Banking & Finance: Sponsors
UK Guide 2025 : London (Firms)
Band 3
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+44 207 360 3600Chambers Review
Sidley Austin has a growing sponsor focused finance practice with a bench of leading lawyers. The team's client list includes a large number of leading private equity investors.
Work Highlights
- Sidley Austin advised Preservation Capital Partners and its portfolio company Hanseatic Broking Centre in relation to a EUR74 million facility provided by Ares.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"They have a thoughtful, responsive approach that balances command of the detail with strategic insight."
"Sidley is very well-placed to handle complex situations, and push into new financing structures and market opportunities."
"The Sidley team is experienced in advising in all manners of complex cases, whether that complexity is driven by jurisdictional issues, structural points, or difficult and challenging counterparties."
"They have a thoughtful, responsive approach that balances command of the detail with strategic insight."
"Sidley is very well-placed to handle complex situations, and push into new financing structures and market opportunities."
"The Sidley team is experienced in advising in all manners of complex cases, whether that complexity is driven by jurisdictional issues, structural points, or difficult and challenging counterparties."
Notable Practitioners
Jayanthi Sadanandan is a highly regarded practitioner with a broad practice, representing sponsor, borrower and lender clients. Her work spans leveraged and investment-grade financings, in both the UK and international markets.
"Jay is an absolute legend, she is fantastic and I love working with her."
Sam Hamilton is noted for his expertise in acting for sponsors on leveraged finance matters. He also advises corporate borrowers on refinancings and other credit facilities.
"He has vast experience and commercial awareness."
Bryan Robson is co-head of Sidley Austin's leveraged finance practice in London. He centres his practice on the representation of private equity clients in complex financings, including sponsors, portfolio companies and private debt funds. He is noted in particular for his expertise in leveraged acquisitions and refinancings.
"Bryan is exceptionally experienced, user-friendly and talented."
"Bryan is a very experienced and clever lawyer who has an innate sense for what will be acceptable to the counterparty."
James Crooks co-heads Sidley's leveraged finance practice in London. He typically acts for sponsors and borrowers on mid-cap financing transactions, with additional experience assisting well-known banks and direct lenders. His wide sector knowledge includes sports, insurance, energy and commodities, and manufacturing. He is also noted for his expertise in structured finance.
"James has assisted us with a wide range of situations of varying degrees of complexity and we always appreciate his attention to detail, commercial awareness and the quality and clarity of his advice."
"James is a fantastic lawyer with great market insight and ability to problem solve."
"It's great to work with James. He has excellent commercial vision and responsiveness in a tight timetable."
Fergus O'Domhnaill is especially adept at advising corporate borrowers and sponsors and regularly handles cross-border financings.
"He's an excellent partner who combines commercial awareness with legal excellence."
"He's very pleasant to work with and has unrivalled knowledge in his field."