Travers Smith LLP regularly guides infrastructure funds, corporates, and financial institutions through the full spectrum of domestic and cross-border transactional matters, from joint ventures to M&A and investments. The practice is led by Jonathan Walters, who is an established port of call on both public and private M&A transactions. Spencer Summerfield, who retired from the partnership in June 2025 and remains as a senior consultant, is a key authority among clients from the digital infrastructure, energy, and industrials sectors. Ryan Ayrton specialises in infrastructure debt mandates, covering acquisition finance and portfolio refinancing transactions.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- Very knowledgeable, responsive, and with a pragmatic approach advising team.
- In our past deal, we worked with: - Jonathan Walters - Nick Brady - Melinda Krava We enjoyed the collaboration and their ability to propose solutions within complex structures. Additionally, we appreciated their capability to translate complex legal circumstances into commercial items relevant to our business and deal.
- The Travers team is able to find the balance between protecting their clients' interests and compromising to close a deal. Especially their availability, pragmatism, and speed in finding a solution made them the right partner for us in the past and future. I have and will continue to recommend Travers within my network.
- Hugh Hutchison was the partner in charge I worked with on a difficult transaction with a tight deadline to signing, which Hugh was able to get through. Being flexible in approach and reachable anytime was critical in getting the deal done within the timetable.
- Very experienced and proactive team – with a mindset for finding solutions. Timely delivery and open when it comes to two-way communication regarding the feedback. Usage of technology is good, communication is very good.
- Ryan Ayrton. He has provided very open, concrete, and effective advice on relatively complex financing and M&A-related processes. He is willing to be proactive in creating solutions and able to create an effective delivery process while keeping timelines.
Key clients
- Ancala Partners
- Macquarie Capital Principal Finance
- Arjun Infrastructure Partners
- Basalt Infrastructure Partners
- CVC DIF
- Gravis Capital Partners
- Infracapital
- Marshall Group
- NeXtWind
- Investec
- Wavenet Group
- RBS International
Work highlights
Advised Ancala Partners on the consolidation of its holding in Liverpool John Lennon Airport.
Advising Basalt Infrastructure Partners on the sale of Manx Telecom Group to a strategic partnership between CVC DIF and Jersey Telecom.
Advising Enviromena on an £825m senior portfolio financing package.
Lawyers
Hall of fame: Corporate M&A
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Practice head
Jonathan Walters
Other key lawyers
Spencer Summerfield; Ryan Ayrton; Mohammed Senouci