Capital Markets: Debt
Europe Guide 2024 : UK
Band 4
Contact number
+44 20 7374 8000Chambers Review
Herbert Smith Freehills is frequently engaged by issuers and deal managers on debt and equity matters in the UK. The team has additional experience in international deals, including those in emerging markets. Specific expertise includes private placements, equity-linked transactions and EMTN programmes. Notably, the firm also has a significant track record in UK IPOs and equity deals undertaken within the context of refinancings or restructurings.
Work Highlights
- Herbert Smith Freehills advised New Energy One Acquisition Corporation in its £175 million SPAC listing on the LSE, sponsored by LiveStream and Eni International.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Herbert Smith has shown a strong ability to handle complex engagements and is extremely responsive with a very strong dedication to service."
"Their team was able to clearly and concisely articulate complex legal concepts, ensuring that we fully understood the implications of our decisions."
"Herbert Smith Freehills are a safe set of hands for complex matters with a good breadth of experience across the UK main market."
"Herbert Smith has shown a strong ability to handle complex engagements and is extremely responsive with a very strong dedication to service."
"Their team was able to clearly and concisely articulate complex legal concepts, ensuring that we fully understood the implications of our decisions."
"Herbert Smith Freehills are a safe set of hands for complex matters with a good breadth of experience across the UK main market."
Notable Practitioners
Amy Geddes is a frequent choice for banks and issuers on debt financing across the euro, dollar and sterling markets. She is head of the Herbert Smith Freehills DCM team and comes highly recommended for her ability to coordinate work on complex, high-value transactions.
"Amy provides great support to the team and is very easy to work with."
"Amy showed exceptional legal expertise, attention to detail, and professionalism throughout the entire process."
Tom O'Neill is head of US securities at Herbert Smith Freehills and co-head of its equity capital markets team. He is respected for his work on dollar-denominated transactions for European banks and issuers.
"Tom is highly technical, very diligent, and always available. He is a true deal partner and he's willing to ask the tough questions to get to the right outcome."
"He is an excellent lawyer who has a firm grasp on technical matters."
"Tom is brilliant: he's incredibly knowledgeable in both legal and commercial terms."
Michael Jacobs acts as co-head of HSF's UK equity capital markets team and is recognised for his work on IPOs. He regularly assists his clients in cross-border matters and is also a qualified practitioner in Hong Kong.
"Michael is a very reliable individual who gives commercial advice to the highest standard and assists in drawing logical and considered conclusions."
"Michael is very much involved throughout the deal, he is a very assured and capable ECM lawyer."
"Michael has great judgement, is unflappable and consistently provides quality advice."