Travers Smith LLP

Travers Smith LLP ‘stands head and shoulders above its peers’, primarily combining ’their legal expertise with outstanding commercial understanding and industry insight’, according to one client. The firm is best known for its buy-side practice, and it acts for insurance companies, asset managers, funds, fintechs, pension schemes and blue-chip corporates on derivatives matters, though it is increasingly acting for banks. ‘Very attentive and thoughtful’ practice head Jonathan Gilmour handles both derivatives and structured products, and he frequently assists sophisticated financial institutions, investment and asset managers, PE houses, challenger banks, and occupational pension schemes with complex matters. He recently worked with emerging talent Nicholas Baines on secured fuel and unsecured foreign exchange hedging arrangements for infrastructure manager Ancala Partners LLP. Peter Hughes assisted Bentley Motors with its £880m buy-in of the Rolls-Royce & Bentley pension fund, which required new arrangements concerning the scheme’s existing longevity swap. Sana Dossa is also highly regarded.