Baker McKenzie, ‘capable of comprehensively supporting global reorganisations across corporate legal, tax, compliance and regulatory specialties,’ has a longstanding reputation for handling high-value, high-profile, and complex international business reorganisations. The practice has a robust offering which spans carve-outs, post-acquisition integration projects, and group restructurings, as well as legal entity rationalisations, spin-off transactions, and supply chain reorganisations. With a wealth of expertise and cross-border transaction prowess, the department has amassed an extensive and expanding client roster comprised of notable names from an array of industry sectors, including tech, financial services, and media and entertainment. Emily Carlisle co-heads the team alongside Jo Hewitt and stands out for her aptitude for joint ventures, M&A, and integrations. Hewitt is sought after for her experience advising on carve-outs, holding company reorganisations, and pre-transaction restructuring. Charlotte Nolan was made partner in July 2024 and concentrates on the financial services and healthcare sectors. Other key contacts in the team include Kirsty Wilson, Rakesh Rathod, Christina Khoo, and Richard Needham.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The team provides exceptional service and is very knowledgeable and efficient. The team is extremely responsive, always providing commercially savvy solutions.’

  • ‘Rakesh Rathod is an exceptional corporate lawyer with a strong reputation for delivering pragmatic and commercially astute solutions. His ability to remain calm under pressure is invaluable in high-stakes negotiations, ensuring a strategic and composed approach to complex legal matters. His outstanding analytical skills and keen comprehension abilities make him a highly effective lawyer, consistently achieving excellent outcomes for his clients.’

  • ‘The Baker team impressed us with both their in-depth expertise and customer orientation. This partnership has been absolutely key to our ability to execute upon two highly complex international reorganisation projects with extremely ambitious, almost unprecedented, timelines. The team is fantastic in understanding and supporting the strategic priorities and driving solutions. It has been also outstanding in terms of support offered in terms of reporting, collaboration and responsiveness.’

  • ‘The team has offered a truly outstanding support and partnership - I would like to call out above all our fantastic partner Richard Needham, whose in-depth expertise and strategic focus are only matched by his professionalism. I would also like to provide special recognition to Christina Khoo and Ethan McIlroy - with a thank you for their outstanding support and focus on driving the project to a successful finish line.’

  • ‘Baker & McKenzie is a "one-stop" shop capable of comprehensively supporting global reorganisations across corporate legal, tax, compliance and regulatory specialties.’

  • ‘Highest level of professional expertise coupled with a client-first mentality.’

Key clients

  • 25*25
  • Accenture plc
  • Atos
  • Baker Hughes
  • Bristol Myers Squibb
  • Broadcom
  • Emerson
  • Equinix Inc.
  • Eutelsat
  • Illinois Tool Works
  • Intelsat
  • Johnson & Johnson

Work highlights

Advised the Eutelsat Group on its exclusive negotiations for the carve-out and partial sale of its passive ground segment infrastructure assets.

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.

Kirsty Wilson

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.

Leading associates

Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.

Practice head

Emily Carlisle; Jo Hewitt

Other key lawyers

Rakesh Rathod; Richard Needham; Christina Khoo; Ethan McIlroy; Sam McDonald; Kirsty Wilson; Charlotte Nolan