Leading Partners

Firms To Watch: M&A: Upper Mid-Market And Premium Deals, £750m+

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP has significantly expanded its presence in the London market, making headlines with its high-profile lateral hiring spree. Key among the arrivals are Dan Schuster-Woldan from Linklaters LLP and Christopher Sullivan from Clifford Chance LLP  – two standout practitioners who now co-lead the corporate and M&A team alongside seasoned partners Roger Johnson and William Aitken-Davies.
Covington & Burling LLP has bolstered its corporate and M&A team with the additions of Phil Cheveley and Lyndsey Laverack from Sidley Austin LLP, strengthening its ability to handle complex deals within tightly regulated industries like life sciences, energy, and technology.

M&A: Upper Mid-Market And Premium Deals, £750m+ in London

Clifford Chance LLP

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.

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.


Principaux dossiers