Corporate/M&A: £800 million and above
UK Guide 2025 : London (Firms)
Band 2
Contact number
+44 20 7374 8000About
Provided by Herbert Smith Freehills
Our global team excels in working with corporates, financial sponsors, investment banks, investors and others to successfully execute and deliver mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, takeovers, and corporate restructurings, regardless of size or complexity or the locations of the parties or assets.
We pride ourselves on applying our outstanding technical expertise in a practical manner to ensure our clients achieve their commercial goals and the service levels they expect of us.
Our reputation for the seamless execution of the most complex cross-border deals underlines the international scope and strength of our teams and the clients who call on us for these transactions.
Through a long-embedded sector focus we fully understand our client's specific industry drivers and risks and we combine that knowledge with deep seated transactional experience to navigate successful outcomes working with specialists across the world in key practice areas such as competition, employment, IP, data protection, tax and ESG, to address issues and challenges common to those industries.
Chambers Review
Herbert Smith Freehills has a well-regarded practice that is often instructed on high-value cross-border transactions and prominent acquisition and disposal deals, earning a strong reputation for its abilities in public M&A. Its client base includes numerous well-known blue-chip companies, leading investment banks and sovereign wealth funds. The department's broad sector expertise spans financial services, technology and real estate.
Work Highlights
- Herbert Smith Freehillsacted for Capital & Counties Properties on its recommended all share merger with Shaftesbury. This created an estate valued at £5 billion.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"There is no issue in any of the situations I have seen that Herbert Smith is not able to resolve promptly and with a great deal of nuance and sophistication."
"The Herbert Smith team is always available at short notice, meeting all our timing requirements, and the support is high quality at all times."
"The team at Herbert Smith offers a very helpful combination of in-depth knowledge combined with practical advice and insights, based on their extensive experience."
"There is no issue in any of the situations I have seen that Herbert Smith is not able to resolve promptly and with a great deal of nuance and sophistication."
"The Herbert Smith team is always available at short notice, meeting all our timing requirements, and the support is high quality at all times."
"The team at Herbert Smith offers a very helpful combination of in-depth knowledge combined with practical advice and insights, based on their extensive experience."
Notable Practitioners
James Palmer is able to deploy a wealth of experience across a number of domestic and international corporate transactions. He has also previously sat as the chair and senior partner of the firm.
"James has a unique combination of legal expertise and in-depth understanding of the dynamics influencing the evolution of the regulatory environment, and he is extremely pleasant to work with."
"James is close to buy-side panels and is good at taking temperature. We benefit from him as he is incredibly useful and has technical skills on all matters UK."
Stephen Wilkinson is widely respected thanks to his excellent handling of major M&A, and other corporate transactions, on behalf of a client base of corporates and financial institutions.
Mark Bardell impresses sources with his strong handling of domestic public M&A, especially as it occurs in the manufacturing and industrial sectors. He represents a client base of international companies, and impresses with his knowledge of the City Code.
"We work with Mark on truly challenging and nuanced matters and he approaches all elements of them with sophistication, poise and determination."
"Mark provides excellent advice."
"Mark has done some landmark transactions, such as advising Sky."
"Mark gives excellent advice. He is consistently on the detail and providing support for the team."
Gavin Davies leads the firm's global M&A practice. He is valued for his sophisticated cross-border practice where he regularly undertakes deals in EMEA region. He often supports clients in the TMT and real estate sectors.
"Gavin is a truly excellent M&A lawyer, with a strong commercial sensitivity and great judgement. We often turn to him for advice on our most complicated matters."
"Gavin is outstanding and able to deal with the most complex international matters in a considerate and compassionate way. He is always responsive and putting the company first."
"His style is calm, collaborative and pragmatic, which is exactly what is needed for the difficult and complex situations in which we involve him, and he often sees the question behind the question."
Ranked Lawyers at
Herbert Smith Freehills
London (Firms)