Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP remains a very popular choice for its strong and loyal private equity client base, which are appreciative of the firm’s ability to elicit the most favourable terms, utilising the full spectrum of financial products, from bank and bond financings through to unitranche facilities. Clients also benefit from the team’s deep knowledge of US-style documentation, with New York-qualified practitioners in London well-placed to advise on European terms which increasingly mirror those more typically found in the US leveraged market. Although the firm’s mainstream leveraged finance work has suffered something of a dip in volume levels, particularly on high-value bank and bond financings, the team – as well as handling a significant volume of liability management work – has also been well hedged by virtue of its prowess working on infrastructure financings. Shahpur Kabraji is the key name to note. Former practice head Ian Barratt and partner Sinead O’Shea left in October 2023.