Corporate governance in London

Allen & Overy LLP leverages its global corporate practice, advising a growing number of FTSE 250 and FTSE 100 companies on governance and broader strategic issues. The firm combines a dedicated AGM and annual reporting practice with strong activist shareholder and ESG capabilities, alongside representing clients in contentious litigation relating to board-level disputes. The firm also provides strategic advice on issues such as board effective reviews, in collaboration with A&O Consulting. The team is jointly led by global corporate head Richard Cranfield, a trusted adviser to a number of listed companies and financial institutions; Richard Browne, who specialises in transactional work, including hostile takeovers; and Paul McCarthy, who heads up the incentives and executive remuneration practice. Matthew Townsend leads on ESG mandates, advising clients on the emerging regulatory landscape and compliance issues, while counsels Victoria Rankmore and Kate Astley play a key role in the firm's AGM and annual reporting offering.

Clifford Chance LLP advises a considerable number of FTSE 100 corporates alongside major financial institutions on routine governance considerations such as annual reporting and AGMs, board-level and shareholder issues, and ESG considerations, which is a growing area of expertise. Also of note are the firm's contentious capabilities, led by co-head Luke Tolaini, including shareholder disputes, internal investigations, and crisis management work. The other leaders of the practice are David Pudge, who is a regular adviser to listed clients on high-level and sensitive board issues, including succession planning work, board effectiveness, and disclosure standards; and Daud Khan, who is focused on transactional and governance matters, with a leading role in the firm's international ESG practice. Steven Fox is a vastly experienced figure with a strong record in international board-level advice, while senior associate Alanna Hunter has played a key role in advising high-profile companies on conducting AGMs and meeting reporting obligations during Covid-19 lockdown conditions.

Linklaters LLP works with a number of major UK-listed and international companies, specialising in governance and compliance models, board advice, crisis management issues, and reporting work. Particular areas of focus include ESG, particularly sustainability issues, human rights matters, data protection work, and broad regulatory compliance issues, including complex internal models. The team is overseen by Vanessa Havard-Williams, a leading practitioner within the fields of risk management, resilience, and sustainability, and also includes Rachel Barrett, who is ‘knowledgeable in all ESG matters’. Global employment and incentives head Alexandra Beidas is active in providing board-level advice to executive and non-executive directors, and disputes-focused Tom Cassels specialises in crisis and reputation management work. Managing associate Aileen Buchanan is a key figure within the sustainability practice, handling health and safety and environmental liability issues within transactions, and wider crisis management work. Tom Shropshire recently left the firm to an in-house role.

Travers Smith LLP works with a number of UK listed and international companies, advising on standard reporting obligations and more specialised issues, including corporate governance reviews, internal investigations, contentious issues including litigation, and ESG concerns. The firm bolstered its offering with the arrival of Simon Witney as a special counsel in late 2020, specialising in advising private companies and private equity asset managers on governance issues. Practice head Doug Bryden remains active on behalf of listed companies and private equity houses, handling routine governance issues and risk management mandates, covering human rights, sustainability, and transparency issues. Neal Watson heads up the listed companies practice, and is particularly active within the ESG space.

Addleshaw Goddard recently expanded its corporate governance offering, picking up several new mandates relating to ESG considerations alongside its strong annual reporting capabilities. The team is now led by  Jaya Gupta, who arrived from Allen & Overy LLP in early 2021, replacing the departing Will Chalk, who joined Ashurst. Gupta brings extensive experience in the governance elements of cross-border transactions, alongside sensitive issues including shareholder activism work, executive departures, and regulatory compliance issues. Ben Koehne is another key member of the team, and specialises in work with building societies and other financial services clients. Managing associate Richard Preston is exclusively focused on governance work, and is a long-term adviser to a number of FTSE 100 and 250 companies.

Norton Rose Fulbright has a diverse corporate governance work base, encompassing board-level advice, annual reporting and regulatory obligations, compliance work, and a strong investigatory practice, handling issues such as SFO investigations and white-collar crime matters. The team is led by David Harris, a specialist in cross-border criminal and regulatory investigations with a strong focus on the banking and financial services sector, alongside Jon Perry, who is an experienced takeover adviser with cross-border expertise in the commodities and mining sectors. Christopher Pearson is recognised as a leading corporate governance practitioner, with notable capabilities in regulatory matters, while Claire O’Donnell advises boards on business ethics and challenging governance considerations.

RPC's corporate governance work extends from board-level advice and annual reporting issues to complex reputation and media management work, with the firm advising a number of high-profile clients. The team has expertise in sensitive diversity and inclusion work (a key issue for recently-promoted partner Kelly Thomson), human rights and modern slavery work, and broader social issues relating to political upheaval and race relations. The team is led by Jeremy Drew, who has notable experience advising corporate clients on conduct, culture and risk management issues; Patrick Brodie, who advises on sensitive culture issues, investigations and resolution programs alongside an active Covid-19 response practice; and Matthew Griffith, who focuses on governance work in the insurance and financial services sectors. Associate Josh Charalambous is noted for his work on sports regulatory issues, while associate Emily McGregor has a broad emerging corporate advisory practice.