Corporate and M&A
Operating in more than 30 countries – and at the forefront of our industry – Allen & Overy is one of the world’s leading corporate advisers.
Working alongside some of the world’s most successful companies, commercial and investment banks and private equity firms, the corporate work we do breaks new ground and sets precedents.
Our clients know us as an ambitious, creative and enterprising team of individuals who think differently and embrace the most complex and cutting-edge commercial ventures.
We find innovative new ways to deliver our services and exceed expectations: on public takeovers, private M&A, equity capital markets, private equity, joint ventures and commercial partnerships, disposals and corporate restructurings.
Combined with our transactional expertise, we also cover the full range of specialist areas including antitrust and competition, commercial, employment and benefits, environmental, intellectual property, tax and corporate governance.
Moreover, we work hand-in-hand with banking and finance, capital markets and litigation teams to cover the full spectrum of business law advice and ensure a level of service and quality of advice that very few other firms can match on a global scale.
Driven by our clients’ needs, we combine U.S., English and local law expertise within one single, integrated firm as well as the broadest network of any of the leading global elite law firms, with more than 40 offices worldwide. Our global insights, local depth and creative thinking assist us to get deals done and find solutions in complex cases.
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Adviser to the second largest number of FTSE 100 companies of all law firms.
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Lead M&A adviser on five of the ten highest value cross-border M&A deals in 2018.
Representative experience
- 21st Century Fox on its proposed USD71bn acquisition by The Walt Disney Company.
- Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank PJSC on its multi-billion dollar three-way merger with Union National Bank PJSC and Al Hilal Bank.
- Blackstone on its EUR1bn acquisition of a majority stake in Luminor Bank from Nordea and DNB.
- BMW Group on its EUR3bn transaction to acquire control of its JV with Brilliance China Automotive.
- China Resources as the significant majority stakeholder in a consortium with Macquarie Capital, on the proposed acquisition of up to 74% of GenesisCare from KKR and existing management and associated shareholder arrangements.
- Pentair on the international aspects of the USD3.15bn sale of its Valves & Controls division to Emerson Electric Co. To date, the transaction has involved 27 A&O offices in 24 jurisdictions.
- Qualcomm on its USD47bn acquisition of NXP Semiconductors through a tender offer on all issued and outstanding shares.
- Virgin Money on its GBP4.4bn merger with CYBG.
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Meet our lawyers
News & insights
Publications: 10 JULY 2020
Under State aid rules, UK and EEA Member State governments may not generally provide selective assistance to businesses without prior approval from the European Commission (EC). This includes…
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News: 07 JULY 2020
Outstanding performance by A&O in global M&A league tables
A&O has marked the end of H1 2020 with an outstanding performance in the M&A league tables; the result of our cutting edge market insights, technical excellence and global network that gives us the…
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Publications: 19 JUNE 2020
Covid–19 coronavirus: emerging data protection and cybersecurity guidance (Updated 18 June 2020)
The Covid-19 coronavirus is creating a need for organisations to process personal data, for a variety of specific purposes (including managing and protecting their workforce, customers and the…
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Publications: 19 JUNE 2020
European Commission targets foreign subsidies causing market distortions
As part of a broader effort to reshape the EU’s trade policy, the European Commission (EC) proposes to expand its toolbox to tackle foreign subsidies undermining the level playing field in the EU’s…
Read moreRecognition
A&O is an excellent resource for us as a company that has so many global offices. They have a really good handle on co-ordination and deal management for large global transactions, that's one of their huge strengths. There was a huge number of worldwide entities that we addressed, and we couldn't have done without their project management skills.
Chambers Global 2020 (Corporate/M&A)
The obvious key strengths are the outstanding intra-firm co-operation among several offices, quality of personnel and the seamless support.
Chambers Global 2019 (Corporate/M&A)
You get consistent service across the world. Whether it's Hong Kong, London, or New York, you can use their network with absolute confidence.
Chambers Global 2019 (Corporate/M&A)
Competency, knowledge, global reach and sound, engaging approach.
Chambers Global 2018 (Corporate/M&A)
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Adjusting to adversity
Awards
- M&A Law Firm of the Year, IFLR Asia Awards 2019
- M&A Deal of the Year: Diageo’s partial tender offer for Swellfun, IFLR Asia Awards 2019
- M&A Deal of the Year: Diageo’s acquisition of Shuijingfang, China Law & Practice (CLP) Awards 2019
- Debt and equity-linked Deal of the Year, IFLR Middle East Awards 2019
- Global Elite – ranked third out of the top 25 global law firms for antitrust/competition, Global Competition Review 2019
- Best Law Firm in Asia: M&A, FinanceAsia Achievement Awards 2019
- UK Legal Adviser of the Year, Mergermarket European M&A Awards 2019
- Benelux Legal Adviser of the Year, Mergermarket European M&A Awards 2019
- Domestic Deal of the Year for Alawwal Bank/The Saudi British Bank merger, IFLR Middle East Awards 2019
- Best M&A Deal, FinanceAsia Achievement Awards 2018
- Best IPO, FinanceAsia Achievement Awards 2018
- European Mid-Market M&A Adviser of the Year, Mergermarket Awards 2018
- Equity Team of the Year, IFLR Middle East Awards 2018
- Equity Deal of the Year: ADNOC Distribution IPO, IFLR Middle East Awards 2018
- M&A Deal of the Year: KCA Deutag/Dalma Energy combination, IFLR Middle East Awards 2018
