Linklaters LLP remains a market-leading destination for domestic and international IPOs and secondary offerings, direct listings, private placements, and SPAC transactions, with both bank and issuer clients relying on the team’s deep-seated transactional and regulatory expertise. Having recently acted on several of the largest recent and ongoing UK IPOs, including those of CAB Payments and Raspberry Pi, the practice also serves as key point of contact for high-value infrastructure privatisations and IPOs on European and Middle Eastern exchanges. Jason Manketo is a key contact for international IPOs and de-SPACs along with Pam Shores, who additionally handles rights issues and block trade transactions for blue-chip clients. Shores co-heads the practice with James Wootton, whose practice encompasses ECM work as well as private and public M&A. Further key contacts include US securities expert Mike Bienenfeld as well as Asad Ahmed and Tom Thorne, who handle a diverse array of equities transactions. Former practice co-head John Lane has now retired, while Richard Spedding joined from Travers Smith LLP.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘I have experienced personal initiative and out-of-the-box-thinking from the this team, which distinguishes them from a lot of competitors.’
‘Tom Thorne is not only professionally excellent and always available, but also very pleasant to work with.’
‘Linklaters is my go-to firm for large equity capital markets transactions, particularly where the particular transaction has a great degree of complexity. They handle large transactions with ease and ensure that they are executed smoothly.’
‘Tom Thorne is the best ECM practitioner in London. He is the first person I call when I have a tricky issue to work through. His ability to provide considered advice at short notice in relation to difficult issues is second to none.'
'Pam Shores is an absolute pleasure to work with. She is unafraid to manage and challenge clients where necessary, but all her advice is delivered with good humour.’
‘Tom Thorne is an excellent lawyer and a go to person for helping to quantify risk for in-house lawyers. He is commercial, but technically very strong. Pam Shores is a very human, approachable US lawyer. She is a great role model and excellent at what she does.’
‘Exceptional partners with fabulous capacity to handle any project.’
‘Pam Shores and Tom Thorne are two fabulous partners. They have a wealth of experience that they bring as value-add to every engagement.’
Key clients
- Abraj Energy Services SAOG
- OQ group
- Fondul Proprietatea S.A.
- AviAlliance GmbH
- Rothschild & Co
- Metro Bank plc
- Metro Bank Holdings plc
- Yellow Cake
- NatWest Group
- Qatar Investment Authority
Work highlights
- Advised the underwriters on the £850m IPO of CAB Payments.
- Advised AviAlliance GmbH in connection with the privatisation and IPO of Athens International Airport on the Athens Stock Exchange.
- Advised Abraj Energy Services and OQ as selling shareholder on the £195m partial privatisation by way of IPO of Abraj.
Lawyers
Hall of fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next generation partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Tom Thorne
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Asad Ahmed
Practice head
Pam Shores; James Wootton
Other key lawyers
Mike Bienenfeld; Jason Manketo; Tom Thorne; Asad Ahmed; Richard Spedding