Travers Smith LLP fields a ‘highly respected team with exceptional depth and experience’. The firm has dedicated specialists for listed company advisory, contentious risk management, anti-corruption and ESG matters. Neal Watson and Aisling Arthur jointly oversee the practice; Watson’s broad offering encompasses corporate governance regulation, reporting requirements, directors’ duties, reputation protections and listing rules, while Arthur specialises in shareholder activism and market abuse issues. Simon Witney focuses his practice on regulatory, transactional and fund formation work. Laura Smyth is also a name to note.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The team at Travers Smith is highly responsive, knowledgeable and professional. The most obscure of queries is dealt with quickly and efficiently, and it is clear that the team have a huge breadth of knowledge and experience. I like the fact that the advice is practical, giving examples of other companies' disclosures, best practice, common themes and market intelligence.’

  • 'Aisling Arthur and Klem Zastawniak are approachable, hugely knowledgeable and always respond within timescales, despite sometimes being extremely tight. Their advice is well researched and practical and within scope. I have complete confidence in them and their ability to deal with whatever query or matter I send their way.'

  • ‘The team have outstanding technical knowledge in this area and a great sense of what current market practice is. They proactively update us on relevant developments and have supported us with bespoke training throughout the year. The team are always responsive and a real pleasure to work with.’

  • ‘Aisling Arthur is outstanding. She has a real understanding of our business and always provides highly commercial advice.’

  • ‘A highly respected team with exceptional depth and experience. By acting for a range of enterprises and not just "mega-corporations", Travers remains accessible to mid- and small-cap companies without compromising on the quality of advice.’

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
  • Cavendish Financial plc
  • Distribution Finance Capital Holdings plc

Work highlights

  • Advised Bytes Technology Group plc on a corporate governance investigation arising from a director failing to disclose a dealing by her husband.

Lawyers

Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Neal Watson, Aisling Arthur

Other key lawyers

Simon Witney, Jon Reddington, Laura Smyth, Klementyna Zastawniak