Hugh Lyons > Baker McKenzie > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Drawing on its global reach, Baker McKenzie represents financial institutions from various jurisdictions in high-profile litigation. It also advises its international clientele on regulatory investigations. Hugh Lyons and Jonathan Peddie lead the ‘commercially savvy’ team. Marc Florent demonstrates prowess in multi-party litigation, particularly in relation to structured products and financial derivatives. Praised by clients for his ‘excellent regulatory insights’ and ‘great judgement‘, Philip Annett boasts an active cross-border disputes practice. Mark Banks is an active member of the team., and Pete Chapman left the firm in July 2024.

Baker McKenzie‘s ‘excellent litigators’ in London handle complex cross-border fraud investigations and litigation, in relation to conspiracy claims, economic torts, fraudulent misrepresentation and duress. Clients notably benefit from the firm’s enviable global reach (covering 74 offices in 45 countries), and the team is particularly experienced in assisting governments, sovereign wealth funds and international corporations with tracing, freezing and recovering misappropriated assets. It also fields experts in international preservation and disclosure orders, as well as fraud-related insolvency issues. The practice is co-led by ‘wonderful all-round litigator’ Charles Thomson, who additionally leads the business crime unit, and Hugh Lyons, whose wide-ranging caseload encompasses fraud and financial misconduct cases. The next line of experienced practitioners features Henry Garfield, whose career includes being seconded to the UK Serious Fraud Office, and Marc Florent, who acts for clients from the financial, commercial and industrial sectors in multi-party disputes. Other names to note are Kate Geale, whose experience includes representing an international science and chemicals company in an investigation into suspected bribery of foreign public officials; Ben Levitt, who is ‘a master of detail’; and Mark Banks, who is experienced in civil fraud, insolvency, sanctions and cross-border enforcements.

Drawing on the firm’s global reach, Baker McKenzie remains a go-to firm for multijurisdictional litigation. The ‘hugely hardworking, responsive and insightful’ dispute resolution team has specialised knowledge of key industries, with a diverse roster of clients spanning the full range of sectors. Praised by clients for its ‘technical sophistication’, the team also boasts expertise in fraud, financial crime and regulatory investigations. ‘Sophisticated and brilliantly strategic lawyer’ Hugh Lyons leads the team, representing corporates, financial institutions and insolvency practitioners, and boasts particular expertise in financial disputes. Marc Florent is active in multijurisdictional cases, while Francesca Richmond specialises in class actions and mass torts litigation. Carinne Kamdar is another name to note.