Akin’s London Lawyers and Practices Recognized in Legal 500 UK 2024

The Legal 500 United Kingdom 2024 has recognized a number of Akin practices and lawyers in the firm’s London office as leaders in their respective fields.

For the 10th consecutive year, Akin’s financial restructuring practice received top rankings in the Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency category.

In addition, Akin saw three partners named to the Hall of Fame list: Barry Russell (Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency) for the sixth consecutive year, and Helen Marshall (Financial Services: Contentious) and John Daghlian (Private Funds) were featured for the third year.  

The following Akin partners were named a “leading individual”:

• Robert Aulsebrook
• Davina Garrod
• Richard Hornshaw
• Shaun Lascelles
• Ian Meade
• Liz Osborne
• Tim Pearce
• Daniel Quinn
• Barry Russell
• Emma Simmonds
• James Terry
• Gavin Weir
• Justin Williams

The Legal 500 UK’s “next generation” of lawyers includes eight partners from Akin’s London office: Hamish Annandale (Hedge Funds), Chiara Klaui (EU and competition: trade, WTO anti-dumping and customs), Mary Lavelle (Private funds), Matthew Hardwick (Infrastructure: Project finance and development), Scott Pettifor (EU and competition), Ezra Zahabi (Financial services: non-contentious/regulatory), Serena Lee (Corporate Tax) and Daniel Giemajner (Mining and minerals).

In total, 20 of the firm’s practices were ranked and over 40 Akin lawyers were recommended:

Corporate and commercial – Corporate tax

• Matthew Durward-Thomas
• Serena Lee
• Stephen Brown

Corporate and commercial – EU and competition

• Davina Garrod
• Scott Pettifor

Corporate and commercial – EU and competition: trade, WTO anti-dumping and customs

• Chiara Klaui
• Jasper Helder

Corporate and commercial – Financial services: contentious

• Ezra Zahabi
• Helen Marshall

Corporate and commercial – Financial services: non-contentious/regulatory

• Ezra Zahabi

Corporate and commercial – M&A: upper mid-market and premium deals, £750m+

• Gavin Weir
• Harry Keegan
• Sebastian Rice
• Shaun Lascelles
• Simon Rootsey

Corporate and commercial – Private equity: transactions – mid-market deals (up to £250m)

• David Sewell
• Gavin Weir
• Sebastian Rice
• Shaun Lascelles
• Stephen Brown

Crime, fraud and licensing – Fraud: civil

• Graham Lovett
• Ing Loong Yang
• Kambiz Larizadeh

Dispute resolution – Banking litigation: investment and retail

• Richard Hornshaw

Dispute resolution – Commercial litigation: premium

• Justin Williams
• Kambiz Larizadeh
• Richard Hornshaw

Dispute resolution – International arbitration

• Jenny Arlington
• Justin Williams

Finance – Bank lending: investment grade debt and syndicated loans

• Fergus Wheeler
• Robert Aulsebrook
• Tom O’Connor

Finance – Corporate restructuring & insolvency

• Barry Russell
• Emma Simmonds
• James Terry
• Liz Osborne
• Sam Brodie
• Tom Bannister

Finance – Debt capital markets

• Barry Russell
• Mark Mansell
• Michael Gustafson
• Robert Aulsebrook
• Tom O’Connor

Finance – Securitisation

• Dasha Sobornova

Investment fund formations and management – Hedge funds

• Daniel Quinn
• Hamish Annandale
• Ian Meade
• Melissa Kinsmore-Ward
• Tim Pearce

Investment fund formation and management – Private funds

• Daniel Quinn
• John Daghlian
• Mary Lavelle
• Qasam Mahmood

Projects, energy and natural resources – Infrastructure: Project finance and development

• Alex Harrison
• Daniel Giemajner
• Matthew Hardwick

Projects, energy and natural resources – Oil and gas

• Alex Harrison
• Justin Williams
• Shaun Lascelles
• Simon Rootsey

Projects, energy and natural resources – Power (including electricity, nuclear and renewables)

• Alex Harrison
• Daniel Giemajner
• Matthew Hardwick

For further details on the firm’s rankings and commentary, please see here.

The Legal 500 United Kingdom is an annual, independent guide that ranks law firm practices, recommends lawyers and provides editorial analysis of law firms operating in the United Kingdom.