Bird & Bird LLP’s team has a strong global footprint which allows it to advise on fundraises across the AIM and Main Market of the London Stock Exchange while also handling equity issuances in emerging markets across EMEA and Southeast Asia. The team is also well-placed to advise international clients on their UK listing activities, having been recently instructed by US-based client Microsalt to advise on its AIM IPO. Practice head Clive Hopewell regularly advises on the corporate finance and regulatory aspects of issuer- and underwriter-side ECM matters, while Simon Allport is a key contact for public takeovers and Fiona McFarlane frequently handles corporate reorganisations. In September 2023, the team was joined by Michael Dawes, an expert on equity transactions in emerging African markets formerly of Memery Crystal.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Bird & Bird have a well-known and respected team which has grown over the last 12 months. They have a broad knowledge base and are commercial in their approach.’

  • ‘Fiona McFarlane is an exceptional lawyer. She works hard to understand the clients needs and turns documents quickly when required. Fiona and the team have good attention to detail and a commercial, pragmatic approach to getting deals done.’

  • ‘Very knowledgeable, punctual and always available.’

  • ‘Nick O'Donnell has excellent interpersonal skills, the ability to differentiate between what is material and what is not. He is reassuring to senior management and supportive to less experienced in house teams.’

  • ‘The team is knowledgeable, smart and focused on solving client problems.’

  • ‘They bring deep knowledge and experience to the project at hand.'

  • 'Clive Hopewell and Fiona McFarlane are both top notch. I would strongly recommend them.’

Key clients

  • Tekcapital PLC
  • Griffin Mining Ltd
  • Canaccord Genuity
  • Fox-Davies Capital
  • 88 Energy
  • Powerhouse Energy Group PLC
  • Globe Invest Limited
  • Axia Investments Limited
  • Allenby Capital
  • MicroSalt Plc
  • Gamma Communications PLC
  • Frontier Development PLC
  • WH Ireland Limited
  • Falcon Oil and Gas Ltd
  • Gneiss Energy Limited
  • Cloudbreak Discovery PLC
  • DP Poland PLC
  • JKX Oil & Gas PLC
  • Joh. Berenberg Gossler & Co KG
  • Asiamet Resources Ltd
  • Hannam & Partners
  • Director Plus PLC
  • Harvest Minerals Limited
  • SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP
  • Jangada Mines PLC
  • Gama Aviation PLC
  • Harvest Minerals Ltd
  • Mothercare PLC
  • Beowulf Mining PLC
  • Location Sciences Group PLC
  • Gemfields
  • Ergomed PLC
  • Tirupati Graphite PLC
  • Virtu Capital Ltd
  • Westminster Group PLC
  • Orosur Mining Inc.
  • Oberon Capital

Work highlights

  • Advised on the successful AIM IPO of MicroSalt plc.
  • Advised AIM-listed mining company Griffin Mining Lt, on its approximate £8m return of cash to shareholders through a Buy Back Programme and related on-market purchases.
  • Advised Canaccord Genuity and Fox-Davies Capital as joint bookrunners on an oversubscribed placing by AIM-listed CleanTech Lithium Plc.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Clive Hopewell

Other key lawyers

Simon Allport, Michael Dawes, Fiona McFarlane, Nick O'Donnell