Herbert Smith Freehills LLP

Private Equity

Head of Private Equity, International

Eleanor Shanks is an experienced partner in our Financial Sponsors Group and Head of International Private Equity in London.

Eleanor advises clients on complex private equity transactions, including domestic and cross-border acquisitions and disposals and joint ventures, across sectors which include infrastructure, real estate, and life sciences transactions. In addition, she advises clients on shareholder arrangements and managed equity plans, co-investments, corporate governance and general corporate matters. Her clients include leading private equity sponsors, investors and funds (including sovereign wealth and family offices), financial institutions, corporates and management teams.

She also has extensive experience advising on regulatory matters, including securities and financial services regulatory matters, in particular in transactions with a U.S. or other cross-border dimension, as well as ongoing corporate governance, and regulatory compliance matters.

Eleanor is recognized for Private Equity in The Legal 500 UK 2023, where clients comment: "Eleanor is not only one of the best technical lawyers in the City but also the kind of lawyer you want captaining your ship in a storm. She knows exactly what she is doing, is graceful under (often) immense pressure and always delivers her deals on time and above expectations."

Eleanor was the youngest woman ever to join the Court of the City of London Solicitors Company, the lawyers Livery company, and served an extended term on the Court before, during and after the pandemic. She continues to serve on the City of London Solicitors Company’s Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Working Group.