Adam Wells
Partner
London

Adam Wells
Partner
London
Contact details
Adam advises companies, sponsors and investment banks on a wide range of complex and innovative international capital markets transactions, with a focus on equity capital markets.
He is head of our US Corporate Finance Practice in EMEA, with nearly 25 years’ experience advising clients in both the developed and developing markets and across many industry sectors. His experience includes advising on IPOs, rights issues, placings and open offers, accelerated bookbuilt offerings and other private placements as well as US aspects of cross-border mergers and acquisitions.
He is recognised as one of Legal 500’s Hall of Fame Capital Markets lawyers, and is ranked as a leading Capital Markets lawyer by Chambers and IFLR.
Adam is based in our London office, having previously practiced in New York. He is a member of the Bar of the State of New York.
Qualifications
Professional
Admitted to the Bar, State of New York, 1998
Registered foreign lawyer, England and Wales, 2012
Experience highlights
Adam has advised on over 50 IPOs in his career, including IPOs by ADNOC Logistics & Services, Empower, Abraaj Energy Services, Borouge, TECOM, Azelis, Noventiq, Ebusco, SPEAR Investments, Disruptive Capital Acquisition Company, Moonpig, ESG Core Investments, Allegro, JDE Peets, Marel, DWF, Quilter, DP Eurasia (Domino's Pizza Turkey), Allied Irish Bank, Emaar Development, Balta, VolkerWessels, Neinor Homes, Alfen, Árima, McCarthy & Stone, CMC Markets, Ibstock, Softcat, The Gym Group, Hastings, Spire Healthcare, Emaar Malls, Refresco Gerber, Lucas Bols, NN Group, Intertrust and bpost.
Advising listed companies and banks across the globe on strategic equity-related transactions and other significant change events. This includes capital raising, M&A, demergers, and reorganisations. Rights issues or placings and open offers by Euronext, Marks & Spencer, Energias de Portgal (EDP), Marks & Spencer, Piraeus Bank, Hellenic Bank, Cobham, Capitec, KPN, REN, Wereldhave and Circassia Pharmaceuticals. Accelerated bookbuild offerings relating to Azelis, Moonpig, Allied Irish Banks, Astrazeneca, Network International, Informa, Hiscox, The Gym Group, Vodacom, Neinor Homes, Spar, Capitec, PSG, bpost, McCarthy & Stone, Spire Healthcare and NN Insurance.
Advising companies, shareholders and underwriting banks on SEC reporting matters. This includes assisting clients, particularly non-US companies with compliance with US securities regulation.
Related articles

News: 14 November 2023
Allen & Overy advises the Irish Department of Finance on its EUR500m disposal
Allen & Overy has advised the Irish Department of Finance on its EUR500m disposal of 5% of the Irish State’s shareholding in AIB Group, via an accelerated bookbuild, in efforts to reduce the…
News: 01 June 2023
A&O advises the underwriters on the IPO and listing of ADNOC Logistics & Services plc on the ADX
Publications: 18 April 2023
Equity Capital Markets in 2023: A year to be flexible, ready and creative

Qualifications
Professional
Admitted to the Bar, State of New York, 1998
Registered foreign lawyer, England and Wales, 2012
Recognition
Adam is a very good lawyer who is super flexible.
Chambers UK 2024 (Capital Markets: Equity)
Adam is pragmatic and doesn't hide from problems. He has a great depth of experience and is never fazed.
Chambers UK 2023 (ECM)
Adam Wells – very strong US securities partner, always available and very focused on finding solutions.
Legal 500 UK (ECM)
He can turn his hand to any deal with a U.S. component. He understands what the banks need.
Chambers UK (ECM)
Published work
- European IPOs. Back on track or the end of a good run? PLC Magazine, March 2015
- The European IPO market: signs of life, PLC Magazine, December 2012
- US private offerings: Solicitation and advertising on the cards, PLC Magazine, October 2012
- Pre-marketing in the EU and the US, convergence ahead? PLC Magazine, September 2010
- Anatomy of a deal: IPOs, Lawyer 2B, October 2007
- Preparing a company for an IPO, PLC Cross Border Quarterly, July - September 2007