Implementing a 'collaborative approach' to work in the space, across both practice areas and international offices, Clifford Chance LLP remains very well-positioned to advise creditors and debtors on complex domestic and cross-border restructurings and insolvencies across a broad swathe of industry sectors. This multi-disciplinary approach was recently underscored by John MacLennan's high-profile work, alongside the firm's market-leading asset finance practice, for a leading airline lessor on a cross-border restructuring. On the creditor front, although the team has continued to develop its funds offering, it remains particularly well-placed to advise banks (including where it papered the original loan documentation) on complex debt restructurings, with 'skilled negotiator' Iain White acting for revolving credit facility (RCF) lenders. Team head Philip Hertz is well-versed at handling both transactional work in the space, including distressed M&A, and more formal insolvency techniques, including schemes of arrangement. David Towers and Melissa Coakley's broad-ranging prowess includes core focuses on South African and Middle Eastern situations respectively.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'They provide a collaborative approach between teams, across all work products and call discussions.'
  • 'Iain White has provided real contribution to our strategic positioning from time to time. He is a skilled negotiator and encourages his clients to focus on the salient points on which to focus in a staged manner.'
  • 'John MacLennan, David Towers and Iain White are approachable, easy to work with, provide an exceptional work product and are market leaders.'

Key clients

  • AerCap
  • African Development Bank
  • Agence Française de Développement
  • All Blue Capital
  • Bank of Ireland
  • BioCity Development Company B.V.
  • Cinven
  • Codere
  • Communisis Limited
  • David Soden and Ian Wormleighton of Teneo as liquidators of ES Bankers (Dubai) Limited

Work highlights

  • Advised Link Fund Solutions Ltd on its high-profile scheme of arrangement, that will see it pay redress to c. 250,000 investors in the LF Equity Income Fund and ultimately wind down its business on a solvent basis.
  • Advised the RCF, guarantee finance and merchant services providers to ASOS plc in relation to its 2022 and 2023 restructuring, and their ultimate par repayment.
  • Advised leading airline lessor AerCap as a creditor on a highly complex and novel cross-border debt restructuring of Azul, the largest airline in Brazil in terms of departures and cities served, occurring against the backdrop of recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lawyers

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Leading partners

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Next generation partners

Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.

Melissa Coakley

Practice head

Philip Hertz

Other key lawyers

John MacLennan; Iain White; David Towers; Melissa Coakley; Tim Lees; Lewis Cymbal; Christopher Norman