Corporate/M&A: Mid-Market | Europe

CMS boasts a high-quality practice housing a substantial pool of corporate specialists. It is routinely engaged by leading names in the energy, infrastructure and technology fields to advise on mid-market transactions, with additional sector focus on media and financial services deals. CMS has an extensive global footprint that includes particular strength in the CEE region.

DLA Piper offers a strong platform for deals across a range of sizes, but is especially recommended for transactions with values in the hundreds of millions. It frequently acts for companies from sectors such as energy, infrastructure and technology. It is able to call upon a strong global network of international offices to bolster its skill in cross-border work, with particular expertise across Asia and the EMEA region.

Addleshaw Goddard represents an array of FTSE100 and FTSE 250 corporates, with notable expertise in energy, real estate, retail and financial services transactions. Its private equity strength is also noted. The department handles a wide range of domestic and international work, with a wealth of expertise in matters concerning India and Africa.

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner houses a high-quality corporate team with substantial expertise in domestic and international deal work, calling upon a strong international network for cross-border deals. It has notable strength in mid-market real estate transactions, as well as those involving energy, healthcare and retail. BCLP benefits from a stable of dual English and US-qualified lawyers.

Dentons is proficient in cross-border deals in mature and emerging markets, with expertise in Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. It is active in a range of sectors, and is especially strong in energy and hospitality transactions. The department works closely with a clientele of major corporates, sponsors and financial institutions.

Eversheds Sutherland houses a dedicated team that is often instructed by household names on complex cross-border transactions, with notable strength acting for major multinationals. Its sector expertise covers real estate, energy, natural resources and financial services, among others. The department boasts additional international expertise advising on transactions in Asia and EMEA. Eversheds Sutherland has recognised expertise in competition and regulatory compliance.

Eversheds Sutherland houses a dedicated team that is often instructed by household names on complex cross-border transactions, with notable strength acting for major multinationals. Its sector expertise covers real estate, energy, natural resources and financial services, among others. The department boasts additional international expertise advising on transactions in Asia and EMEA. Eversheds Sutherland has recognised expertise in competition and regulatory compliance.

Greenberg Traurig regularly advises on transactions for clients in the pharmaceutical, chemicals, telecommunications, and manufacturing sectors. It fields expertise in a broad range of areas, such as M&A, joint ventures, real estate deals and shareholder agreements. The department counts a number of significant corporates and financial institutions among its client base and leverages strong resources in the US to assist on cross-border work.

Jones Day has an established practice that is frequently engaged on high-end and mid-market transactions such as acquisitions, disposals and joint ventures. Its international network enables it to maintain strength in international deals, particularly in Europe, Asia and the US. The firm's areas of focus include transactions in the real estate, life sciences, industrial and defence sectors.

Dechert is regularly engaged on domestic and international deals, including matters in emerging markets. It has notable sector strengths in financial services, life sciences and TMT. The team is a mix of both UK and US-qualified lawyers offering a full service to a range of corporates and financial institutions. The corporate offering is bolstered by ancillary expertise in investment funds and financial services regulation.

Osborne Clarke has a strong offering in domestic upper mid-market deals and is increasingly involved in transactions arising in the Middle East and Asia to add to its cross-border experience across Europe and the USA. It is considered to be a go-to practice for many in the digital business sector and it acts for a number of household names in the media and communications industries. Osborne Clarke is also active in other fields, such as real estate, life sciences and energy.

Taylor Wessing acts on the full spectrum of corporate issues, including take-private transactions and M&A. It is particularly active in the mid-market and often advises on international matters relating to the Middle East or Asia. Its sector strengths include life sciences, retail and consumer. The department's corporate offering is complemented by strong growth capital and financing groups, with a dedicated focus on corporate technology.

Bird & Bird leverages its impressive talents in technology and IP-rich industries, including media, energy and retail, to advise on a wide range of corporate matters, with solid expertise in mid-market deals. It is experienced in cross-border mergers and overseas transactions more generally.

Cooley advises a diverse client base of FTSE250 companies, startups and financial sponsors on a broad suite of corporate transactions. It has particular industry expertise in technology, media, life sciences and telecommunications. Cooley is well positioned to assist on international deals, especially those involving US and Asian interests.

Covington & Burling enjoys notable strength in life sciences transactions, and also handles matters in the media, technology and communications sectors. It advises across the spectrum of corporate transactions, with particular experience in deals with significant IP implications. The department can draw on the London-based US team to advise on US law aspects of cross-border transactions.

K&L Gates' key areas of focus include transactions in the real estate, energy, infrastructure and natural resources spaces. It provides a strong international offering, regularly advising on deals involving continental Europe and the Middle East. The department is particularly proficient in representing US companies on cross-border acquisitions into the UK and Europe, as part of a broad client base of corporate entities and financial sponsors.

Paul Hastings enjoys extensive international reach and is particularly prominent in transactions with a US dimension. It is proficient in the handling of public and private M&A and joint venture work across a number of sectors, including technology, infrastructure and entertainment. Its cross-border expertise extends across deals involving Asian and European jurisdictions.

Pinsent Masons handles both domestic and international deal work for FTSE 250 and AIM-listed clients. It continues to grow its profile in cross-border work, with a particular focus on the Asia-Pacific and EMEA regions, and has advised on numerous UK inbound transactions. It has a strong focus on transactions in the energy, technology, infrastructure, healthcare, retail and life sciences fields. The department has additional capabilities representing investment banks and other financial sponsors.

Reed Smith is active on a wealth of corporate matters, including cross-border, public and private transactions. It draws from an extensive global platform across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the USA to offer an integrated service on corporate deals. The department is well known for working with companies from the technology, energy, life sciences and defence sectors, among others.

Squire Patton Boggs is adept at both domestic and international deals, supported by regional and global offices, with a particular focus on deals involving continental Europe, China and the USA. It is particularly active in media, energy, utilities and financial services M&A, alongside specialist expertise in football club takeovers. The department acts for numerous corporates and investment banks.