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Freshfields

Corporate/M&A: £800 million and above

UK Guide 2026 : London (Firms)

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Freshfields

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Mergers and acquisitions | Freshfields

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Corporate/M&A: £800 million and above - London (Firms)

Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Freshfields houses a heavyweight M&A practice with a proven track record in complex domestic and cross-border transactions, calling upon a strong roster of expert transactional lawyers with deep experience in the field. It is considered the first port of call for a distinguished and international client base in industries, including telecommunications, oil and gas, and food and drink. The firm has a strong presence around the world.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Freshfields advised GXO Logistics on its all-cash recommended public takeover offer for the entire issued share capital of Wincanton.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Freshfields provides an exceptional service across multiple sectors and is perfect for high-value deal support and strategic advice.

    Corporate/M&A: £800 million and above respondentUK

  • The Freshields team has excellent strength in depth, which enables it to be highly responsive and cover a lot of ground.

    Corporate/M&A: £800 million and above respondentUK

  • The team at Freshfields is calm, in control and all over the details.

    Corporate/M&A: £800 million and above respondentUK

  • The firm is able to advise in a pragmatic, commercially-focused manner and displays a level of proactivity that is unmatched.

    Corporate/M&A: £800 million and above respondentUK

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Julian Long
    Julian Long

    Julian Long

    Julian Long enjoys a formidable reputation for his experience of handling transformational corporate transactions for a clientele of leading blue-chip companies. He also offers high-quality strategic advice to senior figures within top corporates.

    • Julian has strong a understanding of our business.

      Corporate/M&A: £800 million and above respondentUK
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  • Claire Wills
    Claire Wills

    Claire Wills

    Claire Wills is sought after by major corporate and financial services clients owing to her foremost capabilities in sophisticated, transformational M&A deals.

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  • Piers Prichard Jones
    Piers Prichard Jones

    Piers Prichard Jones

    Piers Prichard Jones maintains a highly rated corporate practice that incorporates strength in heavyweight domestic and cross-border M&A. He is also chair of the firm’s board, and offers additional counsel in activism situations and corporate governance matters.

    • Piers is well-respected and very commercial.

      Corporate/M&A: £800 million and above respondentUK

    • Piers is always available and very dedicated.

      Corporate/M&A: £800 million and above respondentUK

    • Piers is exceptional.

      Corporate/M&A: £800 million and above respondentUK
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  • Jennifer Bethlehem
    Jennifer Bethlehem

    Jennifer Bethlehem

    Jennifer Bethlehem impresses with her adroit handling of domestic and cross-border M&A. She heads the firm's consumer and healthcare practice globally.

    • Jennifer is an excellent lawyer.

      Corporate/M&A: £800 million and above respondentUK

    • Jennifer is outstanding.

      Corporate/M&A: £800 million and above respondentUK
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  • Andrew Hutchings
    Andrew Hutchings

    Andrew Hutchings

    Andrew Hutchings exhibits strength in M&A across a variety of sectors, including consumer products, infrastructure and financial services. His practice is broad in its international scope, and he services a clientele of corporates and investment funds. He is also co-head of the firm's global M&A practice.

    • He can be relied upon to deliver and to pull together the right team for success.

      Corporate/M&A: £800 million and above respondentUK

    • Andrew is incredibly responsive and efficiently mobilises the team.

      Corporate/M&A: £800 million and above respondentUK

    • Andrew is sensational and great to work with.

      Corporate/M&A: £800 million and above respondentUK
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  • Oliver Lazenby
    Oliver Lazenby

    Oliver Lazenby

    Oliver Lazenby offers clients strong counsel on public and private M&A, covering a broad suite of industry sectors, including financial services, retail and gaming. He is able to provide further expertise in capital markets transactions and corporate governance matters.

    • Oliver is an excellent lawyer.

      Corporate/M&A: £800 million and above respondentUK

    • Oliver is great at getting straight to the heart of the issue.

      Corporate/M&A: £800 million and above respondentUK

    • He is very collaborative and commercial.

      Corporate/M&A: £800 million and above respondentUK
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  • Ziyad Nassif
    Ziyad Nassif

    Ziyad Nassif

    Ziyad Nassif is a promising young partner who regularly advises on complex cross-border transactions. He boasts expertise across a range of sectors with a notable focus in the technology space.

    • Ziyad is very precise and has business acumen.

      Corporate/M&A: £800 million and above respondentUK

    • Ziyad is very responsive. He can always be relied on to steer the transaction towards the best outcome for the client.

      Corporate/M&A: £800 million and above respondentUK

    • Ziyad is a very knowledgeable practitioner.

      Corporate/M&A: £800 million and above respondentUK
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Ranked Individuals at Freshfields (7)

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