Mr Spencer Summerfield > Travers Smith LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile
Travers Smith LLP Offices

10 SNOW HILL
London
EC1A 2AL
England
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Mr Spencer Summerfield

Work Department
Corporate
Position
Partner, Head of Corporate
Spencer has a broad corporate practice but his principle area of work is M&A, IPOs, corporate joint ventures and general corporate advice. His clients include a number of large quoted and private companies, based in the Uk and overseas and infrastructure funds.
Career
Spencer trained at Travers Smith and became a partner in 1997. He became Head of Corporate in 2013 having been Head of Corporate Finance since 2003.
Lawyer Rankings
London > Corporate and commercial > Equity capital markets – small-mid cap
The ‘very strong practice’ at Travers Smith LLP stands out for the depth and strength of its client relationships with UK investment banks, whom it advises as sponsors and underwriters on both IPOs and secondary fundraisings, and it also regularly advises a solid roster of AIM clients in a range of sectors on equity issues. Integrated US securities expertise further allows the team to handle private placements in the US and advise its clients on the US regulatory aspects of international transactions. Corporate expert Spencer Summerfield co-heads the team with Adrian West, who is well-regarded for his ability to advise on Main Market and AIM IPOs. Public M&A and ECM expert Tom Coulter is also a key contact. Richard Spedding left the firm in May 2024, and former practice co-head Andrew Gillen became the firm’s senior partner in November 2023.
London > Corporate and commercial > Equity capital markets: mid-large cap
With activities spanning the Main Market and AIM of the London Stock Exchange as well as international exchanges, Travers Smith LLP is well-placed to advise issuers, plc clients, and investment funds on a diverse array of middle-market equity transactions, including IPOs and secondary fundraises, relistings, de-SPAC transactions, and equity transfers. Corporate finance expert Spencer Summerfield jointly heads up the team with Adrian West, who handles a diverse array of ECM and public M&A transactions. Former practice head Andrew Gillen was made the firm’s senior partner in November 2023, and Richard Spedding departed the firm in May 2024.
London > Projects, energy and natural resources > Infrastructure: M&A and acquisition financing
(Hall of fame: Corporate M&A)Advising a wide range of industry players and infrastructure-focused funds, Travers Smith LLP continues to be an active presence in the market, handling key net zero mandates in the UK as well as large-scale acquisitions overseas – particularly in the digital infrastructure space. Head of corporate Spencer Summerfield is highly regarded for his M&A and corporate finance expertise and serves as a longstanding adviser to a number of financial sponsors. Jonathan Walters works with global funds on investments, disposals, restructurings and reorganisations, with a recent demonstrable track record in renewables and district heating transactions. Hugh Hutchison is heavily involved in European energy and infrastructure deals. In team news, Ryan Ayrton joined the firm from Watson Farley & Williams LLP in July 2024 and John Buttanshaw was promoted to partner in July 2024, while Ben Thompson joined Sidley Austin LLP in May 2024.
London > Corporate and commercial > M&A: Upper Mid-Market And Premium Deals, £750m+
(Hall of Fame)Noted for its expertise across a range of sectors, including infrastructure, financial services, wealth management and technology, Travers Smith LLP is frequently involved in high-value matters, comprising public takeovers, group combinations, acquisitions and investments. Entrusted by FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 companies, private equity firms and financial sponsors, the practice is noted for its dedicated listed company advisory team. Key figures include joint practice heads Spencer Summerfield , who maintains a broad and busy practice; Adrian West, who is praised for his ‘deep equity capital market knowledge’; and Lucie Cawood, head of the firm’s private equity and financial sponsors group. Elsewhere in the team, Andrew Gillen routinely advises listed and larger private companies in relation to public and private M&A transactions, joint ventures and corporate governance matters.
Lawyer Rankings
- Hall of Fame London > Corporate and commercial > M&A: Upper Mid-Market And Premium Deals, £750m+
- Hall of fame: Corporate M&A London > Projects, energy and natural resources > Infrastructure: M&A and acquisition financing
- Equity capital markets – small-mid cap London > Corporate and commercial
- Equity capital markets: mid-large cap London > Corporate and commercial
- Infrastructure: M&A and acquisition financing London > Projects, energy and natural resources
- M&A: Upper Mid-Market And Premium Deals, £750m+ London > Corporate and commercial
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Corporate and commercial > Commercial contracts
- Risk advisory > Corporate governance
- Employment > Employee share schemes
- Corporate and commercial > M&A: Lower Mid-Market Deals, £100m-£750m
- Corporate and commercial > Corporate tax
- Corporate and commercial > Corporate tax
- Employment > Pensions (non-contentious)
Firm Rankings
- Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: premium
- Dispute resolution > Competition litigation
- Finance > Derivatives and structured products
- Employment > Employers
- Real estate > Environment
- Corporate and commercial > Equity capital markets – small-mid cap
- Corporate and commercial > Financial services: non-contentious/regulatory
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Fintech: regulatory
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Fraud: civil
- Investment fund formation and management > Listed funds
- Corporate and commercial > Private equity: transactions - mid-market deals (up to £500m)
- Corporate and commercial > Corporate tax
- Corporate and commercial > Equity capital markets: mid-large cap
- Risk advisory > ESG
- Corporate and commercial > Financial services: contentious
- Investment fund formation and management > Fund finance
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Infrastructure: M&A and acquisition financing
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > IT and telecoms
- Dispute resolution > Banking litigation: investment and retail
- Real estate > Commercial property: corporate occupiers
- Risk advisory > Data protection, privacy and cybersecurity
- Corporate and commercial > EU and competition
- Employment > Immigration
- Real estate > Property litigation
- Industry focus > Retail and consumer
- Finance > Acquisition finance
- Real estate > Commercial property: development
- Real estate > Commercial property: investment
- Corporate and commercial > M&A: Upper Mid-Market And Premium Deals, £750m+
- Investment fund formation and management > Private funds
- Finance > Bank lending: investment grade debt and syndicated loans