Travers Smith LLP
Travers Smith LLP has 'highly intelligent, incredibly responsive, client-focused, outcomes-driven and dedicated lawyers'. The firm is principally focused on derivatives matters for buy-side clients, though it is also a leading adviser on financial services regulatory issues. More recently, the firm has become taken a more prominent role in advising on fintech and ESG-related matters in the context of derivatives. Practice head Jonathan Gilmour brings 'excellent technical skills, practical and clear advice' to client matters. Gilmour and emerging partner talent Joseph Wren (whose 'straightforward approach provides comfort to trustees') assisted a leading asset manager with various derivatives and structured products matters, both at fund level and at the level of its portfolio companies, in particular in relation to European Market Infrastructure Regulation, Securities Financing Transactions Regulation, and the Central Securities Depositories Regulation. Peter Hughes, who focuses o pension funding and covenant mandates, and senior counsel Cindy Smith (whose 'attention to detail is exceptional'), play key roles in the practice. Sebastian Reger joined Fieldfisher in 2023.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Very deep understanding and experience of derivative regulations as it applies to fund managers in the UK.’
‘Jonathan Gilmour - excellent technical skills, practical and clear advice in a complicated area of regulation and law.’
‘The Travers Smith derivatives/structured products consists of highly intelligent, incredibly responsive, client-focused, outcomes-driven and dedicated lawyers. If you are looking for UK finance law advice, lawyers that are responsive and switched-on, and a team that seems to genuinely care about your business and solving your problems, look no further.’
‘Jonathan Gilmour is a standout, first-rate lawyer, who combines intelligence and dedication with his experience and interest in his clients' business, to produce stellar work every time.’
‘Thoughtful around broader industry trends and not just the individual client requirements. Clear subject matter experts. We have mainly benefitted from regulatory advice where there knowledge has helped shape some of our considerations on structuring.’
'Cindy Smith was our main contact. Her attention to detail was exceptional and she was firm in her position throughout to protect the company's interests.'
‘Jonathan Gilmour is exceptional. His passion for matters relating to sustainability and impact, and his dedication to embedding them within the legal profession, is inspiring. He is always willing to help; balances incredible attention to detail with high levels of efficiency; and is kind, friendly and professional.’
‘The team is flexible and responsive; effortlessly supporting projects at short notice and providing clear, practical advice especially where there is commercial sensitivity.’
‘Joseph Wren is a standout individual in this practice. His straightforward approach provides comfort to the Trustee, even when there are a number of complicated aspects to a transaction. He ensures that he understands the Trustee goals and negotiates to achieve these or clearly explains why modifications are required or when pragmatic alternatives would be beneficial.’
‘Always in it for the long-term relationship. Superb sector knowledge. Deep team.’
‘Strong and detailed knowledge of both legal and commercial practice in the sector. Team works effectively together, ensuring quick responsiveness throughout.’
‘Jonathan Gilmour, Nicholas Baines and Sana Dossa are all very strong, both legally and commercially.’
Key clients
- Inflexion
- DiscoverIE
- BAE Systems
- AXA UK Pension Trustees Limited
- Bittrex Global
- Trustee of the British Steel Pension Scheme
- Montagu Private Equity LLP
- Cinven
- Livingbridge
- Mabanaft Limited
- Silicon Valley Bank Limited
- Oakbrook Capital Limited
- Pay.UK
- Associated British Foods Pension Scheme
- Oaktree Capital Management
- IBM
- London Stock Exchange
- NEST Corporation
- Pemberton Capital Advisors LLP
- Bridgepoint Advisers
Work highlights
- Advised British Steel in connection with the transfer of the management of a portfolio of £9.9bn of assets, including interest rate, inflation, equity, credit, FX derivatives and repo transactions.
- Advised Cinven on the establishment of their fund-level FX hedging platform for fund VII and contractual derivatives arrangements with a panel of FX counterparts.
- Advised Bittrex’s Liechtenstein-based digital currency exchange on the development of their template documentation to allow for the lending of digital assets on their platform.
Lawyers
Leading individuals
Next Generation Partners
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Jonathan Gilmour