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Ranking tables

Private Equity: Buyouts | Global

UK

This section covers firms and lawyers providing mostly transactional advice for private equity investors or companies being bought or sold in a private equity deal. A range of work is considered but the most highly ranked firms will generally have a particularly strong pedigree of advising private equity companies on buyouts. Other work considered includes direct investments into private companies, buyouts of public companies (MBO, MBI, BIMBO), secondary transactions, take-privates, PIPEs and pre-IPO investments.

Firms included here will have extensive experience of advising on buyouts with a value of above £500 million, and will have experience of advising the buyers or sellers on transactions.

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1

Band 1

  1. Clifford Chance LLP
    1
    Clifford Chance LLP
    Private Equity: Buyouts
    2024 | Band 1 | 3 Years Ranked
    Clifford Chance is highly skilled in high-end private equity deals, offering clients excellent strength in depth and cross-border capabilities, with significant expertise in transactions involving Europe, Asia and Africa. It advises established private equity houses as well as alternative buyers and new entrants to the market. The department covers the full range of private equity work, including buyouts, buy-ins, emerging market transactions and portfolio company acquisitions, and augments its status with its superlative global finance practice.
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  2. Linklaters
    1
    Linklaters
    Private Equity: Buyouts
    2024 | Band 1 | 3 Years Ranked
    Linklaters has a strong bench of transactional lawyers who are particularly active on European buyouts but also have wider international expertise. It often acts for pre-eminent sponsor clients on a range of market-leading transactional matters, including buyouts, exits and restructurings. The group also represents portfolio companies, pension funds and other institutional investors. Linklaters' sector expertise includes healthcare and financial institutions.
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  3. Kirkland & Ellis International LLP
    Private Equity: Buyouts
    2024 | Band 1
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  4. Latham & Watkins
    Private Equity: Buyouts
    2024 | Band 1
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2

Band 2

  1. Freshfields
    2
    Freshfields
    Private Equity: Buyouts
    2024 | Band 2 | 3 Years Ranked
    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer maintains its position at the cutting edge of the private equity market, drawing from an impressive stable of M&A experts to advise on a range of complex and cross-border deals. It is known particularly for the strength and breadth of its expertise in high-end private equity deals, and for its wider strengths in other financial, regulatory and strategic investment matters. The group maintains an impressive client base that includes many of the leading private equity houses, and demonstrates particular sector strength in technology, healthcare and financial services.
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  2. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
    2
    Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
    Private Equity: Buyouts
    2024 | Band 2 | 1 Years Ranked
    Simpson Thacher & Bartlett enjoys a strong practice that frequently works with private equity funds on international matters, relying upon a well-resourced team of experts who are able to handle transactions with values in the billions. Its clients benefit from a stable of English and US-qualified lawyers, as well as a number of foreign experts with deep cross-border deal experience. The department maintains an impressive roster of clients, regularly working with leading US and European funds on complex and high-value buyouts.
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  3. Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP
    2
    Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP
    Private Equity: Buyouts
    2024 | Band 2 | 3 Years Ranked
    Weil continues to be a destination practice for high-value, complex and multi-jurisdictional buyouts, offering strength across Europe, Asia and the USA. Its enviable client roster includes distinguished private equity firms, as well as state-backed funds, secondary investors and multi-asset managers. The department is able to leverage a highly regarded debt and financing advisory practice to offer complementary skills in LBO work. Its broad sector expertise includes advising on deals in the real estate, financial services and technology fields.
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3

Band 3

  1. A&O Shearman
    3
    A&O Shearman
    Private Equity: Buyouts
    2024 | Band 3 | 3 Years Ranked
    Allen & Overy draws from a high-calibre team of transactional experts, with particular skills in complex cross-border investment work, complemented by leading finance and capital markets teams. It has diverse industry experience that includes particular expertise in financial services deals. The firm's established client base is composed of many leading European and US sponsors, as well as other equity providers. Allen & Overy's global footprint is particularly pronounced in Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.
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  2. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP
    3
    Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP
    Private Equity: Buyouts
    2024 | Band 3 | 3 Years Ranked
    Skadden is a strong force in the UK buyouts market and offers counsel to a roster of top private equity sponsors on substantial transactions. The team excels in high-end transatlantic deals while demonstrating strength on pan-European work. It regularly advises in connection with substantial investments, financings and management incentive plans, as well as with regard to portfolio companies and strategics.
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4

Band 4

  1. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
    4
    Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
    Private Equity: Buyouts
    2024 | Band 4 | 1 Years Ranked
    Paul, Weiss is recognised for its enviable client list and ability to offer astute advice on large, cross-border private equity transactions. The firm regularly advises on deals covering the US, Europe and Asian markets. It displays particular expertise in technology, e-commerce and telecommunications deals. Paul, Weiss also boasts capabilities relating to fund and portfolio management, offering clients continued support past the initial transaction.
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  2. Ropes & Gray LLP
    4
    Ropes & Gray LLP
    Private Equity: Buyouts
    2024 | Band 4 | 1 Years Ranked
    Ropes & Gray offers strength in high-end private equity deals, including those that feature creative structures and cross-practice involvement in areas such as finance and compliance. It advises a roster of sponsor clients, calling upon support from the firm's global network to help manage complex cross-border deals. The group has a broad sector focus that includes deep expertise in the healthcare and life sciences industries. Ropes & Gray's buyout capabilities are complemented by an understanding of co-investment and minority investment deals.
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  3. White & Case LLP
    4
    White & Case LLP
    Private Equity: Buyouts
    2024 | Band 4 | 1 Years Ranked
    White & Case has a respected team with an impressive track record in complex and high-value private equity transactions, alongside a strong portfolio company advisory practice. It is regularly called upon to handle pan-European deals, owing to its broad network of offices. White & Case consistently works with a range of pre-eminent private equity investors, sovereign wealth funds, family offices and specialist investors.
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  4. Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
    4
    Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
    Private Equity: Buyouts
    2024 | Band 4 | 1 Years Ranked
    Willkie Farr & Gallagher is noted for its activity on high-value deals for investors on both sides of the Atlantic and in Europe, contributing to the firm's strong global private equity offering. The firm has a notable client roster, advising on buyouts and investment deals across multiple industries.
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