Europe

Companies doing business across Europe need to stay ahead of the fast pace of change. Crisis response, Brexit, regulatory developments, increasing government intervention and sanctions risks, along with climate policy and fluctuating economic cycles impact decision-making at all levels. We have a deep understanding of the challenges as well as opportunities these issues create for our clients.

The breadth of our client base extends across borders and industries, from long-established global companies to emerging start-ups, doing business both in and out of Europe.

We deliver a powerful combination of extensive cross-border experience and the freedom to bring together the expertise of market leaders in all European jurisdictions.

Leading elite teams of independent-minded lawyers, we provide innovative solutions to complex cross-border matters throughout the region.

Drawing on our history of work across the Nordics, Western Europe, Southern Europe, Central and Eastern Europe and Russia, we navigate the opportunities and risks at both the regional and country level to help our clients realise their strategic goals.

Key experience

Takeaway.com N.V.

We are advising, together with De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek in the Netherlands, Takeaway.com on its recommended all-share combination with Just Eat plc.

The combined entity, to be called Just Eat Takeaway.com N.V., will create one of the largest food delivery companies in the world, with scale, strategic vision, industry-leading capabilities, leading positions in attractive markets and a diversified geographic presence.

Contact

Corporate and M&A: Paul Dickson

MAN SE

We are advising truck manufacturer MAN SE, headquartered in Germany, in the Trucks cartel follow-on damages litigation, one of the most complex sets of claims to go before the courts. This involves a multiplicity of individual claims in the Competition Appeal Tribunal and the High Court as well as only the third and fourth collective proceedings applications made under new competition class actions legislation on both opt-out and opt-in bases. Together, the claimants seek billions in damages, potentially involving hundreds of thousands of trucks across Europe. We are working closely with Hengeler Mueller who are advising MAN SE in parallel claims filed across Europe, including Germany, Spain and the Netherlands.

Contacts

Disputes and Investigations: Damian Taylor, Holly Ware

Bridgepoint

We advised Bridgepoint, in conjunction with Uría Menéndez, on the English law aspects of its acquisition of Miya from the business arm of Arison Group. The acquisition of Miya marks the first investment made by Bridgepoint Europe VI, a EUR5.7 billion middle market buyout fund.

The Miya group provides comprehensive integrated water efficiency solutions to public and private utilities globally, and includes Indaqua, Portugal's leading private water and wastewater operator, which serves more than 600,000 residents in the north-west of Portugal.

Contact

Corporate and M&A: Mike Corbett

Dometic Group AB

We advised Dometic Group AB, headquartered in Sweden and listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange, on its acquisition of Kampa UK Ltd for a purchase price of approximately £50 million on a cash and debt free basis, together with an additional maximum earn-out element of £8.5 million based on delivery of financial targets in 2019 and 2020.

Contact

Corporate and M&A: Andrew Jolly

Ørsted A/S

We advised Ørsted, headquartered in Denmark, on its disposal of a 50% interest in the 1.218GW Hornsea 1 offshore wind farm to Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP).

We also advised on the terms of certain related financing, construction, operations and maintenance and power purchase arrangements.

Once complete, in early 2020, Hornsea 1 will be the world’s first offshore wind farm to be able to generate over 1GW of electricity – enough to power well over one million homes.

Contacts

Construction and Projects: Richard Todd
Financing: Azadeh Nassiri

Vodafone

We advised Vodafone Group Plc (Vodafone) on the acquisition of certain operations of Liberty Global (Liberty). Vodafone agreed to acquire Unitymedia GmbH in Germany and Liberty Global’s operations (excluding its “Direct Home” business) in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania, for a total enterprise value of EUR18.4 billion.

Contacts

Corporate and M&A: Roland Turnill 
Competition: Claire Jeffs

Compagnie Financière Richemont S.A.

We advised, alongside BonelliErede, Richemont, the luxury goods group listed in Switzerland, on its takeover of Yoox Net-a-Porter Group S.p.A.. YNAP was listed on the Borsa Italiana and is the world’s leading online luxury retailer. The offer valued YNAP at over €5 billion.

Slaughter and May and BonelliErede also acted for Richemont in connection with the all share merger of the Net-a-Porter group with YOOX in 2015 which led to the creation of YNAP.

Contacts

Corporate and M&A: Rob Innes
Financing: Ed Fife

Corsair Capital

We advised Corsair Capital on the acquisition of Italy-based RGI, one of the leading providers of core software solutions to the insurance market, from French PE fund Ardian. We worked as an integrated team with BonelliErede in Milan.

Contact

Private Equity: Filippo de Falco

CONTACTS

See our Key Experience above.