Cravath’s London Office Moves to 100 Cheapside
Capital Markets
Cravath has one of the most respected capital markets practices in the world. We hold a distinctive reputation for devising and executing the innovative, sophisticated deal structures underlying landmark financing transactions, including the first simultaneous cross‑border tender offer, direct listings, high‑profile IPOs and acquisition financings for many of the largest U.S. and cross‑border transactions.
Our practice is balanced between representing issuers and underwriters on debt, equity and hybrid offerings, both domestically and internationally. Cravath’s substantial presence in London, where we have one of the largest contingents of U.S. lawyers in the city, enhances our ability to provide seamless, round‑the‑clock coverage.
We execute complex, cross-border deals issued in multiple currencies, as well as IPOs and other high‑profile transactions for companies ranging from emerging startups to leading multinational corporations in the United States and abroad. Our lawyers have led offerings in a broad range of industries and we also regularly advise on SEC‑registered and Rule 144A offerings by sovereign and supranational entities.
Our U.S. and foreign private issuer clients rely on Cravath’s expertise to resolve their most challenging issues before the SEC, including on difficult accounting or other disclosure matters, as well as potential reporting and compliance issues. Cravath lawyers maintain strong relationships with members of the SEC staff and our representation includes alerting our clients to newly enacted U.S. securities laws and SEC and exchange rules and regulations, as well as advising them with respect to compliance with these requirements. We also counsel clients on how U.S. securities laws and regulations interact with evolving areas such as crypto and data privacy.
Our lawyers’ ability to execute all offering types, our client-targeted expertise and our commercial understanding of business situations are highly recommended by clients and peers:
- “Clear leaders in the market, [Cravath] presents the complete package for clients: ‘They know how to move a deal along, and they know the SEC.’” Chambers
- “They are a perennial leader in capital markets transactions in Europe.” Chambers
- “Cravath runs a top-notch U.S. securities practice from its London office and is involved in some of the largest transactions in the U.S. and global equity capital markets.” The Legal 500
- “Cravath has served as one of our primary outside counsels for over 20 years. They’ve helped us in a variety of different matters and transactions including an IPO, secondary equity offerings, and, more recently, a 144A debt offering. I would say that the firm in general, but specifically the capital markets team, provides the highest quality legal services that I think we get from any outside counsel. I’ve found their work to be uniformly excellent. They get some of the brightest people, they have a pretty broad range of expertise, and the quality of the lawyers is uniformly high. They’re very responsive and I think they really meet the client’s needs in pretty much all facets.” IFLR1000
- “They collaborate seamlessly to ensure they deliver their firm’s absolute best on every client matter.” Chambers
- “Absolutely outstanding. Deep technical expertise combined with wide sector knowledge and unbelievable commitment.” IFLR1000
- “Excellent lawyers technically and creative problem-solvers” who are “regularly sought for advice on complex or esoteric capital markets issues.” Chambers
- Cravath is “the best at anticipating and answering our changing legal needs.” Chambers
- “There’s Cravath and then there’s everyone else.” The Legal 500
Our practice is balanced between representing issuers and underwriters on debt, equity and hybrid offerings, both domestically and internationally. Cravath’s substantial presence in London, where we have one of the largest contingents of U.S. lawyers in the city, enhances our ability to provide seamless, round‑the‑clock coverage.
We execute complex, cross-border deals issued in multiple currencies, as well as IPOs and other high‑profile transactions for companies ranging from emerging startups to leading multinational corporations in the United States and abroad. Our lawyers have led offerings in a broad range of industries and we also regularly advise on SEC‑registered and Rule 144A offerings by sovereign and supranational entities.
Our U.S. and foreign private issuer clients rely on Cravath’s expertise to resolve their most challenging issues before the SEC, including on difficult accounting or other disclosure matters, as well as potential reporting and compliance issues. Cravath lawyers maintain strong relationships with members of the SEC staff and our representation includes alerting our clients to newly enacted U.S. securities laws and SEC and exchange rules and regulations, as well as advising them with respect to compliance with these requirements. We also counsel clients on how U.S. securities laws and regulations interact with evolving areas such as crypto and data privacy.
Our lawyers’ ability to execute all offering types, our client-targeted expertise and our commercial understanding of business situations are highly recommended by clients and peers:
- “Clear leaders in the market, [Cravath] presents the complete package for clients: ‘They know how to move a deal along, and they know the SEC.’” Chambers
- “They are a perennial leader in capital markets transactions in Europe.” Chambers
- “Cravath runs a top-notch U.S. securities practice from its London office and is involved in some of the largest transactions in the U.S. and global equity capital markets.” The Legal 500
- “Cravath has served as one of our primary outside counsels for over 20 years. They’ve helped us in a variety of different matters and transactions including an IPO, secondary equity offerings, and, more recently, a 144A debt offering. I would say that the firm in general, but specifically the capital markets team, provides the highest quality legal services that I think we get from any outside counsel. I’ve found their work to be uniformly excellent. They get some of the brightest people, they have a pretty broad range of expertise, and the quality of the lawyers is uniformly high. They’re very responsive and I think they really meet the client’s needs in pretty much all facets.” IFLR1000
- “They collaborate seamlessly to ensure they deliver their firm’s absolute best on every client matter.” Chambers
- “Absolutely outstanding. Deep technical expertise combined with wide sector knowledge and unbelievable commitment.” IFLR1000
- “Excellent lawyers technically and creative problem-solvers” who are “regularly sought for advice on complex or esoteric capital markets issues.” Chambers
- Cravath is “the best at anticipating and answering our changing legal needs.” Chambers
- “There’s Cravath and then there’s everyone else.” The Legal 500
Deals & Cases
September 29, 2025
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company’s $2.9 Billion Registered Notes Offering
Cravath represented the underwriters in connection with the $2.9 billion registered notes offering of Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company, an industry leading technology company. The transaction closed on September 15, 2025.
Deals & Cases
September 25, 2025
Webster Financial Corporation’s Fixed Rate Reset Subordinated Notes Offering
Cravath represented the underwriters in connection with the $350 million fixed rate reset subordinated notes offering of Webster Financial Corporation, a bank holding company of Webster Bank, a commercial bank with a national bank charter focused on providing financial products and services to businesses, individuals and families. The transaction closed on September 11, 2025.
Deals & Cases
September 24, 2025
Cleveland‑Cliffs Inc.’s High‑Yield Senior Guaranteed Notes Offering
Cravath represented the initial purchasers in connection with the $850 million 144A/Reg. S high‑yield senior guaranteed notes offering of Cleveland‑Cliffs Inc., a leading North America‑based steel producer. The transaction closed on September 8, 2025.
Deals & Cases
September 24, 2025
Level 3 Financing, Inc.’s High‑Yield First Lien Notes Tack‑On Offering
Cravath represented the initial purchasers in connection with the $425 million 144A/Reg. S high‑yield first lien notes tack‑on offering of Level 3 Financing, Inc., guaranteed by Level 3 Parent, LLC. Level 3 Financing, Inc. is a direct wholly‑owned subsidiary of Level 3 Parent, LLC and indirect wholly‑owned subsidiary of Lumen Technologies, Inc., a facilities‑based technology and communications company that provides a broad array of integrated products and services. The transaction closed on September 8, 2025.
Deals & Cases
September 22, 2025
Jefferies and SMBC Group’s Significant Expansion of Global Strategic Alliance
On September 19, 2025, Jefferies Financial Group, Inc. (“Jefferies”) and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc., Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and SMBC Nikko Securities Inc. (collectively, “SMBC Group”) announced they are significantly expanding their Global Strategic Alliance. This will include a joint venture to combine their Japanese equities and ECM businesses. As part of this expansion, SMBC intends to increase its equity ownership in Jefferies to up to 20% in the open market. Cravath is representing Jefferies in connection with the transactions.
Activities
September 19, 2025
Financial Times Recognizes Cravath with “Innovative Lawyers in Dealmaking” Award at Innovative Lawyer Europe Awards 2025
On September 18, 2025, the Financial Times recognized Cravath at the publication’s Innovative Lawyer Europe Awards 2025, which recognize the most innovative work and legal service lawyers have developed for their clients in Europe. Cravath was chosen as the winner in the “Dealmaking” category in recognition of the Firm’s representation of the lead arrangers and initial purchasers in the €1.9 billion financing supporting TDR Capital and I Squared Capital’s public-to-private acquisition of Applus+.
Activities
September 17, 2025
Scott Bennett Co‑Leads Roundtable at The L Suite’s 2025 General Counsel IPO Conference
On September 17, 2025, Cravath partner D. Scott Bennett participated in The L Suite’s 2025 General Counsel IPO Conference, which was held from September 16‑17 in San Francisco. The conference hosted general counsels and chief legal officers at early, growth and late‑stage private companies to discuss strategic insights and legal guidance for navigating the evolving IPO landscape, including market timing, raise sizing, managing late-stage investors, dual‑track and SPAC considerations and sector-specific momentum in areas like technology and AI. Scott co‑led a roundtable discussion entitled “Leading Through the Unknown: The GC’s Role in IPO‑Adjacent Crisis Management,” which explored how general counsels can proactively build crisis response into IPO planning, support the CEO and leadership team under pressure, maintain investor confidence and manage legal exposure when plans shift unexpectedly.
Publications
August 11, 2025
Cravath Publishes Finance & Capital Markets Quarterly Review for Q2 2025
On August 11, 2025, Cravath published the latest edition of its Finance & Capital Markets Quarterly Review, which provides insight into practical points, key takeaways and relevant developments related to the bond, equity and loan markets and restructuring activity during the second quarter of 2025. Highlights from this edition include:
Publications
July 02, 2025
Structuring Share Repurchases: Rule 10b‑18 and Rule 10b5‑1 Applied to Open‑Market Share Repurchase Programs, Accelerated Share Repurchase Transactions and Enhanced Open‑Market Share Repurchase Transactions
On July 1, 2025, Cravath prepared a memo for its clients entitled “Structuring Share Repurchases: Rule 10b‑18 and Rule 10b5‑1 Applied to Open‑Market Share Repurchase Programs, Accelerated Share Repurchase Transactions and Enhanced Open‑Market Share Repurchase Transactions.”
Publications
June 25, 2025
Nick Dorsey, Ryan Patrone, Kelly Smercina and Margaret Rallings Contribute to the 2025 Chambers Acquisition Finance Guide
Cravath partner Nicholas A. Dorsey served as the co‑editor of the 2025 edition of the Chambers Acquisition Finance Guide, which is part of the publisher’s Global Practice Guide series. Nick also co‑authored, along with Cravath partners Ryan J. Patrone, Kelly M. Smercina and Margaret R. M. Rallings, the U.S. chapter of the guide.
Deals & Cases
September 29, 2025
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company’s $2.9 Billion Registered Notes Offering
Cravath represented the underwriters in connection with the $2.9 billion registered notes offering of Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company, an industry leading technology company. The transaction closed on September 15, 2025.
Deals & Cases
September 25, 2025
Webster Financial Corporation’s Fixed Rate Reset Subordinated Notes Offering
Cravath represented the underwriters in connection with the $350 million fixed rate reset subordinated notes offering of Webster Financial Corporation, a bank holding company of Webster Bank, a commercial bank with a national bank charter focused on providing financial products and services to businesses, individuals and families. The transaction closed on September 11, 2025.
Deals & Cases
September 24, 2025
Cleveland‑Cliffs Inc.’s High‑Yield Senior Guaranteed Notes Offering
Cravath represented the initial purchasers in connection with the $850 million 144A/Reg. S high‑yield senior guaranteed notes offering of Cleveland‑Cliffs Inc., a leading North America‑based steel producer. The transaction closed on September 8, 2025.
Deals & Cases
September 24, 2025
Level 3 Financing, Inc.’s High‑Yield First Lien Notes Tack‑On Offering
Cravath represented the initial purchasers in connection with the $425 million 144A/Reg. S high‑yield first lien notes tack‑on offering of Level 3 Financing, Inc., guaranteed by Level 3 Parent, LLC. Level 3 Financing, Inc. is a direct wholly‑owned subsidiary of Level 3 Parent, LLC and indirect wholly‑owned subsidiary of Lumen Technologies, Inc., a facilities‑based technology and communications company that provides a broad array of integrated products and services. The transaction closed on September 8, 2025.
Deals & Cases
September 22, 2025
Jefferies and SMBC Group’s Significant Expansion of Global Strategic Alliance
On September 19, 2025, Jefferies Financial Group, Inc. (“Jefferies”) and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc., Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and SMBC Nikko Securities Inc. (collectively, “SMBC Group”) announced they are significantly expanding their Global Strategic Alliance. This will include a joint venture to combine their Japanese equities and ECM businesses. As part of this expansion, SMBC intends to increase its equity ownership in Jefferies to up to 20% in the open market. Cravath is representing Jefferies in connection with the transactions.
Activities
September 19, 2025
Financial Times Recognizes Cravath with “Innovative Lawyers in Dealmaking” Award at Innovative Lawyer Europe Awards 2025
On September 18, 2025, the Financial Times recognized Cravath at the publication’s Innovative Lawyer Europe Awards 2025, which recognize the most innovative work and legal service lawyers have developed for their clients in Europe. Cravath was chosen as the winner in the “Dealmaking” category in recognition of the Firm’s representation of the lead arrangers and initial purchasers in the €1.9 billion financing supporting TDR Capital and I Squared Capital’s public-to-private acquisition of Applus+.
Activities
September 17, 2025
Scott Bennett Co‑Leads Roundtable at The L Suite’s 2025 General Counsel IPO Conference
On September 17, 2025, Cravath partner D. Scott Bennett participated in The L Suite’s 2025 General Counsel IPO Conference, which was held from September 16‑17 in San Francisco. The conference hosted general counsels and chief legal officers at early, growth and late‑stage private companies to discuss strategic insights and legal guidance for navigating the evolving IPO landscape, including market timing, raise sizing, managing late-stage investors, dual‑track and SPAC considerations and sector-specific momentum in areas like technology and AI. Scott co‑led a roundtable discussion entitled “Leading Through the Unknown: The GC’s Role in IPO‑Adjacent Crisis Management,” which explored how general counsels can proactively build crisis response into IPO planning, support the CEO and leadership team under pressure, maintain investor confidence and manage legal exposure when plans shift unexpectedly.
Publications
August 11, 2025
Cravath Publishes Finance & Capital Markets Quarterly Review for Q2 2025
On August 11, 2025, Cravath published the latest edition of its Finance & Capital Markets Quarterly Review, which provides insight into practical points, key takeaways and relevant developments related to the bond, equity and loan markets and restructuring activity during the second quarter of 2025. Highlights from this edition include:
Publications
July 02, 2025
Structuring Share Repurchases: Rule 10b‑18 and Rule 10b5‑1 Applied to Open‑Market Share Repurchase Programs, Accelerated Share Repurchase Transactions and Enhanced Open‑Market Share Repurchase Transactions
On July 1, 2025, Cravath prepared a memo for its clients entitled “Structuring Share Repurchases: Rule 10b‑18 and Rule 10b5‑1 Applied to Open‑Market Share Repurchase Programs, Accelerated Share Repurchase Transactions and Enhanced Open‑Market Share Repurchase Transactions.”
Publications
June 25, 2025
Nick Dorsey, Ryan Patrone, Kelly Smercina and Margaret Rallings Contribute to the 2025 Chambers Acquisition Finance Guide
Cravath partner Nicholas A. Dorsey served as the co‑editor of the 2025 edition of the Chambers Acquisition Finance Guide, which is part of the publisher’s Global Practice Guide series. Nick also co‑authored, along with Cravath partners Ryan J. Patrone, Kelly M. Smercina and Margaret R. M. Rallings, the U.S. chapter of the guide.
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