Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP > London, England > Firm Profile

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Finance > Asset based lending Tier 2

Although it is narrower in scope than some of its peers in the ranking, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP has a strong reputation advising on transatlantic ABL transactions for longstanding clients, including Wells Fargo, as well as  for a growing number of newer US funders making their first forays into the UK and European market. ‘Superb’ dual New York and UK-qualified team head Georgia Quenby has been integral to the firm’s success in the market and is appreciated for her ability to structure complex deals involving sophisticated intercreditor relationships. In this regard, Quenby is also well versed at protecting clients against future exposure in a distressed scenario and in the event of this happening, is well equipped to advise on the restructuring of ABL debt products. Victoria Thompson‘s dual US and UK qualifications also lend themselves to work on cross-border mandates with a transatlantic complexion, although her workload also includes advice for funds and alternative capital providers in the sector.

Industry focus > Emerging markets Tier 2

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP has ‘a diverse team of experts able to address a wide variety of interrelated legal issues across multiple legal jurisdictions‘. Carter Brod, who is dual-qualified in US and English law, ‘has deep expertise in emerging markets and demonstrates uncompromised advocacy for his clients‘. He focuses on capital markets transactions, principally in the CEE and CIS.  Bruce Johnston handles banking and finance transactions in EMEA, and Ayesha Waheed is a key adviser on energy and infrastructure projects in Latin America, Eastern Europe, the CIS and Asia. Seyfi Can Kandemir joined as a partner from White & Case LLP to add experience in project development and acquisition finance, principally in the power, infrastructure, oil and gas, and mining sectors.

Corporate and commercial > M&A: lower mid-market deals, £50m-£500m Tier 3

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP‘s London office fields a deep bench of talent who regularly work closely with the firm’s international offices on a strong mix of tech, life sciences, energy, and investment management deals. EMEA corporate chair Timothy Corbett is noted for his life sciences pedigree, helming a number of multi-jurisdictional sales and purchases for both established and fast-growth market players. Investment management head Mark Geday possesses a wealth of experience in private equity-driven transactions, with key recent highlights including major cross-border deals in the sports sector. Tomasz Wozniak is well known for his expertise in CIS region M&A across the financial services, consumer goods, and natural resources sectors, while Olivier Chambord – who divides his time between London and Paris – regularly handles corporate transactions and project development matters for oil and gas companies. Energy M&A specialist Seyfi Can Kandemir joined the team from White & Case LLP in October 2021. Tom Cartwright has left the firm.

Corporate and commercial > Private equity: transactions - mid-market deals (up to £250m) Tier 3

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP‘s London office works closely with the firm’s teams in the United States to advise on the full spectrum of deals in the private equity sector. Mark Geday is a key figure in the practice and handles deals involving financial services companies as well as portfolio company M&A. Elsewhere, Tomasz Wozniak takes a leading role in early-stage investments, particularly in the technology sector. Tom Cartwright departed in June 2022.

Dispute resolution > Competition litigation Tier 3

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP‘s ‘extremely skilled and responsive‘ contentious practice is exceptionally active in pharmaceutical sector matters, acting in a number of multi-party appeals before the CAT and the High Court. The team is also noted for its capabilities in the retail, media, and transport sectors. The competition group is headed up by Frances Murphy, an ‘experienced, tenacious and perceptive‘ practitioner whose recent key engagements include significant retail sector antitrust appeals before the Supreme Court. Joanna Christoforou is recommended for her expertise in big-ticket cartel and abuse of dominance investigations, and consequent court proceedings. Partner Leonidas Theodosiou is noted for his extensive international capabilities.

Employment > Employers Tier 3

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP stands out for its reputation in employment appeal tribunals and capabilities in cross-border regulatory mandates, trade union campaigns and expertise in the life sciences. Matthew Howse leads the team and is an expert across the full spectrum of employment law. The team are particularly sought after as independent investigators on highly sensitive disciplinary, whistleblowing and regulatory proceedings. Louise Skinner is recommended for gender pay gap and workplace equality matters.

Finance > Debt capital markets Tier 3

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP is ‘highly professional, very responsive to the client’s needs and has real experts in this field‘. The firm does not target commoditised capital markets work but instead handles innovative and complex deals. Its recent work includes investment grade programmes, debt offerings by FTSE 100 UK plcs, debut bond transactions by emerging markets issuers, private placements, convertible bonds, liability management transactions and a range of structured DCM deals. Head of debt capital markets Carter Brod , who is ‘extremely patient and gives exceptional advice‘ and head of international finance Bruce Johnston are the lead partners in London. Both acted for Turkish bank Aktif Bank on the update of its €390m note issuance programme and an initial offering of $148.5m in notes.  Tim Corbett has ‘a great breadth and depth of US corporate law for both equity and debt transactions, so you feel you’re in safe hands'.

Finance > Securitisation Tier 3

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP has ‘commercially-minded lawyers who go the extra mile to find and deliver innovative solutions to their clients’ problems‘. The firm’s London office has partners qualified in both US and English law, enabling it to handle complex cross-border transactions. Paul Matthews is among the firm’s ‘calm, composed and highly competent and professional partners‘. Merryn Craske, who joined from Mayer Brown International LLP, brings significant experience in advising banks, originators, alternative investment funds and private equity firms on securitisation and structured finance transactions. She is ‘one of the most knowledgeable and capable lawyers in the trade and structured finance industry‘, according to one client. Theresa Kradjian and Lisa Cargill are also heavily involved in the portfolio sales, warehouse financings, asset-backed commercial paper conduits and the structuring of pan-European funding platforms.

Risk advisory > Regulatory investigations and corporate crime (advice to corporates) Tier 3

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP offers strong expertise in criminal and regulatory investigations into financial crime, handling allegations of market abuse and insider trading, corruption, and tax issues in proceedings brought by UK, US, and other international regulators and enforcement agencies. Clients include a number of international financial institutions, alongside high-profile corporates and charities. As well as enjoying productive relationships with its US and global offices in cross-border mandates, the firm also works closely with its London-based employment, corporate governance, and commercial litigation teams, allowing it to act in a broad range of complex cases, including contentious proceedings as well as internal investigations into culture and broad regulatory compliance. The team is co-led by Melanie Ryan , who heads up the firm’s financial crime disputes and investigations team, offering experience of the Financial Services & Markets Act, and has represented clients before the SFO, FCA, and US DOJ, among others. Co-head Chris Warren-Smith is deputy chair of the firm’s global investigations practice, and handles the full range of regulatory proceedings, including pre and post-investigation advice on compliance and strategy, alongside representing clients through accompanying litigation and enforcement actions.

TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > IT and telecoms Tier 3

Mike Pierides leads the technology, outsourcing and commercial group at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP with substantial experience in cloud and SaaS arrangements. The team specialises in outsourcing transactions for both customers and service providers, and emerging technologies is also an area of focus for the team, including quantum computing and virtual payment agreements. The group also supports clients on data protection and privacy-related issues. Timothy Corbett is a key name, advising clients on cross-border corporate transactions in the technology sector.

Corporate and commercial > Financial services: contentious Tier 4

At Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP, the team is particularly proficient in multi-jurisdictional matters, particularly those intersecting the UK and US. Core expertise encompasses FSMA matters, customer redress exercises, FCA investigations, remediation programmes, insider dealing, corruption and alleged mis-selling. Melanie Ryan is well-versed before both the FCA and SEC; she serves as practice co-head alongside Chris Warren-Smith whose workload also includes retail share trading, investment management, mortgage, overdraft charge and bancassurance affairs.

Employment > Immigration Tier 4

Matthew Howse leads Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP‘s employment department in London, while Shannon Donnelly heads up the immigration team from Washington DC. The media and entertainment, technology, and investment industries are core client sectors, and the firm provides long-term and strategic support, as well as assistance on transactions and reorganisations. Associates Jennifer Connolly and Yvette Allen are key contacts on UK and global immigration matters, with Connolly’s clients including chemical and technology companies and charities, and Allen often leading on matters for entertainment sector clients.

Industry focus > Life sciences and healthcare Tier 4

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP’s ‘excellent reputation in the UK’ attracts a broad range of work encompassing transactional mandates, regulatory issues, employment work and competition matters. Tim Corbett heads up the group; he specialises in advising early-stage biotech companies on capital raisings and also regularly acts for venture capital investors. Frances Murphy is the key contact for competition work and Louise Skinner focuses on life sciences-related employment matters.

Projects, energy and natural resources > Oil and gas Tier 4

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP focuses on financing and transactional work and also has the capacity to handle litigation, arbitration and regulatory matters. Bruce Johnston heads the team, which was recently bolstered by the arrival of Seyfi Can Kandemir from White & Case LLP in October 2021; Allison Soilihi was promoted to partner.

TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property: trade marks, copyright and design Tier 4

Nicholas Bolter heads up the soft IP practice for Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP, and is praised for his ‘incisiveness’. Clients across the UK and Europe in the automotive, retail, luxury, apparel, and technology industries rely on the team’s expertise, and it regularly advises on trade mark and design enforcement, infringement and prosecution work, new brand risk assessments, and IP due diligence. Associate Martin Henshall is also a key member the team, assisting Bolter across a number of matters.

Corporate and commercial > EU and competition Tier 5

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP is particularly noted for the strength of its competition offering in the pharmaceutical sector, where the ‘always reliable, thorough, and commercial‘ practice handles a formidable volume of CMA investigations. Practice head Frances Murphy drives many of the team’s most high-profile contentious and non-contentious engagements, while Omar Shah‘s focus encompasses cross-border merger control and FDI regulatory clearances. Joanna Christoforou and Leonidas Theodosiou are also recommended.

Dispute resolution > Banking litigation: investment and retail Tier 5

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP has broad expertise in banking litigation, where it is instructed by banks, investors and investment managers on cross-border mandates. Melanie Ryan  draws on her experience handling both litigation and regulatory proceedings and has a particular focus on representing claimants and defendants in enforcement proceedings. Chris Warren-Smith stands out for his work in securities litigation, while Peter Sharp is highly active representing aviation leasing companies.

Investment fund formation and management > Private funds Tier 5

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP advises institutional investors on investments into funds as well as on secondary market transactions, including the formation of funds of funds. The ‘highly knowledgeable’ practice also has a presence in the venture capital market where it advises on fund formation and secondary deals. Simon Currie leads the group, while Gawain Hughes is particularly focused on secondaries. Oliver Rochman and Robert Mailer are also key partners in the team; Rochman is a ‘real pleasure to work with’ while Mailer wins praise for his creative approach to VC fund structures.

Risk advisory > Data protection, privacy and cybersecurity Tier 5

With specialist teams across Europe, the Middle East, China, Singapore and the US, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP is uniquely positioned to handle GPDR matters, multi-jurisdictional compliance programmes and data transfers. The team is jointly led by Pulina Whitaker, whose expertise spans outsourcing transactions, employment data privacy issues, and data breach investigations, and Matthew Howse, who is recommended for privacy and cybersecurity matters.

Corporate and commercial > Corporate tax Tier 6

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP‘s team works as part of the firm’s global practice to advise on multijurisdictional tax matters, particularly in the transactional sphere. The ‘technical and pragmatic’ Kate Habershon leads the practice, with experience on M&A, international structuring, and tax planning. Neil McKnight, who was promoted to partner in 2020, covers real estate. Associate Grace Tan is noted.

Corporate and commercial > Financial services: non-contentious/regulatory Tier 6

At Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP, the team is knowledgeable of an array of regulatory and legislation affairs, both EU and UK-related. The group is co-headed by Simon Currie and William Yonge; the former is a specialist in the formation, management and operation of private investment funds, listed investment companies, managed accounts and separate account investment vehicles, while the latter an asset management sector specialist, often acting for US, Europe, Middle East and Asia-based managers on their establishment in the UK.

Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: premium Tier 6

Major banks and financial institutions across the globe form the core of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP‘s client roster; the group is highly proficient in leveraging its litigation and investigations expertise, and its multi-jurisdictional presence, on behalf of such players. Melanie Ryan leads the team, supported by ‘very high calibre‘ practitioners such as ‘veteran litigator‘ Peter Sharp and the ‘hugely capable‘ David Waldron.

Dispute resolution > International arbitration Tier 6

‘Extremely experienced across the range of international commercial arbitration‘, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP‘s London practice routinely handles major disputes in the Americas, Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the CIS region. International commercial, oil, gas, and energy arbitration specialist David Waldron, ‘has clients’ complete confidence‘; and Peter Sharp‘s arbitration experience includes several LCIA and ICC arbitrations. Providing additional partner-level support are Chris Warren-Smith and Melanie Ryan, while partner Paul Mesquitta acts in arbitrations across various sectors.

Finance > Transport finance and leasing

United States > Industry focus > Energy litigation: oil and gas Tier 3

Latin America: International firms > Capital markets

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is known for bond offerings, including sovereign offerings, along with private placements and debt restructurings. Hartford-based partner Daniel Papermaster represents a range of institutional investors in private placement financings in Latin America and elsewhere. London partner Carter Brod specialises in international bond offerings, including issuances originating from Latin America. Also in Hartford, special adviser Michael Reilly has a long track record in Latin America bond restructurings.