A&O Shearman is commended by clients for its ‘exceptional knowledge of market practice‘. The team’s expertise is routinely sought out by listed companies seeking investor advisory regarding annual reporting, stakeholder management, ESG policies and boardroom disputes. Corporate specialist Dominic Morris heads up the practice. Other key members of the practice include Richard Browne, whose expertise lies in corporate governance and disclosure advice; Matthew Townsend, who oversees the firm’s environmental, climate and regulatory work; David Broadley, who excels in corporate-related matters; and Claire Coppel, who shines in shareholder activism matters and corporate governance. Victoria Rankmore and Kate Astley form part of the strong junior offering at the firm, both specialising in AGM and annual reporting issues.

Clifford Chance LLP is highly regarded for being ‘exceptionally strong on governance and corporate advice for listed companies’. Its corporate governance offering includes compliance, regulatory and risk management mandates, as well as investigations. The practice is jointly headed by David Pudge, who excels in highly sensitive board-level corporate governance issues, and corporate crisis events expert Luke Tolaini. Further notable names in the practice include Steven Fox, who is extremely knowledgeable about public company-related law and regulation; Richard Crosby, who caters to large banks and other financial institutions; and Alanna Hunter, who is regularly called upon for advice on legal and regulatory requirements by boards and governance professionals.

With in-depth expertise in corporate governance, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP regularly advises listed and private companies on their regulatory, reporting and governance standards, as well as board and head office issues. Sitting at the head of the practice is Gareth Sykes, who specialises in corporate reporting, the UK Corporate Governance Code, listing rules, shareholder meetings and director duties. James Palmer is relied upon by corporate and financial institutions and their boards; Paul Ellerman oversees matters involving remuneration and incentives; Ben Ward has extensive experience working with listed companies; and Caroline Hagg is a key contact for several FTSE-listed companies seeking corporate governance advice.

Travers Smith LLP fields a ‘highly respected team with exceptional depth and experience’. The firm has dedicated specialists for listed company advisory, contentious risk management, anti-corruption and ESG matters. Neal Watson and Aisling Arthur jointly oversee the practice; Watson’s broad offering encompasses corporate governance regulation, reporting requirements, directors’ duties, reputation protections and listing rules, while Arthur specialises in shareholder activism and market abuse issues. Simon Witney focuses his practice on regulatory, transactional and fund formation work. Laura Smyth is also a name to note.

Benefitting from the firm's full-service structure, the governance and compliance practice at Addleshaw Goddard is complemented by its corporate department. Typical areas of focus for the group include ESG reform, directors' duties, AGM procedures, market abuse and remuneration. Those overseeing the practice include Jaya Gupta, who is the key contact for compliance regarding M&A transactions; Ben Koehne, who is a strong choice for clients in the financial services sector; Michelle De Kluyver, who oversees the contentious regulatory work; and Jonathan Fletcher Rogers is the first port of call for employee incentives matters. In addition, Richard Preston is frequently sought out for his expertise in matters involving FCA and stock exchange regulatory compliance.

Clients appreciate Ashurst for being a ‘full-service City firm with expertise across a broad range of areas whilst remaining down to earth, approachable and accessible’. Its UK risk advisory practice is jointly led by Will Chalk and Robert Hanley, both of whom are well known for their expertise in stakeholder engagement, codes of governance, directors’ duties, narrative reporting, ESG governance and market disclosure. Other key members of the practice include Rhiannon Webster, who specialises in data privacy and cybersecurity; Eleanor Reeves, whose expertise lies in environmental and safety matters; Lorraine Johnston, who is a key contact for retail financial services clients; and Ruby Hamid, who focuses her practice on corporate crime and investigations.

Baker McKenzie LLP counts PLCs, large privately held companies and global organisations among its clients. It makes complete use of its full-service structure to provide clients with expertise in the regulatory, compliance, corporate, remuneration, reputation protection, crisis management and disputes spheres. Sitting at the head of the practice are Jo Hewitt, who is skilled at advising on private company governance and business transformation projects; James Thompson, who regularly advises listed clients on regulatory compliance matters; and Nick Bryans, who is knowledgeable about governance issues in the renewable energy, infrastructure, consumer goods, healthcare, and oil and gas sectors. In addition, Tom Quincey is highlighted for his advice to PLCs.

Strengthened by the firm’s international reach, the practice at Dentons is well equipped to handle corporate governance matters across several industries. It is a strong choice for financial institutions, banks and international companies seeking financial regulatory support. Both Katharine Harle and Richard Barham oversee the practice; Harle has extensive experience working with senior leadership teams within the FCA and handles the investigations and compliance work, and Barham is particularly active in advising clients in the transport, banking, manufacturing and sports sectors. Dan Lund bolsters the team’s offering with his expertise in bribery, corruption, fraud and corporate tax evasion issues. Sarah Beeby handles the employment law matters.

Linklaters LLP is an ESG powerhouse with extensive capabilities in environmental matters, human rights, governance, risk management, sustainable finance and crisis management. Vanessa Havard-Williams oversees the practice and is highly regarded for her ESG-related expertise. Rachel Barrett is another name to note for her knowledge of sustainability issues. Other prominent team members include Raza Naeem, who is a key contact for regulatory matters involving derivatives; Alexandra Beidas, who is regularly relied on by global corporations and financial institutions for her ESG expertise; and Aileen Buchanan, who specialises in disclosure and reporting requirements.

Corporates, banks, investors, boards and individual directors frequently rely on Norton Rose Fulbright for advice on listing obligations, annual reporting obligations and disclosure obligations. Practice co-head Jon Perry is especially knowledgeable about governance issues in the commodities, mining and financial services sectors, while co-head David Harris specialises in the contentious side of the practice. Other notable names in the team include Jonathan Herbst, who specialises in corporate governance for banks and other financial services; Stuart Neely, who is a key contact for bribery, corruption, money laundering and fraud matters; Matthew Gregory, who is active in FCA regulation matters; and Katie Stephen, who excels in contentious regulatory matters. The practice was further reinforced by the addition of Alison Kellett, who joined the firm from an in-house role in August 2023.

Covering the full ambit of corporate governance matters, RPC advises on remuneration policies, independent reports, modern slavery statements, gender pay gap analysis, data protection compliance and board fiduciary duties. Clients stem from the listed markets, financial services, insurance and retail. At the head of the practice, Patrick Brodie is often engaged to handle highly sensitive governance and reputation protection matters; Jeremy Drew is a strong choice for governance, culture and conduct issues; Matthew Griffith boasts a wealth of knowledge of corporate governance and regulatory matters in the insurance and financial services sectors; and Sam Tate makes full use of his white-collar crime and compliance expertise to advise clients on anti-corruption matters.

A number of high-profile investors, sponsors, and corporates turn to Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP for its expertise in governance matters. The team advises on significant domestic and global M&A transactions, while also delivering strategic guidance to boards of directors and advice on corporate disclosures, shareholder activism, and listing regulations. Practice head George Knighton is noted for his capabilites concerning both public and private M&A, alongside private equity deals and governance concerns. Scott Hopkins and Elizabeth Robertson have retired from the firm.