LAWYER PROFILE

Melissa Coakley

UK 2026

Sidley Austin LLP

Ranked in 1 practice area

Restructuring/Insolvency

London (Firms)

5 years ranked

About

Provided by Sidley Austin LLP

Practice Areas

Melissa Coakley leads the London Restructuring and Insolvency team. Melissa advises a broad spectrum of stakeholders on consensual and non-consensual cross border and domestic restructurings, work outs, reorganisations and formal insolvencies.

Melissa's commercialism, high level of technical knowledge and strategic thinking has seen her acting across sectors (including infrastructure, retail, transport, telecommunications, manufacturing, oil and gas, financial services, commodities), across geographies, engaging with differing regulatory environments and legal systems (including 5 years spent on secondment in the Middle East), and for a wide variety of stakeholders: corporate borrowers, funds, banks, insolvency officeholders, government, private equity sponsors and material trade creditors.

Career

University of Newcastle Upon Tyne (LLB) 2001

Joined Clifford Chance 2003

Admitted as a solicitor in England & Wales 2005

Secondment to Bank of England 2007

Secondment to Clifford Chance Dubai 2010-2015

Partner since 2020

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession

Restructuring/Insolvency - London (Firms)

Band 4

Individual Editorial

Melissa Coakley is respected for her ability to advise on complex cross-border restructurings. She is experienced in acting for both creditors and debtors.

View ranking table

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Melissa is a superstar. She is super commercial and amazing to work with. She completely gets it. She's five steps ahead all the time and understands what the clients want.
Restructuring/InsolvencyChambers Guide to the Legal Profession
Melissa is a very, very strong lawyer. She is very commercial and knowledgeable.
Restructuring/InsolvencyChambers Guide to the Legal Profession
Melissa is an outstanding and pragmatic lawyer.
Restructuring/InsolvencyChambers Guide to the Legal Profession
Melissa is really hard-working and is able to give complex solutions under pressure and in a short time.
Restructuring/InsolvencyChambers Guide to the Legal Profession