Private equity law firm of the year: Firm and fund work Winner: SJ Berwin

In considering the criteria for judging evcj’s private equity law firm of the year for firm and fund work, the geographic reach of the private equity practice, in particular dedicated personnel across Europe, was noted. Also considered was by how much a firm’s private equity practice

had grown both in terms of personnel and activity on the previous year. Winner of evcj’s private equity law firm of the year for firm and fund work is SJ Berwin. Private equity is one of the core disciplines around which this firm has been built.

In 2001, the firm continued to strengthen its leading position in the European private equity market, expanding its geographical reach with the opening of its Paris office following the establishment of offices in Munich and Berlin at the end of 2000. The team also advised on over 100 venture capital investments and buyouts during 2001 and worked on over 100 European private equity fund raisings, many of which were for funds targeting over EURO1 billion. The team recently advised Nomura International on its arrangements with Guy Hands to set up Terra Firma, an independent company into which Nomura will contribute the Principal Finance Group portfolio. The SJ Berwin team has also been actively involved in lobbying national and European governments with a number of successes including issues relating to the 20 partner limit; German tax reform; and French firm and fund legislation.