Well-regarded by clients for its ‘exceptional technical expertise, commercial acumen, and consistently high-quality execution on complex, high-value transactions’, Clifford Chance LLP advises an impressive roster of clients, including a number of FTSE 350 and Fortune 500 companies. The team handles a steady flow of UK and cross-border work, regularly acting on mergers, acquisitions, disposals, and public takeovers across sectors such as healthcare, media, telecoms, oil and gas, and banking. The team is led by Robert Crothers, whose practice focuses on advising UK-listed and global corporates on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and equity transactions, with particular experience in the consumer goods sector. Melissa Fogarty is a trusted adviser to corporates, tech companies, and financial institutions alike, known for her deft handling of multifaceted corporate matters, while Katherine Moir earns praise for her ability to balance ‘technical precision with commercial pragmatism.’ Nigel Wellings brings standout expertise in the financial space, regularly steering clients through high-stakes transactions with a sharp commercial lens, and David Pudge remains the go-to adviser for public takeovers, governance, capital raisings, and IPOs, regularly advising corporates and investment banks. Rounding out the team, James Bole advises on a range of public M&A transactions, while Gareth Camp is recognised for his expertise in public offers, private M&A, and strategic exits.
M&A: Upper Mid-Market And Premium Deals, £750m+ in London
Clifford Chance LLP
Responsables de la pratique:
Rob Crothers
Autres avocats clés:
Melissa Fogarty; Nigel Wellings; Katherine Moir; Steven Fox; David Pudge; Gareth Camp; Nick Spurrell; James Bole; Dominic Ross; Caoimhín Eastwood; Alanna Hunter; Richard Crosby; Nicholas Rees
Les références
‘They are a first-class team who are responsive to our demands and requirements, available whenever needed, and always deliver commercially focused, practical advice to help us achieve our goals.’
‘In London, Steven Fox and Katherine Moir are particularly strong, with Katherine’s public M&A knowledge being crucial in an on-market transaction. They have been ably supported by Liv Higgs for many years and it was no surprise that she has been promoted to the partnership.’
‘Clifford Chance’s M&A team stands out for its exceptional technical expertise, commercial acumen, and consistently high-quality execution on complex, high-value transactions. What sets the practice apart is its seamless integration across disciplines and geographies, which enables the team to provide truly end-to-end support on cross-border deals. Their ability to combine deep legal insight with a strategic understanding of our commercial objectives was instrumental to the success of our recent transaction.’
Principaux clients
Schibsted
Harbour Energy
Avolon
Aviva
S&P Global
Cellnex Telecom
Virgin Money
Saipem
Informa
ENI
Recursion Pharmaceuticals
Medlog / MSC
ED&F Man
SIX Group
Arix Bioscience
Navantia
THG
Citi
HSBC
Shell
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Schibsted in connection with a successful $14 billion voluntary tender offer led by a consortium of financial investors, including Permira and Blackstone, to acquire all outstanding ordinary Class A shares in Adevinta, an online classified business listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange.
- Advised Harbour Energy on the acquisition of a portfolio of assets belonging to natural gas and oil company Wintershall Dea from BASF and LetterOne.
- Advising Aviva plc on its recommended cash and share takeover offer for Direct Line Insurance Group plc.
Linklaters LLP
Linklaters LLP‘s corporate team stands out for what clients describe as a ‘deep transactional expertise with a genuinely trusted advisor approach, offering clear, unvarnished counsel.’ The team covers the full range of corporate work, handling buy-side, sell-side, and financial adviser mandates on public takeovers, carve-outs, joint ventures, and complex restructurings. With support from specialists in tax, competition, employment, and technology, the practice continues to enjoy a strong reputation for managing multi-billion-pound cross-border transactions. Simon Branigan leads the corporate division, regularly navigating deals across mining, retail and consumer goods, oil and gas, and financial sectors. James Inglis advises across public and private M&A, capital raisings, and governance advice, while Aisling Zarraga handles some of the market’s most significant M&A and joint ventures. The ‘truly exceptional’ Iain Fenn leads the firm’s public M&A team and regularly gives boardroom advice on strategic, crisis and governance issues. Senior partner and chair Aedamar Comiskey remains a steady force on headline public and private M&A. The team also includes fintech specialist Fionnghuala Griggs; UK Takeover Code expert Ian Hunter; Derek Tong, who heads the global technology practice; Namrata Shah , who is described as an ‘an absolute star’; and technology sector specialist Lisa Chang.
Responsables de la pratique:
Simon Branigan
Autres avocats clés:
Aedamar Comiskey; Aisling Zarraga; David Martin; Tracey Lochhead; Ian Hunter; James Inglis; Derek Tong; Fionnghuala Griggs; Michael Honan; Charles Turner; Namrata Shah; Iain Fenn; Jane Cai
Les références
‘Strong, versatile team who work well with others and seek to avoid drama. Commercially aware and proactive.’
‘Tracey Lochhead absolutely outstanding. Hard worker who leads by example.’
‘As a Board, we faced a complex and existential crisis – and right from the beginning, we knew that the Linklater’s team was with us all the way. They gave us substantive advice, confidence that they had covered all the bases, always delivered what and when they said they would, and importantly, worked incredibly well with other advisers, which made it easy to work with them. The Board felt exceptionally confident having the Linklaters’ team on our side.’
Principaux clients
Tate & Lyle
Mondi
KPMG
CK Hutchison
Thermo Fisher
Unilever
National Grid
AXA
Phoenix
Greene King
HSBC
PWC
Sainsburys
Vodafone
Jardine Matheson
Sony
Macquarie
Diageo
Capita
Cerberus
Yum!
EY
Nestle
Rio Tinto
Carrier Global Corporation
Anglo American
Tate & Lyle
Mondi
KPMG
CK Hutchison
Thermo Fisher
Unilever
National Grid
AXA
Phoenix
Greene King
HSBC
PWC
Sainsburys
Vodafone
Jardine Matheson
Sony
Macquarie
Diageo
Capita
Cerberus
Yum!
EY
Nestle
Rio Tinto
Carrier Global Corporation
Anglo American
Principaux dossiers
Slaughter and May
Counting a significant share of FTSE 100 and 250 companies among its key roster of clients, Slaughter and May remains a key player in the UK public M&A market, advising on a consistent flow of complex, high-value transactions. The firm’s multi-specialist model enables it to work seamlessly across a range of sectors, including technology, infrastructure, energy, and financial services. Consistently involved in headline deals, the team is well-positioned to assist clients on the full gamut of corporate work. Leadership is shared between Richard Smith, whose practice focuses on public and private M&A, joint ventures, and equity capital markets work, and Simon Nicholls, who is a key port of call for a number of listed companies for his capabilities on a broad range of matters. Roland Turnill brings a steady hand to a wide remit of mandates, including shareholder activism, board-level governance, and complex joint ventures, while Rebecca Cousin continues to make her mark on matters at the intersection of tech and intellectual property. Robert Innes and David Johnson both handle public takeovers, equity raises, and strategic partnerships, and James Cook stands out for his expertise in the tech sector. A mix of listed and unlisted clients turn to Paul Dickson for his expertise on a range of corporate and corporate finance matters. The practice also benefits from the transactional nous of Sally Wokes, who is a trusted adviser to a mix of corporates, PE houses and activist investors, and Victoria MacDuff, who is noted for her track record in telecom and financial services deals.
Responsables de la pratique:
Richard Smith, Simon Nicholls
Autres avocats clés:
Rebecca Cousin; Roland Turnill; Paul Dickson; Sally Wokes; Victoria MacDuff; Claire Jackson; Andrew Jolly; Robert Innes; James Cook; Harry Hecht; Alexander Dustan; David Johnson; Usman Sawar
Principaux clients
DS Smith
IDS
Direct Line Group
John Wood Group
Vodafone Group
Hammerson
Ascential
Dowlais
Nationwide
BHP
AngloGold Ashanti
SEGRO
Diageo
Legal & General
Aquis
Pollen Street Capital
Close Brothers
INEOS
Principaux dossiers
- DS Smith Plc on competing takeover approaches from both, fellow FTSE 100 paper and packaging group, Mondi plc and NYSE-listed International Paper Company, which led to an agreed acquisition by International Paper for £7.8 billion.
- IDS (formerly Royal Mail) on one of the landmark M&A transactions of 2024/25 on its agreed acquisition by EP Group for £3.5 billion.
- Successful defence of Direct Line against a £3.1 billion takeover offer from Ageas and its agreed acquisition by Aviva plc for £3.7 billion.
A&O Shearman
Backed by a broad international platform spanning Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, A&O Shearman fields a high-calibre M&A team, well-versed in complex, cross-border transactions. Highlighted for its ‘unparalleled dedication to delivering exceptional legal services’, the group regularly acts on headline deals across the technology, energy, consumer goods, financial services and healthcare sectors. The practice is jointly led by David Broadley, who maintains a strong client base in the financial institutions sector, regularly advising on public and private M&A alongside a wide range of equity capital markets transactions; Seth Jones, who focuses on high-value and complex strategic transactions; and Jim Ford, an IP specialist. Claire Coppel‘s expertise covers private and public M&A, equity capital markets transactions, corporate governance and shareholder activism, while Alex Tilley stands out for his ‘commercial nous and tireless work ethic.’ Other notable individuals include George Knighton, who rejoined the team from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP in May 2025, and Nick Withers, who remains active across the tech and pharma sectors.
Responsables de la pratique:
David Broadley, Seth Jones, Jim Ford
Autres avocats clés:
Claire Coppel, Alex Tilley, George Knighton, Nick Withers, Annabelle Croker, Philip Jarvis, Marcus Gwyer
Les références
‘The team are top quality and have the range and capability required for any job and have provided invaluable support on a particular deal over the last couple of years. ’
‘Marcus Gwyer: We have put him through a lot over the last year and he has dealt with everything at all times with good humour and diligence in often challenging and time pressured circumstances. Very hard-working and capable lawyer who we are very glad to have on the team.’
‘Philip Jarvis: One of the most intelligent lawyers I have met and great to be able to rely on his years of experience and knowledge. Other lawyers of note from previous year.’
Principaux clients
Bridgepoint
NatWest
Exscientia PLC
Chevron Australia Petroleum Company
Liberty Global
Apax Partners
Life Medical Group Limited
Network International
TP ICAP
PAI Partners
Principaux dossiers
- Advised AAM on its USD1.44bn recommended cash and share combination with Dowlais Group plc (Dowlais).
- Advised JERA Nex on the creation of a 50/50 joint venture with bp to combine their respective offshore wind businesses.
- Advised Chevron Australia on its asset swap with Woodside under which both parties agreed to consolidate their focus on strategic assets that they individually operated in Western Australia.
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP
Praised for its ‘exceptional responsiveness, deep commercial insight, and seamless execution’, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP is a go-to firm for complex, high-stakes transactions, regularly acting for listed companies, major financial institutions, and sovereign wealth funds. Known for its cross-border capabilities, the team is active across a range of sectors, including technology, real estate, and financial services, with its public M&A offering continuing to attract headline mandates on both the buy and sell side. Spearheading the team is Gavin Davies, who advises on complex cross-border M&A and investments across the TMT, financial services, real estate, and industrial sectors. James Palmer brings significant transatlantic expertise, particularly on mandates involving the US and Europe, while Caroline Rae is frequently instructed on public takeovers. Stephen Wilkinson advises on high-value corporate matters with an emphasis on governance, and Heidi Gallagher maintains an active corporate finance practice. Mark Bardell specialises in premium cross-border M&A and public company situations, while Harriet Forrest has particular experience in advising corporate clients on public M&A transactions.
Responsables de la pratique:
Gavin Davies
Autres avocats clés:
Caroline Rae; Stephen Wilkinson; Mark Bardell; Alex Kay; James Palmer; Heidi Gallagher; Siddhartha Shukla; Harriet Forrest; Alan Montgomery; Shaun Williamson; Charles Steward; Mehdi Tedjani
Les références
‘The M&A team at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer in London stands out for its exceptional responsiveness, deep commercial insight, and seamless execution. Their ability to anticipate issues and provide clear, pragmatic advice under tight timelines made a real difference in our transaction.’
‘Mehdi Tedjani’s dual qualification in both Swiss and UK law gives him a unique edge, enabling seamless navigation across cross-border M&A. His thorough understanding of both markets, combined with an unwavering client-first approach, ensures each transaction is handled with strategic insight and responsiveness.’
‘Wide-ranging expertise. Can-do attitude. Listens to the needs of the client. Team approach with the client.’
Principaux clients
Abbott
Adriatic Metals
Airtel Africa
Altice
AlTi Global
Altra Industrial Motion Corp.
Amsted Industries
Anglo American
Ardonagh Group
ArcelorMittal
Associated British Foods
Atlassian Corporation
AustralianSuper
Biotage
Blackstone
BP
British American Tobacco
British Land
BTG Pactual
Captain Fresh
Capital & Countries Properties
Cash Converters
Certares
CHP
ClearBank
Coca-Cola HBC
Comcast (formerly Sky)
Diageo
DawsonGroup
Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd
Easyjet
Ecora Resources
Elementis
Elliott
Ferrexpo
General Mills
Glencore
GIC Infra Holdings Pte Ltd
Global Switch
Go-Ahead Group
Hammerson
Hiscox
Hotel Chocolat
IBM
Inchcape
Interpath Advisory
Johnson Matthey
JP Morgan
Jubilant Bharti Group
JSW
Kin + Carta
Kestrel Partners
Liberty Global
Link Group
Ma’aden
Man Group
Marex Group
Maurel & Prom
Mercuria Energy
Mitsubishi Corporation
Miller
Morgan Stanley
National Grid
Norlake Hospitality
OneWeb
OSI Group
Panmure Gordon
Pearson
PJT Partners
PZ Cussons
Qatar Investment Authority
Reliance
RTW Biotech
Saga
Severn Trent Green Power Limited
Sinopec
Softbank
Spaldy Investments
Stagecoach
Stephens
Stonepeak
Sumitomo
Sustainable Development Capital
Synthomer plc
Telefónica
Tryg
Tullow Oil plc
The UNITE Group
UPL
Virgin Media O2
Willis Towers Watson
Waverton Investment Management
Weir Group
WHSmith
Wincanton
Principaux dossiers
- Assisted Wincanton plc on the recommended £960 million all cash takeover by GXO Logistics.
- Acted for Altice UK on the sale of its 24.5% stake in BT Group.
- Assisted National Grid on the disposal of National Grid Electricity System Operator to the Department of Energy and Net Zero for £630 million.
Latham & Watkins
Noted for its ‘excellent industry knowledge’ and ‘very attentive’ approach, Latham & Watkins combines a pedigree in high-end cross-border transactions with deep sector fluency across tech, healthcare, and life sciences. Its global reach and bench strength make it a go-to for complex, often regulated, public company work, with major corporates, private equity houses, and financial institutions consistently turning to the team for support on headline-grabbing deals. The practice is jointly steered by Richard Butterwick, an expert on Takeover Code matters, and Samuel Newhouse, a trusted adviser to multinational corporates and financial institutions on high-profile transactions across the UK, US, Africa, and India. Elsewhere in the team, Edward Barnett, praised as being in a ‘class of his own’, frequently acts on high-value deals across sectors the energy, tech, media, and financial services sectors, while Nick Cline‘s practice focuses on advising UK and international companies and boards on M&A, joint ventures and other strategic projects. Farah O’Brien is singled out for her work with later-stage growth investors and sponsors.
Responsables de la pratique:
Richard Butterwick, Sam Newhouse
Autres avocats clés:
Farah O’Brien; Doug Abernethy; Edward Barnett; Nick Cline; Robbie McLaren; Hector Sants
Les références
‘Incredible bench strength. Real quality advice in every area and you never feel you have to put up with something inferior when they call on any specialist area.’
‘Ed Barnett is in a class of his own. Quite an exceptional lawyer and advisor. Great skill and leadership ability. And is always available to clients in the right timescale and in the right way.’
‘Excellent industry knowledge and very attentive and reactive to client concerns (adapting team structure, proposing solutions, ready to work with and coordinate local lawyers when in our best interests).’
Principaux clients
Anglo American plc
GSK plc
London Stock Exchange Group plc
Vodafone Group plc
Plus500 plc
Evoke plc
Manchester United plc
Tyman plc
Access Industries
Canva
Cadence Design Systems
Darktrace
DAZN Group
Eldridge Industries
Entrust
Ericsson
Farfetch
Impilo
Miniclip
Novavax
Novo Holdings A/S
TI Fluid Systems
Varkey Group
VEON
Ares Management
Carlyle International Energy Partners
Energy Capital Partners
Principaux dossiers
- Advised FTSE 100 London-listed Darktrace plc on its public-to-private recommended takeover offer by Thoma Bravo.
- Advised FTSE 100 London-listed Anglo American plc on two multibillion dollar M&A transactions during 2024.
- Advised CVC Capital Partners on its recommended £5.4 billion offer, in a consortium with Nordic Capital and ADIA, for Hargreaves Lansdown plc.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP
Backed by a robust team of seasoned advisers with deep sector expertise, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP is a trusted partner to leading blue-chip companies and financial sponsors across a range of sectors, including financial services, pharmaceuticals, telecoms, and insurance. The firm is particularly distinguished for its proficiency in transatlantic transactions, excelling in cross-border M&A and US inbound deals. Practice co-head Lorenzo Corte maintains a busy practice, frequently working on cross-border M&A, contested takeovers, de-SPAC deals and governance matters. Fellow co-head Katja Butler focuses on private equity, advising clients on all aspects of their investments, from initial acquisition to exit. Simon Toms brings valuable expertise in public M&A, while Denis Klimentchenko and Sarah Knapp are both active across a wide slate of high-profile transactions. Bruce Embley has left the firm.
Responsables de la pratique:
Lorenzo Corte, Katja Butler
Autres avocats clés:
Simon Toms; Denis Klimentchenko; Ani Kusheva; Sarah Knapp; Robert Chaplin; Sandro de Bernardini; Patrick Tsitsaros; Anxin Hua
Principaux clients
International Paper Company
Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure plc
Nokia Corporation
Prada
Tether
The Travel Corporation
Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc.
Eyebiotech Limited
BlackRock, Inc.
Xavier Niel and Atlas Investissement
Adevinta ASA
MSC-Mediterranean Shipping Company
NXP
EG Group
Willis Towers Watson
Nasdaq
Nexthink, S.A.
The Forest Road Company
News Corporation, a majority shareholder in REA Group Ltd.
Ivanhoe Cambridge and ICAMAP
Principaux dossiers
- Represented International Paper Company in its initially unsolicited, but subsequently agreed upon, $9.9 billion competitive takeover of DS Smith Plc.
- Advised Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure plc in connection with its acquisition by funds advised by Energy Capital Partners at an equity value of $2.6 billion.
- Advised Nokia Corporation on its $2.3 billion acquisition of Infinera Corporation.
Ashurst
The ‘technically excellent’ and ‘very responsive’ team at Ashurst advises corporates and financial institutions across a myriad of sectors, including infrastructure, real estate, and natural resources. The firm combines strong domestic knowledge with international experience across Europe and North America to handle high-value transactions, joint ventures, and provide sponsor-side support to investment banks on M&A. Nick Williamson leads the team alongside Jason Radford; Williamson is noted for his focus on the energy and natural resources sectors, while Radford regularly advises on energy, transportation, and infrastructure matters, spanning joint ventures, M&A, fundraisings, project finance, and PPP/PFI transactions. Karen Davies is highly experienced in guiding corporates and investment banks through complex corporate finance matters, with a strong track record across both domestic and cross-border transactions. Other notable individuals include Tom Mercer and Aimee Carroll-Hewitt.
Responsables de la pratique:
Nick Williamson, Jason Radford
Autres avocats clés:
Karen Davies, Tom Mercer, Aimee Carroll-Hewitt
Les références
‘Very responsive, technically at the top of their game and very easy to deal with.’
‘Very in tune with our business requirements and they work hard to understand the things that are most important to us.’
‘Technically excellent but also very personable and easy to deal with.’
Principaux clients
AB Ignitis Grupe
Altor Equity Partners
Atlas Merchant Capital
Axiom Equity Partners
Antin Infrastructure Partners
Babcock International Group PLC
Boohoo Group PLC
BP PLC
British Land Company PLC
Basalt Infrastructure Partners LLP
BlackRock
Brookfield
Carr’s Group PLC
Centrica PLC
Currys PLC
Chemring Group PLC
CK Infrastructure
CVC Credit Partners Investment Management Limited
CPT Capital
Cevian Capital Limited
Dialight PLC
Dalmore Capital Limited
Diploma PLC
Duke Street Capital Limited
Equitix
EnQuest PLC
Equals Group PLC
Generation Capital Ltd.
G2V Group
Gran Tierra Energy Inc.
General Atlantic
Kier Group PLC
Hero Inc Limited
Halma PLC
Infrabridge Investors (UK) Limited
InfraRed Capital Partners
I Squared Capital Advisors (UK) LLP
Lendlease
Oaktree Capital Management
OMV Aktiengesellschaft
Polus Capital Management
Pango Group
Pioneer Point Partners LLP
Petra Diamonds
QinetiQ
Nyetimber Wines and Spirits Group Limited
SIG PLC
Swiss Life Asset Management
Symphony Capital Group
Tritax EuroBox PLC
Renewi PLC
Ricardo PLC
Vontobel Holding AG
XLMedia PLC
10+ investment banks
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Tritax Big Box REIT plc on its £3.9bn all-share merger with UK Commercial Property REIT Limited.
- Advised Equitix Limited, Swingford Limited, and KDM Power Limited on the sale of 88% of the share capital of North West Electricity Networks (Jersey) Limited, the holding company of Electricity North West Limited, to Iberdrola S.A.
- Advised Renewi plc on its £707 million takeover by Earth Bidco N.V.
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
Fielding a team noted for its ‘extensive transactional experience, unwavering commitment, and sharp business acumen’, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton brings deep cross-border capabilities to bear on complex M&A, joint ventures, and strategic disposals, acting for a broad client base that includes multinational corporates, financial institutions, and asset managers. The firm is particularly adept at navigating multijurisdictional transactions across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Co-head Tihir Sarkar draws on significant experience advising corporates and sovereign wealth funds, with a particular focus on transactions involving emerging markets. Fellow co-head Nick Rumsby is noted for his broad transactional expertise, spanning public and private M&A, corporate reorganisations, joint ventures, demergers, equity financings, and listing rule matters. The ‘truly outstanding’ Nallini Puri is regularly instructed on high-profile cross-border M&A and strategic joint ventures.
Responsables de la pratique:
Tihir Sarkar, Nick Rumsby
Autres avocats clés:
Nallini Puri; Ian Shawyer; Dan Tierney; Jim Ho; Jonathan Griggs; Chris Gollop
Les références
‘A diverse team that can handle truly unique problems. There were no precedents not only for our deal but for most of the contracts drafted. Highly technical lawyers who can handle any problem.’
‘The Cleary team seamlessly blends commercial awareness, legal knowledge, and interpersonal savvy in a way that gets deals done. I would have no hesitation in recommending them.’
‘I have never met a Cleary lawyer who was not operating at the top of their game – and we have used them for years in numerous countries. In London, I would call our Nick Rumsby and Nallini Puri, plus senior associate Julian Ried – all smart, aware, and incredibly committed to us as their client. ’
‘The team’s extensive transactional experience, coupled with their unwavering commitment, dedication, and sharp business acumen, makes Cleary’s practice truly unique and irreplaceable.’
‘Nallini Puri is truly outstanding. She played a pivotal role in a major transaction, acting as my right arm throughout. Her tireless dedication, sharp business sense, and creative problem-solving were invaluable. Nallini consistently brought fresh ideas and a commercial mindset that helped us navigate complex challenges with confidence.’
Principaux clients
ABInBev
Bridgepoint
CANAL+
DCC plc
Central Group
EG On The Move
ENGIE
Johnson Controls International plc
McDonald’s
Molson Coors plc
OpenText
Sixth Street
Temasek
The Walt Disney Company
Principaux dossiers
- Assisted the Walt Disney Company on its $8.5bn merger of its Star India business with Viacom18.
- Acted for Sixth Street on its $7.1bn take-private of ESR.
- Assisted Canal+ on its £2.9bn listing on the London Stock Exchange in connection with its demerger from Vivendi SE.
CMS
Lauded for its ‘technical expertise’ and ‘very strong commercial awareness’, CMS leverages a deep bench of corporate specialists and a broad international presence to deliver seamless support on a wide spectrum of transactions. The team’s expertise spans from local bolt-on acquisitions to transformative, high-value deals across energy, infrastructure, technology, media, and private equity sectors. Victoria Henry advises managers and investors on structuring and investing in large joint ventures, complex real estate transactions, and funds, acting for major international investors targeting the UK and Europe. She leads the team alongside Dipesh Santilale, who regularly advises UK and international financial institutions on M&A and restructurings. Louise Wallace is recognised for her expertise in the retail and consumer sectors.
Responsables de la pratique:
Victoria Henry, Dipesh Santilale
Autres avocats clés:
Simon Morgan; Rob Willis; Valentina Santambrogio; Tom Jameson; Katie Nagy de Nagybaczon; Louise Wallace; Tom Page; Vitali Mainarovych; Emma Clark; Corinna Lee; James Parkes; Kieran O’Brien
Les références
‘CMS have provided an exceptional service to us, through very strong technical expertise combined with very strong commercial awareness. They have been invaluable to us over the last 18 months.’
‘James Parkes has been incredibly helpful, making sure that CMS can help facilitate the wide range of transactions we have been through in the last 2 years. He has always been available, whatever the time or date, and has always given very helpful and sound advice.’
‘Kieran O’Brien has repeatedly gone above and beyond for us, helping us achieve some extremely tight deadlines, always in the most professional and thorough way. He has been the key contact for us on a day-to-day basis.’
Principaux clients
Assura
Aviva Investors
BBC Studios
Capital & Regional| plc
easyJet
Equinor UK Limited
Flagstone
Management team of |Globeducate
ITV Studios
NEO Energy
Redevco| BV
Sainsbury’s
Providence Equity Partners portfolio company, |Superstruct| and its management team
The Renewables Infrastructure Group (TRIG)
United Trust Bank (UTB)
Value Retail group of companies (“Value Retail”)
Venterra| |Limited
VINCI Construction Holding Limited
Windward
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Equinor UK Limited on its $billion 50/50 corporate joint venture with Shell UK.
- Advised Value Retail on the GBP 1.5billion sale by the listed real estate group Hammerson plc, of its minority stake in Value Retail.
- Advised Superstruct Entertainment and its management team to oversee the EUR 1.3billion sale to KKR.
Macfarlanes LLP
Praised for its ‘extremely commercial and client-oriented’ approach, Macfarlanes LLP is engaged by a range of blue-chip corporates and ultra-wealthy individuals, for its work on high-end, often cross-border transactions. The team is particularly known for its ability to straddle corporate and private client work, regularly advising on complex acquisitions, disposals, and joint ventures across the US, Europe, and Australasia. The practice is jointly steered by the ‘outstanding’ Howard Corney, who has a particular focus on private and cross-border M&A, and Jessica Adam, who is a key port of call for private equity houses, asset managers, and large financial institutions. Harry Coghill is a go-to adviser for listed companies facing complex governance issues, particularly in relation to shareholder activism.
Responsables de la pratique:
Howard Corney, Jessica Adam
Autres avocats clés:
Harry Coghill; Justin Hope; Tom Rose
Les références
‘Extremely commercial and client-oriented. I have found them to be forward-looking and spotting challenges coming down the road.’
‘Howard Corney is outstanding. Available, insightful, and gets things done. We trust him.’
‘Our go-to firm for UK matters.’
Principaux clients
Alchemy
A.P. Moller Holding
Ancala Partners LLP
Anglo American Platinum Limited
Argus Media
Elta Group
Evelyn Partners
Hayfin
Joshua Alliance/Falcon 24 Topco Limited
Jupiter Asset Management
Kennedy Wilson
Peter Hargreaves
Preqin Holding Limited
Superdry Plc
Trinity Street Asset Management LLP
Union Bancaire Privée, UBP SA (UBP)
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Preqin Holding Limited on the sale of its entire issued share capital to an affiliate of BlackRock, Inc for £2.55bn.
- Advised Evelyn Partners (ultimately controlled by Permira and Warbug Pincus) on the sale of its professional services business to funds advised by Apax Partners.
- Advised Hayfin on its agreement with Arctos Partners to support a Hayfin management buyout of the business through the acquisition of BCI’s existing majority stake.
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Leveraging its extensive experience in private equity and financial services, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP covers acquisitions and leveraged buyouts to restructurings, investments, exits, and public-to-private deals across multiple sectors. Practice head Ben Spiers specialises in public and private M&A, securities, and corporate restructurings, advising clients on complex cross-border transactions worldwide. A mix of banks, private equity firms, and corporates turn to Adam Signy for his expertise across a broad spectrum of corporate matters, while Clare Gaskell regularly works with top-tier sponsors on high-profile transactions. Amy Mahon, co-head of the global infrastructure practice, is also recommended.
Responsables de la pratique:
Ben Spiers
Autres avocats clés:
Geoffrey Bailhache; Clare Gaskell; James Howe; Amy Mahon; Lucy Gillett; Adam Signy; Christopher Vallance
Principaux clients
Apax Partners
Apollo Global Management
Blackstone
Bridgepoint Group plc
Bruin Capital
Corsair Capital
CVC Capital Partners
Hellman & Friedman
H.I.G Capital
EQT
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.
LetterOne Investments
Lone Star Funds
Oakley Capital
Silver Lake
Nordic Capital
New Mountain Capital
GTCR Private Equity
TCV Private Equity
Eurazeo Asset Management
Principaux dossiers
- Representing Blackstone on its £10bn investment and development of AI data centres in Blyth, Northumberland.
- Representing Software AG on its sale of StreamSets and webMethods, Software AG’s Super iPaaS business enterprise technology platforms, to IBM for €2.13 billion.
- Acted for CVC Capital Partners in connection with its acquisition of M Group Services from PAI Partners.
Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP
Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP combines deep expertise in public and private M&A, hostile takeover defence, corporate governance, and equity capital markets, with a strong focus on high-value international deals across Europe, the US, and Asia. The firm serves clients across the TMT, retail, energy, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and financial services sectors, leveraging close relationships with investment banks, financial advisers, and top private equity firms. The practice is led by David Avery-Gee, who frequently advises listed clients on high-profile, cross-border M&A, joint ventures, and capital raisings across a range of industries and jurisdictions. Michael Francies brings extensive expertise in managing high-profile cross-border and domestic transactions, Murray Cox focuses primarily on advising publicly listed companies; particularly within the infrastructure sector. Public takeovers specialist Sarah Flaherty is also noted.
Responsables de la pratique:
David Avery-Gee
Autres avocats clés:
Michael Francies; Murray Cox; Sarah Flaherty; Simon Lyell; David McKendrick
Les références
‘The Weil team provides the best corporate law experience in London. I have worked with corporate teams at most of the leading London law firms, and Weil is second to none.’
‘David Avery-Gee is the highest quality corporate counsel in London. In addition, he has been able to build a highly effective team around him.’
‘David McKendrick deserves a special mention for his technical expertise, outstanding service efficiency and commercial nous. Clearly a star in the making.’
Principaux clients
SGS
Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp
BlackRock
Century Aluminum
Churchill Capital VII
Cobham
Eli Lilly
Eutelsat
Glencore plc
Harbour Energy plc
Howden
InPost
Kantar
MGM Resorts
Sanofi
Vitol
Whirlpool
Principaux dossiers
- Advised GIP (now part of BlackRock) as part of a consortium together with Khazanah Nasional Berhad and Employees’ Provident Fund of Malaysia, on a pre-conditional voluntary cash takeover offer for Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB).
- Advised Algonquin in the $2.555 billion sale of Atlantica to Energy Capital Partners and Co-Investors.
- Advised Glencore plc on its investment in Horizonte Minerals plc.
Baker McKenzie
Drawing considerable praise from clients for its ‘technical excellence’ and ability to ‘integrate seamlessly with in-house teams’, Baker McKenzie LLP advises on complex cross-border transactions across Europe, the Americas and the Asia-Pacific region. Bolstered by the firm’s strengths in tax structuring, merger control and post-deal integration, the team regularly acts for major clients in the technology, consumer goods, industrials and healthcare sectors. Co-head Jannan Crozier regularly handles cross-border mergers and acquisitions and negotiated carve-out transactions. Fellow co-head David Scott, praised by one client as ‘one of the best M&A partners I’ve worked with’, remains active across the consumer, healthcare, and tech sectors. The team has been bolstered by the arrival of Michal Berkner, who joined from McDermott Will & Schulte.
Responsables de la pratique:
Jannan Crozier, David Scott
Autres avocats clés:
Ash Tiwari; Richard Needham; James Heller; Ryan Howlett
Les références
‘What really makes Baker McKenzie’s M&A team stand out is how cohesive, approachable, and switched-on they are — from trainees to partners. Everyone is on the same page, super well-prepared, always proactive, and just a pleasure to work with. There’s no ego, just a strong sense of collaboration and commitment to doing great work together.’
‘One of the biggest strengths, especially in high-value and complex deals, is the support from their legal project management team. It makes everything run smoother — from timelines to deliverables — and keeps things clear and efficient, which saves a lot of time and stress.’
‘The team is great at anticipating our needs, flagging key issues early, and making sure we have the right information when we need it — no chasing or confusion.’
Principaux clients
Accenture
ASOS
Aster/Affinity Holdings
APG
Baker Hughes
Bain Capital / Kantar Group
BDT Capital
Brookfield
Bumble
Carlsberg
Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, LLC (CD&R)
Colt
DS Smith
Edwardian Hotels
Emerson Electric Co.
EQT
Eutelsat Group
Fairfax Holdings
Galapagos N.V.
GSK
Gulf Data Hub
Haleon
Informa
McDonald’s
Mondelez
Natura &Co
Novonesis
New Mountain Capital
Olam International
Puig
Sandoz
Sika AG
Silver Lake Partners
S&P Global
Takeda
Unikmind Holdings
Walgreens Boots Alliance
Wilbur-Ellis
Unilever
ZCCM Investment Holdings plc
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Carlsberg on its recommended cash acquisition of Britvic PLC.
- Acted for Novonesis on its acquisition of dsm-firmenich’s share of the Feed Enzyme Alliance in exchange for a total cash consideration of EUR 1.5 billion.
- Advised Kantar Group on the proposed sale of Kantar Media to H.I.G. Capital.
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher
Fielding a ‘top-class’ team, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher represents leading financial institutions, private equity firms, UK public companies, and major US conglomerates. The firm is well-equipped to manage both domestic and international M&A deals, with expertise spanning a host of sectors including infrastructure, financial services, technology, healthcare, life sciences, energy, and real estate. The London team features Mark Sperotto, whose broad practice spans both the UK and Italian markets, and Alison Beal, who is regularly sought after for high-value deals in the tech sector. Co-heading the European private equity group, Wim De Vlieger and Federico Fruhbeck bring significant experience in complex, cross-border strategic M&A.
Autres avocats clés:
Wim De Vlieger; Federico Fruhbeck; Mark Sperotto; Selina Sagayam; Alice Brogi; Amar Madhani; Alison Beal; Sarah Leiper-Jennings; Chris Haynes
Les références
‘The team is all top class, meets very tight deadlines with all the diligence you would expect.’
‘Chris Haynes is the standout partner that always delivers and is a truly trusted advisor.’
‘Subject matter experts, quality work, good responsiveness.’
Principaux clients
Solenis
Zensho Holdings Co.
ArcelorMittal
Brown-Forman Corporation
Gamma Biosciences
John Laing Group Y
AMCI Group
Argenta
Comply365
Frontier Biosolutions
Principaux dossiers
Norton Rose Fulbright
The ‘pragmatic, solution-minded and skilled’ team at Norton Rose Fulbright is recognised for its strong track record advising on cross-border M&A, with particular strength in transactions spanning Europe, the Americas and Africa. The team is especially active in the energy and commodities sectors, while also maintaining a solid foothold in technology, healthcare, and transport, acting for a mix of major corporates and financial institutions. Practice head Raj Karia is a key port of call for corporates and investment banks seeking assistance with M&A, joint ventures and restructurings. Charez Golvala is singled out for his work in emerging markets, while Paul Whitelock, who co-chairs the public M&A group, is well regarded for his expertise in public deals and capital markets.
Responsables de la pratique:
Raj Karia
Autres avocats clés:
Paul Whitelock; Alan Bainbridge; Fiona Millington; Christopher Grieves; Stephen Rigby; Charez Golvala; Kit McCarthy; Nic Sirtoli
Les références
‘An absolute pleasure to work with a team that is so pragmatic, solution-minded and skilled.’
‘I have worked with the NRF team on several deals in the last year, including private M&A, capital markets fundraising, and an AIM takeover. What strikes me about the team is the strong level of trust, respect, and collaboration, particularly between senior and junior colleagues.’
‘Stephen Rigby has provided consistently excellent support to our business over many years. He is a trusted voice around the board table on a range of matters.’
Principaux clients
3M
AIG
Anadolu Efes
Appian Capital
BofA Securities
Bank of Montreal
Barrick Gold
BHP Billiton
BMO Financial Group
BMW
Bombardier
BP plc
Brookfield
Centamin
Charles Stanley Group plc
Citi
CME Group
Coca-Cola HBC
Conning
Delta Air Lines
DVB Bank
Enerflex Ltd
Equatorial Energia SA
Goldman Sachs
Good Energy
HSBC
Investec
J.P. Morgan
Kerry Group plc
Lloyds Banking Group
Marsh & McLennan Companies
Modern Times Group (MTG)
Munich Re
Orange SA
Public Investment Fund (PIF)
RBC Capital Markets
Restore plc
Rio Tinto
RWE
Sandvik AB
Santander
Shell
SNC-Lavalin Group
Starling Bank
Taylor Maritime
Teliasonera AB
Terra Firma Capital Partners
TotalEnergies
Vodafone
Principaux dossiers
- Advising Centamin plc on the recommended US$2.5 billion shares and cash offer by AngloGold Ashanti plc.
- Advised bp on its agreement to form a new offshore wind focused joint venture (JV) with JERA CO., Inc.
- Advised international energy company Equinor on its participation in the Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP) carbon transportation & storage joint venture with bp and TotalEnergies.
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP is regularly instructed on both UK and multijurisdictional transactions, with a client roster that includes major corporates, financial institutions, and private equity sponsors. Known for handling complex, high-value mandates across sectors such as healthcare, telecoms, financial services, and retail, the firm leverages its transatlantic capabilities and longstanding client relationships to advise on some of the market’s most significant deals. The practice is led by Ben Perry, who brings considerable experience in cross-border M&A and private equity, and Jeremy Kutner, who advises an international client base, including corporates, sovereign wealth funds, and private equity houses, on public and private M&A, joint ventures, and restructurings.
Responsables de la pratique:
Jeremy Kutner; Ben Perry
Autres avocats clés:
Vanessa Blackmore; John Horsfield-Bradbury; Richard Pollack
Les références
‘The team is extremely sharp and client-service focused.’
‘Richard Pollack is one of the best lawyers I have ever met – extremely sharp, commercially minded and a fantastic negotiator.’
Principaux clients
Allianz SE
Apax Partners
Apeiron Investment Group Limited
AXA SA
e&/ e& PPF Telecom Group B.V.
FGS Global
FTX Japan Holdings
FTX Trading Ltd
Hanzade Dogan
Lunate Capital Limited
Lundin Mining
P&E Investments Axiopoiisis kai Anaptyxis Akiniton Société Anonyme
Palex Medical
Pershing Square Capital
Piper Sandler
Space X
UBS AG
West Street Infrastructure Partners
Principaux dossiers
- Advised on Apax Partners’ acquisition of co-controlling stakes of Palex Medical from funds advised by Fremman, which was the majority shareholder, as well as Palex management and other minority shareholders
- Advised Apax Partners in its recommended cash offer to acquire Norva24 Group AB.
- Advising AXA SA on UK aspects of its agreement to sell its asset manager AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) to BNP Paribas Cardif, a subsidiary of BNP Paribas.
White & Case LLP
Lauded for its ‘depth of knowledge’, White & Case LLP advises various leading corporates and financial sponsors on complex cross-border transactions, including M&A, joint ventures, and disposals. The team is active across a broad range of sectors, from infrastructure and telecoms to energy, natural resources, and pharmaceuticals, and is also noted for its work in shareholder activism and strategic investment matters. The ‘fantastic’ Patrick Sarch advises clients on a broad spectrum of matters – from corporate finance, innovative structuring and capital optimisation to public company M&A (both domestic and cross-border), securities law and regulatory compliance. He heads the practice alongside Alan Burke, who is a key port of call for a wide range of clients across energy (including energy transition), infrastructure, healthcare, technology, and financial services. Hyder Jumabhoy, who co-heads the financial services M&A practice, is also recommended. Recent noteworthy arrivals include Richard Browne, who joins from A&O Shearman.
Responsables de la pratique:
Alan Burke; Patrick Sarch
Autres avocats clés:
Philip Broke; Patrick Sarch; Allan Taylor; Tom Matthews; Sonica Tolani; Hyder Jumabhoy; Ian Ivory; David Lewis; Richard Wilson; David Lewis; Richard Browne
Les références
‘The White & Case M&A team is one of the few US firms that has a sizeable presence in the London market. For public M&A, they provide a really interesting proposition for us in that they are as « plugged in » as a magic circle firm is for the FTSE100, but rather than focusing on advising the listed companies, White & Case also advises the investors and activist shareholders. It gives them a really different perspective, and they can be adaptive to our more aggressive approach to listed company matters.’
‘Patrick Sarch is their heavyweight public M&A partner, and who we have dealt with most. He is a proper « boardroom operator » in the classic sense. Very reassuring and our board has really enjoyed its interactions with him. He seemingly knows everything and everyone in the world of public M&A. Very calm, reassuring but with the deep knowledge to back it up.’
‘We were always assisted and advised in a swift, extremely professional and competent manner. The development of fees was monitored and any deviations have been documented precisely.’
‘It is always a great pleasure to work with Hyder Jumabhoy. He always acts as the contact person and coordinates the rest of the W&C team. Therefore, you are always in contact with a partner of W&C and this partner has the full picture. Hyder does also a great job in advising not only inhouse counsels of the client but also giving guidance to the management in an understandable language and with business interests in mind.’
‘Depth of knowledge, availability, turnaround time: these are the very important plus points of the White & Case team.’
‘Depth of knowledge in their respective fields is certainly a strength of the individuals with whom we dealt in the team.’
‘Patrick Sarch is fantastic – great presence which reassures the board and advisors. Loads of experience in M&A and disclosure matters and great to work with.’
‘As a team, they combine all the qualities you could wish for in your legal advisor: charming but tough when it matters, efficient but thorough, ahead of the curve and armed with cutting-edge, up to date market info, not afraid of complexity (instead, they relish it) and – most importantly – they are fantastic fun to work with.’
Principaux clients
Alfa Financial Software Holdings PLC
Ashtead Technology Holdings PLC
Deliveroo PLC
DiscoverIE PLC
Energean PLC
Frasers Group PLC
International Game Technology Plc
IQE PLC
JTC PLC
Nostrum Oil & Gas Plc
SEPLAT Energy Plc
SigmaRoc Plc
Smiths Group Plc
Tier Mobility
TotalEnergies
UniCredit
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Saba Capital Management on a £2 billion investment trust acquisition strategy.
- Advised UniCredit on aspects of the first mega consolidation transaction in Europe since the global financial crisis.
- Acted for Deliveroo Plc on its asset sale and market exit in Hong Kong.
Hogan Lovells International LLP
Praised for its ‘collaborative and proactive’ approach, Hogan Lovells International LLP assists financial institutions, corporates, and investors on complex, multi-jurisdictional M&A and strategic corporate matters. With a strong track record in regulated sectors – including energy, life sciences, media, and financial services – the team frequently handles high-stakes deals spanning Europe, Asia, and the US, and is also sought after for its advice on governance and ESG-related issues. The team is led by John Connell, whose practice spans the financial institutions, fintech, and insurance sectors. Sarah Shaw regularly advises private equity and infrastructure funds, as well as energy and natural resources companies, on public takeovers, joint ventures, and restructurings, with a particular focus on African markets. Anthony Doolittle is well-versed in the financial services, technology, and fintech industries.
Responsables de la pratique:
John Connell
Autres avocats clés:
Sarah Shaw; Nicola Evans; Tom Brassington; Peter Watts; Jonathan Russell; Anthony Doolittle; Daniel Simons
Les références
‘Great to work with – very collaborative approach and much better than previous magic circle firm on these types of transaction. Felt like a real extension of the internal team.’
‘Dan Simons and Francesca Parker are both stand-outs. Very slick and user-friendly.’
‘As well as being knowledgeable and practical, the team is collaborative and proactive.’
‘The team is well-suited to working with companies that have different structures and challenges and go above and beyond to help manage issues that arise, which are out of the initial project scope.’
‘A leading M&A practice in the City led by strong and commercial partners, supported by high-quality associates.’
‘Dan Simons is an excellent trusted advisor, very strong technically but also commercial, and a skilled negotiator.’
‘The team at Hogan Lovells assisted our business over a number of months. They quickly understood our business and had relevant industry experience. They made themselves available at all times and when different areas of expertise were needed, they were able to call on a significant bank of knowledge.’
‘The team were flexible, embedded within our business and were sage advisers at a critical point in time. Advice was comprehensive and clear. The standout strength was collaboration.’
Principaux clients
LetterOne
Vodafone
Marsh McLennan
Enstar Group Limited
UK Government’s Department for Business and Trade
Metro Bank PLC
Goldman Sachs
CVC Capital Partners
Smart Metering Systems PLC
Chevron
Qatar Insurance Company
Vauban Infrastructure Partners
ExxonMobil
Cardano Holding Ltd
Global Ports Holding PLC
IBM
Principaux dossiers
- Advised CVC, which has invested alongside KKR to support Superstruct Entertainment Group in its next phase of development.
- Advised Metro Bank on the sale of an approximately £2.5 billion prime residential mortgage portfolio to NatWest Group PLC.
- Advised Chevron on a major disposal of its assets in the Republic of Congo.
Jones Day
Jones Day’s London team is a trusted adviser to both domestic and international corporates, advising across M&A, venture capital, public takeovers, and private equity. Renowned for its cross-border capabilities, the team regularly steers complex acquisitions, joint ventures and disposals, drawing on the firm’s global reach to support transactions across Europe, Asia and the US, with notable strength in the real estate, life sciences, industrials and defence sectors. The practice is led by Giles Elliott , who has a wealth of experience advising clients on corporate transactions and governance matters; Leon Ferera, who assists clients with corporate transactions and governance matters, including takeover offers; and Vica Irani, who stands out for her expertise in the private equity space.
Responsables de la pratique:
Giles Elliott; Leon Ferera; Vica Irani
Autres avocats clés:
Julian Runnicles; Mathis Bredimus; Faisal Delawalla
Les références
‘The Jones Day team provides a partnership approach. They proactively find solutions and look to work as a team rather than acting on instructions.’
‘Vica Irani – Vica provides an unparalleled level of service. She is strong on overall transaction strategy as well as being across the details. She is able to negotiate and find solutions to complex issues and provides a collaborative approach.’
‘Julian Runnicles – I dealt with Julian on a MIP. Julian is incredibly bright and is able to quickly understand commercial issues and propose solutions which are both practical and easily understood.’
Principaux clients
Sun Communities
Safe Harbor Marinas LLC
Macquarie Asset Management
Berry Global Group
American Industrial Partners Capital Fund VI LP
Koch Industries
ANSYS, Inc.
Greystar Real Estate Partners, LLC
ENI
J.F. Lehman & Company
Eastman
Fleetcor Technologies Inc.
Avient Corporation
TransDigm Group Incorporated
Loungers Plc
Cushman & Wakefield, Inc.
Principaux dossiers
Milbank
Milbank’s London corporate team advises on complex European M&A and private equity deals, particularly across aviation, energy, and infrastructure. Regularly called upon by FTSE 100 and Fortune 250 corporates, as well as top-tier financial institutions and infrastructure investors, the team earns praise from clients for its ‘professionalism, integrity, and collaborative spirit.’ The practice is jointly led by Lisa O’Neill, who is lauded for her ability to ‘quickly grasp the nuances of a matter and translate them into actionable legal and business strategies,’ and Andrej Wolf, who is noted for his experience in the private equity and growth equity space.
Responsables de la pratique:
Lisa O’Neill; Andrej Wolf
Autres avocats clés:
Mark Stamp; Drew MacDonald
Les références
‘The team as a whole operates with professionalism, integrity, and a collaborative spirit, which makes working with them not only effective but genuinely enjoyable.’
‘I truly value their client-first mentality, their ability to anticipate risks, and their clear communication, which are all essential qualities in today’s fast-paced and demanding legal environment.’
‘The individuals I work with at Milbank consistently stand out for their deep legal expertise, strategic thinking, and a rare ability to approach complex matters creatively, without losing sight of practical business objectives. What differentiates them from other firms is not only their technical competence—which is excellent—but also their commercial awareness and their willingness to think outside the box to achieve the best outcomes for their clients.’
Principaux clients
Athens international Airport
BETA CAE Systems International
CVC Capital Partners
Amber infrastructure
Principaux dossiers
- Advised CVC Capital Partners on the disposal of its majority stake in the Hellenic Healthcare Group (HHG) to PureHealth Holding PJSC in a transaction that values HHG at EUR 2.2 billion.
- Advised Amber Infrastructure on its strategic combination with Boyd Watterson to create an investment manager with $35.7 billion assets under management.
Paul Hastings LLP
Well regarded for its ability to marry ‘strong technical lawyering’ with ‘practical, business-aware advice’, Paul Hastings LLP advises its diverse roster of clients across the full range of corporate transactions, including public and private M&A. Practice head Matthew Poxon is a go-to adviser on public company matters, while David Prowse is praised for his ability to ‘distill complex legal issues into actionable choices.’
Responsables de la pratique:
Matthew Poxon
Autres avocats clés:
David Prowse; Matthew Calvert
Les références
‘Deep knowledge, applied in a pragmatic way precisely when needed by the client.’
‘Matthew Poxon is a stand-out leader in his field. Able to navigate complex issues with common sense, prioritising the practical needs of the client as opposed to pursuing legal points for the sake of it.’
‘Matthew Calvert is an exceptional senior associate. Committed to his client’s cause and always demonstrates an ability to balance commercial objectives with appropriate management of legal risk.’
Principaux clients
B Shareholders of The Co-operative Bank p.l.c.
G42
STG Partners, LLC &|Alliance Bidco Limited
dss+
Travelsoft
City Group Football Limited
The Bank of London
Abercrombie & Kent
Quintessential Brands
PineBridge Benson Elliot
Principaux dossiers
- Advised the sellers of The Co-operative Bank p.l.c. on its sale to Coventry Building Society for approximately $1 billion.
- Advised G42 on Microsoft’s $1.5 billion strategic investment in the leading UAE-based AI group.
- Advised STG Partners on its public takeover of LSE-listed Gresham Technologies.
Travers Smith LLP
Travers Smith LLP is a trusted adviser to FTSE-listed companies, private equity houses and institutional investors, handling high-value corporate transactions across sectors such as infrastructure, tech, financial services and wealth management, with particular strength in public takeovers, group restructurings and cross-border M&A. Joint heads Adrian West and William Yates lead the team. Spencer Summerfield is active across the full spectrum of corporate matters, while Andrew Gillen is a key contact for listed and large private companies on M&A and governance matters.
Responsables de la pratique:
Adrian West; Will Yates
Autres avocats clés:
Spencer Summerfield; Andrew Gillen; Lucie Cawood; Richard Spedding; Tom Coulter; Jonathan Walters; Ella Sharpley; Ben Lowen; Adam Orr; Emma Havas
Les références
‘Strong expertise in M&A advice, negotiation, and support.’
‘Expert, available, hardworking.’
‘Ella Sharpley – great grasp of not just legal detail, but when to come in on discussions with value-add, when to accommodate commercial asks, how to get a deal to close. Highly recommend her.’
Principaux clients
Zegona Communications plc
Swisscom
Numis (now Deutsche Numis)
Inflexion
Lifezone Metals
CVC DIF
Aurelius Group
IK Partners
BUUK Infrastructure
finnCap
EMIS Group plc
Auto Trader plc
Söderberg & Partners Holdings AB
Ancala Partners
Adventurous Journey’s Capital
S4 Capital plc
Safestore plc
InstaVolt
Breedon plc
Indicor Equity LLC
Brooks Macdonald plc
Macquarie
Investec
Northleaf Capital Partners
Blancco Technology Group plc
ProA Capital
Volex plc
BPEA EQT
Assura plc
Care REIT plc
Management of Edinburgh Airport
Quanex Building Products
Lok’nStore Group plc
Steve Madden
Bank J. Safra Sarasin
DBAY Advisors
Ashby Capital
Greystar
Principaux dossiers
- Advising on the £1.6bn takeover of UK-listed property group Assura by KKR and Stonepeak.
- Advising Bank J. Safra Sarasin on the acquisition of majority stake in Copenhagen-headquartered Saxo Bank.
- Advising Steve Madden on a definitive agreement to acquire UK-based Kurt Geiger from a group led by Cinven.
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP‘s London team advises on a steady stream of cross-border M&A, listings and takeovers, with a client base that includes UK and US listed companies, private firms and private equity houses. The team is especially experienced in Takeover Code matters, where Will Pearce and counsel Joseph Scrace are particularly noteworthy contacts.
Responsables de la pratique:
Will Pearce
Autres avocats clés:
William Tong; Joseph Scrace; Gordon Milne
Principaux clients
Airbus
Atairos
BDT & MSD Partners
Crane NXT
Comcast Corporation
Cubic Telecom
Evercore
Ferrero
Lightyear Capital
MSCI
Red Bull
Reliance Industries
Roche
SS&C Technologies
Stellex Capital
StoneX Group
Telemos Capital
Temenos
Tencent
UBS
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Roche on its acquisition of select parts of the LumiraDx group related to LumiraDx group’s point of care technology platform.
- Aadvised Cubic Telecom in connection with the investment by SoftBank Corp. of approximately €473 million for a 51% equity stake at a valuation of over €900 million.
- Advised UBS AG London Branch in connection with its recommended all-share combination with Redrow, in a transaction subject to the Takeover Code and the Listing Rules.
Dechert LLP
Noted by clients for its ‘deep command of legal and regulatory frameworks across jurisdictions’, Dechert LLP advises on a wide range of domestic and cross-border M&A, with particular activity in the financial services, life sciences, healthcare, and TMT sectors. Philip Butler, who co-leads the practice, brings expertise in complex debt-backed deals, while fellow co-head Christopher Field is well regarded for his work on multijurisdictional carve-outs. The team has been bolstered by the arrival of private equity specialist Nick Tomlinson, who joins from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.
Responsables de la pratique:
Philip Butler; Christopher Field
Autres avocats clés:
Nick Tomlinson; Camille Abousleiman; James Stonehill
Les références
‘Beyond the deep command of legal and regulatory frameworks across jurisdictions, the firm has consistently demonstrated a rare ability to grasp the broader business implications of legal decisions. Your counsel has not only ensured rigorous compliance with complex international standards but also reflected a nuanced understanding of market dynamics, strategic priorities, and operational realities — a combination that has made them an invaluable partner in navigating the interconnected legal and business landscape in which we operate.’
‘Camille Abousleiman has extensive and in-depth knowledge in this area.’
‘We definitely also single out James Stonehill for his expertise, dedication and quality of service which we value as being instrumental.’
Principaux clients
Ares Management
Bank Audi
Bentley Systems
Exiger Limited
Gemcorp Capital Management
GIC
PPG Industries, Inc.
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Ares on the sale of DCS Holdings Group by way of a merger between the Daisy Group with the Wavenet Group.
- Advised GIC on its funding of Valtech’s take-private of Kin & Carta plc, a consultancy firm focused on providing digital transformation solutions.
- Advised Ares on the capital reorganisation of Daisy Group.
Mayer Brown International LLP
Praised for its ‘highly technical’ and ‘pragmatic’ approach, Mayer Brown International LLP advises a mix of FTSE 100 and Fortune 100 clients on the full range of corporate transactions, from joint ventures and leveraged buyouts to asset and share sales. The team is led by ‘superstar’ Kate Ball-Dodd, a trusted name for public companies navigating the Takeover Code, listing requirements, and company law. Rebecca Bothamley brings standout sector insight across mining, tech, telecoms, and insurance, while Richard Page regularly handles high-value deals across a host of sectors.
Responsables de la pratique:
Kate Ball-Dodd
Autres avocats clés:
Rebecca Bothamley; Richard Page; Al Dolman; Caroline Humble
Les références
‘We enjoyed dedicated advice from a capable team. While based out of London, the corporate team fitted into a wider international Mayer Brown team, ideally suited to our complicated needs: with capital from Asia, an HQ in New York, debt coming from Paris, and investments in Germany.’
‘Richard Page and Al Dolman, the two partners, offered deeply considered advice and maintained a high level of service throughout the project, which went through several deviations in the early stages and had to overcome various obstacles.’
‘They are well resourced and client focussed.’
Principaux clients
Accor SA
Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc
Bain Capital
Beazley plc
bioMérieux SA
The British Land Company plc
Evergreen Financial Advisors
JOST SE
Klesch Group
Mitie Group plc
Morningstar
Nippon Life
Pernod Ricard, SA
PETRONAS
PRIO
QBE Insurance Group Limited
Shearwater Group
Unilever plc
VAALCO Energy, Inc.
Wolters Kluwer
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Bain Capital on its strategic partnership with Aquila Group to build a leading European sustainable data centre platform.
- Advising Nippon Life on the $10.6 billion acquisition of Resolution Life.
- Advised Unilever on its acquisition of premium personal care product producer, Wild.
Morrison Foerster
Known for its sharp sector focus, particularly in tech, gaming, life sciences, and healthcare, Morrison Foerster continues to steer clients through big-ticket cross-border deals. Global co-chair Gary Brown brings a tech-forward lens to his cross-border M&A and private equity work, while London managing partner Andrew Boyd is frequently engaged by international corporates for his expertise.
Responsables de la pratique:
Gary Brown
Autres avocats clés:
Andrew Boyd; Simon Arlington; Stuart Alford; Jennifer Buckby
Les références
‘The team did great work in a complicated multijurisdictional private equity transaction that had multiple unexpected twists thrown into the process. They provided great support throughout and were great problem solvers.’
‘Stuart Alford was a great presence on the team, very calm, thoughtful, and measured throughout with high-quality advice and produced diligent work products.’
‘Great availability and engagement. Top-level work.’
Principaux clients
Alpine Investors
Arm
Axalta
Castlelake
Coral Tree Partners
eBay
Entain plc
Imerys SA
Kyowa Kirin
Mattel, Inc.
One Investment Management
Quantinuum (a subsidiary of Honeywell Group)
SoftBank Group Corp.
Tate & Lyle PLC
Uber Technologies, Inc.
Visa, Inc.