Legal Directories

chambers guide 2009
November 2008

Advertising & Marketing (Best of the UK)

This “thorough and efficient team” earns client praise for its quick responses and practical advice. The firm is particularly recognised for its strength in advertising and marketing issues within the digital space, acting for companies on both the agency and the client side. The key contacts at the firm are Paul O’Hare and Calum Murray.

Corporate Finance - Lower mid market (London)

Such is this firm’s prowess in its specialist areas of technology, telecoms and digital commerce that it competes with some of the most well-established competitors in the corporate market. Work highlights for the “bright and responsive lawyers” include acting for Serco on its strategic acquisition of ER Consulting and advising the shareholders of Intelicoms on its disposal to Arrow Communications. It is also active in venture capital work, such as representing Nordic Venture Partners in its investment in blinkBox. The lead partner on this deal was Charles Claisse. Lucy Vernall heads the corporate department and clients appreciate her for her extensive knowledge of acquisitions and disposals.

Corporate Finance - Mid market (London)

Ranked individual: Lucy Vernall

Employment (Best of the UK)

This “vibrant practice” is noted by clients for its “flexible, prompt, creative advice, provided at a reasonable cost.” The team has a strong presence in the technology sector, acting for clients such as MySpace and eBay, and also has experience in industrial relations and trade union matters. Clients particularly value the group’s employment workshops and seminars, which help them keep abreast of changing legislation in this sector. Head of department David Williams is “thorough and dynamic - he understands business pressures and can cut to the chase fast.”

Information Technology (London)

Boasting a particular specialism in technology work, Kemp Little works across the IT spectrum, advising on a variety of issues from e-commerce and digital media through to software, telecoms and outsourcing. Hailed as “a niche firm that is simply terrific in its area of expertise,” the team recently advised Burberry on its five-year deal with Capgemini to outsource the management and support of Burberry’s global enterprise resource planning solution. Richard Kemp handled this project and has also advised a host of clients on the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, all the while attracting praise for “his dedication, focus and calm working style.” Calum Murray leads the practice and advises prominent clients such as LOVEFiLM, Match.com and Ticketmaster on a variety of digital media work.
Ranked individuals: Richard Kemp and Calum Murray

Intellectual Property (General)

The arrival of Paul Garland from White & Case to head the litigation side of the practice has bolstered this firm’s profile and strengthened its capability on the patent front. Garland is “a great litigator who looks at things from a different perspective and always concentrates on business objectives, with a good awareness of time and cost.” The compact practice impresses clients with its “very good expertise in IP, and market data specifically; in the right areas, it is just as good as a magic circle firm. The lawyers are excellent on the technology and Internet sector, with a real focus on client needs.” The firm was initially formed as an IT boutique with a strong technology focus, and has since developed the IP side, with expertise in marketing, data protection and data privacy issues. Clients include MySpace and the LSE, and it has acted for Sling Media on copyright issues involving cutting-edge technology, and advised LoveFilm on brand protection and copyright infringement. Clients enthuse: “The lawyers know the sector well and are commercially astute.”
Ranked individual: Paul Garland

Media and Entertainment: Computer Games

This firm’s impressive client roster, and its technological drive and understanding, make it a popular choice in an industry in which advanced technology is of central importance. Development and publishing contracts are a particular forte of the team, which advised Microsoft on the Europe, Middle East and Africa rollout of the Xbox and giant publishers like Activision on UK and European distribution arrangements. Paul O’Hare is a key contact at the firm.

Outsourcing (Best of the UK)

A “great specialist IT outsourcing practice” this team handles a significant number of technology and telecoms outsourcing deals. In addition to gaining new instructions from established clients such as CSC, Serco, LogicaCMG and Expedia, the firm was also involved in significant deals by a number of new clients. “A lawyer who is great on the technical aspects of deals,” Paul O’Hare worked on new client Burberry’s five-year deal with Capgemini to outsource the management and support of its global enterprise resource planning solution. Sources say: “He can be really commercial and he also provides a great client focus.” He assisted T-Mobile with the outsourcing of its field operations and Thomson Financial on the outsourcing of aspects of its data services.
Ranked individual: Paul O'Hare

Telecommunications (Best of the UK)

Kemp Little’s telecoms practice continues to be dominated by the quickening pace of converging industries; due to its IT expertise, the firm is more aware than most of the increasing crossover between content, transmission and terminal services. With a wide knowledge of the industry, the firm “really understands the technical background of matters,” say clients. The focus on convergence has led to a broad array of services being available to operators, service users and providers. Key clients include Gamma Telecoms, which the firm advises on a range of important regulatory and commercial issues, and Expedia, which it advised on the outsourcing of telecoms services to Orange Business Services; internationally, the firm advised Matrix Networks on the building of a large submarine fibre network in the Asia-Pacific region. Partner Mike Conradi now runs the telecoms practice, and led on these deals. According to clients, he “produces punchy and straightforward answers - he’s direct and commercial, and gets to the point quickly.” “A stellar performer in IT,” Richard Kemp advised T-Mobile on a number of important developments, including the establishment of Virgin Mobile and its 3G infrastructure share agreements with O2.
Ranked individuals: Richard Kemp and Mike Conradi

Travel (Best of the UK)

Entering the rankings for the first time this year, this firm is known for its expertise in telecoms and the technological side of the travel industry. One of its most significant clients is online travel agent Expedia, which it assists with a range of regulatory and commercial matters, such as supplier agreements. The team is particularly knowledgeable about travel and the Internet, and on co-operation between the two. Other clients include SITA, bmi and First Choice. Calum Murray heads the department.

THE LEGAL 500 UK EDITION

September 2008

Corporate and Commercial

M & A Smaller Deals Up To £50m

Kemp Little LLP focuses on three core areas: large technology sector corporates, AIM-listed technology companies, and private equity providers operating in the technology sector. Thomson Financial and Serco are clients. Lucy Vernall is the contact in a four-partner team.

Venture Capital

Lucy Vernall’s ‘really excellent’ practice at Kemp Little LLP ‘gives advice and doesn’t just repeat the law to you’, and regularly represents investors and companies in the TMT sector. ‘Insightful, practical and intelligent’ managing partner Siobhan McElhinney is highly recommended.

Human Resource

Employment

Kemp Little LLP, under David Williams, gained PayPal and Japan Airlines as new clients in 2007. The team has a ‘clear understanding of business’ and offers ‘practical, sensible advice linked to a commercial reality’; Chris Middleton is a ‘pleasure to deal with’.

Technology, Media and Telecoms

Intellectual Property

Strong in IT, Kemp Little LLP debuts in the IP ranking following the hire of ‘ very accessible and responsive’ trade mark and patent litigator Paul Garland from White & Case LLP, and two junior lawyers. They join a practice that is strong on non-contentious and copyright work, and acts for new client MySpace, among others.

IT and Telecoms

Making Mike Conradi up to partnership and adding Paul Garland from White & Case LLP, IT boutique Kemp Little LLP has made efforts to broaden its offering. Clients say they have ‘complete respect for the partners’ expertise, particularly Richard Kemp who is a top, top lawyer’. The group advised on a spectrum of mandates, including acting for T-Mobile on the outsourcing of network functions to Ericsson, and handling convergence issues for MySpace. Alongside a wealth of new media clients, the team has IT experience acting for customer-side entities, and has worked with a number of banks on MiFID compliance. Calum Murray and Paul O’Hare are both recommended.

Richard Kemp is listed as a Leading Individual.

Media and Entertainment

Kemp Little LLP’s ‘well-organised, practical and pragmatic’ practice focuses on convergence and digitisation. Paul O’Hare and Richard Kemp advise digital creative agencies, music clients such as PPL, and interactive gaming providers, notably Inspired Gaming.