Linklaters crowned Europe's International Law Firm of the Year

Award follows success earlier this month, with Linklaters also named International Law Firm of the Year in Asia

Linklaters has been named Europe's International Law Firm of the Year at the International Financial Law Review (IFLR) European Awards 2008, at a ceremony in London last night, Wednesday 19 March. The award follows hot on the heels of success earlier this month in Asia, when Linklaters was named by IFLR as its Asian International Law Firm of the Year 2008. Both awards recognise the firm's advice on many of the most complex deals in the market over the past 12 months.

In total, Linklaters won seven awards at IFLR's European Awards 2008 - more than any other law firm. This included M&A Team of the Year - the third time that Linklaters has won the award - for the firm's advice on groundbreaking deals throughout 2007, including the US$100bn RBS consortium acquisition of ABN AMRO and Rio Tinto's US$38.1bn acquisition of Alcan.

Other awards that Linklaters won are:

Equity Team of the Year - for the firm's advice on the most challenging deals of the year including the BH Marco IPO, the VTB IPO and the Fortis Group rights issue
Equity deal of year for the VTB IPO - the first international banking IPO out of Russia, and to have a London listing
M&A deal of the year for the RBS/ABN AMRO acquisition - one of the most complex takeovers ever involving filings in 50 jurisdictions to more than 100 regulators.
Private Equity deal of the year for the Permira/Valentino Fashion deal - an innovative deal with unique regulatory and timetable requirements
Law Firm of the Year Hungary - the second time that the firm has won the award - for the firm's work on some of the most important deals in the market, including AXA’s acquisition of Ella Bank, the privatisation of MALÉV and the financing of Permira’s public tender offer for Borsodchem Nyrt

Simon Davies, Linklaters Managing Partner, said:

"These awards reflect recognition in the market that our high quality European team remains the first choice legal adviser for complex and innovative transactions. I am delighted that the tremendous skills and efforts of our people have been recognised in this way."