Next Generation Partners

Corporate governance in London

A&O Shearman

As adviser to some 26 FTSE 100 companies including Aviva, Hiscox and Associated British Foods, Allen & Overy LLP has notable expertise across compliance, regulatory and risk management mandates and regularly assists listed companies with shareholder issues, including activist investors and contentious company board disputes. The group also handles environmental, social and governance reviews, and fields a dedicated team, which specialises in annual general meetings and annual reporting issues. Recent work includes advising Electra Private Equity on several activist shareholder, strategic review and governance issues, and handling the governance elements of DWF's listing on the London Stock Exchange. Richard Browne and Richard Cranfield jointly lead the corporate group and Paul McCarthy is the key contact for corporate incentives. Other noteworthy practitioners include corporate finance partner David BroadleyMatthew Townsend, who is co-head of the international trade and regulatory law group; and senior corporate assistants Victoria Rankmore and Kate Astley. In late 2018, the firm also launched A&O Consulting, a venture which will focus on providing regulatory business advice including corporate governance work.

Responsables de la pratique:

Richard Browne; Richard Cranfield; Paul McCarthy


Les références

Team members are experts in their field.

‘Manages to make the service feel personal at the same time as being clear and independent in its advice. Its accessibility is exceptional.

The team is very good technically, but also able to be pragmatic, which you don’t always get with a Magic Circle firm.

Principaux clients

Aviva


Direct Line


Great Portland Estates


Ibstock


Imperial Brands


Sage Group


TUI


Associated British Foods


Quilter (formerly Old Mutual Wealth)


Network International


Hiscox


Consort Medical


McCarthy & Stone


DWF


Electra Private Equity


Man Group


Prudential     


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising a range of clients including Aviva, Sage, Quilter, Direct Line, Ibstock, Imperial Brands, TUI and Great Portland Estates on their annual general meetings, annual reports and governance arrangements.
  • Assisting DWF with its IPO and listing on the London Stock Exchange and its related reorganisation including an innovative group structure and governance arrangements.
  • Acting for Man Group on its corporate reorganisation; the new corporate structure will be implemented through a scheme of arrangement.
  • Advising multiple listed companies on compliance and risk management issues including environmental law, anti-bribery and corruption issues, and data protection and privacy work.
  • Assisting Electra Private Equity with an activist shareholder, strategic review and governance issues.

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP's dedicated corporate governance advisory team focuses on board and head office issues including regulatory, reporting and governance standards matters for both listed and private companies; it counts roughly 116 London Stock Exchange-listed companies as clients. The group also leverages the strength of other departments including the corporate and employment practices, a specialist team which focuses on company investigations and crisis management, and the financial services group, which has been handling Senior Managers and Certification Regime and Senior Insurance Managers Regime issues. Ben Ward and Paul Ellerman jointly lead the department; Ellerman is also global head of the firm's remuneration and incentives team. Corporate partners Mike Flockhart, Robert Moore, James PalmerCaroline Rae and Stephen Wilkinson; incentives specialist Mark Ife, financial institutions transactions practice head Alex Kay and regulatory expert Karen Anderson all contribute to the practice. Of counsel Gareth Sykes is also a corporate governance specialist. Carol Shutkever retired in 2018.

Responsables de la pratique:

Ben Ward; Paul Ellerman


Les références

‘An exceptional grasp of the corporate governance landscape, ensuring clients are made aware of any upcoming changes so they have the opportunity to plan ahead.

Herbert Smith Freehills has a depth and detailed knowledge of this area, quickly capturing developments and giving insights to clients in a clear and concise manner. It provides practical and timely advice and has knowledge on a par with other leading law firms in this area, but the speed and style of keeping clients informed makes it stand out.

The HSF team is one of the strongest corporate governance teams in London. Practical and accurate advice is delivered in a timely and user friendly way. This area is a vital one for listed plcs and having the HSF team on call is very reassuring.

Principaux clients

Associated British Foods


Berkeley Group


British American Tobacco


BP


Johnson Matthey


Lloyds Banking Group


National Grid


Pearson


Severn Trent


Elementis


Ferrexpo


G4S


Genus


Hammerson


Inchcape


Man Group


Moneysupermarket.com


PageGroup


SIG


Stagecoach Group


The Unite Group


The Weir Group


Travis Perkins


WH Smith


ANZ Banking Group Ltd


Canada Life International


Coats Group


Gulf Keystone Petroleum


Kin + Carta (formerly St Ives plc)


River & Mercantile


Sky


South32


TSB


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising British American Tobacco on various corporate governance matters including director changes, corporate governance reform issues, corporate reporting, remuneration work and business integrations.
  • Assisting BP with a range of matters encompassing annual report and accounts work, payment reporting requirements, AGM issues and compliance mandates.
  • Instructed by Ted Baker to conduct an external investigation to examine claims of inappropriate behaviour against its founder and chief executive.
  • Advising SIG on various governance issues including annual report and accounts work and listing regime matters.
  • Assisting Sky with a range of governance issues and its reporting and disclosure obligations.

Linklaters LLP

Linklaters LLP's risk and resilience team provides global risk management, regulatory and governance advice to clients. The group primarily focuses on governance and compliance models, board advice, risk assessments, investigations, reporting and disclosure, and crisis management. Key practitioners  include co-head Vanessa Havard-Williams, who also leads the firm's sustainability practice and has expertise in human rights issues; co-head and corporate partner Tom Shropshire, who splits his time between London and the US; and Michael Bennett, who is global head of the dispute resolution group. Tom Cassels is also a key name for contentious work, Rachel Barrett is an expert in compliance and risk management issues, Richard Cumbley focuses on data and privacy matters, and Satindra Dogra handles fraud investigations and bribery work. Managing associate Lucy Blake is also noted for her financial crime and fraud knowledge.

Les références

Linklaters provides pragmatic advice thanks to a team you can always trust to think about the nuance of their advice.

The team fields really great people who are a pleasure to work with.

Principaux clients

Uber London Limited


Volvo AB


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising multiple FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 clients on new UK corporate governance requirements including stakeholder engagement issues and remuneration work.
  • Assisting various UK private companies and subsidiaries with new Wates principles issues.
  • Handling the transition from the Senior Insurance Managers Regime to the Senior Managers Certification Regime for three leading insurers.
  • Working with UK Finance on a report on ethical values in the banking and finance sector and how governance, strategy and decision making can be informed by ethical principles.
  • Assisting with an updated version of its guide for general counsel on corporate sustainability, which includes advice on fiduciary duties, sustainability in supply chains, and the role of sustainability in crisis management.

Addleshaw Goddard

Addleshaw Goddard's multi-disciplinary team handles the full spectrum of governance, regulatory compliance and risk management mandates, with notable expertise in statutory and regulatory obligations; board, directors and general counsel support; annual reporting issues and annual general meeting matters. Will Chalk heads up the corporate governance team, which also draws from the corporate, employment, employee incentives, corporate crime and regulatory departments;. Key individuals include global investigations practice head Nichola PetersBen Koehne, who leads the building societies group; financial regulation head Amanda Hulme, employee incentives expert Jonathan Fletcher-Rogers and Edinburgh-based data head Helena BrownDavid Pygott joined from CMS to expand the firm's contentious regulatory expertise.

Responsables de la pratique:

Will Chalk


Les références

‘This is the only team I know that focus solely on corporate governance – they are the closest I can find to a Company Secretary advisory service. Although a small team, their response times are impressive and they cover wide range of governance issues yet have a great depth of knowledge.’

‘Will Chalk’s wide ranging knowledge and experience mean he is the go-to person as a first port of call.’

‘Richard Preston has an impressive grasp on detail.’

Principaux clients

NFU Mutual


Celtic Football Club


Edinburgh Airport


FNZ (UK)


Standard Life


Mercy Corps


Worldpay


Argos Financial Services


City Pub Group plc


Portakabin


Reclaim Fund Ltd


Southern Water Services Limited


Threadneedle Investments


National Grid


Network Rail


Skanska Construction UK Limited and Morrison Utility Services Limited


National Grid Property


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising an investment management client on its share plans including a replacement save as you earn scheme, the operation of the share incentive plan and the position of leavers under the executive plans.
  • Assisting Portakabin with its data protection compliance internationally.
  • Advising Southern Water Services Limited on a South Hampshire public inquiry relating to regulatory issues in the water industry including changes to water abstraction licences.
  • Assisting a retail client with supply chain transparency compliance issues.

Baker McKenzie

Beatriz Pessoa de Araujo leads the corporate governance practice at Baker McKenzie, which also fields corporate finance practice head Helen Bradley, chair of the EMEA compliance and investigations group Joanna Ludlam, corporate finance partner Robert Adam and Jeremy Edwards, who heads up the employee benefits group. The cross-departmental group acts for a range of FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 clients; examples include Barclays, BP and Unilever. The group's expertise encompasses corporate advisory work, compliance and risk governance issues, crisis management, investigations, executive remuneration matters and tax governance mandates. The firm also has a dedicated public company advisory service line, led by Bradley.

Responsables de la pratique:

Beatriz Pessoa de Araujo


Les références

The Baker McKenzie governance practice distinguishes itself as being well networked and up to date on how its clients are responding in practice to new regulatory developments.

Helen Bradley is a go-to lawyer on corporate governance queries due to her responsiveness and pragmatic advice. In addition, she has the rare ability to empathise with her clients, which makes taking bad news from her much more palatable.

Helen Bradley and her team’s governance and regulatory advice is extremely sharp, responsive and wise. In addition, liaising with Helen is easy and pleasant as she always acts in a pragmatic, resolute and user-friendly manner. She comes up with out-of-the-box solutions to achieve the client’s strategic goals. All in all, she is a precious and outstanding trusted adviser.

Principaux clients

AMEX


Astellas


ARM


Barclays


BAT PLC


Bank of Georgia Group PLC


BP


The Body Shop


Cadogan Petroleum PLC


Disney


IP Group plc


Deutsche


DMGT


De La Rue PLC


EDF


Georgia Capital PLC


GHG PLC


Global Ports Holding plc


Photo-Me International plc


IP Group plc


Management Consulting Group PLC


RAK Petroleum PLC


Rio Tinto PLC


Rowan PLC


Takeda


Rotork plc


Shell


Sound Energy PLC


Spirax-Sarco Engineering PLC


TBC Bank PLC


Unilever


Weir Group PLC


Westinghouse


Principaux dossiers


  • Acting for BGEO Group on the governance aspects of the demerger of its investment business via a scheme of arrangement, including board composition issues, the creation of a proportional voting mechanism over listed shares, and remuneration matters.
  • Advising a manufacturer of musical instruments on a live CMA dawn raid and the resulting investigation into UK pricing practices.
  • Acting for Willis Towers Watson in the CMA’s market investigation into investment consultancy and fiduciary management services.
  • Advising Olayan Group on the governance aspects of its proposed takeover bid for intu Properties including share purchase issues and disclosure work.

Hogan Lovells International LLP

Hogan Lovells International LLP counts companies, directors, officers and shareholders as clients, which it advises on a broad range of governance issues including crisis counselling, special investigations, enforcement proceedings, compliance assessments and board duties and obligations. Jonathan Baird, capital markets specialist Maegen Morrison and consultant Richard Ufland jointly lead the practice, which also includes Crispin Rapinet, who leads the firm's global investigations, white collar and fraud practice, and counsel Liam Naidoo, who focuses on investigations into allegations of corrupt employee activity. The team counts FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 companies as clients. ITV is a noteworthy example. In a recent highlight, the department also advised Uber on its new governance model, which led to it successfully appealing TfL's decision in 2017 to revoke its private-hire operator licence and being granted a 15 month probationary licence.

Responsables de la pratique:

Jonathan Baird; Maegan Morrison; Richard Ufland


Autres avocats clés:

Crispin Rapinet; Liam Naidoo


Principaux clients

British Paralympic Association


Caisse des Depots et Placement du Quebec (CDPQ)


Department for Digital, Culture Media & Sport – Government Inclusive Economy Unit (DCMS)


International Public Partnerships


ITV plc


Mail.Ru Group Limited


Mars


Millennium & Copthorne plc


MP Evans Group PLC


NATS


Paysafe Group


Shaftesbury plc


The Crown Estate


Uber


Zopa


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising Uber on its governance model in the UK to demonstrate it is ‘fit and proper’ to hold a London private-hire operator licence following the decision by TfL to revoke its licence in 2017. This included reviewing its corporate governance arrangements, considering issues relating to Uber’s app and implementing new policies.
  • Assisting the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport with its dormant assets project.
  • Acting for Paysafe Group on all its governance work including market abuse compliance, annual report reviews and employee share plan issues.
  • Advising Millennium & Copthorne on its corporate governance work including compliance with the Corporate Governance Code, constitutional matters and AGM issues.
  • Acting for CDPQ in several investigations into alleged bribery at a Bombardier subsidiary.

Norton Rose Fulbright

With a client base of FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 companies, Norton Rose Fulbright handles the full range of corporate governance issues leveraging standalone corporate, investigations, criminal defence and compliance practices. The group leans heavily on partners in the firm's corporate department, with significant contributors including Alan BainbridgeRichard CrosbyCharlotte Henry and Claire O’DonnellJonathan Herbst and Neil O’May are also key names to note; Herbst is global head of the financial services regulatory practice and O'May leads the criminal law practice. In a recent highlight, O'May represented the former director of Tesco in a high-profile investigation and prosecution into Tesco's accounting practices.

RPC

RPC's cross-firm group is jointly led by Jeremy DrewPatrick Brodie and Matthew Griffith, who specialise in commercial, employment, and the insurance and financial services sectors respectively. The group primarily draws on corporate, advisory and regulatory practitioners to handle the full spectrum of governance issues including independent reports, remuneration policy advice, modern slavery issues, gender pay gap analysis, and conduct and culture work. Clients include listed companies, financial services, insurance and retail clients, and US-owned corporates. Sports Direct is a noteworthy example, with the team advising on its reporting of Debenhams to the FCA. Sam Tate is a key contact for white-collar crime and regulatory issues.

Responsables de la pratique:

Jeremy Drew; Patrick Brodie; Matthew Griffith


Autres avocats clés:

Sam Tate


Les références

RPC feel less like an external entity and more like a group of internal colleagues. This differentiates it from normal private practice.

Patrick Brodie is nothing short of a pleasure to deal with and can’t be praised highly enough. He is diligent, astute, eloquent and exceedingly knowledgeable in his field and the job he performs is always a resounding success.

Principaux clients

Sports Direct


Federal Republic of Nigeria


Principaux dossiers


  • Representing the Federal Republic of Nigeria in a bribery claim against JP Morgan relating to the bank’s role in the alleged fraudulent and corrupt acquisition of an oil prospecting licence by Shell and Eni.
  • Advised Sports Direct on its involvement as a witness in an FRC investigation into Grant Thornton’s audit of the Sports Direct Group.
  • Assisting Sports Direct with its reporting of Debenhams to the FCA relating to the accuracy of its financial reporting.

Travers Smith LLP

The governance group at Travers Smith LLP encompasses multiple dedicated teams including the governance and trade risk group, listed company advisory team, anti-corruption team and the firm's boardroom risk initiative. The firm's blue-chip client base benefits from the team's knowledge of the interactions between governance, risk management and compliance, as well as substantial expertise in transactional matters. Doug Bryden, who leads both the governance and trade risk group and the environment and regulatory group, handles policies, processes and procedures relating to governance risks including bribery, corporate crime and human rights, among others. Laura Summerfield heads up the listed company advisory team, which assists publicly quoted corporates with best practice and corporate culture matters. Other key individuals include employment partner Adam Wyman and senior associate Aisling Arthur, who handles shareholder activism matters, market abuse regulation advice, board policies and best practice compliance for listed companies.

Responsables de la pratique:

Doug Bryden; Laura Summerfield


Autres avocats clés:

Adam Wyman; Aisling Arthur


Les références

The highly flexible and responsive team at Travers Smith assists clients with time-critical and sensitive matters on a wide variety of subjects. The firm’s balanced approach greatly aids management decision making.

The team of Doug Bryden, Laura Smyth, Hannah Duke, Dan Reavill and Ashley Avery strike an excellent balance of handling issues in a manner you would expect of a colleague while remaining respectful of the client relationship. This approach makes them an invaluable resource.

The group has a willingness to listen to clients requirements and give personable but professional advice with useful insights into what other similar companies are doing.

Principaux clients

Nomura


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising various publicly quoted companies on traditional corporate governance matters including board composition and succession planning, controlling shareholders issues, remuneration policies, director changes, AGM materials and compliance work.
  • Assisting multiple shareholders and listed clients with shareholder activism matters.
  • Advising various listed clients on the implementation of market abuse regulations.