lawyers/ ivo-rungg
Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year in Austria
schmid-ip
Dr Katharina Schmid Owner | Attorney-at-Law
Tel: +43 (0)1 535 57 44 10 trademarks@schmid-ip.at www.schmid-ip.at
M&A Tax Adviser of the Year in Austria
Grant Thornton Austria
Raphael Holzinger Partner | Head of Tax
Tel: +43 699 17261593 raphael.holzinger@at.gt.com www.grantthornton.at
Schmelz Rechtsanwälte
Dorian Schmelz Partner
Tel: +43 1 946 11 60 office@rechtampunkt.at www.rechtampunkt.at
Aviation Law Firm of the Year in Belgium
Erkelens Law
Catherine Erkelens Founder
Tel: +32 2 274 50 50 catherine.erkelens@erkelenslaw.com www.erkelenslaw.com
Compensation Law Expert of the Year in Belgium
KONSILIO
Gert Buelens Partner
Tel: +32 15 55 68 90 bureau@konsilio.be www.konsilio.be
Employment Tax Advisory Firm of the Year in Belgium
Moore Belgium
Luc Lamy Partner | Tax & Legal Services | Global Mobility
Tel: +32 493 65 03 33 luc.lamy@moore.be www.moore.be
Business Law Firm of the Year in Bulgaria
Vladimirov, Kirilova, Bonchovski & Co Law Office
Veselina Kirilova Managing Partner
Tel: +3598 8877 6662 kirilova@vladimirovlaw.com www.vladimirovlaw.com ladimirov Law Office V Attorneys & Counselors
Pavlov & Co
Vasil Pavlov Managing Partner
Tel: +359 2 980 0727 vpavlov@pavlov-law.com www.pavlov-law.com
PAPASAVVAS & LISKAVIDOU LLC
Charalambos Papasavvas Managing Partner
Tel: +357 96742400
c.papasavvas@lplawyersfirm.com www.lplawyersfirm.com
K. Alexandrou Theodotou LLC
Dr Katherine Alexander-Theodotou Principal
Tel: +357 22 670 607 alexandroulawoffices@cytauk.net
Law Chambers Nicos Papacleovoulou LLC
Evi Papacleovoulou Partner
Tel: +357 26 933218
evi@papacleovoulou.com www.papacleovoulou.com
Law Chambers Nicos Papacleovoulou LLC
Evi Papacleovoulou Partner
Tel: +357 26 933218
evi@papacleovoulou.com www.papacleovoulou.com
The Hybrid LawTech Firm empowered by Christiana Aristidou LLC
Christiana Aristidou Founder & Managing Partner
Tel: +357 99453019 christiana@christianaaristidou.com www.hybridlawtech.com
Law Chambers Nicos Papacleovoulou LLC
Evi Papacleovoulou Partner
Tel: +357 26 933218
evi@papacleovoulou.com www.papacleovoulou.com
Charalambos Papasavvas Managing Partner
Tel: +357 96742400 c.papasavvas@ lplawyersfirm.com
PAPASAVVAS & LISKAVIDOU LLC www.lplawyersfirm.com
Kristina Liskavidou Managing Partner (Russian Speaker)
Tel: +357 99007610 k.liskavidou@ lplawyersfirm.com
E.G. Arghyrakis & Co.
George Arghyrakis Partner
Tel: +44 (0)207 353 2302 ega@egalegal.com www.egalegal.com
Ash Norton Solicitors
Mrs Priti Patel Director/Solicitor
Tel: +44 (0)207 629 3633 +44 (0)797 353 3983 (mob) priti@ashnorton-solicitors.com www.ashnorton-solicitors.com
Moorfields Advisory Limited
Andy Pear Partner
Tel: +44 (0)207 186 1144 andy.pear@moorfieldscr.com www.moorfieldscr.com
36 Crime
Mary Prior KC Head of 36 Crime
Tel: +44 (0)20 7421 8007
mprior@36crime.co.uk www.36crime.co.uk
BELGRAVIA LAW
Benjamin Wells Partner
Tel: +44 (0)207 870 8427 benjamin@belgravia.law www.belgravia.law
Spire Leicester Hospital
Javed Uddin
Ear, Nose & Throat Consultant; BSc (Hons), MB ChB (Hons), FRCS (Eng), FRCS (ORL-HNS)
Tel: +44 (0)116 272 9037 tracy.entsecretary@gmail.com www.leicesterentsurgeon.co.uk
CARLTON ELLEKER CHASE
Joel Barry Director & Solicitor Advocate
Tel: +44 (0)203 105 1755 joel@ceclegal.co.uk www.ceclegal.co.uk
Devonshires Claims
Karen Cathcart Partner
Tel: +44 (0)20 3818 7014
karen.cathcart@devonshiresclaims.co.uk www.devonshiresclaims.co.uk
Sackers
Michaela Berry Partner
Tel: +44 (0)20 7615 9546
michaela.berry@sackers.com www.sackers.com
LexAuctor Ltd
Pekka Kähkönen Managing Partner, LLM
Tel: +3584 0770 1559
pekka.kahkonen@lexauctor.com www.lexauctor.com
Milestone Avocats
Fanny Gauthier Partner
Tel: +33 (0)1 44 07 19 03
f.gauthier@milestone-avocats.com www.milestone-avocats.com
FHBX
Law Firm of the Year in France
Hélène Bourbouloux Administrateur Judiciaire
Tel: +33 (0)1 40 97 05 41
helene.bourbouloux@fhbx.eu www.fhbx.eu
Ascott Associés
Jean-Luc Bouton Partner
Tel: +33 (0)1 44 20 40 00 jl.bouton@ascott-associes.com www.ascott-associes.com
DEGRET
Manuel Degret Partner
Tel: +33 (0)1 47 63 81 57 contact@degret.com www.degret.com
KKP LEGAL Partnerschaft mbB
Jakob B Krupski Managing Partner │ Attorney (DE) (PL)
Tel: +49 (0)30 31 9929 16 info@kkp-legal.de www.kkp-legal.de
MARTIUS Rechtsanwälte
Prof Dr Daniel Graewe Partner
Tel: +49 40 238 383 333 daniel.graewe@martius-partner.com www.martius-partner.com
RETTENMAIER Frankfurt
Felix Rettenmaier Partner
Tel: +49 69 87403001–0 rettenmaier@rettenmaier-frankfurt.de www.rettenmaier-frankfurt.de
KINAST Attorneys at Law (Germany)
Dr Karsten Kinast, LLM Managing Shareholder
Tel: +49 221 222 183 0 clients@kinast.eu www.kinast.eu
Carsten Koch, Dipl-Ing, ICID (MSc) Patentanwalt (German Patent Attorney), European Trademark Attorney, European Design Attorney
Tel: +49 89 4521492–0 carsten.koch@farago.law www.farago.law
KKP LEGAL Partnerschaft mbB
Jakob B Krupski Managing Partner │ Attorney (DE) (PL)
Tel: +49 (0)30 31 9929 16 info@kkp-legal.de www.kkp-legal.de
re|Rechtsanwälte PartGmbB
Dirk Buchsteiner Rechtsanwalt/Partner
Tel: +49 30 403 643 62 0 buchsteiner@re-rechtsanwaelte.de www.re-rechtsanwaelte.de
JACOB LAW
Sylvia A Jacob Managing Partner Barrister & Solicitor, Notary Ontario | Solicitor England & Wales | Rechtsanwalt Deutschland
Tel: +49 89 33 04 07 07 saj@jacoblaw.com www.jacoblaw.com
SERS RA GmbH – SERS Immigration Law Firm Germany
Surin Ersöz
Founder & CEO of SERS, Immigration Lawyer for Germany & Spain, LLB European Law
Tel: +49 (0)30 28858295 info@sers-ra-gmbh.de www.visa-lawyer-germany.com
Taylor Wessing PartG mbB
Dr Gunbritt Kammerer-Galahn Head of Insurance & Local Manager Düsseldorf
Tel: +49 211 8387 106
g.kammerer-galahn@taylorwessing.com www.taylorwessing.com
SAMSON & PARTNER Patentanwälte mbB
Dr Marcus Otten Partner
Tel: +49 (0)89 29 19 820 otten@samson-partner.de www.samson-partner.de
SAMSON & PARTNER Patentanwälte mbB
Dr Tobias Stammberger Partner
Tel: +49 (0)89 29 19 820 stammberger@samson-partner.de www.samson-partner.de
Mediationskanzlei Plassmann
Michael Plassmann Lawyer | Certified Mediator | Business Mediator | Banker
Tel: +49 (0)30 88 62 97 90 mail@mediationskanzlei-plassmann.de www.mediationskanzlei-plassmann.de
Maucher Jenkins
Philipp Nordmeyer Partner
Tel: +49 89 340 77 26–0 philipp.nordmeyer@maucherjenkins.com www.maucherjenkins.com
Litigation Law Expert of the Year in Germany
Wallinger Ricker Schlotter Tostmann
Michael Wallinger Founding Partner
Tel: +49 89 210232–0 mwallinger@wallinger.com www.wallinger.com
CMS Hasche Sigle
Dr Michael C Frege Partner
Law Firm of the Year in Germany
Tel: +49 69 71701 300 Fax: +49 69 71701 367 michael.frege@cms-hs.com www.cms-hs.com
Sports Law Expert of the Year in Germany
WINDORFER RODE
Patrick Rode Partner
Tel: +49 211 8825 0270 patrick.rode@win-legal.com www.win-legal.com
SAMSON & PARTNER Patentanwälte mbB
Dr Oswald Niederkofler Partner
Tel: +49 (0)89 29 19 820 niederkofler@samson-partner.de www.samson-partner.de
WTS
Melanie Appuhn-Schneider Partner
Tel: +49 (0)162 1389 816 melanie.appuhn-schneider@wts.de www.wts.com/de-de
CPS Schließmann Wirtschaftsanwälte –TheYachtAttorney
Prof Dr Christoph Ph Schließmann Founder & Owner
Tel: +49–69 / 663 779 0 mail@der-yacht-anwalt.de www.der-yacht-anwalt.de
Capital Trustees Limited
David Frier Director
Tel: +350 200 62252 david@capitaltrustees.gi www.capitaltrustees.gi
Piranha Designs Gibraltar
Julian Byrne Managing Director
Tel: +350 200 45599 julian@pdg.gi www.piranhadesigns.com
DR. HELEN G. PAPACONSTANTINOU AND PARTNERS (“HP&P”)
Stavroula Politi Senior Associate
Tel: +30 210 3626624 s_politi@hplaw.biz www.hplawfirm.com
PAPAIOANNOU – PAPACHARALAMPOUS – POLYCHRONIS AND ASSOCIATES LAW FIRM (P&C LAW FIRM)
Diomidis Papacharalampous Partner
Tel: +30 210 3647772 | +30 697 2700855 diomidis.papacharalampous@pclawfirm.gr www.pclawfirm.gr
Papachatzis I Bairaktaris Law Firm
Sokratis Papachatzis Managing Partner
Tel: +30 21 0361 6054 info@pblegal.gr www.pblegal.gr
Papapolitis & Papapolitis
Amalia Balla Partner, Head of Real Estate
Tel: +30 210 3615544 aballa@papapolitis.com www.papapolitis.com
S. Sotiriadis – K. Lidorikis & Associates Law Firm
Serafim Sotiriadis Managing Director
Tel: +30 210 3388822 sotiriadis.s@ssotiriadis.com www.ssotiriadis.com/en
KOUTALIDIS | LAW FIRM
Eleni Svoronou Senior Associate
Tel: +30 2103607811 esvoronou@koutalidis.gr www.koutalidis.gr
KOUTALIDIS | LAW FIRM
Evangelos N Courakis Partner, Head of Energy, Sustainability & Infrastructure
Tel: +30 2103607811
encourakis@koutalidis.gr www.koutalidis.gr
CONSTANDINIDOU – STAVROPOULOS – STAVROPOULOU
Haroula Constandinidou Senior Partner
Tel: +30 210 3636567 info@cslawfirm.gr www.cslawfirm.gr
DR. HELEN G. PAPACONSTANTINOU AND PARTNERS (“HP&P”)
Eva Yazitzoglou, Managing Partner
Maria-Miranda Theodoridou, Deputy Managing Partner
Maria Athanassiadou, Senior Partner
Tel: +30 210 3626624 mail@hplaw.biz www.hplawfirm.com
DR. HELEN G. PAPACONSTANTINOU AND PARTNERS (“HP&P”)
Eva Yazitzoglou, Managing Partner
Maria-Miranda Theodoridou, Deputy Managing Partner
Maria Athanassiadou, Senior Partner
Tel: +30 210 3626624 mail@hplaw.biz www.hplawfirm.com
DR. HELEN G. PAPACONSTANTINOU AND PARTNERS (“HP&P”)
Maria Athanassiadou Senior Partner
Tel: +30 210 3626624 m_athanasiadou@hplaw.biz www.hplawfirm.com
DR. HELEN G. PAPACONSTANTINOU AND PARTNERS (“HP&P”)
Maria-Miranda Theodoridou Deputy Managing Partner
Tel: +30 210 3626624 m_theodoridou@hplaw.biz www.hplawfirm.com
Kingsford Solicitors
Ian McKenna Founder & Lead Solicitor
Tel: +353 (0)1 699 4111 ian@kingsford.ie www.kingsford.ie
Kinley Legal
4 Albert Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2QA, British Isles
Tel: +44 (0)1624 640366 contact@kinleylegal.com www.kinleylegal.com | www.linkedin.com/company/kinley-legal
Studio Legale Pavan
Avv Antonio Pavan Founder
Tel: +39 0422 419 686
a.pavan@studiolegalepavan.com www.studiolegalepavan.com
Studio Legale Bastianini Carnelutti
Nicolò Bastianini Carnelutti Founder
Tel: +39 335 461346
nicolo@bastianinicarnelutti.com www.bastianinicarnelutti.com
ORESTE POLLICINO AIDVISORY
Prof Oreste Pollicino
Founder, Full Professor of Constitutional Law & AI Regulation at Bocconi University
Tel: +39 339 596 2212
orestepollicino@orestepollicino.eu www.orestepollicino.eu
Studio Legale Zallone
Raffaele Zallone
Founder & Lawyer: IT Law, Privacy Law & Personal Data Protection, IT Contracts, E-Commerce
Tel: +39 (0)2 29013583
r.zallone@studiozallone.it www.studiozallone.it
Ferriani Partners
Federico Benvenuto
Managing Director of Crisis & Insolvency Department
Tel: +39 (0)2 2111 8016 fbenvenuto@ferrianipartners.it www.ferrianipartners.it
GREGORJ
Stefano Klausner Managing Partner
Tel: +39 347 2691210
s.klausner@gregorj.it www.gregorj.it
Cafiero Pezzali & Associati Law Firm
Attorney Ciro Cafiero Founding Partner
Tel: +39 3287388608
c.cafiero@cafieropezzalieassociati.it www.cafieropezzalieassociati.it
Lex Blast IP & IT Attorneys
Salvatore Familiari Co-Founding Partner
Tel: +39 (0)2 87178522 salvatore.familiari@lexblast.it www.lexblast.it
Lextrust Law Firm
Jonathan Charles Burger Partner – Investment Funds & Private Markets
Tel: +352 27 21 411 burger@lextrust.lu www.lextrust.lu
DalliParis Advocates
Dr Matthew Paris Founding Partner
Tel: +356 2122 4361 matthew@dalliparis.com www.dalliparis.com
Sali Blockchain & Crypto Regulations
Sadri Sali LLM CCAS Managing Partner (EU Blockchain Lawyer)
Tel: +31 6 5169 9355 info@salicryptoregulations.com Telegram: @salilawgroup www.salilawgroup.com
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HVG Law
Frank Zandee Managing Partner / Lawyer
Tel: +31 6 29 08 33 26 frank.zandee@hvglaw.nl www.hvglaw.nl
TPA Global
Steef Huibregtse Chief Executive Officer
Tel: +31 (0)20 218 2239 s.huibregtse@tpa-global.com www.tpa-global.com
Commercial Law Expert of the Year in Portugal
JMPM – Sociedade de Advogados, RL
Pedro Macieirinha Partner, CEO, Lawyer
Tel: +351 259 371 949
pmacieirinha@jmpm-advogados.pt www.jmpm-advogados.pt
BMB PARTNERS TAXAND
Renáta Bláhová Founding Partner
Tel: +421 2 2129 9000 renata.blahova@bmb.sk bmb@bmb.sk
International Tax Law Firm of the Year in Slovakia
Tax Advisory Expert of the Year in Slovenia
WTS TAX d.o.o.
Mateja Babič Partner
Tel: +386 59 071 705 mateja.babic@wts-tax.si www.wts-tax.si
Criminal Law Expert of the Year in Spain
NIETO ENRIQUEZ Abogados Penalistas
Cristina Nieto Enriquez Partner
Tel: +34 93 0500032 cristina.nieto@icab.cat www.nietoabogadospenalistas.com
N IETO E NRIQUEZ Abogados Penalistas
VACIERO
Mario de Gandarillas Martos Partner
Tel: +34 609 44 70 98 mgandarillas@vaciero.es www.vaciero.es
LINQ Advokat AB
Thomas G Lindqvist Partner
Tel: +46 70 894 4515 thomas.g.lindqvist@linqadvokat.com www.thomasglindqvist.com
Thouvenin Rechtsanwälte KLG
Dr Daniel Stoll Partner
Tel: +41 44 421 45 45 d.stoll@thouvenin.com www.thouvenin.com
Troller Hitz Troller
Ursula In-Albon Attorney-at-Law, Partner
Tel: +41 31 328 36 36 in-albon@trollerlaw.ch www.trollerlaw.ch
VTA Tassin – Public International Law Firm dedicated to Ocean & Seas
Att Dr Virginie Tassin Campanella Founder & Managing Director
Tel: +41 76 438 58 21 virginie.tassin@vta-tassin.com www.vta-tassin.com
Lenz & Staehelin
Jean-Blaise Eckert Partner
Tel: +41 58 450 70 00
jean-blaise.eckert@lenzstaehelin.com www.lenzstaehelin.com
von Ah & Partner AG
Prof Dr oec publ Julia von Ah Partner, Certified Tax Expert
Tel: +41 44 533 17 70
julia.vonah@vonahpartner.ch www.vonahpartner.ch
Tel: +41 31 382 44 33 info@fmp-law.ch www.fmp-law.ch
Law Expert of the Year in Turkey
Ulutürk Attorney Partnership
Ceren İşcioğlu Ulutürk Partner
Tel: +90 534 565 43 42 ceren@uluturk.av.tr www.uluturk.av.tr
Construction Law Firm of the Year in Turkey
Gonen Law Office
Zihni Gönen Managing Partner
Tel: +90 312 286 34 06 zihni@gonen.com.tr www.gonen.com.tr
NDT Legal Consultancy
Nurdeniz Tunçer Founder
Tel: +90 532 541 4935 nurdeniz@ndthukuk.com www.ndthukuk.com
BETA Law Office in association with GRATA International
Aigerim Sabit Bikmaz Partner
Tel: +90 533 616 61 99 abikmaz@gratanet.com www.betalawoffice.com/en
Themis International Services Limited
Dickon Johnstone Group CEO & Founder
Tel: +44 (0)20 8064 1724 dickon.johnstone@themisservices.co.uk www.themisservices.co.uk
Medical Negligence Relating to Paediatric Haematology Expert Witness of the Year in
Expert Witness Gateway
Dr Russell Keenan Expert Witness
Tel: +44 (0)7753 807611
paediatrichaematology@gmail.com www.expertwitnessgateway.co.uk
Osterwald Rathbone & Partners
Ed Osterwald Senior Partner
Tel: +44 (0)7770 584 696 eosterwald@or.partners www.or.partners
Druces LLP
Matt Duncan Head of Private Wealth
Tel: +44 (0)20 7216 5529
m.duncan@druces.com www.druces.com
Druces LLP
Karen Chapman Head of Real Estate
Tel: +44 (0)20 7216 5591 k.chapman@druces.com www.druces.com
Druces LLP
Parveen Abbas Head of Residential Property
Tel: +44 (0)20 7216 5567 p.abbas@druces.com www.druces.com
The Americas’ story of 2025 was, in its simplest form, continuity with a twist: modest expansion in aggregate activity cushioned by still-elevated interest rates and cooling external demand, but with important heterogeneity across countries. ECLAC’s October update made this explicit, noting that the region continued to register low but positive growth – roughly mid-2% territory for 2025 – and that employment improvements were fragile and unequal. That slow expansion reflected a mix of domestic rebalancing after pandemic-era shocks, easing inflation in some economies, as well as weaker external support from a global economy that lost some momentum through the year. The Commission’s diagnosis stressed that headline growth masks persistent weaknesses: high informality, limited job creation and slow productivity gains that keep per-capita income growth anaemic.
Multilateral institutions broadly converged on a mildly downbeat near-term baseline. The IMF’s Western Hemisphere Regional Economic Outlook in October 2025 projected steady but subdued growth in Latin America and the Caribbean, warning that although inflation continued to trend down in many countries, convergence to central bank targets would be uneven and fiscal vulnerabilities had generally increased. The IMF emphasised that the capacity of monetary policy to return inflation sustainably to target would be helped by improvements in fiscal positions, and it urged a careful sequence of consolidation and growth-friendly reforms. In short: price stability and debt sustainability are mutually reinforcing objectives, but many governments remain constrained in how fast they can move on the latter without stifling already weak demand.
The World Bank’s regional publications and briefings in 2025 added further granularity. The Bank affirmed that Latin America and the Caribbean remained the slowest-growing major region, while also issuing cautious upward adjustments for 2026 in some vintages of its forecasts – a reminder that small shifts in commodity prices, remittance flows or global financing costs can nudge regional outcomes meaningfully. The World Bank’s commentary through 2025 highlighted how country dispersion matters: some economies (Argentina among the larger ones) posted relatively strong growth driven by domestic demand and commodity prices, while others, notably Mexico, wrestled with weak investment and episodic inflationary spikes that complicated monetary policy. The Bank also stressed long-standing supply-side constraints – infrastructure deficits, education and skills
gaps, as well as a dearth of mid-sized firms – as binding limits to a durable acceleration in productive growth.
A defining economic feature through 2025 was the interplay between US demand and the region’s commodity and manufacturing channels. The US, which remains the largest single external market for much of the hemisphere, slowed from the stronger post-pandemic rebound seen in 2023–24. OECD forecasts in late 2025 suggested weaker US momentum into 2026 relative to the prior year, and this softer external demand fed through to lower export growth and investment plans in countries integrated into North American value chains. For many smaller and more open economies, a US deceleration translated into an immediate hit to manufacturing orders, to remittance flows and – over time – to FDI decisions. The net result was a modest drag on Latin American aggregate demand even as domestic factors (public spending in some cases, higher real wages in others) provided partial offsets.
Commodity dynamics deserve specific emphasis. The year saw commodity prices moderate from the peaks that followed global reopening and pandemic-era supply constraints. For commodity exporters, the implications were mixed: slower price growth narrowed fiscal buffers for some governments but also reduced imported inflation pressures. Countries that had leaned on resource revenues to finance counter-cyclical spending found themselves with more constrained room for manoeuvre in 2025, prompting renewed debates about fiscal frameworks and stabilisation rules in national capitals and at regional multilateral institutions.
Structural obstacles – the familiar list of productivity shortfalls, small firm gaps and market concentration – received renewed attention in 2025. The Inter-American Development Bank and other regional commentators underscored that market concentration and regulatory frictions hold back the development of a robust “middle” of firms that can scale, innovate and drive job creation. That analysis matters for the medium-term outlook: if policies in 2026 fail to tackle competition, logistics and regulatory bottlenecks, the region’s capacity to convert faster GDP growth into broad-based job creation will remain limited. Reuters’ coverage of an IDB study in late 2025 highlighted precisely this point: improving competition and opening markets could lift per-capita output and compress inequality, but doing so requires deliberate reforms to reduce entry barriers and to strengthen institutions.
Policy choices in 2025 were therefore a central determinant of outcomes. Across the hemisphere, policymakers were balancing inflation control with growth support. Several central banks – mindful of still-elevated core inflation in places and of recent volatility in exchange rates and commodity prices –kept policy rates restrictive for longer than markets had hoped in early 2025, slowing consumption and investment. At the same time, fiscal policy trended heterogeneously: a number of countries pursued gradual fiscal consolidation to reassure creditors and reduce debt servicing risks, while others maintained more expansionary postures amid political pressure to deliver jobs and social programmes. The IMF and World Bank guidance through the year repeatedly argued for a two-track approach: credible consolidation plans that protect priority social and productive investment, coupled with structural reforms aimed at lifting supply potential.
Turning to the outlook for 2026, the most plausible baseline is one of modest acceleration for Latin America and the Caribbean overall but with significant country divergence. Institutional forecasts published in late 2025 generally point to growth in the mid-2% range for the region in 2026 – enough to inch unemployment down only slowly, and too weak to generate rapid poverty reduction without targeted social policies. ECLAC’s update in October 2025 projected a small cooling from 2025–2026 in some scenarios, reflecting labour market rigidity and slow productivity uptake; by contrast, the World Bank’s slightly more optimistic vintage anticipated a marginally firmer 2026 outturn in part because of expected stabilisation of global trade and a small rebound in investment. The net implication: the region will not face recession in 2026 under central assumptions, but neither will it register the kind of robust, job-rich expansion that would materially close output and welfare gaps with advanced economies.
Key upside and downside risks will shape whether 2026 is a year of consolidation or of disappointment. On the upside, a softer but steady improvement in global demand – especially for manufacturing goods and for minerals linked to the energy transition – could lift exports and investment. Pro-competition reforms and targeted measures to scale mid-sized firms could pay early dividends for employment and productivity, amplifying a modest cyclical upswing. On the downside, a sharper slowdown in the US or renewed global financial stress would transmit quickly through trade, remittances and capital flows; commodity price drops would tighten fiscal space for vulnerable exporters; and domestic political volatility could derail needed reforms or provoke fiscal slippages that unsettle markets. The IMF and OECD both flagged the unusually high uncertainty surrounding these channels in late 2025, urging policymakers to prepare contingencies and strengthen buffers while maintaining a credible medium-term fiscal path.
For specific country groupings, a few patterns stand out. North America will largely determine the external backdrop: a modest US slowdown reduces export and investment intensity across the hemisphere but also gradually lowers imported inflation, helping real incomes in net-importing countries. Mexico’s 2025 performance, characterised by weak domestic demand and episodes of higher inflation that tested monetary policy, suggests that 2026 depends on whether private investment normalises and whether trade policy frictions are contained. Large South American commodity exporters will find fiscal space pinched if prices remain subdued; Argentina’s relatively stronger growth in 2025 was an outlier tied to domestic demand dynamics and should not be assumed broadly replicable without careful macroeconomic management. Caribbean economies face a two-track challenge: tourism-linked recoveries could continue to support growth, but many small states remain vulnerable to shocks and to the high cost of capital.
Cybelle Guedes Campos
Partner
Tel: +55 11 98273 1520
cybelle.guedes@mjradv.com.br
Odair de Moraes Júnior Partner
Tel: +55 11 99685 6792 odair.moraes@mjradv.com.br
Operating in the market since 2001, Moraes Jr. Advogados is a law firm specialising in insolvency and business Law, having established itself as a benchmark in corporate restructuring. Its services are focused on advising companies of all sizes and from diverse sectors facing financial challenges. The firm’s highly qualified, multidisciplinary team manages complex processes of debt restructuring, judicial reorganisation, out-of-court reorganisation and bankruptcy, while its practice utilises Law 11.101/2005 (Brazil’s Business Reorganization & Bankruptcy Law) as a strategic alternative to protect business activities and enable the organised payment of accumulated liabilities.
More than just offering legal pathways, Moraes Jr. Advogados’s differential is its deep understanding of the clients’ reality and business, allowing the firm to arrive at personalised solutions. This collaborative approach, rooted in a multidisciplinary team, combines deep technical expertise to ensure excellent delivery. By integrating specialists from differing legal fields, the firm can address the client’s challenge from every angle. Meanwhile, the practice further includes specialised niches – such as advising on judicial reorganisation for rural producers.
Cybelle Guedes Campos
Cybelle Guedes Campos, Partner at the firm, has practised law since 2005, with extensive experience in corporate restructuring, out-ofcourt reorganisation, judicial reorganisation and bankruptcy. She is the author of several legal articles and holds key leadership roles, including Institutional Director of the Center for Women in Business Restructuring (CMR), Head of the Strategic Committee at IWIRC Brasil, Vice Coordinator of the Ethics & Insolvency Committee at IBDEE, as well as General Secretary of the Judicial Reorganization & Bankruptcy Committee of the OAB/SP. She is also an effective member of TMA Brasil, IBAJUD, IASP, IBRADEMP, IDRE, the Judicial Reorganization & Bankruptcy Committee of OAB/Campinas, as well as the Banking Law Committee of OAB/SP.
Her training includes an MBA in Law Firm Management (EPD), postgraduate degrees in Civil Law and Civil Procedure Law (USJ), as well as specialisations in Business Restructuring (FGV) and Turnaround (FIA). This is complemented by extensive international training, including an Executive Law Program (ELP) from CEU LAW School (Spain), a specialisation in Business Law from the University of Navarra (Spain), training in Comparative Insolvency & Reorganization from Oxford University (Corpus Christi College), Comparative Law from Fordham University (US), Comparative Law training at the Sorbonne University (Paris) and studies at Tor Vergata University (Italy).
She noted: “Today, many of our clients face immense pressure from enforcement actions and the risk of seizure of essential assets, which erodes supplier confidence and paralyses the business. In sectors like retail and food and beverage, this means supply chain disruption.
In sports entities, for example, the challenges are uniquely specific, involving atypical revenue streams and complex liabilities. This field has been further complicated by Brazil’s recent “SAF” – Corporate Football Company – law, which is a new corporate framework whose intersection with insolvency law is an area where very few firms yet possess deep expertise.
“Our approach to helping them is based on the premise that every case is unique. We do not apply ready-made formulas. Our focus is on conducting a deep, multidisciplinary diagnosis to understand the real causes of the crisis and the client’s specific needs. From there, we design the most efficient and personalised legal strategy – whether it involves a judicial reorganisation, an out-of-court reorganisation or another negotiation and restructuring tool. Our team acts precisely to contain the crisis, protect the operation and build a viable plan that allows the client to overcome their debt and ensure their business continuity.”
Odair de Moraes Júnior
Odair de Moraes Júnior is a Partner at the firm and has practised law since 2001, focusing on judicial reorganisation, tax law and asset holding structures. A member of TMA Brasil and IBAJUD, his academic background includes postgraduate degrees in Tax Law (PUC/SP) and Business Law (Mackenzie), as well as specialisations in Business Restructuring (FGV) and Business Law (University of Navarra, Spain).
Sharing the firm’s global perspective, Odair has completed international courses at Oxford University (Comparative Insolvency), Fordham University (US x Brazil Comparative Law), Tor Vergata University (Judicial Reorganization) and Sorbonne University (Comparative Law), and has also participated in academic events in Lisbon and Paris.
“Our typical clients are medium to large-sized companies, many of which are traditional, family-controlled groups that are benchmarks in their respective markets,” he explained. “We serve a highly diverse range of sectors with a common thread that despite facing acute financial distress, they possess viable operations and a legacy to protect. They are not just looking for debt renegotiation; they seek us for highly specialised and strategic legal counsel that ensures the preservation of the company and its long-term continuity.
“In recent times, technology has changed the pace and depth of our work. Where the change is most profound, however, is in our strategic capacity. A judicial reorganisation case is a universe of data – financial, accounting, contracts, creditor lists. When applied correctly, data analysis and AI tools allow us to see patterns and scenarios that the human eye might take weeks to find. We have therefore moved from being compilers of information to being curators of insights. At the end of the day, however, no platform can replace the experience and sensitivity of a lawyer. Understanding the context, listening to all parties and negotiating creative solutions remain fundamentally human tasks. What technology provides is more information and more time – so we can apply this experience, our true differentiator, even more effectively.”
Rizolve Partners Inc.
Stephen Cummings, CPA, FCA (UK), CEPA CEO & Managing Partner
Tel: +1 416 561 8557 scummings@rizolve.ca www.rizolve.ca
Maître Thierry Bériault President & Chartered Mediator (IMAQ & ADRIC)
Tel: +1 450 253 2535 tberiault@beriault.qc.ca www.beriault.qc.ca
Stephen Cummings is the CEO and Managing Partner of Rizolve, based in Toronto. He trained with Deloitte and is a Chartered Accountant (CPA), as well as a Certified Exit Planning Adviser.
Rizolve Partners was established 10 years ago as a specialist exit planning firm, skilled in value growth for the lower mid-market. The firm works with private company business owners and their management teams three to five years ahead of a transition in order to improve business value and readiness to exit, since it is not unusual for business value to be doubled or tripled within that planning horizon.
Today, the firm consists of advisers that facilitate business planning and the identification of key goals of the business owner, which are then translated into a roadmap for the client to arrive at optimal value within an agreed-upon time frame. The professionals at Rizolve distinguish themselves by working week in, week out with the business owners to create actions that achieve goals, while also clearing away any hurdles that arise along the way.
To this end, Rizolve’s team is made up of multidisciplinary, global executives possessing senior-level experience. Their credentials are international in scope, and their individual skill sets involve working strategically with businesses to articulate their vision while creating plans to realise their long-term aspirations.
The team’s accumulated transaction experience is pivotal in allowing them to create exit
plans that optimise value throughout business liquidity events. Their portfolio of clients are at differing stages of their individual roadmaps in product and service industries, though all of them are private companies with owners who, typically, have a requirement to gain liquidity via their largest personal asset – their business. Mr Cummings noted: “Many of them have never sold a business; all have pivoted to a value mindset; and several are executing an exit plan. We are currently working with investment bankers to execute the transaction process, having built growth plans, data rooms and facilitated the production of sales collateral.”
Rizolve’s client base is expanding in parallel with its developing international reputation. As a result, the firm has been the recipient of several international awards that recognise the key improvements it has made to clients’ business value. Mr Cummings added:
“We are a progressive firm, and so AI is increasingly used in our business to improve the quality of our output, compress time frames and deepen our research into client businesses to produce more sophisticated analyses. The future is bright – marrying technology’s potential with our significant coordination skills to place our clients’ ‘story’ in the best light to capture value. In the coming year, we look forward to progressing our clients through the value continuum – as well as concluding transaction liquidity for some.”
Rizolve’s team is made up of multidisciplinary, global executives possessing senior-level experience.
Bériault, Prévention et Règlement des Différends Inc. (BPRD Inc.), also known in English as Bériault, Conflict Prevention & Resolution, is a distinguished multidisciplinary firm in Canada dedicated to the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts. From its base in Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, with additional access via its Montréal and Québec offices, BPRD Inc. brings together a diverse team of certified and accredited mediators and conflict management professionals.
Since its founding, BPRD Inc. has built a reputation for handling each mediation as a unique process, tailored to the specific dynamics and needs of the situation. Their commitment is rooted in the highest ethical and professional standards, underpinned by an interdisciplinary approach. Its services encompass a broad spectrum of conflict prevention and resolution tools. The mediation offering is designed to be efficient, confidential and impartial: a neutral third party structures the conversations without imposing decisions, enabling the parties to shape their own solutions. In addition, the firm offers group and multiparty mediation – a powerful resource where teams, shareholders, or multiple stakeholders navigate relational or operational tensions in a collaborative environment.
Training and coaching form an essential pillar of BPRD Inc.’s offering: the firm delivers bespoke programmes to cultivate conflict prevention skills and to prepare individuals to traverse or resolve disputes more astutely. On a structural level, BPRD Inc. assists organisations in designing whole conflict resolution systems, embedding governance frameworks
that integrate prevention and resolution into the fabric of decision-making.
In terms of areas of practice, BPRD Inc. has substantial expertise in workplace disputes, commercial conflicts, conflicts among business partners or shareholders, as well as in agricultural contexts. Their capacity to adapt across sectors reflects a deep understanding of complex relational dynamics and organisational realities.
At the heart of BPRD Inc.’s work is Maître Thierry Bériault, the firm’s President and a chartered mediator with accreditation from the Institute of Mediation & Arbitration of Québec (IMAQ) and the ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC). Since 2005, he has conducted more than 750 mediations spanning private, public and para-public sectors, dealing with highly complex commercial, relational and political issues. He is recognised as an expert in mediation process theory and practice, lecturing on dispute prevention and resolution at the Université de Sherbrooke, as well as internationally in France and Belgium.
Maître Bériault’s leadership in the field extends beyond his firm. He has chaired both the Institute of Mediation & Arbitration of Québec and the board of the ADR Institute of Canada. His credentials include an LLL, a DESS in Dispute Prevention & Resolution, as well as fellowships and certifications from leading mediation bodies. He is widely published, and contributes to the intellectual and ethical foundation of mediation – for example, through his work on the integrative mediation approach.
Iurisconsulti Abogados y Notarios
Pedro Mendoza Montano Co-Founder
Tel: +502 2339 1080 pmendoza@iurisconsulti.com.gt www.iurisconsulti.com.gt
Criston J Williams
CEO / Managing Partner & Lead Attorney
Tel: +1 868 235 5498 cjwilliams@quantumtt.org www.quantumtt.org
Iurisconsulti Abogados y Notarios (Iurisconsulti, Lawyers and Notaries) is a leading law firm based in Guatemala City, distinguished by more than 20 years’ experience and a strong commitment to providing high-quality legal services. From its foundation, the firm has built its reputation on ethical standards, professionalism and tailored solutions that reflect a deep understanding of both local and international legal landscapes. Over the years, Iurisconsulti has advised a broad spectrum of clients – individuals, family estates, corporations and multinational enterprises – on matters ranging from corporate, financial and banking law to real estate, international business and arbitration.
With over 250 successful cases and more than 175 satisfied clients, Iurisconsulti combines a boutique feel with the capacity to handle complex, cross-border legal challenges. The firm’s mission is to deliver personalised, integrated, efficient legal services rooted in professional excellence, enduring trust and lasting client relationships.
Iurisconsulti’s team of lawyers and notaries are highly qualified, bilingual (Spanish and English) and deeply experienced. This allows the firm to serve a diverse global clientele and operate effectively in matters that span differing jurisdictions. Among the firm’s core practice areas are corporate law, banking and financial law, real estate, arbitration and international business.
One of the most distinguished figures in the firm is Pedro Mendoza Montano, Co-Founder of Iurisconsulti and a recognised authority in arbitration in Guatemala. His practice encompasses arbitration,
corporate reorganisations, international business, family and corporate wealth structuring, as well as expert testimony in Guatemalan law. He holds a doctorate in Law from the Universidad Francisco Marroquín and an LLM from Columbia University in New York, and was awarded his law degree magna cum laude, together with several academic distinctions. Pedro brings decades of legal experience to his role, having practised at prominent firms prior to founding Iurisconsulti in 2007. He has further held various leadership roles, including board positions in financial institutions across Central America. As an academic, he lectures at the Universidad Francisco Marroquín on such topics as contracts, international business law and corporate structuring – and participates in seminars on corporate law, industrial property and international trade.
Pedro’s expertise in arbitration has earned him a reputation as an outstanding practitioner in dispute resolution. He has acted as co-arbitrator in proceedings under the International Chamber of Commerce, having also served as an expert witness in US courts on Guatemalan legal matters. His combined academic rigour and practical experience make him ideally placed to guide clients through highly sophisticated disputes, restructurings and cross-border transactions.
Together, Iurisconsulti and Pedro offer a rare combination of deep local roots and international reach. Their work is shaped by a commitment to excellence, ethics and long-term client relationships – making them a trusted choice for those seeking sophisticated, strategic legal counsel in Guatemala and beyond.
Quantum Legal, based in Port of Spain, is a central pillar of the Quantum Consortium, an integrated network of organisations dedicated to sustainable development, social justice and the strengthening of inclusive institutions. Aligned with the UN Global Compact and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDG), the firm combines legal expertise with an advocacy-driven mandate, providing representation for both corporate clients and vulnerable populations.
The practice spans:
• Business Law;
• Corporate & Commercial Law;
• Immigration Law;
• Employment & Industrial Relations;
• Business Process Outsourcing;
• Constitutional Matters; and
• ADR. Its immigration team supports:
• International & Multinational Companies;
• International Logistics;
• Refugees / Asylum Seekers;
• Migrants; and
• Foreign Nationals.
The firm routinely assists clients in securing work permits, ministerial permits, visas and other authorisations under the Immigration Act. It further advises international, multinational and domestic companies on establishing subsidiaries, workforce planning, recruitment processes, contract drafting and dispute resolution through litigation, mediation or arbitration. Meanwhile, its business process outsourcing services are strengthened by more than four decades
of collective experience, offering robust support in company formation, corporate governance, strategic direction, compliance and commercial transactions in the oil and gas sector.
Quantum Legal is additionally engaged in energy sector legal counsel, providing regulatory, contractual, financing and due diligence support to clients across the renewable and clean energy sectors. This work reflects the firm’s broader commitment to the 2030 SDGs, particularly as Trinidad & Tobago transitions towards more sustainable energy frameworks.
At the helm is Criston J Williams, Managing Partner and business consultant, who is recommended for his expertise in immigration and business law, combined with his solution-based, strategic approach. Due credit must also be extended to Quantum’s team of international advisers for their optimal services on display.
Moreover, as part of its corporate social responsibility, the Quantum team represents migrants and asylum seekers in high-profile judicial review and detention cases. Following the closure of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees’ office in Trinidad & Tobago, Quantum highlighted the risks facing displaced individuals while emphasising the need for sustained legal protection. The firm’s work has had a significant real-world impact in this area – enabling vulnerable individuals to secure status, challenge unlawful detention and access due process.
Quantum Legal Assist is the charitable initiative of The Quantum Foundation, dedicated to advancing institutional development and promoting social advocacy throughout the region. We welcome your support and invite you to join the Quantum movement!
Leonard Karp Partner lkarp@karpmanzi.com
Jennifer Manzi Partner jmanzi@karpmanzi.com
Karp & Manzi, PLC
Tel: +1 520 325 4200 www.karpmanzi.com
Karp & Manzi, PLC is a leading Arizona family law firm whose reputation has been shaped by decades of sophisticated legal practice, exceptional professional leadership and a deep commitment to serving families through some of life’s most challenging transitions. Formed from the long-established predecessor firm Karp & Weiss – a Martindale-Hubbell “AV” rated practice recognised for more than 40 years of excellence – the firm continues a tradition of high-level representation in family law, civil litigation, criminal defence, civil rights litigation, estate planning and mediation.
At the heart of the firm’s identity is Partner Leonard Karp, recognised as one of the foremost legal authorities in the US on complex divorce, cohabitation and mediation issues, high-end financial matters and civil litigation involving domestic torts, such as domestic violence, spousal abuse and child molestation.
Mr Karp was among the founding Diplomates of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers in the early 1990s, and has served two distinguished terms as President of the Arizona Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. His leadership has been widely admired; one long-standing AAML Fellow described him as having contributed more to the Arizona Chapter than any other member, noting his success in uniting the Tucson and Phoenix memberships, and orchestrating the unprecedented collaboration of more than two dozen Fellows to create a judicial manual on family law. His national influence further includes extensive lecturing for AAML Chapters, Bar Associations
and national organisations – such as the American Bar Association and the American Trial Lawyers Association. Following the publication of his groundbreaking 1989 book, “Domestic Torts: Family Violence, Conflict & Sexual Abuse”, co-authored with his wife Dr Cheryl Karp and published by McGraw Hill at a time when marital-immunity law was only beginning to be reformed, he became a sought-after voice on emerging legal issues involving family violence and sexual abuse. His numerous accolades include repeated listings in The Best Lawyers in America and, in 2015, the Peter Economidis Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Foundation for Family Justice.
The firm’s clientele typically includes individuals with high incomes and substantial assets, many of whom face issues that require sophisticated financial evaluation, nuanced strategic planning and the ability to integrate family law questions with civil, criminal or estate-planning considerations. Karp & Manzi’s lawyers are accustomed to navigating these challenges and provide personalised solutions shaped by each client’s unique circumstances. Recent matters have included the successful resolution of a complex case in which one spouse poisoned the firm’s client, as well as evidence-indicated involvement in two additional deaths.
Karp & Manzi continues to evolve with the modern legal landscape, incorporating advances in technology – such as improved digital communications and emerging AI tools – to serve clients more efficiently, and to appear remotely in court settings when appropriate.
Lucie Barron Founder & President/CEO
Tel: +1 415 772 0900 lucie@adrservices.com www.adrservices.com
For more than 30 years, ADR Services, Inc. has played a leading role in shaping the alternative dispute resolution landscape in California and beyond. Founded in 1994 by Lucie Barron, the firm was built from a client’s perspective – grounded in the belief that dispute resolution should be efficient, thoughtful and humane, without sacrificing rigour or results. Today, ADR Services, Inc. continues to move forward guided by Lucie Barron’s vision and steady leadership. That vision is carried into the future through a multi-generational leadership structure and a seasoned executive team, including Joanna Barron, an owner and executive leader deeply engaged in shaping the firm’s strategic direction and long-term growth.
ADR Services, Inc. administers more than 15,000 matters annually, with case volume projected to exceed 20,000 in 2026. Across mediations, arbitrations and specialised private ADR processes, the firm consistently achieves settlement rates in the range of 90–95%. These outcomes reflect both the depth of its neutral panel and a case management model designed to move complex matters forward with clarity and precision.
The firm’s roster includes approximately 150 neutrals, comprised of retired judges and senior attorneys recognised for subject-matter expertise, sound judgment and professionalism. Each neutral is selected through a deliberate vetting process that considers experience, temperament and alignment with the firm’s standards of fairness and efficiency. This allows ADR Services, Inc. to match cases with neutrals whose backgrounds and styles best support resolution in each matter.
ADR Services, Inc. operates seven offices across California, has a national footprint and serves a broad client base that includes global corporations, insurers, financial institutions, healthcare systems, real estate developers and individual litigants. The firm offers a comprehensive suite of dispute resolution services, including mediation, arbitration, mock trials, moot courts, appellate consultations, private bench trials and discovery references. Its ability to support disputes across virtually all areas of civil and commercial litigation has made it a trusted resource for both plaintiffs’ and defendants’ counsel.
A defining strength of ADR Services, Inc. is the quality and continuity of its case administration. Dedicated case management teams guide matters from intake through completion, coordinating scheduling, compliance and logistics while maintaining responsiveness and attention to detail. This hands-on approach reduces friction for clients and counsel alike, enabling neutrals to focus on what matters most: facilitating resolution.
In addition to its casework, ADR Services, Inc. functions as a significant teaching institution within the legal community. The firm has developed one of California’s most robust Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programmes, offering more than 100 continuing legal education programmes annually through a combination of in-house programming and partnerships with bar associations, conferences and law firms.
These programmes are designed not only to meet compliance requirements, but to advance professional judgment, ethics and practical competence.
In 2025, ADR Services, Inc. delivered 34 in-house MCLE programmes, offering more than 40 hours of instruction and reaching over 26,000 attendees. More than 50 ADR Services, Inc. panelists participated as speakers, covering all required MCLE subject areas – including Legal Ethics, Elimination of Bias, Implicit Bias, Competence, Wellness, Technology and Civility – as well as legal specialisation credits in Family Law and Trust & Estate Law.
The firm’s annual MCLE Day has become a flagship educational event. In 2025, the programme attracted more than 3,000 registrants, with individual sessions drawing between 1,000 and 2,300 attendees each. The most in-demand programming focused on legal ethics and technology, as well as important case law updates and annual practice recaps – reflecting the firm’s ability to anticipate and respond to the evolving needs of legal professionals.
This commitment to education has been recognised industry-wide. ADR Services, Inc. was named a Top Online CLE Provider by the readers of The Recorder for the third consecutive year, reinforcing its role as both a trusted ADR provider and a leader in legal education.
While headquartered in California, ADR Services, Inc. operates with a national and international footprint that extends well beyond its physical offices. Over the past decade, the firm has worked with more than 25,000 attorneys located outside of California, and has administered over 5,000 cases involving counsel nationwide. These matters have included attorneys from virtually every AmLaw 100 firm, underscoring the firm’s ability to support complex disputes involving sophisticated legal teams across jurisdictions.
Through a combination of experienced neutrals, advanced case administration and secure hybrid and virtual proceedings, ADR Services, Inc. coordinates matters seamlessly across time zones and borders – providing consistency, rigour and continuity, regardless of geography.
Looking ahead, ADR Services, Inc. remains focused on strengthening its core capabilities: continuing to attract distinguished neutrals, expanding its educational offerings, enhancing its digital infrastructure and deepening engagement across domestic and international legal communities. Throughout this evolution, the firm’s mission remains constant – to deliver high-quality, client-focused dispute resolution that reduces risk, preserves relationships and produces durable outcomes.
With a track record built on trust, professionalism and results – and a demonstrated commitment to educating the profession – ADR Services, Inc. continues to set a standard for ADR providers navigating an increasingly complex legal environment.
Dr David V Sanker, PhD Founder
Tel: +1 510 714 5196 david@sankerip.com www.sankerip.com
SankerIP is a boutique IP law firm based in Silicon Valley, distinguished for its exceptional technical depth and its tailored, client-focused service. Drawing on decades of experience in both Big Law and hands-on engineering, the firm offers a full spectrum of patent services – from prosecution to freedom-to-operate, from due diligence to long-term IP strategy – all delivered by practitioners who truly speak the language of inventors. What sets SankerIP apart is its fusion of deep scientific expertise with legal rigour: the team includes professionals with advanced degrees in STEM, alongside seasoned patent attorneys who have worked at the top tiers of global law firms.
At the helm of SankerIP is its Founder, Dr David V Sanker, a recognised authority in the intersection of IP and AI. Dr Sanker brings an extraordinary pedigree to his role, holding a PhD in Mathematics from UC Berkeley and a JD from the same institution. Before entering the legal profession, he taught mathematics as a university lecturer and spent more than a decade as a software engineer, building large-scale production systems and designing complex databases. These early experiences underpin his rare ability to translate profoundly technical innovation into legally robust patent strategies.
Dr Sanker’s 20-year tenure at the multinational law firm Morgan Lewis refined his expertise across both litigation and prosecution. He has handled patent litigation before federal courts and the US International Trade Commission, and has led patent filings in diverse fields: software,
Tel:
cybersecurity, semiconductors, medical devices, AR/VR, database architecture and more. Since founding SankerIP in 2024, he and his team have applied that rich background to build global patent portfolios rooted in scientific insight and commercial purpose. He is widely recognised as a thought leader in AI, frequently publishing and speaking on such topics as generative AI, inventorship and the evolving implications of AI for patent law.
SankerIP’s core service offering begins with patent prosecution, where its technically sophisticated lawyers collaborate directly with inventors and patent examiners to secure claims that are not only novel but durable. Because its practitioners are scientists and engineers first, they can grasp the nuance of cutting-edge inventions in machine learning, computer vision and quantum computing – and can advocate comprehensively for strong protection across jurisdictions. The firm further provides strategic IP counselling: reviewing existing portfolios to assess quality, diversity and alignment with business objectives, as well as advising on when to balance patents with trade secrets. Meanwhile, an increasingly vital part of the practice is freedom-to-operate (FTO) analysis.
SankerIP’s commitment to quality and impact has been recognised in prestigious legal rankings: the firm is featured in the 2025 Chambers Spotlight Guide for both its IP and AI offerings, demonstrating its ability to deliver partner-level attention and real strategic value without the cost of large-law overhead.
H&CO, LLP, headquartered in South Florida with multiple offices across the state, has built a distinguished reputation as a full-service accounting, tax and advisory firm with a global mindset and local footprint. With origins that reach back over three decades, the firm was founded to guide businesses through the complexities of international expansion – providing services ranging from entity formation and trust management to technology implementation, human capital solutions and international tax compliance.
Operating from offices in Coral Gables, Brickell, Aventura, Ft Lauderdale and Orlando, H&CO is uniquely positioned to serve both domestic enterprises and multinational investors who choose the US, and particularly Florida, as their business destination. In an era of rising cross-border complexity, the firm’s multilingual professionals – versed in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Mandarin – are able to guide clients seamlessly across jurisdictions.
The firm articulates a mission of empowering people and organisations to “conquer new frontiers” and a vision to become the most trusted global service provider by delivering excellence, innovation and ethical integrity. Those values translate into an active partnership model with clients: H&CO aims not simply to execute tasks, but to understand client goals, navigate regulatory challenges and build long-term relationships.
With offices in more than 29 countries and a team of hundreds of professionals worldwide, H&CO’s global reach supports the full life cycle of international commerce – from global tax planning
and payroll to entity establishment and technology solutions. That global infrastructure adds unique value for clients in the construction sector, where global supply chains, foreign investments and multi-jurisdictional tax issues increasingly converge.
Within H&CO’s audit and advisory framework, the leadership of Emilio Alvarez, CPA, stands out. After founding his own firm in 1974 that specialised in construction and real-estate accounting, he joined H&CO as the Managing Partner of the Audit Division following a strategic merger with his prior firm. Under his stewardship, the audit team has grown its construction-industry practice to serve more than 100 contractor clients nationwide, delivering attestation, tax, financial reporting and business-counsel services tailored to the unique economics of construction firms.
Moreover, the firm is a proud member of the Construction Industry CPAs/Consultants Association (CICPAC), underscoring its credentials in serving both startup contractors and billion-dollar enterprises. From mid-market local builders to large general contractors with national profiles, H&CO offers a range of services designed to enhance contractor profitability, ensure compliance, support surety-company relationships and navigate tax and audit challenges. The firm brings to bear the combination of international tax acumen, industry-specific construction insight and proven audit capabilities in a way that few of its peers can match. It has additionally been ranked among America’s Best Tax & Accounting Firms by Forbes – and has been recognised in state and regional listings as a top South Florida CPA firm.
Valenti Law
Thomas P Valenti Attorney, Arbitrator (FCIArb), Mediator, Facilitator
Tel: +1 312 925 0081 tpv@valentilaw.com www.valentilaw.com
Thomas P Valenti is a Chicago-based attorney, arbitrator, mediator and facilitator who brings more than 45 years’ legal and conflict resolution experience to his work. Admitted to the Illinois bar in 1977, Mr Valenti transitioned early from traditional civil litigation to focus intensively on arbitration from 1990 onwards, and on mediation from 2000 onward.
At Valenti Law, his practice centres on highstakes commercial and civil dispute resolution, including personal injury, property damage, business contract and insurance coverage disputes. Early in his career, he represented plaintiffs and defendants in jury and bench trials, construction accidents, product liability cases, premises liability claims, medical-malpractice matters, fire-damage claims and other complex tort-based litigation.
Over the years, he has grown his role as a neutral to become an internationally recognised ADR practitioner. He is certified and listed as a mediator and arbitrator with numerous premier institutions, including the American Arbitration Association (AAA), the National Arbitration Forum (NAF), the Center for Resolution, LLC, the FINRA Public Panel and the commercial-chamber panels of the Brazilian-Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CAM-CCBC). He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb).
Mr Valenti has also delivered teaching programmes in mediation, arbitration and negotiation across the UK, Europe, Dubai, India and other jurisdictions. He has led such initiatives as the “Pluralism, Dialogue & Community Transformation” initiative and the “Global Youth Development Initiative”, a virtual mentoring platform supporting international students in conflict zones.
In the academic arena, Mr Valenti serves as an adjunct instructor at the Northwestern University School of Professional Studies, teaching mediation skills, and has further held an adjunct professor role at the Loyola University Chicago School of Law in client counselling and ADR-related courses. His trainer credentials include ABA-certified international family mediation training (including Hague-Convention child-abduction cases), conflict transformation skills and Title IX decision-maker training. Within the professional world, he remains actively involved in key associations: the American Bar Association (ABA), the Illinois State Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association, the International Bar Association’s (IBA) Mediation Committee and ACR-Chicago.
Whether acting as a neutral arbitrator, mediator or trainer/facilitator, Mr Valenti promotes ethical, effective and culturally sensitive conflict resolution processes. His services are deeply informed by decades of trial litigation experience, giving him insight into the mindset of both parties and counsel, combined with a global perspective on dispute systems and dialogue. Valenti Law is, therefore, positioned not merely as a US-based dispute-resolution practice, but as a firm with international reach, offering ADR services, training and facilitation to clients and institutions globally. Whether handling commercial contract disputes, cross-border mediation, international community dialogue projects or training emerging professionals, the firm stands out for its experience and commitment to both practice and pedagogy in ADR.
Bekman, Marder, Hopper, Moore & Quinn, L.L.C.
Paul D Bekman Attorney
Tel: +1 410 539 6633 Fax: +1 410 625 9554 bekman@mdtrialfirm.com www.mdtrialfirm.com
Bekman, Marder, Hopper, Moore & Quinn (“Bekman Marder”) is a powerhouse personal injury trial firm in Maryland. The cornerstone of Bekman Marder’s practice is catastrophic personal injury cases of all types, including medical malpractice, product liability, admiralty, planes, trains, automobiles and abuse cases. The team is currently involved in representing several hundred individuals who were victims of abuse with respect to certain clergy, school teachers and employees of penitentiaries.
The firm also has been involved in lecturing on all such issues throughout the State of Maryland, as well as through the National Business Institute. When the stakes are high, clients and other lawyers turn to Bekman Marder for their expertise.
Each one of Bekman Marder’s trial attorneys have received at least one or more multimillion-dollar verdicts at trial, which is unique for law firms. One of the firm’s clients in an opioid litigation described the practice as: “Smart, skillful and tenacious attorneys. I couldn’t have been aligned with anyone better in our battle.”
Examples of the team’s success include:
• $15,000,000 verdict in a wrongful death case involving UVA student Yeardley Love, who died from an assault by her boyfriend;
• >$8,000,000 verdict in a maritime personal injury case;
• >$5,000,000 verdict in a medical malpractice trial involving improper performance of a gastroenterology procedure known as an ERCP;
• $4,3000,000 settlement for individuals injured in a crash involving a commercial passenger carrier;
• > $3,000,000 verdict in a medical malpractice wrongful death case involving complications from a gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy) surgery.
1829 Reisterstown Road, Suite 200, Baltimore, Maryland 21208
Brafman & Associates, P.C.
Benjamin Brafman
Principal
Tel: +1 212 750 7800 bbrafman@braflaw.com www.braflaw.com
Founded and led by trial attorney Benjamin Brafman, Brafman & Associates, P.C. has earned an international reputation for excellence in defending complex criminal and business crime cases.
The firm’s focus on criminal defence encompasses both state and federal matters, with a particular emphasis on white-collar and business crime litigation. Brafman & Associates has been engaged in some of the most high-profile and challenging criminal proceedings in the US, handling cases that have shaped public discourse and advanced the standards of trial advocacy. While its principal base of operations is New York City, the firm’s reach extends nationally and internationally, having represented clients in such jurisdictions as New Jersey, Philadelphia, California, Israel, London, Lichtenstein, Namibia and Vienna.
A Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and widely regarded as one of the finest defence attorneys in the country, Mr Brafman’s career is defined by his record of success in securing acquittals and favourable resolutions in the most demanding circumstances. New York Magazine has named him the “Best Criminal Defense Lawyer in New York”, while professional organisations have honoured him with such distinctions as the Outstanding Private Criminal Defense Practitioner Award from the New York State Bar Association, the Norman Ostrow Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of White-Collar Criminal Defense from the New York Council of Defense Lawyers – as well as the inaugural Clarence Darrow Award for Distinguished Practitioner from the
New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
In many instances, his early and strategic engagement in pre-indictment and pre-arrest stages has resulted in cases being resolved without formal charges. This ability to prevent prosecutions through persuasive advocacy before federal and state authorities underscores the firm’s holistic approach to defence, combining litigation expertise with negotiation and crisis management skills.
Throughout his career, Mr Brafman has represented a broad spectrum of clients, including celebrities, professional athletes, attorneys and leaders of industry. Among his most notable professional achievements are the complete dismissal of sexual assault charges against Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the former Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund; the acquittal of music entrepreneur Sean “P Diddy” Combs on weapons and bribery charges after a highly publicised eight-week trial in 2001; as well as the acquittal of nightclub owner Peter Gatien on federal racketeering charges. These and other landmark victories have reinforced Brafman’s reputation as a courtroom tactician with a rare combination of intellectual rigour, empathy and tenacity.
Beyond individual cases, Brafman & Associates continues to serve as a vital resource for clients facing the daunting intersection of criminal law and business operations. To this end, the firm’s Business Crime Law practice assists corporations, executives and professionals confronted with allegations of fraud, bribery, insider trading, tax violations and other white-collar offences.
J Edward Bell III Founder & Senior Partner
Tel: +1 843 938 7571 #103 jeb@belllegalgroup.com www.belllegalgroup.com
Bell Legal Group, founded more than four decades ago by J Edward Bell III, is a trial-focused law firm rooted in Georgetown, South Carolina, with additional presence in Raleigh, North Carolina, that has built a national reputation by combining rigorous legal advocacy with scientific investigation. From its inception, the firm has pledged to guide individuals through some of the most devastating and complex crises of their lives, placing its trust not only in legal argument but also in empirical analysis.
Bell Legal Group describes itself as “The Science Law Firm”, and this identity is central to its philosophy. Rather than simply relying on traditional courtroom strategies, the firm integrates evidence from a multidisciplinary team of engineers, researchers, crash investigators, economists, medical professionals, neuropsychologists and even former law enforcement, all of whom contribute to reconstructing incidents, interpreting technical data and relating compelling stories to jurors.
Bell Legal Group’s attorneys serve clients in South Carolina and North Carolina, and their collective experience spans over a century. The firm’s core practice areas encompass catastrophic injury, product liability, medical malpractice, trucking accidents, defective products, paraquat exposure, toxic hair relaxers, AFFF (aqueous film-forming foam), nursing home abuse and mass tort/class action litigation – including landmark engagement under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act. Their practice is defined by a tenacious, client-centred approach, combining empathy and aggressive representation with technical sophistication.
At the heart of Bell Legal Group’s identity is its Founder and Senior Partner, J Edward “Ed” Bell III, a South Carolina native who has tried well over 400 cases throughout his career. His litigation style is shaped both by his deep experience as a trial lawyer and his genuine talent for relating to jurors. Over his career, he has earned a reputation for demystifying complex legal and technical issues, translating them into narratives that resonate with everyday people. He has been recognised at both the state and national level, not only for his advocacy but also for his capacity to build highly effective, fact-driven cases.
One of the firm’s defining innovations is the science and research centre that Ed established inside the firm’s Georgetown headquarters. This centre is staffed by engineers, crash reconstruction experts, researchers and exhibit designers who painstakingly investigate the physical evidence underlying each case. Their mission is to unravel complicated accident scenarios, analyse medical and technical data and reconstruct what happened in a way that is accessible, persuasive and powerful in court. Around this foundation, Bell Legal Group has built a culture in which science is not simply a back-office support but a central, strategic pillar of litigation.
Bell Legal Group also fosters collaboration through its Co-Counsel Outreach programme, inviting other firms to partner on difficult litigation. In doing so, it extends its scientific capacity and trial
experience to broader legal networks, bringing its multi-disciplinary resources to bear on high-stakes class actions, mass torts and complex product liability work. The firm’s leadership sometimes comes from defence-side backgrounds, giving the team perspective on both sides of the courtroom and enabling them to anticipate opposing strategies.
A particular area in which Bell Legal Group has distinguished itself is in Camp Lejeune water contamination litigation. Ed was deeply engaged in the long fight to pass the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, advocating alongside victims, legislators and other attorneys until the legislation was finally enacted by Congress in 2022. He continues to serve in a leading role for plaintiffs, leveraging his firm’s science-backed methodology to build compelling claims.
Furthermore, throughout his career, Ed has earned numerous accolades. He holds a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating for legal ability and ethical standards. He has been repeatedly selected among the top 100 trial attorneys in the country by the National Trial Lawyers, named in Best Lawyers in America, as well as Super Lawyers, and recognised as a Litigation Star by Benchmark. At the state level, he has received the SC Lawyers Weekly Leadership in Law Award and other honours. He is also a member of the prestigious Inner Circle of Advocates, a highly exclusive invitation-only group of the top trial lawyers in the US. Ed’s personal journey reflects his dedication to community, mentorship and public service. A graduate of Wofford College and the University of South Carolina School of Law, he has served on multiple boards, supported youth and educational programmes – and maintained his roots in his native Georgetown while balancing a demanding national litigation practice. His long tenure, trial successes and advocacy for injured plaintiffs have made him a respected figure not only in South Carolina but across the country.
Bell Legal Group’s philosophy is grounded in compassion, rigour and science. The firm operates entirely on a contingency fee basis, which means clients do not pay legal fees unless the firm secures compensation for them. This financial model aligns the firm with the interests of its clients, ensuring that its lawyers are fully invested in the outcomes of each case. Their approach is not transactional but relational: they seek to understand the lives of their clients, the details of what happened and the technical truths behind every claim.
Over the years, Bell Legal Group has built a track record of high-impact litigation in personal injury, product liability, environmental law and medical malpractice. It has earned not only courtroom victories, but also the trust and recognition of clients, peers and the broader legal community. Through the leadership of Ed, the firm has stayed true to its mission of harnessing science to bring justice to those harmed, proving that for them the law is more than just argument – it is a vehicle for truth, accountability and healing.
Carmona Maya, Martins e Medeiros Sociedade de Advogados
William Carmona Maya Partner
Tel: +55 11 2309 9585 william@cmmm.com.br www.cmmm.com.br
Advocacia Dias de Souza
Daniel Corrêa Szelbracikowski Partner
Tel: +55 61 3329 9400 daniel.correa@advds.com.br www.advds.com.br
KPMG Canada
Éric Lachapelle Partner, Advisory, Regional Leader for Financial Services & Regulatory Compliance, National Leader for Financial Crimes
Tel: +1 514 840 8365; +1 514 912 6543 (mob) ericlachapelle@kpmg.ca www.kpmg.com/ca/en/home/services/advisory/ risk-consulting/forensic/financial-crimes-services
Randy Ai Law Office
Randy Ai Founder & Principal Lawyer
Tel: +1 416 716 2256 randy@randyai.com www.employmentlawyer-toronto.com
SalesChoice Inc.
Dr Cindy Gordon CEO & Founder
Tel: +1 416 230 6538 cindy@saleschoice.com www.saleschoice.com
MARTINEZ DEVIA & ASOCIADOS
Andrea Martinez Head of IP & Privacy
Tel: +57 310 258 2220 amartinez@martinezdevia.com www.martinezdevia.com www.linkedin.com/in/andreamartinezdevia
martínez devia & ASOC.
Asesores Legales
VELEZ-BENEDETTI Lawyers & Consultants
Ricardo Velez-Benedetti
International Director / Partner
Tel: +57 313 532 2269 ricardo@velezbenedetti.com www.velezbenedetti.net
FERNÁNDEZ & POU ABOGADOS | ATTORNEYS
María Fernanda Pou Partner
Tel: +1 809 788 2200 fpadmin@legalfpf.com www.legalfpf.com
Del Valle Abogados SRL
Jorge Miguel Del Valle Vargas Partner
Tel: +1 809 907 0721 jdelvalle@delvalle.com.do www.delvalle.com.do
Kudisch Abogados S.C.
Ana María Kudisch Director
Tel: +52 55 1107 8604 +52 55 1107 8605 anak@kudischabogados.com.mx www.kudischabogados.com.mx
Sergio Corrales Montenegro Managing Partner
Tel: +505 8723 6300 sergiocorrales@corraleslawyers.com www.corraleslawyers.com
Jorge Barrera & Asociados
Dr Jorge Barrera Partner
Tel: +598 99 423 131 jbarrera@estudiobarrera.com.uy www.estudiobarrera.com.uy
FENNEMORE
Cathy L Reece
Director – Financial Restructuring
Tel: +1 602 916 5343 creece@fennemorelaw.com www.fennemorelaw.com
Amara & Associates, AZ Injury Lawyers
Amara Edblad, Esq Managing Attorney
Tel: +1 623 471 8881 ae@azinjuryattorney.com www.azinjuryattorney.com Family Law Firm of the Year in California, US
Cage & Miles, LLP
Jaime Cage & Shannon B Miles Founding Partners
Tel: +1 858 376 7251 jaime@cageandmiles.com shannon@cageandmiles.com www.cageandmiles.com
Law Offices of Judith L. Wood
Judith L Wood Attorney-at-Law
Tel: +1 213 680 7801 judy@igc.org www.lawofficesofjudithlwood.com
M&A Law Firm of the Year in California, US
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Martin Korman Partner
Tel: +1 650 320 4656 mkorman@wsgr.com www.wsgr.com/en
Patent Law Firm of the Year in California, US
Schwegman Lundberg & Woessner, P.A. (SLW)
Garrett Hall Principal
Tel: +1 408 660 2978 ghall@slwip.com www.slwip.com
The Cartwright Law Firm, Inc.
Robert E Cartwright, Jr, Esq Founder & Managing Partner
Tel: +1 415 433 0444 rob@cartwrightlaw.com www.cartwrightlaw.com
Steven H. Wilhelm, A.P.C.
Steven H Wilhelm Attorney
Tel: +1 619 239 0687 steve@stevenhwilhelm.com www.stevenhwilhelm.com
Rimon P.C.
Frank Vargas Partner
Tel: +1 415 683 5472 ext 239 frank.vargas@rimonlaw.com www.rimonlaw.com
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Jennifer Jordan McCall Partner
Tel: +1 650 678 2754 jmccall@pillsburylaw.com www.pillsburylaw.com
Kornreich & Associates
Gerald I Kornreich & Amber Kornreich Managing Lawyer(s)
Tel: +1 305 579 9111 gkornreich@kornreichlaw.com amber@kornreichlaw.com www.kornreichlaw.com
RSM US LLP
Clay Worden Managing Partner
Tel: +1 407 581 3506 clay.worden@rsmus.com www.rsmus.com
PAG Law, PLLC
Juan Pablo Cappello Co-Founding Partner
Tel: +1 786 292 1599 jp@pag.law www.pag.law
Pulice Nervell, AAL
Carlos D Perez-Mesa, Jr, Esq Partner
Tel: +1 808 535 8400 cperez-mesa@paclawteam.com www.paclawteam.com
Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit
Ryan Shpritz Managing Partner
Tel: +1 847 777 7212 marketing@ksnlaw.com www.ksnlaw.com
Proactive Worldwide, Inc.
David Kalinowski President
Tel: +1 847 483 9300 info@proactiveworldwide.com www.proactiveworldwide.com
GRASSI
Louis C Grassi, CPA, CFE CEO, Founder & Managing Partner
Tel: +1 516 336 2450 lgrassi@grassiadvisors.com www.grassiadvisors.com
Cohen Clair Lans Greifer &
Shannon Rogers Simpson Co-Chair & Managing Partner
Tel: +1 212 326 1728 srsimpson@cohenclairlans.com www.cohenclairlans.com
Wohabe Law Offices LLP
David Wohabe, Esq Partner
Tel: +1 212 838 7380 dwohabe@wlony.com www.wlony.com
Johnston Clem Gifford PLLC
Kodie Bennion Partner
Tel: +1 972 474 1725 kbennion@johnstonclem.com www.johnstonclem.com
Michael M. Wilson &
Michael M Wilson
Tel: +1 202 223 4488 wilson@wilsonlaw.com www.wilsonlaw.com
MNF Legal PLLC
Severiano Ortiz Partner
Tel: +1 771 212 9550 sortiz@mnflegal.com www.mnflegal.com
Bora Legal
Avenida Rómulo Gallegos, Torre Poliprima, Piso 6, Oficina 6 Norte, Caracas
Tel: +58 212 2855505 +58 212 2856585 info@bora.legal www.bora.legal
2025 closed on a note of cautious resilience across Asia and Oceania: growth that in many places surprised on the upside in the first half of the year, but a complex mix of external headwinds, policy trade-offs and legacy domestic imbalances left the region entering 2026 with momentum – but also clear vulnerabilities. Two narratives dominated the calendar year. First, the region continued to benefit from a technology-led export cycle and strong demand from a handful of large markets, which buoyed manufacturing and trade-orientated countries from Vietnam to Korea. Second, structural frictions – most visibly China’s property malaise, the spillovers from a more fragmented global trading environment, as well as climate and disaster shocks in parts of Southeast Asia and the Pacific – constrained domestic demand and kept policymakers alert to downside risks.
These twin forces shaped a 2025 that was broadly better than many forecasters expected mid-year, while also setting the stage for a moderated 2026 that will test whether temporary cyclical gains can be converted into sustained, inclusive growth. The region’s major multilateral analytical releases from 2025 – notably releases from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank, the IMF and the OECD – capture this mixed picture and provide the most reliable baseline for a forecast into next year. The ADB’s late-year revisions, for example, raised its 2025 outlook for developing Asia to around 5.1%, reflecting stronger-than-expected demand for electronics, AI-related inputs and continued momentum in India; the ADB also flagged that growth will decelerate in 2026 as global headwinds reassert themselves. As reported by Reuters, those same ADB assessments emphasised that while exports and technology investment were a rare upside, risks from climate shocks and policy uncertainty remain material.
The IMF’s Regional Economic Outlook echoed and widened that frame: Asia-Pacific growth proved resilient in 2025, supported by export strength and a still-vigorous services rebound in several economies, but the IMF cautioned that the region’s aggregate growth – projected to hold near 4.5% in 2025 – is likely to slow towards about 4.1% in 2026 as elevated trade barriers and softer external demand bite. The IMF’s modelling explicitly shows that announced increases in effective tariffs and a more unpredictable trade policy landscape weigh most heavily on those economies where exports and global supply-chain links are largest. That combination of an export-driven 2025 and a weaker external environment to come underpins much of the short-term caution in official projections.
China – because of its scale and its role in regional supply chains – remained the single most consequential story for Asia in 2025. The World Bank and the IMF both noted that Beijing’s economy stabilised at mid-single-digit growth but continued to be dragged by a weak property sector and subdued household consumption. World Bank updates released in late 2025 pointed to the need for “bolder reforms” to revive private investment and unlock job creation, and estimated China’s 2025 growth in the high-fours depending on the dataset. The Bank and other institutions consistently warned that without stronger policy measures to resolve the property overhang and to stimulate sustainable private demand, the country’s transition to a consumption-driven model would remain incomplete, with knock-on effects for commodity exporters and manufacturers across Asia. Those concerns were not merely academic: intermittent data releases through the second half of 2025 showed softer retail sales and investment indicators than would be consistent with a robust recovery, reinforcing the view that China’s path will remain a key determinant of regional outcomes in 2026.
Counterbalancing China’s softness, India and several Southeast Asian economies delivered notable outperformance in 2025. India’s growth surprised to the upside across quarters as resilient domestic demand, buoyed by strong services and technology exports, supported near-double-digit job creation in some urban centres and kept investment plans active; the ADB singled out India as a principal driver of the region’s upward revisions. In Southeast Asia, export-orientated economies captured a disproportionate share of the technology and electronics cycle – a structural reorientation that accelerated as firms diversified supply chains and sought more resilient production hubs. Nonetheless, those gains were uneven. The Philippines, despite solid medium-term fundamentals, continued to face policy and infrastructure bottlenecks that prompted targeted ADB support, and climate-related disruptions – floods and typhoons in Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia in 2025 – temporarily depressed output in affected areas. As noted by Reuters, these granular divergences are important because the headline regional numbers mask substantial cross-country variability in both growth and vulnerability.
Inflation dynamics in the region also evolved through 2025 in ways that support a gentler policy stance in many economies, albeit not uniformly. Persistent disinflationary pressures in several large economies, including easing producer costs as commodity prices moderated, allowed central banks to pause or cautiously lower policy rates by year-end in parts of the region. At the same time, supply disruptions and local food price spikes kept inflation elevated in vulnerable countries, and real wage growth remained sluggish in many urban centres. Multilateral forecasts agreed that headline inflation would generally trend lower in 2026 compared with peak 2024–25 levels, opening fiscal and monetary space for growth-supporting measures – but with the advice that temporary stimulus should not displace necessary structural reforms. The OECD’s late-2025 publications and the World Bank’s regional updates reinforce this duality: room for policy easing exists, but the longer-run constraints of productivity and structural reform are the central policy challenge.
Trade policy and geopolitics shaped the external environment in 2025 more than at any recent time. Announcements of higher effective tariff rates and a more fragmented trade architecture in several advanced economies introduced an unwelcome element of policy uncertainty for Asian exporters. Multilateral institutions modelled scenarios in which higher protectionism reduces the pace of trade-led growth and lowers investment, particularly for small open economies that rely heavily on manufactured exports. While some bilateral tensions eased and certain tariff threats did not materialise at full scale, the mere prospect and periodic implementation of new trade barriers reduced the confidence of multinational firms and encouraged a modest but visible reconfiguration of supply chains – a process that helps some ASEAN economies but can also raise costs and complicate regional integration efforts. The IMF’s scenario analysis made clear that the net effect of higher tariffs is to reduce aggregate regional growth and increase downside tail risks for 2026.
Public and private sector balance sheets also continued to matter. The legacy of high sovereign and corporate borrowing in parts of the region, particularly where pandemic fiscal expansion was followed by weak growth, meant that a handful of economies entered 2026 with limited fiscal space for aggressive countercyclical packages. The World Bank’s East Asia and Pacific update emphasised that countries relying heavily on short-term stimulus rather than on structural reform could face slower job creation and weaker medium-term growth. At the same time, the ADB’s lending operations in 2025 – including programme loans aimed at regulatory reform and business-environment improvements – sought to shore up investment climates in frontier and middle-income economies, recognising that private investment will be the decisive force for sustainable job creation if regulatory and infrastructure bottlenecks are addressed.
Solicitor (Founder)
Tel: +61 1800 714 122 vicky@infinitysolicitors.com.au www.infinitysolicitors.com
Infinity Solicitors (Sydney) has established itself as one of Australia’s most trusted and dynamic boutique commercial law firms. Founded by Principal Solicitor Vicky Peng, the firm is built on a foundation of legal precision, cultural understanding and client dedication. With a practice spanning commercial transactions, financial licence acquisitions, cross-border advisory and dispute resolution, Infinity serves both domestic and international clients with tailored, practical and accessible legal solutions.
The firm’s clients range from small to medium-sized enterprises to private investors and overseas companies entering the Australian market. Many of these clients face intricate regulatory challenges or language barriers, and Infinity has developed a reputation for bridging these gaps with clarity and empathy.
Under the leadership of Ms Peng, the firm brings a wealth of experience to the commercial law arena. Admitted to practise in the Supreme Court of New South Wales and the High Court of Australia, Ms Peng has acted in complex corporate and fiduciary disputes, as well as high-value commercial transactions. She is a member of the Law Society of New South Wales and an active participant in its pro bono scheme. Recently, Ms Peng advised international clients on acquiring Australian financial licences, assisting listed overseas companies in meeting rigorous compliance standards and expanding their footprint in the Australian market. One of her recent works includes a three-year cross-jurisdictional corporate dispute before the interstate Supreme Court, exemplifying the firm’s capability in handling complex matters with strategic foresight.
Practice Director
Tel:
Similarly, the firm has achieved several notable successes over the past year, including representing local and international clients in multi-party commercial disputes across various levels of courts, involving cross-border investment interests. Despite time zone differences and complex coordination among multiple parties, Infinity managed the matter efficiently using digital collaboration tools and meticulous case planning. The firm further acted for foreign investors in obtaining Australian Financial Services Licences (AFSL), navigating ASIC regulations and coordinating with compliance specialists to ensure full statutory compliance.
Through video conferencing, digital document management and the careful adoption of AI-assisted tools, Infinity delivers seamless legal services to clients across borders without compromising quality or ethics. These technologies have not only enhanced the firm’s operational agility but also allowed it to engage with clients in real time, regardless of geography. Crucially, Ms Peng views technology not as a replacement for professional judgement, but as a tool that amplifies human insight and client service.
Looking ahead, Infinity aims to deepen its expertise in high-tech and digital sectors, including FinTech, digital currencies and emerging technologies. The firm recognises that these industries present both opportunity and risk for clients, and intends to provide sophisticated yet practical legal guidance in these evolving fields. Alongside this expansion, Infinity will continue to refine its digital and AI-assisted workflows – ensuring its services remain efficient, transparent and client-centric.
Shore Lawyers is a well-established Australian law firm recognised among Sydney’s leading small to medium-size practices for the breadth and depth of its legal services. With offices in North Sydney and the Sydney CBD, the firm offers clients access to a comprehensive suite of legal expertise spanning litigation, commercial and corporate law, property (including conveyancing and leasing), wills and estates, family law, employment, criminal law, planning and development, as well as regulatory compliance.
At the core of Shore Lawyers’ appeal is its commitment to providing tailored, client-centred solutions – whether a straightforward conveyancing transaction, a complex business sale/acquisition or a high-stakes dispute that may require court representation. Their property law and conveyancing services are designed to make buying, selling or leasing real estate as seamless and stress-free as possible. The firm handles every aspect of a property transaction: from undertaking title and encumbrance searches and preparing or reviewing contracts, to ensuring that all legal documentation is correctly drafted and lodged, coordinating with banks, real estate agents and lenders, as well as managing settlement processes. For lease negotiations, they advise on agreements and assist with caveat registration or removal when required.
Beyond transactional work, Shore Lawyers further advises on strategic and regulatory aspects of property and development. For clients involved in building, construction or development projects – including planning applications and zoning matters – the firm draws on its experienced Planning & Development Law practice to guide applications
and help navigate complex regulatory regimes. In the event of disputes, such as a refusal of a development application or environmental/planning objections, the firm leverages its litigation capabilities, working with expert consultants and senior counsel to advocate for clients before the relevant authorities or courts.
With more than two decades’ legal experience, including tenures at both mid- and top-tier firms, the firm’s Practice Director Tatiana (Tia) Stack brings to the firm a robust background in commercial, property and M&A work, as well as litigation across banking, finance, corporate, family and criminal matters. Her admission to the bar in 2011 marked the start of her practice in courtroom advocacy. Since mid-2013, she has led her own practice group, with a strong emphasis on dispute resolution – whether by commercial settlement or, where required, full court litigation.
Under Tia’s direction, the firm combines commercial acumen with meticulous attention to detail and a client-focused ethos. Her expertise in property law – including conveyancing, leasing, mortgages and property-related disputes – makes her an especially valuable resource for clients navigating the often-complex Australian real estate and development landscape.
In essence, Shore Lawyers’ approach is defined by professionalism, responsiveness and a commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes for clients. Its multi-disciplinary team of experienced lawyers, paralegals and support staff enables the provision of integrated legal services across multiple domains.
Courtenay Poulden Partner cpoulden@bpclaw.com.au
Scott Hall-Johnston Partner scott@bpclaw.com.au
Mark Nelson Partner mark@bpclaw.com.au
Kate Henderson Partner kate@bpclaw.com.au
Beilby Poulden Costello
Tel: +61 2 8280 6900 www.bpclaw.com.au
BPC Lawyers is a specialist personal injury law firm based in Sydney, established in 1975. The firm represents individuals who have suffered injury as a result of motor vehicle accidents, workplace incidents, medical negligence and public liability events. The team includes Law Society of NSW Accredited Specialists, recognised for their expertise in complex and high-value litigation. They are committed to delivering clear, practical advice and strong advocacy, ensuring clients receive fair compensation in challenging circumstances.
Courtenay Poulden
With a legal career spanning nearly four decades, Courtenay Poulden has been a Partner of BPC Lawyers since 1990 and is an Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law and a recognised authority in the field. He is a contributing author to the Personal Injury Law Manual in New South Wales, published by the Law Book Company, and has appeared in many leading compensation cases, including matters before the High Court of Australia.
Courtenay has dedicated his career to achieving justice for those disadvantaged by injury, acting in complex medical negligence claims. His experience extends to motor accident, public liability and Total & Permanent Disability (TPD) disputes, where his extensive expertise in personal injury legislation, procedural law and the contractual and policy issues underlying compensation and insurance disputes ensures his clients achieve the outcomes they are entitled to.
Appointed by the Motor Accident Authority to its specialist panel for catastrophic injury claims involving children, Courtenay is widely regarded as an expert in catastrophic compensation matters.
Outside the law, Courtenay brings the same integrity and fairness to his role as a Judicial Member of the New South Wales Rugby Union. His commitment to advocacy, excellence and community remains at the heart of his practice.
Scott Hall-Johnston
Drawing on more than 30 years’ experience, Scott Hall-Johnston is an Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law and one of New South Wales’ most respected practitioners in the field. His expertise spans motor vehicle accidents, public and product liability claims, institutional abuse and workers’ compensation.
Practising across all relevant jurisdictions in NSW, Scott combines a strong command of personal injury legislation and litigation procedure with a pragmatic, results-driven approach. His clients value his clear, strategic advice and the assurance that outcomes align with the realistic guidance he provides from the outset.
Scott’s reputation for excellence is reflected in the many referrals he receives from both past clients and solicitors with whom he has previously acted. He has been involved in numerous significant appellate decisions, including Hunt v Knight Frank (NSW) Pty Ltd, Smalley v Motor Accident Authority of NSW, Hickson v Goodman Fielder Ltd
and Dokoza v Stadkite Pty Ltd, which have helped shape modern personal injury jurisprudence in NSW.
Approachable, insightful and unwaveringly professional, Scott is dedicated to delivering fair and practical outcomes for those affected by injury.
Mark Nelson
Since his admission in 2000, Mark Nelson has built a distinguished career as an Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law and is widely known for his practical and client-focused approach. He is dedicated to helping injured clients navigate their claims effectively, achieving fair and best case outcomes.
Mark’s expertise spans motor vehicle accidents, public liability, workers’ compensation, Total & Permanent Disability (TPD) and income protection disputes. His command of personal injury legislation and insurance procedure equips him to identify the most effective pathways to resolution and deliver consistently positive results.
Having previously acted for insurers in motor accident, workers’ compensation and common law industrial accident claims, Mark offers valuable insight into the strategies and processes of opposing parties, allowing him to approach each case with foresight and precision.
He regularly represents clients before the District and Supreme Courts of NSW, as well as in matters before the Personal Injury Commission.
Known for his calm professionalism and strategic approach, Mark takes pride in guiding clients through challenging circumstances with empathy and clear, outcome-focused advice.
Kate Henderson
Admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW in 1995, Kate Henderson is an Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law with the Law Society of NSW. She brings three decades’ experience in complex and high-value litigation, including catastrophic motor accident, medical negligence and public liability claims.
Kate has built an exceptional reputation for her work in medical negligence matters, particularly those involving birth injuries and cerebral palsy. She has successfully represented clients who have suffered life-changing injuries, such as brain damage, paraplegia, quadriplegia and amputation, always striving to secure the best possible outcomes with empathy and determination.
Kate’s clients describe her as deeply committed, compassionate and unrelenting in her pursuit of justice. Kate considers it a privilege to represent individuals and families affected by serious injury, and draws inspiration from their courage and resilience.
Beyond law, Kate’s discipline and focus were first forged through sport – she is a former Australian representative in springboard and platform diving. Today, that same drive defines her legal practice: precise, strategic and unwaveringly client focused.
Beijing Dacheng Law Offices, LLP (Shanghai)
Ming Wu, FCIArb Senior Partner
Tel: +86 21 5878 5888 ming.wu@dentons.cn www.dentons.cn www.dacheng.com
Founded in 1992, Dacheng is among the first partnership law firms established in China, and has grown to become one of the country’s largest. With more than 8000 lawyers in more than 50 offices nationwide, Dacheng provides clients with a full spectrum of legal services and maintains leading capabilities across nearly all practice areas. Through continuous innovation, reform and specialisation, the firm upholds the highest standards of professional quality. From traditional legal services to emerging practice areas, Dacheng has consistently remained at the forefront of China’s legal industry.
Ming Wu, Senior Partner, serves as one of Dacheng’s Heads of International Dispute Resolution, and was named International Arbitration Lawyer of the Year 2024 at Dacheng Shanghai.
Ming has practised as a full-time lawyer for more than 25 years. He studied law in both Shanghai and Nottingham, earning LLB degrees in China and the UK, followed by a Master of Arts in Anti-Corruption Studies at the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) in Vienna. After completing the Legal Practice Course (LPC) at Nottingham Law School with Distinction, he became the first Chinese lawyer to take and pass the UK’s newly introduced Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test, thereby qualifying as a Solicitor of England & Wales. Upon returning to China in 2011, he became one of the few Mainland China-based lawyers qualified in both China and England & Wales, focusing on litigation and international arbitration.
In May 2023, Ming was admitted as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb) in recognition of his proven expertise and advanced skills in the field of international arbitration. In July 2023, he was nominated by the Chinese government and successfully elected as one of the six international judges of the Independent Employment Tribunal of the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO), an intergovernmental organisation, where he serves alongside the former President of the NATO Administrative Tribunal. He currently serves as an arbitrator of the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC), a member of the Specialist Mediator Panel (China) of the Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC) and an arbitrator of the Nanjing Arbitration Commission.
In Mainland China, Ming has long represented international clients in complex commercial litigation before courts at all levels. The industries involved include advanced manufacturing, chemicals, finance, shipbuilding, electrical equipment, power plant engineering, automotive components, agricultural products and online gaming. The disputes have covered a wide spectrum, including shareholder control disputes, share and assets transfer disputes, investment and wealth management disputes, construction and equipment engineering disputes, financial leasing disputes, loan disputes, as well as trade disputes.
In a long-running shareholder control dispute between a foreign investor and its Chinese partner, the parties underwent multiple proceedings, including an ICC arbitration in Hong Kong and enforcement of the award in Mainland China – in addition to parallel court actions before an Intermediate People’s Court and a High People’s Court. During the court proceedings, Ming leveraged his deep understanding of Chinese judicial procedure to secure a full reversal
on appeal and successful enforcement, despite an unfavourable first-instance judgment, earning high praise for his strategic advocacy, deep procedural insight and outstanding professional excellence.
Moreover, Ming has represented numerous Chinese state-owned enterprises, private companies and high-net-worth individuals in litigation proceedings before courts outside Mainland China, including those in the US, the UK, Hong Kong and the Cayman Islands. These cases have involved disputes arising from investments, M&A, international trade and gift agreements, combined with the recognition and enforcement of arbitral interim measures before foreign courts.
Supported by his solid foundation in both Chinese law and common law, and drawing on his long-standing practice experience, Ming is able to deliver high-quality and efficient dispute resolution strategies that transcend jurisdictional boundaries and maximise his clients’ interests.
In the field of international arbitration, Ming possesses broad and hands-on experience. He frequently acts as counsel for Chinese and foreign clients in cases administered under the rules of leading institutions, such as the LCIA, ICC, SIAC, HKIAC, CIETAC, SHIAC, SCIA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Notably, he represented the claimant in an HKIAC arbitration, and successfully secured an interim measure from the Chongqing No 1 Intermediate People’s Court over assets exceeding US$30 million. This landmark case was the first of its kind in Chongqing, establishing an important local precedent. He has further acted on behalf of parties seeking recognition and enforcement in Mainland China of final arbitral awards rendered by such overseas institutions as CAS and the International Cotton Association (ICA). Among these, the recognition and enforcement of a CAS arbitral award by the Dalian No 1 Intermediate People’s Court was the first case of its kind in China.
His cases in the field of international arbitration have covered a wide range of disputes, including joint venture and share transfer disputes, international construction and equipment supply contracts, international trade and commission agreements, private equity buyback disputes and offshore USD bond investments, as well as employee compensation and equity incentive disputes.
In early 2025, Ming was selected by the Shanghai Bureau of Justice as one of the first Dingxin Legal Talents and awarded the title of Cultivator – in recognition of his outstanding expertise and contributions in litigation and international arbitration, his strong development potential and his proven record of undertaking core responsibilities.
In early 2025, Ming was selected by the Shanghai Bureau of Justice as one of the first Dingxin Legal Talents and awarded the title of Cultivator.
PatentSino IP Firm
Dr Jifu Liu
President
Tel: +86 13811685980 jifuliu@patentsino.com www.patentsino.com
Rosita Lau, MH, FCILT Partner and Head of Shipping, Port & Terminal & Insurance Practice
Tel: +852 2877 3221 rositalau@incehk.com www.incehk.com
Founded in 2012, PatentSino IP Firm has evolved into one of China’s most respected and dynamic IP practitioners, earning recognition as a trusted partner for both domestic innovators and international corporations. Under the leadership of Dr Jifu Liu, President of the firm and a distinguished figure in the IP field, PatentSino has built a reputation for technical excellence, innovation and reliability.
With more than 20 years’ experience in IP, Dr Liu brings a unique blend of academic insight and practical expertise to his role. A former university educator and R&D manager, he combines a deep understanding of complex technologies with a sophisticated grasp of global IP strategy. His professional standing is reflected through his roles in the All-China Patent Attorneys Association (ACPAA) and the AIPPI China Branch, as well as his position as an appointed expert for the Beijing Intellectual Property Expert Database. Among his accolades, Dr Liu was named a 2025 Intellectual Property Star by Managing Intellectual Property and handled a patent that earned the prestigious 25th China Patent Gold Award.
PatentSino employs more than 230 professionals across six offices located in Beijing, Tianjin, Xi’an, Dalian, Hefei and Fuzhou, and has been honoured as a Top 10 Leading Patent Firm in Beijing, a 5A Patent Firm and a 5-Star IP Firm – having also been ranked among the IAM Top 1000 Patent Firms Worldwide. In addition, it has developed a highly efficient process management software that optimises workflow, enhances quality control and
ensures reliability across all cases. Similarly, the firm’s global network of partnerships with leading law firms across the US, Europe, Japan and South Korea, etc, allows it to deliver seamless cross-border IP protection.
Today, the firm’s domestic clientele includes such top innovators as Hikvision, BOE Technology Group and Amperex Technology Limited (ATL), while globally, it works with prestigious companies like HOYA, Sumitomo Electric Industries and Osram. More than 70% of the firm’s filings are for domestic clients, emphasising its foothold in the Chinese innovation ecosystem – while its handling of more than 900 overseas patent applications annually highlights its growing international influence.
Over the past year, PatentSino has achieved remarkable success by strategically expanding into high-growth sectors, encompassing new energy, AI and pharma. By establishing specialised teams to address the unique IP challenges in these industries, the firm has positioned itself as a key partner for companies driving the next wave of technological advancement. For instance, in the new energy sector, PatentSino identified early opportunities in battery technology and energy storage, and has since become a key adviser to ATL, supporting the development of a robust and high-value patent portfolio.
PatentSino’s vision is clear: to continue providing world-class IP services that bridge China with the global economy, empowering inventors and enterprises to safeguard and grow their most valuable asset – innovation.
Rosita Lau, MH, a senior partner of Ince & Co Hong Kong, is widely respected for her commitment to excellence in the maritime industry. With more than 25 years’ experience, Rosita has cultivated a pre-eminent position, covering shipping, logistics, port and terminal, insurance and international trade disputes. Renowned for her formidable advocacy, attention to detail and client care in resolving complex commercial disputes, she is instructed on the shipping and connected industries in Hong Kong, Mainland China, additional Asian countries and international maritime jurisdictions.
Ince & Co Hong Kong stands as a distinguished and independent international law firm with an enduring heritage that stretches back more than 150 years. Rosita’s leadership has led the firm to receive such accolades as Seatrade Maritime Awards Asia’s “Best Shipping Law Firm in Asia” award on eight occasions. Her practice spans charterparty disputes, bills of lading claims, ship repair disputes, cargo claims, crew injury matters, vessel arrest, sanctions, maritime crisis and regulatory issues, in addition to shipbuilding and pollution cases, acting for a distinguished roster of clients. Meanwhile, her expertise extends to aviation and broader commercial disputes, regularly representing clients in litigation at all levels of court, as well as in international arbitration and mediation.
Further industry recognition has included being named by The Legal 500 as a Leading Individual in Shipping for 20 consecutive years and
inducted as a Hall of Fame Partner. She is similarly recognised as a Dispute Star and Litigation Star in Benchmark Litigation assessments, as well as “Best in Shipping” by Euromoney at their Asia Women in Business Law Awards. She appeared twice on Lloyd’s List among the “The World’s Top Ten Shipping Lawyers” and “Top 100 Most Influential Maritime Personnel in the World”, having been named “Individual Maritime Lawyer of the Year”, and is the first and only recipient of such accolades. She was ranked by both Chambers Global and Chambers Asia-Pacific in Shipping & Insurance – and has been acknowledged by Chambers Great China as a Band 1 Lawyer in both Shipping Litigation and Insurance Contentious Practice.
Amid her busy practice, Rosita has served Hong Kong and the maritime industry under various public service appointments. Her steadfast support in the development and promotion of Hong Kong’s maritime industry resulted in a Medal of Honour from the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region – the first and only maritime law award of its kind. Her contribution is further evidenced by appointments to the Maritime Services Development Committee of the Hong Kong Maritime & Port Development Board, the Maritime Industry Council and the Hong Kong Maritime & Port Board – culminating in her designation as Chairman of the Promotion & External Relations Committee of the Board, alongside a role organising the annual flagship event, Hong Kong Maritime Week, for years.
Ignatius Andy Law Offices
Ignatius Andy Founding Partner
Tel: +62 21 515 0350 ignatius.andy@ignatiusandy.com www.ignatiusandy.com
Ignatius Andy Law Offices (IALO) was established by Ignatius Andy in July 2004. IALO has been recognised as a prominent boutique law firm in Indonesia for years, and grows substantially due to rapid expansion of its legal services and client base. Today, the firm predominantly focuses its practice on dispute resolution, arbitration and antitrust issues, as well as corporate and commercial matters. Its dispute resolution and corporate commercial services include domestic/international and complex civil and commercial proceedings, bankruptcy, suspension of payment, business competition judicial proceedings, domestic and international arbitration, debt restructuring, as well as corporate and commercial transactions.
Specifically, IALO represents and assists a diverse spread of clients across key sectors, spanning: consumer goods and retail; energy, mining and infrastructure; industrial and construction, manufacturing and transportation; in addition to technology, media and telecoms. Notable clients include: Danone, Procter & Gamble (P&G), World Bank, Coca-Cola, Carrefour, Newmont Corporation, Unilever, L’Oreal, Exxon, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Nestlé, Prudential, Manulife, IBM, Citibank, PT Astra International Tbk, PT Vale Indonesia Tbk, Sanofi – Aventis, Kraft Foods International, Indofood, Dupont, DOW Chemical, Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Caterpillar, UBS, Credit Suisse AG Singapore, Telkomsel, Shopee, Kempinski, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Air Liquide and Wings Group.
The firm’s Founding Partner, Ignatius Andy, graduated cum laude in 1992 from Parahyangan Catholic University and commenced his legal career at Makarim & Taira S., concentrating on commercial dispute resolution and corporate commercial matters. He joined Hadiputranto, Hadinoto & Partners (HHP) – correspondent office of Baker McKenzie in Jakarta – in 1996, in the banking and finance practice group, and subsequently played a significant role in the establishment and leadership of HHP’s litigation group. He became Partner of HHP in 2001, prior to establishing IALO.
In acknowledgement of the high-quality services they provide, IALO and Ignatius Andy have received various reputable awards as “Law Firm of the Year” and leading lawyer for dispute resolution, litigation, arbitration/ADR, corporate, finance/financial transactions and labour/employment, as well as business competition, from such respected outlets as asialaw Leading Lawyers, Asia Business Law Journal, Chambers Asia-Pacific, Corporate INTL, Asian-Mena Counsel, Monthly Finance Global Awards, Legal Comprehensive Law Awards, DealMakers, M&A Global Rankings, LawyerIssue Awards, Global Law Experts, Lawyers World Law Award, The Legal 100, The Legal 500, Who’s Who Legal and Benchmark Litigation, among others. Ignatius Andy himself is also listed among the 100 most prominent lawyers in Indonesia for a period covering more than five years.
Ignatius Andy has further developed extensive litigation skills and expertise, and has the unique capability of combining his years of litigation experience with an extensive understanding of corporate,
banking and finance transactions – highly effective attributes in assisting reputable multinational corporate clients in analysing multi-faceted legal issues. Similarly, Ignatius Andy, along with the rest of the firm, has been comprehensively involved in major – as well as challenging and precedent-setting – litigation cases. These include representing Newmont in a high-profile environment court proceeding; assisting Carrefour in settling disputes with its major Indonesian competitors; representing Prudential in significant arbitration proceedings, as well as many other complex litigations. In 2019, Ignatius Andy represented the Indonesian President Joko Widodo in constitutional court proceedings related to the presidential election, as well as representing the government of the Republic of Indonesia in high-profile state-administrative proceedings pertaining to the revocation of a government decision against HTI.
Overall, Ignatius Andy’s wide-ranging skill set enables him to excel in matters of both domestic and international arbitration proceedings. His notable case work extends to representing one of the largest mining companies in the world as respondent in contractual disputes with respect to shares divestment through United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) arbitration proceedings – and in a case related to a loan agreement and shareholder dispute through Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) proceedings. Currently, he is listed as Arbitrator at the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC), China Maritime Arbitration Commission, Indonesian Arbitration & Mediation Centre (PAMI) and the Borneo International Center for Arbitration & Mediation (BICAM). He was elected by the ICC World Council as an alternate member of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Court of Arbitration. This prestigious election marks another international recognition of the firm’s reputation within the legal profession – and will no doubt benefit IALO clients in resolving their commercial disputes across a global context.
Meanwhile, Ignatius Andy acts as expert witness in various international judicial proceedings, in tandem with domestic and international arbitration proceedings, such as fulfilling the role of expert witness on Indonesian law before the Hong Kong High Court; acting as expert witness with respect to business competition law issues in SIAC proceedings; providing expert opinion in connection with one of the largest suspension of payment (PKPU) cases in Indonesia in the United States Court; and providing written expert opinion related to the Indonesian court jurisdiction to adjudicate foreign parties in Texas District Court proceedings.
He is registered at the International Bar Association (IBA), the Indonesian Advocates Organization (PERADI) and the Indonesian Arbitrators Institute.
Competition & Antitrust, Dispute Resolution & Litigation, International Arbitration, Corporate Commercial Matters, Debt Restructuring, Bankruptcy and Suspension of Payment.
SS&R Legal Consultants
Rahajeng Handayani Partner
Tel: +62 21 29865151 +62 251 7598668 rhandayani@srlegals.com www.srlegals.com
PRAWIRANEGARA Intellectual Property
Chamelia Sari Managing Partner Tel: +(62–21) 4786 8970; 4786 8971
cameljovie@yahoo.com info@prawiranegara.co.id www.prawiranegara.co.id
SS&R Legal Consultants (SR Legals) was established in Indonesia in 2000 by a group of lawyers who have many years’ comprehensive and commercial experience in other law firms and/or have acted as legal counsel in national and multinational companies. As a result, the firm can deploy specialists to deal with any issue that may arise in any complex transaction or during the course of its commercial clients’ operations.
SR Legals’ experience and expertise covers a wide range of industries, such as aviation, banking and financial services, construction and infrastructure, energy, food, healthcare and consumer products, media, mining, technology, as well as telecoms. Members of the firm have advised and represented clients from all around the world, investing in Indonesia or dealing with matters concerning Indonesian jurisdiction. These clients consist of individual and institutional entities, as well as private and public companies.
SR Legals’ IP Practice provides advice to clients on general contentious and non-contentious matters related to Indonesian IP law, with a focus on IP Registration and Transactions services in combination with IP Protection & Enforcement.
The IP Registration offering encompasses filings and registrations of all types of IP, including: patents, trademarks, copyright, industrial designs, trade secrets, layout designs of integrated circuits, plant variety rights, domain names, as well as product registrations (foods, cosmetics and pharma). Furthermore, the firm provides advice and counselling on procedural and substantive rules of IP, such as the use of trademarks, patentability of inventions, patent drafting
and advice on availability and possibility of protection for industrial designs and copyrights. To support these services, SR Legals’ IP Team has a database system organising internal IP data for patents, trademarks, industrial design and copyright registration.
In matters of IP transactions, SR Legals advises and represents clients in preparing and reviewing drafts of licence agreements, franchise agreements, software agreements and licences, R&D agreements, in addition to IP acquisition agreements. Its experts’ continual involvement in commercial transactions allows them to work closely with other practices to facilitate a better understanding of the nature and extent of IP rights in corporate and commercial transactions. Meanwhile, in the area of protection and enforcement of IP, together with its Dispute Resolution Practice, the firm provides a one-stop solution that is cost-effective and efficient for clients in all aspects of enforcement – ranging from anti-piracy programmes to enforcement and protection of clients’ IP portfolios.
Rahajeng Handayani is an Advocate & IP Consultant with a Law degree from State University in Indonesia, and has a UCLA Extension on International Trade & General Management. She speaks Indonesian and English, is specialised in IP, Dispute Resolution and Franchise/Licence, and her professional memberships include the APAA, INTA, the AIPPI, the Association of Indonesia IP Consultants (AKHKI) and the Indonesia Advocate Association (PERADI).
Established in 1999, PRAWIRANEGARA Intellectual Property has emerged as a leading law firm in Indonesia, specialising in comprehensive IP services. With its headquarters in Jakarta and an additional office in Bali, the firm is strategically positioned to serve a diverse clientele, spanning individuals, startups, SMEs, government institutions and multinational corporations, including Fortune Global 500 corporations. The firm’s commitment to excellence is reflected in its tailored solutions, which address the unique challenges faced by clients across key industries.
PRAWIRANEGARA offers a full spectrum of IP services, encompassing:
• Trademarks: Conducting clearance searches, registration, renewals, assignments, licensing, monitoring and litigation.
• Patents: Providing patent drafting, filing, prosecution and enforcement services, as well as patent translation.
• Copyrights: Assisting with registration, licensing and protection of creative works.
• Industrial Designs: Handling registration and enforcement of design rights.
• Geographical Indications: Advising on the registration and protection of products linked to specific geographic origins.
• Trade Secrets: Offering strategies to safeguard confidential business information.
The firm’s influence extends beyond Indonesia, with established collaborations in more than 198 countries – a global network that enables PRAWIRANEGARA to assist clients in navigating international IP landscapes effectively. The firm’s integrated
approach ensures that clients receive end-to-end support, from initial consultations to enforcement actions, and its excellence in these matters has been acknowledged through several prestigious awards, such as: an International Professional Award (2004) from the Ministry of Research & Technology, Republic of Indonesia; Global Awards Winner (2010, 2017, 2023, 2025, 2026) from Corporate INTL, UK; Annual Awards Winner (2013, 2015) from Global Law Experts, UK; as well as Corporate IP Lawyer of the Year in Indonesia (2020) from Leaders in Law, UK.
Chamelia Sari
Leading PRAWIRANEGARA is Managing Partner
Chamelia Sari, a distinguished IP attorney with a robust academic and professional background. Ms Sari holds a Bachelor of Economy from LABORA School of Management (2001), an LLB from Universitas Krisnadwipayana (2004) and two LLM degrees – one from Gadjah Mada University (2011) and the other from Northeastern University School of Law, US (2018), specialising in IP & Technology. Her international training includes programmes at Harvard Law School, UC Davis School of Law and World Intellectual Property Office. Ms Sari’s professional affiliations are extensive, being a member of the Association of Indonesian Advocates (PERADI) and the Association of Indonesian Intellectual Property Consultants (AKHKI). Globally, she serves as Vice President of the Association of European Lawyers (AEA), representing the Asian region, and holds committee positions in the International Trademark Association (INTA), the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) and Boston Intellectual Property Law Association (BIPLA).
Kennedys / Legal Solutions LLC
Robson (Teck Leng) Lee Partner, Kennedys Director, Legal Solutions LLC
Tel: +65 6436 4322 robson.lee@kennedyslaw.com www.robsonlee.com
Robson (Teck Leng) Lee stands at the centre of a focused Singaporean practice that blends deep securities law experience with the international reach of Kennedys and the local structure of Legal Solutions LLC. As Director of Legal Solutions LLC – the Singaporean joint law venture partner working with global firm Kennedys – Robson combines more than three decades of corporate finance and capital markets work with a practical leadership role in the firms’ corporate and regulatory offering.
He is regularly described as the senior lead on matters touching licensing, securities regulation, SGX listing compliance, corporate governance and regulatory investigations, and is the visible face for cross-border M&A and capital-raising mandates that require both local regulatory fluency and international execution.
Robson’s professional journey is a through-line of international and local experience: an Advocate & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore and a Solicitor of England & Wales, he spent two decades as a Senior Partner at one of Singapore’s long-established local firms before holding a global equity partnership in a major international firm. This background informs the way he frames securities work – not as abstract regulatory theory but as a commercial discipline that sits at the intersection of disclosure, investor protection and transactional strategy.
For clients seeking a concentrated Singapore securities capability – whether for an IPO, a cross-border acquisition, a rights issue or a regulator-led inquiry – the combination of Kennedys’ global insurance,
risk and disputes platform with Legal Solutions’ local licence and regulatory footprint creates a pragmatic product: expert securities law advice delivered with hands-on corporate transactional experience. Robson is both a practising securities lawyer on the front line and a senior counsel who can coordinate multi-jurisdictional teams when a transaction or investigation demands it. The raison d’être of this offering is to give issuers, sponsors and institutional investors a single point of accountability for Singapore law issues – all while plugging seamlessly into Kennedys’ broader global resources.
Independent directories and peer-review platforms list Robson among acknowledged practitioners for M&A and capital markets work, a validation that complements his thought leadership and professional appointments. He further contributes to industry bodies and advisory committees, reflecting a practice that is as engaged with regulatory development as it is with transactional execution. That same blend of practitioner-level credibility and institutional involvement is central to ensuring specialist technical acumen married to practical deal and disclosure experience.
In essence, Robson supplies the technical depth, market reputation and regulatory contacts that transform a regular advisory service into a market-grade securities law offering. Whether a client’s requirement is a high-stakes listing, an investor dispute or a regulator-led review, he is considered the primary counsel to navigate Singapore’s securities landscape while drawing on Kennedys’ international platform where matters extend beyond local borders.
Colombo Law Alliance
Dr Asanga Gunawansa President’s Counsel; Lead Counsel of Colombo Law Alliance
Tel: +94 77 393 8342
asanga.gunawansa@colombolaw.com
www.colombo-law.com
From its inception, Colombo Law Alliance set out to fill a gap in the Sri Lankan legal landscape: to combine the meticulous, hands-on approach of a boutique practice with the deep cross-border experience and subject-matter specialisation more commonly associated with large international law firms. Founded by Dr Asanga Gunawansa and Senior Attorney-at-Law Dilshan Jayasuriya, it has remained lean in size but global in scope. The chamber’s work spans a wide portfolio of high-impact assignments, including some of Sri Lanka’s most significant foreign-funded initiatives, such as the Colombo Port City Development Project, the Hambantota Port Development Project, the Southern Expressway Project, as well as several other infrastructure projects in the water, power and highways sectors.
Dr Gunawansa’s 33 years at the Sri Lankan Bar are marked by a rare combination of academic excellence, international exposure and senior-level public service. His qualifications include a PhD in Law from the National University of Singapore and an LLM in International Economic Law from the University of Warwick. These academic foundations were complemented by key roles at the United Nations Relief & Works Agency and the United Nations Compensation Commission, where he gained first-hand experience in international claims processes, cross-border regulatory governance and the interface between domestic legal systems and global institutional structures. His later consultancy assignments with the Asian Development Bank and the Green Climate Fund further strengthened his understanding of the legal frameworks underpinning international finance, climate governance and development projects.
From 2007–2012, he served as an Assistant Professor of Law at the National University of Singapore, one of Asia’s premier academic institutions. His current roles include Visiting Professor at the University of Moratuwa and General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, as well as membership in the Board of Studies of the Council of Legal Education of Sri Lanka. His national service extends to his leadership of the Interim Secretariat for Truth & Reconciliation from 2023–2024 – a government-established body tasked with making recommendations to foster ethnic and religious harmony. Presently, he serves as a member of the National Procurement Commission of Sri Lanka.
Dr Gunawansa’s scholarly contributions include the widely respected Asia-Pacific Construction
Law Casebook Series, along with numerous articles and chapters in international journals and publications. His work as an arbitrator – supported by his status as a Fellow of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators and registrations with SIAC, HKIAC and AIAC – enhances the chamber’s standing in both regional and global dispute resolution circles.
Supporting and complementing this leadership is the experience of Mr Jayasuriya, whose 25 years of practice in civil, commercial and public law, investment law and arbitration greatly bolster the chamber’s capabilities. His LLM from the University of London, specialising in International Investment Law & International Dispute Resolution, reflects his ability to handle complex matters involving foreign investors and multi-jurisdictional disputes. His work goes beyond the courtroom and boardroom into the realm of sports governance, where he serves as the Honorary Legal Consultant to the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka. In this capacity, he has contributed substantively to reforms in sports laws and regulations, representing the Olympic Movement in Sri Lanka and participating in international programmes conducted by the International Olympic Committee and the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne. His previous role as Honorary Legal Consultant to the Ministry of Defence and current appointment as a Member of the National Police Commission underscore the breadth of his experience in public sector governance and regulatory compliance.
The chamber’s services cover a broad spectrum of commercial advisory and dispute resolution work, but its special strength lies in contract law and infrastructure-related engagements. Its recent successes include the completion of two international arbitrations involving complex commercial issues; the negotiation and preparation of documents for three major construction projects; representation of international and local sports bodies in high-profile litigation; and successful advocacy in a range of commercial and real estate disputes.
Looking ahead, the chambers anticipates a surge in activity driven by Sri Lanka’s renewed focus on economic and regulatory reform following the 2024 elections. The government’s intention to modernise investment laws, strengthen institutional frameworks and attract FDI – especially in sustainable energy and transport infrastructure – creates an environment in which Colombo Law Alliance expects to play a pivotal role.
Julius & Creasy
Anomi Wanigasekera
Senior Partner
Tel: +9411 2336277 anomi@juliusandcreasy.lk www.juliusandcreasy.com
JIRAWAT & ASSOCIATES LAW OFFICE
Jirawat Leelawanich
Managing Partner Tel: +66 93 251 4500
jirawat@jirawatlaw.co.th www.jirawatlawoffice.co.th
Julius & Creasy stands at the forefront of Sri Lanka’s legal profession as one of the nation’s most distinguished and long-standing law firms. Established more than a century ago, the firm has earned an enduring reputation for excellence, innovation and integrity. Among its many practice areas, the IP division has become particularly renowned for its depth of expertise and international recognition. Under the leadership of Ms Anomi Wanigasekera, Senior Partner and head of the IP division, Julius & Creasy continues to set benchmarks in IP law, both locally and globally.
Ms Wanigasekera’s impressive track record has earned her numerous accolades from esteemed global bodies. She has been recognised by The Legal 500 in its Hall of Fame, as well as by Chambers and Partners as a Band 1 lawyer in IP (2022–2025). Her excellence has also been celebrated by The Lawyer Network, The Legal 100, M&A Today and Corporate America Today, among others, naming her “Best Partner of the Year” and “Full-Service Lawyer of the Year” in Sri Lanka across multiple years.
The IP division of Julius & Creasy has itself achieved an equally impressive series of distinctions, including being named Sri Lanka Patent Firm of the Year at the Asia IP Awards in (2023–2024), as well as being recognised as a Tier 1 firm for patents, trademarks and copyright by Asia IP.
Julius & Creasy’s IP practice offers a comprehensive range of services, handling everything
from searches and applications to enforcement, renewals and recordals. Clients further benefit from the firm’s expertise in drafting and negotiating licensing, distribution and technology transfer agreements. Although Sri Lanka does not offer a formal copyright registration system, the team provides strategic advice and dispute resolution services on copyright and related issues.
Moreover, Julius & Creasy represents an impressive portfolio of multinational corporations, including many Fortune 500 companies, as well as leading Sri Lankan conglomerates. Its international reach is additionally reflected in its collaboration with prominent trademark agents and law firms in the UK, US, EU, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and India.
In the past year alone, the firm has managed more than 7,500 trademark prosecutions from filing to registration, filed 1000 new trademark applications, completed 1,750 renewals and handled more than 160 trademark assignments and licence recordals. Its patent team filed 58 new applications and 335 renewals in the same period.
As technology evolves, Julius & Creasy remains proactive in addressing such emerging challenges as digital infringement and cross-border enforcement. To this end, the firm conducts discreet investigations and collaborates with domain registries to safeguard clients’ digital IP rights. Litigation is pursued only as a last resort –with the primary aim being the swift and practical resolution of disputes.
Under the leadership of Managing Partner Jirawat Leelawanich, Jirawat & Associates Law Office has emerged as a trusted legal adviser for individuals, corporations and foreign investors navigating Thailand’s intricate administrative and regulatory framework.
At the heart of the firm’s success lies its full-service administrative law practice, representing clients before Thailand’s Administrative Courts in cases that challenge the legality of administrative orders, contest complex PPP agreements and address disputes involving state concessions, environmental permits and public resource management. Its lawyers possess a rare depth of experience in matters related to government contracts, procurement and state liability claims, where precision, legal acumen and procedural mastery are essential.
Jirawat’s preventative legal strategies guide clients through Thailand’s often opaque licensing and regulatory systems to ensure compliance and mitigate future disputes. His work frequently involves advising corporations on regulatory risks linked to infrastructure, energy, telecoms and industrial development projects. Over the years, he has developed specialised proficiency in environmental and industrial law matters that fall under the jurisdiction of the Administrative Court, reflecting his commitment to both sustainable legal solutions and the rule of law. With an LLB (Honours) from the Faculty of Law, Ramkhamhaeng University – as well as LLMs in International Human Rights (with Merit) and Criminal Justice & Human Rights from the University of Aberdeen – Jirawat is optimally qualified as a Thai Barrister-at-Law for the Thai Bar Under Royal Patronage.
Certified by the Lawyers Council of Thailand, his expertise goes beyond administrative law – further spanning government procurement law, competition law and white-collar crime.
Integrity remains the cornerstone of the firm’s identity, reflected in its commitment to transparency, accountability and ethical advocacy. Its clientele is diverse, encompassing Thai enterprises, multinational corporations and private investors seeking to navigate the complexities of doing business in Thailand. For foreign investors in particular, Jirawat’s expertise provides an invaluable advantage. Understanding Thailand’s administrative and regulatory systems requires not only technical knowledge but also cultural fluency and experience in engaging with governmental bodies. Jirawat & Associates bridges this divide, offering tailored guidance that ensures compliance while protecting clients’ commercial interests.
Over the past year, the practice achieved significant milestones that reinforced its leadership position. One notable success involved defending a foreign-owned manufacturing client accused of violating Thailand’s Foreign Business Act via an alleged nominee structure. Through comprehensive regulatory analysis and persuasive advocacy, the firm secured a decisive victory, confirming the client’s compliance and preserving their investment integrity.
Looking ahead, Jirawat & Associates aims to further strengthen its position as Thailand’s premier one-stop legal provider. Its objectives include expanding cross-practice capabilities, investing in professional development and integrating advanced technologies to improve efficiency and responsiveness.
Sydney Criminal Lawyers
Ugur Nedim
Principal
Tel: +612 9261 8881 adminteam@sydneycriminallawyers.com.au www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au
Criminal Law Expert of the Year in Australia
Umbrella Legal
Kaela Carter
Principal Solicitor & Director
Tel: +612 4911 2300 kaela@umbrellalegal.com.au www.umbrellalegal.com.au
Family Law Expert of the Year in Australia
Sexton Family Law
Janine Daher
Principal Solicitor & Accredited Specialist
Tel: +61 2 8459 1400 jdaher@sextonfamilylaw.com.au www.sextonfamilylaw.com.au
Family Law Firm of the Year in Australia
Unified Lawyers
Alex Bourne Partner
Tel: 1300 667 461 info@unifiedlawyers.com.au www.unifiedlawyers.com.au
Insolvency Law Expert of the Year in Australia
Hall & Wilcox
Scott Butler Partner
Tel: +61 448 939 439 scott.butler@hallandwilcox.com.au www.hallandwilcox.com.au
Toomey Pegg Lawyers
Fred Chilton Special Counsel
Tel: +61 8297 1000 fchilton@toomeypegg.com.au www.toomeypegg.com.au
Alder IP
Anthony Alder Principal
Tel: +612 9007 9916
aalder@alderip.com.au | info@alderip.com.au www.alderip.com.au
Australian Migration Lawyers
Perry Q Wood Partner – Principal Migration Lawyer
Tel: +61 1300 109 771 contact@australianmigrationlawyers.com.au www.australianmigrationlawyers.com.au
Law Firm of the Year in
GLMR Michelle Lee Shareholder
Tel: +61 2 7208 9500 msl@glmr.law www.glmr.law
Vobis Lawyers
Francis Farmakidis Founding Partner
Tel: +61 2 9264 0868 francis.farmakidis@vobis.com.au www.vobis.com.au
Commerce & Finance Law Offices
Andrew Zhang Managing Partner
Tel: +86 10 6563 7181 zhangxinyang@tongshang.com www.tongshang.com.cn
Finance Law Firm of the Year in China
Co-effort Law Firm LLP/上海市协力律师 事务所
Frank Zhu/祝筱青 Director & Senior Partner
Tel: +8621 6886 6151
frank.zhu@co-effort.com | mail@co-effort.com www.co-effort.com
Defence Law Expert of the Year in China
Hui Ye Law Firm
Tianhang Li Senior Partner
Tel: +86 17765158866 tianhang.li@huiyelaw.com www.huiyelaw.com
Data Protection Law Firm of the Year in China
Guozun Cathay Associates
Feng Yueping Global Management Committee Chairman
Tel: +86 400 6661890 guozun@guozunlaw.com www.guozunlaw.com
Boss & Young Attorneys-At-Law
Li Gang Partner
Tel: +86 15021177880 ligang@boss-young.com www.boss-young.com
YUNG, YU, YUEN & CO., SOLICITORS and NOTARIES, HONG KONG
Bing Woon Chan Consultant Solicitor
Tel: +852 9487 7990 │+852 2532 3102 chansbsjp@gmail.com www.yungyuyuen.com
KROLL
Tarun Bhatia
Regional Managing Director & Co-Head of APAC, Investigations, Diligence & Compliance
Tel: +91 9920207042
tarun.bhatia@kroll.com www.kroll.com/en
De Penning & De Penning
Malavika Vikram
Practice Head – Litigation, Trademarks, Copyright & Design
Tel: +91 44 42213444 malavika.tv@depenning.com www.depenning.com
Sachit Jolly, Sr. Advocate
Sachit Jolly Senior Advocate
Tel: +91 9810615809 sachit@chambersofsj.law
Khaitan & Co
Sourav Dan Counsel | IP & Technology Transactions
Tel: +91 22 6636 5000 sourav.dan@khaitanco.com www.khaitanco.com
Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan
Dr Malathi Lakshmikumaran
Executive Director & Practice Head, New Delhi
Tel: +91 98183 01173
malathi.l@lakshmisri.com www.lakshmisri.com
De Penning & De Penning
Solomon J David
Practice Head – Electronics, Telecom, Energy & Software
Tel: +91 44 42213444
solomon.dj@depenning.com www.depenning.com
SKV Law Offices
Shri Venkatesh
Founding Partner
Tel: +91 98187 71818
shri.venkatesh@skvlawoffices.com www.skvlawoffices.com
De Penning & De Penning
Malavika Vikram
Practice Head – Litigation, Trademarks, Copyright & Design
Tel: +91 44 42213444
malavika.tv@depenning.com www.depenning.com
Corra Legal
Dirgantara Adinugroho Partner
Tel: +62 878 7841 2411
dirgantara.adi@corralegal.com www.corralegal.com
Toranomon Chuo Law Firm
Mochizuki Takashi Attorney-at-Law (Japan & New York) Patent Attorney (Japan)
Tel: +81 3 3591 3282 mochizuki@torachu.com www.torachu.com
Burg Law
Kenichi Nakano Partner
Tel: +81 3 6750 5495 ken@burglaw.jp www.burglaw.jp
OMNI International Patent Law Office, P.C.
Yasushi Koyama Representative
Tel: +81 6 6484 6157 info@omni-pat.com www.omni-pat.com
ASAMURA IP P.C.
Masahiro Asamura Senior Managing Partner
Tel: +81 3 6840 1536 masamura@asamura.jp www.asamura.jp/en
the Year in Japan
AKHMETOVA Law Firm Limited
Ainur Amangeldyevna Akhmetova Managing Partner & CEO
Tel: +7 700 400 22 23 a.akhmetova@alfl.kz www.alfl.kz/eng
Shortland Chambers
Alan Galbraith KC
King’s Counsel
Tel: +64 9 309 1769
argalbraith@shortlandchambers.co.nz www.shortlandchambers.co.nz
Ramdays
Mustafa Ramday Managing Partner
Tel: +9242 35717767–68
mustafa.ramday@ramdays.com www.ramdays.com
Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year in Pakistan
Bharucha & Co.
Mohammad Fazil Bharucha Partner
Tel: +92 21 3537 9544 mfb@bharuchaco.com www.bharuchaco.com
Calleja Law Office
Anthony B Peralta Senior Partner
Tel: +632 8633 6113 abp@callejalaw.com www.callejalaw.com
Namazie & Co.
Farah Namazie Founder
Tel: +65 6538 9711 farahnamazie@namazie-law.com www.namazie-law.com
Yulchon
Yongpyo Yeom Managing Partner
Tel: +82 2 528 5200 ypyeom@yulchon.com www.yulchon.com
Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year in Sri Lanka
Sudath Perera Associates
Sudath Perera Managing Partner
Tel: +94 11 755 9944 ipd@sudathpereraassociates.com www.sudathpereraassociates.com
Monroe Recruitment Consulting Group –Thailand
John Stuart Tolmie Managing Director
Tel: +66 2 055 4759 john@monroeconsulting.co.th www.monroeconsulting.com
2025 proved to be a year of cautious recovery across much of Africa, and of bifurcated momentum in the Middle East: resilient pockets of expansion in the Gulf contrasted with stagnation or contraction in several conflict-affected and sanction-hit economies. Across Africa, multilateral institutions concluded the same basic story in 2025 – growth is recovering but remains uneven, inflation pressures that dominated 2022–24 subsided, and the core policy challenge has shifted from stabilisation to job-rich, investment-led expansion.
The ECA’s Economic Report on Africa 2025 emphasised that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is now the single most important structural lever for the decade ahead: its implementation could meaningfully lift intra-regional trade and help close gaps in industrialisation, food security and digital trade – the ECA quantifies the potential gains as substantial if tariff and non-tariff barriers are tackled in earnest. This reality underpinned many capital and policy decisions in 2025 as governments and investors re-evaluated how to tilt resources towards trade-enabling infrastructure, logistics and value-chain upgrading.
Numerically, official multilateral estimates for Africa’s 2025 performance differ slightly by institution, but the convergence is informative. The AfDB’s African Economic Outlook 2025 projected growth for the continent to edge up in 2025 – the bank’s scenario analyses emphasised a mid-cycle recovery driven by private consumption and selected investment projects, while warning that growth remained below the pace needed to meet sustainable development targets without deeper reforms and mobilised domestic resources. The World Bank’s reporting in 2025 likewise highlighted an improving growth profile, noting that inflation across many Sub-Saharan economies had fallen from the highs seen earlier in the decade and that currencies had shown greater stability –conditions that helped revive private consumption and facilitate a modest pick-up in investment. Taken together, multilateral forecasts for 2026 pointed to further gradual acceleration for Africa, with plausible central-case growth in the low-to-mid 4% range provided policy discipline is maintained and external conditions do not worsen. Those conditional but consistent forecasts guided much of the policy debate in 2025: how to turn an aggregate recovery into broadbased, job-creating growth.
Within the broad continental trend, 2025 exposed familiar fault lines. Resource exporters saw revenue volatility tied to commodity cycles and, in several cases, delayed capital spending as governments repaired balance sheets after the 2022–24 shocks. Middle-income economies with deeper financial markets – South Africa, Morocco and parts of West Africa – benefitted from improved access to capital and a partial normalisation of tourism and services, though structural unemployment and weak productivity remained binding constraints. Several countries leaned on creative fiscal manoeuvres and asset sales to fund infrastructure: the FT chronicled high-profile privatisations and asset-repackagings in countries seeking to shrink fiscal deficits while preserving growth projects, a theme that echoed across 2025. Where domestic resource mobilisation moved forward – through better tax collection, privatisation proceeds or targeted public-private partnerships – the prospect for a stronger 2026 rose.
Development finance – both concessional and market-based – was a decisive theme of 2025. The AfDB and national development banks expanded lending to infrastructure projects, yet funders and borrowers confronted clear limits. In late-2025 reporting, the AfDB moved to mobilise larger replenishments and new capital as concessional windows came under strain, and Reuters reported high-visibility AfDB lending for such projects as Morocco’s airport upgrades ahead of the 2030 World Cup – tangible signs that development finance continued to target transport and tourism capacity as engines of job creation and foreign exchange earnings. At the same time, coverage in 2025 underlined a new politics of external support: competition among bilateral donors, tighter fiscal scrutiny in major shareholders, as well as heightened expectations that finance should deliver measurable returns in job creation and industrial linkages. The resulting mix is more market-orientated development finance, but with continued emphasis on concessionality where poverty and fragility demand it.
Turning to the Middle East, 2025 was marked by a split between oil exporters that used higher production and deepening capital markets to press ahead with diversification agendas, and oil-importing neighbours that relied on remittances, tourism and improved agricultural conditions to stabilise incomes. The IMF’s regional outlook through late-2025 recorded this divergence: robust Gulf liquidity and renewed bond market issuance contrasted with slower growth or outright contraction in countries facing sanctions, conflict or weak external demand. Over the course of the year, official IMF and World Bank publications revised forecasts several times as OPEC+ decisions, shipping disruptions and geopolitical flare-ups shifted the supply and demand backdrop. By autumn 2025, the official narrative had tilted toward modest upward revisions for regional GDP as Gulf oil production increased and tourism in some markets rebounded – but the institutions cautioned that the upside was fragile and depended on de-escalation in hot spots and continuity of reform in non-oil economies.
Capital markets were one of the clearest stories of 2025 in the Middle East. Gulf sovereigns and quasi-sovereign issuers used favourable windows to place large international and regional bonds, and Asian investors were a notable buyer base as yield seekers diversified away from developed market instruments. Reuters reporting captured the pattern: 2025 saw a surge in Gulf issuance and increasing Asian participation, reflecting two complementary forces –the region’s need to finance ambitious infrastructure and diversification plans, and the appetite from Asia for higher yielding debt instruments. The FT and other outlets recorded parallel dynamics in sukuk and conventional issuance, which helped lengthen debt maturities and lower near-term rollover risks for several sovereigns. These deeper capital markets nonetheless generated new policy questions: how to ensure that borrowed resources are channelled into growth-enhancing, non-inflationary investments rather than recurrent spending, and how to manage foreign investor exposure if global policy rates re-normalise.
Inflation, exchange rates and monetary policy were quietly important in both regions in 2025. Across much of Sub-Saharan Africa, headline inflation trended down from earlier peaks – an outcome the World Bank highlighted as enabling central banks to gradually ease policy or at least refrain from further tightening, creating space for domestic demand to recover. In the Middle East, inflationary outcomes were more heterogeneous, linked to subsidy reforms, food and energy prices, as well as exchange rate regimes. Where monetary authorities moved first to stabilise currencies and anchor inflation expectations, they created better conditions for private investment. Where credibility gaps remained, risk premia stayed elevated and capital flows were more volatile. These monetary trajectories matter for 2026 because they determine the real cost of borrowing for households and firms and the room governments have to pursue counter-cyclical fiscal policy.
So what should investors and policymakers expect in 2026? First, the baseline for Africa and the Middle East is one of gradual improvement rather than a sharp acceleration. For Africa, the combination of cooling inflation, selective investment in infrastructure and an incremental scaling up of AfCFTA implementation argue for growth in 2026 that should modestly outpace 2025’s numbers if reforms around trade facilitation, tax collection and power sector investment are advanced. The multilateral consensus provides a useful bracket: central case scenarios assembled by the AfDB, World Bank and ECA imply growth in the low-to-mid 4% range for the continent as a whole, while cautioning that outcomes will be uneven by country and contingent on policy follow-through. For the Middle East, the outlook will be shaped by oil price dynamics and by the policy choices of Gulf states as they decide how quickly to translate liquidity into durable non-oil capacity; policy continuity and regional stability could lift the region into stronger growth, while renewed conflict or fiscal slippage could reverse much of the progress made in 2025.
Cabinet d’Avocats Franklas
Franklin Mbailassem Laoumbatnan
Lawyer-Manager
Tel: +235 63 70 26 20 / 93 70 26 70 franklass@cabinet-franklass.net www.cabinet-franklass.net
Founded and based in N’Djamena, Cabinet d’Avocats Franklas stands as a premier commercial law practice in Chad, recognised for its depth of expertise in corporate and contract law, its commitment to client-service excellence and its capacity to advise across a spectrum of commercial, real estate and business regulatory matters. Under the leadership of Franklin Mbailassem Laoumbatnan, the firm has established a strong reputation among domestic and international clients for its responsive, pragmatic and commercially grounded legal advice.
The practice is built around several key pillars: advising companies on commercial contracts, negotiating and structuring transactions, guiding corporate governance and company law matters, as well as handling real estate and associated business issues. It also extends into litigation and dispute resolution where commercial relationships or business operations give rise to conflicts, always with an eye to pragmatic solutions that align with the realities of the Chadian commercial and regulatory environment. Clients benefit from a local team attuned to the nuances of the Chadian legal system and from a partner who maintains strong connections to professional networks and a broader understanding of business law in the region.
Cabinet Franklas prides itself on combining technical legal know-how with a deep appreciation of the business context in which its clients operate. Whether advising a new venture, supporting an established corporation expanding its
footprint in Chad or resolving a contract or property dispute, the firm offers tailored support that takes into account the regulatory, fiscal and societal environment. Its leadership places emphasis on responsiveness, direct client engagement and strategic thinking – not simply “what the law is” but “what the law means for your business” in Chad and in the region.
Under the stewardship of Franklin Mbailassem Laoumbatnan, the firm has built a reputation for integrity, professionalism and practical results. His role with the national professional body – the Bar of Chad – underscores the standing the firm enjoys among the legal community, while his leadership signals to clients the firm’s strong alignment with the highest ethical and professional standards.
Recognition as Commercial Law Firm of the Year in Chad is a testament to the firm’s impact and the value it delivers. It reflects an ability to meet the evolving needs of the business sector in Chad, to provide legal guidance that is not only technically sound but commercially meaningful – and to act as a trusted partner for clients navigating local and cross-border business challenges. With the firm’s base in N’Djamena and its ambition to serve a diverse portfolio of clients – from domestic entrepreneurs to international investors – Cabinet Franklas is well positioned to continue supporting the growth and success of business ventures in Chad. Headed by Franklin Mbailassem Laoumbatnan, the firm demonstrates an ongoing commitment to deliver impactful, business-focused legal support.
Cabinet d’Avocats PETRO
Jean Petro Manager, Senior Partner
Tel: +33 7 52 34 92 97 +242 05 649 66 57 jeanpetro@yahoo.fr www.avocats-petro@102.com
Under the leadership of founding Manager and Senior Partner, Jean Petro, Congolese law firm Cabinet d’Avocats PETRO has cultivated a reputation for unparalleled competence, integrity and responsiveness. With its headquarters in PointeNoire and a professional reach that spans multiple sectors, the practice is a renowned, trustworthy partner for domestic and international clients navigating the complexities of business law.
From its inception, Cabinet d’Avocats PETRO has been shaped by the vision and experience of Mr Petro, a seasoned lawyer whose credentials include a former tenure as National Bar President. His deep understanding of corporate law in the context of international practice and regional regulatory frameworks has allowed the firm to build a multidisciplinary practice addressing the full spectrum of business-related legal needs. Similarly, Mr Petro’s name has become synonymous with legal sophistication; clients describe him as a highly sought-after lawyer, particularly among international companies operating in such sectors as oil, gas, maritime transport and mining.
At its core, Cabinet d’Avocats PETRO offers comprehensive services in business law, including taxation, labour law, oil and gas law, land law, arbitration, M&A and investment-related consultancy. Its capabilities also extend into maritime, energy and mining law, enabling it to support clients engaged in some of the country’s most strategic industries. Whether a foreign investor seeking to establish operations in the Republic of Congo or a major multinational navigating regulatory compliance, the firm’s services encompass administrative, legal and judicial assistance with an emphasis on clarity, precision and foresight. Its advisory role spans the entire life cycle of business ventures – from initial structuring and regulatory compliance to complex corporate transactions and dispute resolution.
In its daily endeavours, Cabinet d’Avocats PETRO draws upon a professional team that includes not only lawyers but also legal advisers, legal assistants, tax consultants, customs consultants and human resources experts. This well-rounded assembly of specialists allows it to provide clients with holistic advice addressing legal, fiscal and operational dimensions. For clients in highly regulated sectors –such as hydrocarbons, maritime shipping, oil-field services, forestry or mining – this breadth of expertise proves invaluable.
Likewise, the firm maintains an internal legal-monitoring unit that consistently tracks legislative and regulatory developments, enabling it to react to new challenges swiftly. Equally important is its adherence to the core values of the legal profession: rigour, integrity, confidentiality and client-centred service. Guided by these principles, the practice has secured a “Band 1” ranking in the 2025 edition of the internationally respected Chambers and Partners directory for the Republic of Congo – an acknowledgment of both its legal standing and the esteem in which clients hold it.
Today, Cabinet d’Avocats PETRO serves a clientele composed predominantly of multinational corporations active in oil, gas, mining, maritime transport, forestry and oil-field services, as well as international financial institutions.
These clients engage the firm when entering or expanding operations in the Republic of Congo, seeking guidance on structuring investments, managing M&A, navigating sector-specific regulatory regimes or resolving labour and tax issues. Because the firm’s experience spans precisely the sectors in which these clients operate, it offers a quality of legal support that is both deep in sector-specific knowledge and broad in general corporate law.
The types of challenges that prompt clients to seek out Cabinet d’Avocats PETRO’s services vary widely but often involve labour or social-security disputes, tax and customs compliance, corporate restructuring or complex M&A. Administrative and regulatory issues frequently arise in such sectors as hydrocarbons or forestry, where licensing, environmental compliance and contractual obligations must be carefully managed. Faced with these challenges, the practice adopts a strategic approach grounded in meticulous case analysis and risk anticipation. Whether representing a client before administrative authorities or litigating in court, the firm’s goal remains consistent: to protect the client’s interests by minimising exposure, preventing conflicts and facilitating smooth corporate operations.
In the past year alone, Cabinet d’Avocats PETRO has further cemented its position as a leader in Congolese business law through several high-profile successes. Among these, it advised a major international oil company in the transfer of its oil and gas assets, handling both the corporate structuring and regulatory aspects of the transaction. This complex assignment demanded sophisticated knowledge of hydrocarbon regulation, corporate law and contractual negotiation – and the firm’s seamless execution underlined its capacity to manage large-scale, high-stakes operations. Equally significant was its role in assisting the bank that arranged the recent Eurobond issued by the Republic of Congo in October–November 2025.
Even as the business environment faces economic uncertainty, evolving regulatory frameworks and shifting geopolitical dynamics, Cabinet d’Avocats PETRO has navigated these pressures without disruption. In a similar vein, the advent of new information and communication technologies has positively transformed the firm’s mode of operation. Through video conferencing and remote-work capabilities, Cabinet d’Avocats PETRO has enhanced its availability and responsiveness to clients, no matter their location.
Looking ahead, the firm has set clear objectives. Its primary goal for 2026 is to maintain the high standards that have earned it recognition, ensuring client satisfaction remains paramount. With a robust internal team, proven track record and strong commitment to excellence, Cabinet d’Avocats PETRO aims not only to preserve its position as a top-tier business law firm in the Republic of Congo, but also to expand its international outreach and continue to support foreign investors and global enterprises in their ventures.
LJA Associates LLP is a distinguished full-service law firm based in Nairobi, Kenya, committed to delivering practical, commercially focused legal solutions across a wide array of sectors. Founded in 2011 through the merger of practices led by Linda Watiri Muriuki, James Gitau Singh and Andrew Mukite Musangi, the firm draws on more than a century of combined legal experience.
Partner
Associates LLP Linda Muriuki Managing
Tel: +254 (0)20 4441314/16 lindamuriuki@ljaassociates.org www.ljaassociates.org
Over the years, LJA Associates has built a reputation for being professional, accessible and responsive. Its team comprises six partners, six associates, four paralegals and a dedicated support staff of 13, each bringing deep domain expertise and a shared commitment to excellence.
LJA’s client base is diverse and sophisticated, spanning prominent banks, insurance companies, multinational corporations, airlines, hotels, supermarkets, government agencies, parastatals and high-net-worth individuals. This breadth enables the firm to operate at the cutting edge of a number of legal domains, including corporate and commercial law, conveyancing, probate, litigation (both commercial and criminal), IP, public procurement law, immigration, project advisory and legal-framework structuring, with growing strength in public–private partnerships and aviation disputes.
Within its banking and finance practice, LJA Associates has established itself as a trusted legal adviser to financial institutions, regulatory bodies and corporates. The firm offers sophisticated guidance on regulatory licensing, compliance and transaction structuring, covering debt and equity
financing, loan documentation, restructuring, guarantees and security enforcement. LJA’s lawyers further conduct transactional due diligence, help perfect security interests – and have provided advice on innovative product development for Kenya’s financial services intermediaries. Notably, the firm routinely advises major banking clients, including the Co-operative Bank of Kenya and HFC Bank Limited, on securitisation and structured loan products.
A pillar of LJA’s success is its Managing Partner, Linda Watiri Muriuki, who has more than 35 years’ distinguished experience and is widely recognised as a leading authority in banking and finance law. Linda is a practising Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, a certified public secretary and a notary public, as well as holding board directorships across major institutions. Her academic background includes a BA in Economics from York University, an LLB (Honours) from the University of Leeds and a Global Executive MBA from United States International University, in collaboration with Columbia University. Over the years, she has advised on high-value transactions involving major Kenyan and international clients, including banks, insurers and multinational corporations.
Under her leadership, LJA Associates has successfully handled complex and high-profile matters in the finance sphere. For instance, the firm represented China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation in a case that led to the cancellation of a USD 1.2 million bond after the High Court found that the call on the bid bond was fraudulent – an outcome that underscores LJA’s incisive litigation and transactional capabilities in financial disputes.
Lady Justice Joyce Aluoch EBS, CBS is a former Judge and First Vice President of the International Criminal Court at The Hague, as well as a Certified International Mediato (IMI), an Accredited Mediator, a Certified Advanced Mediator, a Chartered Mediator and a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), London and Kenya branches.
She holds a Master of Arts (GMAP) from the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy, Tufts University in Boston, a Law degree from the University of Nairobi and a Professional Certificate from the Kenya School of Law. Upon completion of her tenure at the ICC in 2018, she successfully moved her legal profession to other forms of ADR, particularly mediation and peacebuilding, in addition to conducting international and continental mediations, court-annexed mediations in Kenya and private mediations.
In 2022, she was appointed by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) as a member of the Judicial Reform Committee under the Revitalised (power-sharing) Agreement for the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, a country that had been in conflict for more than 20 years. Using her mediation skills while conducting public consultations to establish reforms, her committee visited most parts of the country and produced a draft report that was subjected to a three-day validation workshop, and which was validated by more than 100 people, including the leaders in attendance. The committee produced a final report
containing recommendations for the reform of the judiciary, which was handed over to HE President Salva Kiir Mayardit at State House Juba in 2024.
Also in 2024, Lady Justice Aluoch was appointed a member of the jury of the Simplicemente Donna International Award, as well as being appointed to the Global Advisory Council of G100 Networking. Furthermore, CIArb (London) appointed her a member of the Professional Conduct Committee that investigates and facilitates disciplinary and/or expulsion of any member through an independent and impartial system of disciplinary proceedings.
Today, she is a Co-Chair of the Board of Directors of Mediators Beyond Borders International (MBBI); a board member of Dialogue through Conflict Foundation, Patron, Women in ADR – Kenya; as well as an immediate past member of the International Advisory Board, Office of the Ombudsperson of the United Nations Funds & Programs. She is a recipient of both international and national awards, including the International Peace Award from Premio Internazionale Simplicente Donna, awarded in Florence in 2023 in recognition of her work on judicial reforms in the Republic of South Sudan. In Kenya, she is a recipient of the national awards of EBS, CBS and Trailblazer (CBS) – granted by the last three Presidents of the Republic of Kenya. Additionally in 2023, she was nominated “Mediator of the Year” by CIArb (Kenya) and awarded a Certificate to this effect.
Hadi Mouawad, Esq
Senior Associate & Head of Litigation
Tel: +961 1 33 01 29 hmouawad@houseoflaw.me www.houseoflaw.me
DLM Capital Group
Dr Babatunde Sonnie Ayere Founder & Group CEO
Tel: +234 201 330 2655 hello@dlm.group www.dlm.group
House of Law stands today as one of Lebanon’s distinguished legal institutions, known for its commitment to excellence, ethical governance and a client-driven approach that has shaped its reputation across domestic and international markets. Founded on principles of integrity, rigour and strategic insight, the firm has built a comprehensive practice spanning litigation, corporate advisory and cross-border legal services.
Over the course of more than 15 years, Hadi Mouawad has cultivated an extensive litigation practice grounded in his membership in the Beirut Bar Association since 2009 and his professional trajectory through several of Lebanon’s most respected law firms before assuming leadership of House of Law’s litigation department. His experience is reflected in a portfolio of civil, commercial and criminal disputes, along with arbitration mandates that span a broad range of industries. Within House of Law, he oversees a unit known for its agility and depth, where matters are approached through comprehensive research and cross-disciplinary insight.
The firm’s litigation practice covers a wide spectrum of legal domains, including commercial and real estate disputes, construction law, labour and social security matters, creditors’ rights, public health regulation, insurance law, administrative and governmental disputes, franchising and distribution issues, IP protection and taxation. By integrating these areas under a unified practice model, House of Law eliminates the siloed approach that often hinders legal strategy. Instead, the team leverages
its combined expertise to anticipate opposing positions, mitigate risk and construct solutions that are both innovative and resilient.
Clients include corporations, public and private institutions, professionals from the legal, medical and engineering sectors, individuals of high public exposure and international clients – particularly those operating across the Gulf region. The firm’s commitment to pro bono advocacy further reflects its belief in the profession’s broader social responsibility. Meanwhile, as technology reshapes the legal profession, House of Law continues to integrate tools that reinforce its efficiency while maintaining the centrality of human judgement.
In recent years, Lebanon’s legal environment has grown increasingly complex due to economic pressures, bureaucratic hurdles and shifts in procedural efficiency. House of Law has adapted by fostering a cohesive, highly coordinated internal structure capable of responding to delays and systemic constraints with discipline and strategic planning. Rather than viewing such obstacles as setbacks, the firm treats them as catalysts for refinement, encouraging continuous improvement and heightened client engagement.
Among the firm’s recent successes, one of the most significant has been its representation of a major national entity in a multimillion-dollar class-A action against a leading Lebanese company – a case regarded as one of the largest currently before the Lebanese courts. Through vigorous strategy and calculated pressure, House of Law has shifted the momentum of the dispute, prompting the opposing party into negotiations that were previously considered out of reach.
With more than three decades’ experience spanning retail and corporate banking, structured finance, securitisation and asset management, Dr Ayere has been instrumental in shaping the evolution of Nigeria’s capital markets. A visionary leader and pioneer in financial engineering, his expertise is reflected in groundbreaking initiatives that have strengthened Nigeria’s position in the global financial ecosystem. Among his numerous professional affiliations, he serves as President of the Finance Houses Association of Nigeria (FHAN) – and is a Fellow of both the Institute of Credit Administration and the Association of Investment Advisers & Portfolio Managers.
In 2025, Dr Ayere spearheaded the development of the Sovereign Bond Backed Composite Notes (SBCNs), a world-first innovation that merges sovereign bond-backed security with enhanced real-sector cash flow structures. The issuance of a ₦9 billion Series 1 SBCN, under DLM Capital Group’s ₦30 billion Medium-Term Note Programme, marked a significant milestone not just for the firm but for the African financial markets at large.
DLM Capital Group operates as a diversified development investment bank, offering a wide spectrum of services, including corporate finance advisory, restructuring, capital markets transactions, underwriting, M&A, as well as company setup advisory. Its subsidiaries span asset management, trust services, digital banking, payment solutions and securities trading. Across all divisions, the group’s mission is to catalyse sustainable growth
and broaden access to finance throughout Africa. The group also possesses the rare ability to translate complex financial needs into practical, bankable solutions. This capacity enables clients – ranging from international institutions like the World Bank and IFC to domestic corporates and government entities – to access capital efficiently while de-risking investments and fostering long-term value creation.
DLM’s clients often face systemic challenges, including high costs of financing and underdeveloped capital markets. Through close collaboration with such regulators as the Central Bank of Nigeria and continued market innovation, the group contributes to policy discussions and product development that promote financial inclusion and capital market depth. Instruments like the SBCNs are emblematic of DLM’s commitment to bridging knowledge gaps, enhancing regulatory frameworks and driving awareness of complex financial products.
The past year has brought both challenges and achievements. Macroeconomic headwinds – ranging from inflationary pressures and exchange-rate volatility to global geopolitical tensions – have influenced deal timelines and investor sentiment. By strengthening local capital market engagements, cultivating partnerships with domestic institutional investors and digitising internal operations, the group maintained momentum and upheld its advisory excellence. Technology has been pivotal in this transformation; the firm now leverages data-driven analytics, remote client engagement tools and digitised workflows to enhance both efficiency and service delivery.
Qatar International Law Firm
Sheikh Ahmed Bin M Al-Thani Founder, Lawyer
Tel: +974 44 11 11 35
+974 44 11 11 36 +974 44 11 11 37 contact@qatarlaw.online www.interlawonline.com
Qatar International Law Firm (QILF) is a full-service legal practice headquartered in Doha and established in 1996 by His Excellency, Sheikh Ahmed Bin M Al-Thani – a respected former judge in the Qatari Civil Justice Courts whose credentials include a BLL degree from the Faculty of Sharia & Law at Qatar University, as well as a degree with distinction from the High Institute for Judges Training in Egypt (1995). From modest beginnings, the firm has grown into a multi-jurisdictional practice composed of multinational lawyers, partners and consultants, dedicated to providing sophisticated legal services to both local and international clients.
From its foundation to the present day, QILF has maintained a commitment to excellence, guided by core values of professionalism, flexibility and a client-centred “can-do” attitude. The firm aims not only to secure satisfactory legal outcomes but also to build durable relationships rooted in trust and loyalty: it prides itself on a culture of teamwork, approachability and responsiveness to even the most demanding deadlines.
QILF offers a broad spectrum of legal services, with particular strength in the commercial sector. Specifically, its practice covers civil, commercial and corporate law, including company formation, M&A, joint ventures, contract negotiation and drafting – in addition to corporate restructuring and dissolution. The firm further renders services in labour law, managing employment contracts, litigation and settlement agreements where required. Meanwhile, QILF is experienced in real
www.marrilaw.com www.elhagelaw.com
estate and construction matters, IP, insurance, maritime and aviation law – and has the capacity to handle complex cross-border commercial transactions and trade contracts.
A distinctive feature of QILF’s services is its robust capability in banking and finance law, encompassing both conventional and Islamic finance. In this area, the firm represents prominent banks and financial institutions, providing counsel on banking negotiations, structuring and documenting financial transactions, as well as managing related financial assets.
The driving force behind QILF is Sheikh AlThani. Having transitioned from his role as a judge to private legal practice, he brings to the firm not only deep legal knowledge but also a judicial mindset – invaluable for assessing risk, anticipating challenges and delivering advice that balances legality, pragmatism and business sense.
Today, QILF serves a diverse and global clientele spanning international clients across the world. Its multinational and multi-jurisdictional team enables it to offer cross-border legal advice and solutions tailored to the needs of international businesses operating in Qatar and beyond. Under Sheikh Al-Thani’s leadership, QILF ensures solutions that are not only effective but also cost-efficient, always evaluating the risk-to-benefit and cost-to-benefit ratio for each client. The practice further emphasises ADR – wherever possible – to avoid protracted litigation, reflecting a pragmatic philosophy that aligns legal strategy with contemporary business realities.
al Marri & el Hage Law Office (MHLO) stands as one of the most distinguished arbitration and dispute resolution firms in the GCC and Levant regions. With offices strategically positioned and a multilingual team fluent in English, Arabic and French, MHLO has built a reputation for precision, professionalism and seamless cross-border coordination. Under the leadership of Managing Partner Claudia El Hage, the firm delivers comprehensive, end-to-end services in arbitration, ADR and commercial litigation, consistently achieving successful outcomes in high-stakes, technically complex cases.
At the heart of MHLO’s practice is a deep commitment to arbitration. The firm’s services encompass every stage of the process, including drafting submissions, oral advocacy, cross-examination of witnesses and experts, as well as handling ancillary proceedings, such as interim measures, preventative attachments and enforcement challenges. Complementing its dispute resolution capabilities, MHLO also provides strategic contract drafting, conflict avoidance mechanisms and procedural guidance designed to minimise risk and ensure efficiency throughout the life of a project.
The firm’s commercial insight, combined with legal precision and cultural fluency, enables it to anticipate challenges and address them proactively. Moreover, its clients – regional and international corporations engaged in large-scale infrastructure, construction and financial projects – face increasingly complex legal landscapes. These challenges often include inconsistent dispute resolution clauses, layered pre-arbitration requirements, document-management
issues and the accumulation of unresolved legal and technical questions over the lifespan of long-term projects. MHLO helps clients navigate these intricacies with pragmatic and clear strategies, grounded in both technical precision and a sophisticated understanding of local regulations.
MHLO’s international recognition is reflected not only in its client roster but also in its peer acknowledgment. Its members are active within such leading professional bodies as the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), the ICC Commission on Arbitration & ADR in Qatar and the UAE, as well as the Higher Arbitration Council of LIAC-BBA. The firm’s lawyers frequently contribute to major legal and industry publications, helping to shape thought leadership in arbitration.
Over the past year, MHLO’s success rate and case portfolio have continued to grow. Among its notable achievements is its representation in a landmark ICC arbitration concerning the design and construction on contract for the Main Station of the Doha Metro project and the subsequent procedure of recognition and enforcement of the award before the Qatari Courts. The tribunal ordered the Respondent to pay QAR 1.182 billion to the Claimants, one of whom is represented by MHLO in the arbitration and the court proceedings related to this case.
Meanwhile, in embracing technological evolution, MHLO has integrated virtual hearings, digital platforms and advanced data tools into its daily practice – all while maintaining a cautious and ethical stance towards the use of AI.
The Law Firm of Majed Garoub
Abdulrahman M Garoub
Managing Partner
Tel: +966 1265 18555 ext 209 +966 5556 69174 (mob) a.garoub@lawgaroub.com www.lawgaroub.com
In a country rapidly emerging as a global hub for sports and entertainment, few legal professionals have been as instrumental in shaping this transformation. Recognised as the leading Sports & Entertainment Law Expert in Saudi Arabia for 2026, Abdulrahman M Garoub represents a new generation of Saudi lawyers who combine international legal sophistication with a deep understanding of the Kingdom’s evolving business and cultural landscape.
As Managing Partner at The Law Firm of Majed Garoub, one of the region’s most respected and established legal institutions, Abdulrahman leads the firm’s Sports & Entertainment Practice, providing clients with a comprehensive range of services that span contract negotiation, IP protection, licensing, commercial advisory, investment structuring and dispute resolution. His role bridges both creativity and commerce – offering artists, athletes, producers and investors the legal clarity and strategic foresight required to thrive in one of the fastest-growing sectors of the Saudi economy.
Abdulrahman’s path to entertainment law began from a deep fascination with how law intersects with culture and innovation. After completing his legal education in England, he returned to Saudi Arabia determined to help international and local entities navigate the Kingdom’s rapidly expanding entertainment ecosystem. Over the years, he has built an impressive portfolio of work negotiating and managing contracts exceeding USD 50 million in value across film, music, live events, sports management and hospitality ventures.
What distinguishes Abdulrahman and his firm is their ability to combine regulatory expertise with commercial insight. The firm operates with a clear philosophy: that true legal value comes not only from drafting sound agreements, but also from helping clients unlock opportunities. “Our role goes beyond drafting contracts,” Abdulrahman emphasises. “We help clients grow, protect their ideas and expand their businesses – whether they are artists signing their first major deal, or global investors entering the Saudi market.”
The firm’s sports law practice has become equally renowned, offering advisory services to federations, IPs, clubs and athletes. From negotiating sponsorships and broadcasting rights to structuring investment partnerships for major sporting events, Abdulrahman’s team ensures every deal is both strategically profitable and legally protected. This holistic approach reflects the firm’s strong ties to multi-jurisdictional organisations, such as the International Association for Sports Law and its extensive network within international sports authorities.
As Saudi Arabia positions itself as a global destination for entertainment and sport, clients
face increasingly complex challenges from navigating new regulatory frameworks and compliance standards, to managing IP and contractual relationships in a digital-first environment. Abdulrahman’s firm offers these clients stability, clarity and confidence. Their work extends beyond legal drafting: they build bridges between creative talent, government bodies and private investors to ensure projects align with national objectives and international best practices.
Technology and digital transformation have further influenced the way Abdulrahman approaches his work. While many in the legal industry are rushing towards full automation, Abdulrahman believes that technology should serve as a tool guided by human intelligence, not as its replacement. He recognises the value of innovation but stresses that true efficiency and transparency are only achieved when critical thinking and human oversight remain central to every decision. Over the past few years, he has completed multiple training programmes focused on digital transformation and the practical use of emerging legal technologies. His view is that with the right input, understanding and purpose, tools such as AI can enhance outcomes, though only when shaped by human insight, ethical guidance and critical evaluation. In industries like entertainment and sports, where fan engagement and creative connection lie at the heart of every venture, Abdulrahman insists that technology must amplify the human experience, not diminish it.
Meanwhile, the past year has been one of tremendous growth and recognition for Abdulrahman and the firm. In addition to expanding their entertainment and sports client base, the firm played a pivotal role in advising international companies seeking to enter the Saudi market under the Ministry of Investment framework, guiding them from licensing and incorporation to operational readiness. These achievements not only reinforce the firm’s leadership in the Saudi market, but also position it as a trusted partner for international clients seeking to understand and invest in Vision 2030’s dynamic landscape.
Looking ahead, Abdulrahman remains focused on strengthening the legal foundations of Saudi Arabia’s entertainment and sports sectors. His goal is to cultivate a sustainable ecosystem where creative professionals, investors and institutions can operate with confidence, transparency and shared value. “We are building industries that tell our story to the world, and law is one of the tools that ensures that story is protected, respected and successful.”
As Saudi Arabia’s entertainment and sports industries continue to flourish, professionals like Abdulrahman Garoub are pivotal in ensuring their growth is not only ambitious, but also anchored on solid legal and ethical ground.
GENI & KEBE
Mouhamed Kébé
Managing Partner
Tel: +221 338 211 916 mhkebe@gsklaw.sn www.gsklaw.sn
Founded in 1912 and headquartered in Dakar, Senegal, GENI & KEBE is the country’s oldest law firm and one of the most respected full-service commercial legal practices in Francophone West Africa. From its early mandate advising foreign embassies and international investors, the firm has evolved into a pan-African practice, supported by an office in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, affiliate offices across OHADA jurisdictions and its membership in the DLA Piper Africa network.
Under the stewardship of Managing Partner Mouhamed Kébé, GENI & KEBE has built a robust practice in natural resources and infrastructure, positioning itself as a trusted adviser to both sovereign entities and private-sector players. The firm is a regional leader in the oil, gas and mining industries, growing alongside the west coast’s expanding energy landscape. In an era of unprecedented demand for power generation and transmission, its lawyers’ extensive experience enables them to deliver focused, innovative and sector-specific advice.
• The firm acted on Senegal’s first offshore oil discovery (through the SNE-1 joint venture of Cairn Energy/Woodside/FAR) and contributed to major power-generation projects, including: a US$900 million, 350 MW power plant transaction, the largest energy deal on record in Senegal; a US$175 million thermal plant transaction in Malicounda; a US$110 solar streetlight transaction in Senegal; as well as advice on the financing of a Solar Power storage project in the Walo region of Senegal.
• The firm is further active in law-reform initiatives – assisting the government of Chad in implementing its electricity sector law and contributing to African Legal Support Facility (ALSF) studies recommending reforms to Senegal’s Mineral Code.
GENI & KEBE’s lawyers are qualified in multiple jurisdictions and hold degrees from leading institutions in Africa, Europe and the Americas. The firm is bilingual in French and English, also offering services in Arabic and local languages. It has been consistently ranked Tier 1 by The Legal 500, with multiple leadership and individual recognitions for Mouhamed Kébé, Mouhamed Dieng, Boubacar Diakité and other senior lawyers. Chambers describes the practice as “a premier firm, thanks to its international approach and high standard of work”.
In Senegal’s evolving energy and natural resources landscape – marked by offshore oil and gas developments, mining exploration and major infrastructure growth – the firm brings particular strength. It understands the requirements of power generation and transmission, alternative energy development and the regulatory environment governing extractive industries. With deep local roots and a pan-African reach, it is conversant in the technical, geographical, regulatory, commercial and geopolitical factors that shape the industry, and has first-hand access to contacts, sponsors and decision makers. As such, the firm is well positioned to provide coordinated, multi-disciplinary support across construction and projects, regulatory and competition, contractual, trading, tax and dispute resolution.
El Hadji Daouda Seck has been a key member of the law firm SCP Houda & Associés since 2009. Appointed as a Partner in 2022, he is a seasoned litigation lawyer with a proven track record in representing businesses of all sizes, as well as individuals, before the Senegalese courts.
He has developed significant expertise in business litigation, both in civil matters (such as compensation for financial losses, liquidation procedures, etc) and criminal matters (such as economic and financial fraud, directors’ liability, etc), regardless of the type of procedure involved (ordinary, administrative or expedited).
He also specialises in the enforcement of judicial decisions. His solid experience before the courts is complemented by recognition in the field of professional advocacy, notably through awards won in advocacy competitions.
In addition, Mr Seck has been a member of the Senegalese Bar since 2004, and was elected to serve on the Bar Council of Senegal – reflecting the esteem in which he is held by his peers for his commitment and professionalism.
He has further undertaken several high-level training programmes, including:
• Economic Law & Business Law (2000)
• International Law at The Hague Academy (2002)
• Training at CIFAF – International Training Centre for French-Speaking Lawyers (2006)
• Training in Public Procurement Law (2022)
Beyond his individual qualifications, Mr Seck plays a central role in a firm renowned for its recognised expertise in banking, finance, corporate law, taxation, restructuring, M&A, as well as the financing of major infrastructure, energy, oil, gas and mining projects.
With a strong physical presence in Senegal (head office in Dakar) and a secondary office in Côte d’Ivoire, SCP Houda & Associés operates across the OHADA, UEMOA and CIMA regions, working closely with a reliable network of local partners. This enables the firm to provide efficient and context-specific legal services throughout the sub-region.
Mr Seck has developed significant expertise in business litigation, both in civil matters and criminal matters, regardless of the type of procedure involved (ordinary, administrative or expedited). He also specialises in the enforcement of judicial decisions. His solid experience before the courts is complemented by recognition in the field of professional advocacy, notably through awards won in advocacy competitions. In addition, he has been a member of the Senegalese Bar since 2004, and was elected to serve on the Bar Council of Senegal – reflecting the esteem in which he is held by his peers for his commitment and professionalism.
Briscoe Attorneys
Daphne Kgalaletso Briscoe Proprietor
Tel: +267 3 953 377
WhatsApp: +267 71359316; +267 71609808 daphne@briscoe.co.bw www.briscoe.co.bw
Akkum, AKKUM & Associates LLP
Carlton Fon Akkum Managing Partner
Tel: +237 2221 8043/698824935 +237 2221 8043 akkumlaw@akkumlaw.com www.akkumlaw.com
ENSafrica
Amina Abugdanpoka Kaguah Executive Head
Tel: +233 24 437 6177 akaguah@ensafrica.com www.ensafrica.com
CIP-Cabinet RABEMANANJARA. MADAGASCAR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Ando Fanantenana Rabemananjara Founder & IP Manager
Tel: +261 34 09 489 61 cabinet.rabemananjara@gmail.com info@cip-rabemananjara.mg www.cip-rabemananjara.mg
Mohamed Sid’Ahmed & Associées / “Cabinet Mohamed Sid’Ahmed (Avocats)”
Maître Mohamed Sid’Ahmed National Representative – Mauritania
Tel: +222 45 24 98 06 alem_mr@yahoo.fr www.medsidahmedlawyer.com
2b Limitless
Michael Todd (Mick) Chairman & Founder
Tel: +971 50 153 5213
mick@2blimitless.com www.2blimitless.com
Ark Insurance Brokers Limited
Olukayode Awogboro MD/CEO
Tel: +234 802 424 7914
kawogboro@arkinsurancegroup.com www.arkinsurancegroup.com
Acuity Partners
Olanrewaju Olumide Partner
Tel: +234 808 045 9295 olanrewaju@acuitypartners.com.ng www.acuitypartners.com.ng
Tax Law Expert of the Year in Nigeria
Porter’s World Consult
Saheed Onibudo Tax Partner
Tel: +234 703 386 8399
saheed@portersworldconsult.com www.portersworldconsult.com
Arbitration Law Expert of the Year in Qatar
Mashael Alsulaiti Law Firm
Ms Mashael M Alsulaiti Founder & Chairperson
Tel: +974 4466 4626 | +974 4466 4633 info@mas.com.qa www.mas.com.qa
HLB CMA South Africa Incorporated
Marius Maritz Partner
Tel: +27 (0)11 315 0215 mariusm@mbasa.org www.hlbauditor.co.za
Cullinan & Associates
Cormac Cullinan Director
Tel: +27 (0)21 671 7002 cormac@greencounsel.co.za www.cullinans.co.za
PATTERSON & ASSOCIATES (PTY) LTD
Mike Patterson Managing Director
Tel: +27 31 765 5757 | +27 82 5525 130 mike@pattersonandassociates.co.za www.pattersonandassociates.co.za
PATTERSON & ASSOCIATES (PTY) LTD
Mc Naught & Co
Mark Leathers Director
Tel: +27 870 210 123 mark@maclaw.co.za www.maclaw.co.za
KISCH IP
Julia Stephens Director, Trademark Attorney & Head of Trademark Department
Tel: +27 11 324 3109 julias@kisch-ip.com www.kisch-ip.com
AfriCorp Attorneys
Dr Goodluck Temu (Dr Juris) Partner
Tel: +255 766 570 437 temu@africorp.co.tz www.africorp.co.tz
Arbitration Consulting Firm of the Year in the UAE
Infinite Resolution
Rachel Ewin Director & Founder
Tel: +971 (0)56 114 8015
rachel.ewin@infiniterez.com www.infiniterez.com
Arbitration Law Firm of the Year in the UAE
PRIMECASE
Dr Mohammad Zaidan Co-Founding Partner; Head of Corporate & Arbitration
Tel: +971 4 422 7465
mohammed.zaidan@primecase.com www.primecase.com
Commercial Law Firm of the Year in the UAE
PRIMECASE
Dr Mohammad Alshraideh Founding & Managing Partner
Tel: +971 4 422 7465
mohammad.alshraideh@primecase.com www.primecase.com
Commercial Litigation Law Firm of the Year in the UAE
OGH Legal
Sherif Hikal Founder & Co-Managing Partner
Tel: +971 55 666 0369
sherif.hikal@oghlegal.com www.oghlegal.com
ASHISH MEHTA & ASSOCIATES LEGAL CONSULTANTS LLC
Ashish Mehta Managing Partner
Tel: +971 50 6466213 ashish.mehta@amaLawyers.com www.amaLawyers.com
Equity Capital Markets Lawyer of the Year in the UAE
IN’P IBRAHIM .N. PARTNERS
Ahmed Ibrahim Managing Partner
Tel: +971 505573162 ahmed.ibrahim@inp.legal www.inp.legal
AWATIF MOHAMMAD SHOQI ADVOCATES & LEGAL CONSULTANCY
Awatif Shoqi Lawyer/Owner
Tel: +971 4 325 4000 awatif@alrowaad.ae www.alrowaad.ae
Technology, Media & Telecoms Lawyer of the Year in the UAE
Al Tamimi & Company
David Yates Partner, Regional Head of Digital & Data
Tel: +971 549 948 016 d.yates@tamimi.com www.tamimi.com
MMAKS ADVOCATES (ALN UGANDA)
Mathias V Ssekatawa Partner
Tel: +256 772 212 142 ssekatawa@ug.aln.africa www.mmaks.co.ug
Musa Dudhia & Co.
Simon Kapampa Managing Partner
Tel: +260 976 611 678 skapampa@musadudhia.co.zm www.aln.africa
Ilunga & Company
Joseph Ilunga Managing Partner
Tel: +260 972740401 | +260 969898700 jilunga@ilunga-company.com www.ilunga-company.com
Mugomeza & Mazhindu Legal Practitioners
Munyaradzi Mugomeza Managing Partner
Tel: +263 712 572 351 munyaradzi@mugomeza.co.zw www.mugomeza.co.zw
For 40 years, Rahul Chaudhry and Partners has protected and safeguarded the intellectual property rights of its clients. Our team of eminent attorneys offer comprehensive legal solutions to clients across industries. Previously known as Lall, Lahiri and Salhotra (LLS), our firm is on e of the most reputed intellectual property legal firms in India. Our expertise and extensive knowledge in the field has helped us win the appreciation of national and international clients.
Intellectual Property
Established In Attorneys Partners Support Staff
