Clifford Chance LLP > London, England > Firm Profile

‘An outstanding ECM team. Responsive, reliable and highly experienced.’

‘They pre-empt and solve issues very effectively; work with each client to achieve the right balance on any ECM deal; and bring the full spectrum of their many practice experts to bear to resolve issues and problems on ECM deals.’

‘Always partner led as it should be, they delivery consistently excellent outcomes whether acting for the issuers or the banks. Great lawyering and execution skills, attention to the details and buckets of common sense and reasonableness. Always listen to the client, advise as needed and do what they say.’

‘Technically superb with an efficient and commercial approach.’

‘Chris Roe and team were excellent as sponsor and underwriters counsel on the IPO.’

‘A stellar financial services team. Able to handle the biggest cases and cut through the complexity to find the winning points.’

‘Dorian Drew and Carlos Conceicao are market leaders in the field. Everyone wants them on their side. Tactically astute and razor sharp litigators. Instructs counsel at an early stage.’

‘A first class team. They are hugely intelligent and experienced, but what sets them apart from some competitors is their superbly collaborative working style and the quality of client engagement. It’s a great experience to work with them, whatever the context.’

‘Carlos Conceicao – star quality in spades. He is a brilliant lawyer and a delight to engage with. Michael Lyons – a rising star, with bags of talent.’

‘The team pulls advice from around its international network and processes it into a consistently useful package, looking beyond the legal issues and considering what the practical implications are for our business.’

‘Monica Sah brings in-house experience that not many partners have and so she is also a good sounding board for practical matters and how to apply the law in a business setting. Laura Douglas is deeply knowledgeable and able to translate this into advice we can digest and use.’

‘Monica Sah and Diego Ballon Ossio have outstanding expertise in UK regulations and in particular consumer lending. Their experience in advising clients with a cross border element makes them not only experts in the field but also very practical and knowledgeable about market practice. Their strength lies with their expertise which compares to no others in the market.’

‘Monica Sah brings in her previous in-house experience which makes her an outstanding adviser for any regulatory questions impacting private banks and their clients. Diego Ballon Ossio has extensive knowledge of the regulations and how they came about and therefore can provide a very pertinent interpretation of the rules.’

‘CC’s banking litigation team is truly top notch and a “go to” for the most important, heavyweight disputes. They exhibit a real depth of market knowledge and legal insight whilst clearly understanding the client’s goals and drivers. They also make impressively efficient use of their associate resources; cases are not over-resourced but appropriate responsibility is delegated to associates, many of whom are very impressive.’

‘Ian Moulding is formidable and one of the doyens of banking litigation in London. He is not only deeply knowledgeable but has a truly impressive strategic vision; he is always thinking several steps ahead of his opponents, and is constantly turning problems around to see all the angles. 

‘Kelwin Nicholls is extremely level-headed and a reassuring presence for clients in the heaviest and most contentious disputes’.

‘Of the associates, Michael Gorrie is talented and (not to be underestimated) extremely good fun to have on the team, whilst delivering great work.’

‘Clifford Chance are one of the main ‘go-to’ firms for the largest disputes on behalf of the major financial institutions who comprise their client base. They have the resources, talents, experience, industry knowledge and skills to successfully run these cases and provide a Rolls Royce service to demanding and discerning blue-chip clients.’

‘Ian Moulding  – Supremely experienced, a wise head who has the trust of his major institutional clients and achieves good results for them.

‘Guy Burkitt  –  Excellent. Clever, hard-working, independent-minded and very strong client skills.’

‘ Helen Carty is a behemoth in this field. All the big investment banks want to work with her. There’s nothing worth knowing that she doesn’t know in banking litigation.’

‘Smart, savvy, the people you want on your side.’

‘Jeremy Kosky – wise and very personable. A cool head in a crisis.’

‘It’s the best of the best. Superb quality from top to bottom.’

‘Outstanding strategic and tactical acumen combined with strength in depth makes this a formidable team, which is able to deliver solutions to even the most intractable problems. The team adopts a rigorous approach which more often than not gives its client leverage in any dispute.’

‘Julian Acratopulo is a shrewd and tough litigator, who is able to cut through to the essence of a problem. He is a great lateral thinker and often outflanks his opponents. A great problem solver.’

‘Haafiz Suleman is an excellent commercial litigator with great communication skills and makes the complicated simple. A pleasure to work with.’

‘Efficient, clever, strategic, strength in depth, excellent leadership, a superb litigation outfit.’

‘I have worked extensively with Maxine Mossman. If you could make the perfect modern commercial litigator from scratch, she is what you would get. She is bright, savvy and client focussed.’

‘Depth of understanding of the business combined with strength in depth of their team positions them very well compared to the competition. In addition, they are notably flexible in how they think about billing and collaboration when we have specific needs or requests.’

‘Andrew Patterson is our primary adviser. A calm and thoughtful commercial adviser with excellent client skills. Andrew has a strong understanding of the business context and his consistently excellent performance has led him to become a trusted adviser to the business as well as to the legal team.’

‘The team provided excellent support to us on the implementation of our new Share Incentive Plan. They are both knowledgeable and commercial, providing support on all the key regulatory and taxation considerations.’

‘Andrew and his team were always available and approachable and could unravel complex issues for us. They were always pragmatic and worked to our timescales.’

‘Incredibly commercial – problem solving is in their DNA.’

‘Knowledgeable about the latest deals, as a result of advising on them.’

‘The team’s strength is their market knowledge and their global reach. They provide consistently excellent advice across all regions in leveraged finance and are always great to work with.’

‘Jim MacHale and David Robson are always willing to go the extra yard to find a solution, firmly in the business of solutions rather than issues/problems.’

‘Emma Folds and Michael Bates know the markets incredibly well, have lots of experience and strong working relationships with other firms.’

‘Peter Dahlen is extraordinary and added a lot of value to our latest large acquisition financing. We also appreciate his clear comments and good sense of balance when challenging us to fight on some points and to let some go.’

‘Incredibly experienced. The approach that Jim MacHale and David Robson bring to any transaction is refreshing and sets them apart.’

‘They have the ability to liaise across multiple practice areas/jurisdictions to meet our needs.’

‘They are proactive, creative and solutions-focused.’

‘Nicola Wherity has a great depth of understanding of us as a client and takes huge care to flag any issues which should be of concern to us.’

‘Emma Folds knows the markets incredibly well.’

‘Peter Dahlen is extraordinary and added a lot of value to our latest large acquisition financing.’

‘They show a tremendous ability to reach across practices and geographies to provide comprehensive advice in complex restructurings involving multiple jurisdictions.’

‘The team is very innovative and commercial and always provides great legal advice.’ 

‘Philip Hertz’s knowledge of the sector is second-to-none, he has a fantastic ability to simplify the most complex of legal issues.’

‘John MacLennan is outstanding.’

‘Iain White is able to blend his outstanding technical skills with a commercial mindset in order to drive a complex process forward.’

‘Iain White and Tim Lees have done an outstanding job advising us on a complex cross-border restructuring. They are very engaged and reliable but most importantly have shown an ability to efficiently manage multiple work-streams across restructuring, financing, corporate finance/M&A and litigation.’

‘Melissa Coakley has a high level of technical knowledge and strategic thinking.’

‘Top-quality DCM team with an excellent set of hands on partners.’

‘Simon Sinclair, Paul Deakins, Kate Vyvyan – all excellent. Good technically and they stay involved in their deals.’

‘Paul Deakins is the partner of reference in liability management. His excellent technical knowledge and expertise are second to none, which means he is always the person to pick up the phone to with any doubts or questions.’

‘Deborah Zandstra and senior associate Azam Taiyeb are some of the best lawyers to think about sovereign DCM/issuances and also to think through derivative transactions. They are our # 1, go to counsel for anything that is more complex or structured. Superbly creative, smart, and responsive.‘

‘The firm takes the time to understand what the client is seeking to achieve and provides creative and practical advice. Is proactive and efficient.’

‘Anne Drakeford – leads the team working for us. Very experienced and approachable. Provides clear advice and guidance. Works very well with the counterparty advisers.’

‘Having collaborated with the Clifford Chance on the structuring of a synthetic securitisation, the team’s knowledge of the market, quick turnaround in deliverables and accessibility really stood out. Frequent updates on billing also helped a lot.’

‘The entire team involved in the project was very knowledgeable of the market, accessible and clear in advice provided. Especially in cases where there were decisions to be made on specific features of the transaction, they provided clear pros and cons of different options making it easier to decide.’

‘The team has in-depth knowledge and is a pioneer on derivatives and structured products transactions.’

‘Jessica Littlewood is a well-known pioneer in the derivatives and structured products market and has in-depth knowledge of the relevant legislation. Thea Gausel is a rising star, deeply knowledgeable and fully solution-oriented. Konstantinos Voulgarakis is an excellent associate who steadily and on time provided insightful support throughout the different stages of the transaction.’

‘Excellent knowledge, creative thinking, pro-active advising and preparatory work.’

‘Will Winterton has excellent knowledge and is a quick-thinker. He is on the ball and proactive.’

‘The team is undoubtedly one of the strongest in the London market, if not the strongest.’

‘All the partners are in the team are leaders in their field, across all asset classes, and are all ably supported by very solid associates.’

‘CC has over the years become very much our “go-to” firm for securitisation.’

‘The team shines by its strength in depth – but I had to highlight two specific individuals I would mention Chris Walsh in RMBS and Emma Matebalavu for CMBS.’

‘A broad team working at all levels which helps ensure our files are staffed appropriately.’

‘The expertise of the Clifford Chance team is second to none. They have an unparalleled geographic coverage with asset focused lawyers in most key jurisdictions. They have experience in all aspects of aviation finance and leasing as well as strong capabilities in shipping and rail with a focus on the most complex of transactions.’

‘Clifford Chance provides a highly competent and efficient service. Their understanding of the market provides a great deal of comfort which then provides a much smoother documentation process and less frustration on any back and forth.’

‘William Glaister has a wealth of experience and knowledge making him a leader in the field.’

‘Oliver Hipperson – massive body of historical work on which he draws his expertise which contributes greatly to an efficient process – and outstanding people skills that ensure a professional process yields a successful outcome.’

‘Richard Evans is meticulous with details whilst still able to retain a commercial focus and ensure that the deal gets done.’

‘Chris Hardisty is very capable.’

‘Hugely experienced, which proves invaluable in complex negotiations.’

‘The CC team has very solid experience in emerging markets, which has built and strengthened over the years, in part by having high-calibre partners and associates move to emerging markets jurisdictions. As a result, they have a highly reliable network that can advise on English law matters while being very close, not only physically but also in terms of deep knowledge, to local jurisdictions.’

‘The team has a lot of familiarity with all types of players in emerging markets, from local banks to foreign investors to international financial institutions, which, combined with their role of LMA legal advisor, makes them uniquely placed to advise clients doing transactions in those countries.’

‘Simon Williams is a very experienced partner who, having lived and worked in emerging markets, is able to provide solid, reliable and robust advice to clients that operate in those jurisdictions. His style is very approachable and proactive, which makes working with him easier. He is excellent at monitoring legal costs on an ongoing basis thereby making the billing process smoother for the client. He also has excellent communication and negotiation skills.’

‘Rebecca Shepherd is an outstanding and incredibly hardworking lawyer. Her knowledge of emerging markets is deep and very valuable; she is very detailed-oriented but at the same time always has in mind the big picture of a deal. She monitors effectively and is able to convey to clients market trends and legal approaches in the emerging markets where she works.’

‘A very knowledgeable and proficient team that provides tonnes of added value. Very dedicated and helpful.’

‘We have been working with Kayode Oladipo, who has proven to be very helpful. He masters the documents and the legal environment while having good understanding of our business considerations. He is trustworthy and we are very happy with our collaboration.’

‘Highly commercial. Diligence. Clear understanding of client objectives and timelines. Creative and solutions focused while being flexible and nimble.’

‘Jennifer Chimanga navigated an extremely difficult and complex process in a tight timeline involving deep technology systems and complex architecture. The availability of senior partners together with the seamless integration of advice across multiple Clifford Chance practice groups is key to their success.’

‘We have absolute faith and trust in Ashley Prebble.’ 

‘The firm is very experienced and knowledgeable about the London insurance market and our own peculiarities.’

‘Excellent global insurance industry knowledge.’

‘High quality legal advice, pragmatic with a strong focus on adding value.’

‘Clifford Chance has strong bench strength and market knowledge.’

‘Quality team that can work at pace on highly complex situations, with a strong ability to push back against lender counsel unreasonable demands.’

‘Andrew Husdan is highly commercial, approachable and knows how to deliver innovative solutions by combining his expertise in fund finance with leveraged finance and NAV financing.’

‘Unrivalled knowledge of the fund finance market.’

‘Would specifically like to mention Nicola Wherity andThea Vukasinovic as great individuals to work with.’

‘The Clifford Chance team has a great understanding of the needs and specificities of investment funds and is able to deliver a seamless experience across the funds financing and funds formation teams.’

‘Partner Andrew Husdan is knowledgeable and highly engaged. Senior Associate Jeremy Rayfield makes sure completion is achieved in a timely and smooth manner.’

‘Clifford Chance’s fund finance practice has a dedicated team which is active on both the lender and borrower side. The CC team is therefore involved in a large number of deals and has significant market intel. One of the strengths of the team is its diverse workforce with team members from across the globe and a large portion of senior female lawyers. CC is using technological support where possible which adds to the ease of co-operation.’

‘Andrew Husdan is the main lender side partner and a reliable, knowledgeable and diligent lawyer. He does not only understand the product and our approach but is flexible in providing innovative solutions. Andrew is also an excellent relationship manager on the borrower side leading to less friction and good outcomes for all parties.’

‘The Clifford Chance team is pro-active, service-oriented and very knowledgeable. They provide pragmatic advice, whilst taking into account the commercial needs of the client.’

‘Excellent market knowledge and ability to relate this to different situations.’

‘Gerard Saviola is all over the market and can guide on common practice and terms across the spectrum knowledgeably.’

‘Jonathan Bray is technically strong.’

‘Clifford Chance has a market-leading real estate funds practice and we consider them to be one of a limited number of firms who are able to serve the breadth of our needs both geographically and in terms of subject matter expertise.’

‘Our primary relationship partner in London is Jonathan Bray. He is very strong technically, has deep market knowledge and is ably supported by a strong team spread across offices in Europe and Asia. The firm has also shown that they are invested in the relationship and, as well as providing generally high-quality legal advice on the matters we instruct on, the firm adds add value in other ways, such as the provision of tailored training.’

‘We particularly value Clifford Chance’s professionalism and quick response time, although our requests nearly always require coordination across multiple jurisdictions and/or faculties. In particular, as a Luxembourg-based fund, we find it very helpful that Clifford Chance have local counsel in all of the countries we are operating in. It makes the discussions quick and easy, as we’re all on the same team.’

‘Jonathan Bray is not only very competent, making sure all the teams work together quickly and well, he is probably the nicest lawyer I have ever met. He has a humble, friendly way of handling conflict situations that is pleasantly disarming.’

‘Great experience in high value matters makes them appreciative of high net worth individual’s needs. Jeremy Kosky fits the description set out above and delivers great service to clients’.

‘They are experienced, technically very good but also approachable making working with them all a great experience. You know that they will go the extra mile for clients’.

‘Jeremy Kosky leads the team and is always on hand and happy to help even though he is a senior partner and extremely busy. Maxine Mossman is also extremely good as is Nicole Buncher who works really hard for clients together with Charlie Joseph’.

‘Very commercial, first rate lawyers (obviously) but still approachable. Max Mossman’.

‘From top to bottom, extensive experience of international trusts and trust disputes. Fair and tenacious representatives of their clients’.

‘The team has incredible strength in breadth and depth. There is a benchmark quality in their output which is leading in their field. Lindsay Bickerton is the unsung hero who is exceptionally talented and presents herself in a calm unflustered way. A real star’.

‘It is the only magic circle firm to have a significant presence in this field. Jeremy Kosky is a well respected litigator in the international trust litigation field. Excellent strategic vision’.

‘Commercial, approachable, responsive and highly capable when it comes to complex contentious matters. Jeremy Kosky is incredibly sharp, very experienced and always a true gentleman to deal with. Nicole Buncher is a true rising star. Ultra-responsive, always on top of the facts and a pleasure to work with’.

‘Large and skilled teams with high-quality partners and committed and promising associates’.

‘Highly skilled people always available to share views’.

‘Availability and commitment to deliver against tight timelines’.

‘Creative, with a good business sense’.

‘Successful track record of exposure to the infra financing market which can be capitalised on to tailor make new solutions for live transactions’.

‘Very strong disputes capability – true oil and gas arbitration specialists’.

‘User friendly, pragmatic and hard working’.

‘The Clifford Chance team provided multi expertise (including tax and maritime law) on a multi-jurisdictional M&A transaction’.

‘This full range of advisory services have been provided with the highest quality standard’.

‘Graham Phillips has been involved in all the strategic and structuring decisions, with the highest customer care’.

‘Strong industry focus. Instinctive ability to recognise client interests’.

‘The team has broad and deep knowledge and experience that works in a complementary and constructive way with my teams’.

‘Alex Panayides is one of the best disputes lawyers in the business’.

‘A proper law firm with the full complement of competencies and lawyers that are prepared to give proper commercial legal advice and happy to take a position on things rather than treating all questions as theoretically possible and using it as an opportunity to cross-sell extraneous legal advice.’

‘Clare Burgess is a stand out individual. She is a force of nature and a wonder to behold in negotiations getting things done in an efficient and commercial manner keeping everyone on track. She quickly dismisses nonsense from counterparties by simply refusing to entertain it whilst managing at the same time to herself be entertaining.’

‘The CC team has great strength and depth and there are no weak links. Their technical and commercial skills are exemplary. They are also very strong at finding client focused solutions to problems that arise on transactions.’

‘Excellent combination of technical knowledge and measured commercial application. Highly responsive and diligent at all levels of the team. Stand out partners would include Angela Kearns and Ian Painter.’

‘Clifford Chance is the firm to go to for big ticket occupier/HQ work on both the occupier and landlord/developer side. They differentiate themselves from other firms with a magic circle stamp of quality and full service offering, delivered by a market leading team. I have no hesitation in recommending them. Their quality of work and client service (e.g. responsiveness and thinking round corners, particularly with a view to funding and exit when on landlord/developer side) is second to none and they definitely merit a top tier ranking.’

‘I’d single out Angela Kearns. She is a top quality lawyer and extremely commercial. She is my go-to lawyer for this type of work as she has a broad practice and can turn her hand to all aspects of transactions. This works for us as it means we don’t have to deal with multiple lawyers. She is on top of her game, works hard for her clients and gets deals done. She managed to deliver one of the largest (if not the largest) pre-let in the film studios sector this year.’

‘Outstanding practice, commercial, excellent client communication and relation skills’

‘Alis Pay is an outstanding lawyer. She has been instrumental in helping us win our new office space – her legal knowledge is outstanding, she is very efficient and commercial and client oriented. She manages her team very well. From a client perspective, there is seamless coverage.

‘James Law is an outstanding senior associate. He has been of great help negotiating our lease assignment. Always on top of his things and available for his client. Moreoever, he is a great partner to work with. Great team!’

‘Professionality, clever approach in problem solving.’

‘Effective advice always delivered by deadlines; strength in depth across the team. When you need it, the CC drafting nearly always leaves you in a positive position.’

‘Excellent knowledge and understanding of full development cycle and all component parts including tax, financing, planning, construction and development. Particularly strong on complex and innovative structuring. Highly solutions driven.’

‘Extremely responsive with ability to tailor solutions to our specific business requirements and needs.

‘We have been working with the CC team on a set of construction contracts that are very heavily amended and quite complex. They are very good, consistently looking out for the client’s interests. Overall consistently thoughtful and considered in their advice.’

‘I have worked with Clifford Chance on a number of long running development projects over the years, they are second to none.  As they are full service, their team can cover the full lifecycle of developments, bringing expertise at all stages of the development. I like them because they stick with you and are genuinely excited about what you are creating. They work together seamlessly behind the scenes and the partners and directors seem to genuinely like each other and enjoy working together and it comes across. Highly recommend!’

‘I’d would absolutely single out Angela Kearns who is not only good fun to work with but a top quality lawyer, extremely commercial and a true development specialist. She is my go to lawyer as she has a broad practice and can turn her hand to the full lifecycle of projects, including the initial development structuring, rights of light, pre-letting, funding and ultimate exit. This is a real bonus as it means we don’t have to deal with multiple lawyers. She is on top of her game, works hard for her clients and gets deals done. She definitely deserves to be ranked as a Leading Individual in this category.’

‘We had a strong experience with the CC team as they helped us navigate entering a new market during the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and an inability for us to travel to the site. They defended our legal position well against an experienced counterparty and ensured that we were we were well informed. The team was large but collaborated well to ensure that information was disseminated appropriately. The team’s gender diversity was strong but ethnic diversity was average. Overall, we would recommend the firm and team but only on more complex transactions. Their fees are above market for relatively straightforward property transactions.’

‘We had a great experience with Alis Pay and Sarah Dawson, who were our main contacts through the transaction. They were available and ready to help us understand the market’s nuances.’

‘Effective advice always delivered by deadlines, with strength in depth across the team.’

‘Marianne Toghill is an expert and provides market leading insights and advice delivered with high efficiency.’

‘A well run team with a very commercial approach and a fast turnaround. Work is resourced appropriately. Very friendly and collaborative, and a pleasure to work with.’

‘Adam Waite is very responsive and detailed in his work. Good at remembering what threads are outstanding and need chasing.’

‘Ed Bretherton is not only deeply knowledgeable in this sector but he is exceptionally commercial, able to navigate negotiations between lender and borrower in a balanced and equitable manner, making for a much smoother execution.’

‘Their knowledge on construction contracts is excellent, allied to their constant desire to be tested and learn from case study. Their input during contract negotiations remains friendly but firm and well measured.’

‘Availability, knowledge, agility and dedication. The service is really unique and personalised, particularly in relation to Sandy Hall and Simon Smith.’

‘David Metzger stands out at the top of premier league of non-contentious construction lawyers.’

‘We chose to work with the Environment team at Clifford Chance because of 1) the specific individuals and 2) the ability of the firm to cover the full range of legal services that we required for the transaction in question. This included the M&A, financing, public takeover and tax teams.’

‘Our main contact was Nigel Howorth who was excellent and the reason that we chose to work with this team. He was very good at not just explaining very technical issues in a way that everybody else on the deal team could understand but his experience allowed him to contextualise the issues which is very important in this area.’

‘Very strong sector knowledge, especially in energy, combined with good old fashioned commercial understanding, especially in the M&A context.’

‘Michael Coxall remains a phenomenal knowledge on environmental law. His depth doesn’t seem to be challenged by the continued broadening of that area of law.’

‘Nigel Howorth is one of the most experienced practitioners in the environmental and energy law spaces. He seems equally comfortable with a regulatory or a transactional hat on.’

‘Great service. They had excellent knowledge of the national and local regimes and frameworks and were able to provide support across the spectrum, from high level strategic advice to teams of junior lawyers to support the necessary heavy lifting.’

‘Nigel Howorth – great technical knowledge but allied to a pragmatic / practical approach which enables the business to focus on the critical risks / issues. Very personable and able to communicate effectively across all levels of the business.’

‘Clifford Chance is our go-to firm for all matters involving environmental, health & safety, and chemical registration and related matters in the UK and throughout the EU.’

‘The full service offering is very attractive.’

‘They can help you originate, repack, warehouse, repo or securitise and the different teams and jurisdictions work well together. Technically excellent.’

‘Impressive knowledgeable and strong team that produce good work product and are well informed with respect to the market.’

‘Andrew Carnegie is a seasoned partner with a wealth of experience. He can give you the steer you need on where the market is, was and where it should be.’

‘Laura Smallcombe has an amazing career ahead of her. She is technically excellent, organised and a pleasure to deal with.’

‘Barry O’Shea is a go-to partner for every deal. He is commercial and solution-oriented, and transactions are truly in safe hands with him’

‘Emma Matebalavu is fantastic: she knows the market, the participants, has unparalleled legal skills and is also a lovely person.’

‘Deep subject matter expertise, responsiveness and excellent engagement’.

‘Focus on the client’s needs’.

‘The team consistently delivers commercial and practical advice tailored to our circumstances, based on its second-to-none legal and regulatory insights’.

‘The responsiveness of our main client partner, David Pudge, and his capacity to deliver consistently the highest quality commercial advice is outstanding’.

‘They bring a pragmatic, approachable style to solve complex problems’.  

‘Strength in depth at all levels of seniority’.

‘Superb technical knowledge and very responsive’.

‘Steven Fox is an absolute star. Capable of managing challenging board level issues with pragamatic and clear advice’. 

‘Andre Duminy navigated an extremely difficult and complex anti-trust led auction process in a tight timeline involving the market leading fintech wrap platform business with global application.’

‘Andrey Duminy and Monica Sah provide oversight and insights that can make the difference between success and stagnation.’

‘Diego Ballon Ossio was able to provide a service that several other Magic Circle law firms were unable to.’

‘Diego Ballon Ossio was our main point of contact and was incredible throughout.’

‘Diego Ballon Ossio’s ability to provide practical and commercial advice within a sector that is notoriously difficult to navigate was a true joy to watch.’

‘Diego Ballon Ossio is an exceptional lawyer and has extensive knowledge and understanding of his subject matter from both a legal and commercial standpoint.’

‘Monica Sah was extremely approachable and committed – she and her team deserve a 5 star review for the quality of their advice and service.’

‘Diego Ballon Ossio is technically very good. He understands the financial services sector very well and applies this to fintech and crypto.’

‘The availability of senior partners, together with the seamless integration of advice across multiple Clifford Chance practice groups, is a key part of the offering.’

‘Highly commercial and diligent practice group with a clear understanding of client objectives and timelines.’

‘The team is creative and solution focused, whilst being flexible and nimble.’

‘Jennifer Mbaluto and André Duminy can navigate extremely difficult and complex anti-trust led auction processes to a tight timeline.’

‘David Saleh and his team are very proactive in terms of client relationship management and tax planning for them – very explicit, clear and concise (especially for clients who have no understanding of the UK tax landscape – it can sometimes be a back to basics exercise).’

‘The quality of the people, especially the partners, is excellent and consistently so. They have a wide client base in my sector and a breadth of experience which is valuable and differentiates them from more niche competitors.’

‘David Harkness is a trusted adviser. I feel I can rely on him to provide well considered input and I trust him to handle the most sensitive issues we face. He has engaged very well with our business and delivered constructive advice.’

‘Proactiveness and responsiveness from David and team, despite his seniority, there is a proactive nature to client satisfaction and going over and above to assist/explain.’

‘The availability of senior partners together with the seamless integration of advice across multiple Clifford Chance practice groups was a key part of the success of a recent acquisition of ours.’

‘Diligent and with a clear understanding of client objectives and timelines’

‘Creative and solutions focused while being flexible and nimble’

‘Very dedicated, work well together, regular billing and updates’

‘Nelson Jung & Aniko Adam navigated an extremely difficult and complex anti-trust led auction process in a tight timeline.’

‘Greg Olsen manages the complexities very well; is always available and provides answers clearly and in plain English.

‘Jenny Storey wraps around the client and takes the time to understand complicated and non-standard structures.’

‘Strong private equity team with years of experience. Excellent at complex transactions and always able to find an agreeable solution to ensure the deal moves forward.’

‘Spencer Baylin is incredibly bright with years of experience behind him. Whatever deal you are doing he has seen it before and knows the best way forward. Shimin Lee is a stand out associate and true rising star.’

‘The CC team totally gets client needs: they can look around corners, delivering solutions not problems, thinking as if part of our team. They really do operate as a single European team, but we rely on London to lead from the front. International and pan-European transactions are really where they excel. They advise on the whole PE investment cycle and most material institutional and reputational issues from investment through growth, financing, governance changes and eventual exit.’

‘Jonny and Spencer as client relationship leaders are stars and deliver the team yet are surrounded by rising stars. No matter who they are up against for us or working together with they are market leaders.’

‘I think its one of the best practices in this sector in the world. You get all the might of a major international law firm with remarkable deftness of touch in their London team.’

‘Luke Tolani is one of the very best; manages very complicated hostile litigation in the sector and his team walk in his footsteps.’

‘Clifford Chance are unquestionably at the very top of the pile when it comes to competition litigation. The roster of recent and ongoing cases is astonishing.’

‘Luke Tolaini is their star operator. He can turn his hand to any litigation but has successfully leveraged his white collar litigation practice into competition litigation. Extraordinary tactical sense and a nose for a winning point. Ben Jasper is a partner in all but name. His output is astonishing and in every case he quickly ends up more expert in the area of law than all of the expert lawyers in the case – a phenomenon.’

‘Superb team. Collaborative, measured. Well resourced.’

‘Sam Ward – clever and conscientious.’

‘Michael and Alastair both very capable. Michael is at his best strategising on potentially contentious matters. Alastair is pragmatic and dogged, works well with corporate and wider teams.’

‘The team quickly understood the complex issues we were facing and partnered with us to develop a strategic plan to address it.’

‘They used all the resource and experience they had from working with similarly sized businesses who had similarly complex issues to deal with, and used this to help us achieve our goal.’

‘Skilled, patient, collaborative, and efficient team has made our multiple HY bond offering processes as smooth as possible.’

‘Particular shout-out to Andrew Kelly for consistently bringing his A-game!’

‘Andrew Kelly is an excellent technician and user-friendly.’

‘Clifford Chance partners are highly responsive, dedicated, and are highly proficient in emerging markets and high yield.’

‘In particular, it has been an absolute pleasure to work with Andrew Kelly; Andrew is exceptionally hands-on, extremely approachable, and his legal advice has been invaluable in ensuring smooth transaction executions.’

‘The practice comprises some exceptionally talented people ready to provide a very practical approach to the matter.’

‘Exceptionally good at what they do. Very committed. They approach the matter from a proprietary perspective, almost as though my problems were their problems and our success is their success.’

‘Clifford Chance responded with equal urgency and relevance. the team’s knowledge of the sector and its key players was invaluable and meant that we hit the ground running at full tilt in order to navigate strategic and commercial issues against incredibly tight time frames. availability was never an issue and, of real importance to me, was the way that Clifford integrated fully into the team and established rapport and transparency in the working relationship.’

‘I had the pleasure of working with Stephen Reese and his team on a couple of critical projects during the Covid crisis. The level of support they were able to provide to myself as the accountable project lead was first class. I particularly appreciated their astute insights into potential strategies in what was an extremely fluid, globally competitive and politically intense environment. I also hugely appreciated the way they supported my need to not take any possibility off the table in search of breakthroughs.’

‘Excellent sector knowledge.’

‘Stephen Reese has excellent sector knowledge and delivers to the brief perfectly.’

‘The team is able to provide strong support on the insurance regulatory side, in addition to being able to advise on the core commercial terms.’

‘Baljit Rai is an insurance expert and great at explaining the twists and turns of the market. Often subtle in her approach but incredibly effective. Excellent knowledge of her subject area.’

‘Philip Hill: His knowledge and expertise is right up there with the best and he is a pleasure to deal with.

‘Kate Scott: superb case management skills; really knows how to get control of a big case and is very good at foreseeing what issues the clients will need to have addressed.’

‘Philip Hill is very experienced and knowledgeable. Really thinks about his cases. Chris Ingham is an up and coming junior partner, who will go far.’

‘Christopher Ingham is a first-rate brain and a real thinker – he thinks inside and outside of the box, and no angle is left unexplored. He is capable of coming up with ideas that win cases – and that’s a rare quality. He’ a top quality insurance lawyer, and knows the industry as well as anyone.’

‘The insurance litigation team at Clifford Chance is absolutely excellent. All of the lawyers I have worked with have an exceptionally detailed knowledge of relevant insurance law, and great tactical and strategic insight into dealing with insurers. The team puts a premium on clear and regular communication with clients, and is very results-based in its approach.’

‘Philip Hillis exceptionally clever and experienced. He thinks very hard about his cases and is always on top of the law. Philip has an unrivalled ability to develop original and persuasive arguments on matters of policy construction to achieve optimal results for his clients.’

‘The Clifford Chance private funds team is excellent. They are a diverse, knowledgeable, down to earth and user friendly team. Their approach to billing is refreshing especially compared to their peers.’

‘Led by Alex Davidson who is a brilliant, hands-on, pragmatic lawyer who engenders trust in her team. Largest green funds practice in the UK by an order of magnitude. Deep team with unequalled reach. Ability to draw on their offices in other countries to assist any time, including relevant Luxembourg and NY advice. Access to partners whenever you need.’

‘Alex Davidson is a consummate client partner, always available with pragmatic advice, makes it look easy even when its not. Extensive knowledge of the market. Unflappable and consummately team focused. Vishal Mashru is the best right hand person you could have.’

‘The Private Funds team has deep experience across the market and can hold a punch when negotiating against large institutional LPs.’

‘Lily Marcel is calm and delivers a timely service. Her advice is clear and, given we were launching our first institutional fund, was excellent at hand holding through the process without being patronising.’

‘Alexandra Davidson delivers exceptionally consistent and commercial advice. She finds solution to difficult situations and never loses her cool. She is always available and is incredibly proactive in delivering top quality work product.’

‘The practice takes personal touch to a completely different level. Their customer service and attention to detail is impeccable.’

‘Gerard Saviola, Stephanie Dunne and Pourab Paul are exceptional client advocates.’

‘The team is diverse and proactive with good communication skills’.

‘Easy going and easy to work with’.

‘A highly skilled and experienced team that can leverage the required people and specialisms from across the firm as and when required’.

‘No job is too big for the Clifford Chance team and we have complete faith in their ability to quickly react to an evolving landscape, deploy the appropriate level of highly skilled resources from across their global network’.

‘Work to tight timeframes in high pressure situations’.

‘The service received from across the firm is exceptional, the advice received is always first class and their attention to client needs sets them out from their peers’.

‘Clifford Chance’s public law team combines a solid knowledge of commercial realities with practical political nous.’

‘Oliver Carroll is a pleasure to deal with.’

‘The team provides first class public law and procurement advice. I have worked with them on both stand-alone issues and major projects where they have proved themselves able to integrate fully and effectively into the wider team, as necessary, as well as handle anything and everything we have thrown at them. They bring a highly sophisticated understanding of the law and the way it interacts with the commercial and practical issues, differentiating them from the majority of their competitors.’

‘Led by the technically expert, easy to work with and outcomes-focused Andrew Dean, they have given us an edge which has on more than one occasion been the decisive factor in enabling us to reach our goals.’

‘We instructed Clifford Chance to advise on a complex, difficult and novel public procurement matter which raised many unusual issues. Based on past experience of working with Andrew Dean and other leading public law and public procurement lawyers, Andrew was the obvious stand-out choice for this unique and challenging matter. He repaid our trust in him fully by delivering exactly what we needed (whether we knew we needed it or not), when we needed it.’

‘This is a package which is not easy to find. While there are other technically able and commercially skilled practitioners, Andrew Dean has the additional unique and invaluable insight from his years in-house advising the most senior stakeholders in central government bodies and procurement authorities on both tactical and strategic issues in relation to some of their biggest headaches, making him the number one go-to adviser for public law and procurement matters which are difficult, complicated or critical.’

‘The team at CC are responsive and fantastic at coming up with robust and innovative legal arguments. They are able to collaborate across an unusual team build up including NGOs, solicitors in other jurisdictions, significant legal input from our in-house team and counsel.’

‘Oliver Carroll has led our matter with little partner input and he stands out as an associate with legal insights and strategy beyond his years PQE.’

‘Alis Pays brings a high level of experience and market awareness. Alis is a truly trusted legal advisor as she will always give the best advice to balance the legal considerations and the commercial drivers with a view to delivering the transaction. Melissa Jones is a joy to work with. She is calm and collected whilst demonstrating legal excellence and understanding the full picture of the transaction.’

‘The team are top of the market and do a lot of pan-European work. They are both M&A lawyers and true real estate specialists. Quite the force.’

‘Iain Painter and his team of associates are an absolute pleasure to work with. They know their stuff, are very down to earth, and deliver clear and practical advice and solutions on complex issues.’

‘Very adept at optimising the deal structures on investment transactions with excellent interface across different disciplines in the Clifford Chance teams. Often use innovative approaches to solve issues and technically extremely strong across the piece. Extremely strong technically and commercially with excellent problem solving skills. Very responsive and always aligned to our commercial drivers.

‘Alis Pay is knowledgeable, pragmatic and a calming presence on deals.’

‘Clifford Chance is a standout team in the market and a class above the competition. I have worked with them throughout my career at four different organisations and I highly recommend them for complex, high value work particularly when the deal involves an indirect acquisition or disposal, a portfolio or pan-European element and/or joint venture structuring. Their lawyers really truly understand real estate and bring the added-value of market knowledge however we want to structure a deal. They are very strong in development too which is a real advantage because it means they are able to deliver the full lifecycle of projects and meticulously set them up from the outset with an eye to funding and exit. In my view they are a truly top notch outfit with a strong bench of very capable partners who go above and beyond to execute and get the deal done.’

‘Angela Kearns is a top quality lawyer and extremely commercial. She can turn her hand to all aspects of transactions. She is on top of her game, works hard for her clients and gets deals done. Matt Taylor is an expert on the indirect side and a go-to adviser for joint venture. He is a technically excellent lawyer and gives practical and commercial advice.’

‘Excellent commercial acumen with an ability to be able to give various options to the client and advise on a favored outcome. Strong diversity within the team and up to date on latest PropTech technologies and influences emerging with the real estate industry.’

‘Incredibly strong and fast growing team of highly-talented individuals.’

‘Simon Persoff is a hugely committed partner with deep knowledge of data, privacy and cybersecurity matters. Incredibly hard working.’

‘Jonathan Kewley is a real star in the technology law world. Highly respected by clients. Any law firm would be lucky to have him.’

‘Herbert Swaniker is a highly talented associate, loved by clients and great to work with.’

‘Always professional, expert and the product is timely and to the point. Reliable, helpful and well informed on new and emerging trends and technologies, with a genuine curiosity for innovation.’

‘Simon Persoff and his team offer a breadth of practical experience as well as legal expertise.’

‘Simon Persoff has impressed with his technical and practical knowledge. When it really matters, he is there to support us. He has struck the right balance between technical requirements and pragmatic and practical advice, based on his own extensive industry knowledge and experience. He seeks to bring the right team for the matter in hand.’

‘Clifford Chance as a firm don’t need me to tell you how good they are. Their reputation speaks for itself. But, by hiring Chris David to head up their London white collar practice, they have added one of the very best criminal solicitors to an already stellar litigation team.’

‘Christopher David is a rarity in the Magic Circle white collar world. He’s done it all for real: police stations, high profile crown court trials for individuals and investigations for household name international companies. He’s clever, astute and pragmatic, but with an uncompromising directness that he deploys when necessary. His standing domestically and internationally grows year by year. A very smart hire by Clifford Chance.’

‘Michael Lyons – massively bright, very quick to get to the points that matter to a client, and pursues them doggedly. Luke Tolaini – clever, good to work with and with an exceptional client focus. Luke should be a go-to adviser for any corporate.’

‘Simon Davis is a legend and has fearless judgment. Luke Tolani is one of the very best manages of very complicated hostile litigation in the sector and his team walk in his footsteps.’

‘Highly responsive to clients and providing documents on highest levels on short notice. Provides at all times actionable advice, leveraging their deep understanding of regulators and the law. And always a personal pleasure to work with.’

‘Luke Tolaini is an outstanding leader and lawyer, a commander-in-chief on the case, providing clear perspectives and reliable predictions.’

‘A class act. Everyone in the team is hugely smart, experienced, sensible and, frankly, a treat to work with.’

‘Carlos Conceicao – a master of his craft and an absolute pleasure to work with. Michael Lyons – a rising star as a partner; warm and collaborative style, teamed with sharp intellect’

‘The availability of senior partners together with the seamless integration of advice across multiple Clifford Chance practice groups was a key part of the success of our recent acquisition.’

‘Highly commercial. Diligence. Clear understanding of client objectives and timelines. Creative and solutions focused while being flexible and nimble.’

‘Better than any other law firm I know of, Clifford Chance has combined deep arbitration and competition law experience with outreach to and joint projects with experienced WTO and domestic anti-dumping experts. Consequently they can staff that work with first-rate teams.’

‘Jessica Gladstone is one of the world’s leading arbitration and unfair trade lawyers. Combines deep competition law and arbitration practice experience with WTO and related government-to-government litigation, as well as domestic trade remedy (anti-dumping, countervailing duty, safeguard) litigation expertise.’

‘Positive and practical advice delivered succinctly and with a willingness to be flexible with instructions.’

‘Jessica Gladstone is a highly competent expert with deep knowledge of the sector, applied in a practical way that focuses on the best outcome for her client.’

‘Jeremy Stewart possesses standout experience in trade negotiations which he deploys with commercial acuity.’

‘The team are extremely experienced and deliver on each project. They are without equal in delivery and also providing a very commercial approach’

‘Hywel Robinson is the partner and has a vast range of experience but also incorporates this with a sense of commerciality that is rare for a lawyer, particularly in the pensions world!’

‘Very good team which superb strength in depth.’

‘Hywel Robinson leads the team and is really good. Hands on, responsive and very easy to deal with . He makes the apparently complex very understandable.’

‘Incisive analysis, quick to grasp the salient issues and arguments, and great communication skills.’

‘Nigel Howorth is a very experienced and talented planning solicitor with a natural overview of the situation at hand ably assisted by his associate Anneke Theelen who is nimble in understanding the core arguments and researching different lines of analysis and getting back to us quickly.’

‘Clifford Chance has a small, but really strong, team of very bright planning lawyers. As a team they work very well together and are able to resource even the largest of matters.’

‘Nigel Howorth is an absolutely excellent planning partner and has huge commercial acumen that makes him very well regarded. Katie Kempthorne is outstandingly hard working and able, and an absolute pleasure to work with. Anneka Theelen is another of Clifford Chance’s outstanding senior associates.’

‘Nigel Howorth – great technical knowledge but allied to a pragmatic / practical approach which enables the business to focus on the critical risks / issues. Very personable and able to communicate effectively across all levels of the business.’

‘Katie Kempthorne – able to digest and analyse complex issues quickly and adapt advice accordingly to a fast changing project. Very personable and also able to work very effectively across all levels of the business with the wider team.’

‘All staff were very competent & professional in terms of their work & timely in their communications.’

‘Go-to people for complex and advanced financing structures and advice.’

‘Angela Shepherd – very strong real estate and social housing experience and knowledge. Respected generally in the sector.’

‘Genuine experience and knowledge in the social housing sector. In addition, the team makes itself available at short notice to deal with issues that require a concerted approach/to be agreed with the other parties’ legal team. They will strive to find a common ground to progress commercial matters.’

‘Angela Shepherd. A pleasure to deal with, Angela makes herself available at short notice to assist with often complicated real estate/planning matters. She will also help in ensuring that all stakeholders in a transaction are in the loop and understand the impact of the legal matters on their work.’

‘Chris Yates is the perfect sports lawyer.’

‘James Cranston is one of the best senior associates I’ve ever come across – a total superstar.’

‘Chris Yates and James Cranston have sound litigation judgement.’

‘The team with whom we deal on sports issues are innovative, proactive and always able to find practical solutions to seemingly complex problems which serve to meet the interests of all parties concerned.’

‘Unusual for a major international firm to have such a strong and comprehensive commitment to its sports practice.’

‘James Cranston and Chris Yates are the two key individuals. Both fantastic lawyers.’

‘The partners we have interacted with are extraordinary intellectuals who are fully engaged and hands-on about all the assignments they undertake for us and the entire team is brilliant to work with in terms of their hard work, professionalism and responsiveness. We can always rely on their support.’

‘Clifford Chance have a small but effective property litigation team who are able to offer clients a top-quality service, particularly in matters which cross disciplinary divides, where the property litigators can call on other expertise within the firm.’

‘Ben Hatton – a dedicated professional. Goes above and beyond for his clients.’

‘Excellent top ranking firm with all round experience.’

‘Ben Hatton is a safe pair of hands.’

‘The team always provided us with very professional advices based on wider perspectives.’

‘All members always kept client oriented point of views. Their frequent follow-up calls were very helpful.’

‘Stephen Reese’s depth of knowledge in the field of digital health sets him apart from most competitors.’

‘Stephen Reese is a seasoned practitioner who brings a wealth of experience to the table and is the man to see for advice on complicated matters of healthcare law, including the new and amorphous world of digital health.’

‘Jeremy Connick-partner is a great asset to the team.’

‘Olamide Oladosu is an excellent partner’.

‘This team is unique due to its highly qualified and knowledgeable lawyers, high responsiveness and client-oriented approach.’

‘The individuals of this firm who we have worked with have a remarkable attention to detail and turnaround time. We take the opportunity to highlight in particular Filippo Tassoni.’

‘Leonard Cleland has been one of the most active and knowledgeable foreign lawyers acting for lenders in Angola for the past 15 years.’

‘Clifford Chance has been advising clients on cross-border financing transactions involving the Angolan State and private companies on a regular basis. The team has good knowledge of local laws, legal requirements, local formalities and local practices.’

‘Kayode Oladipo and Leonard Cleland are recommended.’

‘My summary opinion of the Clifford Chance team from Poland is that they are exceptional people, and I am impressed by the excellent work that this team has done for us in various arbitration and judicial processes.’

‘I am very grateful that this magnificent work has been carried out without us being up to date with the payments due to Clifford Chance on our part, due to the financial difficulties that our company is going through. In this regard, I have to say that Clifford Chance has shown great flexibility and patience with us, for which I take the opportunity to thank them warmly.’

‘Strong leaders with very strong partners doing the actual work.’

‘Marcin Ciemiński – super experienced and a true litigation lawyer. Never trying to make things more rosy than they are in reality. Very good at negotiating settlement and not just trying to be the master of the room.’

‘Absolutely the best-in-class economic law litigation experts available in Poland.’

‘They showed great commitment to the matter entrusted to them, which they thoroughly analyzed, which made me feel very safe and satisfied as a client.’

‘What definitely distinguishes Clifford Chance is the excellent, even friendly, co-operation between individuals, without competing for budgets, but with a visible focus on providing the client with the best quality project resulting from the mix of competences of all practitioners.’

‘Bartosz Krużewski is a real asset; broad experience, contribution to client expectations, resolving tasks quickly and efficiently.’

‘Clifford Chance has a strong practice and network that tremendously helps in getting matters done.’

‘Outstanding commitment to understand our situation and defend an honest and fair position. Total dedication.’

‘Very high level of expertise. Great level of empathy and listening skills. Creative and dedicated.’

‘The litigation and arbitration team of Clifford Chance, Brussels is a prominent actor in international and domestic litigation and arbitration areas, composed of a mix of young talents and well-established lawyers. Dynamism and creativity, allied to a solid capacity for legal analysis and judgment, give them a leading position in their field.’

‘I had opportunities to work with Dorothée Vermeiren and to meet them as adverse party as well. In all circumstances, they demonstrated exceptional professionalism, dedication and efficiency.’

‘Talented team in India that knows the market – both the business environment and legal practitioners and judiciary in the country.’

‘They are well staffed and have access to quality legal tech and know the practice of arbitration and dispute resolution quite well.’

‘Kabir Singh and Nish Shetty do a good job of overseeing the matters and engaging to ensure quality. Both are knowledgeable and their experience helps provide practical advice both in logistics and substance in working through issues with the case.’

‘They work well with local firms.’