Mayer Brown International LLP is noted for its strong advisory work with financial institutions, with growing expertise in emerging areas such as ESG, debt-for-nature swaps, complex liability management transactions, and digital notes. The practice is jointly led by James Taylor, Robert Flanigan, and Peter Pears. Taylor advises on high-level capital markets transactions and co-leads the firm’s Turkish capital markets group, representing both major state-owned and private banks in Turkey. Flanigan brings particular expertise in the Spanish market, covering everything from high-profile benchmark issuances to green bonds and regulatory capital offerings; while Pears advises on a broad range of complex international deals, including Eurobonds, medium term notes, regulatory capital, and repackaging programmes.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'The DCM team at Mayer Brown in London is outstanding.'
  • 'Peter Pears is a real trusted advisor on all matters to do with DCM, including broader ESG and DEI related matters.'
  • 'Peter Pears has excellent market knowledge and technical know-how.'

Key clients

  • <p>AIIB</p>
  • <p>Bank of Nova Scotia</p>
  • <p>Barclays Bank</p>
  • <p>BMO Capital Markets</p>
  • <p>Canada Pension Plan Investment Board</p>
  • <p>CDPQ</p>
  • <p>Cemex</p>
  • <p>Citi</p>
  • <p>Credit Agricole</p>
  • <p>Desjardins Group</p>
  • <p>Fincantieri</p>
  • <p>Jefferies</p>
  • <p>Goldman Sachs</p>
  • <p>HSBC</p>
  • <p>IFC</p>
  • <p>ING</p>
  • <p>JP Morgan</p>
  • <p>National Bank of Canada</p>
  • <p>OMERS</p>
  • <p>Standard Chartered Bank</p>

Work highlights

Advised the United States International Development Finance Corporation, the US government’s international development bank, as political risk insurer in connection with a USD 1 billion financing for El Salvador for the repurchase of USD 1.031 billion of its outstanding bonds at discount from par.
Represented Desjardins Group across its international debt issuance programmes governed by Canadian, Swiss and New York law, including the update of its CAD 26 billion Global Covered Bond Programme, EUR 10 billion Global Medium Term Note Programme and AUD 3 billion Australian Debt Issuance Programme and the issue thereunder of CHF 230 million Senior Notes due Sep 2029; EUR 1 billion Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2026 and EUR 500 million Green Notes due 2029.
Advised Fibabanka on its debut additional Tier 1 transaction and tender offer for two tranches of outstanding Tier 2 bonds, highlighting the ability of the Mayer Brown, London team to flexibly manage and co-ordinate large public debt capital markets transactions for its clients.

Lawyers

Leading partners

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

Practice head

James Taylor; Robert Flanigan; Peter Pears