Clifford Chance LLP acts for top domestic and international banks and corporations on the full gamut of corporate governance issues, including ESG, regulatory, compliance, risk management, strategic boardroom issues and climate change matters. The team is jointly led by David Pudge and Luke Tolaini, with Pudge handling transaction-related issues and board-level matters, and Tolaini recommended for corporate crises and investigations, with a focus on the extractive, tech, pharmaceutical and finance sectors. Steven Fox is experienced in advising boards and general counsel on compliance and governance matters, while Richard Crosby advises on directors duties’, shareholder activism, AGMs and disclosures. Rae Lindsay is another key practitioner, who focuses on disputes, ESG and issues relating to human rights and Alanna Hunter, who was promoted to partner in May 2022, is another name for corporate governance, market abuse regulation and listing rule disclosures.

Linklaters LLP acts for top-tier multinational clients on a range of governance and ESG matters and has recently been handling a large number of ESG and sustainability-linked loans and financings for high-profile banks. It draws on a range of practice areas to handle regulatory, human rights, governance and risk management issues. Vanessa Havard-Williams heads the practice and is a key contact for environmental and climate change matters, while Alexandra Beidas is recommended for remuneration matters, ESG and diversity issues. Other key contacts include Rachel Barrett, who also deals with ESG, Tom Cassels, who handles crisis and reputation management, Raza Naeem, who advises on regulatory and governance matters in the finance sector, and managing associate Aileen Buchanan, who is experienced in matters of disclosure.

The cross-practice governance group at RPC is led by Patrick Brodie, Jeremy Drew and Matthew Griffith and advises on a range of issues, from board-level matters to remuneration policies, regulatory issues, data protection and diversity. It has a strong investigations practice which advises on high-profile contentious issues and related governance matters and is particularly strong in financial crime. Brodie is recommended for reputation management and regulatory governance, Drew deals with governance, culture and conduct issues, and Griffith is a name for regulatory and post-Brexit issues with a focus on the insurance and financial services sectors. Sam Tate is a contact for white-collar crime and anti-bribery and anti-money laundering initiatives, while Karen Hendy advises on corporate governance, directors’ duties and AGM matters.

The ‘outstanding’ and dedicated team at Travers Smith LLP handles a broad range of governance, risk management and compliance matters under the leadership of Doug Bryden and Neal Watson. It acts for blue-chip clients and draws on strength from the firm’s corporate, disputes, commercial, employment and regulatory departments to provide a holistic approach to governance issues. Bryden is a contact for bribery and corruption, corporate crime, human rights and ethical investments, while Watson handles corporate and board-level issues. Senior consultant Simon Witney focuses on regulatory, transactional and fund formation mandates and at the more junior end of the team, associate Laura Smyth advises on governance and corporate crime matters in the banking, retail and private equity sectors, and senior counsel Aisling Arthur deals with market abuse and compliance issues.

‘Professional, calm, pleasant and diplomatic’, the governance and compliance team at Addleshaw Goddard is fully embedded in its corporate practice and is particularly active in the financial services sector. Key areas of focus include ESG, audit reporting, AGMs, market abuse, remuneration and board issues and the team acts for FTSE 100 and FTSE 250-listed companies, and high-profile banks. Jaya Gupta  is a key practitioner with over 28 years’ experience in corporate law and advises on regulatory issues relating to transactions, while Ben Koehne advises on constitutional, corporate governance, strategic and regulatory matters. Managing associate Richard Preston focuses on governance and compliance, and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and stock exchange-related regulatory matters; James Greig joined from an in-house role at Barclays in October 2022 and brings strong financial services regulatory expertise to the team.

The corporate governance team at Dentons is led by Richard Barham and Katherine Harle and is well placed to handle cross-border matters by virtue of its large global network and often advises large multinational clients on regulatory and governance matters, drawing on strength from its data privacy, employment, tax and regulatory practitioners. Barham is a corporate lawyer who handles transactional matters, shareholder and board processes, and governance issues, while Harle handles compliance, regulatory matters and interactions with regulators such as the FCA and Serious Fraud Office (SFO). Sarah Beeby advises on employment law and Dan Lund deals with sanctions, bribery and corruption and fraud. The team was bolstered in January 2023, with the arrival of James Vernon from Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP.

Hogan Lovells International LLP advises on a broad range of contentious and non-contentious governance matters, acting for companies and their directors and shareholders on compliance, risk management, investigations, transactions, disputes and enforcement. Patrick Sarch heads the team and is a name for M&A-related governance matters, ESG and shareholder activism, with a focus on the consumer, industrial, tech and fintech sectors. John Livesey joined from Linklaters LLP in September 2022 and Alastair Young joined from Bracewell (UK) LLP in April 2023; both bring strong corporate expertise to the team.

Norton Rose Fulbright acts for high-profile corporate and financial services clients on disclosure, reporting obligations, shareholder issues and board-level matters, and often handles governance work stemming from its corporate investigations practice. Jon Perry and David Harris head the team, with Perry handling a range of corporate-related governance matters in the commodities, mining and financial services sectors, and Harris being a name for contentious financial services matters and cross-border investigations. Claire O’Donnell advises on transactional matters, and governance and business ethics, Jonathan Herbst handles financial regulatory and anti-corruption matters, and Katie Stephen is a name for money laundering, investigations and enforcement issues. In January 2023, Stuart Neely and Matthew Gregory were promoted to partner; Neely offers expertise in human rights and modern slavery issues, while Gregory is another name for financial services regulatory issues.

Corporate heavyweight Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP advises on the governance aspects of high-profile domestic and international M&A deals, as well as providing strategic advice to boards of directors, and advice around corporate disclosure, activism and listing issues. George Knighton heads the team and is well versed in advising on public and private M&A, as well as private equity transactions and governance issues. Scott Hopkins is strong in cross-border deals, regulatory responsibilities, and directors’ duties and liability issues, while Simon Toms, another corporate practitioner, is experienced in the tech, fintech, media and telecoms sectors. Elizabeth Robertson is a contact for white-collar crime and investigations.