A&O Shearman is widely recognised for its top-tier international debt capital markets team. The firm advises issuers and underwriters in major financial centres worldwide on the full range of debt capital market transactions, both public and private. Their expertise spans debt programmes, regulatory and hybrid capital, equity-linked instruments, private placements, Islamic finance structures, and sustainable capital markets products. Practice leader Tom Grant assists on bond issuances by financial institutions, corporates, and sovereigns, and has significant experience in raising regulatory capital. The ‘excellent’ Theo Trayhurn acts for issuers across the UK and Nordic regions, while Jamie Durham focuses on standalone bond issuances, programme updates and drawdowns, as well as liability management transactions. Daniel Fletcher specialises in raising and refinancing regulatory capital for banks, building societies, and insurance companies, and Peter Crossan brings broad expertise across a wide range of transactions, including senior and subordinated bonds, asset-backed securities, and EMTN programmes. Andew Enga is noted for his focus on liability management, with recent engagements including high-value issues for real estate investment trusts and global investment banks.Evangelia Andronikou is also a valued member of the team. Jonathan Melton has recently retired.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Theo Trayhurn and his team have superb legal skills which they combine with being very pragmatic, solutions-oriented. They work really well together as a team. Theo is an excellent sparring partner and is very good at drafting technical provisions. His two senior associates, Louise Mitchell and David Brian, are the ones we interact with the most on a daily basis, and they are both extremely competent and valuable members of Theo's team.'
'Despite being on the larger side of DCM practice groups, consistency remains across the board in the provision of extremely high quality work, care and attention. This creates a strong sense of trust and reliability.'
'Every lawyer comes across well. There is deep sector, product and market knowledge, and the group seems to always be involved in leading conversations and the direction of new laws, regulations or market practice.'
'The group is consistently professional in how they communicate and conduct themselves. Their responses are well considered and the approach is always very client centric in a way that is not as consistent in other firms.'
'This theme of consistency in high quality and standard is really the stand-out USP of the firm.'
'The A&O Shearman Debt Capital Markets team provide strong and reliable service to clients. Knowledgeable, responsive and reliable across the team.'
Work highlights
Advised a syndicate of joint lead managers on the issue of €500m Restricted Tier 1 Notes by Fidelidade, a Portuguese insurance company.
Advised the joint lead managers and the agent on the inaugural issuance of USD$300m 4.000 per cent. digitally native notes due 2027 by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) on the Digital Financial Market infrastructure (the D-FMI) platform.
We advised the Republic of South Africa on a dual tranche 144A/Reg S bond offering, totalling USD$3.5bn.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Jamie Durham
Daniel Fletcher
Tom Grant
Theo Trayhurn
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Evangelia Andronikou
Practice head
Tom Grant
Other key lawyers
Peter Crossan; Jamie Durham; Daniel Fletcher; Theo Trayhurn; Andrew Enga; Evangelia Andronikou; Louise Mitchell; David Brian