Claire Wills

Partner Corporate and M&A

Clients point to her "proactivity, fantastic client service and subject matter expertise" as key strengths.

Chambers UK 2018

Primary practice

Corporate and M&A

02/10/2021 Claire Wills | Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer About Claire Wills

Claire is a corporate partner and managing partner of our London office.

Claire works mainly with financial institutions including insurance companies, , asset managers as well as a number of clients in the retail and consumer sector. Her expertise covers mergers and acquisitions, complex restructurings, joint ventures and governance projects. Claire's ability to lead a team delivering complex mandates is particularly valued.

An experienced relationship partner, Claire regularly advises a number of our key clients including , HSBC, J.P. Morgan, the Prudential and .

Claire became a partner in May 2001. She co-chaired our partner recommendation committee for a number of years, was appointed joint head of our global financial institutions sector group in December 2014 and managing partner, London in February 2019. 

Recent work

  • Advising Aberdeen Asset Management on its all-share merger with Standard Life.
  • Advising HSBC on Saudi British ’s merger with Alawwal Bank and on a number of non-core disposals including part of its Cayman banking business to .
  • Advising Barclays on its acquisition of Standard Life Bank, Goldfish Credit Card and on its disposal of Barclays Bank Russia and other non-core disposals (including disposal of its offshore trust and fiduciary business).
  • Advising ReAssure on their acquisition of the mature savings business of Legal & General.
  • Advising Prudential UK on the sale of its joint venture stake in the health and protection business to Discovery.
  • Advising Tesco on its merger with Booker and a number of acquisitions and disposals, including the carve-out of from RBS and the carve-out of Tesco Insurance into a joint venture with Fortis to create Tesco Insurance.

Contact Claire [email protected]

London 100 Bishopsgate London T +44 20 7936 4000 F +44 20 7832 7001

02/10/2021 Claire Wills | Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer