David Sonter

Paul Lyons is a partner in Goodwin’s Real Estate Industry group and co-chair of the London office. Mr. Lyons focuses primarily on real estate debt finance, where he has significant experience in advising both borrowers and lenders at all levels of the capital stack. He has extensive experience in leveraged finance and his work has included advising banks on debt originations and restructurings as well as real estate and private equity fund clients on both lender and borrower mandates.

John McElroy is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of International Arbitration. John practices law in London, United Kingdom Best Lawyers has recognized John McElroy 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 John McElroy is held by other lawyers.

Mark Smith is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Pensions Practice. Mark practices law in London, United Kingdom Best Lawyers has recognized Mark Smith 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 Mark Smith is held by other lawyers.

George Knighton is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Private Equity Law. George practices law in London, United Kingdom Best Lawyers has recognized George Knighton 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 George Knighton is held by other lawyers.

James Fisher is a partner in the Finance Group in Alston & Bird’s London office, focusing on debt capital markets, structured finance, securitisation, and derivatives transactions, with a particular specialty in advising corporate trust, agency, and issuer clients across a broad spectrum of cross-border and domestic financings.

Alison Dennis is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Life Sciences Law. Alison practices law in London, United Kingdom Best Lawyers has recognized Alison Dennis since 2015. 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 Alison Dennis is held by other lawyers.

Clients value the support, guidance, and leadership that Phillip Taylor brings to a situation and his technical and commercial approach to delivering innovative solutions to the most complex issues involving international restructuring, special situations, and insolvency. He represents companies, creditors, and investors in all parts of the capital structure, as well as corporate trustees, agents, directors, and insolvency practitioners. Phillip routinely handles both contentious and non-cont...

Neil Robson decodes complex UK and EU regulations to provide practical regulatory and compliance advice to financial services firms. He represents a range of financial market participants — hedge and private equity fund managers, investment advisors, broker-dealers and proprietary traders — that are based or doing business in the UK or the EU. Neil's extensive working knowledge of this complicated sector allows his clients to both meet their business objectives and satisfy regulat...

Nigel van Zyl specializes in advising asset managers, institutional investors and investment advisors across the full spectrum of investment fund matters. Praised for his keen business sense and practical approach, Nigel advises leading international fund managers on all aspects of their fund business, including the formation, raising, maintenance and ongoing operation and compliance of their investment funds. He also advises on internal governance, compliance and organization, carried intere...

Jane Rogers is a partner in Ropes & Gray’s finance group in London, a member of the firm’s policy committee and a former co-head of the firm’s global finance practice. She focuses on private equity and debt financing transactions and was previously based in the Boston office before relocating to London in 2010.Jane regularly represents corporations and private equity funds in a variety of financing transactions, including high yield debt offerings, syndicated credit faci...