Corporate/M&A: £800 million and above
UK Guide 2025 : London (Firms)
Band 1
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+44 20 7936 4000About
Provided by Freshfields
Please visit the Freshfields website for more details about our work in this category:
Chambers Review
Freshfields houses a heavyweight M&A practice with a proven track record in complex domestic and cross-border transactions, calling upon a strong roster of expert transactional lawyers with deep experience in the field. It is considered the first port of call for a distinguished and international client base in industries, including telecommunications, oil and gas, and food and drink. Freshfields has a strong presence across Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Work Highlights
- Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer advisedUBS Group on its acquisition of the Credit Suisse Group, for approximately CHF3 billion.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Freshfields understands its role as an adviser to the client. The team responds quickly to requests, manage expectations and help us in thinking through how to prioritise different deadlines."
"The firm have experienced practitioners who give clear strategic advice and are capable of working seamlessly with other firms."
"Freshfields really excels in complex and larger transactions as they have a breadth of capabilities across functions and geographies, which enables them to deliver a top product across the board."
"Freshfields understands its role as an adviser to the client. The team responds quickly to requests, manage expectations and help us in thinking through how to prioritise different deadlines."
"The firm have experienced practitioners who give clear strategic advice and are capable of working seamlessly with other firms."
"Freshfields really excels in complex and larger transactions as they have a breadth of capabilities across functions and geographies, which enables them to deliver a top product across the board."
Notable Practitioners
Claire Wills is sought after by major corporate and financial services clients owing to her foremost capabilities in sophisticated, transformational M&A deals.
Julian Long enjoys a formidable reputation for his experience of handling transformational corporate transactions for a clientele of leading blue-chip companies. He also offers high-quality strategic advice to senior figures within top corporates.
"Julian is an excellent, highly respected practitioner with a reassuring presence."
"Julian possess the unique ability to assess complex situations quickly, identifying key issues, providing robust advice, all the while keeping incredibly calm under pressure."
Piers Prichard Jones maintains a highly rated corporate practice that incorporates strength in heavyweight domestic and cross-border M&A. He is also chair of the firm’s board, and offers additional counsel in activism situations and corporate governance matters.
"Piers is a very good and strong lawyer."
"Piers is incredibly experienced, has no qualms when presenting to boards and keeps a very cool head. I would trust him with anything."
"Piers shepherded us through every step of the way. He was crucial in making sense of what to do with all that expertise. Piers raised the game of our entire team by his example."
"Piers is a very experienced operator who conveys his counsel calmly and with authority."
"Piers and his team are committed and are top tier."
Andrew Hutchings exhibits strength in M&A in a variety of sectors, including consumer products, infrastructure and financial services. His practice is broad in its international scope, and he services a clientele of corporates and investment funds. He is also co-head of the firm's global M&A practice.
"Andrew is always available, solution-focused and commercial and to the point."
"Andrew is really good to work with."
"Andrew is an excellent lawyer. He quickly gets to grips with matters and is always thinking two steps ahead. He inspires confidence when he is leading a matter."
Jennifer Bethlehem impresses with her adroit handling of domestic and cross-border M&A. She heads the firm's consumer and healthcare practice globally.
"Jennifer is extremely strong technically, but I am more impressed by her pragmatism and adapting of technical advice to the circumstances."
"Jenifer is highly regarded by pharmaceutical clients. She is very active in the pharmaceutical M&A space."
Oliver Lazenby offers clients strong counsel on public and private M&A, covering a broad suite of industry sectors, including financial services, retail and gaming. He offers further expertise in capital markets transactions and corporate governance matters.
"Oliver is outstanding, practical and pragmatic."
"Oliver knows how to condense complex issues into simple language and he can win the confidence of board members. He is also extremely responsive."
Ranked Lawyers at
Freshfields
London (Firms)
Members
Provided by Freshfields