Top Law Schools

please list

Milbank

This list is not exhaustive.

Latham at #1 (solidly)
then Skadden, Milbank

itbdvorm wrote:Latham at #1 (solidly)
then Skadden, Milbank

Latham is not #1, and definitely not "solidly."

Milbank is generally tops. See below for specific specialties.

http://www.chambersandpartners.com/USA/Editorial/42703

Milbank and Chadbourne are the two firms where project finance seems to be the pride of the firm.

itbdvorm wrote:Latham at #1 (solidly)
then Skadden, Milbank

Skadden? I thought their projects group was pretty small...

Ive heard A&O, Freshfields are good. Ive also heard DPW, though I cannot find much on their website

itbdvorm wrote:Latham at #1 (solidly)
then Skadden, Milbank

From Chambers, top 2 bands in each:

Projects: PPP: Nationwide
Band 1
Allen & Overy LLP
Chadbourne & Parke LLP
freshfields bruckhaus deringer LLP
mayer brown llp
Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP
nossaman llp
White & Case LLP
Band 2
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

Projects: Mining & Metals: Nationwide
Band 1
Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Band 2
Shearman & Sterling LLP

Projects: Oil & Gas: Nationwide
Band 1
Baker Botts LLP
Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Vinson & Elkins LLP
Band 2
Fulbright & Jaworski LLP
Latham & Watkins LLP
White & Case LLP

Projects: Power: Nationwide
Band 1
Chadbourne & Parke LLP
Latham & Watkins LLP
Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates
White & Case LLP
Band 2
Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP
Shearman & Sterling LLP

Projects: Renewables & Alternative Energy: Nationwide
Band 1
Chadbourne & Parke LLP
Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP
Band 2
Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP
Latham & Watkins LLP
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates


Milbank has far and away the most consistently-highly-rated Project Finance practice. While Latham is very strong, it actually is bested by several firms in these rankings. These rankings obviously aren't the end-all-be-all, and Latham's projects like the PNG LNG deal are very well respected. But to say that it's "solidly" at number 1 seems like a serious stretch.

This lists break down where within these rankings the most-frequently-rated firms stand, and how often. This will give you an overall idea of not only how strong the practice areas tend to be, but also as to how many different areas they're rated in (PPP, Mining & Metals, Oil & Gas, Power, Renewables). I don't know if this is really an accurate order to evaluate the firms by, since most people should probably choose somewhere like Shearman over V&E for projects if they wanted anything other than Oil & Gas. Nevertheless, it gives a general picture.

Rankings: Band 1 Band 2 Band 3 Band 4
Milbank: (5) (0) (0) (0)
C&P: (3) (0) (0) (0)
Skadden: (2) (1) (0) (0)
W&Case: (2) (1) (0) (0)
SullCrom: (2) (0) (0) (0)
Latham: (1) (2) (0) (0)
A&O: (1) (0) (3) (0)
V&E: (1) (0) (1) (1)
Dewey: (0) (3) (0) (1)
Shearman: (0) (2) (2) (0)
Orrick: (0) (2) (0) (0)
Bracewell: (0) (0) (2) (1)
Clifford: (0) (0) (2) (0)

Source: http://www.chambersandpartners.com/USA/Editorial/42703#

do the chambers rankings/bands speak at all toward international projects? Where could you get information like this, but about international project work?

These all say "nationwide" and are all US firms (except A&O)

or even better, is there any way to get rankings/bands in projects by region?

Anonymous User wrote:do the chambers rankings/bands speak at all toward international projects? Where could you get information like this, but about international project work?

These all say "nationwide" and are all US firms (except A&O)

or even better, is there any way to get rankings/bands in projects by region?

1: Yes, chambers global.

2: Even though this is "nationwide," there's actually relatively little projects work in the US. A lot of the work is abroad. So even though this is a "nationwide" ranking (i.e., of US firms), it encompasses a lot of international work.

I asked a projects partner at Milbank about Skadden and Latham and he said Latham and Milbank are in a higher tier than Skadden. Just one partner's opinion.

Milbank's Latin America work all comes out of its NYC office. Their office in Brazil is just for "relationships," according to this partner. Their other overseas offices seem to be more directly involved in projects.

Just finished callbacks at all the top NY firms engaged in global projects.

Milbank and White & Case have the highest regarded global projects practice, representing all parties to these transactions - the sponsor, developer, contractor, lender, etc. Milbank does the whole spectrum of projects, but seem to excel on representing lenders/underwriters and in energy projects.

Risk with working at Milbank is that you get assigned to a group before you start full time; if your sole interest is projects but you're not placed with them...too bad, you're outta luck.

P.S. Can't leave Shearman out of the discussion either.

Anonymous User wrote:Just finished callbacks at all the top NY firms engaged in global projects.

Milbank and White & Case have the highest regarded global projects practice, representing all parties to these transactions - the sponsor, developer, contractor, lender, etc. Milbank does the whole spectrum of projects, but seem to excel on representing lenders/underwriters and in energy projects.

Risk with working at Milbank is that you get assigned to a group before you start full time; if your sole interest is projects but you're not placed with them...too bad, you're outta luck.

P.S. Can't leave Shearman out of the discussion either.

Yes, you can.

I stand by my earlier statements. If you want to do traditional project finance work, you should be going to Latham, Milbank or Skadden (in that order). Note that this does not include oil and gas where the traditional Texas firms have expertise, but the "real" project finance (building/financing massive facilities/power plants/etc.)