Linklaters partner Clodagh Hayes, who was made up just two years ago, took 24th place in terms of deal value and third when ranked by volume. (The large number of lawyers advising on the Six Continents and Safeway deals noticeably skews the value table.)
Hayes is advising Vodafone on the buyouts of its subsidiaries in Sweden, the Netherlands and Portugal, giving it total control of all three companies. She is also acting for GE Capital on its acquisition of First National Bank from Abbey National. It is the first piece of work Hayes has done for GE Capital, after it was gifted to her by magic circle rival Slaughter and May, which is acting for Abbey National.
Another new name – and firm – on the table is Gordons Cranswick’s head of corporate John Golden, who made twelfth equal by deal value. The Yorkshire-based firm is acting alongside Ashurst Morris Crisp partners Paul Gadd and Adrian Clark (who placed eleventh and twelfth equal respectively) for Wm Morrison Supermarkets on the Safeway bid. Morrisons is the firm’s flagship client.
The top spots, however, held no surprises, with Sullivan & Cromwell‘s George Sampas, Linklaters’ David Cheyne and Nigel Boardman of Slaughter and May taking the top three places respectively.
