David Robson > Clifford Chance LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Drawing upon the expertise of a ‘strong bench of individuals’ with a ‘detailed understanding of the latest market trends and norms’, Clifford Chance LLP has been well-positioned to navigate a relatively turbulent market, providing often highly bespoke and complicated structuring advice to funders and borrowers. The ‘very knowledgeable and efficient’ Peter Dahlen has excellent traction among banks funding big-ticket leveraged finance deals for sponsors across a range of industry sectors and geographies. Emma Folds is also very well attuned to the requirements of large banking clients, as well as some private credit funders, regularly advising them on corporate-led M&A financings as well as on general corporate borrowing. Nicholas Kinnersley is a very versatile finance lawyer and is a ‘steady hand’ for both corporates and sponsors, using his deep leveraged, infrastructure and corporate financing experience. Julia House has a balanced offering among banks, corporates and sponsors, while the ‘super responsive and proactive’ Katherine Sinclair, who was recently promoted to partner, has been instrumental in building up the team’s private credit fund client base. David Robson heads up the overarching banking and finance group and regularly handles both leveraged and event-driven financings for a creditor-focused client base, including many utilising the TLB product. Taner Hassan joined Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP in May 2024 to head up its European leveraged finance offering.

Drawing upon a ‘detailed understanding of the latest market trends and norms’, Clifford Chance LLP has an ‘impressive knowledge of documentation nuances across multiple jurisdictions’. Consequently, it is able to impart this knowledge to a balanced mix of banks and corporates providing or receiving debt financing for working capital, M&A and event financing, and treasury purposes, inter alia. Emma Folds is abreast of developments in the syndicated loans market and is well-positioned to advise both corporates and lenders on general corporate lending and refinancing matters, as well as in relation to acquisition and infrastructure finance mandates. As part of his wide-ranging borrower practice, Nick Kinnersley regularly acts for investment-grade/listed clients on corporate lending and acquisition finance facilities, and is also one of many within the team with excellent credentials in relation to sustainability-linked financings. David Robson heads the team and excels at advising banks on big-ticket event-driven and public bid financings. ‘Excellent negotiator’ Peter Dahlen, who co-heads the global leveraged finance team, and Matt Dunn are also recommended.