Finance
Derivatives
We have been practising derivatives
since their beginnings, originally arising from a constant stream
of structured AAA-rated bond issues we advised on in the late 80s
and early 90s.
This gave us early exposure to some of
the most complex transactions of the time and, as a consequence, we
were one of the first law firms to join the International Swaps and
Derivatives Association, Inc (ISDA). The Derivatives Group now acts
for an impressive array of clients, ranging from global investment
banks to fund managers, pension funds, multinationals and, of
course, hedge funds.
As the practice has developed, so has
our expertise across a number of products. We cover all forms of
derivatives and underlyings, from interest rate and FX products to
commodity, complex credit and equity and hybrid products. A typical
transaction might equally involve structured repos or stock lending
transactions which our lawyers are also familiar with.
Not only do we advise on the structure
of individual transactions but we also have experience of project
work in areas such as netting, collateral and major bank
reorganisations.
The range of work we do, as well as
the people we work for, closely reflects the dynamic and
ever-changing environment and keeps us at the forefront of major
developments in the derivatives market.
Our lawyers have been on at least
one secondment to our clients in more than just the traditional
areas of finance. As a result, not only do they know ISDA
documentation, they also understand how the markets and
transactions work and, more importantly, how they can work together
with clients to achieve their goals.