Travers Smith LLP focuses predominantly on buy-side derivatives, and is a go-to adviser to alternative asset managers and pension funds. A growing proportion of the firm’s work is for large investment banks, which seek out its expertise in private capital and pension fund matters. Practice head Jonathan Gilmour is ‘technically very sound, provides clear advice.’ Gilmour works with emerging talent Joseph Wren, who has ’great organisational and negotiations skills‘, to advise the trustees of a £23bn pension scheme. The ’solution-focused, pragmatic, highly engaged‘ Nicholas Baines and Sana Dossa are widely regarded as the future of the practice.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The derivatives team at Travers Smith is a pleasure to work with. We worked with them on multiple FX solutions and each time received exceptional service. The team is clearly very knowledgeable and have the ability to translate complex legal and regulatory frameworks into easily digestible language.’
‘Jonathan Gilmour is very responsive and available. Technically very sound, provides clear advice. Elinor Samuel is responsive and thorough. Provides strong associate support.’
‘Last year, Travers Smith assisted us with a complex structured product transaction. We appreciated their professionalism, deep understanding of products and market practices, as well as their ability to assist swiftly and provide the highest quality legal documentation that we can always fully rely on.’
‘We very much enjoyed working together with Joseph Wren. His professionalism, great organisational and negotiations skills, as well as a deep knowledge of financial products are truly remarkable.’
‘Very collaborative, become part of the team. Specialist skills, the very best in their field.’
‘Attention to detail, excellent communication at all times, very sensitive to the needs of the client. Jonathan Gilmour is very approachable, highly responsive, a true expert in his field, highly professional, and a pleasure to work with.’
‘I always enjoy working with Joseph Wren and the team - they are highly professional, responsive, and I always feel like I'm in "safe hands" - the team is very commercial and able to give good advice on whether to push points or accept, based on terms our peer firms have and what we can reasonably expect.’
‘Joseph Wren and Nick Baines are both fantastic to work with. They are both highly commercial, flexible, and have helped me get some very last minute things over the line in a very short timeframe.’
Key clients
- Allianz Global Investors
- AXA UK Pension Trustees Limited
- BAE Systems Pension Fund Trustees
- BESTrustees Limited as trustee of the ZF UK Pension Plan
- Bittrex Global GmbH
- Bridgepoint Group plc
- Cinven Limited
- Hanover Investors Management LLP
- Inflexion
- International Business Machines Corporation
- Nomura
- Pemberton
- Rothesay Life
- Trustee of the British Steel Pension Scheme
- Vitruvian Partners
Work highlights
- Advised the British Steel Pension Scheme on a £2.7bn buy-in, taking total buy-ins to £7.5bn and making it the largest pension scheme to reach full insurance.
- Advised the Trustees of BAE Systems Pensions Schemes on the outsourcing of the investment management of approximately £23bn of pension scheme assets to Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM).
- Advised Inflexion Private Equity Partners LLP on various deal-contingent and interest rate hedging arrangements in respect of the acquisition of portfolio companies by funds managed by Inflexion.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Jonathan Gilmour