King & Wood Mallesons has been crowned ‘Law Firm of the Year in Europe (Fund Formation)’ for a staggering fourteenth consecutive year (originally as SJ Berwin) by leading industry publication Private Equity International, in its annual awards.
Launched in 2001, the Private Equity International Awards provide the most comprehensive analysis of the private equity landscape. This year, the publication received one of the highest levels of responses and the results across all categories were based on over 35,000 votes. As the only industry awards solely voted by the publication’s readers across Europe, Asia and the US, the awards are the leading industry benchmark for all areas of private equity.
Private Equity International deemed 2014 as "yet another resounding victory" for King & Wood Mallesons and praised Jonathan Blake, Head of the International Funds Group, for building an award-winning platform, which has become a permanent feature of Private Equity International's annual awards. Of the firm’s fund formation practice, the publication highlighted the firm’s achievement in advising on more European fund closings in the 12 months to 29 January 2015 than any other firm by a large margin.
Jonathan Blake, Head of the International Funds Group, said: “To be voted Law Firm of the Year in Europe for fund formation, for fourteen consecutive years, is a tremendous achievement in a very competitive market. Private Equity has always been a core strength of SJ Berwin and continues to be at King & Wood Mallesons. Winning this award highlights the commitment and talent of our people to our clients, and further cements our position and strong share in the European private equity industry. This award is down to our hugely talented team of lawyers who continue to push the frontiers of what can be achieved for our clients. As this award is solely voted by our peers in the industry, we are grateful to our clients for their continued support and look forward to another fantastic year working with them together."
King & Wood Mallesons has the largest funds team in Europe and one of the leading dedicated funds teams in the world with offices in Europe, the Middle East, Hong Kong, China, Australia and the US. The firm recently announced the launch of an office in Singapore, opening later this year, to strengthen its global capability in International Funds for clients both on the ground and those looking to expand into these markets.