Experienced lawyers

Our banking practice has played a leading role in almost every major development in the modern financial markets and, with over 1,000 lawyers worldwide, it’s one of the largest in the industry. Few firms can match our top tier position across the full range of finance specialisms. Join us and you’ll work at the heart of the world’s financial markets, advising leading global businesses and institutions on complex transactions and drawing on your experience to deliver commercial advantage for your clients.

Insight: British American Tobacco

We assisted the lead banks on a USD 25 billion acquisition loan facility for British American Tobacco, to back the USD 49.4 billion acquisition of the 57.8% stake in U.S. peer Reynolds American Inc. which it did not already own. This was the largest deal in the European syndicated loan markets in 2017.

"Working as a finance lawyer at the market-leading finance firm gives you exposure to a quality of work that is unrivalled among our competitors."

David Varne
Partner

As part of our global Corporate and M&A practice, you’ll advise leading corporations, financial institutions and government bodies on all aspects of commercial law and finance. Mergers and acquisitions is the bedrock of our work but you can expect to tackle everything from public takeovers and international equity offerings to joint ventures, corporate restructurings and day-to-day regulatory matters.

Our lawyers combine excellent transactional skills with specialist expertise in areas such as antitrust, tax, employment and pensions.

Insight: Electricity generation in Africa

We supported the Africa Finance Corporation and the Pan African Infrastructure Development Fund on the establishment of a joint venture to generate 1,575 megawatts of electricity.

"As a corporate lawyer at A&O, one thing that truly excites me is the variety and range of work that I can be involved in and the initiatives I can take."

Karishma Naravane
Senior Associate

Our Employment & Benefits group is made up of over 180 lawyers, including some of the foremost names in the field, and aims to be the global market leader. We offer advice on matters including boardroom disputes, restraint of trade issues, discrimination, whistleblowing, pensions and executive remuneration and tax, assisting clients before the Employment Tribunal and High Court. Our practice covers non-contentious advisory and M&A support work, and we also work closely with our contentious regulatory colleagues in relation to employee investigations and misconduct in the financial services sector. If you join us you’ll do high-profile work for household-name clients, in a practice and a firm with a peerless reputation.

Insight: Public restraint of trade dispute

We recently acted for GSK on its high-profile dispute with AstraZeneca over GSK’s recruitment of the Global Head of Pharma. This was the first time two pharmaceutical companies had entered a public restraint of trade dispute.

“People issues are at the top of board agendas, and our clients come to us for strategic insight and guidance on the most sensitive and complex HR matters.”

Sarah Henchoz
Partner

There’s huge importance placed on brands today, and businesses will go to great lengths both to exploit and protect their reputation. And not just their brand. Creative output, technical innovations, trade secrets and designs all now hold significant value.

Allen & Overy has developed a strong and highly experienced global Intellectual Property practice to help clients make the most of these valuable rights. We bring a highly commercial approach and seek to ensure that a client's intellectual property is completely protected.

Our Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice handles some of the world’s largest and most complex financial and commercial crises. Its traditional role in dispute resolution is changing though, with an increasing emphasis on identifying and avoiding conflicts before they happen.

Become part of one of the world’s leading litigation practices and you’ll advise global financial institutions, major corporates, governments, regulators and state bodies, supported by cutting-edge technology and world-class training.

Insight: The Black Sea pipeline

We worked with South Stream Transport, part of Gazprom, in an ICC arbitration with Saipem relating to a gas pipeline from Russia under the Black Sea into Europe. The case was one of the largest construction arbitrations of recent years.

"I really enjoy the fight of litigation; strategy, tactics, intensity and especially the highs\lows of winning and losing.‎ There's no feeling quite like it."

Brandon O'Neil
Partner

A&O’s Real Estate team uses deep legal expertise and broad market knowledge to provide clients with the competitive edge. Join us and you’ll help to deliver a full spectrum of services to developers, leading private equity and listed real estate funds and international real estate investors, from construction and sales to finance and litigation, as well as advising on indirect acquisitions and establishing investment funds and joint ventures. You’ll be part of a practice with international reach across our network and a reputation for exceptional work.

Insight: International acquisition

We advised a leading private equity real estate fund and their joint venture partners on their acquisition of a portfolio of shopping centres across Portugal, Spain, Poland and Germany.

"No day in real estate is ever the same and you’re always learning. In a typical week I might carry out due diligence on a property, negotiate a lease, advise on the structure of a property transfer or work on a pan-European property acquisition." 

The global web of financial services law continues to inform the strategic thinkers of the world's leading financial markets. In the current climate, significant and rigorous scrutiny and change is being brought to bear on financial services law and those to whom it applies.

Allen & Overy's Regulatory group advises leading market participants on the impact of current and prospective regulation on all aspects of their business. Through our regular publications and strong relationships with financial trade associations, we have established ourselves at the forefront of the ongoing debate on regulatory change - helping to shape the course of future regulatory developments.

Our London-based Tax team works alongside colleagues in all jurisdictions to provide cutting-edge advice on the implications of transactions and strategies executed by some of the world’s largest companies and institutions.

The work we do is some of the most technical and challenging in our industry; join the team and you can expect to build a broad base of legal knowledge, and to work with international clients and colleagues on a regular basis.

Insight: A truly varied practice

Whether you are interested in M&A, capital markets, banking, real estate or litigation, the tax team sees it all. We have a huge variety of work, from helping to structure corporate acquisitions for household name clients to advising on real estate investments in iconic London landmarks, working on innovative capital markets transactions, or litigating against the tax authorities. Add to this the fact that tax law is constantly changing, and life is never dull.

"One of the most rewarding things about working in the tax team is the amount of collaboration involved – both within the team and with our colleagues in other departments or jurisdictions. Everyone has an important role to play and these relationships help us deliver the high quality work our clients demand."

Esther Lemmon
Counsel

Professional Support Lawyer (PSL) roles at Allen & Overy reflect the diversity of our international practice. We have almost 100 PSLs, several at partner and consultant level, some working as part of know-how and training teams, others taking responsibility for a country's know-how development and management, or for specific projects.

We regard the PSL role as that of a 'lawyer plus'. Excellent technical legal skills are essential, but we look for confidence and dynamism too, and an aptitude for project and people management. In return, we offer you a rewarding working environment with serious opportunities to broaden and develop your skills and career.