Linklaters LLP‘s rail practice combines sector knowledge with full‑service corporate and finance capability. In conjunction with taking on advisory roles on major projects, the team is capable of advising on the full gamut of rail-related transactions and agreements, such as rolling stock, real estate, construction, and franchising. Clients, ranging from government bodies and regulators to sponsors, lenders and rolling‑stock companies, also engage the firm’s corporate and restructuring teams on transport‑sector M&A and innovative financing structures, drawing on experience from wider transactional and infrastructure teams in the firm. Fiona Hobbs and Charlotte Morgan are leads for the team’s relationship with the Department of Transport panel, and have vast experience working closely with both private and public bodies. Counsel Rasha Sami, who sits in the Energy and Infrastructure team, focuses her practice on rail matters and has worked on various matters involving M&A of UK and international rail assets. Karen Clarke is also noted.
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Key clients
- UK Department for Transport (“DfT”)
- HS1 Limited and group companies
- Eurostar Group SA
- VTG GmbH
- Arsenale S.p.A.
Work highlights
Advised the HS1 group as a panel firm for many years on mandates ranging from those relating to the Concession Agreement and commercial contracts, acquisitions and disposals, regulatory matters and strategic corporate matters.
Advised Arsenale S.p.A. on a luxury touristic train cruise project which will operate in the UAE on Etihad Rail’s railway network. This project involves Arsenale procuring a bespoke, luxury train to deliver the train cruise services.
Advised a syndicate of 13 lenders in respect of a €750m financing for Eurostar Group, the railway company operating high-speed train services between the UK, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
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
Fiona Hobbs; Charlotte Morgan
Other key lawyers
Rasha Sami; Karen Clarke