Financial Times Recognizes White & Case as a Top Innovator for 2018, Names Jacquelyn MacLennan Top Innovative Lawyer

White & Case was recognized as a top innovator six times across four categories in FT Innovative Lawyers Europe 2018, a rankings report and awards presentation for Europe-based lawyers published by the Financial Times. The awards were presented in London on October 4.

EMEA Competition–Antitrust partner and global Pro Bono Practice head Jacquelyn MacLennan (Brussels) was also honored as one of the "Top 10 Innovative Lawyers" in Europe for 2018. In its award profile of MacLennan, the Financial Times wrote, "As an antitrust lawyer, Ms MacLennan has worked on cases that made new law. Her most recent victory was establishing the right for same-sex spouses to move freely across the EU when one spouse is not an EU resident."

FT Innovative Lawyers Europe 2018 recognized White & Case in the following categories:

• Rule of Law and Access to Justice: White & Case took first place and received a ranking of Standout for its work protecting the rights of same-sex spouses to move freely in Europe. The Financial Times wrote, "In a precedent-setting case, the global law firm and Romanian non-governmental organisation Accept worked together to argue at the European Court of Justice for the right of same-sex spouses to move freely across Europe, in the instance that one spouse is a non-EU resident. The resulting opinion given by the court is binding for all EU member states."
• Accessing New Markets & Capital: White & Case received a ranking of Standout for its work on the securitization of Trafigura Group Pte. The Financial Times wrote that White & Case designed "a new way for commodity trader Trafigura to finance itself by securitising its crude oil and metals assets, reducing its dependence on flagging wholesale lending markets. This was the first deal to securitise physical commodities and is likely to be copied by other commodities traders." The Financial Times singled out White & Case partner Chris McGarry (London) with a Commended ranking for his work on the Trafigura matter.
• Enabling Business Growth: White & Case received a ranking of Standout for its work on the restructuring of Schaidt Innovations. The Financial Times wrote that White & Case helped Schaidt "develop a new business model, redeploying equipment and skills to make charging points for electric cars, attracting strategic investors and marking an important shift in the approach to insolvency."

  In the same category, White & Case also received a ranking of Highly Commended for advising on the restructuring of ATP Media. The Financial Times wrote that White & Case advised ATP Media "on its corporate cross-jurisdictional restructuring, transforming it into a technology and media enterprise that owns operational, intellectual property and licensing, data and digital platform businesses through subsidiaries. The company's new corporate structure enabled 10-fold growth."

• Managing Complexity and Scale: White & Case received a ranking of Standout for its work on Hapag-Lloyd's acquisition of United Arab Shipping Company (USAC). The Financial Times wrote, "The merger was carried out at a time of challenging relations between Qatar and its neighbours. Lawyers amended the UASC's financing agreements, redomiciled the company, squeezed out small shareholders that had not engaged with the company for decades, and disposed of UASC's chemical-carrying operations."

  In the same category, White & Case also received a ranking of Commended for its work on the financing of the Nacala Logistics Corridor rail line in Africa. The Financial Times wrote that White & Case advised "Brazilian mining company Vale and Japanese trading company Mitsui & Co in the $2.73bn financing…. The transaction included negotiations for port and rail access, and an intergovernmental treaty between the governments of Mozambique and Malawi."

According to the Financial Times, the winners of FT Innovative Lawyers Europe 2018 were selected from among 813 submissions and nominations from 127 law firms and legal service providers and 60 in-house legal teams. Research was conducted by RSG Consulting, including interviews with more than 715 clients, senior lawyers, executives and experts, to arrive at the final rankings.