The ‘outstanding’ and dedicated team at Travers Smith LLP handles a broad range of governance, risk management and compliance matters under the leadership of Doug Bryden and Neal Watson. It acts for blue-chip clients and draws on strength from the firm’s corporate, disputes, commercial, employment and regulatory departments to provide a holistic approach to governance issues. Bryden is a contact for bribery and corruption, corporate crime, human rights and ethical investments, while Watson handles corporate and board-level issues. Senior consultant Simon Witney focuses on regulatory, transactional and fund formation mandates and at the more junior end of the team, associate Laura Smyth advises on governance and corporate crime matters in the banking, retail and private equity sectors, and senior counsel Aisling Arthur deals with market abuse and compliance issues.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

'Approachable, friendly, unstuffy (in comparison to other firms) and keen to invest in (in terms of deepening knowledge of) client companies.'
'Collaborative with highly relevant corporate governance updates. Responsive and does not go beyond the brief.'
'The team I deal with on a day-to-day basis are approachable, responsive, professional and extremely knowledgeable.'
'Instructions are acknowledged quickly and timescales adhered to.'
'At certain times of the year (around the Annual Report and AGM), contact is very frequent and we, as the client, can be very demanding. I am aware that the TS team will have competing priorities with other clients, but it never feels that way - their calm and practical approach provides me with assurance that we are in safe hands.'
'The team understand the sector and our requirements and seek to grow their knowledge of our business.'
'Doug Bryden offers first-rate client service.'
'The team at Travers who support us with corporate governance advice are outstanding.'

Key clients

Advent Ltd
Nomura
SSP Group plc
Hostelworld Group plc
Noble Corporation plc
Camellia plc
S4 Capital plc
Porvair plc
Smithson Investment Trust plc
Safestore Holdings plc
Mears Group Plc
Breedon Group plc
Shepherd Neame Limited
Pets at Home Group plc
Auction Technology Group plc

Work highlights

Undertook a 'root-and-branch' review of Omnipresent's policies and procedures on corporate governance, anti-bribery and corruption, etc.
Advising multiple publicly quoted clients, such as SSP Group plc, Hostelworld Group plc, Auction Technology Group plc, Foresight Group Holdings Limited, Safestore Holdings plc and S4 Capital plc on governance and disclosure issues, including advising on annual reports and notices of annual general meetings, UK Corporate Governance Code disclosures and Section 172 statements, stakeholder engagement issues and remuneration policies/reports.
Advising large multi-strategy alternative asset managers on ESG and good governance.