Lawyers in Simpson Thacher’s London, New York and other offices provide legal representation to a wide range of clients located, doing business or making investments in Europe.  The Firm works closely with leading law firms in each major jurisdiction to provide high quality legal advice across the continent.  Our legal staff includes both U.S. and English qualified lawyers.

Mergers and Acquisitions – Simpson Thacher’s European merger and acquisition practice reflects the Firm’s worldwide leadership position in this field.  As advisor to many of the world’s largest private equity firms, we have participated in a wide range of European buyouts.  Typical of our work has been our representation of the buyers in several of Europe’s largest buyouts, including the acquisitions of Philips Semiconductors (now known as NXP) in Holland and TDC in Denmark, as well as Alliance Boots in the U.K, which was the first take-private of a FTSE 100 company and the largest ever buyout in Europe.  We also act frequently for corporate sellers and buyers in cross border acquisitions, divestitures and other strategic transactions, particularly those involving U.S. securities laws.

Banking and Finance – The Firm’s credit lawyers represent lenders and borrowers on a range of sophisticated European financing transactions.  Our extensive acquisition finance practice has enabled us to develop a depth of experience in financing techniques and strategies across the continent, which we bring to bear as well on syndicated corporate borrowing, recapitalizations, and other credit transactions.

Capital Markets – Long active in a range of SEC-registered and exempt capital raising activities, we have particularly distinguished ourselves as a leading participant in the high yield bond market.  We advised on several of Europe’s largest high yield offerings, including transactions by NXP (formerly Philips Semiconductors), and TDC.  We have served as underwriters’ counsel in matters involving financial institutions and other investment grade issuers, such as Germany’s Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau, and in matters involving a range of first-time and seasoned equity issuers.  We also often serve as counsel to financial sponsor-owned companies in Europe as they go public or recapitalize in the global markets.

Litigation and Competition – Litigators in both our New York and London offices represent a variety of European clients in legal proceedings in the U.S.  For example, we have represented Swiss Re successfully in litigation arising out of the attack on the World Trade Center.  We also have represented Virgin Atlantic in various U.S. legal proceedings.  Our London-based antitrust team is instrumental in handling European merger review proceedings and obtaining approval for the most important international transactions.  Together with lawyers in our U.S. offices, lawyers in the London office coordinate merger filings in Europe, the United States, China, Australia and other jurisdictions around the globe.

Our European activities are supported by experienced international real estate and tax specialists located in both our New York and London offices.