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

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 KC, who acts in heavyweight cases around the world. Other respected London-based practitioners are international arbitration specialist Bruce Macaulay; Daniel Gal KC, who is experienced in complex, multi-jurisdictional disputes in growth markets, such as the Middle East, Turkey, Russia and Brazil; and corporate, commercial and shareholder disputes expert David Edwards. Counsels Jonathon Egerton-Peters, Nicholas Adam and Devika Khopkar also have active international arbitration practices. International arbitration expert and newly-appointed silk Kate Davies KC recently joined from Allen & Overy LLP (where former partner David Herlihy departed for in early 2022); and former practice co-head Karyl Nairn has retired.

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 Anderson specialises in private capital arrangements, while Alex Jupp focuses on advising on high level corporate transactions. Counsel Jisun Choi provides significant support within the team, and advises numerous multinationals on complex tax matters. Associate Joseph Hone is also recommended.

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 Hopkins continues to underscore his reputation as one of the leading UK deal advisors, with recent highlights including multi-billion pound joint acquisitions and divestitures in the consumer goods and real estate arenas. Global transactional co-chair Lorenzo Corte‘s recent run has seen him handling blockbuster de-SPAC transactions for major energy and biotech players, while Bruce Embley has been focused on major transnational deals in the logistics and telecoms sectors. The highly rated George Knighton has been at the helm of big-ticket financial services and insurance M&A, whereas Simon Toms is particularly noted for the depth of his fintech and media expertise. Following her promotion to partner last year, Ani Kusheva has handled cross-border transactions and public takeovers for clients in the manufacturing sector, an area in which associate Sarah Knapp also excels. Hugely influential global transactions head Scott Simpson sadly passed away in May 2022.

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 Trivedi is a key adviser on corporate finance transactions. Tricot acted for Citigroup, JPMorgan and other lenders in a $12.5bn Rule 144A/Regulation S offering of bonds by Qatar Petroleum, the state energy company of Qatar, which is now known as Qatar Energy. US capital markets partner James McDonald handles corporate finance transactions, focusing on international offerings of securities. Associate Andrew Hurwitz ‘has very good technical skills, is very responsive to queries and pushes matters forward‘.

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 Trivedi, whose work includes IPOs, privatisations and cross-border M&A, also plays a key role in high yield bond offerings. ‘The partners provide excellent service and strong engagement‘, remarks one client.

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 Hopkins has considerable cross-border experience and is recommended for regulatory matters. Simon Toms also has a solid track record in transactional matters and focuses on the technology, fintech, media and telecoms sectors, while Elizabeth Robertson is a key name for business crime and compliance issues.

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 Robertson is also a go-to for multijurisdictional business crime and regulatory matters, as well as major UK-domiciled proceedings. Andrew Good contributes notable US agency expertise, co-ordinating DOJ, SEC, and CFTC investigations, while European counsel Vanessa McGoldrick continues to further her strong record in cross-border corruption, financial crime, and corporate fraud cases, including parallel civil and criminal investigations.

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 Trivedi, who focuses on international corporate finance work, including initial public offerings and privatisations, cross-border M&A, joint ventures and private equity issues. Counsel Adam Howard is also active in UK listings work.

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 Youle remains highly visible in the London market; noted for his close relationship with Hg Capital, he also handled major deals in 2021 on behalf of Castik and H.I.G. Steven Hannah was made up to partner in April 2021 and recently worked alongside Youle on a number of transactions for H.I.G. Since joining the firm in late 2020, Bruce Embley has developed a practice spanning M&A and private equity, acting for buyout houses and sovereign wealth funds in high-value exits and acquisitions. Katja Butler is also recognised for her expertise in complex, cross-border work and is described by clients as ‘excellent to work with’.

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 Anderson co-heads the practice with David Kavanagh who has expertise in litigation and arbitration.

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.

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.

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.

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.  

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’.

Crime, fraud and licensing > Fraud: white-collar crime (advice to individuals)