Linklaters LLP

With strength-in-depth at all levels of seniority and also able to draw from the expertise of market leading practitioners across complementary practice areas, both domestically and internationally, Linklaters LLP has the critical mass and resources to be able to advise on many of the largest and most complex mandates in the domestic and international market. The sheer size of the team ensures it can cover the panoply of situations, running the gamut from fund-related special situations and consensual balance sheet restructurings through to formal insolvencies, for an eclectic roster of clients across both the debtor and creditor front. ‘Technically strong’ practitioner Richard Hodgson has a very good reputation among IPs, which are appreciative of his ability to ’find commercial solutions’, as well as for debtors, including his pivotal role for Thames Water on its complex headline-grabbing restructuring. The ‘exceptional’ Nick Le Masurier, who co-heads the team alongside Hodgson, has more of a creditor/investor focus and excels in providing ’commercially minded advice’ to banks and funds in complex situations involving multiple stakeholders. The ‘first-rate’ Matthew Harding is very skilled at handling debtor and IP work, including within heavily regulated industries such as energy and financial services. Other key contacts include James Warboys, co-lead on the Thames Water restructuring plan, who is adept at handling work for funds; fellow Thames Water co-lead, the highly experienced Rebecca Jarvis, who handles restructuring work in her role as global co-head of the overarching banking team; contentious insolvency expert Euan Clarke, who led on the challenges to Thames Water’s restructuring plan; and ’rising star’ Max Krasner. Recent arrivals include Mei Lian, noted for her skill in injecting new capital into stressed situations to realise value for funds clients, in particular.