Debt capital markets

Sidley Austin LLP

Client Satisfaction

Sidley Austin LLP is known for its ‘customer focus, tailor-made solutions and attention to client-specific needs and circumstances’. The practice led by David Howe is adept in investment-grade deals for corporate and financial institution issuers, though it is increasingly active in non-investment grade for private equity sponsors, and debt restructurings. Todd Gilbert is the firm’s lynchpin for issuer-side US private placement transactions in Europe. Though predominantly active in high yield debt, Alan Grinceri handles a broad range of New York law, European and Asian debt offerings. Gilbert and Grinceri recently handled a $760m restructuring exercise for a global customer relationship management and business process outsourcing service provider. The ‘sharp-witted’ Omar Shafi is a key adviser to some of the firm’s flagship corporate and bank clients. He worked with Howe to assist a global soft drinks company with English and New York law issues concerning the issuance of €700m in notes. Nigel D.J. Wilson retired in 2023.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘Todd Gilbert has provided exceptional service on a number of transactions. We actively recommend engaging the firm on USPP issuances.’
‘Customer focus, tailor-made solutions and attention to client-specific needs and circumstances. An all-round approach which is a result of the good understanding of the bank's overall activities and operations’
‘Client-focused, very responsive to queries, providing tailor-made solutions. David Howe and Omar Shafi stand out for their exceptional approach in terms of quality of legal advice, personal care and support.’
‘Omar Shafi is our contact/connection to Sidley Austin. I have known him for many years and have always enjoyed working with him. Omar has excellent legal skills and an incredible attention to detail. He is pragmatic and very focused on finding solutions that work for all parties. Omar is sharp-witted and has a keen sense of humour. ’
'I actively enjoy working with Sidley.'
'David Howe has a huge wealth of experience and knowledge which has had identifiable impact on specific transactions. Happy to spend time educating clients in order to improve their knowledge and enable them to do their jobs more effectively. Trusted as an advisor and to act in client’s best interests.
'Omar Shafi is an excellent solicitor who is pragmatic and delivers effective, nuanced solutions with a very high attention to detail. Trusted as an advisor and to act in client’s best interests.'
'Commerciality, availability, strong technical / legal knowledge and a client focus.'

Key clients

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners plc
Bank of Cyprus Public Company Limited
McDonald's Corporation
Atento S.A.
GSK plc
Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation
Worley Group
Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
Morgan Stanley International plc
UBS AG
Barclays Bank PLC
BNP Paribas
Carsales.com Limited
Ampol Limited
Aurizon Operations Limited
Aurizon Network Pty Limited
Tabcorp Holdings Limited
J.P. Morgan

Work highlights

Advised Coca-Cola Europacific Partners plc in connection with the issuance of €700 million 3.875% Notes due 2030 through its Dutch finance subsidiary BNI (Finance) B.V.
Advised the Bank of Cyprus group's holding company, Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public Limited Company, in connection with its €220 million Fixed Rate Reset Perpetual Additional Tier 1 Capital Securities, and its concurrent cash tender offer to holders of the group's outstanding additional tier 1 capital securities.
Advised Atento S.A. in its successful financial restructuring and capital raise.