Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP

Skadden’s London office provides legal services across a wide range of practice areas, including mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, private equity, banking and finance, corporate restructuring, investment management, tax, insurance, government enforcement and white-collar crime, international litigation and arbitration, EU competition, financial regulatory, employment, intellectual property, information technology, data protection and cybersecurity. Since its establishment in 1988, the London office has become a significant presence in the UK legal market.

The firm operates as a fully integrated UK, European and US practice, bringing together highly ranked lawyers to advise major corporates, financial institutions and governments on complex cross-border matters. Its global platform enables lawyers in London to coordinate relevant expertise across multiple practices and jurisdictions.

Skadden has developed one of the world’s leading mergers and acquisitions practices, with more than two decades of experience in Europe and a particular strength in complex, cross-border transactions. The London office has a first-tier capability in Takeover Code regulated transactions, alongside a strong practice in private and non-public deals, offering distinct advantages in managing the demands of multiple legal and regulatory regimes.

The private equity team advises on structuring and executing large cross-border and domestic transactions, including the purchase and sale of portfolio companies. Its European private equity real estate group provides combined European and US capabilities, handling matters such as leveraged buyouts, management buyouts, recapitalisations and real estate-related transactions, supported by sophisticated financing and tax expertise.

The capital markets practice integrates UK and US advice for corporate, banking and governmental clients, handling initial public offerings, rights offerings, investment-grade and high-yield financings, private placements, hybrid securities and other equity and debt offerings. The practice is active across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the CIS, with experience under the UK and EU Prospectus Regulations, US Rule 144A and Regulation S, and listings on major exchanges worldwide.

The UK banking group advises on acquisition finance, high-yield and private placements, project and real estate finance, corporate lending and restructuring. The team acts for both lenders and borrowers in some of the largest financing transactions globally, contributing to the development of both new financing techniques and established approaches.

The European white-collar crime and corporate investigations practice represents corporations and individuals in cross-border investigations and enforcement matters. The group handles regulatory and compliance issues, including anti-corruption, money laundering, trade sanctions and export controls, as well as internal investigations and defence against enforcement actions.

The litigation and arbitration team undertakes multijurisdictional disputes and international arbitrations, including cases under ICSID, ICC, LCIA, HKIAC and UNCITRAL rules. The group includes solicitor-advocates with rights of audience before the High Court of England and Wales and has the capability to conduct advocacy without external barristers.

The London-based tax practice combines domestic and cross-border expertise in M&A, private capital transactions and real estate matters, while also advising high-net-worth individuals. Its tax controversy team provides representation in disputes and investigations, offering resolution strategies through negotiation, expert determination or litigation.

The insurance group advises insurance and reinsurance companies, underwriters and financial advisors on corporate transactions, financings, restructurings and regulatory matters. The team also provides guidance on authorisations, solvency, permissible activities, product structuring and corporate reorganisations.

The corporate restructuring team, headquartered in London, advises on cross-border out-of-court restructurings, judicial reorganisations, insolvency proceedings and bankruptcy matters. The practice has been involved in many of the most complex restructuring transactions of recent years.

The investment management practice serves private capital and asset management clients, including private equity funds, hedge funds, family offices, financial institutions and sovereign investors. The group advises on structuring and operating funds and investment vehicles across multiple jurisdictions.

The London IP, IT, data protection and cybersecurity team assists international clients across industries, ensuring compliance with evolving regulatory frameworks. The practice plays a central role in transactions and investigations where privacy, data protection and cybersecurity are critical.

The European Union and international competition team focuses on merger control, cartels, abuses of dominance and other antitrust matters, offering integrated strategies to address the actions of European and other non-US regulators.

The employment team advises on cross-border employment, benefits, compensation and pension issues in multinational transactions, including employee transfers and consultation requirements.

The European energy practice supports clients in petroleum exploration, infrastructure investments, privatisations, large-scale power and refinery projects, and financings. It provides legal guidance on transactions involving energy companies and capital-intensive projects, drawing on expertise from the firm’s corporate, banking and tax practices.