Asia Capital Markets Team Wins Double at Finance Asia Awards
Shearman & Sterling has won “Best High-Yield Bond” and “Best Mid-Cap Equity Deal” in the Finance Asia Awards for Achievement 2008. Vedanta Resources plc’s $1.25 billion Rule 144A/ Regulation S bond offering, which overcame difficult markets to become the largest-ever high-yield bond for an Asian corporate borrower, was awarded “Best High-Yield Bond.” Partner Alan Seem (Beijing-Capital Markets) led the team advising the underwriters on China Shanshui Cement’s US$269 million IPO, awarded “Best Mid-Cap Equity Deal.” The Shanshui IPO beat negative market sentiment to enable the greenshoe to be exercised in full—something only one other Hong Kong IPO (out of a total of 21) had managed to date in 2008.

Named ‘International Capital Markets Team of the Year’ and Awarded ‘Deal of the Year’ at the Asialaw India Awards 2008
Shearman & Sterling has been awarded “International Capital Markets Team of the Year” at the Asialaw India Awards 2008. The award recognizes the Capital Markets team’s work on many of India’s most significant deals in the last 12 months, highlights of which include representing the underwriters on the largest ever US listing by an Indian company, Sterlite Industries (India) Limited’s US$2 billion initial public offering and New York Stock Exchange listing of ADSs; Mercator Line’s IPO; and Vedanta Resources plc's bond offering, which was also named “Capital Markets Deal of the Year” at the awards.

Named ‘International Firm of the Year–Project Finance, Infrastructure and Energy’ and Awarded ‘Deal of the Year’ at China Law and Practice Awards 2008
Shearman & Sterling has been awarded “International Firm of the Year–Project Finance, Infrastructure and Energy” at the China Law and Practice Awards 2008. The award recognizes the China Project Development & Finance team’s work on many of the region’s landmark deals in the last twelve months, highlights of which include advising KEPCO in the US$1.5 billion acquisition of a portfolio of 12 power plants and nine coal assets in Shanxi Province, the largest ever private portfolio acquisition of power projects in China; BASF-YPC Company Limited (a joint venture between BASF and Sinopec) on the US$1.5 billion dollar refinancing of an integrated petrochemical project in Nanjing, China, one of the largest RMB take out refinancings to be done in China to date; and Dow Chemicals in connection with a US$9 billion coal to chemicals project in Shanxi Province, the largest ever FDI project in China. In addition, the Fujian Refining & Ethylene Joint Venture Project (FREP) has been named "Project Finance, Infrastructure and Energy Deal of the Year" at the awards. Shearman & Sterling advised the lenders, comprising 11 major PRC banks plus Sinopec Finance Company, on the US$4.5 billion financing for this expansion of an existing refinery in Fujian province, China. The FREP financing is a landmark deal in terms of size and innovation, being the first integrated refinery and petrochemicals project involving a Sino-foreign joint venture, and the largest project financing for a Sino-foreign joint venture in China to date.

A-List Honors for Fourth Consecutive Year
For the fourth year in a row, Shearman & Sterling has been named to the prestigious A-List of top law firms in the US by The American Lawyer. These 20 firms “best embody what it means to be a success in the legal community,” according to the magazine. In jumping two spots from number 15 in 2007 to its current 13th place national ranking, Shearman & Sterling had to exhibit exceptional performance across four A-List categories: revenue per lawyer, pro bono hours, associate satisfaction and diversity representation. In particular, Shearman & Sterling was rated as one of the elite firms in pro bono. The firm jumped from number 17 to number 11, with average pro bono hours per lawyer increasing from 77.2 to 90.8 and 84.1% of lawyers contributing more than 20 pro bono hours last year. Asked about the rise in pro bono activity among the A-List firms, Shearman & Sterling’s pro bono counsel, Saralyn Cohen, told The American Lawyer: “Pro bono effectiveness should be [about] narrowing the gap in access to justice. That’s what we’re trying to do. I don't mean to send attorneys on a pointless errand. You want them to be making a difference.”
—The American Lawyer, 2007

Named ‘2008 Americas Law Firm of the Year’ at IFLR Awards
Shearman & Sterling was the big winner of this year’s International Financial Law Review (IFLR) Americas Awards, earning the coveted 2008 Americas Law Firm of the Year Award plus five other awards for the most innovative deals and best legal teams. Nominated for an industry-best 14 awards in all, the firm won six, including: Debt and Equity-Linked Team of the Year; M&A Team of the Year; Debt & Equity-Linked Deal of the Year; M&A Deal of the Year—Euronext/NYSE; Restructuring Deal of the Year—Remy International prepackage.
—IFLR Awards, 2008

Practices, Attorneys Ranked High by Chambers USA and Legal 500 US
Shearman & Sterling’s practice areas and individual attorneys have received significant recognition in the latest Chambers USA and Legal 500 United States rankings. Both cited the firm for its expertise, client-oriented focus, and deep knowledge of clients’ businesses and markets. In Chambers USA, the firm has once again been recognized for its outstanding work in 14 practice areas and received first-time plaudits for nine specific legal services. Forty-six Shearman & Sterling US partners received individual recognition. In Legal 500 US, Shearman & Sterling ranked as a top firm for its work in 11 practices areas and received first-time plaudits for four specific legal services.
—Chambers USA and Legal 500 US, 2008

Global Elite Firm
Shearman & Sterling was recognized as a “Global Elite” firm by Legal Business for the past two consecutive years.
—Legal Business, 2007 and 2008

Litigation Group Makes Honor Roll 
Shearman & Sterling was selected for The American Lawyer’s Honor Roll in its fourth biennial Litigation Department of the Year survey, placing it among the top 25 litigation practices in the country. The firm’s litigation department was recognized for having achieved a notable record in 2006 and 2007, particularly in its work on big securities class actions.
—The American Lawyer, 2008

Go-To Firm for Financial Services
Shearman & Sterling has been selected as a “Go-To Law Firm for Leading Financial Services Companies” for Litigation; Intellectual Property; Labor & Employment; Corporate Transactions/Mergers & Acquisitions; Securities; Regulatory Affairs, Compliance; Banking & Finance; Canada; and International by Incisive Media Guide (formerly American Lawyer Media) in 2008.
—Incisive Media Guide, 2008

One of America’s Best Corporate Law Firms
Shearman & Sterling was recognized as one of “America’s Best Corporate Law Firms” by Corporate Board Member.
—Corporate Board Member, 2007 and 2008

Project Finance Global Law Firm of the Year
Shearman & Sterling was recognized as “Global Law Firm of the Year” in Project Finance International’s (PFI) mega-project awards for 2008.
—Project Finance International, 2008

Japan Practice Tops Mergerstat League Tables 
The strength of Shearman & Sterling’s Japan practice has been recognized in Mergerstat’s latest “Top Japan Advisors” league table, which monitors announced deals in the first six months of 2008. The firm is ranked No. 1 Legal Adviser by Enterprise Value with deals totalling over $167,712.6 million YTD. The firm also ranks No. 4 by Number of Deals with five deals announced YTD.
—Mergerstat, 2008

Named a ‘Top Ranked’ Law Firm by Chambers & Partners Europe
Shearman & Sterling has been recognized as a “Top Ranked” law firm in the 2008 Chambers & Partners Europe directory. The firm was praised in 38 different categories highlighting experience in its network of offices in major financial districts across Europe. Chambers & Partners describes Shearman & Sterling as “one of the most successful US firms in Europe” noting that the firm “continues to feature on high-end deals.” “Top Ranked” highlights for the firm include:  Europe-wide—Dispute Resolution: International arbitration (Tier 1); France—International Arbitration France (Tier 1); France Capital Markets Equity (Tier 1); and Germany Insurance (Tier 1).
—Chambers & Partners Europe, 2008

Won Two Key European IFLR Awards
Shearman & Sterling won two awards at this year’s European IFLR awards ceremony:  the highly regarded M&A Deal of the Year, for our involvement in the €71.1 billion takeover of ABN Amro; and Restructuring Deal of the Year, for our involvement in the refinancing and restructuring of the Schefenacker Group.
—IFLR Awards, 2008

Dispute Resolution Practice Ranked as Global Leader
The 2008 edition of Chambers Global has rated Shearman & Sterling’s Global Dispute Resolution Practice as Band 1 and characterizes the practice as “world-renowned.” The Litigation practice in the Americas is acknowledged for its high-profile work. Furthermore, the guide notes that Shearman & Sterling is known as a “giant in the arbitration world” and once again rated the firm’s International Arbitration practice as Band 1.
—Chambers Global, 2008

US Recruiting Site Wins Two Best in Class Awards
Shearman & Sterling’s 2007-2008 Recruiting Campaign has won two Best in Class awards in the categories of “Legal” and “Marketing” from Interactive Media Awards (IMA). The Best in Class award is the highest honor bestowed by the IMA. In order to win this award level, our US recruiting website had to successfully pass through a comprehensive judging process, achieving very high marks in each of IMA's judging criteria—an achievement only a fraction of sites in the IMA competition earn each year.

Click here to view the awards.
Click here to view our US recruiting website.

Asia Practices Get Top Marks in the Legal Directories
In the 2007/2008 legal directories, Asia Pacific Legal 500, Chambers Asia and IFLR 1000, Shearman & Sterling earned top rankings in a number of practice areas across Asia.

• Asia Pacific Legal 500—ranked Tier 1 in Capital Markets and Projects & Energy in China and in International Arbitration and Projects & Energy in Singapore.
• Chambers Asia—Asia-wide, the firm is ranked Top Tier in International Arbitration, Debt & Equity Capital Markets and in Corporate/M&A & Private Equity. Ranked Tier 1 in Equity Capital Markets and Corporate/M&A in China and Hong Kong, Corporate/M&A: Investment Funds in Japan and in Dispute Resolution and Projects & Energy in Singapore.
• IFLR 1000—ranked Top Tier in Capital Markets, and M&A in China and Equity Capital Markets in Hong Kong

In addition, Shearman & Sterling is ranked in several countries where the firm is active, but does not have established offices including India, Indonesia, the Philippines and South Korea.

Among Top-Ranked Practices in Germany
In the 2007/2008 edition of the German JUVE Yearbook, Shearman & Sterling’s German offices and practices again earned excellent rankings. Overall, the firm is top ranked in the national overview. In Litigation and Insurance Law we are ranked at the very top of the German market, and in the following practice areas we achieved top positions as well: Corporate Law, Arbitration, M&A, Company Succession and Trusts, Pharma (transactional) and Tax.
—JUVE, 2007/2008

Top Rank in Black Solicitors Network Diversity League Tables
Shearman & Sterling’s commitment to diversity has been recognised in this year’s Black Solicitors Network league tables. We have been ranked as the employer with the highest number of ethnic minority associates in the UK out of a survey that reviewed over 80 national and international law firms.
—Black Solicitors Network UK, 2007

Projects Group Dominates Infrastructure Journal League Tables
Shearman & Sterling’s global leadership in the Projects sector has been recognized in Infrastructure Journal’s latest league table results, which monitor deals closed in the first six months of 2007. The firm has dominated a number of the league table’s legal adviser categories and has been ranked as the top legal adviser for closed Power deals globally. The firm also ranked as the No.1 Projects Legal Adviser in the Middle East and North Africa. Globally Shearman & Sterling is ranked in the top three overall for closed deals. The firm also features in the top five legal advisers for the North America and Petrochemicals categories and the top 20 legal advisers for the Transport, Mining, and Renewables adviser in the wind sector, categories.
—Infrastructure Journal, 2007

Trophy Win London Graduate Recruitment Team 
Shearman & Sterling’s London Graduate Recruitment team was recently honoured at the LawCareers. Net training and recruitment awards winning the ‘Best Recruiter—US Firm in the City’ accolade.  This award follows research involving nearly 3000 trainees and NQs, which is the biggest analysis of its kind in the legal sector.

Chambers USA 2007
Twenty-seven Shearman & Sterling practice areas and thirty-four of the firm’s attorneys were recognized in the 2007 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.
—Chambers USA, 2007

The A-List
For the past two years The American Lawyer has included Shearman & Sterling on its annual “A-List” of law firms.  The magazine describes the list’s 20 law firms as “the profession’s top tier” and “the best law firms in the land.” The winners are compiled by measuring a firm’s revenue per lawyer, pro bono contribution, associate satisfaction and diversity.
—The American Lawyer, 2006

Client Choice Award Germany 2006
Shearman & Sterling´s German practice was honored at the International Law Office’s (ILO) second annual awards ceremony in Autumn 2006. Criteria on which firms are judged include quality of advice, commercial awareness, effective communication, tailored fee structures, depth of team, response time and use of technology.
—International Law Office, 2006

Leading Corporate Practice
In The American Lawyer's Corporate Scorecard 2006, which was featured in the publication’s April issue, Shearman & Sterling received nine top 10 rankings, placing the firm within the top five corporate law firms. According to The American Lawyer, the firm is strongest in the areas of mergers & acquisitions, equities, and corporate debt.
—The American Lawyer, 2006

#1 in Diversity
Shearman & Sterling is ranked #1 on the 2005 “Top 100 Law Firms for Diversity” survey.
—MultiCultural Law, 2006

Top 50 Global Law Firms
PLC Which Lawyer? named Shearman & Sterling one of the Top 50 Global Law Firms.
—PLC Which Lawyer?, 2004

The Global Model
The article “U.S. Old Stagers” described Shearman & Sterling as one of only two U.S. firms that “have traditionally staked all on a global model.” The article described the firm as being internationally active for decades, establishing “strong roots in Paris in the post-war period” and by opening offices in Germany in the early 1990s.  It also notes that “Shearman has continued to build—and its recent difficulties in New York have not deterred the firm from its strategy.”
—The Lawyer, 2004

German Success Story
“Shearman & Sterling LLP is the real success story of the last decade, particularly in transactions . . . Clients as DaimlerChrysler and Deutsche Bank AG outline the firm’s popularity amongst the blue-chip client sector.”
—Europe Legal 500, 2004

The Front Line
“France, Germany and Benelux have seen the greatest influx of international firms of all the European jurisdictions over the last decade, but a top tier of independent firms is still retaining a strong grip on the market … The top 10 deals during this period were dominated by the major international firms, most notably [Shearman & Sterling].”
—Legal Week, 2004