Praised for its ‘first-class legal support’, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP  routinely advises on corporate transactions, multijurisdictional projects across the fintech ecosystem and contentious fintech work. Caroline Rae, Nick Pantlin, Terence Lau and Alexander Amato-Cravero share leadership duties. Pantlin is adept at handling mandates relating to the adoption of digital assets and blockchain in the financial services and fintech sectors, while Lau frequently assists major financial institutions with the procurement of novel tech solutions. Barnaby Hinnigan is well placed to advise fintech clients such as challenger banks on fundraisings. Ajay Malhotra and Philip Lis are among the key names to note for contentious work.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Exceptional. Forceful and effective. Huge resources to draw on.’

  • ‘Ajay Malhotra is a considered but decisive team leader and fantastic strategist.'

  • 'Philip Lis is a new partner who is a brilliant lawyer and runs a team very well.'
  • 'John Mathew is a rising star who is thoughtful and effective. ’
  • ‘Highly responsive and collaborative. The team is experienced and well-versed in the fintech space, and provides advice that is practical and commercially minded. HSF also demonstrated inventiveness and flexibility in its ways of working with our in-house team - this enabled HSF to integrate seamlessly with our team to provide convenience and efficiency in our contract review processes. ’

  • 'Always responsive, collaborative and they give practical and commercially minded advice. A pleasure to work alongside, as our business scales.’

  • 'A strong bench who give consistently good advice to us.’

  • ‘An excellent team that provides first-class legal support, both on the contract side and in relation to project management and contract negotiations.’

Key clients

  • Allica Bank
  • Zopa
  • Enviroconomy Limited
  • Fiinu
  • Fidel API
  • Sabre Payments
  • Payhawk
  • Wagestream
  • CapitalRise
  • Carmoola
  • Gaia Fertility
  • Clay Technologies
  • Playter
  • Outward VC
  • Timeline Holdings Ltd
  • Perenna
  • Keep Me Posted Ltd t/a Yurtle
  • Finverity Ltd
  • Vestra Ventures
  • Kennek Solutions Ltd
  • Global Currency Exchange Network Ltd
  • Pontoro
  • StumpUP
  • Stenn
  • Xvoucher
  • Yonder
  • GB Bank
  • Copper
  • Philip Goffin/Zilo
  • SweatCoin
  • Oaknorth
  • InvestEngine
  • Pokt Network
  • PayRic
  • Flagstone
  • Car credible
  • Penfold
  • FNZ
  • Apron
  • Barclays
  • NatWest
  • HSBC
  • RBS
  • Metro Bank
  • Clydesdale Bank
  • TSB
  • Santander
  • AIB
  • HSBC Innovation Bank (previously Silicon Valley Bank UK)
  • Uncapped
  • Moneyhub
  • FNZ
  • Legal & General
  • Coinbase
  • Klarna
  • ClearScore
  • Blenheim Chalcot
  • Anacap
  • Global Growth Capital
  • JP Morgan
  • Parmenion Capital Partners
  • Charles Taylor InsureTech
  • Pension Insurance Corporation
  • Hastings
  • Property Partner
  • Elfin
  • Wayhome
  • Goji
  • Envestors
  • Hazy
  • Arivu
  • ApprovalMax
  • Archax
  • ARM
  • Baselime
  • BitQuest
  • Buildacy
  • Cent Finance
  • Cerebreon
  • Circularr
  • Dashly
  • Deontic Data
  • Distributed Finance
  • Ethin
  • FundAdminChain
  • Globacap
  • ClearBank
  • Tandem Money
  • FourAid Limited
  • LendInvest
  • 11:FS
  • Reefknot Investments
  • Huozhi
  • Invesco
  • The Big Exchange
  • EML Payments
  • Optal Limited
  • AxiCorp
  • FNZ Group
  • Comcast Corporation
  • Block.One
  • Moneysupermarket
  • TSB
  • BNPP
  • Credit Agricole
  • UBS
  • Santander
  • KodyPay
  • WiseTech
  • Huozhi
  • Hotelbeds
  • Beat Capital
  • Aura Blockchain Consortium
  • Ava Labs
  • Amazon

Work highlights

  • Provided strategic counsel to insurtech firm Beat Capital, encompassing a series of IT outsourcing negotiations crucial for the deployment of Beat Capital’s SaaS insurance policy underwriting platform, alongside the integration of associated cloud hosting services.
  • Advised HotelBeds on the establishment and expansion of its fintech business, including advising on the implementation of fintech Initiatives, the development of a multi-supplier payment platform and the procurement of essential fintech services.
  • Advised Tandem Bank, a prominent challenger bank, on a strategic £20m Tier 2 capital raise.

Lawyers

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.

Nick Pantlin, Caroline Rae, Terence Lau, Alexander Amato-Cravero

Other key lawyers

Barnaby Hinnigan, David Coulling, Marina Reason, Chris Bushell, Ajay Malhotra, Philip Lis, John Mathew, Adam Dempsey-Doyle