Banks

We empower them to deliver ground-breaking and innovative funding, investment and advisory solutions to their clients. 

Whether supporting our own clients’ transition away from IBOR or advising them on the first-ever end-to-end blockchain bond issuance, we are adept at handling complex, innovative, cross-border transactions, regulatory investigations and litigation matters and strategic advisory mandates.  

The breadth and depth of our experience gives us extensive industry knowledge, allowing us to provide our clients with unique insights into the latest market developments.  

Our global, multi-disciplinary team spans all of our offices and comprises lawyers with expertise in the full spectrum of banking, finance, capital markets, derivatives, securitization, fund establishment and M&A transactions, as well regulatory, dispute resolution, antitrust, employment, IP, data privacy, cybersecurity and tax matters.  

Our legal capabilities are complemented by an integrated bench of former industry regulators and consultants who advise senior management teams of banks on governance; corporate purpose and culture; conduct, compliance and operational risk; and regulatory and business transformation. A&O Shearman is the only global law firm to offer this full-service capability. 

Leveraging our integrated services, coupled with our ability to deliver legal advice efficiently via the suite of cutting-edge technology and alternative resourcing models offered by our legal innovation team, positions us perfectly to provide our banking clients cost-effective, end-to-end solutions that enable them to respond to their most challenging issues. 

Representative matters

• The Royal Bank of Canada on the USD10.2 billion acquisition of HSBC Canada.   
• Several global financial institutions in the global FX investigation by enforcement and regulatory authorities across multiple jurisdictions including the U.S., the U.K., Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong. 
• Société Générale on its plan to form a joint venture with AllianceBernstein, through the combination of their respective cash equity and equity research businesses. 
• Major investment banks as underwriters in connection with the IPOs of Axonics Modulation Technologies, Caribou Biosciences, CVRx, Galera Therapeutics, Humology Medicines, HOOKIPA Pharma, Inari Medical, Inozyme Pharma, Inspire Medical Systems, Lucira Health, Lyra Therapeutics, Mineralys Therapeutics, Nkarta, Orphazyme A/S, Paragon 28, Pulmonx Corporation, Sonendo, Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Valvoline, Venator Materials and Y-mAbs Therapeutics.
• HSBC on the ring-fencing of its UK retail banking operations, pursuant to the Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013, with associated regulatory resolution advice, and setting up operational service companies to serve both the ring-fenced bank and non-ring-fenced banks. 
• BNP Paribas Asset Management in the structuring and launching of BNP Paribas Climate Impact Infrastructure Debt fund to help finance projects and players involved in the energy transition and climate change mitigation.

• HSBC, BNP Paribas and RBC Capital Markets on the European Investment Bank’s inaugural issuance of sterling-denominated digital bonds, also marking the first public issuance on HSBC Orion, HSBC’s tokenisation platform.  
• Deutsche Bank, ING and UniCredit as bookrunners and underwriters in connection with the debt financing for the EUR5bn acquisition of Vodafone Holdings Europe by Zegona Communications.  
• Bank of America, Wells Fargo and other financial institutions regarding commodity hedges in the context of oil and gas company bankruptcies, including close-out issues and hedging challenges in connection with new business with debtor-in-possession such as DIP and exit facility secured financings. 
• A major global bank in a significant multi-party and cross border competition damages action in the High Court and Competition Appeal Tribunal relating to the widely publicised alleged manipulation of global FX markets by various banks between 2003 and 2013. 
• Citi Private Advisory in connection with its dual-registration as a broker-dealer with the SEC and approval of its new membership application with FINRA.  
• Counsel to, and conducted independent investigations for, the independent directors of Wells Fargo & Company with respect to retail banking and brokerage sales practices and related matters, including as the interface with the U.S. Congress, DOJ, SEC and other U.S. and state regulators.