The ��high-quality and responsive’ corporate and M&A team at Latham & Watkins offers a complete and ’excellent and attentive service’ to companies and financial sponsors, covering corporate transactional and advisory matters. In the past year, the practice has advised on an impressive array of combinations, joint ventures, sales, restructurings and carve outs, and takeovers including the £4.25 billion acquisition of Chelsea Football Club and the $10.5 billion acquisition by Adani Group of two of India’s leading cement companies. Known for its strong credentials in multiple sectors including technology, pharmaceutical and healthcare and leisure and hospitality, the team is increasingly acting in regulated public deals as well as listing rule deals. Co-heading the London practice is Richard Butterwick , who offers his expertise in Takeover Code law and cross-border M&A work, assisting LSE listed companies, and technology, ESM and life sciences specialist Farah O'Brien, who acts for corporates, growth investors, sponsors and portfolio companies. Corporate finance and M&A lawyer Douglas Abernethy has recently led on public takeovers and take private transactions, also offering a sophisticated understanding of the UK takeover regulatory environment. Assisting global companies on a range of M&A, corporate advisory and governance work is Ed Barnett, while Nick Cline engages in UK and international cross-border M&A and acts as counsel on many boards. Vice Chair of the firm’s global healthcare and life sciences practice, Robbie McLaren, also has experience in the technology industry, handling acquisitions, capital raises, asset swaps and carve outs. Acting in the UK, US and emerging markets such as India and Africa, Sam Newhouse, regularly assists a range of clients including multinational companies, financial investors and financial institutions on public and private M&A, reorganisations, divestments and joint ventures. The team is to be strengthened further by the addition of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP capital markets partner Mark Austin.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘Very good advice, not only on the legal front but also on the business fundamentals.’
‘A very result-oriented and humble team that is very attentive to client needs.’
‘A high-quality and responsive team that is strong both strategically and in the detail. They offered an excellent and attentive service that was superbly led.’
‘Very capable all-round lawyers, who are responsive, attentive and give clear advice. Nick Cline is a lawyer out of the very top drawer and gives clear measured advice. He is very responsive, unruffled and great to deal with. James Innes is clear and knowledgeable in his advice. Koushik Prasad is responsive and performs at a high level.’