Despite the departure of Liz Osborne in September 2024, the ‘outstanding’ team at Akin remains a powerhouse in the market as a result of its deep traction among funds and its involvement in many of the highest-profile cross-border restructurings for bondholder committees. The ’energetic and creative’ James Terry is very skilled at handling large ad-hoc creditor committee work, while also remaining a clear market leader for Norwegian and other Scandinavian restructurings in the offshore, oil and gas and shipping sectors. Emma Simmonds is adept at advising both primary and secondary credit investors, including insurance companies, credit funds and hedge funds, on both stressed and distressed situations, where she excels in realising maximising returns for stakeholders in challenging circumstances. Jacquie Ingram excels in ‘coming up with creative solutions’ on behalf of par and secondary investors, and is particularly effective advising on special situations financings, bringing a restructuring lens to lending transactions. The ’erudite, careful and thoughtful’ Tom Bannister regularly advises institutional and distressed investors on cross-border financial workouts and restructurings. The vastly experienced Barry Russell, who ‘knows how to manage large groups of creditors with varying interests and priorities', co-heads the team alongside Terry.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'It is an outstanding restructuring practice for creditors' side work in London and the US.'
  • 'They are all exceptionally technically adept and calm under pressure.'
  • 'Cross-functional, solid and tailored/creative advice - a practice in which one can truly trust to cover all angles and work towards its clients' best possible outcome.'
  • 'Barry Russell - the leading practitioner in this area in London, he is able to convene lawyers, banks, financial advisors and to lead them all to a deal.'
  • 'Barry Russell is the consummate "deal guy." He knows how to manage large groups of creditors with varying interests and priorities, and is well-connected in the financial advisory community.'
  • 'James Terry is very experienced and is one of the best senior partners in the London market to run big ad-hoc groups of creditors in restructuring situations.'

Work highlights

Secured a ground-breaking victory for the appellant ad-hoc group of noteholders in challenging Adler's €6.1 billion restructuring plan.  
As lead international counsel, advised an ad hoc committee of lenders which held a significant portion of the outstanding financial liabilities of Oi, a Brazilian telecommunications company with total debts of approximately $4.3bn.
Representing the ad hoc group of creditors to the Digicel Group.

Lawyers

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Leading partners

The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

Barry Russell; James Terry

Other key lawyers

Tom Bannister; Sam Brodie; Jacquie Ingram; Emma Simmonds; Emma Butler; Hermione Allen; Jakeob Brown; Carone Huang; Caiomhe Kennedy; Ross Macgregor; Michael Panayi