Cleary Gottlieb leaves Benchmark Litigation Europe Awards as biggest winner
The firm took home multiple prizes on a celebratory evening at the inaugural Benchmark Litigation Europe Awards
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton left last night’s Benchmark Litigation Europe Awards as the biggest winner, taking home eight prizes in total.
The firm won Impact Case of the Year, Commercial Disputes Firm of the Year and European Firm of the Year, as well as several jurisdictional awards. These were France Firm of the Year, France Litigator of the Year, Italy Firm of the Year, Italy Litigator of the Year and Western European Litigator of the Year.
The Benchmark Litigation Europe Awards, which was launched in partnership with The Lawyer, recognises the most distinguished litigators and their firms for exemplary accomplishments over the past year.
VIEW THE FULL 2025 LIST OF WINNERS
VIEW THE FULL 2025 SHORTLISTS
PHOTOS OF THE EVENING CAN BE FOUND HERE
Attendees from 20 jurisdictions and over 40 law firms applauded the nominees and winners during the event, which took place at the Waldorf Hilton in London on September 17. Many guests stayed long into the night after enjoying a convivial atmosphere all evening.
Awards were handed out after months of research into written submissions and highlight cases, as well as peer interviews and client testimonials. Among the highlights, Gary Born of WilmerHale was the recipient of the Hall of Fame Award, Cleary's Jean-Yves Garaud picked up Western Europe Litigator of the Year while Oleksiy Filatov of Ukrainian firm Aequo was named CEE Litigator.
Other big winners included the arbitration teams at Debevoise & Plimpton and Ukraine's Sayenkho Kharenko, while Latham & Watkins' Phillip Clifford won International Arbitration Litigator of the Year. The US firm also won EU Competition Firm of the Year.
Panayotis Bernitsas, managing partner at Bernitsas in Greece, said the firm is thrilled to have been shortlisted alongside leading litigators from across Europe.
The firm was nominated for, and won, the Greece Law Firm of the Year award, with partner Christos Paraskevopoulos shortlisted in the Greece Litigator of the Year and Western Europe Litigator of the Year categories.
“Over the past year we have continued our track record of high success rates in corporate, commercial, administrative and financial crime disputes.
“And it is rewarding that the prestigious Benchmark Litigation guide has recognised the achievements of our disputes team and of Christos through these nominations,” said Bernitsas.
Lord Goldsmith, chair of European and Asian litigation at Debevoise & Plimpton in London, said that Benchmark Litigation is widely trusted in the market and has a strong sense of the leading counsel in the disciplines it covers.
“That’s why it’s so pleasing for the firm to receive nominations across multiple practice areas, including in arbitration, litigation, and white collar crime.
“We work hard to ensure we provide clients with consistently insightful advice, whatever the flavour of dispute they’re facing. These nominations clearly show we’re doing something right,” Goldsmith said.
Paula Airas, a Helsinki-based partner at Roschier, said she was happy about both individuals and the firm receiving award nominations.
“It is always an honour being recognised like this, but of course when it comes from our clients and peers, it feels extra special and carries even more meaning,” she said.
The recognitions point to the central role of litigation in shaping business today, according to Airas.
“That we have this many excellent litigators from all of Europe is a sign of strength.
“As the complexity of disputes increases, clients expect not only legal excellence but also strategic foresight in navigating risks,” she added.
Hans Van Bavel, a partner at Stibbe in Brussels, said being nominated at the Benchmark Litigation Europe Awards is a great recognition of the quality and breadth of the dispute resolution practice.
“The fact that the research is covering the whole of Europe makes this recognition even more meaningful.
“It reflects the trust our clients place in us to manage their most sensitive and business-critical disputes. It also acknowledges the collaborative strength of our team, which combines deep legal knowledge with a pragmatic and strategic mindset,” he said.
Benchmark Litigation Europe Awards 2025
Location: London, UK
Date: Wednesday 17 September, 2025
Venue: Waldorf Hilton - Aldwych, London WC2B 4DD
Head of commercial: Ahmed Hadi at ahadi@legalbenchmarkinggroup.com
Head of Research: Alexander Griffiths at alexander.griffiths@legalbenchmarkinggroup.com
For guidelines and methodology related to the Benchmark Europe Research Cycle, see here.
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