Corporate/M&A | Global

A&O Shearman has leading teams across western Europe, with key hubs in the UK, France, Germany and Spain. The firm is frequently mandated on high-end, complex M&A involving multiple jurisdictions. It often acts on matters for clients in the technology, energy and consumer goods sectors. A&O Shearman is also active for private equity funds.

Clifford Chance boasts outstanding Europe-wide capabilities, with a vast on-the-ground presence and a proven capacity to lead pan-European transactions for clients based in multiple jurisdictions. It benefits from in-house regulatory and transactional expertise for corporate matters that extend into the CEE region. The law firm is routinely mandated on complex cross-border M&A transactions, joint ventures and public takeovers. Clifford Chance has notable work in regulated sectors, including financial services, life sciences, energy and telecommunications.

Freshfields benefits from top-tier teams in Western European financial centres that consistently attract instructions on high-end M&A transactions spanning multiple jurisdictions. Its standout mandates include acting for continental European companies in the TMT, healthcare, oil and gas and digital payment services sectors. The firm's market-leading German and London practices lead cross-border teams on both inbound and outbound M&A deals for a varied client list that includes domestic, US or UK-headquartered corporate clients or investment funds.

Skadden is an elite US firm renowned for its capabilities in complex, high-end M&A transactions. It is seen as a superb choice for US-based clients carrying out global or pan-European transactions, with an impressive track record in mergers and acquisitions that target industrial or financial services companies. Skadden's notable clients stem from the retail, telecoms, life sciences and financial services sectors.

CMS has an expansive practice with a huge array of offices across Europe, drawing on strong teams in the CEE region, London and Austria. The law firm is well placed to handle strategic investments and corporate restructurings that centre on the CEE region. It is also active in pan-European aspects of global corporate deals run from the USA. CMS has further strength handling big-ticket multinational transactions in the finance, energy and media sectors.

Slaughter and May is a UK powerhouse that regularly leads high-value, cross-border transactions from its base in London. The law firm utilises its network of partnerships with leading firms in other major jurisdictions to win roles in key M&A transactions, including high-profile mergers between industrial companies operating in multiple jurisdictions in Europe. The law firm frequently acts for investment banks and private equity sponsors, as well as FTSE100 companies in the technology and financial sectors.

Eversheds Sutherland has a notable offering in Spain and the UK, with additional key practices in Portugal and across Central and Northern Europe. The firm is a popular choice for mid-cap matters involving joint ventures, share capital and corporate reorganisations. It acts for household names from the energy, financial services and consumer goods sectors.

Jones Day utilises its expansive European network of offices to advise clients on international joint venture agreements and transactions. It is further well placed to assist with matters requiring coordination with local council in the UK and France. The law firm is active for clients in the life sciences, technology and natural resources sectors.

Sullivan & Cromwell has a well-established reputation as a strong choice for US-listed corporates carrying out M&A operations in Western Europe. It also acts for an impressive list of major companies listed in Germany or France on cross-border European corporate deals or outbound investments into US-based companies. The law firm has extensive capabilities in cross-border public M&A transactions, working together with an impressive capital markets offering. Its clients hail from the automotive, pharma and financial services sectors.