Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above
UK Guide 2025 : UK-wide
Band 2
Contact number
+44 207 275 6500Chambers Review
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.
Work Highlights
- Simpson Thacher & Bartlett advised Silver Lake on its takeover of Software for a reported value of EUR2.6 billion.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The service is outstanding and they have excellent individuals advising us."
"The team at Simpson Thacher is responsive, provides very commercial advice and gets to the crux of matters."
"The team is outstanding. They understand the needs of a deal and deliver."
"The service is outstanding and they have excellent individuals advising us."
"The team at Simpson Thacher is responsive, provides very commercial advice and gets to the crux of matters."
"The team is outstanding. They understand the needs of a deal and deliver."
Notable Practitioners
Amy Mahon is well known for the strength of her private equity practice, particularly as it pertains to deals in the infrastructure space. Her client base consists of well-known private equity sponsors and corporates.
"Amy is absolutely first-rate. She really is a very skilled negotiator and very thoughtful on legal issues."
"Amy is a very good practitioner."
"Amy is a good lawyer with a great name for funds. She is a really respected infrastructure practitioner."
Clare Gaskell counts a number of highly regarded private equity sponsors among her list of clients. She routinely advises with respect to domestic and cross-border M&A deals and takeovers, among other matters.
"Claire is absolutely excellent and she has a good radar for key legal issues. She is also thoughtful and proactive."
Geoffrey Bailhache is well known in the market both for his skilful handling of private equity deals and his prior role as managing director of a major private equity house. He is deeply experienced in the full range of private equity mandates including acquisitions, disposals, leveraged buyouts and strategic minority investments.
"Geoffrey is an outstanding private equity lawyer. He cuts to the chase."
"He has an excellent ability to maintain an eye for detail, gets a deal done and is pragmatic."
"Geoffrey is very solid and very fair to work with."
Ben Spiers is well thought of for his all-round corporate practice, spanning private equity and traditional M&A. Spiers often supports some of the largest funds in the market in connection with cross-border buyouts and investments.
"Ben is a fantastic full-service counsel."
James Howe has experience advising prominent private equity sponsors on complex transactions. He also maintains expertise in M&A and is able to advise on cross-border deals.
"James is a brilliant, creative and proactive lawyer."
"James stands out. He has a deep understanding of how private equity works. He is very commercial and he has the technical abilities to bring it all together."
"James is strategically minded and a good negotiator."