Capital markets
Our full-service global team acts for issuers, selling shareholders and underwriters, investment banks and governments, providing flexibility to structure transactions to achieve growth requirements.
Covering all areas of industry, Freshfields advises on equity capital markets transactions, including IPOs, secondary offerings (including rights issues, open offers and placings), equity-linked debt securities, block trades and accelerated book-build offerings.
Freshfields’ capital markets department experience across a broad range of products is refined and augmented by advising on the largest and most complex cross-border transactions.
Our debt capital markets practice covers standalone issuances, programmes, equity-linked, hybrid and subordinated debt. Our top-tier US securities practice, able to advise on Rule 144A placements to institutional investors in the US, is integrated within these teams, and our sophisticated disclosure lawyers are well-versed in 10b-5 disclosure standards.
Clients trust Freshfields’ commercial and practical approach, seamlessly collaborating across specialties and practices to build bespoke teams tailored to the nuances of different insolvency regimes, tax structures and accounting standards. Our qualified lawyers in every major jurisdiction (including an integrated US capital markets team operating across Europe, Asia and the US) help with listings on the world’s key stock exchanges using a range of offering structures. This integrated set-up puts us at the forefront of global developments, such as SPAC transactions or ESG-related aspects.
Recent client successes
CVC, one of Europe’s largest private equity firms, on its landmark IPO on Euronext Amsterdam
The underwriters on the $805m New York Stock Exchange IPO of Samsara, a San Francisco-based cloud operations company
The underwriters on Galderma’s $17bn IPO on the SIX Swiss Exchange, anticipated to be among Europe’s largest in 2024
Transnet on its award-winning bridge to bond financing
This deal won the 2024 Quasi-Sovereign/GRE Bond Deal of the Year, awarded by Bonds, Loans & ESG Capital Markets Africa. You can read the full case study here.
Aquila Acquisition Corporation on Hong Kong’s first ever de-SPAC transaction
Awards & Recognitions
Band 1, Capital Markets: Chambers Europe Equity, Europe-wide, 2024
Band 1, Capital Markets: Chambers Europe, Equity and Debt, Germany, 2024
Band 1, Capital Markets: Chambers Asia-Pacific, Equity (International Firms), China, 2024
Band 1, Capital Markets: Chambers USA, Debt & Equity (Sarah Solum) USA, 2024
Ranked #1 in the Bloomberg EMEA ECM rankings for 2023
"Freshfields have consistently shown themselves to be thoughtful and detailed in their analysis, with a very deep understanding of the needs of their clients and the ability to find effective solutions to meet those needs.”
"Freshfields has experts in all questions we have, who are always very good in providing solutions and advice."
"Freshfields offer very pragmatic, structured, balanced and commercial advice."
"I would certainly put them in the category of top-notch firms. Freshfields' team are very hands-on and responsive. They provide solution-oriented professional services which give me great confidence."
"The team is responsive and adept at balancing our competing priorities. The attorneys react quickly and efficiently."
