Image of Claire Coppel

Claire Coppel

Partner

Claire is a corporate finance expert and advises a range of clients on private and public M&A, equity capital markets transactions, corporate governance and shareholder activism. 

50% of Claire's practice is focused on strategic advice for public companies, on a sector-agnostic basis; the other 50% is focused on financial services clients.

Claire is listed as a “Next Generation Partner” in the Legal 500 UK 2022 rankings and received Law.com International’s Female Rising Stars 2022 award. Claire joined TheCityUK Next Generation Leadership Council in 2023. Claire is focused on social mobility and has attended our Smart Start mentoring programme. This year, Claire also worked on the merger of two children's charities focused on providing legal support to children facing school exclusion.  

Experience

Representative matters

  • A global financial services provider on its GBP 1bn retail insurance joint venture with Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society and its subsequent buy-out of LVFS’s interest in the JV.
  • Electra Private Equity on its defence against New York activist, Edward Bramson, its ongoing strategic review, and corporate governance matters.
  • Man Group on its redomicile to Jersey, involving a new admission to trading and an internal corporate and governance reorganisation.
  • Virgin Money Holdings (UK) plc on its GBP4.4bn merger with CYBG.
  • A global financial services provider on its GBP1bn retail insurance joint venture with Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited and its subsequent buy-out of LVFS’s interest in the JV in 2017 and 2019.
  • A multinational insurance company on the EUR800m disposal of its general and life insurance businesses in Italy to a global financial services provider in 2021.
  • Calisen on its GBP1.4bn recommended takeover by a Blackrock and multinational financial institution-led consortium in 2021.
  • Man Group plc and TP ICAP plc on their respective redomiciles to Jersey, involving a new admission to trading and an internal corporate and governance reorganisation in 2019 and 2021.
  • Samsung Life Insurance on the acquisition of a minority interest in, and its USD1bn seed capital commitment to, Savills Investment Management, a global real estate investment manager.
  • Sirius Minerals plc on the recommended GBP 400m takeover of it by Anglo American plc in 2020.
  • SGS SA on its acquisition of Synlab’s Analytics and Services division in 2020.
  • Sumo Group plc on its equity placing and subsequent acquisition of Pipeworks Inc in 2020.
  • Virgin Atlantic on its 2020 GBP 1.2bn recapitalisation plan and Virgin Active on its 2021 restructuring plan, both under the new Part 26A Companies Act restructuring plan regime.
  • Virgin Money Holdings (UK) plc on its GBP 4.4bn merger with CYBG plc.

Pro bono

  • Supported the Commercial Awareness Workshop during Smart Start 2019 and provided mentoring to a Smart Start student.

Published Work

  • Coppel C G & Hitchins S (2020) "A&O Decision Insight: FCA fines PDMR for failing to notify personal share dealing under MAR", Thomson Reuters.

Recognition

a real standout lawyer who I am sure is on the way to being a star in the profession
Client
particularly formidable in the Boardroom
Client

Qualifications

Admissions

Admitted as a Solicitor (England and Wales), 2011

Academic

BA Hons, Classics and Modern Languages, Oxford University, 2007

LLB, College of Law (London), 2009

Fraudulent emails

Please note that there is a known fraud/scam using this individual's name.

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Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.