Law Firms

McGrigors

McGrigors casts off credit fears to launch capital markets team

Author: ben.mitchell@legalweek.com

Published: 15/11/2007 02:05

Email article | Comment on this article | Sign up to News Alerts

McGrigors has put aside fears about the global debt and equity markets to launch a 17-lawyer national capital markets practice.

The new team, which comprises five partners and a further 12 associates from existing McGrigors practices, will advise clients on a broad range of capital markets work including taking companies to market, fundraisings and public to private transactional work.

The move comes after McGrigors last year enjoyed a run of form acting on 14 transactions in the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) worth more than £365m in total, including several cross-border deals in Europe and the Far East.

During 2007, the top 50 firm has advised on deals including the AIM listing of UK pharmaceuticals company Neuropharm Group and the £104m listed bond issue for Dundee Schools as lead manager for Royal Bank of Canada Europe.

London-based corporate partner Martin Finnegan is heading up the firm’s first dedicated team, which went live last month.

Commenting on the move, he said: “There is a significant amount of capital markets experience across our UK office network and we thought it made sense to harness that expertise and form a UK-wide team. By doing this, we are able to tailor our advice and bring the most appropriate team to each assignment to which McGrigors is appointed.”

The surprise move comes as the credit crunch sparks fears of dwindling amounts of both debt and equity capital markets work for law firms.

However, the London arm of US giant Jones Day last week underlined its continuing investment in the sector with the hire of debt capital markets partner Andrew Chen from investment giant Nomura.

Job of the Week

Middle East - Corporate 3+

Private Practice - Abu Dhabi and Dubai

Job of the Week

Opportunities in the Far East

Opportunities in the Far East

Quick Job Search

>Advanced Search