Annual Awards 2025

ANNUAL
AWARDS
2025

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Lawyers Worldwide Awards Magazine
Annual Awards 2025
Lawyers Worldwide Awards Magazine is recognised all over the world for our
comprehensive awards programs we run, taking votes from countries all over
the world to recognise the most prestigious professionals in their specialised
areas of practice.
The 2025 Awards recognises a select number of leading professional firms
around the world working both nationally and internationally in their field of
expertise.
Lawyers Worldwide Awards Magazine selects the best professional & financial
institutions from around the world and showcases there work ethic and skills
within their area of expertise.
The Awards Magazine is aimed at not just the large corporations but the
smaller companies of the advisory business sector.
Lawyers Worldwide Awards Magazine is currently being read by Lawyers,
Advisers, Consultants and corporate executives.
We aim to showcase every company individually and to its full potential.

Lawyers Worldwide Awards Magazine
Annual Awards 2025
Index
AC & R
Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year – Amsterdam
Baker McKenzie
Arbitration Specialists of the Year – Switzerland
Batliner Wanger Batliner Rechtsanwalte AG
Capital Markets Law Firm of the Year - Liechtenstein
Carlton Elleker Chase
Joel Barry
Trademarks Law Lawyer of the Year – UK
Chrysostomides Advocates & Legal Consultants
Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year - Cyprus
Desai & Diwanji
Infrastructure Finance Law Firm of the Year – India
Dimitrov, Petrov & Co.
Data & Technology Law Firm of the Year - Bulgaria
Emperor International Holdings
Do Do Chan
Senior Legal Counsel, Head of Legal – Hong Kong
Eucid Law
National Security Law Firm of the Year – Belgium
FBT Attorneys at Law
International Court Litigation Law Firm of the Year - Sweden
FMConsult
Compliance Consulting Firm of the Year - UK
Ganie & Partners
Litigation Law Firm of the Year – Indonesia
Gatti Pavesi Bianchi Ludovici
Corporate Litigation Law Firm of the Year – Italy
Hasik, Rheims & Partners
Intellectual Property Rights Law Firm of the Year – Poland
IP Porta
IT & Media Law Firm of the Year – Belgium
Jebens Mensching LLP

Real Estate & Developments Law Firm of the Year - Germany
Juhasz Burge, PC
Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year – USA
Karanjawala & Co
Commercial Litigation Law Firm of the Year – India
KLEYR GRASSO
Private Equity Law Firm of the Year - Luxembourg
Ligan & Uy
Litigation Law Firm of the Year – Philippines
Mavens Abogados
Business Tax Law Firm of the Year - Spain
O’Brien Criminal & Civil Solicitors
Criminal Defence Law Firm of the Year - Australia
Rich IP & Co
Patent & Trademark Law Firm of the Year - Taiwan
Santos de Oliveira & Associados
Niche Law Firm of the Year Portugal
Sydney Criminal Lawyers
Criminal Defence Law Firm of the Year – Australia
The Goldstein Law Firm
Complex Commercial Litigation Law Firm of the Year - USA
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
Corporate Governance Law Firm of the Year – USA
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
Banking & Investment Law Firm of the Year – USA
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
Mergers & Acquisitions Law Firm of the Year – USA
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
David A. Katz
Mergers & Acquisitions Lawyer of the Year – USA
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
David A. Katz
Lawyer of the Year - USA

Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year - USA
GUIDING YOUR IP BEYOND THE HORIZON SM
https://www.patenthorizon.com/
Juhasz Burge P.C. provides intellectual property (IP) legal services to leading technology, software and
clinical diagnostic companies.
Combining deep experience, broad capabilities across a wide spectrum of industries and technologies, and
extensive experience in IP strategies, Juhasz Burge collaborates with clients to help them see, understand and
capitalize on the potential strategic value of their intellectual property.
Aligning IP Strategy to Business Strategy
https://www.patenthorizon.com/intellectual-property-legal-services/total-ip-portfolio-management/path-tovalue-ip-legal-services/
Juhasz Burge aligns our lawyering approach to the business strategy of our clients. We take the time to
understand each client’s needs and provide unique solutions that match their business and marketing
strategy.
The Juhasz Burge IP Path to Value℠ suite of intellectual property legal services encompasses a nine-stage,
multi-disciplinary approach to growing a company’s IP portfolio value. IP Path to Value integrates patent
management with business strategy and technical innovation so organizations can leverage intellectual
property assets to drive technology leadership, market position, and competitive advantage resulting in
increased economic value.
Comprehensive IP Counseling and Services
https://www.patenthorizon.com/intellectual-property-legal-services/total-ip-portfolio-management/
Juhasz Burge encompasses the full scope of IP counseling, protection, licensing and litigation for patents,
designs, trademarks, and copyrights, including drafting patent applications, patent licensing, patent litigation
and more.
Patent Law
https://www.patenthorizon.com/intellectual-property-legal-services/patent-law-legal-services/
Juhasz Burge patent lawyers have an average of more than 20 years of IP legal experience with deep
technical understanding and a tough, litigation-minded approach to patenting. We bring lessons learned in
the courtroom to our patent strategic counseling. Our clients include both industry leaders and new venture
start-ups. Every organization deserves IP and Patent Law representation that encompasses counseling,
prosecution, licensing and litigation expertise to optimize the strategic value of their intellectual property.

Paul R. Juhasz
Paul R. Juhasz, J.D. is a leading patent attorney specializing in strategic preparation, prosecution, counseling,
monetization, and litigation with degrees in electrical engineering and chemical engineering. He is an adjunct
professor at the New Hampshire School of Law, is extensively published, and an expert on Alice and 101 Bilski
patent eligible subject matter and patent exhaustion. He has submitted amicus briefs to the United States
Supreme Court in several patent cases. As Director IP Nokia, he lead the protection and enforcement of
Nokia IP throughout North and South America. As assistant general counsel and chief IP counsel at Symbol,
he chaired a joint defense group of companies in defeating the Lemelson patents.
Benjamin D. Burge
Benjamin D. Burge, J.D. is a leading patent attorney specializing in strategic preparation, prosecution,
counseling, in addition to monetization and litigation support, with a bachelor of science degree in computer
engineering. He is a second-generation patent attorney with over 20 years of experience. He worked
at Blakely Sokoloff Taylor & Zafman, where he was trained in patent preparation and prosecution. He
served for six years at Intel and five years at Bose Corporation in the area of patent preparation and
prosecution.
Contact Details:
Houston
+1 713 260-9643
Seattle
+1 425 943-7619

Trademarks Law Lawyer of the Year – UK
Carlton Elleker Chase is a full-service law firm that was established in early 2024.
Since its inception, the firm has rapidly expanded, gaining recognition for its
expertise in intellectual property, litigation, corporate, real estate and commercial
law, financial services. With a strong foundation in these core practice areas, the firm
has built a reputation for providing sophisticated legal solutions tailored to the
specific needs of its clients.
The firm’s team comprises highly experienced lawyers with both in-house and
private practice backgrounds, ensuring that clients receive commercially focused
legal advice that aligns with their business objectives. As part of its ongoing growth,
Carlton Elleker Chase is in the process of expanding into property law as well as
media and entertainment, further strengthening its ability to serve a diverse range of
industries. The firm is committed to maintaining its forward-thinking, client-centric
approach while continuing to attract top legal talent to enhance its offerings.
What sets Carlton Elleker Chase apart is its combination of deep professional
expertise, commercial insight, and sector-specific knowledge, particularly in
intellectual property and litigation. The firm is comprised of leading experts in their
respective fields, allowing clients to benefit from well-rounded, sophisticated advice
that is both strategic and practical.
Carlton Elleker Chase offers a highly personalised and agile approach to legal
services. As a relatively small but highly experienced firm, it provides a level of client
focus and accessibility that is often lost in bigger practices. This ensures that clients
receive direct attention from senior lawyers who bring years of experience to every
matter. The firm’s ability to provide creative, commercially driven solutions, combined
with a commitment to high-quality service, makes it a trusted partner for businesses
and individuals seeking expert legal guidance.

Joel Barry is a Solicitor-Advocate specialising in all forms intellectual property and
associated sectors including art, fashion, advertising media and technology. He is
also experienced in related regulatory matters including FMCG, food and gaming
regulations. Joel pioneered the ‘one stop shop’ for intellectual property and
established team to work on the complete life-cycle of rights from clearing for use
and registering through to enforcement and licensing. The breadth of Joel’s practice
has given him experience across Europe and in relation to pan-EU injunctive relief.
The management team at Carlton Elleker Chase comprises three highly experienced
legal professionals, each bringing a unique skill set to the firm. Their combined
expertise spans intellectual property, dispute resolution, financial services,
commercial law, and start-up advisory, ensuring comprehensive legal support
tailored to a diverse client base. This breadth of experience equips them with a
client-centric perspective and a commitment to
high service standards.
Joel Barry serves as the Head of the Intellectual Property and Dispute Resolution
Department, bringing internationally recognised expertise in trade mark prosecution,
litigation, and commercial IP strategy. With experience handling high-profile disputes
in the UK and EU courts, Joel is a global leader in IP law, advising clients in the
media, entertainment, fashion, and art industries.
James Wilkes specialises in commercial litigation, employment law, and dispute
resolution. With a results-oriented approach, he advises clients on contractual
disputes, professional negligence, and property-related litigation. His work spans
businesses of all sizes, from regional companies to multi-national corporations,
ensuring legal protection while maintaining commercial sensitivity.
Michael Cotter, a litigator within the Dispute Resolution team, heads the Financial
Services Division, specialising in high-value financial litigation, class-action claims,
and professional negligence cases. With a track record of recovering over £25
million for investors and expertise in regulated industries, he is a trusted advisor on
pensions, investment fraud, and financial disputes. His work has led to successful
legal actions against financial institutions, securing justice for affected clients.
Together, this leadership team ensures that Carlton Elleker Chase remains at the
forefront of legal excellence, offering specialised yet commercially practical legal
solutions across a range of industries.
Contact Details:
Address: One, Quality Court, London WC2A 1HR
Email Address: info@ceclegal.co.uk

Litigation Law Firm of the Year – Indonesia
Ganie and Partners (GAP), a distinguished Indonesian law firm, specializes in commercial
transactions and litigation. Their seasoned attorneys, with over 40 years of expertise in the
Indonesian legal sector, ensure unparalleled legal counsel.
As one of Indonesia’s premier law firms, they are home to top litigators and transaction
lawyers, unwavering in their commitment to safeguarding their clients’ interests.
Their service extends beyond theoretical legal advice. They provide practical, hands-on
support across Indonesia, from the bustling streets of Jakarta to its most remote corners.
Punctuality, accessibility, responsiveness, reliability, and precision form the cornerstone of
their values. They aim for efficiency in every aspect, delivering optimal value through costeffective
and streamlined legal solutions.
Fully licensed across the Republic of Indonesia, their practice benefits from strong
governmental connections at every level, enhancing their operational effectiveness.
GAP boasts specialized divisions for transactional and litigation matters, thanks to their
extensive network and firm size. Their transaction division is adept at facilitating seamless
deals, while their litigation division expertly navigates challenging legal terrains, including
police and criminal proceedings. They prioritize legal risk management, diligent factfinding,
and enforcement strategies.
Their core competence lies in constantly evolving our legal and ancillary knowledge. They
adapt to new information and technologies, focusing on serving both current and
anticipated client needs effectively.
They don’t just adapt to change; they stay ahead of it. Their goal is to address not only
your immediate legal needs but also to pre-emptively tackle potential challenges that
might escape less experienced eyes.
Their mission is to provide swift, straightforward, and cost-effective legal solutions that
align with clients’ commercial objectives, epitomized by their guiding principle: ‘WE WANT
TO PUT THE LAW ON YOUR SIDE.’
Contact Details:
https://ganieandpartners.com/
kganie@ganieandpartners.com

Infrastructure Finance Law Firm of the Year – India
Founded in 1935, Desai & Diwanji is one of India's leading law firms, helping clients achieve their
goals by combining the highest global standards with local expertise. With offices in Mumbai,
Gurgaon, and New Delhi, Desai & Diwanji is also among the largest law firms in the country.
Vishwang Desai is the managing partner of the firm and heads its corporate commercial
practice. He has consistently advised large multinational corporations and Indian business groups,
governments, multilateral agencies, lenders, PE funds, as well as financial investors in some of the
largest M&A, PE and financing transactions in India / involving Indian companies. He has been
named “lawyer of the year” by various global publications and is regularly included in several
top
business lawyer lists compiled by global publications.
Contact Details:
Practice Areas:
Aviation
Banking &
Finance Capital
Markets
Competition
Dispute Resolution
Infrastructure & Project
Finance Mergers & Acquisitions
Private Equity
Real Estate & Construction
Technology, Media & Telecoms
Address: LENTIN CHAMBERS, DALAL STREET, FORT, MUMBAI 400 001, INDIA Tel:
+91 22 3984 1000
Fax: +91 22 2265 8245
Email: mail@desaidiwanji.com

Niche Law Firm of the Year – Portugal
Santos de Oliveira & Associados is a Portuguese full-service law firm with 13 years of existence,
established in Lisbon and Porto. They are recognized for the quality of their legal services in all
relevant areas of law and strategic sectors, such as commercial law, public and tax law, labour law
and criminal law.
“ We have a small but highly motivated team of lawyers, fully capable of facing all challenges to
deliver effective legal solutions to our clients.”
In order to implement the above-mentioned moto, the prime investments at Santos de Oliveira &
Associados have been centred in integrating the most competent lawyers, with different areas of
expertise in order to provide a wide range of quality services. This implies not only top technical
qualifications but also personal qualities, that enables each lawyer that is a part of their team to
work in proximity with the client, and therefore creating an environment of total reliability. This is
achieved through competent and efficient legal solutions but also by providing constant updating
and swift reply.
This approach implies that their firm has to be equipped with all the technological tools that
enables their lawyers not only to provide effective legal solutions, but also to access and provided
information, when needed and requested, with efficiency. This demands a constant update and,
therefore, investment in this area.
They are also focused on maintaining these standards throughout the future. So, the formation of
new lawyers according to these demands is crucial at Santos de Oliveira & Associados. The
internships are specifically designed to qualify their lawyers to provide quality and efficient legal
services to their clients.
“The recognition of our legal services is, overall, our goal”. So, another of their main investments in
these last years has been implementing the necessary measures in order to obtain an official
Quality Certificate. This procedure is, now, in the final stage, and the certificate will be issued until
the end of the current year.
This reflects an important public official recognition of the professionalism and quality of their legal
services.
At Santos de Oliveira & Associados the main challenge is always the same, both in downturn and
economic growth periods- improving the quality their legal services, providing efficient and swift
solutions to the clients demands. Their team strongly believes that this is the answer for any law firm
to endure and persevere - even more so in difficult times. “The key words are resilience and
consistency”.
If there is a strong client’s portfolio it´s due to the high standards of their services and to a total
reliable and close relation with each one of them. They know they can always count on them, even
when financially things are not so favourable.
Vitor Santos De Oliveira – Partner “My name is Vitor Santos de Oliveira, I am a lawyer and partner
of Santos de Oliveira & Associados, Law Firm. I have a degree in Law from Univeridade Lusiada,
and I am a member of the Portuguese Bar Association since 1996. I also have an accountancy
course and a degree of training of formers. I have been invited as jury of the Portuguese Bar

Association, and for the formation courses for Magistrates for Tax and Administrative Court, and, as
a former in ISEL in the Professional Course in Labour Law. I am also a lecturer in Criminal Law and
media commentator on legal matters.
Since 1996 I have developed my law practice in areas such as Criminal Law, Public and Tax Law,
and Family Law, first in individual practice and since 2010 as a partner of Santos de Oliveira &
Associados.
The Team is fully committed to establish Santos de Oliveira & Associados as one of the top
multidisciplinary law firms in Portugal, with a wide range of accessibility for clients, either corporate
or individual.
This implies a carefully planning of growth as a structure in order to be fully equipped to provide
services to a wider range of clients domestic and international. Investing in structure should,
therefore, soundly walk side by side with the increase of demand, at the risk of financial falling out
of balance – which in a recession period as the one we are going at the time is very difficult to
overcome.
Increase of demand, on its side, only happens if your law firm provides constantly effective legal
services and add value to the clients – in other words by been reliable.
So, the real goal in an economic downturn, as the one we are presently crossing, is improving the
quality and range of our legal services, thoughtfully investing both in qualified professionals and
structure and broadening the range of our clients. We have the right motivation, and team, to do
it.
As to the progression of the market, it will be defined by a new concept that has been introduced
by the recent legislation – multidisciplinary law firms. This new legislation basically allows an
association between lawyers and professionals of other areas of activity, in order to provide a full
service to the client.
So, the traditional concept of a law firm will most certainly change by this innovation, redefining
itself in terms of their structure, modus operandi, and core activities. Clients that operate in specific
areas of activities, especially corporate ones, will privilege law firms that will be able to present a
fully integrated solution for their demand.
Law firms will have to clearly chose a specific area of activity where there will provide this full
service, and implement the necessary changes in its structure, associating the adequate
professionals, in order to be able to attract clients that operate in that area.
The law firm will no longer be limited to providing just a legal service, but a whole integrated
solution for the client’s demand. This will surely change the market in a short period of time.
The team strongly believe that law firms that won’t adapt to this new form of practice will
succumb to the market.
We will be ready for that change.”
Contact Details:
Rua Castilho, nº 13-D – 4º A – 1250-066 Lisboa
Tlf: 213 143 313
Fax: 213 143 315
geral@santosdeoliveira.pt
www.santosdeoliveira.pt

Senior Legal Counsel, Head of Legal – Hong Kong
Emperor International Holdings Limited
Emperor Group employs over 9,000 individuals worldwide, with seven of its companies
listed on the Main Board of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited. Their portfolio
encompasses a wide range of sectors, including entertainment (such as talent
management, movie production, distribution, media and cultural development, and
cinema operations), real estate development, hospitality, property management, gaming
services, fine jewelry and watch retail, and chain retailing of upscale European furniture,
along with financial services. Emperor Group has established itself as the most prominent
and active entertainment company in Hong Kong and across pan-Asia. And it is named as
the next rising star in the real estate sector.
Despite the ongoing economic downturn in Hong Kong, they successfully sold 123 residential
units at One Jardine's Lookout in Happy Valley—one of the city’s most luxurious districts—
within just six hours, generating a total gross revenue of US$128 million. Additionally, their
luxury property at 15 Shouson Hill achieved the highest transaction amount in the Hong
Kong Island district both in 2023 and 2024.
Their film, The Last Dance, grossed over HKD$7 million on its opening day, marking the
highest single-day earnings in the history of Hong Kong cinema. By the early morning of
the second day, the box office surpassed HK$10 million, making it the fastest film to reach
this milestone in Hong Kong's cinematic history.
The uncertain economic landscape presents challenges across their business ventures—
including real estate, entertainment, and luxury goods—but they have successfully
navigated numerous difficulties in Hong Kong, such as SARS, COVID-19, social unrest, and
the 1997 financial crisis. They view the current economic downturn as another opportunity
to innovate, develop new business avenues, and refine their organizational structure and
portfolio.

Do Do Chan is currently the Head of the Legal & Compliance Team at Emperor
International Holdings Limited, one of the seven members within the Emperor Group listed
on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Prior to transiting to the legal sector,
she accumulated over 16 years of experience as a chartered engineer in both the United
Kingdom and Hong Kong. Driven by the desire for new challenges, she pursued further
qualifications as a Barrister-at-law in Australia and a solicitor in Hong Kong.
In her current role, she manages a diverse array of contentious and non-contentious legal
and business matters, with passion for navigating the complexities of the real estate
industry, which she finds both exhilarating and rewarding. In 2024, she was named as
“Recommended Lawyer” by Legal 500 and enlisted on the General Counsel (GC)
Powerlist, Hong Kong.
Do Do Chan received the honors “Senior Legal Counsel of the Year” at the Lawyer Legal
Awards in 2022 and 2023.
In 2024, her legal team was the finalist in the Asian Legal Business Hong Kong Law Awards
2024 across three categories: Hong Kong In-house Team of the Year; Compliance and Risk
Management In-house Team of the Year; and Construction and Real Estate In-House
Team of the Year.
Contact: Ms. Do Do Chan
Email: dodochan@emperorgroup.com
Company Name: Emperor International Holdings Limited
Address: 28 th Floor, Emperor Group Centre, 288 Henessar

Arbitration Specialists of the Year - Switzerland
Prof. Dr. Joachim Frick is a partner at Baker & McKenzie and admitted to the bars of Switzerland
and New York. He graduated from the University of Zurich (lic. iur, Dr. iur.) and Yale Law School
(LL.M., J.S.D). After practicing with Baker & McKenzie in Taipei and Chicago, he in 1997 returned to
Baker & McKenzie in Zurich and became a partner in 2001. He is admitted to practice in Switzerland
and, in addition, has passed the New York Bar exam.
Joachim specializes in commercial litigation and arbitration and has acted as party counsel in various
Swiss and international arbitration proceedings under Swiss, ICC, ad hoc and other arbitration rules.
He regularly represents clients in particular in corporate, post m&a, liability, insurance and
distributorship disputes and advises in litigious and non-litigious insurance/reinsurance matters.
In addition to being a practicing lawyer, he regularly teaches as professor of law (Titularprofessor)
at the University of Zurich and is a lecturer in a number of graduate programs. He was
repeatedly named leading attorney in insurance and reinsurance matters by specialized
publications.
Joachim's practice combines disputes and arbitration work with a strong expertise in post m&a
and insurance matters. Given the global reach of Baker McKenzie with more than 70 offices
around the world, Joachim's clients often have an international or foreign background.
In particular in Financial Services and other regulatory matters, the international firm
Baker McKenzie allows to conduct multijurisdictional surveys on a global basis.
While we cannot disclose client names, Joachim Frick regularly advises major Swiss and international
financial institutions (banks, insurers, brokers, etc.) on regulatory matters. Also, Joachim Frick
regularly represents foreign corporate clients in arbitration proceedings with seat of arbitration in
Switzerland and/or governed under Swiss law.
Contact Details:
Joachim Frick
Prof. Dr., LL.M./J.S.D.
Baker & McKenzie Zurich
Holbeinstrasse 30, P.O. Box
8034 Zürich, Switzerland
Tel: +41 44 384 14 14
Fax: +41 44 384 12 84
Direct: +41 44 384 12 31
Email: joachim.frick@bakermckenzie.com

Patent & Trademark Law Firm of the Year – Taiwan
Rich IP & Co. has a team of attorneys and engineers with deep and varied educational and
experiential backgrounds, providing professional patent and trademark law services in Taiwan,
Chinese Area and worldwide.
Our experts have acted as trainers and educators for local patent examiners, judges, public
prosecutors, and thousands of local patent attorneys, engineers and in-house counselors since 1992.
Our professional capability always give our clients advantages of better quality services with less
service charge as compared with other IP firms in Taiwan and Chinese area.
Clarice Chen
Specialism:
Patent (in pharmaceuticals, biotech, semiconductor, chemistry, polymer, chemical engineering,
material science, etc.)/trademark prosecution, invalidation/revocation, infringement analysis,
portfolio management and litigation
Education:
National Taiwan University (MS and BS in Chemical Engineering) Franklin
Pierce Law Center, Research in Intellectual Property (IPSI & ALI) Shih Hsin
University (MS in Law)
Professional Positions:
Patent Attorney (1997)
Editor for Taiwan area of Manual for the Handling of Applications for Patents, Designs and
Trademarks throughout the World (The Brown Book (2005~))
Patent Counselor Assigned by Taiwan Intellectual Property Office for providing pro bono patent
services (1998~)
Experiences:
Review for the Counselor of Lee & Li Attorneys-at-Law Passed (2004)
Principal (2003-2004), Deputy Principal (2002) in Patent and Technology Department of Lee
& Li Attorneys-at-Law
Senior Patent Attorney (1990-2005.3) in Patent and Technology Department of Lee & Li
Attorneys-at-Law
Contact Details:
E-mail: clarice.chen@richip.com Tel:
+886 2 2713-1060 ext. 888

Complex Commercial Litigation Law Firm of the Year – USA
The Goldstein Law Firm is a boutique national law firm that represents exclusively franchisees
and dealers, not franchisors, suppliers or manufacturers. There are only a handful of franchisee
lawyer specialists remaining in the country, as most have begun representing both franchisors
and franchisees.
Franchise law is a multifaceted area of law that requires specialization. Any franchise
attorney can tell you about a variety of cases where franchise agreements have gone south.
Here at Goldstein, our attorneys have as much as 30 years of experience handling all aspects
of franchise litigation throughout the county.
We also specialize in franchise agreement assistance, bringing you the latest developments in
franchise and distribution law. With the publishing of our Franchise Trends newsletter, we can help
franchisees stay updated on developments concerning different legal aspects of franchising.
Dealing with the complexities and challenges of franchise law requires focus and specialization,
which is why we represent dealers and franchisees exclusively. Unlike other firms, we at Goldstein
are on the side of the franchisee. We can help you decipher the fine print of your franchise
agreement and single out details your franchisor may not want you to know.
Without a knowledgeable and competent franchise consultant, you may be vulnerable to the
pitfalls of franchise law. Simply walking away is not a viable solution if you’re looking to protect
your assets and yourself from financially damaging consequences. For those who have already
signed an agreement and are struggling with franchisor difficulties, our franchise law firm also
provides legal assistance through its franchise attorneys.
Jeffrey Goldstein, the Founder and Chairman of the Franchise Litigation Department, has over
three decades of litigation experience in complex commercial litigation, with a
specialization in distribution and franchise law. Jeff Goldstein’s reputation relies upon not only his
unique ability to construct and devise winning legal and business strategies, but also on his
exceptional talent to regularly cut through the legalese to achieve great business win-win results
for his franchisee and dealer clients. Our firm has litigated against or consulted regarding
probably the top few hundred franchise systems in the country over the years.
Jeffrey Goldstein has been working as a franchise attorney in the franchise and distribution niche for
over three decades. During that time, he and the Attorneys at the Goldstein Law Firm have
received unrivaled accolades for their talented, skillful, shrewd, insightful and
compelling efforts on behalf of their winning franchisee and dealer clients. Goldstein’s clients from
around the world benefit from Goldstein’s skills in both litigation and strategy. Here are some of
the reasons why the Goldstein Law Firm puts Jeff Goldstein and the lawyers at Goldstein Law Firm
at the top of national franchise attorneys.

There are very few franchisee lawyer specialists practicing in the country. Almost every
franchisee-only lawyer has begun representing both franchisors and franchisees, although they do
not fully disclose this to the franchisee community. This is because it is clear which side of the aisle
has greater funds and resources to fund their law offices.
Many times these franchise lawyers try to argue either that they were only lending minimal
assistance to the franchisor on its case and were not acting officially as the lead lawyer; however,
this excuse rings hollow when you realize that these lawyers’ names are part of
the law firm’s name itself – these very apologist lawyers make the final decisions regarding
representing both franchisees and franchisors at the same time.
This joint representation of franchisors and franchisees, especially in the litigation context, is directly
harmful to your status and position as a franchisee or dealer, despite any fast-talk otherwise. When
shopping for advice, and seeking legal counsel, make sure to include this important factor in your
review process — you want a franchisee lawyer looking out exclusively only for your interests; not
a franchise lawyer, no matter how charming, that rides both sides of the fence.
Contact Details:
Goldstein Law Firm, PLLC
1629 K St. NW, Suite 300,
Washington, DC 20006 Website:
www.goldlawgroup.com
Email: jgoldstein@goldlawgroup.com
Phone: 202-293-3947
Fax: 202-315-2514

Commercial Litigation Law Firm of the Year – India
Karanjawala & Co. is an exclusive full-service boutique litigation firm, founded in 1983 by Mrs. Manik
Karanjawala and Mr. Raian Karanjawala. The firm operates today out of three offices in New Delhi.
The Firm, over the years, has come to dominate the litigation landscape of the country and has serviced a
wide variety of clients from Prime Ministers to captains of industries and from the largest corporate and
media houses to royal families. Notwithstanding its elite client list, the Firm is also equally at ease handling
the day-to- day cases of ordinary litigants.
The Firm began its legal service with a predominant focus on cases in the Supreme Court and High Court,
but over the years, has expanded its legal vision, ensuring that it has a presence in all the
subordinate courts and tribunals of the National Capital Region (NCR). The Firm’s services are
often availed by clients to handle litigation on a pan–India basis.
Recognized as one of India’s top litigation firms with close to 250 awards and recognitions, Karanjawala
& Co. features in over 625 reported judgments only in the Supreme Court itself. The Firm has filed and
dealt with approximately over 25,000 matters till date. The Firm remains at the disposal of litigants
who come up with myriad issues and complex legal problems. Over the years, the firm has grown to be a
one-stop solution for litigants from not just within the country, but also the ones located abroad. We’ve
set best practices by remaining unfazed by the media frenzy surrounding the high-profile cases handled
by the firm. We’ve only tries to better ourselves with each case handled, without seeking credit or
moment of fame while handling sensitive matters.
Client confidentiality and awareness of sensitivity surrounding every high-profile matter are engrained in
the DNA of the firm.
The Firm’s criminal practice has grown substantially in the last five years, with the Firm appearing in a
number of high stake and high profile matters. The Firm has also received acclaim in respect of its whitecollar
crime practice particularly for its ability to handle sensitive cases with a quick turnaround time. In
the last four to five years, the Firm has also carved out a niche practice for itself in the fields of consumer
protection and RERA litigation. The Firm’s practice focuses not only on general consumer litigation but
also on medical negligence and real estate, with the Firm representing a wide range of clients before
various tribunals, ranging from the District fora to the
National Commission. The Firm’s consumer team has filed over 1,000 cases in the National Commission, with
a high success rate. The Firm has extensive experience in dealing with high profile matters under the
recently enacted Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 providing advisory services and appearing for
corporations and financial institutions, in relation to issues pertaining to their restructuring and insolvency.
The Firm’s high profile client list includes the Tata Group, DLF, Arcelor Mittal, the Birlas, the Adani Group,
Google, Astro, Hindustan Unilever, P&G, Colgate, Coca Cola, Vodafone, PWC, GVK, Mafatlal Industries,
Piramal, Ambuja Cement, GMR, Morgan Stanley, Star TV, BCCI, Coffee Board, Bombay Dyeing,
Hindustan Times and MSD Pharmaceuticals among many others. Some of the renowned individuals who
have turned to the Firm for legal representation in the past include, (i) late Mr. V.P. Singh, former
Prime Minister of India (ii) Mr. Ratan N. Tata, former Chairman, TATA Group (iii) Mr. Rupert Murdoch,
Chairman, Fox Corporation (iv) Ms. Karisma Kapoor, Film Actress
(v) late Mr. Jaswant Singh, former Defence and Finance Minister of India (vi) Mr. Sharad Pawar,

former Defence and Agriculture Minister of India (vii) Mr. Jyotiraditya Scindia, former Minister of State
(Independent Charge) for power (viii) Mr. Goolam Vahanvati, former Attorney General of India (ix) Mr.
Gopal Raheja (x) Mr. Suresh Nanda (xi) Mr. Karim Morani (xii) Mr. Tarun Tejpal (xiii) Mr. M.J. Akbar (xiv)
Mr. Jack Dorsey, CEO of Twitter and many others
Key awards and accolades achieved by Firm in various practice areas over the years:
Corporate Intl Magazine Global has awarded Karanjawala & Co. the "Alternative Dispute
Resolution Law Firm of the Year in India - 2021" award.
India Business Law Journal’s 2021 Indian Law Firm Awards has awarded Karanjawala & Co. the
"Anti- corruption & White-collar crime Law Firm of the year" and "Litigation Law Firm of the year"
award.
Forbes Legal Powerlist 2020 has awarded Karanjawala & Co. the "Top Law Firms of the Country
Award" for Litigation practice.
IBLJ has recognized the firm for its Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice ten times in the
years 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Chambers & Partners has ranked the firm for its “Dispute Resolution/Litigation” Practice
eleven times in the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Chambers & Partners has ranked the firm for its “White Collar Crime” Practice consecutively in the
years 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.
The Legal 500 has ranked the firm for its “Dispute Resolution/Litigation” Practice 13 times
in the years 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2020.
Asialaw Profiles has included the firm in the list of outstanding firms for its dispute resolution
practice for the years 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Benchmark Litigation has recognized the firm amongst top firms for the following practices in the
years 2019, 2020 and 2021 - International Arbitration, Commercial & Transactional Disputes,
Competition/antitrust practice, Insolvency practice and Government and regulatory and White- Collar
Crime. Benchmark Litigation has also ranked the Firm in Tier 1 for Commercial & Transactions disputes
for the Year 2020.
Legal Era has recognized the firm as Best Litigation Firm in the years 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and
recognized the firm as Best White-Collar Crime Practice Firm in the year 2019.
ACQ5 Country Awards has recognized the firm for its Litigation Practice in the years 2013, 2014,
2015, 2016, 2017 and 2020. Further, ACQ5 Country Awards 2020 has recognized the firm for its Alternate
Dispute Resolution Practice in the years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017. It also recognized the firm for its aviation
practice in the years 2015 and 2016 and as Client Care Law Firm of the Year in the year 2017.
Contact Details:
Mr. Raian Karanjawala, Managing Partner Email:
raian@raian.in

Litigation Law Firm of the Year – Philippines
Ligan & Uy is a full-service law firm positioned to provide legal services observing the most exacting standards.
The Firm represents the integration of vast experiences and practices of two professional lawyers. James Russel
D. Ligan and Jessamyn H. Uy possess professional qualifications in the practice of law. They achieved experience
and expertise in their respective practice areas by having worked with top-tier and established law firms
of international stature.
Ligan & Uy has a diverse clientele, which includes, multinational corporations, BPOs, emerging and
medium enterprises, start-ups, real estate developers, manufacturing companies, health care professionals
and hospitals, distribution and logistics companies, professional services firms, financial sectors, retailers and
wholesalers, and those engaged in telecommunication, media and technology, and restaurant and food
industries.
They have a thorough understanding of the industries in which their clients operate. The Firm is well
placed to service the requirements of its clients across the Philippines in all fields of law and also adequately
equipped to handle cross-border transactions. Particularly, the Firm has extensive experience in the areas
of corporate law and specializes in representing major foreign and domestic corporations. They handle
labor law, wills and estate, immigration, insurance, real estate, family law, and intellectual property
issues.
They also offer their proven capabilities in litigation and dispute resolution, representing their clients in high
courts and various quasi-judicial tribunals, including the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, National
Labor and Relations Commission, National Privacy Commission, Intellectual Property Office, Securities
and Exchange Commission, and other adjudicatory bodies.
The Team:
James Russel Ligan
Jessamyn H. Uy-Ligan
Ligan & Uy have a very strict policy regarding the confidentiality of their clients.
Due to the pandemic, most of the clients had to lay off their employees. Consequently, there were so
many illegal dismissal cases filed against their clients. Nevertheless, all of these cases were decided in favour
of their client notwithstanding the fact that their labor laws tilt in favour of the employees.
There were also a lot of immigration cases involving the deportation of their foreign clients for failure to
extend their visas due to the COVID-19 situation. Ligan & Uy are glad that they were able to assist our
clients and cleared their records with the Bureau of Immigration without being deported.

Ligan & Uy was not immune to the negative impacts caused by the pandemic and current inflation.
Some of their clients, unfortunately, closed their business, which consequently terminated the legal services
being provided. Nevertheless, they took this opportunity to expand their skills and office. During the
pandemic, they took the opportunity to expand their office while the rental fees were low. Some of their
lawyers undertook further studies. In fact, their Atty. Jessamyn Uy-Ligan studied at the University of
California – School of Law and finished her Master of Laws with a Certificate of Specialization in Business
Law in 2021. She was also awarded Best in Legal Memorandum. The Firm also actively ventured into new
areas of practice such as arbitration and settlement of taxes.
Practice Areas:
Corporate & Commercial Law
Foreign Investment
Labor & Employment Law
Immigration Law
Real Estate Management
Intellectual Property
Estate Planning
Family & Marital Law
Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Notarization, Legalization, Apostilzation
Ligan & Uy’s goal is always to be one of the leading law firms in the Philippines. They are very optimistic
that the market for their legal services will constantly grow, especially considering now that the economy is
opening. They can see that there are new foreigners investing in the Philippines.
Contact Details:
Address:
9/F High Street South Corporate Plaza Tower I
9th Avenue corner 26th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Metro Manila, Philippines 1634
Telephone No.:
+ 63 (2) 8290 3364
E-mail address:
attorneys@liganuylaw.com

Criminal Defence Law Firm of the Year – Australia
At O’Brien Criminal and Civil Solicitors law firm, their criminal defence lawyers understand
the urgency of safeguarding your freedom. With over twenty years of experience, O’Brien
Criminal & Civil Solicitors is a leading law firm in Sydney, dedicated to providing top-tier
legal services across Australia. Their Principal Solicitor, Peter O’Brien, and his team have a
proven track record in criminal defence, civil law, and defamation cases.
O’Brien Criminal and Civil Solicitors is deeply committed to promoting equal access to
justice and addressing the systemic shortcomings within law enforcement agencies. Before
the firm’s inception, the deficiencies within law enforcement agencies went largely
unchallenged, until Mr Peter O’Brien, principal of the firm, started a practice that focused
on holding police accountable through civil actions. As pioneers in this area, they have led
the way in cases involving unlawful arrest, police misconduct, and abuse, achieving
significant compensation and favourable outcomes for our clients. Their dedication to these
causes continues to drive them as they strive to ensure justice for those affected by law
enforcement overreach.
What makes their firm stand out from other plaintiff law firms is their holistic and deeply
personal approach to client service. They understand that legal issues are often just one
piece of a much larger puzzle, and they aim to address the full spectrum of our clients’
needs - whether legal, personal or financial. Their firm’s approach is rooted in empathy,
healing and a dedication to making a tangible difference in their clients’ lives, especially
when most have been exploited or harmed by private or governmental institutions, such as
police or army training schools – institutions who are trusted by people to promote safety
and accountability.
Peter O’Brien – Principal Solicitor
Peter is the Principal Solicitor and founder of O’Brien Criminal and Civil Solicitors. He is a
highly experienced criminal defence and civil lawyer with more than twenty-five years of
experience in NSW and interstate.

Early Career:
– In 1998, Peter started his impactful work at the Legal Aid NSW’s Children’s Centre,
where he dedicated two years to representing the most vulnerable in our society.
– His advocacy work continued at the Aboriginal Legal Service from 2000 to 2006.
– Acting solicitor for the Children’s Legal Service of NSW,
– He also worked for the Katherine Regional Aboriginal Legal Aid Service in the
Northern Territory (2001-2005),
– Peter held a senior role at the NSW Legal Aid Commission (2006-2008); and
– He lectured within the Law Faculty at the University of Technology Sydney (2006-
2013).
Peter has received many awards in his career, including:
– Awarded Children’s Lawyer of the Year for the Northern Territory in 2001.
– The Human Rights Law Award in 2016.
– Peter was announced as Doyles ‘Recommended Lawyer’ in 2020.
– In 2023, the Law Society of NSW awarded Peter the prestigious Presidents Medal.
– In 2024, the Law Council of Australia awarded Peter the prestigious Presidents
Medal for his contribution to the Law.
– In 2024 his firm was awarded the Pro Bono Service Award from the Law Society of
NSW.
Contact Details:
O'Brien Criminal & Civil Solicitors
www.obriensolicitors.com.au
Phone: 02 9261 4281
Fax: 02 9261 4282
PO Box: 20073, World Square, NSW 2002
A: Level 4, 219 Castlereagh St Sydney NSW

Compliance Consulting Firm of the Year – UK
FMConsult is an independent regulatory, product development and
operational risk consultancy committed to assisting clients in aligning
financial services processes with regulatory requirements.
They provide risk and compliance solutions that enable senior
management of financial services firms to demonstrate that they and
their firm are currently, and will continue to be, aligned with
regulatory requirements.
They major on the wholesale firms and funds industry but also have
the capacity and experience to assist retail and market infrastructure
companies.
Established in 2004, FMConsult is a specialist compliance, collective
investment schemes and operational risk management consultancy that
services a whole host of financial services firms. They have made it their
mission to provide solutions to our clients so that they can continually
meet regulatory requirements.
Headquartered in London, their highly experienced team have first-hand
experience in asset management, wealth management, financial
regulations and broking which provides them with the all-round
expertise you would require from a consultancy.
FMConsult has recently been engaged in a 4th Money Laundering
Directive documentation remediation project for a large asset
management firm that has included up to sixteen employees involved
in the project. FMConsult are well placed to assist firms, large or
small, who in light of the tough stance being taken by the FCA may
want to review their current AML arrangements and look to remediate
documentation or assess internal control weakness in their CDD.
As we know from the allegations in the FINCEN files, UK financial
services are not exempt from being used for Anti-Money Laundering
(AML) purposes.

In the latest news regarding AML, the Financial Conduct Authority
(FCA) announced that it has commenced criminal proceedings
against National Westminster Bank Plc (NatWest) in respect of
offences under the Money Laundering Regulations 2007 (MLR 2007).
In particular these offences relate to the regulations requiring firms
to determine, conduct and demonstrate risk sensitive customer due
diligence (CDD) and ongoing monitoring of its relationships with its
customers for the purposes of preventing money laundering. This is
the first criminal prosecution under the MLR 2007 by the FCA and
the first prosecution under the MLR against a bank. This comes
despite NatWest working with the FCA.
Dallas McGillivray:
An experienced international regulatory and business manager.
Previous Global Head of Compliance and Operational Risk at a major
asset management company for all business outside the Americas with
circa 30 plus years of experience in UK and global regulatory issues,
covering both retail and institutional.
Andrew Hicks:
An experienced compliance monitoring and advisory; audit; and
operational risk manager in the UK with circa 20 plus years of
experience in European regulated businesses, covering both retail
and institutional clients. Specialist in providing financial regulation,
internal audit, compliance monitoring, regulatory advise, corporate
governance and operational risk services to asset management and
investment companies.
Ross Revell:
Ross is an experienced regulatory professional who has held
regulatory positions at both a leading Insurer and separately at an IFA
Network and has also worked at two of the Big Four Accountancy
firms. He has previously worked at the FSA and started his career in
financial services in the
Banking sector 28 years ago. His experience covers Banking,
Mortgages, Life & Pensions, General Insurance, Wealth Management,
Private Banking, and Stock Broking.
Contact Details:
Mob: 07905 357790 / 07905 266950
Email:
dmcgillivray@fmconsult.co.uk / ahicks@fmconsult.co.uk
Address: Minster Building, 21 Mincing Lane, London, EC3R 7AG
Website: www.fmconsult.co.uk

Criminal Defence Law Firm of the Year – Australia
Our firm has been running for the past 20 years and we specialise in criminal and traffic law
cases.
We are a specialist criminal defence law firm based in Sydney.
We work as a team in order to provide different level of experience and skills to our client cases
with a strong focus on getting excellent results.
We have worked with many clients that have had high profile cases in the media, we cannot
however disclose their names due to the nature of work we do.
We try to provide Fixed Fees were possible and a strong focus on getting the best possible results for
our clients.
Due to the current world health situation, we have had to focus on changing the way we are
accessible to clients and we have turned it around to be more efficient as we provide conferences
not just face to face anymore but via zoom or skype. We have also made sure that each lawyer
has more electronic equipment options so that they do not need to meet client’s face to face and
set up new systems to manage diaries and calendars. We also now do a lot more prison conferences
via iPad which is also much more cost efficient for our clients.
Our future aspirations are to continue what we are doing as it is working well for us.
Contact Details:
Head Office:
Museum Towers Suite
503, Level 5
267 Castlereagh Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000
Ph: 02 9261 8881 | Fax: 02 9264 0880
info@sydneycriminallawyers.com.au www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au

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