King & Spalding LLP > London, England > Firm Profile

King & Spalding LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Dispute resolution > International arbitration Tier 1

King & Spalding LLP‘s ‘truly exceptional arbitration team in London‘ repeatedly represents large corporations in business-critical disputes. The practice also acts for both claimants and respondents in high-value investment treaty disputes. Its sector specialisms cover energy, media, construction, mining, and oil and gas and the team has notable geographic expertise in relation to Turkey, Asia-Pacific, India and Africa. A ‘hands-on partner who wants to ensure he is over every part of the case’, Thomas Sprange KC is consistently sought out by corporations, sovereign states, financial institutions and individuals for high-stakes disputes. International arbitration expert John Savage KC has particular expertise in corporate, investment and projects disputes in the mining, power, and oil and gas industries. Sajid Ahmed specialises in international arbitration and trade matters; and international commercial and investment disputes practitioner Ruth Byrne KC is ‘very smart’. The practice also comprises Sarah Walker, who represents international clients in commercial disputes, and Simon Maynard, who acts in major international commercial and investment treaty arbitrations. Giorgio Mandelli focuses on international disputes in the energy, natural resources, financial services and aviation sectors. Ben Emmerson CBE KC recently retired from the partnership but continues to work with the firm as a consultant.

Investment fund formation and management > Fund finance Tier 1

King & Spalding LLP looks to kickstart its fund finance offering with the hiring of a number of lawyers from Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP. The team will be led by Samantha Hutchinson, a noted expert on fund finance products who has acted on some of the market’s most significant subscription and leverage deals. Other key figures include Nathan Parker, highly experienced in a range of transaction types; Mathan Navaratnam, noted for his capabilities in cross-border mandates; and James Hoggett, an adviser to various private equity and private credit firms.

Projects, energy and natural resources > Oil and gas Tier 2

With a broad practice that encompasses mandates concerning upstream, midstream, downstream and alternative fuels, the oil and gas team at King & Spalding LLP is a key point of contact for clients seeking assistance with M&A, disputes and project financing. Leadership of the group is shared between four key partners: Thomas Sprange KC, John Savage KC, international arbitration expert, and Martin Hunt, who acts on M&A and joint ventures. Key team changes include the arrival of Peter Schwartz from Paul Hastings LLP in March 2024, and the departures of Nina Howell in April 2024, and Nikhil Markanday in September 2024.

Real estate > Construction: contentious Tier 2

King & Spalding LLP continues to excel at advising significant energy and infrastructure sector clients with ‘superior sector knowledge’ on the full range of complex litigations and disputes. Lauded as ‘the best construction lawyer in the market’, Shareena Edmonds jointly leads the team with Vincent Rowan, who are both active across a wide range of international EPC contractor matters and highly contentious cost and delay claims. The team is also well equipped to handle contentious construction contract issues within the commercial and real estate sectors. John Savage KC boasts accredited experience advising on major social infrastructure and energy projects, while Andrea Stauber and Martina Antosova are other key members of the team, assisting with contract disputes and defect claims.

Corporate and commercial > M&A: Lower Mid-Market Deals, £100m-£750m Tier 3

Crime, fraud and licensing > Fraud: civil Tier 3

King & Spalding LLP‘s ‘very experienced and able practitioners’ are experts in pursuing and defending allegations of fraud and bad faith, including claims of deceit, misuse of confidential information, misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, corruption and conspiracy. The 'highly knowledgeable and commercially focused' Sarah Walker leads the team with Thomas Sprange KC, whose track record includes significant civil fraud cases. Other key names are Ruth Byrne KC, whose international commercial and investment disputes practice encompasses fraud, in addition to energy, life sciences and enforcement matters, and Egishe Dzhazoyan, who has expertise in disputes involving Russia and the CIS.

Dispute resolution > Public international law Tier 3

King & Spalding LLP acts in inter-state cases involving territorial disputes, privileges, immunities, international criminal law, and human rights law. The London practice also comprises experts in Law of the Sea and investment treaty arbitrations. Thomas Sprange KC acts in complex disputes; Sajid Ahmed and Egishe Dzhazoyan are international arbitration experts; John Savage KC specialises in corporate and investment disputes; Giorgio Mandelli appears before ad hoc and institutional international arbitration tribunals; and Peter Hood's practice covers public international law, sanctions, and business and human rights. Ben Emmerson CBE KC retired from the partnership, but remains as consultant to the firm.

Projects, energy and natural resources > Renewables Tier 3

King & Spalding LLP‘s energy team maintains a broad renewable energy offering, advising on solar, wind, green hydrogen, and battery energy storage systems. Kelly Malone, who leads the London practice, routinely assists clients with the development, financing, construction and acquisition of large-scale renewable energy projects. Dan Feldman focuses on low-carbon energy power projects, most notably in the Middle East.

Finance > High yield Tier 4

King & Spalding LLP joins the ranking having hired Peter Schwartz from Paul Hastings LLP in early 2024. Schwartz is 'a cornerstone of the London high yield legal community – immensely experienced, super-creative and always available'. Andro Atlaga, who made the move along with Schwartz, is praised for being 'on top of every detail and completely committed to quality deal execution'. Thanks to the vast experience of its new hires, the firm's nascent practice has a stellar client roster that includes some of the world's largest investment banks and private equity funds.

Projects, energy and natural resources > Power (including electricity and nuclear) Tier 4

Able to advise across disputes, M&A, and project finance and development matters, King & Spalding LLP‘s energy practice fields a team of specialists that routinely handle the contentious and non-contentious aspects of large-scale power projects. The practice is led by Kelly Malone, the firm's global head of power, who advises on key power projects in the global market. Nikhil Markanday, an expert in energy and project financing, assists with the full spectrum of project development and finance-related matters, including power generation, refinery, and cross-border pipeline projects.

Risk advisory > Regulatory investigations and corporate crime (advice to corporates) Tier 4

King & Spalding LLP  fields an ‘experienced and enthusiastic‘ team with notable strength in sanctions compliance, financial services regulatory work, and market abuse and manipulation issues. Dual-focused on the US and the UK, practice head Aaron Stephens takes point on financial crime investigations and compliance challenges, acting for corporates and financial institutions. Margaret Nettesheim, also dual-qualified in the UK and the US, is another key member of the team, and handles regulatory and criminal investigations for clients in the oil and gas, shipping, and aviation industries, attracting praise for her ‘consistently strong work and analysis‘. 2024 saw the firm strengthening its public prosecutions offering with the arrival of Max Hill in February.

Corporate and commercial > Financial services: contentious Tier 5

With its relatively small London-based practice, King & Spalding LLP punches above its weight; the team leverages its wider commercial litigation offering, as well as its US offices, and is well-suited to advising both entities and senior individuals in cross-border matters. Many of the matters have potential criminal exposure, including recent work regarding allegations of money laundering, “spoofing” and market manipulation. Dual US and UK-qualified partner Aaron Stephens heads up the team and ‘brings an infectious enthusiasm to every case’.

Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: premium Tier 5

With a strong advocacy offering, the 'truly exceptional' team at King & Spalding LLP handles all stages of the commercial litigation process. 'A master tactician and a standout litigator', practice head Sarah Walker boasts significant experience in international commercial disputes. Practice co-head Thomas Sprange KC represents a diverse roster of clients, from corporations and financial institutions to individuals and sovereign states. Ruth Byrne KC focuses on the energy and life sciences sectors, with particular expertise in fraud and enforcement. Kabir Bhalla and Charity Kirby are key contacts in the team.

Finance > Acquisition finance Tier 5

Although it is relatively new to the market, the ‘results-focused and efficient’ team at King & Spalding LLP has quickly established itself as a strong leveraged finance practice, as a result of the ‘high-quality advice’ it provides to funds as lenders or borrowers seeking or providing finance on often highly complex cross-border mandates. The ‘technically strong’ Richard Kitchen heads the team and, alongside Amin Doulai who provides ‘exceptional client service’, has been central to the firm’s success since both joined in 2022, acting for key private credit funds. Former co-head Benoit Lavigne departed for Ropes & Gray in January 2024.

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

Projects, energy and natural resources > Infrastructure: Project finance and development

Projects, energy and natural resources > Mining and minerals

India > Foreign firms Tier 2

A team noted for its 'collaborative approach, deep legal expertise, and commitment to client success', King & Spalding LLP maintains a diverse India offering, representing clients on a multitude of corporate, finance and disputes related matters and the team is notably active across the sectors of energy, tech and aviation. Amit Kataria, who thrives operating within the sectors of tech, manufacturing and energy, and Rahul Patel, who is well-positioned to advise on M&A, joint ventures and strategic corporate transactions, jointly lead the practice. Thomas Sprange KC is actively engaged on disputes concerning local, private and public international law, while Parveet Singh Gandoak excels in managing a diverse variety of cross-border corporate transactions. Sajid Ahmed principally focuses on international arbitration and trade matters.

Singapore > Projects: foreign firms Tier 2