Corporate and commercial
Advising on the complete life-cycle of mining matters, Bird & Bird LLP is highly sought-after among global mining companies and funds, investors, and emerging explorers. Owing to its established IP expertise, the firm works cross-practice to assist mining corporates on brand protection and licensing technologies, especially in the decarbonisation sector. The team is led by Clive Hopewell, a corporate finance specialist, Michael Dawes, an expert in equity capital markets matters and public and private M&A, especially within emerging markets, and Michael Rudd.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Profile
Work Department
Corporate Group
Position
Partner, Corporate
As a partner in our International Corporate Group based in London, I head up the International Capital Markets Practice across the firm.
I coordinate the capital markets practice worldwide and facilitate teams in the various offices where we have capital markets lawyers, to work closely together, share know how and look out for opportunities for each other and clients.
My own securities practice involves acting for institutions and issuers in respect of listings in London and elsewhere. I have extensive experience advising clients in a variety of sectors, with a particular emphasis on energy and utilities and technology and communications.
Career
I was admitted to practice as a solicitor in England and Wales in 1994 and during my 25 year career as a corporate lawyer, I have also experienced life as a regulator, as I spent two years as an adviser in the equity markets group of the London Stock Exchange (now known as the UK Listing Authority), where I gained valuable exposure and experience.
Between 2009 and 2013 I was head of Middle East at my previous firm and was a resident in the Kingdom of Bahrain. I built the office in Bahrain up to become the largest international law firm office in the country, with clients ranging from leading families to state institutions. My largest client win was the Central Bank of Bahrain, which appointed us as Administrator of Awal Bank, which has become the largest administration in the Middle East. The original $5bn portfolio of assets is being fought over in the courts throughout the world. I maintain a practice in the Gulf and work closely with my colleagues in Bird & Bird's Abu Dhabi and Dubai offices and I travel to the region regularly.
Today, I'm recognised as a leading lawyer by Chambers and Partners, Legal 500 and by Spear's, Europe's foremost wealth management publication.
Education
- Nottingham Law School
- University of Warwick, History
- The Law Society of England & Wales in 1994
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Sector knowledge and amazing delivery.'
'Michael Dawes - technically brilliant and very commercial.'
Key clients
- Panmure liberum Asiamet Resources Limited Rome Resources plc Cloudbreak Discovery plc Orosur Mining Inc Gemfields Group Barrick Gold Limited Anglo American (De Beers) Gemfields (Faberge) Centamin plc
Work highlights
Advised Panmure Gordon as Nominated Adviser, Sole Bookrunner and Broker on the AIM listing of European Green Transition plc.
Acted as English counsel to Canadian based Rome Resources Ltd. on its sale to AIM listed Pathfinder Minerals.
Advising a long-standing AIM listed client in relation to a fundraising comprising a subscription by its largest shareholder plus a retail offer to progress the development of its copper and gold projects in Indonesia.