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Francesca Bennetts

Partner

Francesca is a partner in the Markets Innovation Group (MIG), a group of lawyers and developers who are focused on the creation of innovative solutions for clients to meet large-scale legal and regulatory challenges.

She has played a key role in the development of innovative technological solutions for clients, most recently ContractMatrix, a contract review and negotiation tool that uses generative AI. She is a member of the firm's AI Steering Committee and has been heavily involved in A&O's  deployment of generative AI at an enterprise level.

Additionally, Francesca has advised various leading global institutions on their global IBOR transition projects. She is also playing a key role in the development of proprietary client-facing solutions using AI technology, most recently IBOR Matrix - a system designed to facilitate the transition away from LIBOR and other interest rates, involving an innovative approach to the use of artificial intelligence.

Previously, Francesca led the design, development, construction and delivery of Brexit Matrix™ – a system designed to implement a large financial institution’s Brexit strategy, covering core areas of a business, including lending, derivatives, stock lending, clearing and repos. It is a cloud-based tool that embeds complex legal analysis and offers document automation, data management, workflow management, project management and data visualisations and was ranked “Standout” in the 2018 FT Innovative Lawyer Awards.

Francesca specialises in OTC derivatives and structured finance transactions and has expertise across various asset classes, including currencies, rates, commodities, equities and credit. She has previously advised the ISDA Credit Derivatives Determinations Committees on credit event, deliverability and successor questions, most notably the Greek sovereign Credit Event. She has advised on a number of high profile advisory syndicates, including in relation to the Portuguese, Greek and Cypriot banking crises and the development of margin compliant account control agreements with various custodians. In addition, she has expertise in advising a number of financial institutions in relation to their global initial and variation margin implementation projects.

Qualifications

Admissions

Admitted as solicitor, England and Wales, 2008
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Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.