Firm Profile > Mayer Brown International LLP > London, England

Asset based lending Tier 1

Leveraging a strong international brand, the 'very technical and knowledgeable' team at Mayer Brown International LLP excels in handling highly structured big-ticket multi-jurisdictional asset based lending (ABL) mandates for funds, banks, sponsors and corporates. Its expertise on complex deals mirrors the growing sophistication of the ABL product in the European market, which is increasingly being used in the context of large syndicated facilities, as well as forming a part of the debt package to fund M&A transactions. The ‘excellent’ Dominic Griffiths excels at handling commercial and investment bank ABL and structured finance, and is a key part of the team, which also includes the ‘fantastic’ Alex Dell. Dell has generated strong relationships with European banks and alternative credit providers and frequently leads on the most significant domestic and international ABL deals handled by the firm. Senior associate Ravi Amin is noted for his ‘very nifty and effective advice’ for banks, sponsors and corporates.

Commercial property: corporate occupiers Tier 1

The highly regarded commercial property practice at Mayer Brown International LLP is 'well resourced, incredibly capable and commercial'. On the corporate occupier side, it represents both landlords and tenants on headquarter relocations and post-property acquisition leasing transactions, and is also reputed for its handling of large mixed use schemes. Development-related strengths include land acquisition, site assembly and structuring, planning and statutory issues, tendering and procurement, development constraints strategy and environmental issues. Firmwide managing partner Jeremy Clay is a key name on the investment side and primarily represents private equity funds, though the group also acts for property companies, family offices and overseas investors. Martin Wright recently acted for First Base Limited, Macquarie Capital and Chelsfield Properties on the sale of The Silvertown Partnership to a joint venture vehicle between Lendlease and Starwood Capital. Iain Roberts is recommended for high-value investment transactions and mixed use property developments while Caroline Humble is another standout name.

Commercial property: development Tier 1

The highly regarded commercial property practice at Mayer Brown International LLP is 'well resourced, incredibly capable and commercial'. On the corporate occupier side, it represents both landlords and tenants on headquarter relocations and post-property acquisition leasing transactions, and is also reputed for its handling of large mixed use schemes. Development-related strengths include land acquisition, site assembly and structuring, planning and statutory issues, tendering and procurement, development constraints strategy and environmental issues. Firmwide managing partner Jeremy Clay is a key name on the investment side and primarily represents private equity funds, though the group also acts for property companies, family offices and overseas investors. Martin Wright recently acted for First Base Limited, Macquarie Capital and Chelsfield Properties on the sale of The Silvertown Partnership to a joint venture vehicle between Lendlease and Starwood Capital. Iain Roberts is recommended for high-value investment transactions and mixed use property developments while Caroline Humble is another standout name.

Commercial property: investment Tier 1

The highly regarded commercial property practice at Mayer Brown International LLP is 'well resourced, incredibly capable and commercial'. On the corporate occupier side, it represents both landlords and tenants on headquarter relocations and post-property acquisition leasing transactions, and is also reputed for its handling of large mixed use schemes. Development-related strengths include land acquisition, site assembly and structuring, planning and statutory issues, tendering and procurement, development constraints strategy and environmental issues. Firmwide managing partner Jeremy Clay is a key name on the investment side and primarily represents private equity funds, though the group also acts for property companies, family offices and overseas investors. Martin Wright recently acted for First Base Limited, Macquarie Capital and Chelsfield Properties on the sale of The Silvertown Partnership to a joint venture vehicle between Lendlease and Starwood Capital. Iain Roberts is recommended for high-value investment transactions and mixed use property developments while Caroline Humble is another standout name.

Derivatives and structured products

Employment: employers and senior executives

Commercial property

Employment: employees/unions

Employment: senior executives

Insurance: insolvency and restructuring Tier 1

The team at Mayer Brown International LLP benefits from 'diverse connections to other practice groups' around the US firm's global network, enabling it to handle complex cross-border mandates. Areas of particular expertise include long tail liability issues, insurtech and insurance-linked securities. Practice head Devi Shah and Colin Scagell are praised for their 'pragmatic' approach, while counsel Alexandra Wood is also recommended. In 2018 Shah and Wood were both part of the firm's team advising on insolvency of Lloyd's corporate member ACAL Underwriting Limited, securing an important High Court decision which brought the matter to a conclusion.

Banking litigation: investment and retail Tier 2

Mayer Brown International LLP’s 'team is extremely dedicated, efficient and very pleasant to work with'. The practice acts for investment banks, investment funds, asset managers, issuers of listed debt securities, and corporate trustees in high-value, high-profile disputes involving the wholesale financial markets, which usually have cross-jurisdictional elements. The practice is particularly known for disputes surrounding derivatives and structured products, commodities and financial crime. It represented UBS in litigation in London against German water services provider, Kommunale Wasserwerke Leipzig, that arose from the enforcement of structured finance transactions. Ian McDonald leads the practice, of which Alistair Graham , Susan Rosser and Mark Stefanini are also key members. The counsels to note are Ruth Malone, Dan Hart and recently promoted Chris Roberts. White-collar partners Sam Eastwood and Jason Hungerford were hired from Norton Rose Fulbright, while David Allen retired from the practice.

Construction: contentious Tier 2

Mayer Brown International LLP has a large team of specialist construction disputes lawyers in London handling an impressive mix of domestic and international matters. The practice - which advises governments, contractors and construction professionals across the energy, transport, mining and residential property sectors - is led by Michael Regan, who has a track record of advising on claims arising out of infrastructure and mining projects. Kwadwo Sarkodie is another key member of the team, and is one of a number of partners handling 'bet the farm' matters and other contract disputes for construction giant Wates, a longstanding client of the firm. Newly promoted partner James Morris is also recommended.

Debt capital markets Tier 2

The US and English law capability in Mayer Brown International LLP's London office sees it acting in some of the most demanding transatlantic debt capital markets transactions for issuers and underwriters, complementing the work of its pan-European and emerging market debt practices. James Taylor specialises in European debt and equity-linked capital markets, including commercial paper, MTN, Eurobonds, convertible and exchangeable bonds and other structured equity issuances. Robert Flanigan, who is dual-qualified in New York and France, focuses on European debt capital markets, including project bonds, regulatory capital, convertible and exchangeable bonds, US private placements and sovereign debt. Bernd Bohr, whose main focus is high yield issuance in Germany, also handles investment grade transactions, including SEC-registered offerings, Rule 144A offering and Reg S offerings, exceeding €1bn in value.

Derivatives (including commodities) Tier 2

Mayer Brown International LLP's derivatives, structured products and securitisation group is home to recognised derivatives specialists, among whom is global practice head Edmund "Ed" Parker. Parker has been involved in key market innovations, including OTC weather and catastrophe derivatives, and has advised leading banks and custodians on uncleared derivatives initial margin custody arrangements arising from the new margin rules under the European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR). Key partner Chris Arnold is currently advising ISDA’s newly-formed Sanctions Working Group and is leading on ISDA’s International Financial Institutions Opinions initiative. The practice is at the cutting edge of the derivatives market and it has an impressive buy-side client base advising hedge funds, asset managers, pension funds, insurance companies and multinationals. The firm's combination of US and English law capability in London enables it to handle cross-border transaction work and advise key market players on changes in US and European regulatory markets, including the Dodd-Frank Act.

Emerging markets Tier 2

The 'highly proactive and efficient team' at Mayer Brown International LLP is praised for its 'responsiveness, technical capability and availability'. In 2018, the firm expanded its capabilities in export, trade and multi-lateral financing in the commodities, energy, natural resources and infrastructure sectors. Ashley McDermott who focuses exclusively on emerging markets finance joined from Clifford Chance LLP to co-lead the practice with leading lights Ian Coles, who is head of the Africa and mining practices, and Rachel Speight, who acts for banks and sponsors in cross-border structured and project financings in the natural resources and infrastructure sectors. Newly promoted counsel Danuta De Vries is 'highly professional and an excellent communicator'. Clients also recommend James Taylor and Chris Arnold for debt capital markets and structured finance respectively. Active in deals in Central and Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Turkey, the firm is highly regarded for project finance, capital markets, export and agency finance, structured commodity finance, structured finance and derivatives.

Employment: employers Tier 2

The employment and benefits group at Mayer Brown International LLP, which is led by Nicholas Robertson, is regularly turned to for high-profile matters involving international clients such as FTSE 100 and Fortune 500 businesses. Disputes work is a core focus of practice, which handles litigation management and avoidance, as well as major cross-border matters relating to organisational change and data protection. Robertson, who regularly represents clients in the High Court and Court of Appeal, works in tandem with Christopher Fisher, who is relationship manager for some of the firm's key clients and advises on both contentious and non-contentious matters.  Senior associate Miriam Bruce is also a key member of the team.

Equity capital markets – small-mid cap Tier 2

Mayer Brown International LLP has seen a litany of cross-border instructions in the insurance, life sciences and tech sectors, though the team's geographical reach has of late been a larger generator of work than its sector specialisms. With a particularly strong foothold in the US and Canada, an active Asia-Pacific network and a partner with extensive experience in the Spanish market (Robert Flanigan), the ECM team has managed to stay busy despite a relative slowdown in certain markets worldwide. Also recommended are Kate Ball-Dodd, who has 'an amazing grip on the technical aspects of law and their practical application', and Rebecca Bothamley, 'a junior partner who can run a transaction like a senior partner'.

Mining and minerals Tier 2

Mayer Brown International LLP's recent mining highlights include its work for the Government of Oman on its plan to develop mining as one of five pillars of non-petroleum economic diversification currently being fast-tracked by the sultanate. The 'well respected' Ian Coles leads the London team, which works in tandem with the international firm's US and Asia counterparts on mining projects across the world, particularly in Latin America and South East Asia.

Pensions (non-contentious) Tier 2

The client list of Mayer Brown International LLP’s 'extremely intelligent' pensions team includes the trustees of some of the largest schemes in the market, with a particular emphasis on the energy, electricity, financial services and retail sectors. Significant recent mandates have involved high-value longevity swap transactions, ring-fencing arrangements, investment advice, funding arrangements and multi-employer scheme administration. The firm fields a strong suite of litigators who are regularly instructed on contentious matters relating to entitlement claims, breach of fiduciary duty claims, historical errors, employer obligations and proceedings before the Pensions Ombudsman. The practice is co-headed by Ian Wright and Jay Doraisamy; other key team members include Edward Jewitt, Richard Evans, Richard Goldstein and Andrew Block.

Professional negligence Tier 2

Mayer Brown International LLP's 'robust and creative team' is engaged on high-profile professional negligence disputes across the legal, engineering, construction and property sectors, where it is instructed by a raft of leading insurers. The team is commended for its international reach and for its experience in cross-border disputes. Head of insurance William Glassey regularly defends claims against solicitors, barristers, pensions actuaries and property professionals, while Michael Regan, who heads the construction and engineering group, is noted for complex construction-related claims. Sally Davies, who co-leads the construction and engineering professional indemnity team, is 'very client-friendly, and is able to steer a course between insurer and insured to deliver a result'. Elsewhere, Jim Oulton delivers 'really outstanding client care and legal advice', and James Morris, who was recently promoted to partner, and Jonathan Stone are experienced in construction-related claims.

Structured products and securitisation Tier 2

Mayer Brown International LLP's London structured finance group plays a central role in the firm's global offering and has a key role in novel and complex transactions for leading investment banks and buy-side clients, including alternative credit providers, private equity houses and hedge funds. The firm is now on the panels of both Société Générale and BNP Paribas. Its track record of market firsts, notably in Scandinavian markets, and in novel asset classes such as dealer floorplan securitisations, continues to grow. Global practice co-heads David O’Connor, who handles CMBS and RMBS, and Dominic Griffiths, who frequently acts for leading global banks, are standout partners. Kevin Hawken is a US- and UK-qualified partner with extensive experience representing financial institutions and other participants in cross-border securitisation transactions. He also and has a keen focus on regulatory developments in the structured finance market. Newly promoted partner Merryn Craske works on trade receivables, auto loan and lease, consumer loan and insurance premium loan transactions, as well as CMBS and RMBS. Partner Dasha Sobornova, who acts for arrangers, investment managers, issuers and corporate service providers on a range of structured finance work, but has a particular focus on CLOs, joined from Paul Hastings LLP.

Commercial litigation Tier 3

Mayer Brown International LLP's 'team is strong and has good cross border capability'. It acts for clients in commercial litigation across a number of industries, such as finance, manufacturing, telecoms, consumer products, energy and media. Ian McDonald heads the litigation and dispute resolution practice in London; pensions litigation practice head Stuart Pickford is particularly focused on commercial trusts, with his practice also including shareholder disputes and warranty claims; and Miles Robinson is recommended for substantial contractual and commercial litigation court claims, often with a cross-border element. Also key to the practice are Mark Stefanini, Alistair Graham and counsel Dan Hart . Well known white-collar partner Sam Eastwood  and Jason Hungerford were hired from Norton Rose Fulbright.

Contruction: non-contentious Tier 3

Mayer Brown International LLP's non-contentious team advises a prestigious client list comprising purchasers, lenders, project sponsors, contractors and suppliers, covering sectors including commercial and residential property, energy and waste. The non-contentious practice is headed up by Jonathan Olson-Welsh, who has expertise in construction and engineering contracts and leads on development and project transactions, both domestically and internationally. Jonathan Hosie is a key member of the practice, working on a diversity of projects and acting as lead partner on major matters. Chris Fellowes retired from the partnership as of December 2018 and now serves as a consultant to the firm.

Equity capital markets – mid-large cap Tier 3

Mayer Brown International LLP has seen a litany of cross-border instructions in the insurance, life sciences and tech sectors, though the team's geographical reach has of late been a larger generator of work than its sector specialisms. With a particularly strong foothold in the US and Canada, an active Asia-Pacific network, and a partner with extensive experience in the Spanish market (Robert Flanigan), the ECM team has managed to stay busy despite a relative slowdown in certain markets worldwide. Also recommended are Kate Ball-Dodd, who has 'an amazing grip on the technical aspects of law and their practical application', and Rebecca Bothamley, 'a junior partner who can run a transaction like a senior partner'.

EU and competition: trade, WTO anti-dumping and customs Tier 3

Operating as an integrated wider trade group globally, Mayer Brown International LLP’s government and global trade team focuses on advice concerning economic sanctions laws, export controls, customs, and trade remedy investigations. Apart from its traditional client base of large multinational companies, the team has also been receiving compliance-focused instructions concerning the application of WTO agreements from governmental bodies. While London-based team members have dual UK and US qualifications, the department also works extensively with its Asian counterpart. Having joined from Norton Rose Fulbright in July 2018, Jason Hungerford currently heads the practice, where associates Paul Whitfield-Jones and James Ford are also key contacts.

Fintech Tier 3

Mayer Brown International LLP's fintech group acts for global financial institutions, asset managers, technology companies and start-ups and has expertise advising on cloud-related outsourcing agreements, blockchain projects and smart contracts, data protection and intellectual property risks in the development of new platforms and services. The firm generally has strong corporate practices, and in the fintech space the team has experience advising on significant investment transaction, acquisitions and IPOs. Mark Prinsley assists clients across the spectrum of fintech with IP, outsourcing, cyber security and data privacy matters.

High yield Tier 3

The high yield practice at Mayer Brown International LLP focuses on high yield deals in the German market, bringing to bear the English, US and German law expertise housed in its London office. In 2018, the firm's work included advising debut issuers, which included acting for Raffinerie Heide on its inaugural offering of €250m high yield senior secured notes. It also advised repeat issuers including Germany-based Progroup, for which it handled deals including its offering of €450m senior secured high yield notes. Practice head Bernd Bohr and his team are 'very technical, detail-oriented, diligent, fast and pleasant to work with'. Bohr has a long-standing reputation for his work on innovative deals, including market-first high yield transactions in Germany.

Insurance and reinsurance litigation Tier 3

Mayer Brown International LLP advises insurers on disputes across a variety of insurance sectors, including multi-jurisdictional coverage, warranty and indemnity policies, D&O, transactional liability and cyber insurance. Practice head William Glassey has particular expertise in professional indemnity, while Jane Childs specialises on financial lines and transactional liability claims. After a number of departures in 2017 and 2018, the firm reaffirmed its commitment to the sector with the promotion of two partners - James Whitaker and James Morris.

Insurance: corporate and regulatory Tier 3

Mayer Brown International LLP's activity in the insurance sphere is focused on M&A, longevity insurance swap transactions, protection (re)insurance policies and catastrophe bonds. The practice is led by Colin Scagell, who has 'a wealth of knowledge' in insurance linked security (ILS) transactions and is 'friendly, knowledgeable, accessible and responsive' - providing an 'exemplary client service'. 2018 was a fruitful year for the team, as it was bolstered with the addition of 'outstanding insurance and corporate finance lawyer' Jeremy Hill, who joined as a senior counsel from Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, while Rebecca Bothamley was promoted to the partnership. The 'exceptionally collaborative' Jane Childs heads up the firm’s UK pensions risk transfer group.

IT and telecoms Tier 3

Mayer Brown International LLP is recognised for its expertise in IT outsourcings, insurance technology transactions and cybersecurity and data protection advice; it also has particular knowledge of the financial services sector. Outsourcing specialist Mark Prinsley, corporate partner Richard Page and Andrew Stewart, who assists suppliers and customers with commercial IT transactions, jointly lead the practice, while Oliver Yaros focuses on fintech and digital transformation projects.

Media and entertainment (including media finance) Tier 3

Mayer Brown International LLP acts for clients across the music, film, TV, publishing, gaming and information services industries. The team is noted for its contentious expertise; it handles contractual and commercial claims, often with a cross-border element. It is also experienced in publishing and music industry disputes and has advised on contentious music royalties cases. On the corporate side, the team handles corporate finance, M&A, joint venture and governance instructions; it advised Entertainment One on its acquisition of a 49% stake in The Mark Gordon Company, a leading TV and film producer, and also advised on a related placing to raise proceeds to part fund the acquisition. The firm is also instructed by major corporate clients and financial institutions on data privacy, advertising and social media issues.

Pensions: dispute resolution Tier 3

The client list of Mayer Brown International LLP’s 'extremely intelligent' pensions team includes the trustees of some of the largest schemes in the market, with a particular emphasis on the energy, electricity, financial services and retail sectors. Significant recent mandates have involved high-value longevity swap transactions, ring-fencing arrangements, investment advice, funding arrangements and multi-employer scheme administration. The firm fields a strong suite of litigators who are regularly instructed on contentious matters relating to entitlement claims, breach of fiduciary duty claims, historical errors, employer obligations and proceedings before the Pensions Ombudsman. The practice is co-headed by Ian Wright and Jay Doraisamy; other key team members include Edward Jewitt, Richard Evans, Richard Goldstein and Andrew Block.

Private equity: transactions – mid-tier – up to £250m Tier 3

'Excellent service' is combined with 'the hunger, ambition and hustle that magic circle firms or larger global firms often lack' at Mayer Brown International LLP , according to one client. The group regularly acts for players in the mid-market PE space on both the buy and sell side and is supported by a strong leveraged finance practice, which offers valuable input on debt-financed transactions. While the firm boasts expertise across numerous sectors, practitioners have a keen focus on  technology and often assist on deals involving tech-enabled businesses. Highlights included group head Perry Yam leading on the £221m acquisition of ByBox by Francisco Partners. ByBox provides innovative smart locker technology and field service solutions to improve the efficiency of supply chains across numerous sectors. Other key mandates involve the travel, retail and consumer sectors. James West is strongly recommended for mid-market buyouts, venture capital work and advising both investors and management teams on buy-and-build strategies. Also noteworthy are Tim Nosworthy and new partner Neil Evans; Evans arrived from Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP in February 2018.

Product liability: defendant Tier 3

Mayer Brown International LLP's team has considerable experience in the food, consumer products, automotive, energy and medical devices sectors. The team stands out for its close collaboration with the firm's other departments, which enables the group to provide comprehensive advice on construction, IP and regulatory aspects in the product liability space. Miles Robinson heads the practice and is a key contact for group actions, as well as recall, labelling and regulatory issues. Other team members include Mark Stefanini and recently promoted partner James Morris.

Property finance Tier 3

Mayer Brown International LLP is active in loan portfolio financings, including NPL acquisitions and disposals, complex restructurings, development finance, and debt fund and mezzanine lending. The team is also noted for its CMBS expertise. Clients range from leading investment banks to an increasing number of private equity firms, and the firm has been particularly active representing Asian investors into the UK real estate market. Nigel White and Andrew Hepner, whose practice is focused on sponsor-side transactions, jointly lead the team. The ‘commercial‘ David O’Connor is also a key contact.

Trade finance Tier 3

Mayer Brown International LLP joins the ranking this year, having invested in specialist trade finance expertise to build up the depth of expertise in its London office. Partner and emerging markets expert Ashley McDermott joined from Clifford Chance LLP to join practice head and co-head of asset-based lending Alex Dell in a practice that works for banks, funds, corporates and players in the fintech sector in relation to complex global receivables finance structures. Among their clients are ING, Africa Finance Corporation, Klesch Group and Credit Agricole. The firm's recent work includes off-balance sheet receivables purchase facilities in relation to receivables originated in Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Romania, South Korea and the UAE. It has in-depth expertise in the increasingly important areas of export and agency finance, and structured trade  and commodity finance.

VAT and indirect tax Tier 3

Mayer Brown International LLP is able to draw on its international tax practice to handle indirect tax matters for a variety of corporates in relation to their investments in the UK. The group has a strong cross-border practice and has particular expertise in VAT and insurance premium tax for financial services clients, as well as a strong grounding in VAT and SDLT in the real estate sector. James Hill heads the department and is supported by Ben Fryer (who has international tax experience) and Simon Rose, who joined the firm from Michelmores LLP in November 2018, and doubles as a chartered tax adviser.

Bank lending: investment grade debt and syndicated loans Tier 4

Co-headed by the 'very experienced' Alex Dell and Dominic Griffiths, who both have an excellent pedigree for asset-based lending, Mayer Brown International LLP's banking and finance team excels at handling partner-led, bespoke mandates. Aided by a comprehensive international network which includes practitioners based in other key global financial centres including Hong Kong and New York, much of the team's work is of a multi-jurisdictional nature and often includes UK and US-governed debt products. UK, US and German-qualified partner, Bernd Bohr, impresses clients with his 'ability to personally cover the full spectrum of lending products in Europe', including as it relates to bond and loan transactions. Other niche areas of expertise include real estate finance and funds finance.

Commercial contracts Tier 4

Mayer Brown International LLP specialises in complex and multi-jurisdictional outsourcing transactions for clients in areas including information technology, finance, human resources, procurement and telecoms. The firm is particularly experienced in handling domestic and international sourcing contracts in the financial services sectors. Mark Prinsley is head of the intellectual property and IT group, as well as the technology transactions practice. He leads the team with Andrew Stewart, who focuses on complex commercial transactions.

Commercial property: hotels and leisure Tier 4

The highly regarded commercial property practice at Mayer Brown International LLP is 'well resourced, incredibly capable and commercial'. On the corporate occupier side, it represents both landlords and tenants on headquarter relocations and post-property acquisition leasing transactions, and is also reputed for its handling of large mixed use schemes. Development-related strengths include land acquisition, site assembly and structuring, planning and statutory issues, tendering and procurement, development constraints strategy and environmental issues. Firmwide managing partner Jeremy Clay is a key name on the investment side and primarily represents private equity funds, though the group also acts for property companies, family offices and overseas investors. Martin Wright recently acted for First Base Limited, Macquarie Capital and Chelsfield Properties on the sale of The Silvertown Partnership to a joint venture vehicle between Lendlease and Starwood Capital. Iain Roberts is recommended for high-value investment transactions and mixed use property developments while Caroline Humble is another standout name.

Employee share schemes Tier 4

Mayer Brown International LLP's equity and incentive plans team, which is led by Andrew Stanger, leverages the firm's international office network to advise clients on share schemes globally, with expertise including tax, securities, stock exchange rules, exchange control regulations and governance. The group has a particular focus on private company arrangements and arrangements in private equity structures. International work includes share plans for dual-listed companies and UK companies listed on US exchanges.

Environment Tier 4

Mayer Brown International LLP advises clients from the oil and gas, energy, health and safety, biotechnology, chemicals and finance sectors; it also has particular expertise in acting for companies and financial institutions in the real estate, energy and sustainability sectors. The team has experience in advising on environmental regulations and renewables incentives regimes, as well as matters related to emissions trading. Practice head Michael Hutchinson also assist high-net-worth individuals with the environmental aspects of real estate transactions.

Financial services: contentious Tier 4

The multijurisidictional regulatory practice at Mayer Brown International LLP provides a range of regulatory, enforcement, litigation, transactional and policy capabilities. The firm has particular expertise in complex regulatory compliance issues, including around the implementation and key aspects of MiFID II and MiFIR. In addition, the practice advises a number of funds, broker dealers and corporates on issues such as financial crime and market abuse. Susan Rosser specialises in disputes involving financial institutions, asset managers and investment advisers, as well as complex financial products, regulatory investigations and enforcement. She co-leads the contentious team with Alistair Graham, who is a solicitor advocate and has notable experience in financial services disputes, international asset tracing, regulatory and fraud investigations.

Infrastructure (including PFI and PPP) Tier 4

Mayer Brown International LLP fields a team of experienced lawyers, who are regularly instructed to advise on infrastructure transactions. The group is noted for its construction and engineering expertise, assisting governments, purchasers and suppliers from a variety of sectors. Practice head Michael Regan and Sally Davies are key contacts in this area, with both particularly well versed in contentious matters. It is also involved in various international project financings and in transactions in the oil & gas sector. Jonathan Stone, Jonathan Olson-Welsh and counsel Tamsin Travers are also part of the construction & engineering group.

International arbitration Tier 4

Mayer Brown International LLP's 'excellent, client-oriented and available practice' fields arbitration experts in post-M&A, international joint venture and energy-related disputes and investment treaty matters. Head of the international arbitration group in London Raid Abu-Manneh is also co-head of the global group; Kwadwo Sarkodie regularly advises on international arbitrations under the ICC, UNCITRAL and LCIA rules; and Miles Robinson represents clients in substantial contractual and commercial claims, often with a cross-border element. Also highly regarded are Mark Stefanini and James Morris, while Joseph Otoo and Rachael O’Grady are experienced senior associates. Tom Duncan left for Ashurst.

Oil and gas Tier 4

Mayer Brown International LLP is best known for its cross-border M&A and fundraising capabilities in the oil and gas upstream sector. The team handles both public and private M&A and debt and equity fundraising, as well as M&A within the refining space. Also notable is the firm's track record in the fields of dispute resolution, environmental, regulatory and legislative matters across all segments of the industry. Robert Hamill, who has notable expertise in acting for listed companies, leads the team, which was strengthened by the arrival of Bob Palmer, the former head of the energy, projects and construction team at CMS. Chris Fellowes recently retired from the profession.

Acquisition finance Tier 5

Effectively drawing upon practitioners from within the firm's asset based lending, structured and funds finance teams, as well as its core leveraged finance offering, Mayer Brown International LLP provides a 'responsive and proactive service' to an impressive mix of banks, funds and alternative lenders. Andrew Crotty has a strong reputation within the mid-market private equity space. Stuart Brinkworth has bolstered the team's prowess on the direct lending front following his arrival in 2018 from Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP.

Corporate restructuring & insolvency Tier 5

Provided with additional bandwidth and critical mass by the arrival in June 2019 of Michael Fiddy and Amy Jacks  from DLA Piper, Mayer Brown International LLP 's six-partner team represents a broad mix of stakeholders, including funds, corporate trustees, insolvency practitioners, and banks across a range of contentious and non-contentious mandates. Team head Devi Shah is 'extremely pleasant to work with and provides reliable advice' across both domestic and cross-border mandates, with particular niches on insurance insolvencies and pensions-related restructurings.

EU and competition Tier 5

Mayer Brown International LLP 's global antitrust and competition practice is active across four continents, with all of the offices working closely together. Headed up by David Harrison, the London-based team works in conjunction with the offices in Brussels and Paris. Team members often cooperate with the litigation and dispute resolution department on contentious competition matters. While the team has a strength in behavioural work, a big portion of instructions comes from clients seeking merger control assistance. Worthy of note in this regard, the group is advising Unilever on a number of issues including the sale of its French baking business to Dr. Oetker. Other notable clients are active in the private equity and investment space, as well as in a wide-ranging spectrum of sectors such as aviation, energy, financial services, retail, and manufacturing. Julian Ellison is another key figure in the practice.

Fraud: civil Tier 5

Mayer Brown International LLP handles litigation, dispute resolution, and restructuring and insolvency, and is able to pursue fraud claims throughout the world thanks to the firm's global network of offices across Europe, Asia, the Americas and the Middle East. Areas of expertise include multi-jurisdictional fraud, asset recovery, fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of trust, Ponzi scheme busting, injunctions and freezing orders. Clients include banks, insolvency practitioners, lenders, pension trustees and corporates in the financial services, retail, energy and life sciences sectors. Devi Shah and Alistair Graham head the team, which was joined by Sam Eastwood and Jason Hungerford from Norton Rose Fulbright.

Private funds Tier 5

Characterised by one client as 'proactive, business-friendly, excellent at negotiating and focused on problem solving', Mayer Brown International LLP's fund formation and investment management department acts for start-up investment management and family investment firms on both first time and subsequent fund formation matters. It is also known for its strong expertise in real estate private equity funds, where it tends to represent larger asset managers. The firm continues to expand its pension fund offering with experts assembled from different practice areas, all of whom boast a specialist knowledge of pension clients. Tim Nosworthy is practice head and key contact.

Corporate tax Tier 6

The group at Mayer Brown International LLP works closely with the firm's international offices, primarily providing transactional support. In addition, it is often called upon to advise on tax planning and structuring work, which it can provide across several jurisdictions. It  has a particular niche in the taxation of employee share incentives, an area of expertise for department leader James Hill.

M&A: upper mid-market and premium deals, £500m+ Tier 6

Mayer Brown International LLP's corporate practice handles M&A transactions across a broad array of sectors, including financial services, energy and natural resources, media, manufacturing and healthcare, with a particular leaning towards real-estate transactions. In addition to public and private companies, the firm frequently acts for financial sponsors on transaction structuring, asset sale and purchases and joint ventures. In addition, the team is experienced in working with senior management, boards of directors and committees on all aspects of mergers and acquisitions. The multi-jurisdictional aspect of the practice's work is facilitated through a strong network of international offices, with colleagues from the US, Germany, France and Hong Kong all regularly collaborating on deals. Perry Yam co-heads the global corporate practice from London, while Kate Ball-Dodd leads the London corporate practice. The firm boosted its ranks with the hire of senior counsel Jeremy Hill from Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, who is highly experienced in insurance and financial institutions transactions.