Sidley Named Global Trade & Customs Law Firm of the Year for Eighth Consecutive Year by Who's Who Legal

WASHINGTON & GENEVA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sidley Austin LLP has been named global “Trade & Customs Law Firm of the Year 2012” in the Who’s Who Legal Awards. The firm has received this award every year since its inception.

“Receiving this recognition for eight consecutive years is a great honor. On behalf of the team, I thank our clients and peers for bestowing us once again with this level of distinction.”

Who’s Who Legal Editor-in-Chief, Callum Campbell, said, “Sidley Austin once again stands out as the world’s leading firm in this discipline, and the calibre and expertise of its lawyers are globally recognised by clients and peers alike.”

In addition to the overall award, 10 Sidley lawyers were recognized across three countries by their clients and peers in the Trade & Customs chapter of The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers. Sidley had more practitioners in this section than any other firm.

“We deeply value the acknowledgement of the firm’s global capabilities in this practice area,” said Andrew W. Shoyer, global coordinator of Sidley’s international trade practice. “Receiving this recognition for eight consecutive years is a great honor. On behalf of the team, I thank our clients and peers for bestowing us once again with this level of distinction.”

Sidley lawyers included in the Trade & Customs chapter are:

• Scott D Andersen, Geneva
• Richard M Belanger, Washington, D.C.
• Lisa A Crosby, Washington, D.C.
• Neil R Ellis, Washington, D.C.
• Todd J Friedbacher, Geneva
• Brenda Jacobs, Washington, D.C.
• Nicolas JS Lockhart, Geneva
• James Mendenhall, Washington, D.C.
• Andrew W Shoyer, Washington, D.C.
• Arnoud R Willems, Brussels

Who’s Who Legal uses nominations from clients and private practice professionals across the globe to identify the leading firms and individuals in 31 practice areas, as well as the top firm in over 50 countries and five states. The winners were formally announced in The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers 2012, a compendium edition of all the individual Who’s Who Legal publications covering 31 practice areas and over 100 countries.

Sidley Austin LLP is one of the premier full-service law firms, with approximately 1700 lawyers practicing in 18 U.S. and international cities, including Beijing, Brussels, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hong Kong, London, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo. This year, Sidley celebrates 30 years in Asia. Repeating its performance in the inaugural 2010 survey, Sidley received the most first-tier national rankings of any U.S. law firm in the 2011/12 U.S.News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” survey. Sidley was also named the U.S.News – Best Lawyers “Law Firm of the Year” in both Corporate Law and Securities Regulation in the 2011/12 survey (the first year of such designations). BTI, a Boston-based research and consulting firm, has named Sidley as one of only three firms to have been in the top ten of the BTI Client Service rankings every year since the inception of those rankings in 2001, and as number one in three of those years.

For purposes of the New York State Bar rules, this press release may be considered Attorney Advertising and the headquarters of the firm are Sidley Austin LLP 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019, 212.839.5300 and Sidley Austin LLP One South Dearborn, Chicago, IL 60603, 312.853.7000.