The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2007: Banking & Finance

On an annual basis, Chambers & Partners conducts extensive research and thorough data analysis in compiling its objective list of legal talent available at the highest level of international legal practice. Its research methodology has been independently audited and confirmed to be thorough, robust and complete.

In Chambers' 2007 review of international legal talent in the area of Banking & Finance, our Firm is listed among the best in the world.

Chambers' comments:

Banking & Finance: High-End Acquisition Finance
United Kingdom Ranking: 4

The Firm: In recent years this firm has taken great strides to develop a debt finance practice to support its transatlantic private equity prowess. Clients were quick to comment on its "miraculous ability to turn around deals," attributing an ability to utilise resources as the key to its success. On a recent deal the team "worked 24/7 in a very smart way," one client commented. The lateral hire of "extremely effective" Stephen Gillespie is an undisputable coup for the burgeoning London practice. Despite significant management duties at Allen & Overy, he maintained his reputation as "a serious operator" in the acquisition finance sphere. His role at Kirkland & Ellis is expected to be more hands-on and sources watch its development with interest. His arrival comes hot on the heels of private equity specialists joining the firm from Linklaters - who are also expected to boost the firm's overall capability at acting for sponsors on high-end acquisition finance. Rated for his commercial approach to deals, John Markland is commended for his knack at "figuring out solutions" and seeing a transaction from "everyone's point of view." The team recently acted for Madison Dearborn Partners, who together with CVC and Cinven, led the merger of Irish-based Jefferson Smurfit Group and Dutch-based Kappa Packaging Group BV. It also represented BainCapital on the EUR1 billion acquisition finance facilities arranged by Goldman Sachs and Bank of America on the acquisition of the French connectors FCI Framatome.

Reprinted with permission from Chambers Global, The World's Leading Lawyers for Business 2007 - www.chambersandpartners.com.