What we say about the firm's legal practice in London
Corporate and commercial
Within Overview,
On the private equity side, the market had its busiest year since 2007 globally, totalling $235.5bn worth of deals, up 92.5% compared to 2009 ($122.3bn), representing 11.1% of global M&A compared to 7.2% in 2009. Activity has been driven as much by houses regaining their appetite for significant investment as looking to exit via secondary buyouts. In the City, US firms are finally building credible alternatives to the UK firms. Although the likes of Clifford Chance remain at the top of the market, Weil, Gotshal & Manges, Latham & Watkins LLP and Kirkland & Ellis International LLP are hot on their heels. Notable developments on the private equity adviser landscape include the investment being made by Ropes & Gray LLP’s London office, hiring Kiran Sharma and Peter Baldwin from DLA Piper UK LLP and Jones Day respectively.
Within Private equity: transactions , tier 7
Despite the recent departure of Will Rosen to Ropes & Gray LLP, DLA Piper UK LLP is still able to call on the services of highly regarded practitioners such as Philip Butler and Alexander Griffith, who are ‘excellent’. Praised for its ‘commercially aware and technically sound’ approach, the team has an excellent reputation for mid-market matters, acting for clients such as Gresham, LDC and Sovereign Capital Partners.
Finance
Within Acquisition finance, tier 7
Maurice Allen and Mike Goetz are key figures in Ropes & Gray LLP’s nascent team.
Within Corporate restructuring and insolvency,
Also of note are: Nick Angel at Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP; and Tony Horspool at Ropes & Gray LLP. Brown Rudnick LLP, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, Reed Smith and Shearman & Sterling LLP are among the firms continuing to make a concerted push into the area.
Within High yield, Ropes & Gray LLP is a third tier firm,
With a growing presence in the market, Ropes & Gray LLP’s team in London continued to expand with the transfer of Jane Rogers from the firm’s Boston office. The firm landed a plum role advising UPCB Finance Limited in connection with its issuance of €500m senior secured notes, and Liberty Global is a major client.