James Cook > Slaughter and May > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Counting a significant share of FTSE 100 and 250 companies among its key roster of clients, Slaughter and May remains a key player in the UK public M&A market, advising on a consistent flow of complex, high-value transactions. The firm’s multi-specialist model enables it to work seamlessly across a range of sectors, including technology, infrastructure, energy, and financial services. Consistently involved in headline deals, the team is well-positioned to assist clients on the full gamut of corporate work. Leadership is shared between Richard Smith, whose practice focuses on public and private M&A, joint ventures, and equity capital markets work, and Simon Nicholls, who is a key port of call for a number of listed companies for his capabilities on a broad range of matters. Roland Turnill brings a steady hand to a wide remit of mandates, including shareholder activism, board-level governance, and complex joint ventures, while Rebecca Cousin continues to make her mark on matters at the intersection of tech and intellectual property. Robert Innes and David Johnson both handle public takeovers, equity raises, and strategic partnerships, and James Cook stands out for his expertise in the tech sector. A mix of listed and unlisted clients turn to Paul Dickson for his expertise on a range of corporate and corporate finance matters. The practice also benefits from the transactional nous of Sally Wokes, who is a trusted adviser to a mix of corporates, PE houses and activist investors, and Victoria MacDuff, who is noted for her track record in telecom and financial services deals.