Barrie Akin

Steven Davis is a partner in the Corporate Department, co-head of our global Private Equity and M&A Group and co-head of the London office.Steven’s practice focuses on buyouts, buy-ins, and strategic mergers & acquisitions. He has considerable industry knowledge in the consumer, retail, financial, business services, sports and healthcare sectors, and has advised a broad range of clients, including private equity sponsors, management teams, financial institutions and public and p...

Robert Spano is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Human Rights Law and Public International Law. Robert practices law in London, United Kingdom Best Lawyers has recognized Robert Spano since 2025. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Robert Spano is held by other lawyers.

Deborah Ruff leads Pillsbury’s Arbitration - U.S. & International practice. She has extensive experience in multi-jurisdiction disputes, with a focus on high-value and complex international arbitration in the energy, infrastructure and construction, telecommunications and financial sectors. Deborah conducts international arbitration disputes often over JOAs, the construction of and off-take from refineries and petrochemical plants, as well as rig, energy trading and transport, and c...

Vincent Zabielski focuses on international nuclear energy matters, including providing strategic advice related to new-build EPC contracts, power purchase agreements, operation and maintenance, fuel supply chain, liability issues, and export controls. Prior to joining Pillsbury, Vincent was Senior Nuclear Counsel for the UAE nuclear new build program, where he was responsible for integration of nuclear licensing strategy with the largest-ever public financing of a public works project. During...

Justin Watts is an experienced patent litigator who has an established and well-regarded intellectual property practice. Clients rely on his industry knowledge and years of experience to handle their complex, multinational disputes. Dr. Watts represents a variety of clients, with an emphasis on those in the pharmaceutical, medical devices, biotechnology, communications, and hardware and software industries, in disputes involving standards, competition law and patents. Dr. Watts' experience en...

Graham Iversen focuses his practice on corporate tax matters, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, joint ventures, partnerships, corporate restructurings, debt and equity finance, derivatives, structured investments, real estate and tax disputes. Graham joined the firm from Slaughter and May in London, where he was a partner in the firm’s London office in their tax department for more than 14 years. He has been a corporate tax attorney for more than 22 years,...

David Birchall advises clients on the full range of energy transactions in the mid- and downstream fields, including types of commodity trading matters, conventional, renewables and clean-tech projects, energy and infrastructure projects, regulation and waste, including waste-to-energy schemes. Having practised as an energy corporate, regulatory and projects lawyer since 1993, he also worked from the start of the renewables and physical commodities trading legal market, in the UK, throughout ...

Bill Schnoor is a partner in and former co-chair of the firm’s Technology and Life Sciences groups. He works in all areas of corporate, securities and partnership laws, with a primary focus on advising high-growth technology and life sciences companies. He joined Goodwin in 2005, after a 21-year career with Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP, and quickly became co-chair of Goodwin’s technology and life sciences practices. Under his leadership the Technology and Life Sciences grou...

Robert Haak is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of High Yield Products. Robert practices law in London, United Kingdom Best Lawyers has recognized Robert Haak since 2024. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Robert Haak is held by other lawyers.

Christopher Haynes is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Capital Markets Law. Christopher practices law in London, United Kingdom Best Lawyers has recognized Christopher Haynes since 2025. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Christopher Haynes is held by other lawyers.