Investment Funds & Asset Management (International & Cross-Border) | Global

Clifford Chance remains one of the leading law firms in the UK for its strength working on funds and asset management mandates for global clients. Driving significant cross-border work, the London office regularly works closely with its Luxembourg and Italian counterparts. Adding the expertise of the firm's top-tier tax and regulatory departments, Clifford Chance is considered to be a firm of choice for clients concentrating on private equity fund formation and high-end buyouts.

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. With equally strong teams in both New York and London, the funds practice works to assist major asset managers on sophisticated global mandates. The global funds practice advises on major fund formations, targeting investment in the full range of asset classes in diverse jurisdictions. It continues to assist these clients throughout the life-cycle of their funds, including advising on significant acquisitions and disposals of assets.

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.

Goodwin is an impressive firm in the international arena, which has bolstered its excellent reputation in the USA by expanding its global platform. Primarily highlighted for its appeal to growth companies and private equity investors with international businesses, the firm's attractive combination of well-regarded experience in cross-border corporate M&A and buyout transactions is coupled with its strong industry focus and expertise related to the life sciences and new technology spaces.

Recognised as one of the most internationally-focused law firms in the UK, Linklaters offers an outstanding full-service practice in London which is renowned for the quality of its international work throughout its wide-ranging scope of expertise. The London team holds an elite reputation for coordinating both transactional and contentious cross-border matters and often acts as the driving force behind strategic advice on global mandates. The firm's distinguished global platform is also noted as a key attraction to clients, extending the firm's reach across Europe, the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Africa and various emerging markets.

US-headquartered firm Proskauer Rose offers clients access to offices across Europe, Asia and Latin America, serving a global client base consisting of sponsors and institutional investors. The UK team closely works with colleagues in the USA and is a key part of the firm's global private equity platform, regularly handling transatlantic mandates and other cross-border work involving European and Asian jurisdictions. The London team offers a strong fund formation practice with broad capabilities across transactional areas, as well as expertise in the real estate sector.

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 law 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.

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

The London office frequently acts as an international hub for the firm, collaborating closely with offices in New York, Hong Kong, Singapore and Abu Dhabi to assist large multinational fund managers in an increasingly globalised investment market. It is active in the hedge fund and private equity fund spaces, with its expertise in these areas bolstered by the firm's international regulatory and tax specialists.

Dechert is widely acknowledged to have an extensive international footprint with which it is able to deal with major complex matters concerning multiple jurisdictions. With a significant focus on the financial, private equity and life sciences industries, the law firm is able to provide clients with assistance on a myriad of mandates, including fund formation, transactions and disputes from key offices across the major markets in the USA, Europe and Asia. To complement its significant global reach, the firm also frequently collaborates with co-counsel from other jurisdictions to provide a complete service.

Schulte Roth & Zabel's UK office consists of a mix of English- and US-qualified lawyers and is focused purely on investment funds work. The London office works closely with the firm's US offices and plays a major role handling the international aspects, often involving European and Asian jurisdictions, particularly with regard to hedge funds. The law firm is recognised for its expertise across the spectrum of hedge fund matters, and the premium transatlantic service is supplemented by a network of leading local firms in international financial centres.

The funds team at CMS has strength in breadth, making it a popular choice for fund managers investing in a wide range of asset classes in a variety of target markets. It has considerable experience advising on registered funds, and the firm's extensive experience in international real estate matters makes it a popular choice throughout the life-cycle of real estate funds. CMS's significant global platform ensures it is able to coordinate cross-border fund establishment and buyout matters, including in the venture capital space, involving the Middle East and Europe.

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 law 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 and Asia-Pacific. Equally, the firm has established the 'Stronger Together' group of local firms, serving clients’ needs in jurisdictions where collaboration with co-counsel is required.

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 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 law firm's European offices as well as forming an effective team with the law firm's lawyers in other key jurisdictions throughout the USA, Asia, Australia, the Middle East and Africa.

Ropes & Gray is highly regarded for its very impressive teamwork across jurisdictions andstrong global funds practice. The law firm has strong international and cross-border capabilities and leverages its partners in the UK, the USA and Europe to provide an extensive service. The London team also offers high-level service, experience and depth across specialist areas. It is further sought out by a range of notable international clients including global private equity firms and banks.

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.