Investing In
United Kingdom
20 August 2025
Fieldfisher’s cross-departmental mining team advises companies and their funders on a range of mining matters, with particular strengths in mining finance. With a strong international reach, it represents its clients in a range of jurisdictions, with clients particularly well-represented in Europe, Africa and the CIS region. Melanie Talbot and Oliver Abel Smith jointly head the team. Talbot specialises in flotations, fundraisings, and takeovers for both UK and international listed companies. Smith has expertise in asset, acquisition, real estate, commodity, and trade finance, experienced in advising financial institutions, sponsors, corporations and investment managers.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The individuals are knowledgeable and always willing to discuss options.'
‘The team we have worked with at Fieldfisher have proven to be experts who are highly experienced across various practice areas, and fluent in multiple languages. This makes the firm stand out from a plethora of other legal advisors.'
- 'The operation of our business often involves transactions with complex multi-jurisdictional legal aspects, as well as political elements. They always provide advice with very practical and outlined deep commercial understanding of the nature of our business.’
‘Edward Westhead is a market expert and is extremely responsive. He is pragmatic and sensible in his approach.’
'Market experts and a partner-led service.'
Key clients
- Africa Finance Corporation
- African Lion Gold plc
- Amalgamated Metal Corporation plc
- Amur Minerals Corporation
- Atalaya Mining plc
- Beowulf Mining plc
- Blue Gold International
- Central Asia Metals plc
- CleanTech Lithium plc
- Copperzone Resources Ltd.
Work highlights
Advised SigmaRoc on its £200 million equity fundraising, reverse takeover and re-admission to London's AIM Market in connection with its acquisition of the European lime and limestone businesses of CRH plc.
Secured a victory for ENRC in a decade-long investigation and further comprehensive representations made on the company's behalf, with the SFO finally accepting there was insufficient evidence to prosecute.
Advised Kodal Minerals plc on a US$117.75 million funding package from Chinese listed Hanan Mining to facilitate the development of Kodal's Bougouni Lithium Project in Mali through to first production.
Practice head
Melanie Talbot; Oliver Abel Smith
Other key lawyers
Dominic Gurney-Champion; Edward Westhead