Under the guidance of Katrina Buckley, A&O Shearman advises a varied mix of debtors, creditors, investors and officeholders as stakeholders in high-profile situations, running the gamut from formal insolvencies and restructurings at one end through to more transactional work at the other – including special situations and distressed M&A. As well as the core team’s deep substantive knowledge in the space, it is also noted for its ‘good connectivity across the firm’, both in terms of international resources (which have been enhanced in the US, in particular, post merger) and complementary practice areas (including litigation, corporate and finance), ensuring that it is able to provide a highly co-ordinated offering spanning geographies. A hallmark of the practice is also its ability to handle innovative, often first-in-market, situations, as was recently demonstrated by Nick Charlwood’s work alongside the Amsterdam team which involved the first-ever parallel Dutch WHOA and English scheme proceedings. Joel Ferguson and Nick Lister ‘are very knowledgeable, proactive and user friendly’, with the former leading a multi-disciplinary team alongside Buckley for a high-profile administration. Consultant Randal Weeks also has tremendous gravitas in the industry. The team was further strengthened by the hire of Karen McMaster from Milbank in April 2024.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'They are respectful, thoughtful, responsive and have an understanding of us as a client.'
  • 'Good connectivity across the firm, expert insight from each discipline, and really strong commercial understanding.'
  • 'Nick Lister and Joel Ferguson are very knowledgeable, proactive and user friendly.'

Key clients

  • The administrators of Greensill Capital (UK) Limited
  • Vroon Group
  • Kroll Agency and Trustee Services in respect of Steinhoff
  • Coordinating committee of creditors of Emirates Hospitals Group
  • Centerbridge Partners Sabre Corporation
  • RCF lenders to the Flint Group
  • Creditors to the Signa Group
  • Babylon Health
  • Creditors to Intu Plc
  • Vue International

Work highlights

Advising the administrators in connection with the administration of GCUK. The GCUK administration has been one of the most complex and highest profile insolvencies in recent years, being the subject of significant media attention and various parliamentary enquiries.
Advised the Vroon Group on its c.$1.5bn seven-year corporate and financial restructuring, ultimately implemented using the first-ever parallel Dutch WHOA and English scheme proceedings.
Advised the RCF lenders on the €1.3bn restructuring of the Flint Group, one of the world’s largest suppliers of printing inks.

Lawyers

Leading partners

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

Joel Ferguson
Randal Weeks

Next generation partners

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

Nick Charlwood
Nick Lister

Practice head

Katrina Buckley

Other key lawyers

Joel Ferguson; Tim Watson; Nick Lister; Nick Charlwood; Kathleen Wong; David Campbell; Randal Weeks; Hannah Valintine; Lucy Aconley