Ian Johnson
Slaughter and MayDrawing upon ‘outstanding technical skills’, in addition to ’solid commercial and tactical nous’, Slaughter and May remains best-known for its company- side offering, including a considerable volume of advice to the boards of large plcs experiencing financial difficulties. A good deal of this has a political angle, with regulated businesses in the energy and financial services sector being key clients. Notably, the ‘thoughtful and personable’ Tom Vickers recently advised a UK bank on the consequences for its financial position after its US parent was placed into receivership. A ’reassuring presence in difficult situations’, team head Ian Johnson has deep expertise at helping companies navigate challenging economic conditions, and as well as advising on balance sheet restructurings is also very well-versed at utilising the full range of insolvency tools, including the use of Chapter 11 for UK-based businesses. The ‘bright and effective’ Tim Newey is also recommended as a result of his company-side work and his roles for office holders on insolvency matters. Evelyn Fleming is another key member of the team.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'They are a total one-stop-shop, providing a full service right across a transaction life cycle and beyond.'
- 'The very strong team displays a methodical and thoughtful approach.'
- 'They display a calm and thoughtful approach to complex issues.'
- 'They have outstanding technical skills as well as solid commercial and tactical nous. They are also very experienced and knowledgeable in dealing with pension regulator and associated issues.'
- 'Ian Johnson is calmness personified.'
- 'A class act, Ian Johnson is a reassuring presence in difficult situations.'
- 'Tom Vickers is thoughtful and personable.'
- 'Tim Newey is bright and effective.'
Key clients
- Cineworld Group plc and certain of its subsidiaries as debtors and guarantors under various financing arrangements
- Alix Partners as administrators of Cineworld Group plc
- Silicon Valley Bank UK Limited
- Tata Steel Limited
- Covis Group S.a.r.l (and its sponsor Apollo Global)
- Non-Standard Finance plc
- Interserve Group Limited and its liquidators PWC
- HM Treasury
- Grant Thornton as administrators of S.D. Taylor Limited
Work highlights
- Advised Cineworld in connection with its financial restructuring, including the successful emergence of entities making up its US, UK and Irish businesses from their Chapter 11 cases and the pre-packaged administration of Cineworld Group plc.
- Advised Silicon Valley Bank UK Ltd (SVBUK) on the consequences for its own financial position following its parent, Silicon Valley Bank, being placed into receivership by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Bank of England subsequently announcing it intended to place SVBUK into a bank insolvency procedure.
- Advised Non-Standard Finance Group on its successful financial restructuring, which involved a scheme of arrangement to provide certainty as to liability for historical redress liabilities and culminated in the transfer of the business to a lender-owned newco.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Tom Vickers
Slaughter and MayPractice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Ian Johnson