Finance & Capital Markets (International & Cross-Border) | Global

A premier magic circle law firm with a highly-integrated network of international offices, A&O Shearman’s London team is frequently identified as a standout choice to coordinate cross-border work. Offering a well-developed, full-service platform which offers consistent quality across numerous practice areas and sectors, the London office fulfils a significant role as the firm’s central hub within its diverse global network. The team advises on some of the biggest and most complex cross-border deals in the market and is particularly highlighted as having an edge over many competitors in banking and capital markets work.

The London team offers extensive experience advising lenders, sponsors and borrowers on transactions across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas, acting as the firm’s principal driver and coordinator of major international finance, and frequently project-managing other offices for UK and global clients. It provides the full gamut of market-leading capabilities in finance areas and utilises the firm’s top-quality global network to advise major banks and public companies on high-value equity issuances, structured finance, debt finance and asset finance.

Clifford Chance’s London office is viewed as a powerful force in the UK market, with a leading reputation for carrying out international work across a full-service range of practice areas. The magic circle firm has significant appeal for handling cross-border work because of its impressive global network and remains a popular choice for leading sophisticated international mandates. Typical clients include major international banks and financial institutions.

The law firm combines excellent capabilities in the UK with a truly global scope, offering a full suite of legal services and specialist advisory in an array of high-end capital markets and finance areas. The firm provides a holistic approach for clients globally, with UK teams directing highly capable global colleagues to service clients on cross-border lending, IPOs, debt financing and derivatives. It maintains strong relationships with banks and financial institutions in the UK, the USA and Asia, as well as global private equity firms, financial sponsors and alternative lenders.

A distinguished full-service law firm, Freshfields is recognised for its international mindset and its ability to lead cross-border work from its London centre. The magic circle firm has outstanding international capabilities and collaborates with offices in its top-tier, integrated network, which incorporates highly rated teams across Europe, the Middle East, the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Africa. Equally, the firm has established the 'Stronger Together' group of local firms, serving clients’ needs in jurisdictions where collaboration with co-counsel is required. The firm’s M&A team is a dominant force for cross-border transactions and other key international practices include competition law and multi-jurisdictional litigation.

It is a premier UK firm offering top-tier expertise across financial products, providing a broad skill set and high-end capabilities in global transactional work. Well versed in project-managing large deals from London, the firm benefits from strong relationships with corporate multinationals and private equity players, and regularly advises on significant cross-border financings and capital markets work governed by UK law. The UK team is highly proficient in acquisition finance and offers further specialist expertise in the areas of ECM, DCM and borrower and sponsor-side finance work, including LBO finance structuring.

White & Case provides clients with an impressive global platform. The UK team handles high-end, complex mandates and works seamlessly with other offices in its expansive network across the Americas, EMEA and Asia-Pacific. The team offers a full-service practice in London with notable transactional capabilities and a particularly high standing in finance and capital markets work, which has made the team an appealing option for numerous international banks. By remaining highly tuned to the needs of all international clients, it is a popular choice for global operations.  

The London team displays great aptitude leading global transactions in capital markets and finance and is a popular choice for complex lender-side finance, and across ECM and DCM work. The firm has a strong reputation for advising clients on their operations and investments in emerging markets, often leading from London and leveraging the firm’s extensive global network. The law firm’s roots in the USA provide a strong platform for the UK teams to assist clients with transatlantic capital markets and finance. Providing solid experience in asset and project finance across diverse jurisdictions, the London team is comfortable directing colleagues and managing local firms for the benefit of clients.

Herbert Smith Freehills’ London office hosts an internationally-oriented team that is recognised for coordinating seamlessly across the law firm’s integrated network of offices. It has developed a respectable full-service offering with particular expertise in cross-border contentious work. It equally enjoys a stellar reputation for handling multi-jurisdictional M&A transactions, acting as co-counsel on inbound work and handling outbound transactions for its impressive international client base.

The firm’s strong global coverage, and expertise in both major and emerging economies, provides the London finance and capital markets teams with a solid platform from which to handle international deals under UK law. Expertise spans international DCM, ECM, securitisation and lender-side representation in banking and finance mandates. Its experience extends across Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia related matters, and the firm performs well in multi-jurisdictional project finance work, where it offers a holistic service that draws on strong industry expertise in infrastructure, energy and natural resources.

A distinguished London-headquartered law firm with significant global reach throughout Europe and Asia, Simmons & Simmons provides an attractive offering to clients through its sector-focused international strategy, concentrating on financial services, asset management, technology and life sciences. The law firm regularly manages sophisticated multi-jurisdictional mandates from London across these areas of focus and work in conjunction with its other offices across Europe and Asia. It has developed a strong network of co-counsel from other jurisdictions to provide a seamless service for clients.

The UK team has a highly-regarded finance practice, with strong relationships in the financial services and asset management areas, and the firm is well known for its capital markets capabilities across DCM, ECM, securitisation, derivatives and structured finance. The UK teams often coordinate the firm’s offices across Europe, the Middle East and Asia, as well as local counsel, in various types of lending mandates and capital markets issuances. The firm benefits from deep resources in the UK and strong teams abroad, and is particularly well positioned to act for UK and global funds on their international transactions.

Skadden has a premium global practice which has built widespread coverage and expertise across regions and areas of law on the foundation of its longstanding market-leading reputation for US law advice. Strength in depth across the firm's UK and European teams across transactional and contentious areas makes the firm a leading choice for sophisticated transatlantic matters. An excellent presence in key Asian markets, plus a São Paulo office, also boosts the law firm’s global offering. The firm is a dominant force on international M&A, finance and energy transactions. It also regularly navigates clients through cross-border disputes, investigations and arbitration as coordinating counsel.

A highly regarded player in the UK, the London team is known in the market for the broad skill set it offers to clients, with strong capabilities in core finance and capital markets areas. The team regularly advises corporate multinationals as borrower-side counsel on substantial cross-border finance, with a solid reputation for its expertise in acquisition finance. Its UK practitioners also provide sponsor-side experience in addition to international ECM and DCM work, and frequently project-manage work in collaboration with colleagues in the USA and other major economies.

New York-headquartered Davis Polk has high-end capabilities across transactional, regulatory and contentious areas. It is set up to serve global clients and project-manage matters from key financial centres, including London, Paris, Beijing and Hong Kong, and collaborates with selected partner firms in other jurisdictions for local law aspects. Primarily serving large US and international investment banks, financial institutions and corporates, the firm has extensive experience handling sophisticated, multi-jurisdictional M&A, financing and capital markets offerings, as well as running international investigations and disputes, including global antitrust files.

The firm’s London office provides high-end UK support for US and global clients on areas of capital markets, frequently linking with US colleagues to assist clients in transatlantic transactions and listings on US and UK stock exchanges – including dual listings. The team often advises financial services providers, banks, and pharmaceutical and TMT clients on their cross-border financings and listings, and is well versed in playing a project-managing role when directing local counsel across Europe and other regions. The firm has a solid reputation in the London market for its representation of underwriters and corporates on high-value cross-border debt and equity capital markets.

Hogan Lovells represents international clients across its full-service scope, providing an excellent cross-border service for a range of contentious, transactional and regulatory work. The London team remains a central contributor to the law firm’s worldwide success and it is particularly revered for its outstanding expertise in international dispute resolution. The team frequently coordinates cross-border work and has particularly close ties to the firm's European offices as well as forming an effective team with the firm's lawyers in other key jurisdictions throughout the USA, Asia, Australia, the Middle East and Africa.

Strong London teams are well placed to advise UK and global clients on cross-border capital markets and financings, covering the full spectrum of capabilities throughout transactions. A strong player in international mid-market banking and finance, the UK team is a strong choice for lenders – both financial institutions and private sponsors. The London teams utilise a strong presence in strategic Asian, Latin American, Middle Eastern and African locations to provide an attractive proposition for UK clients in project finance in emerging markets. The group is also well recognised in the market for its handle on transatlantic deals, supported by deep US and UK regulatory expertise.

Mayer Brown is a full-service, global outfit which brings considerable transatlantic expertise to a broad spectrum of matters, particularly those relating to capital markets and financing. From London, clients with multi-jurisdictional needs reap the benefits of a practice encompassing both transactional and contentious mandates. Mayer Brown's capabilities from both the UK and USA are enhanced by a network of offices stationed in major financial centres worldwide.

The UK team provides to clients a strong link with the firm’s New York and Chicago offices, as well as its hub in Hong Kong, offering experienced practitioners in international finance and capital markets. Adept at advising from London on cross-border deals for both lenders and borrowers, it also offers specialist expertise in DCM and securitisation, making it a regular choice of global banking clients. Transatlantic capital markets transactions are a key driver of the UK team's work, and it is well versed in navigating clients through inbound and outbound issuances of debt.

Norton Rose Fulbright has an extensive network of offices distributed throughout North and Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region. The law firm is structured in alignment with global industry sectors, which, combined with the geographic spread of its lawyers, make it a popular choice for global clients seeking a full-service offering. It focuses on building teams with sector-specific multi-jurisdictional expertise to meet the needs of clients with global businesses.

The London team demonstrates a high level of activity in cross-border ECM, DCM, securitisation and structured finance mandates, and often assists with foreign clients listing on London’s AIM. Renowned for its global projects practice, the firm offers a UK team highly proficient in leading multi-jurisdictional project finance work and strong industry expertise across infrastructure, energy and resources. The London office also provides solid capabilities in asset finance and is particularly prominent in the transportation space, regularly advising on cross-border shipping and aviation finance transactions.

Sidley Austin is frequently sought out by international clients for its global sector expertise, with the firm's focus built around strong relationships with clients in financial service, energy, life sciences and biotechnology. While the firm's US base remains the key central hub of its global operations, Sidley Austin also attracts ample praise for its ability to join up experts across its platform throughout Europe and Asia, with offices in London, Singapore and China among others also playing a vital role in the firm's international appeal. The firm has an impressive ability to handle global transactions, disputes and investigations, enabling it to provide a comprehensive service on sophisticated matters for clients in its key industry groups.

The London team has a robust reputation for its work with international private asset managers and lenders, well attuned to international and particularly the US funds market. Further cross-border expertise is offered in structured finance, securitisation and derivatives, where the London team is regularly the port of call for large financial institutions and insurance companies – particularly multi-jurisdictional CLOs. London teams bring to bear the firm’s strong network of offices across the USA, Europe and Asia, and it is a proficient coordinator of outbound work as well as receiver of inbound matters.

Combining a well-established London team with a top-tier New York practice, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett is renowned for handling complex cross-border work with a strong focus on transactional mandates. The London office provides clients with impressive experience in large international M&A, cross-border financing and a strong focus on the private equity sector. The UK team is primarily responsible for the firm's work and clients across Europe, as well as working in conjunction with lawyers in the law firm's principal hub of resources in New York, which means it is chiefly engaged on high-value international work.

The London team provides an important touchpoint for major US and global private equity firms and alternative lenders, ensuring reliable support on high-value international lending. The London team also provides strong expertise in high-yield products, and regularly coordinates with the New York office on structuring transatlantic deals. Serving as the firm’s European platform, the UK office provides high-end transactional advisory support and coordinates local law advice in different jurisdictions with a select group of national firms.

Baker McKenzie offers one of the most expansive and established international footprints in the legal industry, and its global reach is frequently referenced by multinational clients as one of its primary assets. The London office acts as an important hub of lawyers with international experience and expertise across multiple areas, offering a full-service scope. The law firm enjoys an excellent reputation for its international and cross-border capabilities and is often praised for the smooth execution and collaboration clients experience across the firm's network.

The London teams regularly advise on cross-border mandates in collaboration with global colleagues, providing guidance across the capital markets and finance product suite, with a strong handle on global transactions in the TMT and energy sectors. Being a key driver of the firm’s transactional work, the London office often leads pan-European and global deals and has the benefit of deep resources in the USA to cover transatlantic finance and capital market flows. The UK teams offer highly regarded expertise in mid-market public and private finance, DCM and securitisation, and are highly capable in multi-jurisdictional deals, acting across a diverse range of sectors and geographies.

Dentons enjoys a formidable reputation for its international and cross-border capabilities through its unmatched global presence. The law firm’s vast network of offices covers more jurisdictions than any other competitor. The firm's UK offices, which incorporate teams in England and Scotland, play a significant role in international work, with London often acting as a focal point of the firm’s global operations. The firm's UK lawyers offer in-depth expertise in international work across a range of practice areas, with financing work and matters involving the energy and infrastructure sectors often noted as key strengths.

London is the centre of much of the firm’s capital markets and finance resources and expertise, providing UK and foreign clients with strong experience in multi-jurisdictional issuances of debt and equity, lending and structured finance. The London teams are often mandated by foreign and UK clients, where London plays a central role coordinating the large Dentons network. The firm primarily operates in the mid-market space and receives plaudits for its aptitude on cross-border structured finance and securitisation, also offering specialist knowledge in the areas of project, asset and trade finance.

Ropes and Gray's London office has positioned itself as a pivotal hub for the firm's international operations, strengthening its global network across the US, Europe and APAC region. The London office is bolstered by seasoned lawyers with deep industry expertise, enabling them to strategically handle complex cross-border financings and transactions. Clients such as private equity firms, banks, institutional investors and financial powerhouses deeply appreciate Ropes & Gray's global reach as well as their ability to effectively coordinate across jurisdictions.

Ropes & Gray fields focused financial and capital markets practices. Their practice sees the London team handle large complex financings for a host of high-profile financial clients, issuers and investors across various jurisdictions. They are sought after for their strategic guidance on securitisations, high-yield debt offerings, debt restructurings and IPOs.