Magic Circle heavyweight Freshfields is well-versed at advising a private equity sponsor-focused client base on their financing needs, utilising financial products throughout the capital structure, from large-cap TLB and unitranche solutions to holdco PIK notes and bespoke preferred-equity instruments. Alex Mitchell and the ‘technical and commercial’ Aled Batey co-head the team, with both excelling in handling deals throughout Europe, including for core clients Cinven and CVC. Carol Van der Vorst is also a key member of the team for sponsors on large and mid-cap transactions, providing added insight from her previous role as Managing Director in the leverage finance execution team at Goldman Sachs.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘The depth and quality of the Freshfields team from senior partners to the associate pool is extremely high quality. We are consistently surprised by the depth and breadth of the team's capabilities and the commercial value-add they bring.’
‘Aled Batey is at the very top tier of debt lawyers and has an exceptional level of technical and commercial knowledge across all the core debt products and is a real pleasure to work with.'
Key clients
- AEA
- Astorg
- Cinven
- Charterhouse
- Corten Capital
- CVC Capital Partners
- EQT
- GIC
- Hellman & Friedman
- OTPP
- Permira
- Warburg Pincus
- Vitruvian
- AutoScout24
- Lloyd’s Register Group
- Fressnapf
- Miller Insurance
- SumUp
- TMF Group
Work highlights
Advised Cinven on the highly complex and innovative financing package supporting its successful bid to make a majority investment in Grant Thornton UK.
Advised Hellman & Friedman and AutoScout24 on the €3.6bn debt financing established in connection with its acquisition of the Canadian business TRADER Corporation and the auto TRADER business from Thoma Bravo.
Advised CVC on the financing for its acquisition of World of Talents NV, an international platform of HR companies specialising in talent management and high demand roles for skilled professions.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Carol Van der Vorst
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Aled Batey
Practice head
Alex Mitchell; Aled Batey
Other key lawyers
Carol Van der Vorst; Toby Bingley; Richard Daniels; Kate Hatcher