James Bell

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.

Jason Hambury is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Construction Law and International Arbitration. Jason, who practices law in London, United Kingdom, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jason is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Prior to joining Skadden, Mr. Gal led the strategic development of the Middle Eastern litigation practice of another major U.S. law firm. Over the course of the last 20 years, he has represented some of the world’s leading companies in sectors such as telecommunications, banking and finance, infrastructure, energy, construction and technology under a variety of different rules including ICC, ICSID, LCIA, UNCITRAL, AAA and ad hoc arbitrations. He served, until recently, as one of Austral...

Peter Coulton is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law. Peter, who practices law in London, United Kingdom, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Peter is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michael Kazakevich is a partner in Ropes & Gray’s finance group in London, co-head of the firm’s global practice, and co-chair of the firm’s investment banking industry group. Michael’s practice focuses on corporate finance transactions. He has advised issuers and underwriters in connection with high yield debt issues, secured leveraged loans, initial and follow-on public equity offerings, tender offers and acquisition financing commitments.

Till Lefranc is a partner in the London office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. Mr. Lefranc is a member of the Private Equity, Mergers and Acquisitions and Capital Markets practice groups. Mr. Lefranc’s practice focuses on private equity, M&A and capital markets transactions across Europe. He advises clients on cross-border acquisitions and divestitures, growth capital investments, buy-outs, shareholder arrangements, minority investments, and management equity arrangements. He also a...

Richard Obank is a partner and the practice group leader of the Firm's Bankruptcy & Corporate Restructuring Practice Group in the U.K. Richard practices in the area of corporate restructuring with particular experience acting for boards of directors in financially distressed situations. He advises regularly on distressed M&A transactions, debt and capital restructuring and work out situations, often involving significant cross-border issues, where the objective is to ensure the best o...

?Mitri J. Najjar is a partner in the London office. He is admitted in both Washington D.C. and New York. He has 30 years of experience representing a wide variety of clients in numerous international transactions. Mr Najjar has resided and practiced law in Riyadh, New York City, Washington D.C., Dubai and London. He works extensively in the international commercial and banking areas, as well as on domestic securities matters and acquisitions. Mr. Najjar is ranked as a ‘foreign expert&rs...

Al Gourley is a Partner at the firm’s London office. He is a globally-recognised resource lawyer, having led many UK and Canadian initial public offerings, secondary and alternative finance transactions, as well as mergers and acquisitions, in the resource sector, particularly cross-border transactions involving Europe, Africa, Australia and Canada. Al is also the Chairman of the World Initiative of Mining Lawyers based in Europe. Al is known for his knowledge of “pure” mini...

Alexander Wood is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insolvency and Restructuring Law. Alexander, who practices law in London, United Kingdom, has been recognized since 2009. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Alexander is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.