Firm Profile > Ropes & Gray LLP > London, England

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High yield Tier 2

'It is one the law firms that combines loan and bond capabilities in Europe, which is really key in the current convergence of the two products', remarks a client of Ropes & Gray LLP whole another notes that 'the firm clearly differentiates itself through its team approach and connectivity with the bank they are working with - it feels like one big team working together and they always go the extra mile'. Practice head Michael Kazakevich and key partner Jane Rogers are leading lights in the market, while up-and coming partners Robert Haak ('superb') and newly promoted Aditya Khanna are highly recommended. In 2018, the firm advised on several large and complex high yield financings for corporate entities, notably in the telecoms sector, and the firm is steadily expanding its portfolio of work for underwriters.

Regulatory investigations and corporate crime Tier 2

Ropes & Gray LLP has a particular focus on the financial services, private equity, asset management, life sciences and energy and natural resources sectors. It advises clients within these sectors, and more, on matters including  allegations of corruption, money laundering, FCPA and UK Bribery act issues, as well as regulatory compliance and investigations, often coming up against the DoJ, SEC and FBI in the US and the SFO in the UK. Co-head of team Amanda Raad is US-qualified as well as being admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales and has particular expertise handling investigations with a US element. Her highly regarded fellow co-head, Judith Seddon, joined as a partner from Clifford Chance LLP and advises clients on allegations of white-collar crime, fraud, corruption and regulatory and criminal investigations and prosecutions. The firm bolstered its ranks with the addition of  Rosemarie Paul as a partner from Akin Gump LLP.

Commercial property: investment Tier 3

David Seymour’s team at Ropes & Gray LLP serves a client base of private equity and debt funds, endowments, sovereign wealth funds, operating partners, overseas investors and family offices on investment matters in both the UK and Europe. It is particularly well-versed on joint ventures, co-investments, direct and indirect acquisitions and disposals, leasebacks and financing with experience in operating in a range of industries such as hotels, hospitals, retail and leisure, student accommodation, offices and logistics.

Fraud: white-collar crime Tier 3

Ropes & Gray LLP advises on white-collar crime, fraud, corruption, and regulatory and criminal investigations nationally and internationally. Client sectors include financial services, private equity, healthcare, life sciences, and energy and natural resources. In 2018, the highly regarded Judith Seddon joined from Clifford Chance and now co-heads the team; she is experienced in representing individuals in investigations. Amanda Raad, who also co-heads the team, is experienced in handling cross-border cases, and cases of financial fraud and money laundering. Rosemarie Paul  joined as a partner from Akin Gump.

Acquisition finance Tier 4

Traditionally best-known for its advice to private equity sponsors, Ropes & Gray LLP continues to strengthen its lender-side credentials with a number of recent hires, including the arrival in 2018 of Carol Van der Vorst from Goldman Sachs. Van der Vorst also enhances the team's English law credentials, providing the London group with an increasingly compelling offering which  can advise across products (including New York-governed high yield and UK-governed debt) and geographies. Global finance co-head Michael Kazakevich and London co-managing partner Mike Goetz are key members of the team.

Bank lending: investment grade debt and syndicated loans Tier 4

Able to structure deals implementing UK and US-governed debt products, the 'responsive, creative and solutions-oriented' three-partner team at Ropes & Gray LLP is particularly accomplished at handling big-ticket financings for multinationals in the TMT space, including Liberty Global and Altice. The team has also developed a particular expertise in advising on financings in the regulated travel sector.

Data protection, privacy and cybersecurity Tier 4

Ropes & Gray LLP focuses its efforts on US-related data protection mandates with expertise advising clients in the private equity, asset management, education, healthcare and life sciences sectors. The team has been particularly active in compliance and advisory work and also handles data breaches, crisis response work and regulatory investigations, regularly working with the firm’s risk, investigations and regulatory enforcement partners. The firm’s US strength also makes it well placed to advise on the California Consumer Privacy Act and international data transfers. Rohan Massey heads up the practice and advises on data protection, data security, brand protection, e-commerce and IT matters. Counsel Clare Sellars is also a key name to note.

Derivatives (including commodities) Tier 4

Ropes & Gray LLP has one partner who advises asset managers, alternative credit providers, hedge fund managers and private equity firms. Among these clients are Altice and Western Asset Management. The practice is also growing its portfolio of work for major investment banks. In 2018, Anna Lawry advised on innovative structures including credit enhancement for an emerging market NPL portfolio financing through a rolling FX hedging programme, and a bespoke scheme for interest rate hedging. The firm is also known for its advice on regulatory matters, particularly in regard to issues affecting asset managers. Lawry has more than 15 years' experience in derivatives in all the major asset classes, both OTC or on-exchange, and associated ISDA, collateral, brokerage, clearing and custody arrangements.

Private equity: transactions – high-value deals (£250m+) Tier 4

In addition to a steady stream of buyout work on both the buy and sell side, the private equity practice group at Ropes & Gray LLP in London  also handles co-investment and minority investment transactions. The firm was instructed for the first time by new client Duke Street on its £100m acquisition of railway holiday company Great Rail Journeys from ECI, with practice head Philip Sanderson and John Newton taking the lead. Helen Croke, who focuses on representing PE houses across the full spectrum of mid-cap and high-value deals, is highly recommended. In a particularly high-profile mandate, Croke led the team advising Intermediate Capital Group on its £1.3bn joint partnership investment into IRIS. This was the largest ever UK PE software buyout. London co-managing partner Will Rosen is another name to note.

Structured products and securitisation Tier 4

The London-based real estate finance and securitisation team at Ropes & Gray LLP has carved out a place in the market since it was formed four years ago, winning a steady stream of high-end work from key clients such as Blackstone Mortgage Trust. The practice handles the full range of structured finance and securitisation financing techniques including repos, CRE CLOs, private NPL securitisations, loan-on-loan facilities and other asset-backed structures. The London group also works closely with the firm's large team in the US, enabling it to handle transatlantic structured finance transactions. The firm is also known for advising US collateral managers and fund managers on EU risk retention rules. Partner Anna Lawry and counsel Richard Hanson are the key practitioners. Partha Pal joined Greenberg Traurig, LLP.

Corporate tax Tier 5

Corporate and private equity tax expert Brenda Coleman leads the group at Ropes & Gray LLP, which excels in transactional tax for clients with operations in the UK and across the EU. Private equity, fund formation, real estate, banking and finance remain core competencies for the department.

Property finance Tier 5

Ropes & Gray LLP is known for the strength of its investor client base, acting for several global market leaders. The team advises on complex, high-value property finance transactions, including investment and development finance and NPL acquisitions financed by private securitisations. The team, which is now led by David Seymour, has gone through a number of changes in recent months, with the retirement of former practice head Iain Morpeth and the departures of Partha Pal and Carol Hopper for Greenberg Traurig, LLP and counsel Rick Hanson for Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (Europe) LLP.

EU and competition Tier 7

The London-based competition department at Ropes & Gray LLP assists clients with a wide range of competition law issues at multiple levels: the European Commission; the Competition and Markets Authority; UK authorities responsible for the regulated industries; as well as the UK High Court. Team members' sector-specific expertise include healthcare, technology, financial services, and private equity. The group advised Medtronic on the CMA review of its preferred partnership with Animas Corporation, among other matters. Practice head Ruchit Patel is recommended and stands out for his experience handling cross-border matters.

Corporate restructuring & insolvency Tier 8