Andrew Murphy

Global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) advises Deutsche Bahn on the sale of international transport business Arriva, including all of its operating businesses across 10 European markets to I Squared Capital, a leading global infrastructure investment manager. Completion of the transaction is expected in 2024, and is subject to the customary closing conditions, including the approval of the Deutsche Bahn Supervisory Board and the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport of the Federal Republic of Germany. As part of its Strong Rail Group strategy, Deutsche Bahn announced that it intended to sell Arriva to enable additional growth in rail transport in Germany and allow it to focus its resources on its core business, supporting a shift to greener transport and cleaner cities across Europe. The Freshfields team is being led by partners Richard Thexton and David Sonter and senior associate Yvonne Barry, together with associates Tim Wuttke-Henshall, Charmaine Ho and Christine Khuat, partner Nick French, senior associate Theo Souris and associate Aaron Hanif on anti-trust matters, partner Jill Gatehouse and associate Nicola Cavey on tax matters, partner Andrew Murphy and senior associate Lauren Jackson advising on pension and employment matters while separation and IP support is provided by partner Giles Pratt, senior associate Tony Gregory and associate Jamaal Jackson. A cross-border, cross-practice team at Freshfields has worked closely with Arriva and Deutsche Bahn over many months to deliver the transaction, in particular with the Deutsche Bahn legal team of Alexander Wismeth, Martin Lamm, Thomas Götze and Christian Wörz and the M&A team of Stefan Klenke, Thomas Wagner and Philipp Lohöfer and with the Arriva legal team of Scott Marshall and Helen Seeber. Alexander Wismeth, Head of Legal for DB Arriva at Deutsche Bahn said “The Freshfields team, as a whole and each of its members, was exceptional and a great pleasure to work with throughout this transaction, which forms a vital part of Deutsche Bahn’s Strong Rail Group strategy”.

Oct 19

1 min

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) has been included in the Stonewall Top Global Employers List 2023 this year, achieving GOLD status. The Employers List, highlighting the top international employers for LGBTQ+ professionals, is compiled from submissions made to Stonewall’s Global Workplace Equality Index. This index serves as a benchmarking tool for organisations to foster LGBTQ+ inclusivity in their workplaces and address the significant challenge of upholding inclusive values on a global scale. Andrew Murphy, Partner, on behalf of Executive Sponsors of LGBTQ+ inclusion comments: “We are very pleased at achieving the gold award in this year’s Global Workplace Equality Index and being recognised alongside other prestigious employers across several sectors. We are committed to being an employer of choice for LGBTQ+ people and for all our colleagues to maintain a workplace that values authenticity and self-expression, one that fosters innovation and creative thinking by individuals, which in turn promotes better job satisfaction and engagement. This benefits us all.” Helen Ouseley, Global Head of Diversity, Inclusion & Wellbeing, said: “We are immensely proud of this recognition of our commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion. The award reflects the efforts of Freshfields colleagues everywhere to create an inclusive work environment where all can belong, engage and excel. As a global firm, we have the platform and opportunity to collaborate with our clients, suppliers and other companies that we work with around the world to make a substantial positive impact for LGBTQ+ inclusion.” Freshfields has embedded ‘access to justice and access to opportunity’ as part of its Responsible Business strategy, and within its many pro bono commitments the LGBTQ+ community is one of six priority groups. Prioritising building a welcoming, positive and supportive environment was reflected in a number of ways the past year. Our new global Executive Sponsors for LGBTQ+ inclusion shared their personal journeys and held an interactive session with Halo members to share what they hoped to bring to their role in driving change across the firm. Tokyo and Hong Kong are partnering with Out Leadership in their Asia Summit (taking place this week), in events to explore the progress made in Asia and to inspire and empower LGBTQ+ emerging leaders. We ran a webinar in collaboration with We Create Space, in which panellists shared their personal experiences around intersectional identities. We were thrilled to host a private screening of CURED, an award-winning documentary that highlights a pivotal but little-known moment in LGBTQ+ history when US activists rose up to challenge a formidable institution - and won a crucial victory in the modern movement for LGBTQ+ equality. In celebration of Pride 2023, we are delighted to have hosted a number of virtual activities and events, in collaboration with Halo, to mark the month. Jessica Harris speaks on behalf of the Global Halo committee: “Global Halo and Global Halo Champions, Freshfields’ employee networks for LGBTQ+ colleagues and allies respectively, join our colleagues to celebrate the firm being awarded the GOLD by Stonewall. We are immensely proud of this recognition and it is a culmination of the long collaboration and support from the firm’s leadership as well as our colleagues at large. We have seen the firm’s commitment to inclusion in the support that our networks have received when hosting training sessions, educating our colleagues about various awareness days and speaking about the state of LGBTQ+ rights globally. Despite the broad coverage of countries and jurisdictions around the world and the differing pace of change, the firm has been steadfast in ensuring that LGBTQ+ inclusion is central to  its Diversity and Inclusion strategy and that our efforts, including pro bono legal work, extends to advocacy work for LGBTQ+ rights in our communities. The firm’s leadership have always valued our advice and efforts to support our community and this speaks to our culture of inclusion at Freshfields.” Further info on Freshfields’ recently published D&I Annual Review 2023 can be found here.

Nov 2

3 min

Global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) advised Sixth Street on the development and launch of the Clara-Pensions retirement benefits consolidator together with the signing of its first transaction with the Trustees of the Sears Retail Pension Scheme. Sixth Street is the lead investor in Clara-Pensions, the first superfund in the UK to obtain regulatory approval and to enter into its first transaction. Clara’s consolidation model serves as a bridge to the insured market for the UK’s defined benefit pension schemes and their members. When a scheme enters Clara, its assets and liabilities are supported by capital from Clara’s capital providers, thus securing a lower-risk journey to buy-out. Only after Clara has fully secured promised benefits for its members is there any return to its capital providers. The Freshfields team included Partner Andrew Murphy, Partner James Scott, Senior Legal Consultant Antonio Laino and Senior Associate Lauren Jackson.

Nov 6

1 min

Global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) has advised Tesco on the proposed sale of its banking operations across credit cards, loans and savings, and the entry into a long-term strategic partnership with Barclays. Tesco expects to receive £600m in proceeds from the sale. The sale allows Tesco to remove significant capital-intensive assets and liabilities from its balance sheet and focus on its profitable, capital-light businesses, such as insurance, ATMs, travel money and card cards, which are complementary to its core retail offering. Under the partnership, Barclays will offer Tesco branded products and services and will provide Tesco with annual income for the use of its brand, growing the customer base through Tesco channels and as a result of Barclays’ participation in the Tesco Clubcard programme. The exclusive partnership will combine Tesco’s market-leading brand, physical & digital reach and relentless customer focus with Barclays’ deep financial services capabilities and expertise in commercial partnerships. The Tesco legal team was led by Group General Counsel Adrian Morris, Group Corporate Legal Director Andrew Magro, Head of Legal Lauren Cox, Senior Legal Counsel Charlotte Hart, Tesco Bank Legal Director and Company Secretary Fiona Burden and Tesco Bank Head of Legal John Murray. The Freshfields team was led by partners Claire Wills and Andy Robinson and senior associates Michael Black and Lucy Cliff. Partner Richard Lister and senior associate Tom Hingley led on advice on the long-term strategic partnership. Partners James Smethurst, Rikki Haria, Alice Greenwell, Andrew Murphy and Pete Allen advised on financial regulatory, anti-trust, employment, pensions and finance matters respectively.

Feb 9

1 min

Global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) is advising GIC on its agreement to acquire Cinven’s shares in Miller, which they first acquired together in 2021. The agreement will see GIC become the majority shareholder in Miller, subject to completion and regulatory approval, and is expected to close at the end of Q1 2024. The agreement represents a major milestone in Miller’s evolution into a leading independent specialist broker, with the backing of a long-term owner committed to supporting Miller’s entrepreneurial culture, unified team strategy and unparalleled commitment to client service. The Freshfields cross-practice team is being led by London-based private equity partner James Scott, senior associate Hannah Turton and senior legal consultant Antonio Laino, with counsel Mac Mackenzie advising on financial regulatory workstreams, global managing partner Rafique Bachour on anti-trust workstreams, co-head of leveraged finance Alex Mitchell on debt financing workstreams and Andrew Murphy on pensions.

Dec 11

1 min