Mayer Brown is a large international firm that entered into its current form through three cross-border mergers in the first decade of the twenty-first century. Firstly, in 2002, US firm Mayer Brown & Platt (established in Illinois in 1881) merged with UK firm Rowe & Maw (formed in 1895 in London), then the combined entity merged with Johnson Stokes & Master (opened in 1863 in Hong Kong) in 2007.
Today the firm’s network covers 27 offices spanning three continents. In the US, where the firm has several of its largest branches, it has a presence in six states and teams based in Charlotte, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Palo Alto, San Francisco, and Washington DC.
Focusses/specialisms
Broadly for work across the US the firm is known for its outstanding work in structured financing and securitisation and in power sector project development but it is active and strong in other areas of financial and corporate transactional work.
In the capital markets area, in addition to the firm’s high quality work in structured finance and securitization and derivatives areas, it also has expertise in investment grade and high yield debt and equity issues. It represents both issuers and underwriters in corporate, green and high yield bonds, CFTC advice, structured bond issuances, index launches, follow on offerings, IPOs, share offerings and ATM offerings.
In M&A the team has experience with reverse mergers, joint ventures, asset sales, as well as public and private acquisitions. It advises private equity and strategic buyers and sellers.
In project the projects space the firm represents developers, project sponsors, borrowers and lenders in project financing and development, and does outstanding work in the energy industry.
The restructuring and insolvency team represents administrative agents, debtors, creditors and trustees in Chapter 11, Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases, financial restructurings and insolvencies.
Key clients
Key clients for the firm include HSBC, Bank of Nova Scotia, International Swaps and Derivatives Association, CIBC, BMO Capital Markets, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Nestlé, Prologis, John Hancock Life Insurance, Berkshire Hathaway, Barclays Bank and Deutsche Bank.
Research period review: 30th edition (2019/2020)
During the research period was most active in the areas of capital markets, M&A, projects and restructuring and insolvency.
The debt capital markets team increased their representation in Canada. Many of their transactions had a Canadian aspect to them and because of this, worked on numerous bail-in note issuances. The team also dealt with a high amount of REIT related senior note offerings.
In the derivatives market the team worked mostly on providing clients with regulatory advice. In equity capital markets the team advised largely underwriters in IPOs.
The structured products team worked mostly on structured notes issuances in the banking and financial services industry, as well as multi-asset index launches.
The M&A team worked on multimillion dollar and billion dollar asset and company acquisitions across a diverse array of industries.
The projects team worked mostly on renewable energy projects, especially wind and solar plants. It advised clients on project acquisition financing, loan and credit facility agreements and bond issuances.
The restructuring and insolvency team represented largely administrative agents and debtors in financial restructurings and Chapter 11 cases.
The firm made a huge recruitment over the research period. Partner Marlon Paz joined from Seward & Kissel to head the firm’s broker-dealer regulatory and compliance practice area. In capital markets, partner Matthew Kluchenek, who specialises in derivatives, joined from Baker McKenzie. Around the same time, capital markets partner Kirk Tucker left to join Jackson Walker. In project finance, partners Frederick Lark and Elena Rubinov joined from Bracewell, Mark Williams joined from Morgan Lewis & Bockius and Vera de Brito de Gyarfas joined from King & Spalding. They are also partners in the firm’s corporate and M&A practice area, which also brought over partners Kara Baysinger, Stephanie Duchene and Matthew Gaul from Dentons, Paul Chen from DLA Piper, Marc Harrison from Greenberg Traurig, Philip Lau from Locke Lord, James Schell from Skadden and Dale Smith from Bracewell. The restructuring and insolvency practice area brought over partners Michael Fiddy and Amy Jacks from DLA Piper, Louis Chiappette from Skadden and Adam Paul from Kirkland & Ellis
Deal highlights: 30th edition (2019/2020)
Brookfield Asset Management $4.7 billion acquisition of Oaktree Capital Group
Celeo Redes $365 million private placement financing
GW Pharmaceuticals Nasdaq IPO
Northeastern University public parking facility concession
Starbucks double tranche $2 billion 3.55% and 4.45% bond issue
Weatherford International Chapter 11 bankruptcy
Client feedback: 30th edition (2019/2020)
Capital markets : Debt
"Easy to work with as underwriter counsel, responsive and thoughtful. Top lawyer on debt issuances with knowledge of market terms and conditions."
"Knowledge of the company and its business."
"They understand current trends and fully understand the applicable law."
"Very responsive to our requirements and unfailingly attentive to our interests."
"Deep bench of expertise on subject matter, the ability to execute transactions successfully on tight time frames and provide cost effective services."
"Our capital markets and USCP contacts are trusted advisors who are responsive, pragmatic and knowledgeable in the space."
"Very knowledgeable capital markets partners who are practical. They may also charge a little less than the leading NY capital markets law firms."
"They are extremely knowledgeable and have true expertise in debt capital market activities. They are very responsive and great to work with."
Capital markets : Derivatives
"Great subject matter expertise and very responsive."
"Subject matter expertise, responsiveness and professionalism."
"Experienced in all aspects of the business (tax, disclosure, regulatory, etc.), familiar with the market and competitors, appropriate pricing and good response time."
Capital markets : Equity
"Authoritative advice and willingness to take strong position vis-a-vis other law firms availability of US lawyers for client located in Israel."
"Does what it takes to get the job done. Strong knowledge of capital markets and transactions."
Capital markets : Structured finance and securitization
"Extremely knowledgeable about the legal and regulatory aspects of both private equity and 1940 Act Funds Reputation of both lawyer and law firm were valued by various partners to ALTI and led to stronger partnerships."
Investment funds
"Consistent high quality work for any topic in several jurisdictions."
Private equity
"Very thoughtful and responsive."
Anna Pinedo
"Anna is our key lawyer on our account. She is always available, especially in an emergencies. Her advice has been spot on and her team was especially helpful with a $100 million preferred stock capital raise that we did this year."
"Anna's market knowledge, responsiveness and practical advice are very important to my team, and make her one of our most trusted advisors."
"Diligent, highly intelligent, very knowledgeable and attentive."
"Excellent in all areas, always makes herself available."
"Extremely smart and intuitive."
"Has impressive subject matter expertise."
"One of the most innovative and expert thinkers on financial products and solutions that solve unique regulatory challenges. She explains very complex regulatory issues in understandable ways."
David Goett
"Great expertise with respect to the taxation of financial products. Ability to understand the complicated math related to derivatives."
David Malinger
"Knowledge of our company."
Eddie Best
"Very responsive and practical; manages costs well
Iliana Kirova
"Very responsive and extremely knowledgeable."
Jen Carlson
"Jen is extremely knowledgeable and has great debt capital markets expertise. She is an excellent attorney and great to work with."
Juan Pablo Moreno
"Ability to understand and address client concerns in an efficient manner. Strong knowledge of subject area."
Lori Pines
"Smart. Thoughtful. Strategic. Responsive. Friendly."
Marla Matusic
"Responsive, problem solver."
Phyllis Korff
"Phyllis is amazing. She has a depth of experience that is unparalleled. She is thoughtful and responsive and easy to work with."
