Katten > London, England > Firm Profile

Katten
PATERNOSTER HOUSE
65 ST PAUL'S CHURCHYARD
LONDON
EC4M 8AB
England

Corporate and commercial > M&A: Smaller Deals, £10m-£100m Tier 1

By capitalising on the expertise of the firm’s accomplished financial services and restructuring teams, the ‘sophisticated and friendly’ corporate practice at Katten integrates its knowledge to offer clients comprehensive guidance on regulatory, restructuring and distressed M&A matters. Possessing the capabilities to assist clients on the full spectrum of corporate matters, the team has a particular focus on the, financial, healthcare, real estate, technology and consumer business sectors. The team is jointly led by Oliver Williams , Edward Tran  and Christopher Harrison. Williams, who joined the firm from PwC LLP, has a practice that spans private equity, corporate M&A, investments and shareholder agreements, while Tran is is regularly engaged by a broad range of clients on the full suite of corporate transactions. Harrison is noted for his vast experience working with investment funds and advising on effective implementation of capital and activist strategies. Paul Rosen departed for Mayer Brown International LLP.

Practice head(s):

Oliver Williams; Edward Tran; Chris Harrison

Other key lawyers:

Omar Malek; David Wood; Alexander Taylor

Testimonials

‘Very dedicated to customer and informative.’

‘Sophisticated and friendly.’

 

Key clients

RE Capital

TriSpan

Work highlights

Industry focus > Hospitality and leisure Tier 3

Focusing on operations, transactions and crisis management, the hospitality team at Katten is instructed by a broad range of investors, REITs, lenders, developers, owners, franchisees and managers of hotels, restaurant chains, golf courses, casinos and theme parks. Led by Gavin Vollans, who is well versed in financing, development, investment and portfolio management, particularly in relation to hotels, the team focuses on advising clients on transactions, crisis management and operations. Senior associate in the real estate team, Martyn Strong, has a client roster spanning property companies, UHNWIs, developers, private equity funds and corporate occupiers. Timothy Dodd left the firm in October 2022 to join Maples Teesdale LLP.

Practice head(s):

Gavin Vollans

Other key lawyers:

Key clients

Bob W

Stay at Mine Limited

GA Corby LLP

Edyn Group

RE Capital

Aprirose Real Estate Investment

By Dr Vali @ Selfridges

Leonardo Hotel Group / Fattal Hotel Group

Work highlights

  • Advising Dr Vali on the repositioning of her wellbeing and beauty clinic in Selfridges on Oxford Street.
  • Continuing to advise on the RE Capital-led scheme comprising a 74,000 square foot hotel-led mixed-use re-development project, following completion of a £60m development loan from ASK/OakNorth to facilitate the construction of a mixed=use development comprising a 150-bed hotel, office and affordable apartments in Clerkenwell.
  • Advising Leonardo Hotel group on its acquisition of The Grand Hotel, Brighton for £60m.

Finance > Derivatives and structured products Tier 4

Katten is known for its 'deep knowledge of the international regulatory environment coupled with a strong understanding and appreciation of clients' commercial objectives', and clients praise the 'responsiveness and effectiveness of advice'. The firm is well versed in both exchange-traded and OTC derivatives transactions, on which it advises both sell-side and buy-side clients. The firm is also a key adviser on regulatory matters affecting the derivatives market, including MiFIR, Dodd-Frank and EMIR. Carolyn Jackson, who is a former manager of the New York trading desk of several investment banks and the former executive director of ISDA, Nathaniel Lalone (who has 'unique knowledge of US, UK and European regulation') and Neil Robson are the key financial markets regulatory partners in London.

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘Deep knowledge of the international regulatory environment coupled with a strong understanding and appreciation of clients’ commercial objectives.’

‘Responsiveness and effectiveness of advice.’

‘Katten has a small team but delivers like a large team. They have excellent technical expertise and broad market knowledge.’

‘Nate Lalone has a unique knowledge of US, UK and European regulation. A one stop shop for global advice. Chris Collins is noteworthy as an individual developing a broad industry expertise.’

‘Carolyn Jackson – great go-to partner and has got to know our business and derivatives activities very well.’

‘The Katten team combines a deep knowledge of the law with a practical understanding of the market. Its members are not just excellent lawyers but some have actual industry experience. This enables them to provide very practical advice very efficiently.’

‘They are highly skilled and very responsive. The level of service they provide is exceptional. Carolyn Jackson and Neil Robson are industry leaders.’

Corporate and commercial > Financial services: non-contentious/regulatory Tier 5

Katten is well-placed to leverage its transatlantic footprint to act for exchanges, clearing houses, broker-dealers, proprietary trading companies, investment funds and asset managers on a broad range of financial service regulatory mandates. Carolyn Jackson ‘is an excellent and knowledgeable lawyer in the field of derivatives regulation’, in addition to advising on matters concerning the Dodd-Frank Act and EMIR. Other key contacts in the group include Nathaniel Lalone and Neil Robson.

Testimonials

‘Carolyn Jackson is one of the most experienced, pragmatic and creative lawyers I’ve ever worked with. Commercially minded.’

‘Pragmatic, commercial and deep knowledge. Hands-on when necessary, hands-off when possible. It feels like having them on your own team.’

‘Carolyn Jackson is an excellent and knowledgeable lawyer in the field of derivatives regulation, and she brings the ability to provide both US and European advice which is unique and really useful to us as an international business.’

Real estate > Property finance Tier 5

Katten has developed a strong reputation supporting third-party loan servicing and credit asset management firms. Kumar Tewari is an ‘exceptional individual‘ to note in the lower mid-market commercial real estate finance space, and he routinely advises on cross-border loan debt and bond structures involving complex, or bespoke intercreditor arrangements.

Practice head(s):

Kumar Tewari

Testimonials

‘Kumar Tewari is an exceptional individual who goes about his business professionally, diligently and always in a courteous and amiable manner.’

‘Kumar Tewari is a stand-out professional lawyer who epitomises professionalism, and is able to provide concise, practical and sound legal advice which first and foremost puts the considerations and interest of his client and institution when offering legal advice and protection. Kumar is a very kind, considerate, professional, and polite individual to deal with and is always happy to go the extra mile to help. These are the qualities that differentiate and make him stand out from the crowd.’

‘From a client perspective, Katten has the very attractive balance of a wealth of knowledge and experience in the real estate sector, whilst being able to have a very personal touch and provide great customer service to its clients.’

‘Their can do attitude is unrivalled. They are prepared to commit whatever resources are required to make deals happen.’

 

Corporate and commercial > Corporate tax

Finance > Corporate restructuring & insolvency

The arrival of Prav Reddy , who 'combines experience and legal acumen with a very strong commercial awareness' from Charles Russell Speechlys LLP at the end of 2020 has had a positive impact on Katten's restructuring and insolvency capabilities across a range of domestic and cross-border mandates. In particular, Preddy has effectively leveraged the firm's robust funds client base to good effect as well as the firm's broader US resources.

The firm: Katten is a full-service law firm with approximately 700 attorneys in locations across the United States and in London and Shanghai. Clients seeking sophisticated, high-value legal services turn to Katten for counsel locally, nationally and internationally. The firm’s core areas of practice include corporate, financial markets and funds, insolvency and restructuring, intellectual property, litigation, real estate, structured finance and securitization, transactional tax planning, private credit and private wealth. Katten represents public and private companies in numerous industries, as well as a number of government and nonprofit organizations and individuals.

Established in 2005, Katten’s London team has grown since its inception with plans for continuing strategic growth. The team has broad-based capabilities covering: litigation, insolvency and restructuring real estate, corporate, mergers and acquisitions, asset management, fund formation, joint ventures, financial services regulatory, derivatives, intellectual property, commercial, data privacy, employment, tax, and finance. Our London-based lawyers, a number of whom are US qualified, are able to offer integrated legal advice for clients operating in the United Kingdom, Europe, United States and Asia. All of our London lawyers practise English law, with our lawyers coming from Magic Circle, Silver Circle or US/transatlantic firms.

Types of work undertaken
Asset Management: In working with clients across the UK, Europe and elsewhere, Katten is known for being particularly skilled in structuring bespoke collective investment structures utilizing vehicles in a variety of jurisdictions to satisfy the specific requirements of investment managers and investors alike, whether in fund, joint venture or other arrangements.

Banking: Katten represents global banks, alternative/direct lenders, investors and sponsors across different levels of the debt capital stack, particularly on senior/mezzanine loan structures, which involve complex intercreditor arrangements. Lawyers advise on cross-border commercial finance transactions, often involving structured (leveraged) or general corporate lending, as well as traditional secured asset classes.

Corporate: Katten handles a broad range of corporate transactions, including the estab­lishment of companies and businesses in the UK and overseas; public and private mergers, acquisitions and disposals; cross-border joint ventures, strategic investments, partnerships and shareholder arrangements; restructuring, re-financings and reconstructions; private equity and venture capital; takeovers; buyouts and exit strategies.

Disputes: Katten is able to offer assistance to clients at all stages of a dispute: from drafting dispute resolution clauses or sophisticated arbitration agreements, through to arbitration or arbitration-related litigation, such as enforcement actions or conflict of laws litigation.

Employment Litigation and Counseling: Katten acts for employers or senior individuals across a range of industries, with a particular focus on the financial services, professional services, technology, media and hospitality/retail sectors. Katten lawyers handle beyond traditional employment law and human resource compliance issues that may arise to encompass broader areas, including data privacy and pensions, as well as traditional areas such as holiday pay, performance management, and advising on family-friendly rights.

Financial Markets and Funds: Katten addresses the financial markets as a whole — from infrastructure to market participants to the entire trading cycle — offering an unmatched holistic view. Clients span the entire trading continuum, from end users such as proprietary traders, commodity firms, crypto assets investors, alternative asset managers and hedge funds to brokers, investment banks and swaps dealers, as well as trading venues, clearing houses and settlement banks. Lawyers advise clients regarding derivatives and capital markets as well as the cross-border effects of US regulations and how this compares and interacts with European and UK regulatory and compliance requirements.

Hospitality: From representing large international conglomerates to small boutique hotels, to investors and lenders in US, European and other international markets, Katten lawyers understand the unique legal needs and challenges within the hospitality sector. Their deep experience enables them to provide legal services in the industry’s main areas of transactions, crisis management and operations.

Insolvency and Restructuring: Katten guides office holders, creditors, debtors, banks and distressed companies through transactional corporate and personal insolvency matters, and handles disputes and procedures with cross-border aspects, including administrations, liquidations and bankruptcy, as well as overseas asset tracing and recovery.

Privacy, Data and Cybersecurity: Katten lawyers understand the potential areas of risk associated with the collection, use and disclosure of customer and employee information, and they work with clients to effectively resolve or prevent potential problems. The practice encompasses the development of privacy protection policies, privacy and security law counselling and compliance, and the application of privacy laws to data use and information sharing.

Real Estate: Whether it involves major development projects, buying and selling assets, channelling capital into London from around the globe, managing complex occupier arrangements, or putting together intricate finance packages, Katten supports clients across the entire real estate asset class and life cycle. With a 360-view of the market, lawyers are especially adept at deals that are complex, require speedy execution and closing, or involve coordinating multiple stakeholders with competing interests.

Transactional Tax Planning: Katten advises major banks, financial institutions, private equity houses, fund managers and large corporations on the direct tax implications and indirect tax consequences of major transactions.

Department Name Email Telephone
Banking Kumar Tewari
Corporate Edward A. Tran
Corporate Oliver Williams
Disputes Joe Payne
Employment Litigation and Counseling Christopher Hitchins
Financial Markets and Funds - Regulatory Carolyn H. Jackson
Financial Markets and Funds - Regulatory Nathaniel Lalone
Financial Markets and Funds - Regulatory Neil Robson
Financial Markets and Funds – Derivatives/Capital Markets Carolyn H. Jackson
Financial Markets and Funds – Derivatives/Capital Markets Nathaniel Lalone
Financial Markets and Funds – Derivatives/Capital Markets Neil Robson
Hospitality Gavin Vollans
Insolvency and Restructuring Prav Reddy
Insolvency and Restructuring Sonya Van de Graaff
Privacy, Data and Cybersecurity Christopher Hitchins
Real Estate Gavin Vollans
Transactional Tax Planning Charlotte Sallabank
Photo Name Position Profile
Peter Englund photo Mr Peter Englund When debt funds, hedge funds, sponsors and borrowers/platforms find themselves in uncharted…
Terry Green photo Mr Terry Green Terry Green is the deputy managing partner of our London office and…
Christopher Hitchins photo Mr Christopher Hitchins An employment lawyer who advises on all aspects of company operations, Christopher…
Carolyn Jackson photo Ms Carolyn Jackson Carolyn Jackson helps clients solve complex cross-border issues involving the regulation of…
Nathaniel Lalone photo Mr Nathaniel Lalone Nathaniel Lalone is a dual-qualified lawyer (England, New York) and a rising…
Joe Payne photo Mr Joe Payne Joe Payne is a commercial litigator and advisor, who industry publications describe…
Prav Reddy photo Mr Prav Reddy Prav Reddy guides office holders, creditors, debtors, banks and distressed companies through…
Neil Robson photo Mr Neil Robson Neil Robson decodes complex UK and EU regulations to provide practical regulatory…
Charlotte Sallabank photo Ms Charlotte Sallabank When multinational corporations consider major transactions, tax implications often make or break…
Peter Sugden photo Mr Peter Sugden Peter Sugden focuses his practice on real estate investment, finance and development,…
Kumar Tewari photo Mr Kumar Tewari Kumar leads the Banking team in the London office. He has spent…
Edward Tran photo Mr Edward Tran Edward advises clients worldwide on corporate and transactional matters, including mergers and…
Gavin Vollans photo Mr Gavin Vollans Gavin Vollans helps and supports clients with a wide range of real…
Oliver Williams photo Mr Oliver Williams Clients rely on Oliver Williams to manage their most complex transactions, both…
Number of UK partners : 16
Number of other UK fee-earners : 31