Jessica Littlewood > Clifford Chance LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Clifford Chance LLP’s derivatives and structured products practice is composed of ‘dedicated lawyers who provide great insights into derivatives, regulations, and market standard positions, and deliver clear, pragmatic and business-focused advice‘. Practice head Timothy Cleary and key partner Jessica Littlewood are widely renowned as market-leading experts on synthetic securitisation and risk transfer transactions, in which the firm has seen significant growth. Paget Dare Bryan is a standout derivatives partner whose innovative work includes advice on carbon inventory forward and repo transactions. Faizal Khan and Will Winterton are called upon for their knowledge of bespoke equity-linked financing structures involving derivatives, repos, and securities lending. Anne Drakeford, who is ‘prepared to roll up her sleeves to get the deal done’, handles complex OTC fixed income, credit and equity-based derivatives. Emerging partner talent Jeremy Walter is ‘a true expert in derivatives clearing‘. The firm hired Daniel Shurman from A&O Shearman in 2024 to strengthen its equity derivatives offering.

Clifford Chance LLP is ‘still at the top of the market, with great strength in depth‘. The firm handles all forms of public and private residential and commercial real estate financing, as well as pan-European portfolio acquisitions and financing, marketplace lending platforms, forward flow arrangements, structured SME financing, auto and fleet securitisations, credit cards, consumer loan and receivables financing, repackaging and restructuring. Practice head Maggie Zhao, who is a standout adviser to both originators and arrangers, leads a group replete with talent and experience. Market veteran Kevin Ingram focuses on debt securitisation, principal finance, and ABCP deals; Christopher Walsh, who has in-depth experience in structured debt transactions, handles complex NPLs; Jessica Littlewood leads the busy European cash CLO practice; global head of financial markets Emma Matebalavu specialises in mortgage finance; and Simeon Radcliff, who is recommended for trade receivables deals, recently handed a first-of-kind sustainable securitisation in Kenya. Emerging talent Adam Craig frequently acts for issuers and arrangers in public securitisations and private bilateral financings.