Haynes and Boone CDG, LLP > London, England > Firm Profile
Haynes and Boone CDG, LLP Offices
1 New Fetter Lane
LONDON
EC4A 1AN
England
Haynes and Boone CDG, LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
Investment fund formation and management > Hedge funds Tier 3
Haynes and Boone CDG, LLP launched its London funds team in May 2022, spearheaded by the arrival of practice head Ben Watford from Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP. The practice focuses primarily on advising small and start-up hedge fund managers investing in emerging asset classes, advising on both the formation of new funds and updating the documentation of existing funds. Newly promoted partner James Tinworth joined from Fieldfisher in September 2022, specialising in alternative funds and related regulatory matters. Associate Christopher Orford advises fund managers on the creation of cross-border fund structures and fund transactions.Practice head(s):
Ben Watford
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘I have worked with HB for two different mutual clients and have been consistently impressed with the quality of their service. Wishing them well as they develop their London practice.’
‘Ben Watford, James Tinworth and Christopher Orford have all displayed excellent legal expertise, fast responsiveness, a strong client service ethic and are good guys to work with.’
‘The team is on hand almost 24 hours a day. Able to turnaround work quickly and with expertise.’
‘Ben Watford and Christopher Orford work well as a team, available round the clock and were able to bring in expertise from around the firm when required.’
‘The team at Haynes and Boone provide timely and commercially astute advice, in particular in guiding new managers on the launch of their maiden fund.’
‘Ben Watford has a profound understanding of the requirements of new asset managers.’
‘James Tinworth possesses an in-depth knowledge of the UK regulatory environment and the ability to clearly convey these concepts to clients.’
‘Ben Watford really does live and breathe the hedge fund industry, from the start-up ecosystem to hosting charity balls for the great and good of the industry.’
Key clients
Conductor Capital Asset Management LLP
Jenga Investment Partners Limited/Jenga Global Offshore Fund Ltd and Jenga Global Master Fund Ltd
ACM Capital Management Ltd
Velox Capital Partners
Lundy Investors Limited
Qbera Trade Finance Master Fund
Emona Capital LLP
GreenLake Asset Management LLC
Shikuma Master Fund
Kimura Performance Limited
Dhow Kimura African Commodity Trade Finance Fund Ltd
Berry Street Capital Management
Kimura Capital LLP
Frontier Road Limited
Westbeck Capital Management LLP
Tico Capital
Work highlights
- Advised Conductor Capital Asset Management LLP on the launch of an energy commodities-focused fund.
- Advised Jenga Investment Partners Limited on the establishment and launch of Jenga Global Offshore Fund Ltd and Jenga Global Master Fund Ltd, a Cayman master-feeder fund.
- Assisted ACM Capital Management Ltd on the drafting of a private placement memorandum, subscription agreement and reviewing management documents ahead of fund launch.
Projects, energy and natural resources > Oil and gas Tier 3
Haynes and Boone CDG, LLP advises clients on high-value and multi-jurisdictional matters spanning upstream, midstream, and downstream work, including exploration, infrastructure development, M&A transactions, regulatory issues, and decommissioning. Practice leader Glenn Kangisser is a specialist in the space; upstream exploration and production are his key focuses.Practice head(s):
Glenn Kangisser
Testimonials
‘Exceptional capability and knowledge of upstream energy sector law in support of operations and commercial activities. Exceptional quality of legal advice and support provided in always a timely (within 24 hours) response. Billing always fair and have never been challenged throughout the multiple years of working closely with them. Instrumental in providing negotiation strategy/tactical support across various commercial workstreams (including gas marketing).’
‘Haynes and Boones Oil & Gas team in the UK has a deep understanding of the legal, commercial and practical issues involved in upstream and downstream transactions.’
‘An incredibly “user friendly” team, who make genuine efforts to understand client drivers/ pinch points, to enable advice to be delivered in a tailored fashion and in an understandable format. They understand that the advice will be read by non-lawyers and adjust the messaging to suit. Very pro-active with instructions, with an ability to think outside of the box in complex matters and with a willingness to provide creative solutions. We consider their team members to be “thought partners” in a variety of instructions.’
Work highlights
Investment fund formation and management > Fund finance Tier 4
Specialising in ESG fund financings, the finance practice at Haynes and Boone CDG, LLP advises financial sponsors, lenders, borrowers, fund managers, investors and central banks on fund finance, structured finance, refinancings, securitisation, financial institutions lending and real estate finance advice on fund financing with an international element. The team is led by loan finance lawyer Emma Russell, who has ‘valuable experience’ in fund and real estate finance, and structured and specialty finance. The ‘detail orientated’ Emily Fuller, whose expertise lies in syndicated and NAV facilities, SMA deals, GP support lines and capital facilities, is another name to note.Practice head(s):
Emma Russell
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Emma and Emily have a depth of knowledge and experience across fund finance having represented both Borrowers and Lenders. They bring a pragmatic approach to negotiations.’
‘Emma Russell has valuable experience and a wide network of contacts across the market. Emily Fuller is very detailed orientated with good connections and relationships with more junior team members of opposing counsel which is a real benefit in negotiations.’
Key clients
Investec Bank plc
BNP Paribas
Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation (MUFG)
Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC)
ING
Natixis
Ilmarinen Pension Fund
Sumitomo State Street Banking and Trust Corporation
MV Credit
Partners Group
Raiffeisen Bank
Bank of America
Transport > Shipping Tier 4
Lauded for its ‘diverse team, unparalleled industry knowledge, and client-centric approach’, Haynes and Boone CDG, LLP is particularly active within the offshore oil and gas sector. Dealing with a wide array of matters including those with a transactional or dispute angle, the duo consisting of Andreas Silcher, an experienced partner with expertise in non-contentious and commercial work, and Mark Johnson, who is a popular choice for clients hailing from the Netherlands, South America, and Central America, lead the group.Practice head(s):
Mark Johnson; Andreas Silcher
Other key lawyers:
William Cecil; Andreas Dracoulis
Testimonials
‘Excellent offshore and shipbuilding capability.’
‘Andreas Dracoulis: experienced, careful, calm, effective.’
‘Haynes and Boone distinguishes itself from other law firms through its diverse team, unparalleled industry knowledge, and client-centric approach.’
‘Andreas Dracoulis has an impressive background in maritime and shipping law, allowing him to provide specialised advice in this niche area.’
‘Experienced and hands-on people.’
‘The team has a very knowledge and excellent reputation about newly built drilling rig arbitration, legal, contractual and commercial matters, and a very good understand of the technical as well, which is quite rare.’
‘William Cecil – a well known industry figure. Great eye for tactics.’
Key clients
The Hellenic Gas Transmission System Operator (DESFA) S.A.
Stena LNG Holding Sweden AB
TMS Cardiff Gas Ltd.
Work highlights
- Advised DESFA in relation to the negotiation and finalisation of a charterparty for an LNG carrier owned by an affiliate of Gaslog Ltd, to be used as a floating storage unit in Greek national waters.
- Advised Stena LNG Holding in relation to its participation in the “Ostsee LNG” project, which is one of the new LNG import terminal projects fast-tracked by the German government following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
- Advised TMS Cardiff Gas on its successful bid to Qatargas to provide two LNG carrier newbuildings on long-term time charters.
Dispute resolution > International arbitration Tier 5
Haynes and Boone CDG, LLP 's 'international arbitration team excels at coordinating cross-border disputes with parallel proceedings in different jurisdictions'. The group has industry experience in energy, renewables, oil and gas, and construction and engineering projects. International arbitration leader Melanie Willems
'sees the bigger commercial picture', and Markus Esly acts in arbitrations under all the major international rules, including ICC and LCIA. William Cecil is London disputes head, while counsel Robert Blackett is an expert in engineering and construction arbitrations.
Practice head(s):
Melanie Willems; William Cecil
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘They are very responsive, and are supported by vast experience in disputes in arbitration and court, which provides a solid base of legal knowledge.’
‘The team is very communicative. They are responsive, and provide thoughtful, practical business advice, in addition to quality legal advice and representation.‘
‘Melanie Willems and Markus Esly are outstanding advocates. They take the time to learn the client’s business and the challenges it faces, and to develop practical solutions.‘
‘Melanie Willems is charismatic and sees the bigger commercial picture, which helps her to advise in line with clients’ commercial aims.’
‘Melanie Willems – tenacious and with the energy to tackle obstacles that are in the way of her clients.’
‘Markus Esly – thoughtful and detail oriented. A safe pair of hands for potential curveballs.’
‘Markus Esly is adept at thinking on his feet and is a pleasure to work with.’
‘The international arbitration team excels at coordinating cross-border disputes with parallel proceedings in different jurisdictions, and always keeps an eye on the big picture.’
Real estate > Construction: contentious Tier 5
Haynes and Boone CDG, LLP handles complex construction arbitrations under all major institutional rules, including ICC, LCIA, and HKIAC. Melanie Willems, head of the firm’s international arbitration department, brings a vast spectrum of dispute resolution experience within numerous sectors, notably energy and construction. Her advisement spans international projects in the Middle East, Asia, India, and Africa, covering diverse areas from renewable energy and petrochemical plants to transportation and highways. Practice head(s):
Melanie Willems; William Cecil
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Melanie Willems and her team work closely together to deliver excellent results for clients.’
‘The teamwork between the legal team, client and experts makes for a consolidated approach and good results.’
‘The team is assembled of individuals with diverse personalities and skills/focus areas. However, their communication, thinking and planning work as a cohesive unit. Regardless of which team member you work with, the storyline, strategy and character are unified.’
‘They approach each matter with a positive attitude and humanism while delivering quality guidance. They can digest technical or complex situations quickly and respond in a manner which provides clarity.’
‘This is a niche and specialised team of outstanding lawyers who are intellectually excellent but also dedicated and commercial.’
‘Melanie Willems is an excellent lawyer and a superb strategist and manager of a case – she has a real flair for bringing the best out in everyone in the team. Markus Esly is exceptionally bright, immensely hard-working, dedicated and fantastic with clients. Robert Blackett is a terrific lawyer, very clever, extremely conscientious and very easy to work with.’
Work highlights
Haynes and Boone CDG, LLP > Firm Profile
THE FIRM
Founded in 1970, Haynes and Boone, LLP provides a full spectrum of legal services across multiple sectors, including energy, financial services, private equity, and technology. The firm’s nearly 700 lawyers practice across 19 global offices in California, Colorado, Illinois, New York, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington D.C., London, Mexico City, and Shanghai. Haynes Boone was recognized in the 2022 BTI Consulting Group’s A-Team report, which identified firms commended by in-house counsel for superior client service, and it was ranked 21st in The American Lawyer’s 2023 Diversity Scorecard, which evaluated 228 firms by the diversity of their attorney populations.
PRINCIPAL AREAS OF WORK
Corporate
The firm’s corporate lawyers possess extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, capital markets transactions, IPOs, takeovers and related shareholder issues spanning both public and private transactions, across a broad range of industries. In addition, the London office expands the international reach of the firm’s private equity and venture capital capabilities.
Debt Capital Markets
Our team represent UK and foreign debt issuers and underwriters in a full range of listed and private debt capital markets transactions, from EMTN programs to private placements and corporate bonds, including green bonds and social bonds. Our assistance includes structuring the offering terms, preparing the prospectus or offering memorandum, obtaining clearance from stock exchanges and the applicable regulator, and liaising with third party ESG raters for green or social bond accreditation.
Energy
The firm serves domestic and US and international oil companies with global development interests, independent oil and gas producers, offshore oilfield service contractors and equipment companies, as well as large commercial lenders, hedge funds and private equity firms. Our lawyers advise clients on a wide range of complex projects across multiple jurisdictions and sectors, including the upstream, midstream, and downstream oil and gas value chain, with projects ranging from unconventional resources to offshore developments, LNG, and refining.
Finance
The firm has extensive experience in fund finance, leveraged finance, real estate finance, acquisition finance, corporate facilities and financial institutions lending (including non-bank lenders and insurance), in each case across a broad range of industry sectors. We regularly advise financial sponsors, lenders, borrowers, investors, fund managers and central banks in relation to those core areas.
Hedge Funds
Our international hedge funds practice focuses on the structuring, establishment and ongoing management of hedge funds and similar vehicles and arrangements, working for both established and emerging managers. Our team also provides advice with respect to hedge fund-related agreements, marketing, capital raising, registrations, on-going operations and regulatory matters with our wider firm practices offering help across banking, derivatives, tax and litigation. Our hedge funds team has decades of experience advising on the formation of, and the investment into, hedge funds across all major investment strategies. We represent investors, family offices, wealth managers, sovereign funds and fund managers in the USA, the UK, Europe and across the globe.
International Dispute Resolution
The firm has a substantial team of English law-qualified disputes lawyers with a long and distinguished record of representing clients in court and arbitral proceedings, and in other forms of dispute resolution. The firm’s London-based international dispute resolution lawyers, act for clients in ad hoc arbitrations and in those administered by the leading institutions, including the International Chamber of Commerce, the London Court of International Arbitration and the International Centre for Dispute Resolution.
Private Funds and Venture Capital
The practice focuses on advising clients across the private funds and venture / growth capital spectrum. This includes advising managers on launching venture capital and private equity closed-ended funds, both onshore and offshore and also FOs and other LPs on direct and indirect investments, and secondary transactions. The practice also represents PE & VC managers, FOs, CVCs, HNWIs (including angel syndicates) and high-growth start-up / emerging companies on their venture and growth capital / PE fundraising activities, corporate restructurings and M&A / exits.
Project Finance
The project finance and development practice group includes experience across all major disciplines that affect a client’s investment in a project throughout the project’s life — from early-stage development and regulatory issues through financing, mergers, acquisitions, restructurings and public offerings. The firm’s work includes representation of lenders, borrowers, risk insurers, investors, sponsors and contract parties/technology providers in projects utilising a broad spectrum of financing arrangements.
Shipping
The firm has significant experience in relation to shipbuilding and ship conversion projects of all kinds. Our transactional and dispute resolution teams work closely together at all stages of our clients’ projects. The shipping team also has substantial experience in the construction and employment of passenger ferries, cruise ships and superyachts. For LNG projects, the office brings together project development, construction, transportation and gas supply experience on behalf of developers, suppliers and shippers.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Managing Partner | William Cecil | william.cecil@haynesboone.com | T +44 (0)20 8734.2837 |
| Shipping | Mark Johnson | mark.johnson@haynesboone.com | T +44 (0)20 8734.2836 |
| Shipping | Andreas Silcher | andreas.silcher@haynesboone.com | T +44 (0)20 8734.2810 |
| Dispute resolution | William Cecil | william.cecil@haynesboone.com | T +44 (0)20 8734.2837 |
| Finance | Emma Russell | emma.russell@haynesboone.com | T +44 (0)20 8734.2807 |
| Corporate | Tom Ferns | tom.ferns@haynesboone.com | T +44 (0)20 8734.2804 |
| International Arbitration | Melanie Willems | melanie.willems@haynesboone.com | T +44 (0)20 8734.2869 |
| Project Finance | Conrad Purcell | conrad.purcell@haynesboone.com | T +44 (0)20 8734.2875 |
| Energy | Glenn Kangisser | glenn.kangisser@haynesboone.com | T +44 (0)20 8734.2814 |
| Hedge Funds | Ben Watford | ben.watford@haynesboone.com | T +44 (0)20 8734.2852 |
| Venture Capital | Karma Samdup | karma.samdup@haynesboone.com | T +44 (0)20 8734.2849 |
| Debt Capital Markets | Martin Pugsley | martin.pugsley@haynesboone.com | T +44 (0)20 8734.2893 |
Lawyer Profiles
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Mr James Brown | Partner | View Profile |
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Mr William Cecil | Managing Partner of the London office and Head of the Dispute resolution… | View Profile |
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Mr Simon Curtis | Senior Counsel | View Profile |
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Mr Andreas Dracoulis | Partner | View Profile |
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Markus Esly | Partner | View Profile |
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Mr Mark Johnson | Mark has extensive experience negotiating and documenting large-scale and complex maritime and… | View Profile |
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Mr Glenn Kangisser | Partner | View Profile |
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Mr Bradley J Richards | Partner, Member of Board of Directors | View Profile |
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Emma Russell | Partner and Head of the Finance Practice Group | View Profile |
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Mr Andreas Silcher | Partner, Co-Head of Shipping Group | View Profile |
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Melanie Willems | Partner, Chair of International Arbitration Practice Group | View Profile |