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. On 1st May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman.

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.

The London office demonstrates great proficiency in leading multi-jurisdictional transactions, positioning market-leading UK capital markets and finance teams to navigate financial institutions, alternative lenders and large corporates through cross-border work. The London team can draw upon high-end finance and capital markets groups across key European and Asian centres when acting on outbound lending and project finance mandates. It also demonstrates a top-class capability in handling complex capital markets matters across the product spectrum and is seen as a leader for issuances of equity and debt for issuers and underwriters.

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.

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.

Milbank is globally recognised as a premium choice for financing and corporate transactions across all of the world's major business centres. Its offices in the USA, Europe and Asia consistently advise institutional lenders and investors on the financing of business activities and major project development throughout the world and maintain a flexible approach to engaging local counsel based on the specific requirements of their clients.

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.

This is an elite UK firm which is revered for its ability to orchestrate global mandates from London and has carved out a high level of influence worldwide. Slaughter and May's stellar cohort of blue-chip corporate clients regularly choose to instruct the firm as lead counsel on complex, cross-border transactions, with an emphasis on transformative M&A deals. Can also offer clients international capabilities in commercial and financial disputes and in antitrust litigation in addition to active financial crime and government investigations practices. In addition to its London headquarters, the firm operates from office locations in Brussels, Beijing and Hong Kong. Slaughter and May's independent, lockstep model has also proved appealing when forging close relationships with firms of a similar style and status in jurisdictions outside the UK, ensuring that the firm can provide clients with a team of market-leading firms to add foreign law expertise on international work to fit the client's requirements.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges has forged an excellent reputation internationally through a global platform principally built around its transactional capabilities. The law firm's primary headquarters in New York and its impressive London base both act as important global hubs and are coupled with a far-reaching network of offices which extends across the USA and Europe, with Asian operations run from China. All the firm's offices have a principal focus on advising international banks, large multinational corporations and private equity funds. The firm typically offers strength in cross-border finance, restructuring, high-end M&A and tax across its platform.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.