Michaela Walker > Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

At Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP, ‘the team provides timely coverage on a broad range of matters to a high level on a global basis‘. The group acts predominantly for buy-side clients, including investment funds, insurance companies, corporates, and pension schemes, though they increasingly handle balance sheet management and treasury products for retail banks. Head of financial services Michaela Walker oversees the derivatives group, in which Richard Batchelor and the ‘technically extremely solid yet pragmatic‘ Jamie Dunlop are the key practitioners.

Hailed for its ‘highly detailed, commercially-minded advice’, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP‘s ESG offering spans advice across renewable energy projects, climate advisory work, regulatory reporting and climate litigation. Employment law and pensions expert Diane Gilhooley leads the team. Stephen Hill is a key contact for low carbon and energy transition projects and investments. The impact of ESG initiatives on funds is a practice strength of Michaela Walker‘s. Jubilee Easo frequently assists global industrials and global chemicals companies with their net zero strategies, while Phil Spyropoulos excels in investor disclosure in the areas of ESG and sustainable investing.

The ‘highly responsive’ team at Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP handles a broad range of mandates concerning UCITS, AIFMD, MiFID and SFDR, in addition to advising on the application of the FCA’s Consumer Duty. Michaela Walker leads the practice and counts asset managers, securities services providers and banks among her key roster of clients, while ‘excellent partner’ Phil Spyropoulos advises on regulatory projects involving the implementation of the EU’s SFDR, CSRD and early adopters of SDR. Based in Edinburgh, Sarah Burnside focuses on ESG, AIFMD and MiFID II, and Tim Fosh joined the team from Slaughter and May in March 2024, boosting the firm’s expertise in fintech, and the regulation of crypto and digital assets.

Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP‘s ‘multi-dimensional’ team is tasked with launching open-ended funds, including LTAFs, and advising managers on new FCA regulations, including Consumer Duty and SDR in addition to the UCITS and AIFMD regimes. Michaela Walker heads the group, acting for asset managers and depositories in relation to the spectrum of regulatory frameworks and ESG disclosure requirements. ‘Expert in the field’ Julian Brown is a specialist in the regulations governing fund structures, including UCITS, NURS and OEICs, among others. Phil Spyropoulos is the key contact for sustainability regulations in the funds industry, advising on the SDR regime in addition to providing support in relation to the UK’s OFR. Katie Taylor, noted for her experience in regulatory and compliance work, is also recommended.