Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP > London, England > Firm Profile
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP Offices

40 BANK STREET
CANARY WHARF
LONDON
E14 5DS
England
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
Dispute resolution > International arbitration Tier 1
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP’s ‘excellent international arbitration team’ frequently handles arbitrations that also involve court applications for interim relief, disclosure orders from the US courts in aid of foreign arbitrations, and enforcement proceedings to collect on arbitration awards. The Europe international litigation and arbitration group is led by David Kavanagh KCPractice head(s):
David Kavanagh KC
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Skadden has an excellent international arbitration team, with great experience and presence in a number of the largest disputes.’
‘One of the leading arbitration firms in London – its excellent reputation makes it very popular.‘
‘The team is a lean, effective and cost-conscious group that shows cohesion and professionalism.‘
‘Operated well at all levels, adhering to hierarchy yet being flexible, open and innovative in their interaction and brainstorming sessions. The lawyers showed respect for the inner workings of the client.’
‘A partner-led practice, with partners being fully engaged and involved in the process.’
‘David Kavanagh KC has a down-to-earth attitude that gives clients the confidence that he has good control of both strategic and tactical issues.‘
‘David Kavanagh KC and David Edwards stand out as two of the best practitioners in London. They work hard for their clients and are highly effective.‘
‘Bruce Macaulay exemplifies a partner at the very top of his game, with a huge amount of experience, and one of the best strategic minds in the business.’
Key clients
DP World
Vodafone Group
NextEra Energy Spain Holdings
Enka Renewables
Agility Public Warehousing Company
CC/Devas (Mauritius)
Devas Employees Mauritius Private
Telcom Devas Mauritius
IndiGo Airlines
Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund
Anadarko Petroleum
Chatterjee Group
Emaar Properties
Work highlights
- Achieved a significant victory for Rakesh Gangwal (former CEO of US Airways) in a high-profile arbitration involving the shareholders of India’s largest airline, Indigo Airlines.
- Successfully led a consumer goods distribution company to victory in a complex LCIA arbitration.
- Successfully represented the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund in €100m LCIA arbitration proceedings, brought by investors in the privatised Greek lottery.
Corporate and commercial > Corporate tax Tier 2
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP‘s team provides full service tax advice across all areas, with particular emphasis upon high value M&A work. The department has broad sector expertise, acting for clients across financial services, real estate, advertising and gambling in diverse jurisdictions including the US, EU, India and Australia. Team leader James AndersonPractice head(s):
James Anderson
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Creative thinkers to develop structures to meet a variety of end goals, with a broad knowledge and experience of transactions. Extremely responsive, available and diligent. Producing work product that is especially clear and easy to digest given complex ideas.’
‘James Anderson has deep experience and developed instinct – able to hone in on a simple, elegant solution expediently and definitively.’
‘James Anderson is the strongest and most creative tax partner I have ever worked with.’
‘What makes this practice unique is its depth of knowledge on UK tax and their commitment to their clients. The practice is very responsive to client needs and its depth and breadth of knowledge has always made them my very first phone call.’
‘The individuals I worked with the most were James Anderson and Joseph Hone. They are intelligent and knowledgeable and always willing to talk through a problem to find a workable solution.’
Key clients
Waldencast Acquisition Corp
Willis Towers Watson plc
Infrastructure Integrator LLC
RMG Acquisition Corporation II
SDCL EDGE Acquisition Corporation
Mercury Retail Holding PLC
JAB
Visa, Inc.
Phoenix Group Holdings
Electronic Arts Inc.
Blue Whale Acquisition Corp I
Raymond James Financial, Inc
ST Energy Transition I Ltd
Netflix, Inc.
Odyssey Acquisition
NCR Corporation
Central Group and Signa
Criteo SA
Work highlights
- Advising Netflix, Inc. on the tax aspects of its acquisition of The Roald Dahl Story Company Limited, which manages the literary works, copyrights and trademarks of author Roald Dahl.
- Advising Odyssey, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) listed on Euronext Amsterdam, in its €1.5 billion combination with BenevolentAI.
- Advising Visa, Inc. on the tax aspects of its €1.8 billion acquisition of open banking platform Tink AB (Tink). Skadden is also leading the M&A.
Corporate and commercial > M&A: upper mid-market and premium deals, £500m+ Tier 2
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP‘s ascendant London team is consolidating its strong position in the market, working with a burgeoning roll call of FTSE 100 blue-chips on an ever more lucrative volume of cross-border M&A transactions. The practice’s combined US and English law capabilities, and position in capital markets-driven deals makes the firm a strong choice for a diverse roster of companies operating in the worlds of tech, retail, transport, energy, and media – among others. Practice co-chair Scott HopkinsPractice head(s):
Lorenzo Corte; Scott Hopkins
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team is extremely accommodating. They very knowledgeable about their practice and our sector, and are always on hand to offer quick, straightforward advice.’
‘George Knighton stands out. He offers extremely practical, commercial advice and is always willing to go out of his way to assist.’
Key clients
RMG Acquisition Corporate II
Wolt Enterprises
Central Group and SIGNA Holding
DSV Panalpina
Adevinta
Visa Inc
Kismet Acquisition One
Globalworth Real Estate Investments
Odyssey Acquisition
Gyroscope Therapeutics
Electronic Arts
Alussa Energy Acquisition Corp.
Sampo plc
Speciality Chemicals International
Issa Brothers and TDR Capital
Netflix
International Paper Company
Toto Wolff
Mobile Telephone Networks Proprietary Limited
Raymond James Financial, Inc
Work highlights
- Advised RMG Acquisition Corporation II on its business combination with ReNew Power to list on the NASDAQ in an $8bn transaction.
- Advising Wolt Enterprises Oy on its acquisition by DoorDash, Inc. in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately €7.5bn.
- Advising Thailand’s Central Group and the Austrian property company Signa, in their joint approximately £4bn acquisition of the UK-based department store chain Selfridges from its current owners, the Weston family.
Finance > Debt capital markets Tier 2
At Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP, clients appreciate ‘the expertise, business approach and availability‘ of partners. The DCM practice is active in the UK, European and US debt markets on behalf of issuers, underwriters and other market participants. The majority of its work is cross-border and from London it is active in debt deals in the greater European region, the CIS and the Middle East, as well as offering a wealth of experience in many emerging markets. Its focus is on Eurobonds, sovereign debt, convertible bonds, regulatory capital trades, EMTN and other debt programmes, as well green and sustainability-linked bonds. European head of capital markets Danny Tricot ‘provides excellent service and strong engagement‘, while head of the London office Pranav TrivediPractice head(s):
Danny Tricot
Other key lawyers:
James McDonald; James Michelson; Pranav Trivedi
Testimonials
‘Expertise, business approach and availability are particularly appreciated.’
‘Danny Tricot provides excellent service and strong engagement.’
‘They are very proactive in pushing the project forward and look ahead to spot upcoming gating items in advance. Drafting is high quality and we’ve seen the team do an extra step of good research into factual matters.’
‘Danny Tricot is very hands on and actively engages with the other parties. James Michelson has produced high quality first draft documents.’
‘Very good technical knowledge of debt capital markets products.’
‘Danny Tricot has excellent technical skills (especially on US securities law related matters) and has a very hands-on approach to his transactions (he is on every all parties’ conference call, for example). Andrew Hurwitz also has very good technical skills and is very responsive to queries and pushing matters forward.’
Key clients
Antares Vision S.p.A
Ashtead Group plc
Bank of America
Citigroup Global Markets Europe
Deutsche Bank
HSBC
J.P. Morgan
Morgan Stanley
Nokia Corporation
Stanley Black & Decker, Inc
Telegram Group Inc.
UBS AG
Work highlights
- Advised a syndicate of nine banks, led by Citigroup and J.P. Morgan, on a $12.5 billion Rule 144A/Regulation S offering of bonds by Qatar Petroleum, the state energy company of Qatar (now known as Qatar Energy).
- Advised Telegram Group Inc. on its $1.75 billion issuance of pre-IPO convertible bonds.
- Advised Nokia Corporation on an update of its €5 billion Euro Medium Term Note Programme.
Finance > High yield Tier 2
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP stands out for its ‘expertise, availability and business-minded approach‘ to the high yield market. Working closely with the leveraged finance team, the high yield practice is able to create innovative solutions involving leveraged loans and bonds. The practice also works seamlessly with the M&A practice to ensures that covenants and other terms are aligned across transaction documents. Danny Tricot leads the capital markets practice, in which James McDonald is the lead partner for high yield deals, which are a key feature of his international corporate finance practice. Pranav TrivediPractice head(s):
Danny Tricot
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Expertise, availability and business approach are particularly appreciated.’
‘The partners provide excellent service and strong engagement.’
Key clients
Polynt Group sarl
Iceland Foods
Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure plc
Ashtead Group plc
JAB Holdings B.V.
Antares Vision S.p.A
Stena AB
Viking Cruises
Work highlights
- Advised Polynt Group sarl in a €1.3 billion multi-tranche high-yield offering of senior secured notes.
- Represented UK retailer Iceland Foods in connection with its £250 million high-yield bond offering.
- Represented Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure plc in its $400 million Rule 144A/Regulation S high-yield offering of 4.125% green senior notes due 2028.
Risk advisory > Corporate governance Tier 2
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP is a heavyweight in the corporate sphere and is well versed in handling the governance aspects of high-profile M&A deals nationally and internationally. In addition to its strong transactional expertise, the firm acts for private and publicly held companies, investors and board committees on new legal regulatory frameworks and emerging market trends, shareholder issues, and corporate disclosure, activism and listing matters. Practice head George Knighton is a name to note for M&A and related governance issues, while Scott HopkinsPractice head(s):
George Knighton
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Highest quality legal advice, and overall service levels’.
‘Simon Toms and Bruce Embley and their teams know what is relevant to a client, and how to deliver it’.
‘A “go-to” team for consequential matters out of Europe’.
‘Simon Toms is a grace under pressure’.
‘Best in class legal advice’.
‘You always get the impression that Simon Toms has seen your facts before, which always tends to put him one step ahead of the current issues and therefore makes negotiation and client delivery best in class’.
Key clients
FREYR Battery
Sampo plc
Convera
EG Group
Janus Henderson plc
DWF Group plc
Phoenix Group Holdings
Nokia Corporation
The Investor Forum
Social Impact Investment Taskforce
MJ Gleeson plc
Borr Drilling Limited
DRD Gold Limited
ASML Holding N.V.
Kenon Holdings Ltd
Adevinta AS
Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure plc
Work highlights
- Advised on the creation of corporate governance structures for Convera – the business solutions business of Western Union acquired for $90m by a consortium of financial sponsors.
- Advising FREYR Battery, a Norwegian clean battery manufacturer, on its listing on the NYSE and on the provision of corporate governance advice to its board.
- Advising the board of James Henderson Group plc on its response to activist investor Trian, which has acquired a 99% stake in the listed company.
Risk advisory > Regulatory investigations and corporate crime (advice to corporates) Tier 2
The ‘incredibly strong‘ team at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP focuses on complex cross-border, multi-agency regulatory investigations and criminal enforcement actions, utilising its global footprint to act for a combination of major UK, European, and US public companies facing major SFO, US DOJ, FCA, and other regulatory agency investigations, as well as internal compliance audits relating to sanctions regimes, AML, ESG, and internal culture. ‘Skilled advisor‘ Ryan Junck heads up the European white-collar team, representing corporations in multinational regulatory investigations, with particular strength in dealing with US agencies, while ‘inspiring team leader‘ Elizabeth RobertsonPractice head(s):
Ryan Junck
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Elizabeth Robertson leads a team that are incredibly strong in this area. Her team is very diverse with excellent representation of women on the team, and the teams are always appropriately staffed with the right levels to ensure billing efficiency and cost effectiveness. Critically, what makes Skadden stand out is their unfaltering availability and responsiveness, their commercial approach (recognising the sensitivities of regulatory and corporate crime investigations to a company), and their deep knowledge of how regulators and prosecutors think.’
‘Elizabeth Robertson is an inspiring team leader and this translates into superior team performance for their clients. Elizabeth always puts her team members at every level in front of the client, allowing them to learn from the interactions, and giving confidence to the client that the work being done at lower levels is being performed by lawyers who care about the client and are across their brief. When a client needs assistance in the area of regulatory investigations and corporate crime, it is already a tense and difficult time for their in-house lawyers. Elizabeth is a pleasure to work with, and is always supportive and reassuring to her in house colleagues who are instructing her.’
‘Strong team in depth from associates to partners. We enjoy working with Skadden.’
‘Skadden has an exceptional partner group with Andrew Good, Elizabeth Robertson and Ryan Junck. I have worked with all three and have enjoyed the experiences immensely. They provide clear advice and their clients are very lucky to have them in their corner.’
‘The team is exceptional at bringing together the relevant expertise from the US, UK, and EU to grapple with the difficult multijurisdictional issues that frequently arise for large global financial institutions.’
‘Ryan Junck is an incredibly skilled adviser, adept at balancing legal and business considerations and managing his team. He is truly one of the absolute best in this field.’
Key clients
A leading European bank
Global tech services company headquartered in Europe
A leading European businessman
An international family-owned business
International tech company
A multinational telecommunications company
UK-regulated Nordic consulting company
A global financial institution headquartered in Northern Europe
A global Asian financial institution
A privately-owned European commercial bank
A European technology company
A UK-listed engineering company
A sports organisation
A global insurance company headquartered in the U.S.
A leading multinational investment management corporation
A developer, investor and operator of power and renewable energy
Société Générale
International oil & gas company
A global risk and security specialist
Work highlights
- Representing a global financial institution based in Northern Europe in connection with a high profile multi-jurisdictional, multi-agency regulatory investigation in the U.S. and other jurisdictions relating to allegations of money laundering in Northern Europe, the Baltics and beyond.
- Advising a leading European bank in an investigation by the DOJ and FCA into allegations of bribery committed by a former employee and broader regulatory enquiries.
Corporate and commercial > Equity capital markets – mid-large cap Tier 3
Experienced in SPACs, IPOs and secondary offerings, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP’s UK and US qualified lawyers work closely together, positioning the practice well to advise European and UK companies looking to list in the US. Danny Tricot is head of the European capital markets team and acts for issuers and underwriters on a broad range of equity and debt transactions. A key name in the area is Pranav TrivediPractice head(s):
Danny Tricot
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Very strong knowledgeable team with experienced capital markets professionals.’
‘Pranav Trivedi is an absolutely excellent lawyer, with strong commercial interests, solution oriented and full of common sense.’
Key clients
Antares Vision
Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure plc
Berenberg Capital Markets
Blue Whale Acquisition Corp I
BofA Securities Europe SA
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc
Goldman Sachs
Hochschild Mining plc
J.P. Morgan Securities plc
Jefferies International Ltd
Levere Holdings Corp
Mizuho Securities USA LLC
Odyssey Acquisition
SDCL EDGE Acquisition Corporation
Stevanato Group S.p.A
UBS AG London Branch
Valar Ventures LLC
Work highlights
- Represented Fix Price in connection with its $2bn IPO with a listing of global depositary receipts on the London Stock Exchange and the Moscow Stock Exchange.
- Advised Valar Ventures, the largest shareholder of Wise plc, in Wise’s $11bn direct listing on the London Stock Exchange.
- Represented Stevanato Group S.p.A. in its $672m IPO with a listing of its ordinary shares on the New York Stock Exchange.
Corporate and commercial > Private equity: transactions – high-value deals (£250m+) Tier 3
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP advises on complex private equity transactions including buyouts, carve-outs, bolt-ons, investments and PE-backed mergers. In addition to its specialist PE expertise, the practice is able to draw on substantial expertise across banking, tax and competition law to provide well-rounded advice to clients. The firm’s PE partners also work closely with the wider London M&A practice to handle matters such as take-privates. Practice head Richard YoulePractice head(s):
Richard Youle
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Skadden has one of the best PE transaction practices in the world and we rely on them heavily for all sorts of corporate work, M&A, and matters associated with our executive comp and equity plans. The team is wonderful to work with and truly has global capabilities and reach. World class in all aspects.’
‘Katja Butler is fantastic and a wonderful relationship lead for us. She is always available, quickly connects us to others within Skadden or other firms, and stays engaged to make sure everything is being handled on our behalf. She is excellent to work with.’
Key clients
I Squared Capital
H.I.G. Capital
Refresco BV
Hg
Permira Advisers
Castik Capital
JAB Holding
TDR Capital
Polynt-Reichhold and management
Odyssey Investment Partners and CPI International
Continental Grain Company
Work highlights
- Represented I Squared Capital, investing alongside TDR Capital, in the £2.3 billion take private acquisition of FTSE 250 Aggreko plc, a Glasgow-based supplier of power generation and temperature control equipment.
- Advising global bottling company Refresco Group BV (a PAI Partners and BCI portfolio company) in relation to the sale of a majority stake to funds managed by KKR, through an auction process.
- Represented funds advised by Castik Capital and its portfolio company Waterlogic plc in relation to its merger with US-based Culligan International Co, a portfolio company of BDT Capital.
Dispute resolution > Public international law Tier 3
Insurance > Insurance: corporate and regulatory Tier 3
Dispute resolution > Tax litigation and investigations Tier 4
The European tax controversy group at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP resolves high-value matters for clients that include corporations, partnerships, estates, individuals and government entities. The team has experience in areas such as transfer pricing, case-management for EU-related tax and state aid claims. James AndersonPractice head(s):
James Anderson; David Kavanagh KC
Testimonials
‘Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom was instrumental in fielding a counterclaim in an arbitration where they did literally “dig out” tax and financial information hidden by the Claimant.’
‘David Kavanagh had a superb grasp of the financial and tax implication of the obvious and non-obvious aspects of the case.’
‘Strong consistent team with deep knowledge in their specialism and of our business.’
‘Great balance of technical vs practical advice. Easy to work and have open discussions with. Very quick to turnaround requests. Our team consists of James Anderson and Alex Rigby.’
Key clients
Vodafone International Holdings BV
Kingfisher plc
Victaulic Europe BV
Megapolis
Anadarko
Work highlights
- Represented Vodafone in its $5.5 billion dispute with India in one of the most high-profile bilateral investment treaty (BIT) disputes.
- Acted as state aid counsel for Kingfisher plc in connection with the European Commission’s investigation into the group financing exemption in the UK’s former controlled foreign company (CFC) rules.
Finance > Acquisition finance Tier 4
The small but nimble two-partner banking team at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP adds value to corporate clients and a growing roster of financial sponsors (grown in part by some recent strategic hires on the M&A front) by dint of its deep knowledge across a wide array of UK and US law governed debt finance products. Pete Coulton provides 'responsive and commercial' advice to corporates and private equity funds, including in the context of large-cap cov-lite TLB transactions and unitranche mandates. Coulton co-heads the team alongside Clive Wells, who handles some investment grade acquisition financing mandates as part of his wide-ranging finance practice.Practice head(s):
Clive Wells; Pete Coulton
Other key lawyers:
Rui Qi; Zoe Cooper Sutton
Testimonials
‘Exceptional subject matter expertise and client focus.’
‘Pete Coulton and Zoe Cooper-Sutton are excellent lawyers, as well as being very responsive and commercial.’
Key clients
Acrisure LLC
Adevinta ASA
Alfidea B.V.
Arrow Global Limited
Ashtead Group plc
Bending Spoons S.p.A.
BillerudKorsnäs AB
Blackrock Financial Management, Inc.
Castik Capital S.A.R.L.
Central Group
CTH Invest S.A. (Ferrero family office)
DH Private Equity Partners LLP
eToro Group Limited
Fabbrica Italiana Lapis ed Affini S.p.A.
Farview Equity Partners
Fortiana Holdings Limited
Fortress Investment Group
Gazit-Globe Group
H.I.G. Capital, LLC
Hg Capital LLP
Iceland Foods Ltd
IPI Partners
JAB Holdings B.V.
Janus Henderson Group plc
JDE Peet’s N.V
Joyson Safety Systems
Kone Corporation
Markel Corporation
MJ Gleeson plc
NCR Corporation
Nokia Corporation
Odyssey Investment Partners
Outokumpu Oyj
Permira Advisers LLC
Royal Caribbean Group
Sampo plc
SCP Group Holdings
SIGNA Holding GmbH
Silver Lake Partners
The Central Group
UCB SA
WABCO Holdings Inc.
Waypoint GP Limited
Wise plc
Wrigley Company
Work highlights
- Advising a consortium comprising Central Group and SIGNA Holding GmbH on the financing of their c £4bn acquisition of Selfridges & Co. Limited from the Weston Family.
- Acted for Silver Lake Partners in connection with the financing of its acquisition of Grupo BC.
- Advised H.I.G. Capital, LLC on the financing of its £325m acquisition of the plumbing and heating division of Travis Perkins plc.
Finance > Bank lending: investment grade debt and syndicated loans Tier 4
Although it is smaller than many of the ranked firms, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP‘s ‘incredibly strong‘ two-partner banking team has ‘a great knowledge of financing documents’ throughout the capital structure (including in relation to New York-law governed high yield), enabling it to punch above its weight for an impressive borrower-focused client base. While a considerable amount of these are derived from the firm’s market-leading US M&A practice, the London team, under the leadership of Clive Wells and Pete Coulton, has also built up a strong pipeline of instructions independent of the firm’s corporate offering. As well as bespoke and complex corporate lending-related work, the team also regularly handles corporate-led M&A financings, including in the context of public takeover financing.Practice head(s):
Clive Wells; Pete Coulton
Other key lawyers:
Rui Qi; Zoe Cooper Sutton
Testimonials
‘I was very impressed with their ability to provide a clear and simple presentation of a complex deal’s gaps and their ability to bridge them while keeping our interests.’
‘It is an incredibly strong team with a great knowledge of financing documents and how to apply them to non-traditional borrowers.’
‘Pete Coulton and Zoe Cooper Sutton are excellent to work with. They are very smart and approachable, grasp situations quickly and are excellent negotiators. ’
Key clients
Acrisure LLC
Adevinta ASA
Alfidea B.V.
Arrow Global Limited
Ashtead Group plc
Bending Spoons S.p.A.
BillerudKorsnäs AB
Blackrock Financial Management, Inc.
Castik Capital S.A.R.L.
Central Group
CTH Invest S.A. (Ferrero family office)
DH Private Equity Partners LLP
eToro Group Limited
Fabbrica Italiana Lapis ed Affini S.p.A.
Farview Equity Partners
Fortiana Holdings Limited
Fortress Investment Group
Gazit-Globe Group
H.I.G. Capital, LLC
Hg Capital LLP
Iceland Foods Ltd
IPI Partners
JAB Holdings B.V.
Janus Henderson Group plc
JDE Peet’s N.V
Joyson Safety Systems
Kone Corporation
Markel Corporation
MJ Gleeson plc
NCR Corporation
Nokia Corporation
Odyssey Investment Partners
Outokumpu Oyj
Permira Advisers LLC
Royal Caribbean Group
Sampo plc
SCP Group Holdings
SIGNA Holding GmbH
Silver Lake Partners
The Central Group
UCB SA
WABCO Holdings Inc.
Waypoint GP Limited
Wise plc
Wrigley Company
Work highlights
- Advised Silver Lake Partners in connection with the financing of its acquisition of Grupo BC.
- Advising a consortium comprising Central Group and SIGNA Holding GmbH on the financing of their c.£4bn acquisition of Selfridges & Co. Limited from the Weston Family.
- Advised H.I.G. Capital on its financing of its £325m acquisition of the plumbing and heating division of Travis Perkins plc.
Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: premium Tier 5
Employment > Employee share schemes Tier 5
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP is rated for its 'advice on the implications of corporate transactions relating to share plans and in particular on private equity transactions'. Louise Batty, who overseas the team, is described as a 'go-to lawyer for any share schemes matter' and excels in the tax, employment, governance and regulatory aspects of the design, implementation and operation of incentive and remuneration arrangements.Practice head(s):
Louise Batty
Testimonials
‘Louise Batty is an expert in her field. She is very commercial, responsive and helpful. Always a go-to lawyer for any queries.’
‘Louise Batty is our go-to lawyer for any share schemes matter and we know we will receive excellent advice in a timely manner. She understands our structure intimately and is able to rally a global team to provide advice on any jurisdiction through her network of contacts whilst acting as an interface for us. Louise and her team consistently deliver a very high level of support, often on an urgent basis, and provide holistic view which takes into account other areas of risk for us.’
‘The firm really listens and understands the client’s needs. They are always ahead of the curve on market changes.’
‘Outstanding support from Louise Batty. An expert in her field, efficient, responsive and solution driven.’
‘The team is very strong on providing advice on the implications of corporate transactions relating to share plans and in particular on private equity transactions. It also has the advantage of being able to access US advice as increasingly companies in the tech and life sciences sectors have US-based employees.’
‘Louise Batty is technically strong and can communicate complex issues clearly. She is always accessible and collaborative to work with. She has a good grasp of a client’s commercial objectives and does not seek to over complicate issues.’
Key clients
Visa
Odyssey Acquisition
Gyroscope Therapeutics
Raymond James Financial
Globalworth Real Estate Investments
Convera
Netflix
Electronic Arts
CPI International
Phoenix Group Holdings
Alussa Energy Acquisition
Adobe
Unily
Barilla Iniziative
Adevinta
EG Group
TDR Capital
ASDA
Signifier Medical Technologies
MJ Gleeson
DWF Group
Janus Henderson
Work highlights
- Advised Visa on the impact of its €1.8bn acquisition of open banking platform Tink AB (Tink) on Tink’s warrant programme, comprising approximately 300 participants across approximately 12 jurisdictions, and on retention and reward issues.
- Advised Odyssey, a Luxembourg incorporated SPAC company listed on Euronext Amsterdam, on the impact of its €1.5bn combination with BenevolentAI on its existing equity incentive arrangements.
- Advised Gyroscope Therapeutics on the impact of its acquisition of Swiss drugmaker Novartis for up to $1.5bn on Gyroscope’s extensive employee share and option programme.
Finance > Corporate restructuring & insolvency Tier 5
Although Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP‘s London-based team is relatively small, it has been able to effectively dovetail with the firm’s broader M&A, private equity and disputes practices, to pick up some high-quality work, both on European and transatlantic restructuring situations. A significant amount of this involves working alongside the firm’s strong US debtor side practice to provide relevant UK-related advice, including as it relates to the recently introduced Restructuring Plan. Team head Peter Newman takes the lead on many of these matters, as well as deriving a significant amount of standalone creditor/investor side work via his strong funds relationships.Practice head(s):
Peter Newman
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Markel CATCo Reinsurance Fund Ltd. and its debtor affiliates
Endo Pharmaceuticals
William A. Brandt, Jr. as the Chapter 11 Trustee of CFG Peru Investments Pte. Ltd.; Michael Foreman as Plan Administrator for CFG Peru Singapore.
CFG Investment S.A.C. (CFGI) registered in Peru
Noble Holding Corporation Plc, (Noble UK) the holding company for an multi-national drilling group the (Noble group).
The directors of Noble Holding Corporation Plc, (Noble UK) the holding company for an multi-national drilling group the (Noble group).
Ad Hoc Group of Noteholders of Voyager Aviation
A major private equity firm
Ad hoc group of noteholders of Avation plc
Sequana S.A.
BA Glass B.V.
Tomia Global
AML Creditor Recovery Vehicle PTC
A Special Purpose Acquisition Company sponsored by a distressed credit fund
An ad hoc group of bondholders of Moby S.p.A.
Paragon Offshore Limited
Work highlights
- The firm advised Markel Corporation as well as Markel CATCo Reinsurance Fund Ltd. and three of its other affiliates in their restructuring pursuant to provisional liquidation and schemes of arrangement in Bermuda and associated Chapter 15 recognition cases in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.
- Advising CFGI in relation to its application for a Part 26A restructuring plan. The UK restructuring plan is a key step in implementing CFG Peru’s Chapter 11 Plan and providing a conclusion to the group-wide Chapter 11 proceedings.
- Represented an ad hoc group of noteholders of Avation Plc on a restructuring of its $350m notes due 2022.
Investment fund formation and management > Private funds Tier 5
‘An excellent, knowledgeable and credible team’, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP advises on cross-border fund establishments in sectors including special situations, private equity and credit. The practice also provides ongoing regulatory advice to funds managers, such as assisting with ESG disclosure requirements, and acts for investors including sovereign wealth funds. Greg Norman is the key name to note in the London office and is ‘patient and professional’.Practice head(s):
Greg Norman
Other key lawyers:
William Hardaway
Testimonials
‘An excellent, knowledgeable and credible team that work well together in a responsive timeframe.’
‘Greg Norman and William Hardaway are recommended.’
‘I believe the practice is unique as despite being one of the most established and reputable law firms out there, it continues to innovate and develop in emerging sectors and areas.’
‘Being a VC fund, we were very impressed by the flexibility of the practice and knowledge base around tech and sustainability.’
‘Greg Norman has been a fantastic support for our team in understanding SFDR regulations and developing our sustainability strategy ahead of an important fundraising period for us.’
‘Long and deep understanding of our particular business.’
‘Very detailed understanding of markets we operate in and market standard. fantastic network outside the UK. Very strong team.’
‘Greg Norman is patient and professional with an incredibly strong knowledge of our markets. Very fast turnaround on support, clear advice, commercial style. Will Hardaway offers great support and is professional.’
Key clients
Citigroup Inc.
Citi Private Advisory, LLC
Crosstree Real Estate Partners LLP
IPI Partners, LLC and its portfolio company, Supernap Italia
Jet Investment a.s.
Neuberger Berman Group
Northzone Ventures
Odyssey Acquisition S.A.
Rezco Collective Investments
SDC Capital Partners
SDCL EDGE Acquisition Corporation
Quest Fund Placement
Work highlights
- Advising Crosstree Real Estate Partners in relation to the formation and capitalisation of their third special situations fund, focusing on UK special situations real estate investments.
- Advised Neuberger Berman Group LLC in the merger of its Dyal Capital Partners division and Owl Rock Capital Group with Altimar Acquisition Corporation to form Blue Owl Capital Inc. at an enterprise value of US$12.5 billion.
- Advising Citibank’s private wealth division on the formation and launch of investment products designed to provide Citibank’s clients access to certain selected private equity and private equity real estate funds.
Crime, fraud and licensing > Fraud: white-collar crime (advice to individuals)
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP > Firm Profile
Executive partner: Eric J Friedman
London office head: Pranav Trivedi
Since opening the London office in 1988, Skadden has established itself as a major player in the London legal market, offering a fully integrated UK, European and US practice.
Its clients, which it counsels on cross-border European and global matters, include major corporates, financial institutions and governments. Skadden’s global platform allows its lawyers in London to quickly marshall relevant experience across practices and offices.
Principal areas of work
Mergers and acquisitions: Skadden is one of the most successful firms to have established a single global platform combining US and local law capability around the world. The firm’s London office is staffed with English and American partners and acts as an international hub powering multi-jurisdictional transactions. In London, the firm advises on international M&A offering a unique mix of US and English law advice.
Private equity: Skadden advises private equity firms on the structuring and execution of large, cross-border and domestic private equity transactions, including the purchase and sale of portfolio companies. The firm combines leading transactional experience with sophisticated financing and tax techniques in relation to a range of matters including leveraged buyouts, management buyouts and recapitalisations.
Capital markets: Skadden advises on a variety of capital markets transactions, including initial public offerings, rights offerings, high-yield financings, offerings of regulatory capital and other hybrid securities, and other global equity and debt offerings.
Banking: The English banking group comprises experienced finance lawyers familiar with all aspects of acquisition finance, high-yield and private placements, project and real estate finance, general corporate lending and restructuring.
White-collar crime and corporate investigations: The government enforcement and white collar crime team provides advice to corporations and individuals involved in cross-border regulatory investigations and disputes. The practice combines an on-the-ground presence in Europe with Skadden’s global experience in government investigations, enforcement actions and internal investigations.
International arbitration and litigation: The international arbitration and litigation group provides legal advice and representation on international commercial disputes for multinational companies and major institutions, particularly in the commercial, energy, telecoms and financial services fields, including arbitrations under bilateral investment treaties, ICC, LCIA and UNCITRAL rules, and under the auspices of all the major international arbitration institutions.
Tax: Skadden focuses on tax advice in connection with M&A and private capital transactions, and our lawyers also are leaders for complex tax advice in relation to the real estate sector, and on behalf of high-net-worth individuals.
Tax controversy and investigations: Skadden’s UK tax controversy and investigations practice combines the skills of experienced English-qualified tax practitioners and dispute resolution lawyers. The group provides its clients with tactical and technical advice to ensure that tax disputes and investigations are resolved as effectively as possible.
Insurance: Skadden represents insurance and reinsurance companies and their financial advisors and underwriters in a wide variety of corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, public and private financings, restructurings and reorganisations.
Corporate restructuring: The corporate restructuring group advises enterprises in cross-border out-of-court restructurings and pre-negotiated plans of reorganisation, and judicial insolvency restructuring transactions and bankruptcy proceedings.
Investment management: Skadden’s investment management group services a wide range of private capital and asset management clients, including: private equity fund houses, hedge fund managers, high-net-worth investors, in-house asset management teams at financial institutions, family offices, SIVs, ABCPs and other shadow banks, private trading companies and sovereign investors.
IP, IT, data protection and cybersecurity: Skadden’s London-based practice advises international clients across various industries on IP, IT, data protection and cybersecurity issues, assisting at every stage of matters to ensure compliance with applicable privacy, data protection and cybersecurity legal and regulatory frameworks.
European Union and international competition: Skadden’s European Union (EU) and international competition practice focuses on four principal areas under EU and other non-US antitrust laws: merger control, cartels, abuses of dominant positions and other antitrust issues ( e.g., vertical licensing/distribution arrangements and state aid issues).
Employment: Skadden’s London employment practice advises businesses and senior executives on a wide range of employment matters. The firm frequently advises on employment issues that arise in corporate transactions, as well as on labour relations, including collective bargaining and industrial disputes, the introduction and implementation of workplace policies and contracts, UK employment laws, corporate governance, data privacy and business protection.
Energy: The energy group provides comprehensive assistance on complex energy transactions, representing clients in a broad array of energy matters.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Head of Skadden's London office | Pranav Trivedi | pranav.trivedi@skadden.com | 44.20.7519.7026 |
Lawyer Profiles
- Dispute resolution > International arbitration
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Corporate and commercial > Corporate tax
- Corporate and commercial > M&A: upper mid-market and premium deals, £500m+
- Finance > Debt capital markets
- Finance > High yield
- Risk advisory > Corporate governance
- Risk advisory > Regulatory investigations and corporate crime (advice to corporates)
Firm Rankings
- Corporate and commercial > Equity capital markets – mid-large cap
- Corporate and commercial > Private equity: transactions – high-value deals (£250m+)
- Dispute resolution > Public international law
- Insurance > Insurance: corporate and regulatory
- Dispute resolution > Tax litigation and investigations
- Finance > Acquisition finance
- Finance > Bank lending: investment grade debt and syndicated loans