Debevoise & Plimpton LLP > London, England > Firm Profile

‘Debevoise is one of the leading PIL firms in the world, and London is a key part of that status.’

‘The public international law work that Debevoise does is fantastic and it is head and shoulders above other firms.’

‘The team showed enthusiasm, high degrees of professionalism and competence; and the lawyers worked really well as a team, they were respectful to each other and us, and it all ran very smoothly.’

‘Lord Peter Goldsmith KC and international counsels Aimee-Jane Lee and Conway Blake are all excellent. They understand what the client wants and are very much problem-solving oriented.’

‘Patrick Taylor is highly efficient and has a wealth of experience in international public law and in commercial arbitration; and Samantha Rowe is an excellent communicator with deep knowledge of international law.’

‘Patrick Taylor and Samantha Rowe impressed me with their knowledge of public international law and, in particular, investor-state disputes settlement.’

‘Senior associate Merryl Lawry-White is top rated in my view. She has excellent knowledge and experience in PIL matters, particularly International Court of Justice cases where she excels.’

‘Associate Monika Hlavkova pays incredible attention to detail, combined with a sound strategic sense; and her preparation is impeccable.’

‘Unrivalled market knowledge and technical acumen.’

‘Thomas Smith is outstanding and probably the best fund finance lawyer in London.’

‘Very strong fund finance team, headed by Tom Smith who is supported by a very capable team of associates. Debevoise knows everything that is going on in the fund finance market, making it well placed to find solutions and achieve results.’

‘We have worked with Tom Smith for a number of years and he knows our business and key areas of concern very well, sees the big picture and focuses on ensuring we get the right commercial deal. Tom is able to convey detailed and technical advice in a clear and straight forward manner and has an in-depth knowledge of market trends and relevant precedents in the fund finance space. We consider Tom to be the leading borrower-side lawyer in the UK fund finance space.’

‘Debevoise is our go-to practice for high profile transactions that we have to close on time. Strong partner interaction and a supportive, goal-oriented culture are the key differentiating factors which always lead us back to Debevoise for big deals.’

‘Highly commercial and dynamic team who has been at the forefront of a number of fund finance innovations, including ESG margin ratchets, hybrid facilities and NAV facilities. The team has a deep bench of very talented associates who support Tom Smith and the broader partner group.’

‘Tom Smith, who leads Debevoise’s global fund finance practice, is the primary individual that I work with. He is extremely commercial, always balancing his knowledge and understanding of our risk appetite together with legal risks and market insights. He has spearheaded several fund finance innovations including ESG margin ratchets, hybrid facilities and NAV facilities. He also brings together experts and participants from across the industry through targeted informative events and is highly active at conferences. He is supported by a deep bench of stand-out associates such as Almas Daud and Gregg Young.’

‘Debevoise is not our primary sanctions firm, however, we regularly reach out to them in highly complex matters to give a second opinion. Their opinion is always very practical in every sense and they are especially thorough with their risk assessment. They have outstanding quality team members both in their US and UK/EU offices and their team work is very strong.’

‘Jane Shvets is an outstanding, well rounded compliance lawyer and team leader. Her advice is strategic and practical at the same time, her assessments in individual cases always feed into how the overall compliance program can be improved. She does not shy away to challenge the client to make the compliance program stronger.’

‘Debevoise has one of the City’s pre-eminent Investigations and Corporate Crime practices. Jane Shvets in particular has shown herself to be absolutely in control of the law and on top of the detail. She bring a calm demeanor to moments of stress and has a first rate analytical capability.’

‘Debevoise is certainly the law firm which has the deepest understanding of different jurisdictions. They are very committed .to the case and to the client.’

‘Karolos Seeger – genuinely international, multi-lingual, extremely clever and engaging – exceptional under pressure – very very good at managing complex matters Tom Jenkins – a super star senior associate, huge work ethic and delivers every time.’

‘Incredibly strong team that brings together expertise across multiple offices to provide a seamless and joined-up end client experience. The strength of the bench is deep and the team is super responsive.’

‘Jane Shvets is simply outstanding. Jane brings together exceptional technical expertise with commercial pragmatism and is very user friendly. It is always a pleasure working with Jane. – Konstantin Bureiko is a brilliant associate. On point and excellent technical ability.’

‘I worked with Debevoise for the first time on an internal compliance investigation in a very challenging jurisdiction. The competence level, the effective and smooth operation, the non-negotiable client-focus and the sheer quality of the team was very impressive. It was a difficult and complex investigation, but the Debevoise team did a fantastic job. The report at the end of a year-long investigation was not only excellent in terms of its technical qualities, but also had a remarkable story-telling element to it that brought a refreshing simplicity to the whole matter and made the key messages clear and easy to understand and digest for the organisation.’

‘The Debevoise team has shown remarkable reactivity skills when needed – very pragmatic and solution-oriented advice and analyses.‘

‘Demonstrated the capacity to mobilise a wide network of experts – great client-oriented relationship, very easy to work with, and the firm creates a teamwork atmosphere between the client and lawyers.’

‘Good mix of legal minds, understanding of construction issues, co-ordination with experts on issues, presentation during hearings, and use of technology in document production.’

‘Excellent lawyers.’

‘Patrick Taylor is very impressive. He is very focused and sharp, and highly knowledgeable of the facts of a case – assets that any client would want to see in a lawyer.’

‘Patrick Taylor is an outstanding lawyer with a very clear mind and strategic skills in all kinds of situations.’

‘Tony Dymond is great for providing different perspectives of a case.‘

‘International counsel Robert Hoose – solid detailing of the issues and excellent at conducting witness interviews.’

‘Strong international presence that assists with complex transactions in emerging markets, such as in Africa.’

‘Geoff Burgess is a strong advocate who has worked extensively in emerging markets, including in Africa, and brings a commercial reasonableness to the table to get deals done.’

‘A strong practice with industry and geographical knowledge, attention to detail, and commercial awareness, especially Patrick Taylor and Geoff Burgess.’

‘I have worked with Patrick Taylor and he is technically capable, knowledgeable and proactive.’

‘Many law firms who practice in emerging markets seek to engage on the ground from a position of superiority. Debevoise on the contrary engaged with my firm as equal partners when we worked together on some arbitration matters. I found their team to be engage in actively seeking the input of local counsel, in order to present the best position to the joint client.‘

‘The team’s particular strength is an extremely strong technical understanding of the insurance market allied with a highly tuned commercial perspective and wider contacts base.’

‘Clare Swirski is extremely easy to work with, technically strong but also very commercial with a great depth and breadth of experience. It is no surprise to me that she is highly in demand for all of the blue chip M&A transactions.’

‘Benjamin Lyon is particularly strong commercially with an excellent network and appreciation of the key commercial drivers of a transaction.’

‘Deep insurance industry knowledge and experience.’

‘Highly experienced and capable team. Very commercial and astute with their advice.’

‘John Rife is highly versatile and capable across primary and secondary PE markets.’

‘Market leading, unequaled credentials and authority.’

‘Geoff Kittredge – a dean of the private funds industry while entirely composed and unflappable. Resolute in representing client interests while effective in concluding transactions.’

‘Exceptionally strong private funds formation team, being able to leverage Debevoise’s New York and Hong Kong teams as well as specialist teams in secondaries, fund finance and regulatory is what sets Debevoise apart from its peers.’

‘Debevoise has also made great strides in improving the transparency and inputs into its billing system, making the process much more user friendly.’

‘Geoff Kittredge is clearly one of the dominant figures on European fundraisings. He has a knowledge of the funds market that can only be acquired through years of experience at the top of his field, focuses on what’s important to us as a sponsor and guides negotiations through difficult spots.’

‘John Rife has been focused on secondaries transactions for a number of years, meaning he has excellent experience and market knowledge in the space.’

‘The only word I can use to describe Patrick Swain is exceptional.’

‘Patrick Swain is possibly one of the most seasoned litigation solicitors on the market today. He has the flair to run very complex cases with ease, and to manage the expectations of everyone involved and deliver what’s truly best for the client with exceptional efficiency.’

‘What makes the Debevoise team unique? Lord Goldsmith’s reputation, and the firm’s reputation generally, together with their place in the market, mean they are particularly well-suited to handling very complex, high-value and high-profile disputes of all kinds for clients ranging from ultra high net worth individuals, to multinationals, state entities, and various sovereign states.

‘The commercial litigation team are exceptionally responsive and service-driven. They specialise in providing a “Rolls Royce” service. Christopher Boyne in particular is a trusted commercial advisor to a number of high profile in-house counsel. He and his team are dedicated to providing clients with prompt, accurate and well-thought through strategic advice in real time.’

‘Christopher Boyne is a brilliant commercial litigator who punches well above his weight in terms of seniority.  I have seen him go up against impressive large teams and win. As well as being super bright and very sensible in his judgement, he is an exceptional team leader who commands loyalty from his juniors and respect from both senior partners and opponents.’

‘Patrick Swain’s team was brilliant in its strategic perspective and positioning in a very important and protracted dispute. The team delivered fantastic results against the odds and was steadfast in its positioning of the case, which ultimately proved to be a critical lever in a commercial settlement.’

‘A go-to practice for the biggest, most complex cases, particularly with an international element.’

‘Very senior, experienced, high calibre group with clout.’

‘Richard Ward: Very wise and sensible, as well as obviously technically skilled. Broad perspectives and insight.’

‘In depth knowledge of challenging tax technical concepts, responsiveness, connectivity with advisors all over the world.’

‘Jennifer Wheater is one of the best tax advisers I have come across. Her responses to tax matters that arise are always comprehensive and a result of thorough investigation. Also, her personal skills are outstanding. Cécile Beurrier is very helpful in negotiations with the counterparties and able to provide solutions to any problems we may face. Her in-depth knowledge and expertise in tax law enables her to offer strategic and practical advice of great value.’

‘Succint. Straight to the point. Creative. Precise. Think out of the box.’

‘This is a very high quality team that focuses on top end clients. They are selective about what work they choose to do and do not try and be all things to all.’

‘Debevoise’s tax team belongs to the “creme de la creme” when it comes to funds/secondaries.’

‘They know the industry they work for extremely well. They have a very balanced approach, are well organised, always available and solutions driven.’

‘Exceptional market knowledge and technical and commercial acumen.’

‘The firm has a first-class acquisition financing team which goes out of its way to help clients achieve their objectives efficiently whilst protecting their interests.’

‘Thomas Smith and Pierre Maugüé are exceptional – really on top of their game, able to push for innovative structuring and obtain exceptional terms for clients in negotiations’

‘ Pierre Maugüé is thoughtful and has deep knowledge across a range of financing techniques. He is extremely experienced and commercial, very sharp, user-friendly and solutions-focused.’

‘Debevoise & Plimpton are rightly known for operating on mega-projects with incredibly complex and difficult issues across many jurisdictions, and manage such interactions through the dedication, intelligence and experience of its key team members.’

‘Tony Dymond is one of the smartest construction lawyers I’ve been able to work with. His knowledge, attention to detail, rigour and, above all, intelligence sets him apart.’

‘They are dedicated and focused on providing clients with world-class service and advice. The team are a pleasure to work alongside as co-counsel: always insightful, courteous and very knowledgeable.’

‘Tony Dymond is a rock star – he is knowledgeable, tough and a pleasure to work alongside. He is always available to provide sound commercial and legal advice.’

‘Rob Hoose is very industrious and demonstrates the capabilities of a future leader in international construction disputes.’

‘Mark Friedman is a polished performer. Insightful and articulate.’

‘The lawyers at Debevoise are outstanding in their analytical skills, ability to understand complex issues, advocacy skills, and instincts regarding settlement opportunities. Their varied experience in construction and long-term contracts is unparalleled.’

‘The depth and breadth of their team is very strong, both in areas of experience and in their legal skills.’

‘Andrew Rearick is a stand out lawyer in Debevoise’s private equity practice.’

‘The team is one of the strongest in the EU and UK markets. They are well connected at the agencies and provide wise, practical, client-ready advice.’

‘Tim McIver is a pleasure to deal with – he is very knowledgeable and strategic. He is able to distill the main issues in highly complex transactions and other situations.’

‘Excellent client service. Subject matter experts. Collaborative, easy to work with. Commercial/practical. Solution oriented.’

‘Timothy McIver and Megan MacDonald have been very supportive. Advice has been clear, succinct, commercially astute and pragmatic.’

‘A team that is able to deliver very detailed and complex analyses in short timeframes. What has distinguished them from other firms is their responsiveness, their preciseness and their incredible legal skills, as well as their ability to be pragmatic and business-oriented.’

‘Incredible legal skills and precision, coupled with an ability to be pragmatic and business-oriented in their approach.’

‘Technically strong, but solutions-focused in their advice, drafting and issues management.’

‘Tim McIver is technically astute, while suggesting practical solutions to issues.’

‘Excellent client service.’

‘The Debevoise’s team is unlike any other team of attorneys. The quality and professionalism of their attorneys is second to none. It is also a very diverse team.’

‘Within the Debevoise team, Mark W. Friedman, Ina Popova and Guilherme Recena Costa stand out. They are fantastic. Each one brings their own power or ability, and when they all act together they really are unbeatable. This is an essential feature in litigation.’

‘Dietmar Prager is very good at managing the team. Laura Sinisterra is very good at dealing with experts and witnesses.’

‘The team is filled with hard-working, high-quality attorneys who are very responsive.’

‘Dietmar Prager has exceptional intelligence and at every meeting is always prepared with the details of the facts, laws, and procedures for the matter he is handling for us. He answers all communications very promptly.’

‘The combination of Debevoise’s extremely strong practice in Frankfurt and access to a broader network of private equity fund lawyers in London, Hong Kong and New York makes Debevoise unique. Debevoise is able to deliver commercially oriented advice based on the experience of working for so many other clients. ‘

‘Patricia Volhard is one of the pre-eminent private investment fund lawyers in Germany (if not Europe). Patricia knows how to apply the law, contemplate tricky situations and offers commercial, pragmatic advice.’

‘Jin-Hyuk Jang is very user-friendly and always available. ‘

‘Patricia’s practice is one of the few in the private equity market that can address global regulatory issues with a partner-led, solution-oriented approach .’

‘Patricia Volhard and Jin Hyuk-Jang are the key contacts for regulatory advice for private investment funds. They are pragmatic and smart and serve on all industry bodies, keeping them up to date in the private equity sector. ‘

‘As a large international law firm, Debevoise naturally has a great network, but the relationship with the local contact person always feels personal and like in a boutique. That’s very pleasant and not always the case with large law firms.’

‘Patricia Volhard and her team have been among the top teams in financial regulatory issues in Germany and Europe for many years. In my opinion, the combination of technical expertise, the relationships and the sovereign handling of stakeholders (supervision, etc.) and the extremely pleasant, unpretentious human contact are unique.’