Slaughter and May > London, England > Firm Profile
Slaughter and May Offices
ONE BUNHILL ROW
LONDON
EC1Y 8YY
England
Slaughter and May > The Legal 500 Rankings
Corporate and commercial > Corporate tax Tier 1
‘Market leading’ firm Slaughter and May acts for prominent multinational and UK headquartered clients on a diverse range of matters, including M&A, corporate rescues and insolvencies, and private equity. Team lead Mike Lane has broad expertise across tax issues, and is well known as a thought leader in the practice area. Gareth Miles covers private equity transactions and public and private M&A, while Dominic Robertson has expertise in the tax elements of joint ventures and corporate finance transactions, in addition to tax enquiries and disputes. Charles Osborne has a practice which includes tax consultancy matters and tax elements of a broad range of transactions, while Sarah Osprey, who made partner in May 2023, advises on tax aspects of M&A, corporate finance transactions, and disputes with HMRC, among other matters. William Watson is active in the department as a senior consultant. Senior counsel Edward Milliner is noted for his strength in the real estate and energy sectors.Practice head(s):
Mike Lane
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Market leading technical knowledge combined with strong communication skills, historical knowledge of their client and an understanding of how the client operates.’
‘Dominic Robertson – deep historical knowledge of his client, excellent communication skills, superb technical knowledge, always available.’
‘Slaughter and May’s tax team not only has a depth of technical and practical experience which allows them to advise clearly and in real-time; but a culture that allows them to do so with no arrogance.’
‘Mike Lane is our key point of contact. He always makes himself available, does not shy away from bringing clarity to grey areas, and is extremely knowledgeable. He remains positive, constructive, and helpful even under the most challenging of circumstances.’
‘The Slaughter and May tax team are unmatched in their ability to advise on complex tax issues and articulate their advice in a concise commercial manner. They have a well resourced team who will strive to meet their client’s deadlines.’
‘The individuals are highly knowledgeable, engaging and collaborative with their non-tax colleagues. This avoids duplicate conversations on commercial matters where multiple client teams are involved. This approach stands them apart from their peers.’
‘The team stands out for being clear-thinking, proactive and pragmatic in their approach to any and all problems. They work in a collaborative way, which makes deals and projects run more efficiently toward the best solution.’
‘The Slaughter and May tax practice is a pleasure to work with – technically excellent, pragmatic and cost-conscious.’
Key clients
GSK
Standard Chartered
Ocado
Burberry
Centrica
abrdn
Ineos
Vodafone
Santander
Interserve
Work highlights
- Advised GSK on tax aspects of the demerger of its consumer healthcare business, to form the world’s biggest standalone consumer healthcare group, Haleon.
- Advising Cineworld Group plc, the second largest cinema chain in the world by number of screens, in connection with the Chapter 11 cases for its US, UK and Jersey businesses.
- Advising INEOS Enterprises on the tax aspects of its acquisition of the MBCC Group’s Admixture Business from Sika AG.
Corporate and commercial > EU and competition Tier 1
The competition group at Slaughter and May is the premier choice for some of the world’s biggest companies, which span an exhaustive list of industries. Well-regarded for its ability to marry a ‘great attention to detail’ with a ‘pragmatic, smart’ approach, the team regularly achieve strategically and commercially successful results, with a particular strength in managing complex multi-jurisdictional matters. The team is jointly chaired by Bertrand Louveaux, a ‘master of his craft’, and Claire Jeffs. A mix of blue-chip manufacturers, tech companies and financial services providers turn to Louveaux for his capabilities on transactional matters and experience before regulatory authorities. Jeffs works on a number of high-profile merger cases before the UK and EU authorities and is noted for her expertise on cartel and behavioural matters. Other notable individuals include Philippe Chappatte, who is highly regarded for his experience in market and antitrust investigations, and Isabel Taylor who is noted for her expertise in state aid and subsidy control. Senior counsel Tina Zhuo has been praised for her ‘excellent analytical abilities’.Practice head(s):
Bertrand Louveaux; Claire Jeffs
Other key lawyers:
Philippe Chappatte; Isabel Taylor; Lisa Wright; William Turtle; Tina Zhuo; Stephen Heagney; Lorna Nsoatabe; Jonathan Slade; Alex Bulfin
Testimonials
‘We work with Clare Jeff and Jonathan Slade. Claire is a top lawyer capable of delivering the right strategic advice at the right moment. Jonny is a strong antitrust lawyer eager to give the best advice to clients.’
‘Their technical and historical understanding of the ad tech sector is unrivalled, which is key in navigating this very complex area.’
‘Tina Zhuo is exceptional in her ability to quickly understand very technical and complex issues. She is quick, efficient, to the point, and has excellent analytical abilities.’
‘In-depth knowledge of the regulatory systems and great attention to detail.’
‘Bert Louveaux is a master of his craft.’
‘Excellent knowledge of competition law and able to provide high-quality, commercial advice on sensitive matters. Partners are available and responsive but also willing to staff matters appropriately with high-quality associates to help clients with managing budget and ensuring work is done at the correct level.’
‘Bertrand Louveaux has excellent knowledge of both competition law and economic aspects of the subject matter. Jonathan Slade is an excellent lawyer with commercially-focused advice and is generally a pleasure to work with. Alex Bulfin is an extremely capable associate who can handle complex matters and deal expertly with senior partners on the other side.’
‘Maybe one of the best teams I’ve ever hired. Pragmatic, smart, reactive, their legal analysis were always perfect. It was a real pleasure to work with them.’
Key clients
Barratt Developments
Booking Holdings
Bouygues
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
FNZ
Illumina
Independent Vetcare Limited
ITV
Korean Air
Meggitt
Meta (formerly Facebook)
Nucleus
Richemont (Compagnie Financière de Richemont)
Schneider Electric
Suez
Ultra Electronics
UK Government
Vodafone
Warner Music
Work highlights
- Advising Google in relation to various competition investigations in Europe and globally. These include the EC AdSense investigation appeal, the EC and CMA investigations into the online advertising technology sector; the CMA and EC investigations into open bidding, as well as investigations in Japan, Australia, South Africa and India.
- Advising Warner Music Group, a global music company, in relation to the UK Competition and Markets Authority’s market study into music and streaming services. In its final market study report the CMA decided not to make a market investigation reference.
- Lead global counsel advising Booking Holdings, a provider of online travel and related services, on the EU and UK competition law aspects of its proposed acquisition of global flight online travel agency Etraveli. We are also coordinating filings in other jurisdictions globally, including the US, Australia, and Ukraine.
Corporate and commercial > M&A: Upper Mid-Market And Premium Deals, £750m+ Tier 1
Operating across a host of sectors including TMT, healthcare, construction, oil & gas and insurance and with unrivalled experience advising listed companies on M&A as well as activism defence work, Slaughter and May’s M&A team is ‘absolutely first class on all matters’. With a growing roster of top name clients and with more than 70% of its mandates last year involving an international element, the team is regularly called in to advise on blockbuster deals such as GSK’s demerger of Haleon. The practice is co-headed by public and private M&A partners Simon Nicholls , who is described as ‘outstanding’ and ‘exceptional’ for his complex work for clients such as GSK and Diageo, and Richard Smith, whose clients include Aviva, Equinix and The Walt Disney Company. Senior partner Steve Cooke offers particular experience in takeover bids and other stock exchange related work, while data privacy expert Rebecca Cousin handles public and private M&A, initial public listings, equity issues and joint ventures. Roland Turnill , who will replace Cooke as senior partner in 2024, co-heads the financial institutions group and has recently been involved in advising Vodafone on its merger with Three. ‘Top tier lawyer’ Paul Dickson and the ‘exceptional’ Sally Wokes are noted for their broad corporate practices, handling public takeovers, joint ventures and private M&A for domestic and international clients, listed and unlisted. Victoria MacDuff continues to have a wide-ranging corporate practice, advising on M&A deals and disposals, equity capital market transactions, reorganisations and joint ventures, with a particular focus on cyber security and the financial services and telecoms sector. Also recommended are: Claire Jackson, a life sciences, healthcare and insurance specialist; Andrew Jolly, who heads the sport team and, the ‘enthusiastic, energetic and relatable’ Robert Innes, who co-heads the tech transactions group. James Cook, Harry Hecht and Alexander Dustan are other key lawyers. Formerly senior figures within the team, Andy Ryde and Jeff Twentyman have retired.Practice head(s):
Richard Smith; Simon Nicholls
Other key lawyers:
Steve Cooke; Rebecca Cousin; Roland Turnill; Paul Dickson; Sally Wokes; Victoria MacDuff; Claire Jackson; Andrew Jolly; Robert Innes; James Cook; Harry Hecht; Alexander Dustan; David Johnson; Usman Sawar
Testimonials
‘The M&A team are absolutely first class on all matters. Their advice is always extremely clear, focused on exactly what the client needs to understand. The team has great market awareness.’
‘Paul Dickson and Alex Dustan are both top tier lawyers. They have fantastic in-depth knowledge, as well as great commercial awareness. They are able to present complex legal issues in a very clear straightforward manner in a way that creates real confidence.’
‘Superb judgment and valuable thought leaders in the transaction practice. Simon Nicolls and David Johnson are both outstanding and together comprise a formidable team. They provide a real value-added service, making the complex manageable and always bringing forward thinking and creative approaches to difficult problems.’
‘The quality of Slaughter and May’s output is exemplary at all levels and across all disciplines. Contrary to the received wisdom (and unlike many Magic Circle firms) there is no ‘typical’ Slaughter and May lawyer. The large and multi-disciplinary team that most recently supported us comprised lawyers from a very wide variety of backgrounds, ethnicity and nationality but provided consistently excellent advice and support, working with us and for us, collaboratively. Their internal communication processes work very well, as notwithstanding the large number of people comprising the advisory team, everyone was clearly aware of every aspect of the transaction as it moved through its various stages.’
‘Roland Turnill was across absolutely everything, engaged and engaging, hugely credible at Board level. Robert Innes is enthusiastic, energetic and relatable to all, from Chairman to PA. James Cook is highly relatable but a clear thinker with quiet confidence. Usman Sawar at the associate level is calm, confident, hard-working (naturally) and super-helpful.’
‘Slaughter and May consistently outperform other law firms. They offer excellent input, are efficient and add value. You can really rely on them for quality advice delivered as you need it. They rise to any challenge and remain user-friendly, clear and have an ability to move with fast pace.’
‘Sally Wokes is exceptional. She always gets right to the key point, understanding and explaining the commercial impact on clients. Harry Hecht is also excellent, focusing on what matters to the client and is results orientated. You can really rely on both of them and that can be rare to find.’
‘Utterly reliable and at the very top of their game. I would never go anywhere else. Paul Dickson and Simon Nicholls are exceptional. I’ve worked with them for over 10 years, through a number of highly complex transactions and they have never let me down. Their teams are also always of the highest quality. I’m never worried about which associate is assigned to a particular project as they all work incredibly hard, are committed to the task and have exceptional insight.’
Key clients
GSK
Aviva
Reckitt
Landsec
Wood Group
Whitbread
United Utilities
Close Brothers
Legal & General Group
Equinix
Marsh McLennan
Schneider Electric
Vodafone
INEOS
Marshalls
Dignity
Bunzl
HPS Investment Partners
Essentra
Reach
Work highlights
- Advising Vodafone on the planned combination of Vodafone UK and Three UK, which would involve both companies combining their UK businesses, with Vodafone owning 51% and CK Hutchison owning 49% of the combined business.
- Advised GSK plc on the demerger of its Consumer Healthcare business into a separate London-listed group named Haleon.
- Advised Legal & General Capital (LGC) on its 50:50 partnership with U.S. based real estate developer Ancora.
Dispute resolution > Banking litigation: investment and retail Tier 1
Slaughter and May’s practice is, for one client, ‘responsive, creative, and collaborates well with other counsel to deliver extraordinary results’, and acts on many of the complex high-value inquiries, and major regulatory investigations. The team notably represents Credit Suisse in multi-billion-dollar claims and JP Morgan Chase Bank in high court litigation linked to global forex investigations. Richard Swallow is ‘preeminent with good reason’, and leads the team. ‘Very experienced, calm, measured, and strategic advisor’ Ewan Brown has a broad-based banking litigation and investigations practice, and is key to the team alongside ‘exceptional advisor’ Gayathri Kamalanathan. Also at partner level, Camilla Sanger and Richard Jeens both have expansive banking and financial services litigation practices, along with Jonathan Clark and Peter Wickham. At associate level, Edward Coles is singled out for his ‘ mastery of complex matters and attention to strategy‘.Practice head(s):
Richard Swallow
Other key lawyers:
Jonathan Clark; Peter Wickham; Ewan Brown; Gayathri Kamalanthan; Camilla Sanger; Richard Jeens; Edward Coles; Deborah Finkler
Testimonials
‘Very strong, alongside financial services capability. In the top group of the magic circle.’
‘Ewan Brown is very experienced, very good, calm, measured and strategic advisor. Ewan is approachable, smart, patient and commercial.’
‘ Gayathri Kamalanathan is an exceptional adviser: her temperament, judgement, experience and knowledge make her absolutely the sort of person you need guiding an organisation in difficult times.’
‘From top to bottom the Slaughters team is excellent. They are responsive, creative, collaborate well with other counsel and deliver extraordinary results.’
‘Richard Swallow is pre-eminent with good reason – he is simply the best.’
‘Edward Coles is an associate who can clearly be classified as a rising star. His mastery of complex matters and attention to strategy whilst managing tactics are best in class.’
Key clients
Credit Suisse AG/Mozambique Dispute
JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A./FX Investigation
Deutsche Bank AG. London/FDIC Litigation
J.P. Morgan Securities Plc/Bilta (UK) Limited and Others Claim (Mercuria)
SIPAC and Predica
Work highlights
- Acting for Credit Suisse in multiple claims arising from the $2bn “tuna bond scandal”.
- Acting for JPMorgan in connection with various regulatory and governmental investigations into allegations of manipulation of foreign exchange
- Ating for Deutsche Bank in first multi-bank Libor litigation in England
Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: premium Tier 1
Complex, cross-jurisdictional corporate litigation and group actions are mainstays of the ‘impressive and hard-working’ team at Slaughter and May that routinely acts for FTSE 100 clients. Recent successes of the team include its representation of Shell in the highly publicised ClientEarth matter, and acting for Credit Suisse in the ‘tuna bond scandal’. Richard Swallow leads the ‘first class’ team that is a ‘pleasure to deal with’. Peter Wickham is a key name in the team, advising across commercial litigation, investigations and regulatory matters, and commercial arbitration, with expertise in energy and natural resources, as well as group litigation. Smriti Sriram is noted as an ‘excellent lawyer and very good to work with’.Practice head(s):
Richard Swallow
Other key lawyers:
Damian Taylor; Peter Wickham; Smriti Sriram; Camilla Sanger; Megan Sandler; Deborah Finkler; Holly Ware
Testimonials
‘The team are leaders in the area and well-integrated in the legal community, providing strong legal support in litigation matters.’
‘The partners take the time to consider questions and issues and so provide well-reasoned legal advice that accounts for nuances and complexities’
‘They show immense attention to detail and will go the extra mile to get the best possible result for their clients.’
‘Smriti Sriram is an excellent lawyer and very good to work with.’
‘The team is first class in terms of its general litigation capability and commercial outlook. A pleasure to deal with, the availability and commitment of the Slaughter &May team to obtain the best commercial outcome was unwavering.’
Key clients
Credit Suisse AG, Credit Suisse International and Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Limited
British American Tobacco plc
BHP Group
Ministry of Defence
Airbus S.A.S.
Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings PLC
Gemfields Group Limited, Gemfields Limited and Kagem Mining Limited
Diageo plc
Rolls Royce
Virgin America TM Limited and Virgin Enterprises Limited
Aker BP ASA
Mark Bamford
Work highlights
- Acting for Credit Suisse in multiple claims arising from US$2 billion ‘tuna bond scandal’.
- Acting on a group claim brought by Malawian tobacco farmers, concerning allegations of child and forced labour on third party farms in Malawi.
- Advising bhp group plc and bhp group limited who are defendants to claims arising out of the collapse of the Fundão Dam in Brazil.
Dispute resolution > Competition litigation Tier 1
Slaughter and May houses a practice which displays ‘enormous strength and depth‘ across the full spectrum of contentious competition law work. Regularly acting in appeals against decisions made by regulatory authorities, the team acts for a number of notable clients, including Google, Vodafone, and JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. in both standalone, and follow-on cases. Dubbed the ‘doyen’ of the team by clients, practice head Richard Swallow has broad knowledge of cross-border class actions; senior counsel Elizabeth Jordan is noteworthy for her action on large group claims and opt-out collective proceedings. Camilla Sanger is particularly adept at handling follow-on damages cases before the CAT and the High Court. Praised for her ‘impeccable judgment and sangfroid‘, Holly Ware regularly represents clients before the European Court of Justice in cases concerning the clarification of regulations. Having a great deal of expertise in bribery and corruption, Tim Blanchard frequently assists financial institutions with investigations.Practice head(s):
Richard Swallow
Other key lawyers:
Elizabeth Jordan; Camilla Sanger; Holly Ware; Tim Blanchard; Damien Taylor; Jonathan Clark; Peter Wickham
Testimonials
‘A team with enormous strength and depth across all areas, a true Rolls Royce service.’
‘Richard Swallow is the doyen of Slaughter and May’s competition litigation practice, a great person to take high command of any major action.’
‘Damian Taylor is a great negotiator and tactician who fights hard for his clients.’
‘Holly Ware stands out for her impeccable judgment and sangfroid, a deadly opponent.’
‘Jonathan Clarke is also a superb lawyer.’
Key clients
Koninklijke Philips N.V.
JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.
First MTR South Western Trains Limited
MAN
Louis Dreyfus Company Brasil SA
Volkswagen AG
Illumina
Vodafone
Northern Powergrid
Banco Santander Totta
Meta
Barratt Developments
Work highlights
- Advising Koninklijke Philips N.V. on a number of follow-on damages claims arising out of the CRT cartel, and the smart card chip cartel.
- Advising JPMorgan on a competition claim in the UK CAT brought by more than 150 major investment funds, hedge funds and pension funds against several international banks.
- Advising First MTR South Western Trains Limited on proposed collective proceedings brought before the CAT, which are being case managed with a related set of proceedings.
Dispute resolution > Tax litigation and investigations Tier 1
The ‘gold standard in tax litigation’, Slaughter and May is prominent in the full scope of contentious tax, including transfer pricing, diverted profits tax, and tax residence matters. The ‘very strong’ team benefits from a deep relationship with HMRC, significantly aiding in dispute resolution. Richard Jeens, who is experienced in complex multi-jurisdictional disputes, co-leads the department alongside Dominic Robertson, whose practice includes EU tax state aid investigations as well as transfer pricing and DPT enquiries. Ewan Brown co-heads the global investigations group and acts in both litigation and regulatory investigations. Mike Lane advises domestic and international clients on a range of contentious matters. Sarah Osprey made partner in May 2023 and advises major multinational clients in a diverse range of tax matters. Steve Edge retired from the practice in May 2022.Practice head(s):
Richard Jeens; Dominic Robertson
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The gold standard in tax litigation. They are unrivalled in their ability to litigate large and complex points.’
‘Dominic Robertson is set to be the leader of his generation in the tax field. Huge knowledge and a great practical sense in the context of litigation.
‘Richard Jeens is completely reliable and always delivers excellent service. A joy to work with. Mike Lane is one of the best tax technical minds around.’
‘Dominic Robertson is a technical tax lawyer of great ability who has the unusual skill of being able to combine it with strategic insight and dogged determination. Ewan Brown is a litigation partner of enormous charm and experience who brings a great deal to any tax litigation.’
‘Very strong team – thorough and capable and with excellent experience and capability.’
‘A first-rate team. They are extremely well resourced and keep their client’s strategic interests at the forefront of every decision. For the right big-ticket litigation, this team cannot be surpassed.’
‘Unmatched knowledge of tax law, ability to apply to scenarios and provide clear advice.’
Key clients
BlueCrest Capital Management
GE
Mercuria Energy Europe Trading
Vitol
Work highlights
- Advised the Vitol group in relation to an ongoing transfer pricing and diverted profits tax (DPT) dispute with HMRC.
- Advised BlueCrest, a leading hedge fund, on several matters relating to challenges to the UK tax treatment of its management incentivisation arrangements put in place by BlueCrest to incentivise and retain top personnel.
- Advised GE, a large US multinational, on the allocation of taxing rights over a UK-US dual resident company.
Employment > Employee share schemes Tier 1
Led by Charles Cameron, the ‘technically excellent’ team at Slaughter and May advises major public and private companies from a broad range of sectors on issues, such as directors’ renumeration policies, employee share-based incentive plans and the granting of share incentives to non-executive directors. The firm also frequently advises on the incentives aspects of major corporate transactions. Philip Linnard‘s broad practice extends to the operation of malus and clawback provisions. Padraig Cronin has in-depth knowledge of executive plans. ‘Share plans guru’, Ian Brown is equipped to assist with the design and implementation of discretionary and all-employee incentive arrangements, while the ‘outstanding’ Philippa O’Malley handles a broad range of contentious, advisory and transactional incentives matters. Rosemary Nelson and Richard Surtees are further names to note.Practice head(s):
Charles Cameron
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Great commercial awareness, always able to present advice on highly complex issues in a clear and persuasive manner.’
‘Philippa O’Malley – first class lawyer. Very client focused, good commercial and practical solutions to complex problems.’
‘Availability, excellent interpersonal and listening skills and good balance of the technical, commercial and pragmatic.’
‘Calm and collected; expert and pragmatic. Professional without taking themselves too seriously. Courageous when advising tough clients and up against tough demands.’
‘Highly knowledgeable, super responsive. And the friendliest, most approachable people.’
‘Phillipa O’Malley is simply outstanding – so knowledgeable, pragmatic and responsive and helpful an absolute star.’
‘The team remains, in my view, the best in the business – they are simply brilliant.’
‘Ian Brown continues to be the “share plans guru” and his experience and skillset is only matched by his likeability, utter professionalism and dedication to the area.’
Key clients
Cineworld Group plc
GSK plc
Ocado plc
Intermediate Capital Group plc
M&G plc
Micro Focus International plc
Prudential plc
Hikma Pharmaceuticals plc
Vodafone plc
Reckitt Benckiser Group plc
Work highlights
- Advising GSK on its demerger of its consumer healthcare business to form a separate FTSE 100 company, Haleon.
- Acting for Prudential on the implementation of a suite of employee and agent share plans complying with UK regulatory requirements and the new Hong Kong Listing Rules.
- Acting for Hikma on the renewal of its executive incentive arrangements and directors’ remuneration policy to reflect the company’s operations in multiple jurisdictions.
Employment > Pensions (non-contentious) Tier 1
The pensions department at Slaughter and May is lauded by clients as being a ‘very capable team‘ with ‘incredible technical expertise’. Charles Cameron leads the practice and is experienced on benefit change exercises and innovative de-risking strategies, particularly within the industrial and manufacturing industries. More broadly, the team is well-equipped to advise its clients on the full gamut of advisory pensions work, which includes providing cross-border assistance in transactional matters for its clients, including trustees, insurers, and employers. Sandeep Maudgil is a key contact for strategic and high-value pension work, while Daniel Schaffer is a name to note for the implementation of benefit redesign projects. Chris Sharpe was promoted to partner in May 2022.Practice head(s):
Charles Cameron
Other key lawyers:
Sandeep Maudgil; Daniel Schaffer; Chris Sharpe; Adrien Mallevays
Testimonials
‘Chris Sharpe brings a fresh approach to the team.’
‘Focused on giving the best advice and doing the right thing.’
‘Incredible technical expertise and experience dealing with pension scheme trustees, which is deployed to assist corporate clients.’
‘Adrien Mallevays’ technical expertise is unquestionable and his approach to client engagement and clear, commercial and confident application of the law is different to most of his peers.’
‘The team at Slaughter and May has a strong client focus and successfully handles the most complex of legal pension issues. The team is collaborative, responsive, and draws on specialist expertise from other areas of Slaughter and May, where needed. Slaughter and May have recognised the increased need for virtual meetings and have invested in gold standard conferencing facilities at their offices.’
‘Lead partner Daniel Schaffer goes out of way to listen, communicate and respond. An exceptionally strong individual who seems able to visualise every eventuality to ensure that all angles are covered. All of the individuals at Slaughter and May display strong ethical and professional values and area pleasure to work with.’
‘Very capable team with broad experience. Responsive and quick.’
‘Easy to strike up a good working relationship with the team.’
Key clients
BBC Pension Scheme
BT Pension Scheme
Caterpillar Pension Plans
Diageo plc
E.ON UK PLC
GSK plc
Legal & General
Phillips 66 Pension Plan
Railways Pension Trustee Company
Royal Mail
SCA UK Pension Plan
Severn Trent pension schemes
Tata Steel UK (British Steel Pension Scheme)
Yell UK
Work highlights
- Advised Intact Financial Corporation and RSA on a £6.5bn buy-in insurance transaction with Pension Insurance Corporation in respect of the liabilities of two pension schemes sponsored by RSA.
- Advised Tata Steel UK on a £2bn tranche of a buy-in transaction with Legal & General for the British Steel Pension Scheme.
- Advised a number of FTSE 100 companies, including Diageo, and significant pension schemes on urgent actions required to manage liquidity needs as a result of market reaction to the UK Government’s mini-budget delivered in September 2022.
Finance > Bank lending: investment grade debt and syndicated loans Tier 1
The ‘extremely, knowledgeable and dedicated’ team at Slaughter and May provides a ‘faultless service’ to the firm’s blue riband roster of investment grade corporates across the full spectrum of their debt financing requirements. Led by Matthew Tobin, the firm has been an invaluable resource to clients from a range of sectors as they have sought to navigate difficult macroeconomic conditions, and have been able ‘to use their prior experience to obtain the best outcomes’. The scope of the work is broad and includes advice on general corporate lending, acquisition finance and refinancings, with a significant proportion of recent transactions including pricing ratchets conditional on meeting various ESG-related key performance indicators. The ‘very capable’ Robert Byk is experienced at handling sustainability-linked loans, as well as more conventional loans, including as it relates to structured acquisitions and bid financings. Sustainable metrics also inform a considerable amount of Caroline Phillips‘ workflow for corporate clients, which she advises across a range of loan and debt capital markets transactions. Aligned to the firm’s generalist ethos, Ed Fife‘s eclectic offering includes borrower side advice on treasury matters and bid finance transactions, as well as some work for lenders, including in an acquisition finance context.Practice head(s):
Matthew Tobin
Other key lawyers:
Ed Fife; Robert Byk; Caroline Phillips; Guy O’Keefe; Azadeh Nassiri; Susan Hughes; Claire Cooke; Charlie McGarel-Groves
Testimonials
‘Best in class lawyers. Faultless service – friendly, responsive and organised.’
‘Ed Fife is extremely bright, commercially astute, flexible lawyer who runs a fantastic team, with particular call out to the more junior associates who seem to operate well above their years of qualification. Ed is also able to have a laugh and a joke along the way which is important in those stressful deal situations.’
‘It is an extremely, knowledgeable and dedicated team.’
‘They are absolute experts in the area with ability to use their prior experience to obtain the best outcomes.’
‘Robert Byk is a very capable practitioner with an effective ability to move the transaction along.’
Key clients
Agility
Asos
Athora
Cineworld
Coats
Diageo
Deutsche Bank
GSK
Hammerson plc
HG Vora Capital Management LLC
Work highlights
- Advised INEOS, a global chemical and energy company, in a series of financing matters across a number of its different business divisions for the value of £3.5bn across four different loans
- Supported Diageo plc and its pension schemes through a period of extreme volatility caused by the market’s reaction to the UK government’s mini budget delivered in September 2022 across two loans for £1bn
- Advised Schneider Electric SE, the French industrials group, on its public offer to acquire the remaining shares in AVEVA plc.
Insurance > Insurance: corporate and regulatory Tier 1
Slaughter and May remains at the forefront of the insurance industry through the ‘depth and breadth‘ of its offering, with a strong offering across the full range of transactional, regulatory, and strategic matters. Able to draw upon the firm’s leading regulatory capital, financial regulation, and insurance disputes teams among other practices, the firm is well-placed to comprehensively service the most high-profile insurers in their major, cross-border mandates. Jonathan Marks heads the insurance group with a broad corporate and insurance practice that covers the life and non-life sectors. Nick Bonsall deploys his ‘encyclopaedic knowledge of insurance regulation‘ in addition to his experience across the wider financial services sector. Natalie Cook and Nick Pacheco are both part of the wider corporate and financial services group, and have advised major insurers on their multijurisdictional operations in respect of strategy and structuring issues. Senior counsel Thomas Peacock and Edward Steward are also of note, bringing expertise in the risk transfer market, and insurance and banking business transfer schemes respectively. Craig Cleaver retired from partnership in December 2022 and Robert Chaplin departed the firm in October 2022 to join Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP.Practice head(s):
Jonathan Marks
Other key lawyers:
Nick Bonsall; Nick Pacheco; Natalie Cook; Thomas Peacock; Edward Stewart
Testimonials
‘Deep knowledge of and expertise on insurance regulation. Very practical and solutions-focussed. Politically and commercially astute. Extremely responsive. You can put them in front of any part of the business or other stakeholders, even at very short notice, and they will be in total command of the brief.‘
‘Nick Bonsall has encyclopaedic knowledge of insurance regulation and is always one step ahead.’
‘Breadth of experience in our sector is what makes Slaughter and May stand out. The quality of the team, their industry knowledge and their collaborative approach to providing top quality service and advice is exemplary.‘
‘Both Jonathan Marks (Partner) and Edward Steward (Senior Counsel) are very talented and experienced lawyers in their field of expertise. They took the time to identify our requirements and communicate effectively their advice and approach. Once again, their detailed technical knowledge of the issues in our sector stood out and no stone was left unturned. Equally they were very approachable and updated us regularly. Also, we had access to a team of experts whenever required (i.e. compliance etc.).’
‘With depth and breadth within the insurance practice, the Slaughter and May team prove capable of staffing major transactions with a range of quality individuals and ensuring every detail and demand is addressed.’
‘Tom Peacock is a rising star in the corporate practice. Tom is dedicated, dependable, smart, commercially minded and a pleasure to work with. He really listens to what the client needs and the style they prefer to adopt, adapting his work products accordingly.’
Key clients
Allianz
Ageas
Aviva
Bupa
Canada Life
Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Direct Line
Intact/ RSA
Legal & General
M&G
Pollen Street Capital
Markerstudy
Prudential
Royal London
RiverStone
Zurich Assurance
Zurich Insurance
Work highlights
- Advised Intact Financial Corporation and RSA on a c. £6.5bn buy-in insurance transaction with Pension Insurance Corporation, the largest insurance transaction of this type to date.
- Advised Allianz on its agreement with Sanlam, the largest non-banking financial services company in Africa, to combine their current and future operations across Africa.
- Advised Zurich on its Brexit-related insurance business Part VII transfer scheme from Zurich Insurance plc to its Swiss incorporated parent company.
Projects, energy and natural resources > Infrastructure: M&A and acquisition financing Tier 1
With its entrenched reputation for high-end M&A across a host of sectors, Slaughter and May has a strong focus on the infrastructure market, with digital and renewable assets forming the cornerstone of the blockbuster deals it regularly advises on. The depth and breadth of the practice’s bench allows the team to advise on large-scale transactions for global industry titans, advising on holding company sales, business reorganisations and carve-outs that require integral corporate, financing, and construction expertise. Considerable global reach is also displayed through the team's advice in energy deals across India, Africa and notably the Middle East - a jurisdiction where the group advised Blackrock on a multi-billion dollar equity stake in Saudi Aramco. Team head Michael Corbett is an M&A specialist, boasting impressive credentials overseeing complex cross-border transactions initiated by infrastructure and energy funds and strategics, as well as wielding a wealth of experience dealing with governmental and public bodies. Hywel Davies advises on a wide array of M&A, joint ventures and corporate restructurings, with a strong focus on energy and infrastructure mandates in Europe. Oly Moir has shown an impressive level of activity over recent months, working on mandates for a number of the team's key clients, with a far-reaching skillset that is especially concentrated on traditional and renewable energies. Iain McCann and Daniel Mewton also come recommended.Practice head(s):
Michael Corbett
Other key lawyers:
Hywel Davies; Oly Moir; Iain McCann; David Mewton
Testimonials
‘High quality service considering all aspects of the transaction and requirements, on both a technical and commercial level. Ability to pitch explanations at the required level with client staff, whilst also leading technical negotiations with similar high-calibre lawyers.’
‘Exceptional team. Exceptional depth of knowledge and very solutions orientated in terms of closing out an acceptable and balanced agreement.’
‘Daniel Mewton is the most exceptional associate that I have ever worked with. In depth knowledge, exceptional drafting skills supplemented by an ability to generate the highest quality content in very short periods of time.’
‘Very strong market knowledge and great attention to detail. They know the legal and commercial issues and how to fix them.’
Key clients
BlackRock
Government of the Republic of Botswana
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (advising in conjunction with Mazars Croatia)
Everton FC
Ferrovial
Hyphen Hydrogen
Interserve
Suez SA
Therme
UK Infrastructure Bank
Drax
Marubeni Europower Limited
YTL Arena
Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Viridor
Spirit Energy
Kellas Midstream
General Electric
VPI Holding Limited
Work highlights
- Advised BlackRock Real Assets (“BlackRock”) on a consortium investment of approximately USD 525million for a stake of between 9.76% and 11.43% in Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited (“Tata Power Renewables”), one of the largest renewable energy companies in India.
- Advised UK Infrastructure Bank in relation to its £200 million debt investment as a cornerstone lender in the largest digital debt transaction in the UK market. The deal, which is worth £4.9billion in total, supports a programme which marks a step-change in the acceleration of full fibre broadband across the UK to meet Government targets.
- Advised Ferrovial S.A. and its group companies on: the sale of Amey plc; the reorganisation of its waste services business; and the sale of its utility services business.
Real estate > Commercial property: corporate occupiers Tier 1
With ‘thorough knowledge of acting for tenants in taking large occupational space for headquarters’, Slaughter and May is particularly well-versed in sport development projects. Head of the team Jane Edwarde boasts a stellar client roster of corporate occupier clients, including Arsenal, Everton and M&S, to name a few. Praised as ‘outstanding’, John Nevin and ‘standout associate’ Simon Bartle are entrusted by an assortment of law firms for headquarter moves, while Mark Gulliford, who is commended as ‘exceptional’, is another key contact in the group.Practice head(s):
Jane Edwarde
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Thorough knowledge and grasp of acting for tenants in taking large occupational space for headquarters.’
‘Standout associate Simon Bartle was on top of everything and was a very effective negotiator and communicator.’
‘The team are always available, have a pragmatic negotiating style and very good communication. They break down problems, so the lay person can understand them and always come with workable solutions to the issues.’
‘Simon Bartle at S&M is excellent, very personable, pragmatic and into the detail but very much focused on workable solutions to issues. He is my go-to person for any real estate issue.’
‘John Nevin is outstanding. He enters negotiations fully prepared with a calm practical persona and reliably deals with the issues at hand, any advice given is first rate and I would not use anyone else for real estate in London.’
‘John Nevin and Mark Gulliford are exceptional. They provide a flawless service. In all of our interactions with them, they have been responsive, pragmatic and completely unflappable. They are the go-to team for our organisation when anything remotely tricky crops up.’
‘John Nevin, Jane Edwarde and their wider team provide significant knowledge on all matters for office occupiers and provide first class service and advice.’
‘Slaughter and May ensure they understand their client’s needs and focus their attention on those needs when setting priorities in negotiations and drafting.’
Key clients
Arsenal
Bourne Leisure
Bupa
Clifford Chance
Credit Karma
Crisis
Diageo
Dobbies Garden Centres
Elysian Residences
Equinix
Everton
INEOS
John Lewis Partnership
Kirkland & Ellis
London Resort Company Holdings
Masterworks
Marks and Spencer
MCC
Nimax Theatres
Ocado
Reed Smith
Therme Group
Work highlights
- Advising Clifford Chance on its new headquarters at 2 Aldermanbury Square, EC2.
- Advised Kirkland & Ellis on its new London headquarters at 40 Leadenhall Street.
- Advising Reed Smith on its new London headquarters at Blossom Yard & Studios.
Risk advisory > Regulatory investigations and corporate crime (advice to corporates) Tier 1
Showcasing vast expertise in cross-border financial regulatory and corporate crime investigations, Slaughter and May’s practice is viewed as ‘gold standard’ by one client, acting on behalf of clients within the finance, natural resources, and healthcare spheres. The team routinely deals with domestic regulators- such as the SFO and FCA- as well as demonstrating robust international capabilities supporting global corporations in complex multi-jurisdictional investigations conducted by the US DOJ and SEC. Team head Richard Swallow is an expert on regulatory and criminal proceedings while the ‘superb’ Jonathan Cotton regularly deals with allegations of wrongdoing and corruption. Jonathan Clark advises on fraud and tax evasion matters, while Ewan Brown and Holly Ware are noted for their regulatory and criminal work. Gayathri Kamalanathan is knowledgeable on litigation and arbitration proceedings, with Tim Blanchard advising on bribery and corruption affairs. Senior counsels Ella Williams and Nicholas Querée are also noted.Practice head(s):
Richard Swallow
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Slaughter and May continues to represent the gold standard in this sector. The strength in depth – and breadth – is exceptional. They are the perfect firm to manage corporate investigations and navigate through complex corporate crime issues, with all that entails. There is simply no better firm.’
‘Jonny Cotton and Richard Swallow are industry leaders. They are unsurpassed in their judgement, skill and knowledge. They are able to recruit and retain the brightest talent; Ella Williams and Nick Queree far outrank many partners in other firms for their forensic instinct and analytical abilities.’
‘This is probably the best law firm in the world and to maintain its position it has to have the best lawyers in the world. The team is outstandingly able and has brilliance at all levels. This team have achieved astonishing results for clients and this is solely the result of their rare talents and intellectual ability.’
‘Richard Swallow is an outstanding leader and strategist. He has vast experience in this sector and is probably the best adviser you can get.’
‘Johnny Cotton is superb and has a brilliant sense of how a case is likely to play out.’
‘Holly Ware is a meticulous lawyer with a wonderful eye for detail. Razor-sharp with an eye for detail, Holly is someone you’d want as part of your team.
Jonathan Clark is tenacious and charming; a real asset. Ewan Brown is outstanding. Very clear in his advice. He has a calm but persuasive and insightful manner. Richard Smith – clear, hard working, highly regarded.’
‘S&M are a go to firm for large corporates for investigations and DPAs. Their reputation is well earned, delivering great results.’
Key clients
Danske Bank
Glencore plc
British American Tobacco plc
John Wood Group PLC
Rolls-Royce plc
Work highlights
- Acted as coordinating counsel in relation to Danske Bank’s $2billion settlement with US and Danish authorities’ multi-jurisdictional investigation, concluding investigations into failings and misconduct related to the non-resident portfolio at Danske bank’s former Estonia branch.
- Acting for Glencore in its $1.5billion resolution of global bribery and corruption allegations.
- Defending British American Tobacco plc against the SFO’s long running investigation of suspicions of corruption by BAT, its subsidiaries and associated persons.
TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > IT and telecoms Tier 1
Counting major technology companies among its key roster of clients, Slaughter and May stands out for its expertise in high-end transactions, strategic sourcings and procurements, regulatory issues, licensing strategies, infrastructure projects and product launches, in addition to IT-related disputes. Rob Sumroy leads the team and assists clients with their response to emerging disruptive technologies, fintech, cyber and e-commerce, while David Ives works across both the public and private sectors on matters concerning business process sourcing. Duncan Blaikie advises on commercial contracts, while Laura Houston focuses on the acquisition and divestment of technology assets. Victoria MacDuff, who is well-versed in cybersecurity and telecoms matters, is another key contact in the group.Practice head(s):
Rob Sumroy
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Laura Houston is outstanding – commercial, responsive and approachable.’
‘Slaughter and May have a well-established team of associates and partners. They offer a no nonsense, pragmatic service.’
Key clients
Vodafone
Micro Focus International plc
Booking Holdings
Burberry
PCCW Limited
Orient Overseas (International) Limited
Richemont
SideQuest Ltd
AVA
SoftBank
Ericsson
Work highlights
- Acted for Vodafone Plc in connection with the proposed merger of Vodafone Limited and Hutchison 3G UK Limited
- Advised Micro Focus on the recommended cash acquisition by Open Text Corporation of Micro Focus’ entire issued and to be issued share capital.
- Advised Burberry on the renewal of its global information technology contract with Verizon UK Limited.
Corporate and commercial > Commercial contracts Tier 2
The commercial team at Slaughter and May advises on key contractual work, which underpins the high-level transactional mandates that flow from the London office. Beyond this scope of work, the group also demonstrates strong proficiency acting on stand-alone commercial contractual work, including advising on Marks & Spencer’s international distribution and franchise framework, as well as Richemont’s integration onto Farfetch’s e-commerce platform. Team head Duncan Blaikie has fronted some of the firm’s most significant deals, including Vodafone’s merger with Three, and General Electric Company of America’s sale of its nuclear steam turbine and generator business to Électricité de France – which fellow co-head Oly Moir also advised on. David Ives is a key contact to financial services and manufacturing clients, acting on a number of cross border commercial issues such as proof of concept, new services, and partnership agreements, while Rob Sumroy has a strong focus on sourcing and distribution work, especially if technology related. Associate Ian Ranson continues to garner a reputation for competently handling an impressive volume of commercial mandates.Practice head(s):
Duncan Blaikie; Oly Moir
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Very responsive team – with clear and commercial advice.’
‘Deep commercial experience in complex outsourcing agreements, innovative approach to problem-solving, able to see through the complexity and track multiple work streams.’
‘Rob Sumroy is impressive and a formidable lawyer in a negotiation. One to have in your camp rather than opposite you.’
‘Slaughter and May are an exceptional law firm. What sets them apart is their commercial approach and the seamless service they provide on large, complex corporate transactions that touch a number of specialist areas and require numerous ancillary contracts.’
‘Duncan Blaikie is excellent. He’s very commercially minded, whilst also being in the detail of the issues and the drafting. He’s a pleasure to deal with, and he’s effective with our counterparties in negotiations.’
Key clients
Afreximbank SAE
Aviva
Bupa
Burberry
Centrica
Ericsson
Essentra plc
FNZ Group Services Limited
General Electric Company of America
Legal & General Investment Management
Marks and Spencer
Ocado
Reckitt Benckiser
Richemont International S.A.
Shell
Standard Chartered
Tata
Virgin
Vodafone Group plc
Work highlights
- Advised Reckitt in relation to the implementation and ongoing management of multiple high-value manufacturing, supply and services agreements in place between Reckitt’s global infant nutrition business and its Chinese infant nutrition business.
- Advised General Electric in relation to the separation and sale of its nuclear steam turbine and generator business to Électricité de France (EDF).
- Advising on the overhaul of M&S’s international franchise agreements, including advising on the impact of the new EU Vertical Agreements Block Exemption.
Corporate and commercial > Equity capital markets – mid-large cap Tier 2
Slaughter and May is home to a ‘strong team, from partner through to associate level’ and is known for its ardent issuer-side focus on the full spectrum of complex ECM transactions. Supporting early stage UK companies, particularly those arising out of the technology sector, is a core pillar of the group’s practice. Rebecca Cousin leads the team, focusing on equity raises, right issues, placings, and IPOs. Co-head of corporate and M&A Richard Smith and highly experienced ECM lawyer John Papanichola are other key names within the practice group.Practice head(s):
Rebecca Cousin
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Strong team, from partner through to associate level. Very outcome orientated and able to provide pragmatic solutions.’
‘Strong communication and counsel – helped to convey sensitive and complex topics in an effective manner to a range of audiences, including board level. Work extremely hard. Willing to take responsibility for terms, rather than pushing everything onto the client. Hywel Davies and Filippo de Falco are excellent partners; associate David Griffiths-Jones is definitely up and coming – capable beyond his PQE.’
Key clients
GSK plc
Marshalls plc
Coats Group plc
International Distributions Services plc (formerly Royal Mail plc)
Accsys Technologies plc
Shell plc
Redrow plc
Oxford Science Enterprises plc
Y-TREE
Work highlights
- Advised GSK plc on the demerger of its Consumer Healthcare business into a separately listed group named Haleon. The demerger created a new public company (Haleon plc) which achieved a premium listing on the main market of the London Stock Exchange.
- Advised Marshalls plc on an equity capital raising to contribute funding to the acquisition of Marley Group, which also included a simultaneous issue of listed consideration shares.
- Advised Shell in relation to its development of a programme to conduct repurchases of its shares listed on Euronext Amsterdam and other non-LSE exchanges, in addition to advising on its programme of repurchases of its shares listed on the LSE.
Corporate and commercial > Financial services: contentious Tier 2
At Slaughter and May, the London-based financial services regulatory investigations practice sits within the firm’s cross-practice global disputes and investigations group, which is helmed by Richard Swallow. The group advises clients across the financial services sector on the gamut of UK, EU and global regulatory issues, and continues to excel in handling high-stakes domestic and cross-border enforcement actions. Ewan Brown and Jonathan Cotton act as the co-heads of the global investigations practice. Other key contacts include Holly Ware, Jonathan Clark and Gayathri Kamalanathan. ‘Senior figure‘ Deborah Finkler also remains an active part of the department.Practice head(s):
Richard Swallow
Other key lawyers:
Deborah Finkler; Ewan Brown; Holly Ware; Jonathan Cotton; Jonathan Clark; Gayathri Kamalanathan; Tim Blanchard
Testimonials
‘All-round excellence, built on quality and experience.’
‘Ewan Brown – engaging, reassuring, good client handler and team leader.’
‘Deborah Finkler – senior figure, clients love her.’
‘Gayathri Kamalanathan is an exceptional adviser, her temperament, judgement, experience and knowledge are absolutely the sort of person you need guiding an organisation in difficult times.’
‘Very skilled, attentive, productive and strategy focused.’
‘I have worked with Gayathri Kamalanathan and been extremely impressed with her strategic thinking, strong overview, sense of detail and impressive ability to get a lot of work done in a short period of time, whilst at the same time being very pleasant to work with.’
Key clients
Danske Bank
Zurich Insurance plc
JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.
Credit Suisse AG, Credit Suisse International and Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Limited
Work highlights
- Acted as coordinating counsel in Danske Bank’s $2bn settlement with US and Danish authorities concerning a multi-jurisdictional investigation concluding investigations into failings and misconduct related to the non-resident portfolio at Danske Bank’s former Estonia branch.
- Representing Zurich Insurance in an FOS complaint linked to a business interruption insurance FCA test case.
- Representing JPMorgan in various regulatory and governmental investigations into allegations of manipulation of a foreign exchange.
Corporate and commercial > Financial services: non-contentious/regulatory Tier 2
Fielding a team of ‘high-quality lawyers with excellent market knowledge and commercial acumen’, Slaughter and May handles a broad range of financial services regulatory matters, including advisory issues, such as policy developments, and the regulatory aspects of large-scale transactions. Practice leader Jan Putnis services a diverse roster of financial institutions, with notable expertise in cross-border corporate and commercial transactions, while Nick Bonsall acts for insurers, banks and asset managers, demonstrating a keen interest in the EU/UK regulatory regimes for solvency/own funds and governance. Other key contacts in the team include senior counsels Kristina Locmele and Tim Fosh, and ‘pragmatic’ David Shone. Head of the EU financial regulation practice Sabine Dittrich joined the firm from UBS Asset Management in January 2023.Practice head(s):
Jan Putnis
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team were superb.’
‘We worked with David Shone, and members of his team. David was brilliant. Very pragmatic, yet held the line when it really was important. Fully understood the issues so he could anticipate what we would want, and negotiate accordingly.’
‘Very high quality lawyers with excellent market knowledge and commercial acumen.’
Key clients
Barclays
Standard Chartered / SC Ventures
Banco Santander
American Express
Checkout.com
Aviva
Zurich
Schroders
abrdn
Moody’s
Svenska Handelsbanken AB
OneSavings Bank
Klarna Bank AB
Silicon Valley Bank
Monzo Bank
NewDay
Legal & General
Allianz SE
Prudential
ASDA
Vodafone
Work highlights
- Advised on its acquisition of River & Mercantile Group’s UK advisory, fiduciary management and derivatives business, and acquisition of a 75% stake in Greencoat Capital Holdings.
- Advised Zurich on its Brexit-related insurance business transfer scheme from Zurich Insurance plc (ZIP), now based in Ireland, to its Swiss incorporated parent company, Zurich Insurance Company Ltd (ZIC), under Part VII of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000
Employment > Pensions: dispute resolution Tier 2
The contentious pensions team at Slaughter and May is headed by 'standout partner' Richard Jeens, who is described by clients as a ‘reassuring presence‘. The practice is highly regarded for its commercial litigation-related work in pensions disputes contexts. It also offers trustees and employers assistance in part 8 claims, investigations by the Pensions Regulator, and member complaints. Pensions issues in M&A transactions are regularly dealt with by Chris Sharpe, who was promoted to the partnership in May 2022, while Daniel Schaffer’s recent experience includes advising on pensions investigations. The 'very impressive' Sandy Maudgil and associate Rachel Hunter are recommended for their recent work on judicial review proceedings for a major pension scheme, whilst associate Serina Lyons is complimented as an ‘up-and-coming’ member of the team.Practice head(s):
Richard Jeens
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Across the team, the intellectual calibre and focus of the lawyers is outstanding, meaning that advice is comprehensive, clear and always on-point, even when matters involve complex technical points. The level of responsiveness is exceptional.’
‘Richard Jeens is a reassuring presence and effective leader. Serina Lyons is very efficient, responsive, and diligent.’
‘Richard Jeens and Chris Sharpe have led for us and have done a tremendous job. Richard is unflappable, extremely strategic and a very adept communicator. Chris is very strong on the technical pensions law aspects whilst also being very commercial in his approach.’
‘Excellent support has been provided to us by very capable associate Rachel Hunter.’
‘Sandy Maudgil is the walking encyclopaedia of all things pensions – very impressive.’
‘Their knowledge and understanding of rail industry pensions coupled with their advice and assistance is superb.’
‘An excellent, cohesive team with deep technical legal knowledge allied to a commercial mindset and a focus on working collaboratively with clients.’
‘Richard Jeens is the standout partner. The very able Serina Lyons is also up-and-coming.’
Key clients
Trustee of the BT Pension Scheme
Trustees of the Ford Pension Schemes
Trustees of the Marks and Spencer Pension Scheme
Railways Pension Trustee Company Limited, the Trustee of the Railways Pension Scheme
Trustee of the BBC Pension Scheme
Work highlights
- Advised Railways Pension Trustee Company Limited, the Trustee of the industry-wide Railways Pension Scheme in relation to Part 8 High Court claim over contributions provisions, and a connected investigation by the Pensions Regulator.
- Advised the BBC Pension Scheme on the Part 8 claim brought by the BBC regarding the BBC’s ability to make changes to future service benefits under the power of amendment in the Trust Deed and Rules of the Scheme.
- Acted for the Trustees of the BT Pension Scheme, Ford Pension Schemes and Marks and Spencer Pension Scheme in relation to the judicial review of the UK Statistics Authority’s decision to align RPI with CPIH from 2030.
Finance > Corporate restructuring & insolvency Tier 2
Forming an integral part of the firm’s blue-chip corporate and banking offerings, Slaughter and May‘s ‘exceptional’ restructuring team is best-known for its ability to provide ‘top-notch advice on large and complex UK situations’. In this context, the team, which is led by the ‘experienced, hardworking and smart’ Ian Johnson, is particularly accomplished at handling work in listed situations, both for Plcs as debtors, as well as acquirers of distressed debt. Johnson is also adept at handling work for beleaguered retail financial services entities in the unique challenges faced with their insolvencies, as well as frequently being used as a sounding board for central governments and central banks. The ‘extremely experienced’ Tom Vickers is ‘calm in a crisis’ and has a versatile practice that also includes some creditor work for banking clients. At an associate level, Evelyn Fleming is ‘technically strong and has great case management skills’.Practice head(s):
Ian Johnson
Other key lawyers:
Tom Vickers; Claire Cooke; Tim Newey; Joshua Bauernfreund; Ed Couzens; Evelyn Fleming
Testimonials
‘A technically strong team that connects well with the wider firm to deliver great client service.’
‘The exceptional team applies its commercial acumen incredibly well to utilising the law to achieve the commercial intent of their clients.’
‘Highly polished, very experienced, especially in listed situations. Top-notch debtor advice on large and complex UK situations.’
‘The very experienced, hardworking and smart Ian Johnson is calm in a crisis and well respected by other lawyers and advisers.’
‘Tom Vickers is extremely experienced, calm in a crisis and highly versatile.’
‘The exceptional Claire Cooke has first-rate subject matter knowledge which she applies to deliver commercial solutions in complex situations.’
‘Evelyn Fleming is technically strong and has great case management skills.’
Key clients
Cineworld Group
ASOS
NEXT plc
McBride plc
Interserve
Grant Thornton
NSF
Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch
Atlas Mara Limited
AlixPartners
Silicon Valley Bank
Work highlights
- Advising Cineworld Group plc on the Chapter 11 cases for its US, UK and Jersey businesses.
- Advised Silicon Valley Bank UK on the consequences for its own financial position following its parent, Silicon Valley Bank, being placed into receivership by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Bank of England subsequently announcing it intended to place SVBUK into a Bank Insolvency Procedure.
- Advised NEXT plc on the acquisition of the majority of Joules’ assets out of administration by a newly formed joint venture between NEXT and Joules’ founder, Tom Joule.
Finance > Debt capital markets Tier 2
Slaughter and May has 'a strong team that has a good knowledge of the market'. The firm is a market-leading adviser to issuer clients, particularly those listed in the UK, on debt issuance. Indeed, over the last three years the firm has acted for more FTSE250 issuer clients than any other firm. Its clients come from a vast range of sectors, and among them are pharma giant, GlaxoSmithKline, energy companies Drax and Norsk Hydro, and charity International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm). Newly appointed practice head Caroline Phillips has a strong financial institution issuer client base. She acted for Standard Chartered Plc on the update of its $77.5bn debt issuance programme. Matthew Tobin frequently assists Westpac Banking Corporation and its New Zealand-incorporated subsidiary, Westpac New Zealand Limited with DCM transactions. He also worked with key partners Edward Fife and Kevin Howes on IFFIm's £250m debt offering. Guy O’Keefe handled the update of Euroclear Bank's €20bn certificate of deposit programme. Robert Byk is 'a great negotiator' and emerging partner talent Charlie McGarel-Groves is 'very competent, knows the markets well and is pleasant to work with'.Practice head(s):
Caroline Phillips
Other key lawyers:
Matthew Tobin; Kevin Howes; Peaches Stanforth; Edward Fife; Guy O’Keefe; Robert Byk; Charlie McGarel-Groves
Testimonials
‘A strong team that has a good knowledge of the market.’
‘Robert Byk is a great negotiator.’
‘Charlie McGarel-Groves is very competent, knows the markets well and is pleasant to work with.’
Key clients
Aviva
BUPA
Diageo
GlaxoSmithKline
International Finance Facility for Immunisation
Just Group
Land Securities
Norsk Hydro
Santander
United Utilities
Westpac
Work highlights
- Advised Aviva Plc on its first public issue of £500,000,000 Fixed Rate Restricted Tier 1 Notes.
- Advised International Finance Facility for Immunisation in respect of an issuance of £250m three-year fixed rate vaccine bonds in July, which marked IFFIm’s first GBP issuance since 2009.
- Advised Norsk Hydro ASA on the establishment of its EUR5bn Euro Medium Term Note Programme, including broad and innovative optionality to issue green notes and sustainability-linked notes in line with Hydro’s green and sustainability-linked financing framework
Industry focus > TMT Tier 2
Work highlights
Projects, energy and natural resources > Infrastructure: Project finance and development Tier 2
Active on large and high profile international work with the quality and capability to undertake novel, complex mandates, Slaughter and May‘s infrastructure team continues to make a strong impression on the market with a wide coverage of asset types. Although Michael Corbett helms the infrastructure practice, his focus on M&A allows Azadeh Nassiri to lead a large number of financing and development matters, with a strong and well-rounded understanding of the project financing piece and working on substantial energy builds, including one of the world’s largest vertically-integrated green hydrogen projects in Namibia. Steven Galbraith leverages over 30 years of experience to competently guide financial institutions, private equity enterprises and governments on a range of infrastructure developments, most notably oil and gas, while Richard Todd lends considerable critical regulatory knowledge to a range of projects. Samay Shah is also recommended.Practice head(s):
Michael Corbett
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
BlackRock
Government of the Republic of Botswana
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (advising in conjunction with Mazars Croatia)
Everton FC
Ferrovial
Hyphen Hydrogen
Interserve
Suez SA
Therme
UK Infrastructure Bank
Drax
Marubeni Europower Limited
YTL Arena
Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Viridor
Spirit Energy
Kellas Midstream
General Electric
VPI Holding Limited
Work highlights
- Advising Hyphen Hydrogen Energy (“Hyphen”) on its green hydrogen project in Namibia, which aims to generate 5 gigawatts of renewable energy, while producing an estimated 300,000 tonnes of green hydrogen per year for regional and global markets.
- Instructed by Marubeni Europower Limited to advise on all aspects of their new green hydrogen project in Bridgend, Wales, including construction, Government support, hydrogen offtake, power purchase and joint venture arrangement.
- Advising Spirit Energy on its proposed CO2 cluster project involving its infrastructure at South Morecambe and North Morecambe gas fields and Barrow onshore gas terminal, set to be one of the largest carbon storage and hydrogen production clusters in the UK.
Projects, energy and natural resources > Oil and gas Tier 2
Known as a ‘very strong team with superb communication and commercial advice’, Slaughter and May handles large-scale transactions and projects arising out of the oil & gas sectors and remains particularly strong on corporate M&A matters. Hywel Davies leads the team, with his practice emphasising both public and private M&A, and joint ventures in the sector. Project finance expert Steven Galbraith is another important point of contact.Practice head(s):
Hywel Davies
Other key lawyers:
Steven Galbraith; Oly Moir; Alex Dustan
Testimonials
‘Slaughter & May have unmatched experience on M&A, corporate and financing matters relevant to mining companies. They have advised us on mining matters over the last two decades and have been nothing short of excellent. They have smart people who delivery commercially focused solutions.’
‘Alex Dustan is exceptionally smart and provides great service.’
‘Excellent awareness of the sector, great legal and commercial knowledge. Able to anticipate and pre-empt complex challenges. Good practical solutions adopted, with very pragmatic approach.’
‘Hywel Davies. First class lawyer.’
‘The strength of the team is their ability to see and understand the broader commercial framework and requirements such that the advice they provide is appropriate and covers all the different aspects of the work. The team also have seamless access to other practices within Slaughter and May such that other specific legal or commercial points can be quickly addressed.’
‘We have worked closely with Hywel Davies the senior partner in the practice and he has shown the breadth of both legal knowledge and corporate requirements set against his wider understanding of the commercial and economic demands. He has been supported by Oliver Moir.’
‘Very strong team, with superb communication and commercial advice. Level of professionalism exhibited by all lawyers we have dealt with at S&M is second to none. Easy advisor to work with and can get on with work scopes involved whilst maintaining focus on commerciality and service to client. On the more expensive end of the scale for legal advice, but we have seen that you get what you pay for and cannot fault them on any of the projects we have worked on together, on the contrary they have significantly assisted in certain projects, so it is a worthwhile investment.’
‘Oly Moir has incredible attention to detail for a partner and a very hands-on attitude. Capable of knowing the detail and also re-focusing on the key commercial requirements to assess the impact of potential issues. Very organised and excellent communication. Hywel Davies – superb industry and public markets knowledge.’
Key clients
Alpha Petroleum
BHP Group
BlackRock
Capricorn
Centrica
INEOS
Trafigura
Equion Energia
PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited
Seadrill
Kosmos
Shell Plc
Genel
Repsol
BlueNord (formerly Noreco)
Waldorf Production Limited
Spirit Energy
VPI
Kellas Midstream
Valaris Plc
Work highlights
Projects, energy and natural resources > Power (including electricity, nuclear and renewables) Tier 2
Slaughter and May’s practice is known for its abilities advising on the full gamut of projects across the energy space. It is co-headed by Michael Corbett and Hywel Davies and advises on the acquisition, financing and development of key projects spanning the sector, including solar PV, battery storage, offshore wind and green hydrogen, with which the team has a focus on the African market. Additionally, the team is equipped to assist with regulatory matters, particularly regarding new nuclear, carbon capture and storage. ‘Absolute superstar’ Oly Moir stands out for his capabilities handling large-scale projects in international contexts and Richard Todd is also noted for his ‘deep experience in project finance’. Another noteworthy individual is Daniel Mewton, who is described as ‘the most exceptional associate’.Practice head(s):
Michael Corbett; Hywel Davies
Other key lawyers:
Richard Todd; Oly Moir; Daniel Mewton; Azadeh Nassiri; Iain McCann; Tom Inker; Chloe Halloran; Jodi Haigh
Testimonials
‘Richard Todd and Daniel Mewton are outstanding in their field. Both have a real ‘can do, will do’ attitude to understanding both client needs and turning aspirations into opportunities and solutions.’
‘Oly Moir is an absolute superstar and will dominate the energy space in years to come. His knowledge base is wide and he is on the pulse of all relevant legal issues in a complicated and ever-changing sector. Iain McCann is one to watch as an associate and is a sure-fire partner of the future.’
‘An exceptional team experienced in working on large-scale green hydrogen projects. They have an exceptional depth of knowledge and are very solution-oriented.’
‘Richard Todd has deep experience in project finance, particularly in transacting in Africa, which requires maturity and cultural sensitivity.’
‘Daniel Mewton is the most exceptional associate that I have ever worked with – he has in-depth knowledge and exceptional drafting skills supplemented by an ability to generate the highest quality content in very short periods of time.’
‘Richard Todd is great at thinking on his feet and finding innovative solutions; Tom Inker is exceptional at spotting the issues and suggesting mitigations; Chloe Halloran has great market knowledge; and Jodi Haigh has great attention-to-detail.’
‘The team goes above and beyond to help its clients progress. On a day-to-day basis, the team has vast knowledge of financing transactions, with global context and networks to tap into for support where needed.’
‘The team has quick understanding of the context, a professional approach and fast delivery on iterations. Communication is clear and availability is high. Additional commentary is also shared on legal documents for clarity to both the client and future legal counsel.’
Key clients
BlackRock
Centrica
ContourGlobal
Drax
Deep Wind Offshore AS
Hyphen Hydrogen Energy
INEOS
Marubeni Europower
Octopus Renewables
Viridor
Schroders Plc
Trilantic Europe
UK Infrastructure Bank
Vitol / VPI
Ørsted Wind Power A/S
Spirit Energy Limited
Kellas Midstream
Work highlights
- Advising Hyphen Hydrogen Energy on its plan to construct and operate one of the world’s largest vertically-integrated green hydrogen projects in Namibia.
- Advised in connection with Octopus Energy Development Partnership’s acquisition of a 24% stake in Exagen Group Limited, a developer of large-scale solar and battery facilities which help bring energy security.
- Advising Ørsted in connection with their offshore wind farm projects and related power purchase arrangements.
Real estate > Commercial property: development Tier 2
With ‘thorough knowledge of acting for tenants in taking large occupational space for headquarters’, Slaughter and May is particularly well-versed in sport development projects. Head of the team Jane Edwarde boasts a stellar client roster of corporate occupier clients, including Arsenal, Everton and M&S, to name a few. Praised as ‘outstanding’, John Nevin and ‘standout associate’ Simon Bartle are entrusted by an assortment of law firms for headquarter moves, while Mark Gulliford, who is commended as ‘exceptional’, is another key contact in the group.Practice head(s):
Jane Edwarde
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘They have excellent technical knowledge with a commercial approach to problem-solving. There is a high quality level of both junior and senior staff.’
‘Mark Gulliford has excellent technical knowledge, high quality service provision to tight timescales, and commercial advice with an awareness of wider client considerations.’
Key clients
Arsenal
Clothworkers’ Company
Derwent London
Elysian Residences
Everton
Equinix
Fishmonger’s Company
Gamuda Berhad
Halsbury Homes
Legal & General
Lendlease
London Resort Company Holdings
Masterworks
MTR Corporation
NTT Urban Development Corporation
Ocado
Therme Group
Work highlights
- Advising the Derwent London and Lazari Investments joint venture on the mixed-use redevelopment of 50 Baker Street, London W1.
- Advising Therme Group on its Therme Manchester development, a new wellbeing resort in Trafford City.
- Advising Everton on the development of its new 52,000-seat stadium at Bramley‑Moore Dock and also on the future redevelopment of Goodison Park.
TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Fintech Tier 2
Working with established fintech players and new disruptors alike, a number of neobanks, insuretechs, payment service providers, financial regulatory bodies, and financial data companies engage Slaughter and May for assistance with various strategically important projects. Rob Sumroy - co-head of the practice - manages a varied workload which includes good governance and compliance-related advice for fast-scaling fintechs. Fellow co-head James Cook is equipped to advise across a wide range of corporate matters, from business establishment to listings, while UK payments and e-money expert David Shone rounds out the leadership team. Regulatory expert Jan Putnis‘ contentious and non-contentious capabilities are called upon by heavyweights in the space, while Tim Fosh is noted for his expertise in transactional structuring and the UK bank ring-fencing regime.Practice head(s):
Rob Sumroy; James Cook; David Shone
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Wise
Stripe
Checkout.com
Revolut
Monzo
OakNorth
DoJo Paymentsense
Jeeves
Credit Karma
Zodia
Klarna
PrimaryBid
TrueLayer
Alpha FX
Y Tree Limited
Aztec Protocol
Bud Financial
TreasurySpring
FNZ
Novus
Uncapped
By Miles
Saltpay (now Teya)
Coinbase
Zopa
As investors in fintech:
SC Ventures
SoftBank Vision Fund
Ripplewood
Farallon
Euroclear
abrdn
Omers Ventures
Balderton Capital
Cocoa Y
Silicon Valley Bank (now HSBC Innovation Banking)
Work highlights
- Advised Wise on a range of legal and regulatory assignments this year, including the launch of its investment product in the UK and Europe and governance-related matters.
- Advised TreasurySpring on the establishment as well as contractual arrangements in relation to its treasury investment platform.
- Advised Klarna on a range of legal and regulatory assignments as it pursues its strategic expansion in the UK.
Crime, fraud and licensing > Fraud: civil Tier 3
Experts on the interplay between civil and criminal fraud, Slaughter and May works in close tandem with its global investigations group to represent major corporates, financial institutions and governments. Leading the practice is Richard Swallow who is joined by Jonathan Cotton, a specialist in disputes involving wrongdoing who regularly advises on extractive frauds, information theft and accounting frauds misrepresentations. Efstathios Michael leverages his knowledge and expertise in commercial litigation and insurance to advise high-profile clients, while Damian Taylor is another practitioner of note, advising leading banks in international arbitration matters. In addition, Peter Wickham provides considerable knowledge in the area of energy and natural resources disputes, and Megan Sandler specialises in commercial dispute resolution.Practice head(s):
Richard Swallow
Other key lawyers:
Tahlia Brysha-Pullen; Efstathios Michael; Damian Taylor; Peter Wickham; Megan Sandler
Testimonials
‘Expertise, dedication, collaboration.’
‘Amazing profile – and top of the tree for the most demanding civil fraud cases. What sets Slaughters apart is the sheer extraordinarily high quality of lawyers from top to bottom. Would unhesitatingly recommend them.’
‘Jonathan Cotton – brilliant and lovely. Damian Taylor – incredibly talented lawyer.’
‘This is perhaps among the top litigation practices in England. Totally top tier. The Manchester City of litigators. Everyone is brilliant and committed. They also care about their client and will do whatever it takes to assist. Deep thinkers and brilliant operators. Really unmatched, in my experienced.’
‘Efstatious Michael, Richard Swallow and Jonathan Cotton. These are all terrifically talented people. Everyone is properly street smart and will fight the client’s corner to the end. The hard work and sheer brain power make this team stand out.’
‘I have worked with Slaughter and May on a large number of matters and they are consistently impressive. Their partners have tremendous knowledge and experience (both sector-specific and in relation to litigation) and are thoughtful, tactical and innovative. Their associates are very talented and, in contrast to many other firms, their associates are expected to and do contribute substantively to tactical and legal issues.’
Key clients
Credit Suisse AG, Credit Suisse International and Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Limited
Former director of Patisserie Valerie
Work highlights
- Acting for Credit Suisse in multiple claims arising from US$2 billion “tuna bond scandal”.
- Advising a former non-executive director of Patisserie Holdings plc (the holding company for Patisserie Valerie) following the October 2018 announcement to the market of material fraudulent misstatements in the company’s accounts.
Dispute resolution > International arbitration Tier 3
Slaughter and May has 'one of the most experienced and intelligent arbitration teams in London'. The practice has extensive experience in large-scale arbitrations under all the major institutional rules. It also acts in arbitration-related court proceedings in the English and overseas courts. James Stacey focuses on international commercial arbitrations; Damian Taylor 'fights an incredible fight'; Efstathios Michael acts in energy sector disputes; and Jonathan Clark routinely acts in substantial arbitrations. The next line of key practitioners features Peter Wickham, who is 'making a huge name for himself'; and recently-promoted commercial dispute resolution partner Megan Sandler.Practice head(s):
James Stacey; Damian Taylor
Other key lawyers:
Efstathios Michael; Jonathan Clark; Peter Wickham; Megan Sandler; Smriti Sriram
Testimonials
‘One of the most experienced and intelligent arbitration teams in London. Understated and with exceptional-quality associates, who are standouts in their fields.’
‘Damian Taylor – a partner who clients love, and who fights an incredible fight. Someone clients want in their corner.’
‘James Stacey – to his clients and team, he is a hardworking gentleman, while to his opponents he is equally smooth, but disarmingly effective.’
‘James Stacey has superb strategic vision and client management skills.’
‘Efstathios Michael is the best in the business, and Megan Sandler is a new partner and total superstar’.
‘Peter Wickham – a new partner who is making a huge name for himself. Winning cases left, right and centre. He is switched on, commercial and personable.’
‘Absolute stellar team and practice – for the highest value/most intellectually demanding arbitration, Slaughters is at the very top of the tree.’
‘Remarkable quality from top to bottom.’
Employment > Employers Tier 3
Slaughter and May is recommended for its M&A-linked employment work, as well as restrictive covenant enforcement and board-level appointments and terminations advice. Practice head Charles Cameron handles covenant negotiations and pension-related matters. Also central to the team are the senior employees and whistleblowing investigations-focussed Phil Linnard and ‘first class lawyer' Philippa O’Malley, who was promoted to partner in May 2023. Padraig Cronin retired in April 2023.Practice head(s):
Charles Cameron
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The employment law team of Slaughter and May does not only have a broad expertise on very high level and landmark transactions on which we have had the occasion to work together, but it is also very reliable in terms of dedication and embracing client’s needs in terms of legal support and advice on overall strategy.’
‘Phil Linnard is a highly valuable expert in employment law. He is incredibly smart and reactive and has a very pragmatic approach that allows meeting client’s needs in the context of complex deals, especially transnational industrial reorganizations.’
‘First-class knowledge. Incredible work ethic, doing whatever it takes to get the deal done on time.’
‘Philippa O’Malley is an excellent lawyer with great commercial awareness and able to present complex issues in a clear way, with good practical solutions.’
‘Great employment law team, professional, always on the ball and very friendly.’
‘They are just the persons to go to in the UK, no doubt, especially Phil Linnard.’
‘I recommend Philippa O’Malley.’
‘Philippa O’Malley has supported us through a public-to-private takeover and many more things in between. She has an extremely calming manner and is clearly a first-class lawyer. Philippa always goes the extra mile and applies proper commercial acumen to her advice. She is first rate.’
Key clients
ASOS plc
Aviva plc
Bupa
De La Rue plc
Diageo
Drax Group plc
Land Securities Group plc
Prudential plc
RSA Insurance Group plc
Whitbread plc
Work highlights
- Advised Ernst & Young LLP on the UK employment aspects of the proposed separation of its audit and consulting businesses, including employment issues relating to TUPE and governance.
- Advised Next plc on the employment aspects of its acquisition out of administration of the majority of the assets of Joules, by a newly formed joint venture between Next and Tom Joule.
- Advised FNZ Group Technologies Ltd on employment issues arising on the sale of financial technology provider GBST and on the subsequent re-acquisition of assets of GBST’s capital markets division.
Finance > Derivatives and structured products Tier 3
Slaughter and May has 'very broad experience of transactions in the market giving the ability to advise on latest developments'. Oliver Wicker and Guy O’Keefe are the key partners in the derivatives and structured products work, and client praise their 'commercial and pragmatic approach with the ability to focus on and resolve key issues quickly'. The firm is a key adviser to high-profile corporate treasury clients on regulatory activities and derivatives matters. Ed Fife advises corporates, governmental entities and financial institutions, among them the Central Bank of Egypt and TreasurySpring Management, on secured lending and derivatives transactions, while Richard Jones (who has 'a good business understanding and is good at driving processes forward') handles derivative and servicing arrangements relating to securitisations.Practice head(s):
Oliver Wicker; Guy O’Keefe
Other key lawyers:
Ed Fife; Jansy Man; Richard Jones
Testimonials
‘The team was appropriately staffed by senior individuals who were dedicated to my matter and provided the perfect level of reactivity. They offered very good value for money and left me entirely satisfied with their services.’
‘Very broad experience of transactions in the market giving the ability to advise on latest developments.’
‘Commercial and pragmatic approach with the ability to focus on and resolve key issues quickly. Approachable and easy to deal with.’
‘The team puts the client at the centre, is knowledgeable, responds on time and provides good value for money in my view.’
‘I appreciate working with Richard Jones. He is knowledgeable, has a good business understanding and is good at driving processes forward.’
‘I worked mainly with Jansy Man. She was very commercial and agile in finding solutions. She understood our concerns immediately and was very reactive.’
Key clients
NewDay
Lendco
Finance > Securitisation Tier 3
The finance practice at Slaughter and May is ‘extremely thorough and knowledgeable, and it almost anticipates the client's needs, so the engagement process is seamless and efficient'. Clients remark that 'transactions are led by the partner, and the firm has a very good understanding of our risk threshold and objectives'. Richard Jones now leads the practice, bringing to bear his experience in credit card, store card, point-of-sale, personal loan, auto loan and mortgage receivables transactions. He worked with associate Xian Wei Yeo to assist NewDay Cards on the issuance of €285m in notes under its master issuer asset-backed notes programme. Versatile finance partners Oliver Wicker, who acted for Lendco Limited as originator of a £384m RMBS, and Guy O’Keefe are central to the practice. Caroline Phillips has a strong track record in trade receivable securitisations.Practice head(s):
Richard Jones
Other key lawyers:
Oliver Wicker; Guy O’Keefe; Caroline Phillips; Xian Wei Yeo
Testimonials
‘Extremely thorough and knowledgeable – they anticipates client needs, so the engagement process is seamless and efficient.’
‘Caroline Phillips and Xian Wei Yeo – extremely knowledgeable, helpful and responsive. A pleasure to work with.’
‘The team we work with on securitisation is technically strong (both in the law and financial concepts), detailed and clear in documentation, practical in finding solutions, thoughtful and forward thinking when evaluating current or anticipated risks to the structures and our firm. A gold standard service.’
‘Transactions are led by the partner. The nature of the relationship means that the firm has a very good understanding of our risk threshold and objectives.’
‘The continuity, knowledge, expertise, commercial mindedness, can-do attitude, problem solving ability and approachable attitude. Nothing compares. I have worked with this firm for 36 years and nothing has changed my view.’
Key clients
Banco Santander
Hyundai Capital
Lendco
NewDay
Paratus
Work highlights
- Advised NewDay on a number of securitisation matters, including on a £317,300,000 issuance by NewDay under its master issuer asset-backed notes programme within its existing Direct to Consumer (D2C) master trust structure.
- Advised Paratus AMC on the establishment and refinancing of various securitisations, including on both the repurchase of the mortgage pool from Mortar No.1 Limited and Mortar No.2 Limited as well as the onward sale of the mortgage pool to Twin Bridges 2022-2 plc and subsequent securitisation of the pool.
- Acted for Lendco Limited on a number of securitisation matters, including as originator and seller in relation to the issuance by Atlas Funding 2022-1 PLC of £384m residential mortgage backed notes, relating to a portfolio of UK buy-to-let residential mortgage loans originated by Lendco Limited.
Industry focus > Life sciences and healthcare Tier 3
The broad team at Slaughter and May handles a range of contentious and non-contentious issues, such as patent disputes, the commercialisation of patent portfolios, and mandates -relating to confidential information. Claire Jackson leads the team alongside Duncan Blaikie; Jackson has a great deal of expertise in corporate matters, often advising clients on demergers and joint ventures, while Blaikie primarily handles IP-related issues, including R&D, licensing and collaboration agreements.Practice head(s):
Claire Jackson; Duncan Blaikie
Key clients
GlaxoSmithKline
Hikma
Thermo Fisher
Novo Nordisk
Bupa
GE Healthcare
Union Medical
Reckitt Benckiser
Immunocore
Oxford Nanopore
Lonza
CSL
Enara Bio
Artha Health Limited
International Finance Facility For Immunisation Company
Mylan
Illumina
Cantel Medical Corp
Varian Medical Systems
Oxford Sciences Enterprises
Bunzl
Afreximbank
Takeda
Virgin Active
Deepmind
GHO Capital
AbbVie
Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics
Givaudan
Ossur
Alexion
Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia
St John Ambulance
ViiV Healthcare
Work highlights
- Advised GSK plc on the separation of its Consumer Healthcare business to form Haleon plc.
- Advised the African Union on all aspects of its program to procure Covid-19 vaccines, over and above the vaccines it is securing through the COVAX Investments Limited facility and other programmes including in respect of all IP issues connected with the procurement.
- Advised GHO Capital with respect to the acquisition of Sterling Pharma.
Investment fund formation and management > Listed funds Tier 3
Work highlights
Real estate > Commercial property: investment Tier 3
With ‘thorough knowledge of acting for tenants in taking large occupational space for headquarters’, Slaughter and May is particularly well-versed in sport development projects. Head of the team Jane Edwarde boasts a stellar client roster of corporate occupier clients, including Arsenal, Everton and M&S, to name a few. Praised as ‘outstanding’, John Nevin and ‘standout associate’ Simon Bartle are entrusted by an assortment of law firms for headquarter moves, while Mark Gulliford, who is commended as ‘exceptional’, is another key contact in the group.Practice head(s):
Jane Edwarde
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘They have excellent technical knowledge with a commercial approach to problem-solving. There is a high quality level of both junior and senior staff.’
‘Mark Gulliford has excellent technical knowledge, high quality service provision to tight timescales, and commercial advice with an awareness of wider client considerations.’
Key clients
Clothworkers’ Company
Derwent London
Fishmongers’ Company
Legal & General
Masterworks
Midlothian Capital Partners
NTT Urban Development Corporation
Work highlights
- Advised Derwent London on the acquisition of City Road Island, the site of the Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL Institute of Opthalmology.
- Advising the John Lewis Partnership on its £500 million residential property investment joint venture with abrdn.
- Advising the Clothworkers’ Company on the grant of a long leasehold interest to AXA IM Alts for a new 36-storey office tower at 50 Fenchurch Street.
Real estate > Construction: non-contentious Tier 3
Slaughter and May engages in complex, large-scale construction and infrastructure projects, including high-stakes “bet the farm” ventures, large stadiums, and fit-out projects. Tom Inker, the head of construction, focuses on extensive projects such as football stadiums and significant infrastructure asset sales and acquisitions. Richard Todd brings expertise in the engineering, construction, and operation and maintenance aspects of major international and domestic projects. Associate Chloe Halloran contributes to the group with her work on large-scale construction projects and significant fit-out works, with particular proficiency in FIDIC contracts.Practice head(s):
Tom Inker
Other key lawyers:
Richard Todd; Chloe Halloran; Jodi Haigh; John Nevin
Testimonials
‘The lead associate, Tom Inker, was excellent. He understood what was needed and was very hands-on in delivering, as well as managing the work of the wider team. In a transaction with a tricky client dynamic, he balanced the needs of all sides with remarkable aplomb and made a significant difference to the transaction as a whole.’
‘Industry knowledge is top-notch. Slaughter & May have lawyers who have different specialisms in a niche marketplace, and they always have (or can find) an answer. They are not above reassessing initial advice and revising it if they feel it necessary, so humility with excellence. Collaboration is excellent.’
‘Well resourced and strength in depth to provide quick advice at very short notice, enabling the client to move forwards. Advice always considers commercial situations and dynamics to ensure that it is appropriate.’
‘Excellent knowledge of our industry, acceptable positions and consideration of risk profile to be able to advise the client. Always available to respond to information and provide information. Ability to pitch responses to the audience.’
‘Very strong market knowledge and great attention to detail. They know the legal and commercial issues and how to fix them.’
‘Richard Todd – great at thinking on his feet and finding innovative solutions. Tom Inker – exceptional at spotting the issues and suggesting mitigations. Chloe Halloran – great market knowledge. Jodi Haigh – great attention to detail.’
‘John Nevin (Partner) is amazing; considered, balanced and supremely knowledgeable. I believe Slaughter & May is genuinely becoming the law firms’ choice of law firm for all things real estate and construction related. This in itself should be the highest praise possible.’
Key clients
Everton Football Club
Ferrovial S.A.
HM Government (Department of Levelling UP, Housing and Communities)
Therme North Limited
Marubeni Europower Limited
Lendlease Construction Europe Limited
Kirkland & Ellis International LLP
Inmarsat Global Limited
Arsenal Football Club
Baker McKenzie
Work highlights
- Advising Everton FC on all procurement and construction aspects (including the interface with the financing) of its ground breaking 52,000 seat stadium project.
- Advising HM Government (Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) (“DLUHC”) on the self-remediation terms to be entered into by major residential property developers and DLUHC.
- Advised Ferrovial on the sale of Amey plc.
Real estate > Environment Tier 3
The team at Slaughter and May, well-regarded for its provision of ‘an exceptional service’ is has senior counsel Samantha Brady at its helm, with support from the ‘outstanding’ sustainability specialist Jeffrey Twentyman and financing-focused Matthew Tobin. Brady is experienced in providing the remit of EHS-related advice to its client portfolio, and is developing the team’s focus on climate change, sustainability and ESG-related work also. A portion of its workload is assisting its clients across industry sectors, namely the energy sector, on environmental risks in their transactions.Practice head(s):
Samantha Brady; Jeffrey Twentyman; Matthew Tobin
Other key lawyers:
Dean Hickey
Testimonials
‘Slaughter and May provide an exceptional service, demonstrating an excellent level of knowledge and understanding of environmental issues.’
‘The team care passionately about the environment and clearly want to use their legal expertise to make a real difference.’
‘Jeffrey Twentyman and Dean Hickey are both outstanding in their professionalism, responsiveness and client care. As well as providing specific legal advice on a range of matters, they were always available to discuss specific challenges we had as a firm.’
‘The team leads regular training sessions for clients to help increase understanding of the legal challenges that organisations need to consider. I cannot recommend them highly enough.’
Key clients
Hyphen Hydrogen Energy
Marshalls plc
Kellas Midstream
Schroders plc
Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market
Essentra plc
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
DS Smith plc
Derwent London plc
Reckitt
Drax
INEOS
Centrica plc
Ferrovial
Burberry
Norsk Hydro ASA
SEGRO plc
Work highlights
- Advising Hyphen Hydrogen Energy on its plan to construct and operate one of the world’s largest vertically-integrated green hydrogen projects in Namibia’s Tsau Khaeb National Park.
- Advised Marshalls plc on its acquisition of Marley Group plc from Inflexion Buyout V Investments LP, Inflexion Supplemental V Investments Limited Partnership in the value of £535m on a cash-free, debt-free basis.
- Advised Hydro on the establishment of its €5bn Medium Term Note Programme and its issuance of two tranches of sustainability-linked bonds.
TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Sport Tier 3
Slaughter and May‘s corporate specialists Andrew Jolly and Mark Zerdin jointly head the sports team, which frequently advises high-profile investors seeking to acquire and invest in top-tier football clubs in England and Europe. The firm also leverages its expertise across data protection, competition law, disputes and IP to assist clients across a diverse range of sports, including F1, rugby, and cycling to name a few. Jolly is a key name to note for football clubs seeking advice on player transfers, while Zerdin frequently works on commercial contracts concerning media companies acquiring the rights to broadcast world competitions. Richard Todd, Jane Edwarde and Tom Inker advise on large-scale stadium construction projects in the worlds of football and cricket.Practice head(s):
Andrew Jolly; Mark Zerdin
Other key lawyers:
Richard Todd, Jane Edwarde; Tom Inker; Hemita Sumanasuriya
Testimonials
‘Extremely high level of care and competence of partners and associates. Also, the intellectual horsepower at all levels of seniority to stay right on top of an extremely complex negotiation.’
‘Calm, thoughtful and intelligent advice at all days and hours. Hemita Sumanasuriya had my absolute trust on all issues, both for their ability to navigate an extremely complex negotiation and the degree to which they cared about my interests as their client.’
‘Excellent knowledge of football club and stadium transactions across firm departments and therefore informed advice taking account of specific risks associated with the sector.’
‘Willingness and ability to answer questions and provide advice at very short notice, and without prior knowledge of the challenge. Differentiated from competitors by quality of advice and ability to communicate that to staff within the client’s organisation.’
‘They have impressive practical knowledge and experience of how the football world works, both at the club and regulator level, whether it relates to acquisitions, stadium construction and finance or the day-to-day issues of running a club. Combined with their usual pragmatism and outstanding transaction execution skills, this makes for a very strong team.’
‘Andrew Jolly is hugely experienced and well-connected in football-related matters. Down to earth, hands-on, able to deliver concise, pragmatic advice. Fun to work with.’
Key clients
INEOS Sport
New Zealand Rugby
Arsenal Football Club
Aston Villa Football Club
Everton Football Club
A.S Roma S.P.A
Marylebone Cricket Club
ITV
Boat Race Company
Lendlease Construction Europe
Relevent Sports Limited
Work highlights
- Advising INEOS Sport in respect of various football matters.
- Assisting ITV in relation to an investigation launched by the Competition and Markets Authority into companies involved in the production and broadcasting of sports content.
- Supporting Everton Football Club on the construction of the Club’s new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock and the redevelopment of Goodison Park.
Finance > Acquisition finance Tier 4
Led by Matthew Tobin, Slaughter and May‘s borrower-focused generalist financing practice regularly handles acquisition finance mandates for the firm’s impressive roster of FTSE 100 and 250 clients, which are appreciative of its versatility across many different finance products, including TLB, unitranche and loan/high yield bonds. The team also excels at handling public takeover work, an area in which Robert Byk is particularly accomplished and well-versed at handling “certain funds” public bid finance.Practice head(s):
Matthew Tobin
Other key lawyers:
Ed Fife; Robert Byk; Caroline Phillips; Guy O’Keefe; Azadeh Nassiri; Susan Hughes; Claire Cooke; Charlie McGarel-Groves
Key clients
Agility
Coats
Ineos
Schneider
Venus Topco
Work highlights
- Advising Schneider Electric SE on its public offer to acquire the remaining shares in AVEVA plc, at a price of 3100p per share in a deal valuing the whole of AVEVA at around £9.48bn.
- Advising Coats Group plc on a $250m term loan facility agreement in relation to its acquisition of the Texon group, a global leader in premium structural components and materials for the footwear, accessories and apparel industries.
- Advising Agility Public Warehousing Company on the debt financing aspects of its successful acquisition of John Menzies PLC, a British aviation services company.
Industry focus > Retail and consumer Tier 4
Insurance > Insurance and reinsurance litigation Tier 4
Slaughter and May‘s disputes and investigations team includes Efstathios Michael, a go-to adviser for London market and international insurance and reinsurance matters, with extensive experience acting for policyholders, insurers, reinsurers and brokers. His expertise spans policy coverage and interpretation, aggregation, non-disclosure and misrepresentation, brokers’ liability and business interruption issues; the latter is an area in which Damian Taylor further excels.Practice head(s):
Richard Swallow
Other key lawyers:
Efstathios Michael; Damian Taylor; Ewan Brown; Nick Bonsall; Nupur Upadhyay; Alexander Cranstoun
Testimonials
‘They combine a great work ethic with powerful intellectual firepower.’
‘Stellar team spirit and excellent commercial judgement.’
‘Efstathios Michael is an exceptional lawyer who combines humour, knowledge, intellect and sound commercial judgement. He is always an absolute pleasure to work with.’
Nick Bonsall is an outstanding insurance lawyer – highly personable and with great commercial instincts.’
‘Nupur Upadhyay and Alexander Cranstoun are lawyers of high calibre and very personable.’
‘A top insurance and reinsurance litigation firm with quality individuals at partnership level leading up a train of quality associates.’
‘Efstathios Michael is a standout insurance and reinsurance partner who provides first class legal and factual analysis. A stellar performer.’
Key clients
Aviva plc
Zurich Insurance
Work highlights
- Advising Aviva Plc on Covid-19-related business interruption claims.
- Advice to Zurich Insurance on an FOS complaint linked to a high-profile business interruption insurance FCA test case.
Real estate > Property finance Tier 4
Matthew Tobin heads the real estate and sustainable finance practice at Slaughter and May, where he is highly recommended on general corporate financing, including both debt capital markets and bank financing, for borrower clients, acquisition and bid financing, capital markets and securitisation transactions. Ed Fife and Caroline Phillips are the other key banking partners.Practice head(s):
Matthew Tobin
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team retain knowledge very well even though associates rotate on a regular basis. Drafting of documents is very good first time round. Good ability to condense complex concepts in to “plain English” and well versed with market developments.’
‘The team’s unfailing grasp of the commercial issues, and technical construction and design challenges, and detail, was extremely impressive.’
Key clients
Barratt Developments
Derwent London
Dobbies Garden Centres
Fattal Hotels
Halsbury Homes
Landsec
SEGRO plc
Unite Group
Everton
Work highlights
- Advised Barratt Developments plc on the refinancing of the group’s RCF. We also assisted Barratt Developments on its acquisition of Gladman Developments Limited for a total cash consideration of £250m on a debt free and cash free basis.
- Advised Marshalls plc, the UK’s leading hard landscaping, building and roofing products supplier, on the Class 1 acquisition of private equity-owned Marley Group plc for £535 million, financed by an acquisition facility and an equity raise.
- Advised Land Securities Plc with the update of their commercial paper programme, primarily to facilitate a change in the Agent from HSBC to Deutsche Bank, as well as Land Securities Capital Markets Plc (the issuance vehicle of Land Securities Group PLC) on the issuance of its inaugural £400 million green bond.
TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property: trade marks, copyright and design Tier 4
Noted for its ‘business orientated’ mindset, Slaughter and May acts for both established technology companies, as well as tech-based disruptors, on IP issues and disputes, often in relation to cutting edge issues. David Ives spearheads the practice, with experience in dispute resolution and commercial IP arrangements, as well as IP enforcement and protection strategy. Duncan Blaikie’s expertise in the life sciences sector bolsters the practice, while Rob Sumroy’s strength lies in the digital, technology and innovation sectors. Laura Houston is another name to note in the practice.Practice head(s):
David Ives
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team is available and responsive; they provide excellent legal analysis and operational recommendations.’
‘The lawyers are very involved and business orientated.’
‘Outstanding ability to analyse problems and devise highly effective, commercially appropriate solutions.’
‘Laura Houston has an outstanding ability to analyse problems and devise highly effective and commercially appropriate solutions. Superb ability to adapt approach to the nature of the client organisation.’
‘They leave no stone unturned in seeking out the best possible options available to their clients.’
‘The individuals are very knowledgeable and extremely proactive. Nothing is too much trouble in terms of identifying the most appropriate course of action.’
Key clients
Virgin Group
Reckitt Benckiser
Richemont International S.A
SoundMouse Limited
Afreximbank SAE
INEOS Holdings
General Electric Company of America
Ouster
Vodafone
Essentra
Micro Focus
Schneider Electric
Allianz
FNZ
Bloomsbury Publishing
Work highlights
- Advising the Virgin Group on a number of matters arising in connection with their trade mark licence with the Virgin Active business, including advising on an update to the TMLA relating to royalty concessions in respect of Virgin Active’s South African business as the last of the measures coming out of Virgin Active’s restructuring.
- Advising Richemont International S.A. (Richemont) on the licensing of its brand IP, management of IP infringement risks and issues, and the development of bespoke technology platform and front-end webpages underpinning the dual re-platforming of its Maisons and its YOOX Net-a-Porter S.p.A businesses (YNAP), onto the industry-leading Farfetch e-commerce platform.
- Advising the African Union on all aspects of its program to procure COVID-19 vaccines, over and above the vaccines they are securing through the COVAX Investments Limited facility and other programmes including in respect of all IP issues connected with the procurement.
Corporate and commercial > Private equity: transactions – high-value deals (£250m+) Tier 5
Counting a number of PE firms and portfolio companies among its client roster, Slaughter and May regularly handles upper mid-market deals, including acquisitions, secondaries, and majority investments. Practice co-chair Harry Bacon is a highly active adviser who works with some of the world’s largest asset managers on strategic transactions. Fellow co-chair Filippo de Falco, noted for his southern European expertise, advises both sponsors and management teams on a host of multi-jurisdictional deals, sometimes working in conjunction with experienced corporate partner Paul Mudie. Other key figures in the practice include Robin Ogle, whose recent highlights include high-value consortium investment deals. Insurance specialist Robert Chaplin left the firm for Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP in August 2022.Practice head(s):
Harry Bacon; Filippo de Falco
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
BlackRock
Blackstone Tactical Opportunities
Corsair Capital
Fortress Investment Group LLC
GHO Capital
HPS Investment Partners
Investindustrial
Palamon Capital Partners
Pollen Street Capital
Trill Impact
Varde Partners
Work highlights
- Advised BlackRock Real Assets on its consortium investment in Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited.
- Advising Nucleus Clyde Acquisition Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nucleus Financial Platforms Limited, and HPS Investment Partners as a major shareholder of the Nucleus group, on the recommended cash acquisition of Curtis Banks Group PLC.
- Advised Inflexion Private Equity Partners and the founders of the Goat Agency on its acquisition by WPP plc.
Real estate > Planning Tier 5
The planning department of Slaughter and May’s real estate practice handles a range of transactional work, from property acquisitions and disposals to HQ relocations. Led by Richard Keczkes, the planning group advises clients on both transactional and development work across various sectors. Jane Edwarde is head of real estate at the firm, assisting clients with all aspects of real estate, including planning.Practice head(s):
Richard Keczkes; Jane Edwarde
Testimonials
‘Extremely accommodating and well-rounded team.’
‘The team has a unique ability to distil very complex transactions and issues into simple language, and, as a consequence, we have managed to complete a number of complex, high-value transactions without delay and difficulty.’
‘Knowledgeable delivery of valuable advice.’
‘Clear, concise advice with good explanation of implications.’
Key clients
Arsenal FC
Clifford Chance
The Clothworkers’ Company
Derwent London
Diageo
Elysian Residences
Equinix
Everton FC
Ferrovial
The Fishmongers’ Company
Halsbury Homes
IPI Partners LLC
John Lewis Partnership
Legal & General
Marks & Spencer
Ocado
Octopus Renewables
Therme Group
Work highlights
- Advised John Lewis Partnership on its £500m long-term joint venture with abrdn to develop 1,000 new homes at John Lewis properties in Bromley, West Ealing and Reading.
- Advised Marks and Spencer on its called-in planning application to demolish and rebuild its flagship Marble Arch store.
- Advised Derwent London on its acquisition and proposals to comprehensively redevelop the 2.5 acre site of Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL’s Institute of Ophthalmology.
Slaughter and May > Firm Profile
Slaughter and May is a leading international law firm advising on high-profile and groundbreaking transactions and disputes around the world. The firm has a global reputation for being elite in what we do – providing clients with a professional service of the highest calibre, combining technical excellence with commercial awareness and a practical, constructive approach to legal issues.
Our approach: Three key features of our approach differentiate us: our client focus, our multi-specialism and our international approach.
We put the needs of our clients centre stage and are client, rather than product, focused. Understanding, anticipating and satisfying their individual legal needs is, for us, a priority. This commitment, combined with our in-depth knowledge and experience across their industries, allows us to deliver the highest level of service.
Our lawyers are multi-specialist, equipped to handle a broad range of matters. This versatility enables us to field fewer people for each matter, which gives clients a single point of contact with whom they can build a close working relationship.
The majority of our work is cross-border in nature and we work across the globe. Our approach is shaped by the belief that complex, high-profile matters need first-class legal expertise and we can deliver that to clients wherever they need it.
Other offices: Beijing, Brussels, Hong Kong
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Senior partner | Steve Cooke | steve.cooke@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7600 1200 |
Asset Management | Paul Dickson | paul.dickson@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3424 |
Banking and Finance | Jan Putnis | jan.putnis@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3211 |
Banking and Finance | Roland Turnill | roland.turnill@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3040 |
Banking and Finance | Nick Bonsall | nick.bonsall@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 4276 |
Capital Markets (Equity) | Rebecca Cousin | rebecca.cousin@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3049 |
Capital Markets (Equity) | Richard Smith | richard.smith@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3386 |
Capital Markets (Debt) | Matthew Tobin | matthew.tobin@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3445 |
Commercial Contracts | Duncan Blaikie | duncan.blaikie@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 4275 |
Commercial Contracts | Richard Todd | richard.todd@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3782 |
Commercial Contracts | Oly Moir | oliver.moir@slaughterandmay.com | +44(0) 20 7090 3307 |
Consumer and Retail | Andy Ryde | andy.ryde@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3480 |
Consumer and Retail | John Papanichola | john.papanichola@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3031 |
Consumer and Retail | Simon Nicholls | simon.nicholls@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3372 |
Consumer and Retail | Sally Wokes | sally.wokes@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 5312 |
Consumer and Retail | Victoria MacDuff | victoria.macduff@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3104 |
Contentious Tax | Dominic Robertson | dominic.robertson@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3848 |
Contentious Tax | Richard Jeens | richard.jeens@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 5281 |
Co-Head of Competition | Bertrand Louveaux | bertrand.louveaux@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 4173 |
Co-Head of Competition | Claire Jeffs | claire.jeffs@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 4031 |
Co-Head of Corporate and M&A | Richard Smith | richard.smith@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3386 |
Co-Head of Corporate and M&A | Simon Nicholls | simon.nicholls@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3372 |
Corporate & Commercial | Richard Smith | richard.smith@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3386 |
Corporate & Commercial | Simon Nicholls | simon.nicholls@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3372 |
Data Privacy | Rob Sumroy | rob.sumroy@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 4032 |
Data Privacy | Rebecca Cousin | rebecca.cousin@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3049 |
Head of Disputes and Investigations | Richard Swallow | richard.swallow@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 4094 |
Environment | Richard Todd | richard.todd@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3782 |
Environment | Samantha Brady | samantha.brady@slaughterandmay.com | +44(0) 20 7090 4279 |
Head of Financing | Philip Snell | philip.snell@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3105 |
Financial Institutions | Jan Putnis | jan.putnis@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3211 |
Financial Institutions | Roland Turnill | roland.turnill@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3040 |
Financial Institutions | Jonathan Marks | jonathan.marks@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3056 |
Financial Regulation | Jan Putnis | jan.putnis@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3211 |
Financial Regulation | Nick Bonsall | nick.bonsall@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 4276 |
Fintech | Rob Sumroy | rob.sumroy@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 4032 |
Fintech | James Cook | james.cook@slaughterandmay.com | +44(0) 20 7090 4216 |
Global Investigations | Jonathan Cotton | jonathan.cotton@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 4090 |
Global Investigations | Ewan Brown | ewan.brown@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 4480 |
Government | Robin Ogle | robin.ogle@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3118 |
Healthcare, Pharma and Life Sciences | David Johnson | david.johnson@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3385 |
Healthcare, Pharma and Life Sciences | Simon Nicholls | simon.nicholls@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3372 |
Healthcare, Pharma and Life Sciences | Claire Jackson | claire.jackson@slaughterandmay.com | +44(0) 20 7090 5089 |
Industrial Products and Services | Andy Ryde | andy.ryde@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3480 |
Industrial Products and Services | Robin Ogle | robin.ogle@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3118 |
Industrial Products and Services | Richard Smith | richard.smith@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3386 |
Infrastructure and Energy | Hywel Davies | hywel.davies@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3102 |
Infrastructure and Energy | Michael Corbett | michael.corbett@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3431 |
Insurance | Jonathan Marks | jonathan.marks@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3056 |
Head of IP/IT | David Ives | david.ives@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 4266 |
Litigation | Richard Swallow | richard.swallow@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 4094 |
Media & Telecoms | Roland Turnill | roland.turnill@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3040 |
Media & Telecoms | Paul Dickson | paul.dickson@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3424 |
Media & Telecoms | Victoria MacDuff | victoria.macduff@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3104 |
Media & Telecoms | Claire Jeffs | claire.jeffs@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 4031 |
Outsourcing | Rob Sumroy | rob.sumroy@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 4032 |
Pensions, Employment and Incentives | Charles Cameron | charles.cameron@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 5086 |
Pensions, Employment and Incentives | Padraig Cronin | padraig.cronin@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3415 |
Pensions, Employment and Incentives | Phil Linnard | philip.linnard@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3961 |
Pensions, Employment and Incentives | Sandeep Maudgil | sandeep.maudgil@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 5408 |
Private Equity | Harry Bacon | harry.bacon@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3258 |
Private Equity | Filippo de Falco | filippo.defalco@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 5335 |
Head of Real Estate | Jane Edwarde | jane.edwarde@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 5095 |
Risk & Business Transformation | Andrew Jolly | andrew.jolly@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3034 |
Risk & Business Transformation | Jeff Twentyman | jeffrey.twentyman@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3476 |
Risk & Business Transformation | Matthew Tobin | matthew.tobin@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3445 |
Risk & Business Transformation | Camilla Sanger | camilla.sanger@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 4295 |
Restructuring & Insolvency | Ian Johnson | ian.johnson@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 4732 |
Restructuring & Insolvency | Tom Vickers | Thomas.Vickers@SlaughterandMay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 5311 |
Sport | Mark Zerdin | mark.zerdin@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3134 |
Sport | Andrew Jolly | andrew.jolly@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 3034 |
Head of Tax | Mike Lane | mike.lane@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 5358 |
Tech & Digital | Rob Sumroy | rob.sumroy@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 4032 |
Tech & Digital | Rob Innes | robert.innes@slaughterandmay.com | +44 (0)20 7090 5279 |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
Harry Bacon | Partner; Harry has a broad international practice advising private equity clients and… | View Profile | |
Duncan Blaikie | Partner; Duncan advises clients on a full range of intellectual property, technology… | View Profile | |
Tim Blanchard | Partner; Tim has a broad investigations and contentious regulatory practice, which spans… | View Profile | |
Christian Boney | Partner; Christian has a broad corporate practice, with particular experience in public… | View Profile | |
Nick Bonsall | Partner; Nick is a partner in our Financial Regulation Group and a… | View Profile | |
Ewan Brown | Partner; Ewan is Co-Head of our Global Investigations Group. He has a… | View Profile | |
Robert Byk | Partner; Robert advises on a wide range of banking, finance and corporate… | View Profile | |
Charles Cameron | Partner; Charles advises sponsors, trustees and insurers on corporate pension plans. His… | View Profile | |
Philippe Chappatte | Partner; Philippe has extensive experience of both EU and UK competition law… | View Profile | |
Jonathan Clark | Partner; Jonathan has a strong and varied litigation and investigations practice advising… | View Profile | |
Craig Cleaver | Partner; Craig has a general commercial, corporate finance and financing practice with… | View Profile | |
Natalie Cook | Partner; Natalie has a broad corporate and commercial practice, acting for a… | View Profile | |
James Cook | Partner; James has a broad international corporate and commercial practice, advising on… | View Profile | |
Claire Cooke | Partner; Claire has a broad international financing practice covering acquisition and bid… | View Profile | |
Steve Cooke | Senior Partner; Steve is the Senior Partner of the firm. He headed… | View Profile | |
Michael Corbett | Partner; Michael is the Co-Head of our Infrastructure & Energy Group (I&E).… | View Profile | |
Jonathan Cotton | Partner; Jonny is Co-Head of our Global Investigations Group. For over 25… | View Profile | |
Rebecca Cousin | Partner; Rebecca is Head of our Equity Capital Markets practice and Co-Head… | View Profile | |
Padraig Cronin | Partner; Padraig has been a partner at the firm since 2001. His… | View Profile | |
Hywel Davies | Partner; Hywel has advised on a wide range of corporate and commercial… | View Profile | |
Paul Dickson | Partner; Paul has a broad practice covering a range of corporate and… | View Profile | |
Alexander Dustan | Partner; Alex advises on a broad range of corporate and commercial transactions,… | View Profile | |
Steve Edge | Senior Consultant; Steve, who qualified with Slaughter and May in 1975, acts… | View Profile | |
Jane Edwarde | Partner; Jane is head of the real estate team. She advises in… | View Profile | |
Ed Fife | Partner; Ed advises borrower clients across a range of vanilla and structured… | View Profile | |
Deborah Finkler | Managing Partner; As our Managing Partner, Deborah works closely with our Senior… | View Profile | |
Steven Galbraith | Partner; Steven has a broad financing, infrastructure and energy practice including extensive… | View Profile | |
Simon Hall | Partner; Simon has been involved in a wide range of commercial transactions.… | View Profile | |
Harry Hecht | Partner; Harry has a broad corporate practice, both transactional and advisory, with… | View Profile | |
Laura Houston | Partner; Laura advises clients on the full spectrum of IP, tech and… | View Profile | |
Susan Hughes | Partner; Susan has a broad financing practice covering acquisition finance, general bank… | View Profile | |
Robert Innes | Partner; Rob has broad corporate and corporate finance experience, with a focus… | View Profile | |
David Ives | Partner; David’s practice covers Intellectual Property, Technology, Outsourcing, and Sport. He is… | View Profile | |
Claire Jackson | Partner; Claire has a broad corporate and corporate finance practice, advising on… | View Profile | |
Richard Jeens | Partner; Richard has a broad, multi-jurisdictional disputes practice covering high profile commercial… | View Profile | |
Claire Jeffs | Partner; Claire is Co-Chair of the Competition Group globally and works in… | View Profile | |
Ian Johnson | Partner; Ian heads our Restructuring and Insolvency group and advises across the… | View Profile | |
David Johnson | Partner; David heads one of the firm’s corporate groups and has over… | View Profile | |
Andrew Jolly | Partner; Andrew undertakes a broad range of corporate and corporate finance work.… | View Profile | |
Richard Jones | Partner; Richard has a wide-ranging financing practice covering bank lending, debt capital… | View Profile | |
Gayathri Kamalanathan | Partner; Gayathri has extensive experience of handling complex domestic and cross-border investigations… | View Profile | |
Mike Lane | Partner; Mike is Head of our Tax practice. He has extensive experience… | View Profile | |
Philip Linnard | Partner; Phil Linnard has been a partner since 2017, and advises across… | View Profile | |
Bertrand Louveaux | Partner; Bertrand is Co-Chair of the Competition Group globally and works in… | View Profile | |
Victoria MacDuff | Partner; Victoria has a broad corporate practice and advises on all forms… | View Profile | |
Jonathan Marks | Partner; Jonathan is head of one of our corporate groups and our… | View Profile | |
Sandeep Maudgil | Partner; Sandeep advises on a broad variety of pensions and employment-related matters.… | View Profile | |
Charlie McGarel-Groves | Partner; Charlie advises public and private institutions, corporates and sponsors on a… | View Profile | |
Efstathios Michael | Partner; Efstathios is a partner with a broad-ranging international commercial litigation (including… | View Profile | |
Gareth Miles | Partner; Gareth’s practice covers all direct taxes, stamp duties and value added… | View Profile | |
Oliver Moir | Partner; Oly is a member of our infrastructure, energy and natural resources… | View Profile | |
Paul Mudie | Partner; Paul has a wide range of corporate and commercial experience. His… | View Profile | |
Azadeh Nassiri | Partner; Azadeh has a broad financing practice covering acquisition and general bank… | View Profile | |
John Nevin | Partner; John has considerable experience in a wide range of real estate… | View Profile | |
Simon Nicholls | Partner; Simon is co-head of our Corporate and M&A group. His principal… | View Profile | |
Guy O'Keefe | Partner; Guy has a wide ranging practice which covers banking, capital markets… | View Profile | |
Robin Ogle | Partner; Robin is active in our corporate and asset management practice and… | View Profile | |
Nicholas Pacheco | Partner; Nick is a partner in our Corporate Group and a member… | View Profile | |
John Papanichola | Partner; John has a broad corporate and corporate finance practice. He has… | View Profile | |
Caroline Phillips | Partner; Caroline has a broad international practice covering banking, capital markets, securitisation,… | View Profile | |
Jan Putnis | Partner; Jan is Head of our Financial Regulation Group and co-Head of… | View Profile | |
Dominic Robertson | Partner; Dominic advises a wide range of businesses on all areas of… | View Profile | |
Andy Ryde | Partner; Andy was Head of our Corporate and M&A Practice from 2014… | View Profile | |
Camilla Sanger | Partner; Camilla has a wide experience of handling complex and substantial disputes… | View Profile | |
Daniel Schaffer | Partner; Dan is a partner in our Pensions Employment & Incentives Group.… | View Profile | |
Samay Shah | Partner; Samay has a broad financing practice covering acquisition finance, general bank… | View Profile | |
Richard Smith | Partner; Richard is co-head of our Corporate and M&A Group. His principal… | View Profile | |
Philip Snell | Partner; Philip has a broad banking and finance practice advising corporates, financial… | View Profile | |
James Stacey | Partner; James is a partner in the Disputes and Investigations Group, and… | View Profile | |
Rob Sumroy | Partner; Rob is a partner in our IP/Tech group and Head of… | View Profile | |
Richard Swallow | Partner; Richard is Head of our Disputes and Investigations Group. Areas of… | View Profile | |
Damian Taylor | Partner; Damian is a partner in the Disputes and Investigations Group and… | View Profile | |
Isabel Taylor | Partner; Isabel has a competition and regulatory practice and advises across a… | View Profile | |
Matthew Tobin | Partner; Matthew is Head of our Debt Capital Markets practice. He advises… | View Profile | |
Richard Todd | Partner; Richard is a member of our infrastructure, energy and natural resources… | View Profile | |
Roland Turnill | Partner; Roland is Co-Head of our Financial Institutions Group and has recently… | View Profile | |
William Turtle | Partner; William is based in London, but spends a significant amount of… | View Profile | |
Jeff Twentyman | Partner; Jeff undertakes a broad range of corporate and commercial work for… | View Profile | |
Tom Vickers | Partner; Tom advises across the full spectrum of restructuring and insolvency matters,… | View Profile | |
Holly Ware | Partner; Holly has a broad practice including commercial, competition and banking litigation… | View Profile | |
David Watkins | Partner; David’s principal areas of practice include mergers and acquisitions of both… | View Profile | |
William Watson | Partner; William’s a partner and his practice covers all UK taxes relevant… | View Profile | |
Oliver Wicker | Partner; Oliver has developed a leading bank and borrower finance practice. He… | View Profile | |
Peter Wickham | Partner; Peter is a partner in the Disputes and Investigations Group and… | View Profile | |
Sally Wokes | Partner; Sally advises on a broad range of corporate and commercial transactions.… | View Profile | |
Lisa Wright | Partner; Lisa advises in relation to all aspects of competition and regulatory… | View Profile | |
Mark Zerdin | Partner; Mark advises on a wide range of transactions for corporates, private… | View Profile | |
Filippo de Falco | Partner; Filippo has a broad corporate practice advising private equity and corporate… | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Partners : 110 Fee earners : 561Comparative Guides
-
United Kingdom: Litigation
Published: July 2023
Authors: Damian TaylorOlga Ladrowska
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of Litigation laws and regulations applicable in United Kingdom.
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Hong Kong: Blockchain
Published: November 2023
Authors: Vincent ChanAriad PoratJonathan Hsu
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of Blockchain laws and regulations applicable in Hong Kong.
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United Kingdom: Blockchain
Published: November 2023
Authors: Duncan BlaikieJames CookTim FoshIan RansonEmily BradleyOllie Cantrill Connor Williamson
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of Blockchain laws and regulations applicable in United Kingdom.
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United Kingdom: Securitisation
Published: March 2024
Authors: Guy O’KeefeOliver WickerRichard JonesDavid ThomasKate Patane
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of Securitisation laws and regulations applicable in United Kingdom.
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2023: A PIVOTAL MOMENT FOR PAYMENTS
Published: November 2023
Authors: Emily Bradley Tim Fosh
- Corporate and commercial > Corporate tax
- Corporate and commercial > EU and competition
- Corporate and commercial > M&A: Upper Mid-Market And Premium Deals, £750m+
- Dispute resolution > Banking litigation: investment and retail
- Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: premium
- Dispute resolution > Competition litigation
- Dispute resolution > Tax litigation and investigations
- Employment > Employee share schemes
- Employment > Pensions (non-contentious)
- Finance > Bank lending: investment grade debt and syndicated loans
- Insurance > Insurance: corporate and regulatory
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Infrastructure: M&A and acquisition financing
- Real estate > Commercial property: corporate occupiers
- Risk advisory > Regulatory investigations and corporate crime (advice to corporates)
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > IT and telecoms
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Corporate and commercial > Commercial contracts
- Corporate and commercial > Equity capital markets – mid-large cap
- Corporate and commercial > Financial services: contentious
- Corporate and commercial > Financial services: non-contentious/regulatory
- Employment > Pensions: dispute resolution
- Finance > Corporate restructuring & insolvency
- Finance > Debt capital markets
- Industry focus > TMT
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Infrastructure: Project finance and development
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Oil and gas
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Power (including electricity, nuclear and renewables)
- Real estate > Commercial property: development
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Fintech
Firm Rankings
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Fraud: civil
- Dispute resolution > International arbitration
- Employment > Employers
- Finance > Derivatives and structured products
- Finance > Securitisation
- Industry focus > Life sciences and healthcare
- Investment fund formation and management > Listed funds
- Real estate > Commercial property: investment
- Real estate > Construction: non-contentious
- Real estate > Environment
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Sport