The multidisciplinary corporate governance team at Baker McKenzie has board-level expertise in relation to corporate, regulatory and financial matters, among other areas and acts for large PLCs, global organisations and banks. It stands out for its high-level expertise, which has included pushing forward the governance agenda globally by collaborating with organisations such as the World Economic Forum. Practice head Beatriz Pessoa de Araujo has over 35 years’ experience in the corporate sphere and has recently been advising clients on stakeholder engagement and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) matters. Also jointly leading the practice are Helen Bradley and Jo Hewitt; Bradley ‘manages and guides her team well’ and heads up the firm’s dedicated UK public company advisory group, while Hewitt handles a range of governance issues, including the design and implementation of governance policies. Nick O’Donnell left for Bird & Bird LLP in August 2021.

Clifford Chance LLP acts for a range of top international blue-chip clients across the full spectrum of corporate governance issues, including compliance, regulatory and risk management matters. The practice stands out for its dedicated international ESG board and strong global platform, allowing it to handle cross-border mandates with ease. David Pudge co-heads the team and acts for financial institutions and corporate entities on transactions and governance issues, including shareholder engagement, annual general meetings (AGMs) and board effectiveness reviews. Luke Tolaini, who jointly leads the team, is a key name for corporate crises and investigations brought by regulators; Steven Fox is recommended for public company-related law, including regulatory and compliance matters, and Richard Crosby handles M&A, equity capital markets matters and restructurings. Rae Lindsay is a litigation and disputes practitioner with considerable expertise in ESG matters, policy development and implementation, due diligence and risk management, while at the more junior end of the team, senior associate Alanna Hunter is recommended for advice pertaining to AGMs, market abuse regulation and governance policies.

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP ‘consistently goes above and beyond and is always very accommodating and reliable, as well as producing work to an excellent standard’. The firm acts for top FTSE 100, FTSE 250 and AIM-listed companies on key governance issues and regulatory developments under the leadership of Gareth Sykes and Ben Ward. Sykes handles a range of governance and compliance issues, with particular experience in corporate reporting requirements, the UK Corporate Governance Code and listing rules, while Ward is a name to note for M&A and corporate finance work. James Palmer is another name for governance and corporate work, and Paul Ellerman handles remuneration and incentive scheme advice.

Linklaters LLP continues to build on its ESG expertise, with a focus on governance and compliance issues and crisis management work. Drawing on multi-jurisdictional and multidisciplinary expertise from its global network of offices and banking and finance, employment, dispute resolution and regulatory practitioners, the team is well placed to act for international companies in a wide range of industries. Vanessa Havard-williams heads up the practice and is well versed in environmental and climate change matters, and she also handles compliance issues in a range of areas. Alexandra Beidas is a name to note for remuneration issues, gender equality and workforce engagement, and Rachel Barrett is recommended for human rights matters. Tom Cassels is a key name for crisis management, while managing associate Aileen Buchanan handles health and safety and environmental matters, among other areas. Raza Naeem was promoted to partner in May 2022.

RPC has a broad range of corporate governance expertise relating to board-level matters and board effectiveness reviews, remuneration policies, regulatory matters, data protection work and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The team, which is headed up by Jeremy Drew, Patrick Brodie and Matthew Griffith, encompasses practitioners with in-house, compliance and financial regulatory experience. Drew handles contentious and non-contentious matters pertaining to governance, culture and conduct, while Brodie is recommended for the design and implementation of corporate governance programmes and initiatives, and high-profile investigations and reputation management issues. Griffith is a name to note for corporate, commercial and regulatory issues, with a focus on the insurance and financial services sectors. William Hogarth joined in September 2021 from Clyde & Co.

The governance and corporate risk team at Travers Smith LLP is well versed in risk management and compliance issues, and acts for a range of domestic and international clients including blue-chip companies. Its multidisciplinary team draws on strength from corporate, disputes, commercial, employment and regulatory practitioners to provide a holistic approach to governance and corporate risk issues. Doug Bryden leads the team and is a name to note for the implementation of policies and procedures, along with matters pertaining to bribery and corruption, corporate crime, human rights and ethical investments, among other areas. Neal Watson is a key name for ESG matters and compliance and acts for Main Market and AIM-listed companies, while senior consultant Simon Witney handles regulatory and transactional matters, with a focus on the private equity sector. Senior associate Laura Smyth focuses on corporate crime and ethics issues.

The governance and compliance team at Addleshaw Goddard is ‘knowledgeable, accessible and supportive’ and is particularly strong in advising high-profile domestic clients in the financial services sector. The multidisciplinary practice draws on strength from experts in building societies and mutuals, employment, banking and finance, environment and health and safety to advise on ESG matters, climate change and diversity and inclusion, among other areas. Jaya Gupta is a key corporate practitioner with considerable experience in compliance, governance and transactional matters, including those with a cross-border dimension; and Ben Koehne acts for a range of finance sector clients, such as banks, asset managers and stock exchanges, on corporate, M&A, and regulatory issues. On the more junior end of the team, managing associate Richard Preston is a corporate governance and compliance specialist, while Jack Edwards, who is dedicated to corporate governance work, was promoted to managing associate in October 2021.

Allen & Overy LLP leans on its global network for support when advising large multinational companies on a range of governance and strategic issues. It is particularly strong in AGM and annual reporting issues, ESG matters, and also litigation relating to board-level disputes. Richard Browne and Paul McCarthy are key practitioners, while Richard Cranfield retired from the firm. Counsels Kate Astley and Victoria Rankmore are also noted.

Ashurst fields a fully integrated UK and international corporate governance team that advises companies and financial institutions on a broad range of governance and regulatory compliance matters. The team was significantly bolstered in 2021, with the arrival of Will Chalk from Addleshaw Goddard; he co-heads the team alongside Anna-Marie Slot, who splits her time between London and Hong Kong. Also arriving in 2021 were data privacy expert Rhiannon Webster from DAC Beachcroft LLP; disputes specialist Nathan Willmott from Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner; financial regulatory expert Etay Katz from Allen & Overy LLP; and Florian Drinhausen who joined from an in-house role at Deutsche Bank. Chalk acts for large private and listed companies on corporate reporting and stakeholder engagement, ESG matters, and FCA compliance obligations. Slot is also a key name for ESG matters and has considerable experience in corporate finance matters.

Dentons’ corporate governance team is ‘always helpful and supportive in providing quick advice on corporate governance matters’. With the ability to leverage its global platform, the firm is well placed to advise large international clients on cross-border governance matters and has particular expertise in data privacy, employment, tax, finance and regulatory issues. The team is jointly led by Richard Barham and Katharine Harle; Barham handles governance-related M&A, joint venture and restructuring issues in the transportation, banking, manufacturing and sports sectors; and Harle is recommended for disputes, regulatory and investigations work. In December 2021, former practice co-head Martin Mankabady left for Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP, while counsel Dan Lund joined from Akin. Daren Allen left for Shoosmiths LLP in June 2021 and Chris Brennan joined from White & Case LLP in January 2022.

Hogan Lovells International LLP’s corporate governance practice acts for companies and their directors, officers, and shareholders, as well as governmental and non-governmental organisations on corporate controls, compliance, governance and shareholder matters. Drawing on strength from its international network and broad range of practice areas, which includes corporate, litigation, tax and regulatory, the firm caters to a wide range of domestic and global clients. Patrick Sarch joined from White & Case LLP in March 2021 and now co-heads the team alongside Ben Higson. Sarch focuses on ESG, shareholder activism and M&A matters, while Higson is another name for corporate matters, with a focus on the energy and natural resources, infrastructure and automotive sectors.

Norton Rose Fulbright is notably strong in UK Modern Slavery Act (MSA) compliance and other human rights issues and offers high-level advice on criminal and regulatory investigations. Its broad practice also provides advice on board-level governance issues, shareholder matters, risk management and regulatory matters to corporate clients and financial services companies. The team is headed up by Jon Perry and David Harris; Perry handles a range of corporate work, including cross-border transactions, with a focus on the commodities, mining and financial services sectors, and Harris is recommended for civil and criminal law investigations and proceedings before domestic and international authorities. Claire O’Donnell is a name to for governance and ethics issues, while Jonathan Herbst is recommended for UK and EU financial services law and regulations.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP is a heavyweight in the corporate sphere and is well versed in handling the governance aspects of high-profile M&A deals nationally and internationally. In addition to its strong transactional expertise, the firm acts for private and publicly held companies, investors and board committees on new legal regulatory frameworks and emerging market trends, shareholder issues, and corporate disclosure, activism and listing matters. Practice head George Knighton is a name to note for M&A and related governance issues, while Scott Hopkins has considerable cross-border experience and is recommended for regulatory matters. Simon Toms also has a solid track record in transactional matters and focuses on the technology, fintech, media and telecoms sectors, while Elizabeth Robertson is a key name for business crime and compliance issues.