Key clients: Glencore, Lloyds Banking Group, Alinda
Partner since 2011
I always wanted to do M&A. I used to look at the financial papers at university and was always interested in the deals. As a Linklaters trainee I decided very quickly I wanted to do corporate. I enjoyed the transactions and being at the centre of client relationships.
As an associate the most interesting thing I did was the takeover of HBOS by Lloyds and the government recapitalisation. I was lead associate. It was mind-blowing. At that time I realised I had a long-term future at Linklaters.
Before I became a partner I worked very closely on the IPO of Glencore, with Charlie [Jacobs]. He has been the most impressive lawyer in the City for me. I’ve been very lucky to have that opportunity.
Mining is full of amazing characters. Taking Glencore public and the takeover of Xstrata as the commodity prices moved was a rollercoaster.
Commerciality and temperament matter the most. You can never cut corners. Clients expect the work they are paying for. A lot of it is about personal chemistry with clients as well as confidence.
‘There is a feeling that we have a golden generation.’
David Avery-Gee, Linklaters
Names to watch? Will Aitken-Davies and Alex Woodward are doing an amazing job [in private equity]. Maybe some of our team are a bit young still for those mature corporate relationships – you need a bit of the grey hair – but in those PE relationships or in the world of technology you need younger people who do an amazing job.
We have just made up a guy called Ian Hunter [in 2016]. A phenomenal technical lawyer. With that kind of intellectual horsepower you will always do well.
There is a feeling that we have a golden generation at Linklaters. A really strong group like Matt Bland, Simon Branigan and Dan Schuster-Woldan. Right now we have a confidence and togetherness here. We’re all very determined and we have grown up together and are very excited about where we can go with the practice.
Who’s impressing me? Mark Austin at Freshfields does ECM but he has a very strong focus there. Richard Thexton is another partner at Freshfields I enjoy working with.
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