Mr Simon Rootsey > Akin > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Akin acts for an impressive array of sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions and the market’s most active investors on premium, multibillion-dollar M&A, joint venture and commercial mandates. The firm has an ‘excellent team that works seamlessly across various jurisdictions’, leveraging vast expertise across the Middle East and abroad to handle complex transactions in the energy and infrastructure, healthcare, defence, hospitality and retail sectors – among others. On the ground in the UAE, Wael Jabsheh heads the group and handles the practice’s most consequential transactions, utilising his leading expertise in digital assets and cryptocurrency to competently advise on tech-related aspects of deals. Simon Rootsey – who relocated from London in 2023 – largely focuses on cross-border M&A and private equity, with extensive experience in joint ventures and public takeovers. Associate Mazen Baddar is quickly building an impressive portfolio of deals due to high levels of activity across a range of sectors.

Praised as ‘a great team‘ which ‘really knows the market‘, Akin works with a wide range of UK and multinational sponsors and management teams. Practice head Shaun Lascelles regularly handles cross-border transactions, and is noted for his expertise in energy sector deals and capabilities in emerging markets such as Africa and Eastern Europe. Co-head Sebastian Rice draws on more than 20 years of experience advising on deals concerning various foreign markets, while the ‘excellent’ David Sewell, who is praised for his ‘amazing ability to deal with complex issues and structures quickly and efficiently’, is a key contact in the team for secondaries and fund structuring matters. Simon Rootsey is well-regarded for his sector-specific expertise, which is chiefly concentrated in the energy, infrastructure and life sciences sectors. Jing Ng and Chris Beardmore support clients on domestic and cross-border transactions. Stephen Rosen joined from Cooley (UK) LLP in September 2024, while Gavin Weir left the practice to join Ashurst in January 2024.

With extensive experience handling cross-border M&A transactions, the corporate practice at Akin is highly adept to assist international businesses on both public and private multijurisdictional mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, investments, and buy-outs. Co-leading the group are Sebastian Rice and Shaun Lascelles – Rice concentrates on M&A, joint ventures, disposals, and restructuring deals for private equity firms, asset managers, energy companies, and corporates, while Lascelles has expertise leading on high-value cross-border M&A, private equity, and international joint ventures. He is predominantly instructed by private equity firms, infrastructure investors, and corporates. Another notable name in the team is Simon Rootsey who focuses on cross-border M&A, private equity, and investment transactions in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. He has deep knowledge of a range of industry sectors including infrastructure, healthcare, and technology. Stephen Rosen, Justin Stock and David Bresnick joined the team from Cooley in July 2024.