What has been the absolute deal highlight of your career so far and why?
The refinancing of Eddie Stobart plc in late 2019 was a real highlight. Being able to navigate a complex situation, working as an integrated team with our financing colleagues, and deliver a great result for our client was very satisfying, doing so to save a company that is a household name even more so. After the transaction closed our client received a letter of thanks from one of Eddie Stobart’s long serving employees for saving the company, which really brought home the real-world significance of what we did. Continue reading “Deals Yearbook 2022: Nick Withers, Shearman & Sterling – partner since 2020”
Deals Yearbook 2022: Caroline Rae, Herbert Smith Freehills – partner since 2016
Why did you decide to become an M&A lawyer? Was there anyone in particular who inspired you early on in your career?
Once I had decided to become a lawyer there was never a doubt that I would specialise in M&A. When I was younger, I wanted to be in the cCty and to work on deals on the front page of the FT. For me, that meant M&A and it never crossed my mind that I would do anything else. It was a great source of disappointment when I realised that lawyers never get mentioned in the FT of course… but by then it was too late. When I interview graduates, I do encourage them to have an open mind about different areas of law, but I confess for me it was only ever M&A. Continue reading “Deals Yearbook 2022: Caroline Rae, Herbert Smith Freehills – partner since 2016”
Deals Yearbook 2022: Katherine Moir, Clifford Chance – partner since 2016
Why did you decide to become an M&A lawyer?
For the buzz, the teamwork, strategic problem solving, and intensive client contact – the opportunity to really embed relationships through a deal. Continue reading “Deals Yearbook 2022: Katherine Moir, Clifford Chance – partner since 2016”
Deals Yearbook 2022: Fionnghuala (Finn) Griggs, Linklaters – partner since 2017
Why did you decide to become an M&A lawyer? Was there anyone in particular who inspired you early on in your career?
I started off my training contract with Linklaters sitting in the M&A team and quickly realised that I really valued and enjoyed the opportunity to work closely with clients on strategically important transactions, and to work with a broad range of teams and offices within the Linklaters network. It’s a great way to build relationships. During that first seat I worked on a demerger of a company and its UK listing, and 15 years on I am still working with that company as a key client of the firm – which is a real testament to the opportunities that you have as an M&A lawyer to build relationships and become a trusted adviser. Continue reading “Deals Yearbook 2022: Fionnghuala (Finn) Griggs, Linklaters – partner since 2017”
Deals Yearbook 2022: Derek Tong, Linklaters – partner since 2019
Why did you decide to become an M&A lawyer? Was there anyone who inspired you early on in your career?
I sat with the M&A team in my second trainee seat and within a fairly short period I knew that I really wanted to qualify into that team. It felt like the M&A lawyers were at the centre of all the action and had more exposure to the broader commercial and strategic drivers for the deal. One of my mentors was our former corporate partner Iain Wagstaff, who sadly passed away a few years ago – I learnt an immeasurable amount from him and he was definitely one of the people who has inspired me most during my career. Continue reading “Deals Yearbook 2022: Derek Tong, Linklaters – partner since 2019”
Deals Yearbook 2022: Alex Tilley, Allen & Overy – partner since 2020
What has been the absolute deal highlight of your career so far and why?
Advising Liberty Global on its fixed and mobile UK telecoms joint venture in the UK to create what is now Virgin Media O2. We negotiated the transaction over a relatively short period right at the start of the first Covid lockdown, and it was amazing to watch a huge team adapt and still find a way to get the deal agreed. Continue reading “Deals Yearbook 2022: Alex Tilley, Allen & Overy – partner since 2020”
Deals Yearbook 2022: Claire Coppel, Allen & Overy – partner since 2020
Why did you decide to become an M&A lawyer? Was there anyone in particular who inspired you early on in your career?
I loved the buzz and fast pace of corporate finance and M&A on my vacation scheme and during my training contract. I was particularly inspired as a trainee and junior associate by the managing partners of the London M&A team at the time – Andrew Ballheimer and Richard Browne – and my supervisor in corporate – Richard Hough: they had a tangible sense of ambition to grow the profile of the A&O corporate team so that we would be mentioned in the same breath as our UK-based rivals and I wanted to be a part of that. Continue reading “Deals Yearbook 2022: Claire Coppel, Allen & Overy – partner since 2020”
Deals Yearbook 2022: Hyder Jumabhoy, White & Case – partner since 2019
What has been your deal highlight over the last 12 months and why?
2021 was a monumental year for White & Case’s EMEA financial services M&A practice, and for me personally. In 2021, our London M&A team advised on > $25bn of financial services M&A deals and I advised on my 65th financial services M&A matter. My highlights included representing The Co-operative Bank on its £3.2bn bank balance sheet re-calibration exercise and representing Nordic open banking platform provider Tink, on its €1.7bn sale to Visa. Continue reading “Deals Yearbook 2022: Hyder Jumabhoy, White & Case – partner since 2019”
Deals Yearbook 2022: Murray Cox, Weil – partner since 2016
Why did you decide to become an M&A lawyer? Was there anyone in particular who inspired you early on in your career?
I did my training contract at a firm in South Africa where I had a lot of exposure early on in my career to different kinds of work. I saw then that doing M&A would involve meeting lots of interesting people and learning about different kinds of businesses. William Underhill at Slaughter and May is still a huge inspiration. Continue reading “Deals Yearbook 2022: Murray Cox, Weil – partner since 2016”