Freshfields tops finance league table after overtaking US and City rivals SURVEY: Taylor Joynson Garrett leads management options for Alternative Investment Market Freshfields has snatched pole position in a project finance league table from US firm Millbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy, according to a survey released last week...Freshfields has snatched pole position in a project finance league table from US firm Millbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy, according to a survey released last week, which shows the firm leap-frogging City rivals Clifford Chance and Allen & Overy.

The table compiled by Capital Data Projectware, and calculated from the value rather than the quantity of completed transactions puts Freshfields first with 19 deals worth nearly $21 billion (15 billion).Last year, the firm came sixth, behind Allen & Overy and Clifford Chance, which this year retained their second and third positions, while Millbanks droped to fourth.

Freshfields acted in relation to the $13 billion (9 billion) project financing of the Taiwan high speed train link.

Elsewhere in the top 20, although Linklaters clung to 12th, and Slaughter & May made an entrance at 16, Norton Rose slipped to 19th, while Simmons & Simmons, CMS Cameron McKenna and Herbert Smith last year 14th, 16th, and 18th respectively skidded off the table.

Freshfields projects head Kent Rowey said said it was great news to be top of the table.

He said a group of top-tier firms, any one of which could lead the table, had now been established.

Meanwhile, City firm Taylor Joynson Garrett (TJG) headed a table of firms advising management teams in relation to Alternative Investment Market deals.

This table released by Corporate Money Newsletter was also compiled from value rather than volume of deals.TJG came top with 12 deals worth 366.9 million; closely followed by Ashurst Morris Crisp (seven deals worth 352.9 million); Gouldens, Pinsent Curtis and Memery Crystal completed the top five.

Links: see www.capnews.comJeremy Fleming