Clive Hopewell > Bird & Bird LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile
Bird & Bird LLP Offices
12 NEW FETTER LANE
LONDON
EC4A 1JP
England
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Clive Hopewell
Work Department
Corporate Group
Position
Partner, Corporate
As a partner in our International Corporate Group based in London, I head up the International Capital Markets Practice across the firm.
I coordinate the capital markets practice worldwide and facilitate teams in the various offices where we have capital markets lawyers, to work closely together, share know how and look out for opportunities for each other and clients.
My own securities practice involves acting for institutions and issuers in respect of listings in London and elsewhere. I have extensive experience advising clients in a variety of sectors, with a particular emphasis on energy and utilities and technology and communications.
Career
I was admitted to practice as a solicitor in England and Wales in 1994 and during my 25 year career as a corporate lawyer, I have also experienced life as a regulator, as I spent two years as an adviser in the equity markets group of the London Stock Exchange (now known as the UK Listing Authority), where I gained valuable exposure and experience.
Between 2009 and 2013 I was head of Middle East at my previous firm and was a resident in the Kingdom of Bahrain. I built the office in Bahrain up to become the largest international law firm office in the country, with clients ranging from leading families to state institutions. My largest client win was the Central Bank of Bahrain, which appointed us as Administrator of Awal Bank, which has become the largest administration in the Middle East. The original $5bn portfolio of assets is being fought over in the courts throughout the world. I maintain a practice in the Gulf and work closely with my colleagues in Bird & Bird’s Abu Dhabi and Dubai offices and I travel to the region regularly.
Today, I’m recognised as a leading lawyer by Chambers and Partners, Legal 500 and by Spear’s, Europe’s foremost wealth management publication.
Education
- Nottingham Law School
- University of Warwick, History
- The Law Society of England & Wales in 1994
Lawyer Rankings
London > Projects, energy and natural resources > Mining and minerals
(Leading partners)Bird & Bird LLP provides a full service offering to mining companies, frequently advising on the full life-cycle of mining projects across the globe. Financing, M&A transactions, exploration licences, restructurings and IP issues are among the core competencies of the team in the space. ‘Fantastic operator’ Clive Hopewell solely leads the team.
London > Corporate and commercial > M&A: Lower Mid-Market Deals, £100m-£750m
(Leading partners)Working across offices in Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East, the ‘fantastic team full of brilliant talent’ at Bird & Bird LLP focuses on mid-market, cross-jurisdictional matters, primarily in the life sciences, technology, energy, retail and consumer and sports sectors. Growing its concentration in the IP and digital, and natural resources spaces, the team has recently advised on a significant deal flow from US buyers. Practice head Matt Bonass – especially noted for his focus on the energy and utilities sectors – advises on public and private M&A, joint ventures, and private equity transactions. The ‘solutions focused’ Neil Blundell regularly acts for US companies on tech transactions. With experience as director and board member of digital media and technology companies, the ‘standout partner’ Simon Fielder is well-placed to assist with listings on UK stock markets, international M&A, and equity and debt financings. Drawing on his experience in the New York and Abu Dhabi markets, Nick O’Donnell has been instructed by private equity and corporate clients on M&A, public takeovers, restructuring and governance matters. Clive Hopewell’s practice encompasses equity financing, IPO and M&A mandates. Other key figures include the ‘superb’ Mark Rundall and James Baillieu advise clients on M&A and venture capital investments. Specialising in acquisitions and divestitures in the technology, communications, automotive and energy and utilities sector, the ‘organised and professional’ George Mason is also recommended.
London > Corporate and commercial > Equity capital markets – small-mid cap
(Hall of Fame)The international capital markets practice group at Bird & Bird LLP benefits from the reach of the wider international corporate group, advising on a wide array of cross-jurisdictional capital markets transactions, including listings on both AIM and the Main Market of the LSE. IPOs, secondary fundraisings, public and private takeovers, and restructurings are key specialisms of the ‘very professional team’. The practice is headed up by Clive Hopewell, who focuses on equity financings and IPOs and is noted as a ‘fantastic operator, who as well as being a great lawyer is also very commercial’.
Lawyer Rankings
- Hall of Fame London > Corporate and commercial > Equity capital markets – small-mid cap
- Leading partners London > Projects, energy and natural resources > Mining and minerals
- Leading partners London > Corporate and commercial > M&A: Lower Mid-Market Deals, £100m-£750m
- M&A: Lower Mid-Market Deals, £100m-£750m London > Corporate and commercial
- Equity capital markets – small-mid cap London > Corporate and commercial
- Mining and minerals London > Projects, energy and natural resources
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Corporate and commercial > Commercial contracts
- Risk advisory > Data protection, privacy and cybersecurity
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Franchising
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Gaming and betting
- Industry focus > Hospitality and leisure
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property: patents (contentious and non-contentious)
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property: trade marks, copyright and design
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > IT and telecoms
- Investment fund formation and management > Listed funds
- Industry focus > Life sciences and healthcare
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Film & TV
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Sport
- Industry focus > TMT
- Corporate and commercial > Venture capital
Firm Rankings
- Transport > Aviation
- Corporate and commercial > Customs and excise
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Fintech
- Corporate and commercial > M&A: Lower Mid-Market Deals, £100m-£750m
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Advertising & marketing
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Digital content & social
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Media finance
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Music
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Video games
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > PATMA: Trade mark attorneys
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Power (including electricity and nuclear)
- Industry focus > Retail and consumer
- Industry focus > Emerging markets
- Employment > Employers
- Corporate and commercial > Equity capital markets – small-mid cap
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Fraud: civil
- Public sector > Healthcare
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Infrastructure: Project finance and development
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Mining and minerals
- Insurance > Product liability: defendant
- Employment > Senior executives
- Dispute resolution > Tax litigation and investigations
- Real estate > Commercial property: corporate occupiers
- Employment > Immigration
- Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: premium
- Real estate > Construction: non-contentious
- Corporate and commercial > Corporate tax
- Dispute resolution > International arbitration
- Real estate > Property finance
- Finance > Transport finance and leasing
- Finance > Bank lending: investment grade debt and syndicated loans
- Corporate and commercial > EU and competition
- Finance > Corporate restructuring & insolvency
- Public sector > Local government