United Kingdom > London > Projects, energy and natural resources > Mining and minerals
Index of tables
Mining and minerals
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
- Ashurst
- Baker & McKenzie LLP
- Fasken Martineau LLP
- Herbert Smith LLP
-
Hogan Lovells International LLP
- Holman Fenwick Willan LLP
- Pinsent Masons LLP
- Simmons & Simmons LLP
-
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP
Leading individuals
-
- Ian Coles - Mayer Brown International LLP
- Peter Finlay - White & Case LLP
- Phillip Fletcher - Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP
- Glen Ireland - Latham & Watkins LLP
- Charlie Jacobs - Linklaters LLP
- Raj Karia - Norton Rose LLP
- Alexander Keepin - Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP
- Cathy Marsh - Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP
- Martin McCann - Norton Rose LLP
- Michael Pabst - Jones Day
- Philip Stopford - White & Case LLP
- Mike Webster - Baker & McKenzie LLP
Linklaters LLP acted for Glencore on its $60bn IPO, the largest-ever IPO on the premium listing segment of the London Stock Exchange, and one which obtained a simultaneous secondary listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Among several other high-profile IPOs and financings, highlights for Charlie Jacobs’ group also included advising De Beers on its ten-year joint venture agreement with the government of Botswana. Jacobs remains highly regarded for his Africa expertise.
Ian Coles at Mayer Brown International LLP is ‘a top-notch lawyer – he has a good sense of risk and how to mitigate it on behalf of his clients’. Active in Africa, Europe and Afghanistan, the firm also advised Wolf Minerals on the financing of its tin and tungsten mine in Hemerdon, Devon, and was retained for its subsequent AIM listing. Neil Caddy is ‘also a top lawyer, able to step into tricky situations with little or no advance notice’.
Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP is ‘one of the best in mining project finance’. Phillip Fletcher and Cathy Marsh ‘have an in-depth understanding of the lending community and of the more complex mining projects’, with ‘a deep bench of outstanding young associates’. The team is advising the lending consortium, including BNP Paribas and the International Finance Corporation, on the financing of the Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold mine in the Gobi Desert.
Norton Rose LLP’s London group often combines with resources internationally to advise clients in the sector. A cross-office team recently advised Allied Gold mining on its restructuring and listings on the London, Toronto and Australian stock exchanges. The firm’s recent merger with Macleod Dixon has given the firm a South American presence, and Martin McCann and Raj Karia are currently advising Zamin Ferrous on the joint venture financing of the Valentines Project, a magnetite mining facility in Uruguay.
White & Case LLP is ‘one of the most talented firms on the London market’. The team is acting for Ivanhoe Mines as sponsor on the project financing of the Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold mine; and Mark Castillo-Bernaus is advising the lenders, including several export credit agencies, on phase two of the $10bn Emirates aluminium smelter project in Abu Dhabi. Peter Finlay ‘tirelessly and effectively leads large teams on complex projects’.
Allen & Overy LLP is ‘clearly one of the best in the project finance arena’, and augmented its global mining presence with the opening of a Casablanca office in September 2011. Highlights included advising Vale SA on the $4.9bn sale of mining and smelting assets to Norsk Hydro. Noted for his ability to see the bigger picture, Jonathan Bevan is ‘pragmatic, and talks the client’s language’. David Lee is ‘a clear thinker on complex issues’.
Clifford Chance’s corporate, project finance and capital markets mining offering is headed by David Lewis and James Pay. The firm acted for the underwriting banks – Morgan Stanley, Citigroup and Credit Suisse – on the Glencore IPO, and has also been active in London-based arbitration.
2011 highlights for Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP included advising on the completion of Bumi plc’s premium listing on the LSE, having previously assisted on its acquisition of majority shares in two of Indonesia’s largest coal-mining companies. Julian Makin and Graham Watson co-head the practice.
Highly rated finance and emerging markets lawyer Michael Pabst at Jones Day advised Base Resources Limited, a minerals exploration and development company, on the US aspects of a $175m placement and rights issue.
Latham & Watkins LLP is very highly regarded in the market, and has advised clients including Vedanta. Glen Ireland is known for his expertise in capital markets listings and M&A deals.
With a strong Africa focus, SNR Denton acted on several projects on the continent, including advising on the financing of the development of Eastern Platinum’s PGM Mines in South Africa. The firm is also active in Kazakhstan, where it has a substantial local presence. Tom Eldridge is recommended.
A strong year for Shearman & Sterling LLP saw the team advise Anglo American on its $5.39bn sale of a 24.5% interest in Chilean copper assets, including the Los Bronces and El Soldado mines, to Mitsubishi Corporation.
Slaughter and May has recently been active in corporate/M&A and bond issues, and is currently advising AngloGold Ashanti on its acquisition of the remaining 50% stake in the Serra Grande mine in Brazil.
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP focuses on acting for the borrower/sponsor, including on strategic debt capital raising. Recent work includes advising in relation to the Emirates aluminium smelter and the Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold projects, advising the project company on the former and Rio Tinto as the project manager on the latter. Jamie Logie and Stewart Robertson head the project finance group.
Nick Williamson at Ashurst advised JPMorgan Chase as sponsor in relation to the listing of Avocet Mining on the LSE’s Official List. Michael Robins is the main contact.
Baker & McKenzie LLP’s ‘excellent’ mining group includes Mike Webster, who continues to advise Ma’aden on three separate projects in Saudi Arabia, including a bauxite and aluminium smelter and a magnesite mine. Webster specialises in projects and construction law, and attracts praise for his ‘business acumen, understanding of the client’s requirements, and attention to detail’.
Canadian mining powerhouse Fasken Martineau LLP’s London office comes ‘highly recommended’. Nigel Gordon heads the practice, which in 2011 mainly advised on IPOs and AIM listings for small to mid-cap mining companies. Chris Chrysanthou has ‘a very good breadth of experience in the resources sector’.
As well as handling transactions in Europe, Africa and Indonesia, Herbert Smith LLP has been active in disputes, and advised Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation on a $2bn damages claim by First Quantum regarding ENRC’s acquisition of an interest in the Kolwezi Tailings Project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Active in corporate matters and disputes, Hogan Lovells International LLP is acting for Rio Tinto on the construction aspects of the development of Project Simandou, an iron ore mine in Guinea, with Adrian Walker leading the advice.
Holman Fenwick Willan LLP handled a healthy mix of contentious and non-contentious work in 2011. The firm advised Berau Coal and Bumi Resources on the reverse takeover of Vallar plc; and is advising European Goldfields on a European Commission investigation into its acquisition of Hellas Gold SA. Brian Gordon is a key contact.
Handling an impressive flow of domestic and international contractual and corporate work, Pinsent Masons LLP recently advised Anglo American on its EPCM contract for a copper mining project in South America. Group head Sarah Thomas is recommended.
Simmons & Simmons LLP is advising shareholder SNC-Lavalin on the financing and restructuring of the Ambatovy nickel and cobalt project in Madagascar; and continues to advise Anglo American plc, BHP Billiton plc, Rio Tinto Group and Xstrata plc in relation to the UK Bribery Act 2010.
The team at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP acts primarily for major international mining companies and underwriting banks. Douglas Nordlinger represented Compania Brasileira de Metalurgia e Mineracao on its $1.95bn sale of a 15% equity interest to a Japanese and South Korean consortium.
AIM and main market listing specialist Alexander Keepin at Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP advised new client JP Morgan Cazenove on a placing of new ordinary shares on both AIM and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange for Coal of Africa Limited. Keepin was a lateral hire from Charles Russell LLP in May 2011. The group also handles mining disputes.
Charles Russell LLP ‘provides a high standard of service’. Highlights for Clive Hopewell’s Africa-focused team included advising Centamin Egypt on its successful $11.75m bid for PLUS-listed Sheba Exploration.
Highlights for transactional powerhouse Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP included advising African Minerals on its $417.7m secured debt financing for the Tonkolili Iron Ore Project in Sierra Leone. Corporate finance partners Andrew Shutter and Pierre-Marie Boury are key figures.
DLA Piper UK LLP specialises in real estate, planning and litigation, primarily for UK clients. The firm acted for Tata Steel on the transfer of a significant part of its Teesside works as part of the sale of its core products business to Thai company SSI. Birmingham-based Roger Collier is recommended, along with Sheffield-based Petra Billing and Teresa Hitchcock.
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP has been active in big-ticket M&A and high-value litigation for Russian clients including Uralkali and PolyusGold. James Scolville co-led a joint London/Moscow team which advised the former on its $8.1bn acquisition of Silvinet.
K&L Gates LLP acts for listed, private and broker clients, primarily on capital market fundraisings. Mining head Paul Tetlow and James Green joined from Hunton & Williams in May 2011.
Kerman & Co LLP regularly acts for AIM-listed clients on public offerings. 2011 highlights included assisting West African Minerals Corporation on its readmission to AIM and associated £3.25m raising.
Historically strong in capital markets and AIM listings, Lawrence Graham LLP recently advised Patagonia Gold on its dual Toronto Stock Exchange listing, led by Tom Nicholls.
Especially active in Eurasia, Maclay Murray & Spens LLP advised SAT Company on its acquisition of ShalkiyaZinc’s interests in the Shalkiya mine in Kazakhstan. Jonathan Brooks is the key contact.
Memery Crystal LLP represents small and mid-sized companies, primarily on public fundraisings. As well as handling several AIM listings, the firm advised longstanding client Petra Diamonds on its step up from AIM to the LSE’s Main Market. Nick Davis heads the team.
Mills & Reeve LLP advises on real estate, planning and environmental issues in relation to domestic quarries and mines, including handling reviews of old mineral planning permissions. Clients including Mineral Products Association and CBI Minerals Group.
Nabarro LLP handled a wide range of domestic mandates in 2011, across corporate, litigation and projects. A multidisciplinary team advised UK Coal Mining in relation to the Rossington Tip Reclamation Project, one of the largest of its kind.
Osborne Clarke has recently expanded work for its primarily private investor clients to include investment into Africa and South America. Mining group head Alex Worner advised CD Capital on its $25m investment in a potash mine in Brazil.
Watson, Farley & Williams LLP’s corporate natural resources group advised Universal Coal on its listing and AU$20m placing on the Australian Stock Exchange. Celia Gardiner is ‘pragmatic, responsive and a pleasure to work with’.