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

Long-term, concerted international expansion from the firm's US base has enabled Cleary Gottlieb to become one of the most globally recognised brands in numerous areas of international law. The firm's broad office network incorporates established teams stationed across key financial and political centres in the USA, Europe, South-East Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. Providing cross-border expertise across transactional, regulatory and contentious areas, it gathers wide acclaim for its role leading significant transatlantic mandates, often through close coordination between its US base and deeply entrenched European teams, notably in the UK and France.

A truly global player in finance and capital markets products, the firm is well recognised for high-end deal teams in the USA which regularly collaborate internally with extensive European, Asian and Latin American offices. The impressive global footprint, with frequent coordination from its New York office, offers US clients robust international capabilities on high-value debt and equity offerings and lending. It is also a top choice for inbound work, assisting foreign companies listing with US exchanges and entering the US bond market.

The firm is highly proficient in project-managing sophisticated global financings and capital markets matters, coordinating from its US hubs and supported by its offices in key financial centres and partner firms. The firm is a top choice among banks and underwriters on substantial financing matters and issuances of debt and equity. The firm has been particularly successful in transatlantic IPOs, often where European clients list on the US exchanges, and has a strong handle on capital markets mandates involving the USA and Asia. The US teams display great proficiency in representing private equity shops in their international financings.

It is a premier US firm in the finance space, with a heavy-hitting New York team that is active for an elite clientele on the most challenging and high-value cross-border capital markets and financing matters. It regularly acts for issuers and underwriters on global debt and equity offerings, coordinating between its offices in key financial centres. The firm has a solid reputation for its experience and aptitude in advising on large-scale private equity transactions, frequently advising borrowers and sponsors on cross-border mandates.

Cravath, Swaine & Moore is highlighted as an elite-level example of an independent, lockstep firm with significant global influence. Its approach towards international work revolves around maintaining a high-quality partner-led practice in New York which collaborates effectively with other elite independent firms based overseas to advise on cross-border matters. The firm’s work is driven predominantly from its New York base, where the bulk of its expertise and resources is situated. It also has a long-established London office which provides clients a European centre of gravity and a high-performing capital markets group. The firm handles some of the world's most complex and high-value transactions, particularly public M&A involving US-listed corporations, regularly acting as global deal counsel and coordinating legal work across various jurisdictions. Its elite clientele also benefits from the firm’s capabilities representing in both US and international disputes and investigations.

Clients call upon the firm for high-value and challenging transactions, often inbound and outbound cross-border deals, utilising the firm’s specialist expertise across finance areas and in ECM and DCM, including high-yield products. The firm is trusted to project-manage global leveraged finance, IPO and other securities offerings in collaboration with overseas firms offering specialist high-end skills. As well as being a top choice for outbound work, where the firm project-manages local counsel, the New York teams are frequently engaged as advisers to top-tier foreign clients for their investments and listings in the USA.

Kirkland & Ellis is frequently recognised as a global powerhouse that supports multinational clients in a wide range of practice areas. Its rapid expansion has seen it increase in prominence in European and Asian jurisdictions, including China, Germany and the UK. The firm continues to handle some of the most complex and sophisticated cross-border transactions and contentious proceedings, and has been particularly successful in building a strong global brand around the law firm's impressive work in the private equity sector.

Offices in China and Europe have enabled the firm to position itself on the international financing stage and facilitate US cross-border lending. It excels in sponsor-side representation in leveraged finance, with the US teams frequently acting for large US-based sponsors on their global investments. These clients utilise the firm’s increasingly deep global presence when coordinating cross-border transactions and also appreciate its strong capabilities in project-managing local counsel.

It houses a highly-regarded team for finance transactions, with a reputation for specialist expertise in project and asset finance. Strong teams in the USA frequently lead cross-border transactions, and the firm has a solid reputation for advising clients on transatlantic finance deals in cooperation with its London office. It also collaborates with teams in Asia and is adept at directing its chosen local law counsel. In global energy and infrastructure financing matters, it leverages deep sector expertise to provide a holistic service to multinational clients.

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 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 firm has a strong focus on financial services, with capital markets and finance groups benefiting from a well-established network of offices across key global centres. Its US teams demonstrate specialist abilities in debt and equity, securitisation and derivatives, and frequently act for managers and issuers on multi-jurisdictional IPOs. Often directing outbound work from New York and Chicago, the finance teams benefit from the strength of the firm’s global industry expertise in investment funds, energy and life sciences, collaborating internally for the benefit of those clients on cross-border financing and capital raising.

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. The firm has strength in depth across UK and European teams in transactional and contentious areas, which makes the firm a leading choice for sophisticated transatlantic matters. It has an excellent presence in key Asian markets, plus a São Paulo office, which also boosts the 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.

US teams provide high-end capabilities across capital markets areas and act as a trusted adviser to clients on cross-border ECM and DCM transactions. The firm has a stellar reputation for substantial acquisition financing work, and frequently works with clients throughout the initial financing and, in a corporate context, execution stages. Offering impressive global scope with high-end teams in China and Europe, the bulk of the firm’s resources are in the USA, from where teams regularly coordinate multi-jurisdictional transactions for US and foreign multinationals. Advising on some of the most substantial US inbound investment and outbound projects, the firm counts elite corporates, including major energy, pharmaceutical and technology players, among its clients.

A&O Shearman is well equipped to handle cross-border M&A, financing and project development matters on a truly global scale. Its integrated practice across offices in North and Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East combines to efficiently perform as lead counsel on multi-jurisdictional matters. It maintains relationships with an extensive variety of firms for the provision of local law advice outside the USA and Europe.

The US groups offer a global finance platform to multinational clients including investment banks, energy companies and corporates. The firm performs well in leveraged and investment-grade lending, and has a strong reputation for derivatives and corporate bond and equity issuances. This expertise, combined with the firm’s well-established global reach, positions it to advise on cross-border finance and capital markets matters. The transatlantic nexus is a key area of focus for its US lawyers, and they also link with Asia and Latin America to support clients with multi-jurisdictional requirements.

Debevoise & Plimpton offers an exceptional multidisciplinary and international practice with notable capabilities in the global contentious space. Renowned for handling complex multi-jurisdictional disputes, it also holds an impressive track record for coordinating cross-border transactions. The New York office, often regarded as the central hub of the law firm’s international operations, is known to coordinate highly complex international work and regularly co-counsels with colleagues in the UK, Asia and Europe.

A big player on the New York finance scene with a strong reputation for advising asset managers and private equity houses. Its US teams frequently collaborate with global colleagues in key European and Asian centres, and often advise clients from its US offices on their business in Latin America. The New York finance and capital markets teams often take a leading role in cross-border transactions, coordinating with the firm's international offices and local counsel in relevant jurisdictions.

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. Mayer Brown’s Chicago office functions as a key hub in the USA for its highly rated cross-border transactional practice, while offering substantial knowledge to clients from the energy sector. The firm’s capabilities from both the UK and USA are enhanced by a network of offices stationed in major financial centres worldwide.

The US teams provide solid capabilities in advising on complex, cross-border finance, particularly on project finance across the US-Latin America nexus, and in providing support for banks and other lenders investing in infrastructure and energy developments. US teams, largely in New York and Chicago, also excel in coordinating cross-border securitisation matters, and combine internal collaboration with project-managing other counsel. Teams can call upon strong sector knowledge in technology and energy, providing further cross-border value to clients in these industries.

White & Case provides clients with an impressive global platform. The firm handles high-end, complex mandates from the USA and works seamlessly with other teams in its expansive network across EMEA and Asia-Pacific and with other offices across North and South America. The team excels in transactional and contentious matters, and is recognised for its ability to drive cross-border deals into other jurisdictions. By remaining highly attuned to the needs of all international clients, it is a popular choice for global operations.

The firm’s global presence and capabilities in both the US and UK markets make it a top choice for multinational clients and those with transatlantic operations. The USA remains a key hub for driving its work, and the New York office frequently takes a principal role as global deal counsel, directing colleagues in the firm's other offices and co-counsel partner firms for private equity and banking clients on deals spanning the USA, Europe and Asia.

A highly-regarded firm in the financing space, particularly in structured finance, its US teams offer solid expertise in specialist areas including cross-border trade receivables and asset finance. The firm can call upon its extensive US and international resources, providing a full suite of services to clients domestically and across its global offices. It also provides clients with strong internal collaboration and the ability to project-manage local counsel on cross-border work. Its clients include asset managers, banks and public companies, and it regularly provides cross-border counsel on finance and capital-raising deals for life sciences and technology companies.

Paul Hastings has a highly-respected corporate offering with an excellent reputation for its cross-office collaboration and strong global network. The team stands out for its work on complex cross-border cases, frequently directing negotiations and advising clients in relation to deals in key foreign markets, particularly in Europe, Africa and Asia jurisdictions. Clients praise the firm's deep bench consisting of highly qualified and capable lawyers, with the commercial awareness and legal expertise to successfully achieve transactional goals. The firm is regularly sought after by US and overseas investors for its international appeal and ability to collaborate seamlessly with local counsel and provide timely legal support worldwide.

The firm offers strong capabilities across banking and finance, with highly adept teams in the securitisation space. US teams frequently act for private equity firms and asset managers on their cross-border finance needs, and the US group performs well in transatlantic deals for both US and foreign clients. The firm has a noted handle on Asian markets, with California teams often advising lenders and borrowers on inbound and outbound work and frequently cooperating with internal teams in the region. The firm also utilises its presence in São Paulo and is well versed in providing cross-border guidance to US investors into Latin America.