Baker McKenzie ‘provides first-class advice on both regulatory matters and transactions’. Global chair of banking and finance Matthew Dening is ‘not an ivory tower lawyer, but a great technician’. He is ably supported by ‘excellent lawyer, draftsperson and team collaborator’ Iolie Calochristos. Together, they recently advised a Canadian insurance group on complex settlement arrangements for OTC derivatives positions as part of a large M&A transaction. Head of structured capital markets Simon Porter is a key adviser to corporate trustees on capital markets transactions. Structured finance and derivatives partner Jeremy Levy‘s work includes advice on structured notes programmes.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Very client-focused, with an understanding of the client's business and position.’
‘Matthew Dening - not an ivory tower lawyer, but a great technician.’
‘Very client-focused and regularly delivering well in advance of deadlines.’
‘I have worked with Baker McKenzie's London derivatives and structured products team for many years. Their unique strength is their understanding of our business and the way they tailor their advice accordingly, putting emphasis on the things we care about and not labouring matters which are not relevant to us. The team is responsive and quick.’
‘Matthew Dening heads the team. He is without doubt the best, most commercial derivatives lawyer I have dealt with. He is supported by Iolie Calochristos, who is an excellent lawyer, draftsperson and team collaborator. ’
‘Matthew Dening and his team provide first-class advice on both regulatory matters and transactions in the derivatives space. He has an incredible breadth and depth of regulatory knowledge. We have not found a similar level of service elsewhere.’
‘I find the quality of advice and the level of service that we receive from Matthew Dening and Iolie Colachristos in particular to be outstanding. Both are incredibly responsive. Both have a degree of commerciality that one rarely finds in such technical lawyers.’
‘James Tanner provides excellent service.’
Key clients
- Advent International
- Afreximbank
- Ahlstrom-Munksjo Oy
- Aptiv Global Operations Limited
- Atalaya
- Banca IMI
- Blackstar Capital
- BNP Paribas Trust Corporation UK Limited
- Bradesco Bank
- Citibank
- Cobham Limited
- Commerzbank
- Computershare
- Credit Agricole
- Demica
- Deutsche Trustee Company Limited
- Evri
- Fairfax
- Finalbion
- Fintex Capital
- First Rand Bank
- GLAS
- HSBC
- ING
- Intesa
- Kantar
- Mashreqbank
- Natixis
- Natwest Markets
- Nets A/S
- NIBC
- Ratepay
- Santander
- SMBC
- Société Générale
- Standard Chartered Bank
- The Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi
- TMF Trustee Limited
- UBS, London Branch
- US Bank
- Wells Fargo Bank
- Woodside Corporate Services Limited
Work highlights
- Advising African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) as the (currently sole) lender under a loan/repurchase programme established for The Liquidity and Sustainability Facility (the LSF) Designated Activity Company. Also advising on loan to Egypt's state-owned Banque Misr and to the Government of Rwanda.
- Acted for Oceans Finance Company in its role as project manager to structure, implement and oversee the Government of Ecuador's record USD 1.6 billion debt-for-nature swap.
- Advising Mashreqbank as Agent and Security Agent in connection with the re-structuring of JBF RAK LLC and its wholly owned subsidiaries JBF Belgium and JBF Bahrain.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Iolie Calochristos
Baker McKenziePractice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Matthew Dening, Simon Porter