28 May 2013

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Starting employee profile in english
Michael Bates

Michael Bates

Title
Partner
Office
Clifford Chance, London | View map
Practice
Banking & finance
Sector
Banks, Energy & infrastructure, Insurance, Private equity, Transport & logistics
Publications
3

Email
Email this person
Tel
+442070062783

Experience and career history

Michael Bates specialises in banking and capital markets work (primarily in the infrastructure sector) and restructuring.  He has extensive knowledge of leverage finance and corporate lending. Clients include banks, financial sponsors and corporates.

Michael has worked on some of  the  most significant matters in the infrastructure sector including the acquisition and subsequent refinancing of BAA, Kelda Water, Opengrid Europe, Arqiva and UK Power Networks.

Exeter University (LLB) 1990
Joined Clifford Chance as an Articled clerk 1991
Admitted as a solicitor in England & Wales 1993
Admitted to the Law Society of Hong Kong 1995
Partner since 2001
Co-head of the London Finance practice since 2010

Professional bodies

Law Society of England & Wales
Law Society of Hong Kong

Highlights of deals and projects

  • The MLAs on the circa £3billion bank and bond  refinancing programme for Arqiva
  • Commerzbank AG on a €1.2 billion revolving loan facility for Vestas Wind Systems
  • Copenhagen Airport shareholders on a complex holding company loan
  • The MLAs on financing Macquarie's acquisition of Thyssengas and Open Grid Europe

Citations and awards

  • "Bates is another favourite among clients: "Michael is one of the best lawyers in the City. He's very experienced anyway, he understands the infrastructure sector very well, he's got a very good manner, he deals with a number of banks at the same time," says one client. "He focuses banks on what they need to look at.”

Ranked as a Leading Lawyer – IFLR 1000 2012: Bank Lending

  • Michael Bates "will tell you what is important and what isn't and he has the ability to cut to the chase and push things along," clients say. He is one of the firm's most visible lawyers, and has a sterling track record in handling cross-border and structured finance deals. He recently acted for Commerzbank as the mandated lead arranger on the EUR1.2 billion revolving loan facility to Vestas Wind Systems.

Chambers UK 2013, Banking & Finance - Tier 1

  • Mark Campbell, Alan Inglis and Michael Bates are also highly regarded.

Legal 500 UK 2013, Banking & Finance - Tier 1 

Publications

 

Client Work