Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP’s ‘deeply knowledgeable, commercial and responsive’ team stands out for its ability to advise major issuer-side clients, handling a consistently high volume of British, European, and US IPOs and dual listings, though the team also maintains close relationships with major banking clients. The practice frequently guides issuers and investors through European privatisation transactions, and it also regularly handles cross-border public and private issuances as well as share buybacks. The practice is jointly led by Julian Makin, a key contact for IPOs and the energy and natural resources sector, and Chris Mort, who chiefly advises private equity clients on ECM transactions. Nick Jones and Tom Godwin handle a wide array UK listed company matters. David Boles, an expert on handling international IPOs with US securities considerations, joined the team from Cooley (UK) LLP in April 2024.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Egor Marisin is an exceptional associate. He has a solid commercial understanding of our business which enables him to advise us pragmatically and proactively. Egor's client relationship skills are second to none and coupled with his legal skills and knowledge, there is no other associate in the City that I would rather work with.’
‘It is an enormous source of reassurance to know that the Freshfields team is alongside you as a client. Chris Mort and Nick Jones provide exceptional, commercial advice.’
Key clients
- Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc
- BAE Systems plc
Work highlights
- Advised Smurfit Kappa on a $20bn combination with WestRock and dual listings on the London Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange.
- Advised BAE Systems plc, a 49% shareholder in Air Astana, on the $847m initial public offering and listings of Air Astana shares and global depositary receipts on the London Stock Exchange, Astana International Exchange and the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange.