Linklaters LLP counts corporates, governments, funds and financial institutions among its clientele, providing a broad range of tax services, including advice on M&A, joint ventures, and corporate restructurings. The department is led by Chris Smale, whose practice covers a broad range of corporate transactions. Former team lead Lynne Walkington remains active, advising on a range of high-profile corporate reorganisations and demergers, in addition to handling contentious mandates. Jamie Coomber specialises in advising funds, while Rhian Parker is a key contact for financial institutions and corporates. Sam Lintonbon handles reorganisations and financings, as well as public and private M&A. Alexei Franks made partner in 2024 and has experience advising sovereign and institutional investors active within the UK and Europe.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘It goes without saying that the team is technically brilliant. For me, one of the key strengths is the commercial mindset of the team. Not only do they have an exceptional level of knowledge about the sector/industry, but more importantly, they invest time in understanding our needs and the specific red flags for us.’
- ‘I have full trust in the team and am comforted by the knowledge that when the team is holding meetings w/counterparty lawyers, the right messages will be delivered. There is strong commercial acumen in the team combined with an exceptional understanding of our business, as well as our requirements.'
- ‘The team's internal collaboration with their colleagues is so seamless and smooth that you never end up in an information gap. They always know the background to the transaction, even if it might have changed in the last few hours. It makes it incredibly easy to work with the team on what are incredibly complicated transactions.'
- ‘They operate at such a high standard together that you immediately trust them as individuals. In stressful situations they also know how to have a laugh too, which is perhaps sometimes too rare in legal / tax sectors! It alleviates tension on tough deals like nothing else!'
- 'The Linklaters tax team are very responsive and take a much needed commercially pragmatic approach to addressing tax aspects of transactions. Most of our transactions are multi country, and it is also a plus to see them work well with the rest of the network to allow us to deliver outcomes that align to a deal's footprint.'
- 'Very much appreciate the insight & support from Rhian Parker, who is able to bring to bear a nice balance of tax technical competence with commercial pragmatism to help us deliver on what we need to in a deal.'
Key clients
- Unilever PLC
- CK Hutchison Group Telecom Holdings
- Carrier Global Corporation
- Anglo American plc
- Rio Tinto plc
- Tate & Lyle PLC
- Thames Water
- Song Capital
- Sainsbury’s
- I Squared Capital Advisers
- bp International Limited
- Rio Tinto PLC
- Centerbridge Capital Partners
- Anglo American
- Universities Superannuation Scheme
- Schroders
- Digital Bridge
- HSBC
- Cerberus European Investments LLC
- Platinum Ivy
Work highlights
Advising Anglo American on the defence of their $38bn takeover bid by BHP and the group’s ongoing structural reorganisation.
Advised Rio Tinto on its agreed acquisition of Arcadium Lithium for US$6.7bn.
Advising Thames Water, the largest provider of water and sewerage services in the UK, on their complex £22 billion balance sheet recapitalisation transaction.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Chris Smale
Other key lawyers
Lynne Walkington; Jamie Coomber; John Lindsay; Sam Lintonbon; Rhian Parker; Alexei Franks; Mark Brailsford; Philip Gilliland