Adam Farlow > Baker McKenzie > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Baker McKenzie’s equity capital markets team boasts notable strengths in handling equity transactions in emerging markets and is also increasingly active in advising UK issuers and underwriters on high-value offerings and private placements. The team is particularly well-versed in handling transactions in the life sciences and biotech sectors and regularly guides public companies in this space through IPOs, accelerated bookbuild offerings, and share buybacks. Practice head Adam Farlow is dual US- and UK-qualified lawyer and accordingly handles a diverse caseload of European listings and offerings subject to US securities regulations. George Marshall is noted for his experience handling equity transactions in Middle Eastern markets.

Baker McKenzie is ‘an emerging franchise in high yield and leveraged finance, and it is very dedicated to clients‘. Long known for its work for trustees and securities agents, the firm continues to build out a full-service high yield practice that counts top-tier investment banks, private equity sponsors and FTSE-500 global corporates among its clients. High yield specialist Rob Mathews leads the ‘client-focused and commercial‘ team. He works with the promising Benjamin Bierwirth, who exhibits ‘great client focus and enthusiasm‘, on million-euro financings, acting for the initial purchasers and agents. Global chair of capital markets Adam Farlow and leveraged finance specialist David Becker also stand out.

Baker McKenzie acts as both issuer and underwriter counsel in cross-border transactions, frequently involving emerging markets. Its work in Africa, Turkey and Eastern Europe stands out. Chair of the global capital markets group Adam Farlow provides ‘clear advice on challenging and complex situations‘. He recently acted for a Polish bank in the establishment of a €5bn EMTN programme. Megan Schellinger, who focuses on US private placements, trustee specialist Simon Porter, and US-qualified Charles Farnsworth, who ‘fights the client’s corner when other lawyers have different views‘, are key members of the practice. Roy Pearce left the firm in late 2023.