“If the case is important, definitively a key firm to consider”: High praise for CYK in latest Legal 500

“It is rare to have a boutique firm that is nimble and flexible also having such high quality and overall clout…. If the case is important, definitively a key firm to consider.”

Cooke, Young & Keidan is very grateful for the fantastic feedback received in the new edition of The Legal 500, having been described as a “brilliant team achieving miracles at half the price of Magic Circle firms” and “super-nimble but exceptionally well regarded banking, financial and fraud litigation team with the experience and aptitude to take on and win against the biggest players.”

The firm continues to be ranked highly in six categories – civil fraud, banking litigation, contentious financial services, premium commercial litigation, international arbitration and professional negligence. All of the Partners are recognised, including as Leading Individuals and Next Generation Partners, and we are particularly proud of the plaudits for our fantastic group of Counsel and Associates. Some select highlights about the firm and individual team members are below. More fuller details can be found here: https://www.legal500.com/firms/3750-cooke-young-keidan-llp/5216-london-england/.

The firm is described as having “very high quality throughout”, comprising “excellent individual lawyers, with a strong work ethic” who are “unafraid and willing to take on any firm” and “often go toe-to-toe with the biggest firms and come out on the winning side.” The firm is “friendly, easy to work with, practical and results oriented” and its lawyers “appear smarter and better trained than the opposition” and be an “absolute pleasure to work with not least because the team are all clever, friendly and inclusive” as well as “personable, available and efficient”. “Clients benefit from the environment CYK has nurtured – it is more intimate, more positive and clients receive big-law quality advice at a lower price.”

Sinead O’Callaghan is recognised as a Leading Individual for banking litigation and premium commercial litigation, and a Key Lawyer for contentious financial services and international arbitration. Sinead, who “specialises in substantial high-value commercial disputes”, is described as being “very reactive and to the point” and recommended for her “expertise handling disputes pertaining to a broad range of financial instruments”.

Stephen Elam is recognised as a Next Generation Partner for banking litigation and premium commercial litigation, and a Key Lawyer for civil fraud and contentious financial services, where he is described as a “real star”. He is “a thorough and thoughtful litigator”, who is “exceptional to work with”, “excels at managing his team” and “has a knack of getting quickly to the kernel of the issue”. Stephen, who “draws on his past experience in-house at a derivatives brokerage to act on matters involving complex products” is also recommended for his “thorough knowledge of financial services industries, especially broking” and having “excellent judgment”, as well as being “sensitive and proactive in relation to client’s needs and commercial ends”.

Lydia Danon is recognised as a Next Generation Partner for premium commercial litigation, and a Key Lawyer for civil fraud (where she is “becoming a real name”) and banking litigation. Lydia is described as an “exceptional lawyer” who is “remarkably commercial”, “clever and tenacious” and “extremely good with tricky clients”, and as having a “superb tactical brain”. She “is completely ‘on-it’ from the word go”, “focused and possessing superb client and team handling skills”, and “totally switched on, with excellent client care”.

Sam Roberts is a Key Lawyer for banking litigation and premium commercial litigation, and is described as “very creative thinker, utterly diligent and great litigation instincts”.

Jon Felce is recognised as a Next Generation Partner for civil fraud and banking litigation and recommended for premium commercial litigation. He is described as “a hire that every boutique would have liked to have made”. Jon wins plaudits for his “deserved reputation for his drive, legal knowledge and quiet, steely, effective drive for successful results.”

Natalie Todd is recognised as a Next Generation Partner for civil fraud and recommended for premium commercial litigation. She is described as a “rising star” who is “deeply experienced in CIS and international financial and commercial and fraud litigation.”

Mikhail Vishnyakov is a Key Lawyer for international arbitration.

Rosie Wild is a Key Lawyer for civil fraud, banking litigation and premium commercial litigation. She is described as a “star” and “the best commercial litigation assistant around”, who is “massively hard working” and “super bright” and who “never seems to stop”.

Elizabeth Meade is a Key Lawyer for contentious financial services who is described as “exceptional to work with”.

Philip Young is a Key Lawyer for civil fraud, banking litigation, premium commercial litigation and international arbitration, and is described as the “doyen of the London boutique litigation market. Nobody with better judgment, knowledge of the law and tactical nous” and having “an exceptional intellect”.