Andrew Garner
General counsel
Associated British Ports
Andrew Garner heads the legal division of Britain’s largest port operator. He was appointed in 2005, and successfully navigated Associated British Ports through a multibillion-pound takeover in 2006 by a consortium of private investors, which included Goldman Sachs and Prudential.
ABP may have 21 ports around the UK but Garner has no formal legal panel; up to 23 firms are called upon when needed. These are split into two camps: some regionally-based and close to ports, and others that do more centralised work. Annual external legal spend is generally between £1m and £3m but this varies from year to year and depends on whether ABP is involved in major development projects or heavy litigation.
Law firms used: Addleshaw Goddard, Andrew Jackson, Bond Dickinson, Eversheds, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Geldards, Hill Dickinson, Macfarlanes, Osborne Clarke, Simmons & Simmons, Slaughter and May, Winckworth Sherwood, Wragge & Co
2005–present: General counsel, Associated British Ports
2001–05: General counsel corporate, First Choice Holidays
1997–2001: General counsel, Unigate