Department profile
A&O Shearman

Restructuring/Insolvency

UK Guide 2026 : London (Firms)

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A&O Shearman

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Restructuring/Insolvency - London (Firms)

Band 2

What the Team is Known For

A&O Shearman enjoys an excellent reputation for its work on large-scale restructurings. Its client base is varied and includes lenders, corporate borrowers and insolvency practitioners, among others. The firm's international network allows it to advise on multi-jurisdictional deals, and the London-based team is able to leverage that footprint when advising clients.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • A&O Shearman advised Vue International on its second debt restructuring.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • A&O have the ability to provide technical insolvency and restructuring advice across multiple jurisdictions, challenging the assumptions of all stakeholders in order to deliver an optimal outcome.

    Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK

  • A&O have consistently high quality of partners and associates and the ability to draw on other service lines. They have the ability to advise beyond the purely legal.

    Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK

  • I felt very, very confident having them at the wheel. With any other law firm I would've been more nervous, but I knew A&O would make us as protected as we possibly could be.

    Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Katrina Buckley
    Katrina Buckley

    Katrina Buckley

    Katrina Buckley is global co-head of restructuring at A&O Shearman. She advises on high-profile insolvencies and restructurings for a global client base. Buckley represents a range of clients including funds, corporates and financial institutions.

    • Katrina is very calm and a leader.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK
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  • Karen McMaster
    Karen McMaster

    Karen McMaster

    Karen McMaster is regularly sought out by corporates and lenders to handle contentious restructurings and special situations, including those with multi-jurisdictional elements.

    • Karen is very thoughtful, she thinks everything through very carefully, and if you've got a complicated situation she's caught the issue and raised it. She made sure we were as protected as possible.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK
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  • Tim Watson
    Tim Watson

    Tim Watson

    Tim Watson advises on both domestic and cross-border restructurings and distressed transactions. He is noted for his strength advising investment funds and alternative asset managers.

    • Tim is an exceptional lawyer who sees legal and commercial issues. He knows what a client wants and provides strong, well thought through advice.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK

    • Tim is very diligent, knowledgeable and a very safe pair of hands. He had great attention to detail, was extremely responsive and understood what we were focused on.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK
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  • Nick Lister
    Nick Lister

    Nick Lister

    Nick Lister has an established restructuring and insolvency practice, representing lenders and creditors in refinancings and restructurings.

    • Nick navigates very complex, rapidly changing situations and still provides on-point advice every time. He gives commercial advice in a cool, calm, charismatic manner. He's incredibly impressive.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK

    • Nick is probably the one I go to for restructuring matters, especially for structured finance. He is very good - supportive and super engaged. You know you have the full package with him.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK
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Ranked Individuals at A&O Shearman (4)

London (Firms)

A&O Shearman has rankings in the following guides

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