Leveraging the firm’s blue riband roster of listed corporate clients, Slaughter and May continues to receive a high proportion of its restructuring-related instructions for debtors, where it is able to provide ‘pragmatic solutions that reflect the commercial circumstances’. Much of this recent work has been in relation to conducting liability management exercises, as a number of these clients are facing impending debt maturity dates. ’Creative and thoughtful’ team head Ian Johnson is key to the firm’s success on the company side, and as well as handling more transactional-centred matters also excels at gaining the best results for clients through the effective use of restructuring tools, including for UK-headquartered businesses seeking to access Chapter 11 US protection. Claire Cooke has been key to the firm’s liability management work, as has the ‘technically skilled and very commercial’ Tim Newey, while a growing funds offering includes Edward Couzens, who brings added insight through his secondment at a hedge fund.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Slaughter and May has an outstanding restructuring practice that can handle "bet the company" matters.'
- 'The firm has a particular expertise in cross-border matters, and a keen understanding of the available restructuring frameworks.'
- 'The team displays a thorough and detailed analysis of problems, providing pragmatic solutions that reflect the commercial circumstances. They are always willing to look at things innovatively, with unique approaches, even when there are not many obvious precedents.'
- 'The exceptional Ian Johnson gets outstanding results for his clients, and is great to work with. He is creative and thoughtful in developing a solution to a problem, and equally measured and tenacious in achieving that solution.'
- 'Tim Newey has an excellent balance of being both highly technically skilled, but also being very commercial. He understands differing stakeholder dynamics, and I find he is quick thinking at resolving potential problems.'
Key clients
- Natura &Co Holding
- Ocado Group
- ASOS plc
- Abra Group Limited
- Certain Class A creditors of Thames Water
- Videndum plc
- Directors of MGT Teesside & Chaptre Finance
- AlixPartners UK LLP (as administrators of Cineworld Group plc)
Work highlights
Advised Natura as former shareholder and major creditor and supplier, in connection with the administration of The Body Shop.
Advising certain funds in relation to Thames Water’s high-profile and complex restructuring.
Advised Abra, the majority investor of GOL Airlines (a Brazilian low-cost airline) and Avianca (a leading Latin American airline), on a highly complex liability management exercise.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Ian Johnson
Other key lawyers
Claire Cooke; Tim Newey; Ed Couzens; Evelyn Fleming; Kelly Joseph