L&E Global Members Recommended by The Legal 500 in 2021 Guides

L&E Global is proud to announce that every one of our member firms from Asia-Pacific and Latin America as well as Canada and the United Kingdom, were recognised as leading law firms for labour and employment law across national, regional and international marketplaces.

For 33 years, The Legal 500 has been analysing the capabilities of law firms across the world, with a comprehensive research programme revised and updated every year to bring the most up-to-date vision of the global legal market. The Legal 500 series assesses the strengths of law firms in over 150 jurisdictions and highlights the practice area teams who are providing the most cutting edge and innovative advice to corporate counsel. The rankings are based on research, feedback from 300,000 clients worldwide, submissions from law firms and interviews with leading private practice lawyers.

THE LEGAL 500 ASIA-PACIFIC 2021

AUSTRALIA – HARMERS WORKPLACE LAWYERS (TIER 4)

Sydney-based practice head Michael Harmer maintains longstanding relationships with a wide range of clients. Other key names in the Sydney team include Emma Pritchard and Jenny Inness.

Hall of Fame
Michael Harmer

CHINA – ZHONG LUN LAW FIRM (TIER 1)

Zhong Lun Law Firm has ‘deep professional knowledge’ in labour and employment. The team has a wide range of expertise spanning employee recruitment and terminations of employment, to trade unions and labour disputes. The practice also advises on immigration laws and cross-border work. The firm has a strong client base consisting of Fortune 500 multinationals and large state-owned and central enterprises, as well as small and medium-sized companies and startups. Carol Zhu heads the practice in Shanghai and advises on all aspects of labour and employment matters. Beijing-based practice head Haiyan Duan advises on employment law, social security law and trade union law. Lingchen Pu and Scott Guan are also noted.

Leading Individuals
Carol Zhu
Haiyan Duan

INDIA – INDUSLAW (TIER 1)

IndusLaw fields a strong bench of labour and employment experts covering all disciplines, from co-head Avik Biswas’ expertise in drafting HR guidance policies and internal regulatory compliances, to associate Ivana Chatterjee’s critical investigations skillset concerning hostile environment and misconduct allegations. Co-head Manishii Pathak leads on issues pertaining to unionised workforces, having recently handled industrial disputes on behalf of global FMCG companies and union negotiations concerning workforce terminations. Further contentious matters handled by Pathak include entitlement disputes and criminal fraud actions. The practice routinely advises global corporate clients on POSH matters, workforce restructuring and downsising, employee benefits drafting and M&A due diligence.

Leading Individuals
Avik Biswas
Manishi Pathak

Rising Stars
Ivana Chatterjee

JAPAN – ATSUMI & SAKAI (TIER 3)

The experienced Atsumi & Sakai practice specialises in advising international corporations on the termination of employment in Japan, as well as related disputes. The firm also provides expertise in immigration issues, including advising foreign nationals and their employers on visas, changes of status and residency applications. The team is led by Tatsuo Yamashima, whose strengths include antitrust and competition, labour, compliance, maritime laws and litigation cases.

Leading Individuals
Kunihiro Sumida

SINGAPORE – CLYDE & CO CLASIS (TIER 2)

Clyde & Co Clasis Singapore’s employment offering is equally strong in contentious and non-contentious aspects, often working on cross-border mandates with additional support from its wide network of specialists across Asia and integration with Clasis LLC in conducting complex internal investigations and litigation. Key figure Thomas Choo leads the non-contentious side, advising on employment contracts and related HR issues, incentivisation schemes, and immigration law. Prakash Pillai and director Junxiang Koh are recommended for dispute resolution work.

Leading Individuals
Thomas Choo

THE LEGAL 500 LATIN AMERICA 2021

ARGENTINA – ALLENDE & BREA (TIER 3)

Allende & Brea is lauded by sources for its ability to ‘identify risks, anticipate potential contingencies and propose various alternative solutions’. The team specialises in advising foreign companies on local labour issues, including union conflicts, severance package negotiations, the closing of local operations, corporate support work and immigration matters. Department head Nicolás Grandi demonstrates a ‘quick grasp of any situation’. Senior associate Lucas Tamagno is also a dedicated labour lawyer.

Rising Stars
Lucas Tamagno

Next Generation Partners
Nicolás Grandi

BRAZIL – TOZZINIFREIRE ADVOGADOS (TIER 1)

TozziniFreire Advogados has established an excellent reputation in labour law. Its lawyers provide strong employment support to the firm’s wider corporate offering, regularly assisting with related M&A transactions and company restructurings. The team also has a good track record in managing potentially contentious issues, including plant closures, mass redundancies and negotiations with the unions. When matters do go to court, the firm’s litigators regularly represent employers at the highest level, including major collective and individual lawsuits. Highly rated practice heads Alexandre de Almeida Cardoso and Marcelo Pereira Gômara are supported by high-quality individuals, including Mihoko Sirley Kimura and Fernanda Bianco Pimentel.

Leading Individuals
Marcelo Pereira Gômara
Mihoko Sirley Kimura

Next Generation Partners
Fernanda Bianco Pimentel

CHILE – CARIOLA DÍEZ PÉREZ-COTAPOS (TIER 2)

The four-strong department at Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos is best known for its expertise in collective bargaining, immigration, day-to-day labour support, and restructuring-related labour issues. It is also experienced in assisting with compensation packages, stock option plans, and tax issues involving labour benefits. The firm’s broad industrial client base ensures strong sector-specific expertise, especially in retail, mining, IT, manufacturing and technology, and the practice has also experienced growth in its labour litigation practice. Ricardo Tisi (who focuses on labour, pensions and immigration) heads the labour group, with notable support provided by key senior associate Bárbara Zlatar.

Leading Individuals
Ricardo Tisi

Rising Stars
Bárbara Zlatar

COLOMBIA – LÓPEZ & ASOCIADOS ABOGADOS (TIER 1)

A household name in the field, López & Asociados Abogados is a leading firm, widely praised and boasting a 63-strong labour and employment practice led by five expert partners. Advising national and multinational companies with local operations, the practice looks to provide a comprehensive service involving both corrective and preventive approaches. Managing partner Juan Pablo López excels in labour conflict management and disputes; fellow co-head Angélica María Carrión is in charge of the firm’s counselling area, while Alejandro Castellanos is responsible for the litigation and judicial representation area. Rocío Lagos and Ana María Rubiano, both new partners as of December 2019, are also both recommended.

Leading Individuals
Angélica Carrión
Juan Pablo López

Next Generation Partners
Rocío Lagos

MEXICO – DE LA VEGA & MARTÍNEZ ROJAS, S.C. (TIER 3)

Founded in 2016, specialist boutique De la Vega & Martínez Rojas, S.C. is now around 40-strong. Its innovative and creative practice, coupled with ‘deep knowledge of labour and migration matters’ -including day-to-day advice, litigation, collective bargaining, and social security- has seen it as successfully establish its market credentials and relevancy. Name partners Oscar De La Vega (‘high profile’) and social security expert Ricardo Martínez Rojas are very well regarded, as is immigration expert Edgar Mayorga.

Leading Individuals
Oscar De La Vega

THE LEGAL 500 CANADA 2021

CANADA – FILION WAKELY THORUP ANGELETTI (TIER 2)

Filion Wakely Thorup Angeletti LLP has core expertise in employment standards, human rights matters, grievance and interest arbitration, occupational health and safety and civil litigation. Roy Filion QC has represented employers before the courts and administrative tribunals. James Knight is recommended for advice on collective bargaining and response to union organising campaigns.

Leading Individuals
Roy Filion QC
James Knight

THE LEGAL 500 UNITED KINGDOM 2021

UK – CLYDE & CO (TIER 5)

Clyde & Co LLP has a preeminent reputation in the insurance sector, and is also highly regarded for its work for financial and professional services clients. The employment team has a wealth of experience advising on significant and high-value team moves, managing cross-border projects, and acting on industrial relations matters. Team head Robert Hill is experienced in High Court and Employment Tribunal work, with a focus on discrimination and whistleblowing cases.

For more information please contact Joseph Granato, Communications Manager at L&E Global at joseph.granato@leglobal.org.