Tom's practice focuses on corporate finance and securities offerings, including the representation of underwriters, issuers, sponsors and other sellers on cross border (SEC registered and exempt) equity and debt offerings. He also provides corporate governance and compliance advice to foreign private issuers with securities registered with the SEC and listed on US stock exchanges. Tom has worked across a broad range of capital markets products including in the equity (IPOs, secondary issues, block trades and convertible bonds) and debt (high grade and high yield) capital markets as well as public mergers and acquisitions and M&A financings.
Tom has been a capital markets lawyer for over 20 years and has substantial experience in Europe and emerging markets including recent work in Russia, Nigeria and Turkey. His significant matters include Royal Mail’s £1.9 billion privatisation, Emlak Konut’s US$1.6 billion secondary public offering, Seplat Petroleum's initial public offering and dual listing on the London and Lagos stock exchanges, Odfjell Drilling’s NOK 2 billion initial public offering and KPN’s US$3.78 billion rights offering and hybrid securities offerings. He is recognised as a foreign expert in legal directories in which clients described him as a "respected figure for his long-standing experience of Turkish capital markets issues."
Prior to joining Herbert Smith Freehills, Tom was a corporate partner at King & Spalding in London and previously at Linklaters in London and Paris.
Herbert Smith Freehills' capital markets practice has been a strong performer in the market for over a decade, advising on a number of high-profile IPOs in 2014/2015 including Aldermore Bank, Just Eat, TSB, AO World, Kennedy Wilson and Permanent TSB. In addition, Tom's arrival is expected to further strengthen the firm's rapidly growing DCM practice where it has recently worked on debt issues by Finansbank, Royal Mail, TSB and The Republic of Namibia. The firm is also well-known for its strong relationships with investment banks. It promoted London-based US-qualified Dinesh Banani to partner earlier this year. Herbert Smith Freehills has about 200 lawyers including over 40 partners in its capital markets practice globally.
Scott Cochrane, who is currently UK Head of Corporate and will become Global Head of Corporate in December, commented:
"The appointment of Tom, a senior lawyer of such high calibre, is fantastic news to the firm. Tom is well regarded by clients and peers and his wealth of experience complements our leading capital markets practice. This important and strategic hire is a testament to our commitment to providing top quality advice on capital markets transactions for our clients."
Tom commented:
"The capital markets practice is a key component of Herbert Smith Freehills' corporate offering and I am delighted to be part of this highly regarded and highly performing team."
About Herbert Smith Freehills
Operating from 23 offices across Asia Pacific, EMEA and North America, Herbert Smith Freehills is at the heart of the new global business landscape providing premium quality, full-service legal advice. We provide many of the world’s most important organisations with access to market-leading dispute resolution, projects and transactional legal advice, combined with expertise in a number of global industry sectors, including energy, natural resources, infrastructure and financial services. www.herbertsmithfreehills.com
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