Michael Bates > Clifford Chance LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Renewable energy and digital infrastructure mandates form the cornerstone of the practice at Clifford Chance LLP, with the firm acting for global investment managers on multi-billion dollar deals. The firm has demonstrable strength in all areas of corporate M&A and financing, including advising on innovative debt structures, counseling lenders on financing in relation to acquisitions, and guiding clients through financing the remaining stakes in brownfield infrastructure. The team regularly advises on wind development matters across the UK and Europe, as well as EV charging, telecoms, and fibre networks matters. Team head Michael Bates is particularly active on financing agreements involving fibre networks, while Charlotte Madden works closely with private equity firms and infrastructure funds on a variety of corporate deals, demonstrating significant expertise across a range of matters. Alex Dimsdale-Gil has significant experience in digital infrastructure acquisitions. Julia House  and Jonathan Dillon are both recommended.

Drawing on ‘huge market knowledge’ and extensive international resources, Clifford Chance LLP remains a compelling proposition for creditors and debtors on big-ticket and complex leveraged and event-driven deals.  Although the firm has gained market traction among credit funds, its strong and longstanding commercial/investment bank relationships continue to inform much of the deal flow, both in the leveraged market, as well as on corporate-led M&A deals. Emma Folds is one of many experienced partners in the team who is conversant with debt structures throughout the capital structure, deploying this knowledge to good effect across a range of transactions, running the gamut from sponsor-driven leveraged deals, through to restructurings and corporate lending mandates. In addition, along with Michael Bates and Julia House, she is also well-versed at handling infrastructure finance transactions. Dual UK and Sweden-qualified partner Peter Dahlen has strong knowledge of leveraged finance transactions, utilising both bank and credit fund-sourced debt, and has a particular niche advising on Nordic deals. While lender work remains the lifeblood of the practice, under the guidance of Taner Hassan, the firm also continues to handle a considerable volume of significant private equity-led cross-border leveraged finance matters. Hassan co-heads the overarching banking and finance team alongside David Robson, whose lender-focused practice includes both leveraged and M&A financings.