Banking & Finance: Big-Ticket | UK

UK regional managing partner Michael Bates is recognised as one of the foremost experts in infrastructure financing matters. He also comes highly recommended for his expertise when acting for corporate borrowers and bank lenders.

Robert Lee is the global practice area leader for finance at the firm. His broad finance practice spans cross-border M&A, corporate lending and fund finance matters, among others.

"Stephen Kensell is the best leveraged finance guy in the market and the person I call for the most complicated deals. He gets the interesting, complicated or novel matters because he has years of experience; he can read any and all situations to give excellent legal and commercial advice."

Stephen Lucas acts as a member of Kirkland's executive committee. He maintains an excellent reputation for his expert representation of sponsors in structured and leveraged finance matters. He is regarded as a go-to for major private equity houses to advise on complex matters.

Co-head of the firm's global leveraged finance group, Denise Gibson has a respected practice advising on a range of financings, regularly assisting with particularly complex deal structures. She is especially versed in handling lender-side mandates, with ample experience advising traditional as well as direct lenders on high-value international transactions.

Dominic Newcomb is regarded as a premier choice for prominent sponsor clients. His practice regularly involves acting on a number of high-value domestic and international debt financings.

Ian Barratt continues to be regarded as one of the premier choices for sponsor-side representation. He is frequently instructed by leading private equity clients to advise on leveraged acquisition finance matters and is well versed in cross-border transactions.

Jayanthi Sadanandan is a highly regarded practitioner with a broad practice, representing sponsor, borrower and lender clients. Her work spans leveraged and investment-grade financings, in both the UK and international markets.

Neel Sachdev remains a leading authority in the finance market, noted for his stellar representation of sponsor-side clients. He is regularly called upon to advise on complex, multi-jurisdictional debt finance matters, in particular acquisition financings and take-privates. He also acts as co-head of Paul Weiss' London office and co-leads its global finance and capital markets group.

Co-head of the firm's global leveraged finance practice Suhrud Mehta is regularly instructed on complex cross-border matters. He is a practitioner of choice for leading financial institutions on big-ticket transactions.

Alex Mitchell is global co-head of Freshfields' leveraged finance group and regularly acts for investment fund and private equity clients. He is well positioned to act on complex multi-jurisdictional financings while also handling mid-sized domestic transactions for portfolio companies.

Christopher Kandel of Morrison Foerster is regarded as a go-to player in the London banking and finance market. His expertise includes complex and high-value cross-border leveraged and corporate finance matters.

"He is a great partner, who is super reliable and provides high-quality advice and good client service. He is a trusted adviser rather than only a lawyer. He is highly commercially sensible and not difficult. He simply gets it."

"Jonathan Brownson is very good and offers exactly the commercial support we need. He is very good at pointing out the points we can get comfortable with because he knows the market and is active on deals."

Co-chair of the firm's global finance practice Mohamed Nurmohamed is highlighted for his adept handling of lender-side mandates. He is frequently instructed by investment banks and private creditors to assist with complex cross-border financings.

Nick Syson is renowned in the market for his wealth of experience assisting banks with large-cap financings. He is adroit at advising on leveraged finance and debt restructuring matters.

Co-head of the firm's global private equity practice, Robin Harvey comes recommended for his strengths advising across the finance space. He is particularly adept at acting for prominent sponsors on private equity financing matters and also assists their portfolio companies.

"Sam is technically skilled and always available to discuss and give proper advice. He also thinks about aspects outside of the financing world - implications on the client, implications on the deal and the deal dynamics; he covers all areas. He is a super good financing lawyer."

Tom Richards is noted for his expert representation of private equity sponsors, which he advises on the gamut of leveraged finance matters. He is regularly sought after to assist clients on complex multi-jurisdictional transactions.

Edward Fife regularly advises borrower clients on a broad array of matters including high-value acquisition financing, the refinancing of corporate loans and infrastructure finance mandates. He also offers expertise in lender-side representation.

"I always feel in very capable hands when Emma is working on a transaction for me. She responds very quickly and can provide advice on very short notice. She has excellent commercial awareness and is able to identify key points to negotiate in the context of a specific transaction, understanding the commercial needs on both sides, and providing clear advice."

Global head of private credit and direct lending at the firm, Gareth Eagles is an expert in this area. He is well placed to advise on big-ticket acquisition financings.

"He is really excellent and can focus the banks onto the risks that matter rather than feeding chaos in difficult transactions. Other lawyers might use the nervousness of the bank as a potential out, he is brave enough to work through it with them, navigating the tricky courses and always providing us with options and opportunities."

Jim MacHale is well regarded for his expert handling of leveraged finance and corporate loan matters. His practice includes both domestic and cross-border mandates. He is particularly active on the lender side, frequently advising mandated lead arrangers. He has additional experience in private credit transactions.

"He is eager, bright, highly commercial and incredibly thoughtful as it relates to transactions. He is one of the most proactive and inclusive lawyers and also has a good read of situations and clients to ensure that negotiations and processes are done smoothly."

Nicholas Benham of Davis Polk & Wardwell is adept at advising on leveraged and investment-grade acquisition financings. He is able to act for clients across the space, from lenders to corporate borrowers and sponsors.

Co-head of global banking and of the private capital group at the firm, Philip Bowden is regularly called upon to advise on domestic and cross-border matters. He is adept at handling both leveraged and investment-grade acquisition financings as well as structured finance matters.

Presley Warner heads the European credit and leveraged finance practice at Sullivan & Cromwell. He is principally experienced in advising on cross-border matters, counting private equity firms, corporates and financial institutions among his clients.

Simon Roberts has expertise within the corporate lending space. He regularly advises on domestic and international financing transactions, and is also highly capable in the field of real estate financing.

Chris McLaughlin is regularly instructed by sponsors and financial institutions on a range of leveraged and corporate acquisition financings. He is additionally noted for his expert representation of private debt funds.

Clive Wells has considerable experience acting for large corporates on investment-grade transactions. His practice involves advising on all manner of financings, including acquisition and structured finance. He has additional experience advising sponsors and lenders.

David Campbell can handle both leveraged and acquisition finance, with particular expertise in investment-grade matters. He advises well-known banks and syndicates as well as corporate borrowers and he has particular experience in Nordic region transactions.

"David Robson is knowledgeable, practical, and happy balancing the legalities of a situation with commercial considerations. He builds his deal teams with an appropriate level of skill and experience, whilst visibly coaching those around him."

Korey Fevzi joined Cravath, Swaine & Moore in March 2023. He draws praise for his capabilities in leveraged and acquisition financings. His clients include sponsors, private credit funds, corporates and financial institutions, whom he advises on cross-border and domestic mandates.

Neil Caddy is particularly known for his experience in the direct lending space, but he also works with sponsors and international corporates. He regularly acts on leveraged and public takeover financings as well as corporate loan refinancings.

"I simply trust Oliver and his team to run things and never feel that we need to double-check. Oliver instils a culture in his team of being very diligent and making sure to give timely and accurate advice, and he is always there to give a thorough response. No task is too small or too big for him."

Ross Anderson is recommended for his expert representation of lenders, including mixed groups of banks and funds. He centres his banking practice on leveraged finance matters.

"Taner is able to share his general view and advice prior to digging into the details of the financings he helps us structure and negotiate. He is extremely commercial, which makes our work together highly efficient and effective, and is able to deal with a number of legal points directly and explain the key commercial points in a distinctive manner that allows us to find solutions quickly."

Annette Kurdian acts for domestic and international banks as well as direct lenders, whom she regularly advises on high-value cross-border leveraged finance transactions.

Christopher Davis is a capable adviser to both corporate and private equity clients on cross-border financings. He is noted for his expertise in leveraged and acquisition finance.

Head of the firm's banking practice in the EMEA region, Colin Harley is a go-to in the leveraged finance space. He typically represents sponsor-side clients in complex domestic and cross-border transactions.

Edward Aldred joined Cleary Gottlieb in May 2023. He is respected for his expertise in international finance matters. Particularly active for sponsors, his areas of knowledge include acquisition finance, bank/bond structures and capex facilities.

Fergus Wheeler has substantial expertise in direct lending matters. He acts across the capital structure, counting a number of private credit funds and alternative capital providers among his client base.

"Greg is the commercial partner we need on our deals. He is visible and leads his deals appropriately. He is also a nice person and good to get along with and you can have very honest conversations with him, which shows the strength of the relationship."

"Martin is a joy to work with. He is insightful and analytical as well as efficient both in his written advice and on calls. He invokes a sense of calm and is not fazed by time-critical and complex issues. He also has significant market knowledge and understanding."

Pete Coulton is noted for his representation of private equity sponsors on big-ticket financings. He has experience of leveraged finance matters and is also adept at advising on corporate borrowers on investment-grade transactions.

"Peter Hayes combines great technical skills with a solution-driven mindset, to help us achieve our goal. He delivers outstanding results, in terms of quality of advice, documentation and pace of delivery - in our normal course of business as well as under pressure."

Ross Pooley regularly advises on leveraged and acquisition finance with expertise in cross-border matters. He is well-versed advising banks on high-value bilateral loans, with additional experience acting for private lenders.

Sarbajeet Nag is highlighted for his expertise in acquisition finance and regularly advises leading financial institutions on high-value transactions.

Co-head of the firm’s London fund finance practice, Stephen Short impresses with his expert knowledge of the space. His practice also includes domestic and international leveraged acquisition finance, with notable expertise in an array of debt instruments.

Co-head of corporate and structured lending, Toby Grimstone is adept at advising on syndicated and secured bank financings. He is regularly instructed by bank and borrower clients and specialises in acquisition and general corporate financing matters.

Alan Davies acts for domestic and international clients on a range of transactions. His finance practice spans structured, acquisition and asset finance matters, in addition to fund financing.

"We appreciate that Alex sees a lot of flow in the market and is good for providing us with broader knowledge and market context and how we are positioned versus others."

Alexandra Grant is noted for her work on cross-border leveraged finance matters. She regularly acts on behalf of international investment and merchant banks, with additional experience acting for borrowers.

Daniel Maze is particularly adept at acting for direct lenders on leveraged finance transactions and emerging markets financings. He is experienced in advising on large-cap mandates involving a range of sectors, including TMT and technology.

"Darren did an excellent job on a tricky deal. He ran the process very smoothly, dealing with our numerous queries; I appreciated his guidance and help."

David Irvine assists sponsors on big-ticket acquisition financings, with additional experience in fund finance transactions. He also brings an excellent understanding of Asian markets, having practised in Hong Kong.

"Jim Ho is our go-to for handling complex legal issues. He offers top-notch guidance and is incredibly intelligent and effective. He is a delight to work with and pays attention to both the small details and the broader picture."

"Joydeep is unflappable, calm under pressure and works in a quick and results-focused manner. You just feel you're in a safe pair of hands of hands with him: he understands the issues, sees a path forward and doesn't block things."

"She is super responsive, very insightful and aware of the market even when it evolves quickly. She is clearly very good on the technical side but also very commercial. I know I can trust her to deal with high-level lawyers on the other side and get things done, which is incredibly helpful."

Martin Forbes advises both corporate borrowers and sponsor-side clients on a wide range of financings. He is particularly adept at handling cross-border transactions and has a keen understanding of US leveraged products.

Matt Moore has a growing reputation for his work on acquisition and leveraged finance mandates. His client base includes a variety of lenders from banks to alternative capital providers.

Matthew Tobin has particular experience advising on investment-grade lending and capital markets transactions. He is a trusted adviser to large corporates, whom he advises on deals including acquisition bridge facilities, corporate loan refinancings and reorganisations as well as bond issuances.

Co-head of the global leveraged finance group at the firm, Nicholas Clark has a respected practice, recently most focused on lender clients. He regularly assists bank syndicates with leveraged finance mandates.

Oliver Edwards is co-head of corporate and structured lending and specialises in margin lending matters. He is a sought after by banks to advise on cross-border transactions, including leveraged and investment-grade financings as well as secured facilities.

Paul Hibbert has an active finance practice advising sponsor and lender-side clients. He offers niche expertise in infrastructure finance matters as well as real estate and fund financings.

Peter Dahlen has a practice that sees him assist both borrowers and lenders on complex financing arrangements. He has a particular focus on the Nordic region.

Philip Stopford joined Cravath, Swaine & Moore in March 2023. He is experienced assisting banks and alternative lenders on a range of leveraged financings, particularly in cross-border transactions.

"Reena and her team take a lot off my plate. With her, you can trust that all of the issues have been spotted and raised with you, and that a legal solution has been proposed that protects your interests, and brings the parties together."

Robert Byk is adept at advising corporate borrowers on cross-border financings, with particular experience in the manufacturing, oil and gas and life sciences sectors. He has a broad practice which spans structured acquisitions and bid financings, in addition to capital markets expertise.

William Nevin regularly advises on multi-jurisdictional acquisition finance matters. He acts for an impressive list of corporates and bank clients, typically on large-cap syndicated financings.

Aled Batey has a growing reputation for his representation of sponsor-side clients as well as corporate borrowers. He typically acts for his clients in acquisition financings, including take-privates, and has experience in bridge to bond facilities.

Up-and-comer Caroline Phillips advises borrower-side clients on financing transactions across domestic and international markets. She is able to handle a variety of deal types for well-known corporates and financial services companies, including revolving credit facilities and Tier 3 facilities as well as pension scheme facilities.

Emma Foster typically advises private credit funds on big-ticket financings.

"We had a fantastic experience working with Evgeny and the team at Kirkland. He is extremely hands-on, user-friendly and always available. He successfully applied his market knowledge to our specific circumstances in a pragmatic and truly commercial way."

Fergus O'Domhnaill enters the rankings thanks to high activity levels on sizeable transactions. He is especially adept at advising corporate borrowers and sponsors and regularly handles cross-border financings.

Up-and-comer Jane Glancy acts for both borrower and lender-side clients on a wide range of financings, including high-value acquisition financings and the refinancing of corporate loans.

Karan Chopra acts for lender-side clients on an array of UK and cross-border financings. He is particularly noted for his expertise on the private credit side.

"Neil is excellent - he is one of the smartest lawyers out there, extremely commercial and well versed on the product level and detail. Having Neil on our side when negotiating is extremely important: I trust and rely on him 100%; he really pushes points that matter."

"Prue Criddle was highly engaged and responsive, understood the transaction well and dealt effectively with difficult issues."

"Richard is brilliant to work with. His affable, charming and straightforward character means that everyone wants to work with him. He is able to work creatively and efficiently to deliver innovative solutions for his clients, including on very compressed timelines."

"Shameer is a clear expert in navigating complex lending structures. His keen market sense, technical acumen and ability to build strong relationships across the table consistently help drive transactions to successful completion."

Thomas Critchley handles sophisticated and high-value financings for high-profile sponsor clients. His experience includes sustainability-linked products.

Almas Daud is an experienced associate noted for her ability to act for sponsors and borrowers. She is highlighted for her strength in cross-border financings. She is also adept at supporting on fund finance matters.

Dominique Crowley is a promising senior associate. She has experience assisting lenders as well as borrowers with a range of financings, including fund finance and ESG-linked structures.

Man Hay Yip assists on a wide range of matters across the banking and finance space. Her client roster includes borrowers and lenders for whom she typically acts on a range of cross-border transactions.