The Financial Times Recognizes Paul Hastings for Innovation in Europe

October 05, 2018

London – The Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Europe 2018, published today, has again named Paul Hastings LLP as one of the Top 10 firms for innovation in Europe. The rankings, published annually since 2006, uncover the real value lawyers deliver to businesses and recognise the lawyers who consistently further the interests of their clients, firms, and the profession itself.

The report recognised the firm for six projects in particular:

Accessing new markets & capital
– HIGHLY COMMENDED - Advised the government of Liechtenstein on a new anti-avoidance tax regime, adopted by the country’s professional associations. The new system increases transparency and improved Liechtenstein compliance culture, attracting new investment.
– COMMENDED - The firm structured Intermediate Capital Group’s Senior Debt Partners III fund in order to leave it open to European investors, from Swiss family offices to French banks and insurers. The fund is easy to administer, allowing investors that cannot subscribe to a particular asset class to do so without derogating from the fund as a whole.

Managing complexity & scale

– HIGHLY COMMENDED - Advised the committee of noteholders on the £700m recapitalisation of the Co-operative Bank. This involved redesigning the pension fund arrangements for the 90,000 current and former Co-op Group and bank workers, a reworking of the business arrangements between the bank and the Co-op Group and the creation of a new governance structure to ensure the preservation of the organisation’s ethics.
– COMMENDED - Secured funding for the consortium Italia Scpa in its agreement with Italian state grid operator Terna Group to build the first privately funded interconnection line in Europe. This was done through a loan from the European Investment Bank, secured by collateral and equipped with provisions to cover cash shortfalls.
New products & services

– HIGHLY COMMENDED - Mapping the Trends: The Global Employer Update is an online resource providing up-to-date information on employment law across 53 jurisdictions.

Rule of law and access to justice

– HIGHLY COMMENDED - The firm worked with LGBT activist Jason Jones to successfully challenge sections 13 and 16 of Trinidad & Tobago’s Sexual Offences Act, 1986, which criminalises consensual same-sex relationships. The UK High Court victory will play a role in decriminalising same-sex relationships in all former British colonies.

At Paul Hastings, our purpose is clear — to help our clients and people navigate new paths to growth. With a strong presence throughout Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the U.S., Paul Hastings is recognized as one of the world’s most innovative global law firms.