Herbert Smith Freehills boosts London corporate capability with ECM partner hire

Leading global law firm Herbert Smith Freehills has hired Michael Jacobs to join its market leading Global Corporate practice as an Equity Capital Markets partner in London.

Michael joins the firm from Allen & Overy where he was a partner. He returns to London from Hong Kong, where he has spent the last three years. 

Michael is an equity capital markets specialist and has represented listed companies, underwriters and investors on initial public offerings, secondary offerings and other strategic equity transactions. He also regularly advises listed corporates on the equity capital markets implications of public and private M&A transactions and restructurings. 

Prior to relocating to Hong Kong, Michael acted on the initial public offerings of Worldpay, Virgin Money, Hastings Insurance, Neinor Homes and The Gym Group and secondary capital raises by companies including Great Portland Estates, Sirius Minerals, Ophir Energy, Capitec Bank, GKN, Vedanta Energy and the recapitalisation and consensual bail in of the Co-operative Bank. Michael is recommended by Legal 500 for equity capital markets transactions.  

Michael also has considerable experience across mainstream corporate finance transactions, including public and private M&A, board-level corporate advisory work, restructurings and regulatory advice for clients including advising on cross-border deals which span a wide range of sectors, including financial institutions, fintech and growth capital. His M&A experience includes advising on Banco de Sabadell’s takeover of TSB Banking Group and the acquisition of Northern Rock by Virgin Money, as well as on transactions for Ping An, Go-Jek, Discovery Capital and Roivant Sciences during his time in Hong Kong. 

Stephen Wilkinson, Joint Managing Partner of the firm's Global Corporate practice, commented: "I am delighted to welcome Michael to our Corporate practice. His strong fifteen-year track record and market knowledge in ECM and M&A will be a valuable asset to the team. This strategic hire reflects our long-term commitment to investing in our business, particularly in Equity Capital Markets which is an integral part of our top-tier Corporate practice. Michael will play a key role in further strengthening our ECM offering to our clients.”

Michael Jacobs added: "I am delighted to be joining the talented ECM team at Herbert Smith Freehills and its excellent Corporate practice, which presents an exciting new challenge and opportunity. I am very much looking forward to helping the firm’s clients access the equity capital markets."

Led by UK ECM Head Mike Flockhart and US Securities Head Tom O’Neill, Herbert Smith Freehills’ London ECM team has recently advised on capital raisings by companies including Hiscox, Dart Group, WH Smith, Synthomer, EverArc, Energean, Phoenix Group, and Unite Group.