Herbert Smith
Encyclopedia
Herbert Smith LLP
is an international law firm
headquartered in London
, United Kingdom
. The firm has offices in Europe
, the Middle East
and Asia
. The firm was founded in the City of London in 1882 by Norman Herbert Smith and today has 240 partners
and 1,300 fee-earners.
, the Middle East
and, South east Asia. It also maintains an arms-length formal alliances with German
law firm Gleiss Lutz
and Benelux
law firm Stibbe
.
After initial specialisation in the early part of the 20th century in company flotation
s and advising mining companies, the firm's more recent work focuses on a combination of litigation and corporate work (M&A and equity capital markets
in particular). Other practices it has include finance
, real estate
, energy
, and competition
.
In 2009 revenues were £444 million and profits-per-equity partner (PEP) were £845,000. In 2010 revenues were £450 million and PEP were £862,000.
Between 2004 and 2009, Herbert Smith gained more new FTSE 100/250 clients than any other law firm in the UK, and as of 2010 Herbert Smith has the fifth most FTSE 100 clients and third most combined FTSE 100/FTSE 250 clients of all UK law firms.
The firm has recently ended its European partnership with the German firm Gleiss Lutz
and the Benelux firm Stibbe
, and is pursuing its own international expansion initiative.
Limited liability partnership
A limited liability partnership is a partnership in which some or all partners have limited liability. It therefore exhibits elements of partnerships and corporations. In an LLP one partner is not responsible or liable for another partner's misconduct or negligence. This is an important...
is an international law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
headquartered in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The firm has offices in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. The firm was founded in the City of London in 1882 by Norman Herbert Smith and today has 240 partners
Business partner
Business partner is a term used to denote a commercial entity with which another commercial entity has some form of alliance. This relationship may be a highly contractual, exclusive bond in which both entities commit not to ally with third parties...
and 1,300 fee-earners.
History
The firm was established by Norman Herbert Smith in 1882. Edward Walker-Arnott took over as senior partner in 1992.Practice
Herbert Smith has both it's own and associated offices in countries across EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and, South east Asia. It also maintains an arms-length formal alliances with German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
law firm Gleiss Lutz
Gleiss Lutz
Gleiss Lutz is a German law firm founded in Stuttgart in 1949 by Alfred Gleiss. Gleiss' initial partner, Arved Deringer, left in 1961 to form his own firm, now part of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer...
and Benelux
Benelux
The Benelux is an economic union in Western Europe comprising three neighbouring countries, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. These countries are located in northwestern Europe between France and Germany...
law firm Stibbe
Stibbe
Stibbe is a Benelux full-service law firm with an internationally oriented commercial practice. Its primary offices are located in Amsterdam, Brussels and Luxembourg and the firm has branch offices in Dubai, London and New York...
.
After initial specialisation in the early part of the 20th century in company flotation
Flotation
Flotation involves phenomena related to the relative buoyancy of objects. The term may refer to:* Flotation, any material added to the hull of a watercraft to keep the hull afloat...
s and advising mining companies, the firm's more recent work focuses on a combination of litigation and corporate work (M&A and equity capital markets
Equity Capital Markets
Equity capital is raised in many ways; the major types of equity capital are unlisted equity, listed equity and hybrids. Equity capital market practices traditionally advise in a full range of equity, debt equity-linked, hybrid, asset-backed, credit-linked and derivative products that are offered...
in particular). Other practices it has include finance
Finance
"Finance" is often defined simply as the management of money or “funds” management Modern finance, however, is a family of business activity that includes the origination, marketing, and management of cash and money surrogates through a variety of capital accounts, instruments, and markets created...
, real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
, energy
Energy law
Energy laws govern the use and taxation of energy, both renewable and non-renewable. These laws are the primary authorities related to energy...
, and competition
Competition law
Competition law, known in the United States as antitrust law, is law that promotes or maintains market competition by regulating anti-competitive conduct by companies....
.
In 2009 revenues were £444 million and profits-per-equity partner (PEP) were £845,000. In 2010 revenues were £450 million and PEP were £862,000.
Between 2004 and 2009, Herbert Smith gained more new FTSE 100/250 clients than any other law firm in the UK, and as of 2010 Herbert Smith has the fifth most FTSE 100 clients and third most combined FTSE 100/FTSE 250 clients of all UK law firms.
The firm has recently ended its European partnership with the German firm Gleiss Lutz
Gleiss Lutz
Gleiss Lutz is a German law firm founded in Stuttgart in 1949 by Alfred Gleiss. Gleiss' initial partner, Arved Deringer, left in 1961 to form his own firm, now part of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer...
and the Benelux firm Stibbe
Stibbe
Stibbe is a Benelux full-service law firm with an internationally oriented commercial practice. Its primary offices are located in Amsterdam, Brussels and Luxembourg and the firm has branch offices in Dubai, London and New York...
, and is pursuing its own international expansion initiative.