Kobre & Kim Receives Top Rankings in 2019 Legal Directories

December 5, 2018

The firm and its lawyers have received recognition for outstanding achievements during the past year by both Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500.

Chambers Asia-Pacific 2019

Kobre & Kim has once again been ranked among the leading law firms in Asia, earning praise in four practice areas:

• Corporate Investigations/Anti-Corruption (International Firms) — China 
• Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms) — China
• Dispute Resolution: International Firms — South Korea
• Restructuring/Insolvency (International Firms) — China

Chambers refers to the firm as a “disputes and investigations specialist renowned for its personalised service and discreet approach to highly sensitive matters.” 

In addition, they note that “the team possesses decades' worth of experience working for US regulators and in-house for global financial institutions, [and] frequently assists clients operating in China with US government inquiries and enforcement actions.” The firm also receives praise for “its skillful representation of individuals.”

Chambers cites that “clients are impressed with the team's pragmatic and creative approach to solving problems.”  Meanwhile, clients refer to the team as being “energetic, skillful and full of resources.”

Randall Arthur is recognized for his work on insolvency disputes, in addition to international enforcement and offshore asset recovery.  Chambers notes that sources consider him to be "one of the best locally-focused insolvency lawyers."

Vasu Muthyala is commended for his skillful assistance to private clients in complex investigations, with sources saying that "he is doing a phenomenal job representing individuals."  Chambers notes that “clients benefit from his previous experience working at the DOJ in the United States and knowledge of US regulations.”

 Legal 500 Cayman Islands 2019

For the first time, Kobre & Kim has been recognized for its dispute resolution capabilities in the Cayman Islands.  The Legal 500 provides the following commentary in its 2019 editorial: 

“Kobre & Kim's work frequently involves corporate and trust disputes. The team is experienced in attacking and defending sophisticated offshore trust structures, as well as in dismantling complex asset protection schemes that hide assets from creditors. In a Companies Law, section 238 matter, it acted for a group of investors dissenting from the restructuring of a major Chinese services company. Jalil Asif KC and Rebecca Hume are the names to note.”

 Legal 500 United Kingdom 2019

The Legal 500 has also recognized the firm for excellence in its recently released 2019 UK edition. The guide highlights Kobre & Kim in the following practice areas: 

• Dispute Resolution: Commercial Litigation
• Crime, Fraud, and Licensing: Fraud: White Collar Crime

The Legal 500 references Kobre & Kim as having “an excellent international practice with very experienced litigators [on] the team who can handle the most complex of fraud cases.”  In addition, The Legal 500 emphasizes that the firm “has several former US DOJ lawyers based in London and specialises in investigations and enforcement proceedings with US elements.”

The Legal 500 also cites a “multi-billion dollar case [where] the firm continues to act for a London bond trader in relation to criminal and regulatory investigations of allegations that he and other bond traders were involved in price fixing and competition restraint in the market of US dollar denominated supranational, sub-sovereign and agency bonds.”

Simon Cullingworth is noted as “a key senior counsel.”

Jason Masimore is “recommended” by The Legal 500.

Robin Rathmell is lauded as a “key practitioner [and] a cutting-edge expert at cross-border investigations.”

Andrew Stafford KC is praised for having “particular experience in international judgment enforcement, including enforcements against sovereign judgment debtors.”

Chambers and The Legal 500 survey and interview clients and lawyers across the globe to determine which firms and attorneys are considered leaders in their field.  Rankings assess key qualities in the legal field, including technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial awareness/ astuteness, diligence, and commitment.

Research is conducted annually, providing a detailed qualitative assessment of various factors including work conducted by law firms over the past 12 months and historically; experience and depth of teams; specialisms and ancillary services; and, importantly, opinions of law firms’ clients.

For more information visit Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500.