Well-regarded by clients for its ‘exceptional technical expertise, commercial acumen, and consistently high-quality execution on complex, high-value transactions’, Clifford Chance LLP advises an impressive roster of clients, including a number of FTSE 350 and Fortune 500 companies. The team handles a steady flow of UK and cross-border work, regularly acting on mergers, acquisitions, disposals, and public takeovers across sectors such as healthcare, media, telecoms, oil and gas, and banking. The team is led by Robert Crothers, whose practice focuses on advising UK-listed and global corporates on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and equity transactions, with particular experience in the consumer goods sector. Melissa Fogarty is a trusted adviser to corporates, tech companies, and financial institutions alike, known for her deft handling of multifaceted corporate matters, while Katherine Moir earns praise for her ability to balance ’technical precision with commercial pragmatism.’ Nigel Wellings brings standout expertise in the financial space, regularly steering clients through high-stakes transactions with a sharp commercial lens, and David Pudge remains the go-to adviser for public takeovers, governance, capital raisings, and IPOs, regularly advising corporates and investment banks. Rounding out the team, James Bole advises on a range of public M&A transactions, while Gareth Camp is recognised for his expertise in public offers, private M&A, and strategic exits.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘They are a first-class team who are responsive to our demands and requirements, available whenever needed, and always deliver commercially focused, practical advice to help us achieve our goals.'
‘In London, Steven Fox and Katherine Moir are particularly strong, with Katherine's public M&A knowledge being crucial in an on-market transaction. They have been ably supported by Liv Higgs for many years and it was no surprise that she has been promoted to the partnership.'
‘Clifford Chance’s M&A team stands out for its exceptional technical expertise, commercial acumen, and consistently high-quality execution on complex, high-value transactions. What sets the practice apart is its seamless integration across disciplines and geographies, which enables the team to provide truly end-to-end support on cross-border deals. Their ability to combine deep legal insight with a strategic understanding of our commercial objectives was instrumental to the success of our recent transaction.'
- 'The team demonstrates a strong commitment to collaboration - both internally and with us as the client - which fosters a sense of trust and confidence. They are highly responsive, pragmatic, and solutions-oriented, often anticipating issues before they arise and proposing practical, business-focused resolutions. The Clifford Chance team also stands out for its clarity of communication, even on highly technical matters, which makes working with them particularly efficient.'
- 'Compared to other firms we have worked with, Clifford Chance has consistently demonstrated a level of consistency, reliability, and client focus that places them at the top of the market for premium M&A deals.’
- ‘Very pragmatic and solution-oriented team, able to effectively manage various internal and external stakeholders at the same time. The team was able to very effectively support us during the toughest moments of the process, always coming up with actionable solutions.’
‘The individuals we worked with at Clifford Chance were outstanding in every respect, consistently demonstrating deep expertise, sound judgment, and an impressive level of dedication. What sets them apart from competitors is their ability to combine top-tier legal knowledge with a strong commercial instinct, all while remaining approachable, responsive, and genuinely collaborative.'
- 'Katherine Moir, as lead partner, was exceptional. She provided clear strategic direction throughout the transaction, balancing technical precision with commercial pragmatism. Katherine has a calm and assured presence, which was particularly valuable in navigating complex or time-sensitive moments. Her ability to distill issues and drive consensus among stakeholders was a key factor in the smooth execution of the deal.'
- 'A fantastic M&A team with the ability to handle the most complex international deals. They have breadth in the team across jurisdictions, which makes them highly capable in multi-jurisdictional deals.'
- 'Melissa Fogarty and Alanna Hunter are must-go-to M&A lawyers for complex transactions.'
Key clients
- Schibsted
- Harbour Energy
- Avolon
- Aviva
- S&P Global
- Cellnex Telecom
- Virgin Money
- Saipem
- Informa
- ENI
- Recursion Pharmaceuticals
- Medlog / MSC
- ED&F Man
- SIX Group
- Arix Bioscience
- Navantia
- THG
- Citi
- HSBC
- Shell
Work highlights
Advised Schibsted in connection with a successful $14 billion voluntary tender offer led by a consortium of financial investors, including Permira and Blackstone, to acquire all outstanding ordinary Class A shares in Adevinta, an online classified business listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange.
Advised Harbour Energy on the acquisition of a portfolio of assets belonging to natural gas and oil company Wintershall Dea from BASF and LetterOne.
Advising Aviva plc on its recommended cash and share takeover offer for Direct Line Insurance Group plc.
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.
James Bole
Practice head
Rob Crothers
Other key lawyers
Melissa Fogarty; Nigel Wellings; Katherine Moir; Steven Fox; David Pudge; Gareth Camp; Nick Spurrell; James Bole; Dominic Ross; Caoimhín Eastwood; Alanna Hunter; Richard Crosby; Nicholas Rees