Our cross-border teams have in-depth experience structuring financial instruments for sovereigns and their commercial counterparts, while addressing applicable legal and regulatory constraints. We guide sovereigns, sub-sovereigns, and sovereign funds, as well as multilateral development banks, financial institutions, and investors through the sovereign debt cycle, from bond issuances to refinancings, restructurings, negotiations, and enforcement.
Our experience acting for and against states gives us a clear understanding of the legal, commercial, and political dynamics that can be involved in sovereign transactions and disputes. At moments of financial distress, we can help states and financial institutions develop restructuring strategies, coordinate with creditors, and implement liability management to restore market access and investor confidence.
We act for and against sovereigns in disputes before national courts, arbitral tribunals and regulatory bodies, offering integrated legal, financial, trade, and compliance advice. We have extensive experience with related sovereign issues such as sovereign immunity, treaty interpretation, sanctions, public policy, sensitive investigations, and trade issues, including before the WTO.
Our Sovereign Advisory proposition includes:
- Sovereign finance transactions, including extensive capital market and loan market experience;
- Sovereign debt restructuring expertise and liability management;
- Market-leading sanctions lawyers in the UK, EU, Asia and the Americas;
- A cross-border financial regulatory team with capital and exchange controls experience;
- Investigations experience in some of the most sensitive matters; and
- Experienced and highly regarded disputes lawyers acting for and against sovereign entities before national courts and arbitral tribunals.
On financial transactions, we regularly advise sovereigns, multilateral organizations, and financial institutions on sovereign waiver provisions and related dispute resolution clauses. Whether advancing a sovereign’s reform agenda, structuring investment products, or protecting creditor rights in disputes, we deliver the full spectrum of sovereign advisory services.