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Morrison Foerster Named a Leading Firm by Chambers UK 2026

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Morrison Foerster has earned three practice area rankings and seven individual recognitions in the 2026 edition of Chambers...

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About Morrison Foerster

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Morrison Foerster has earned three practice area rankings and seven individual recognitions in the 2026 edition of Chambers UK. The firm received the following practice area recognitions: <ul><li>UK-wide: Capital Markets: Debt </li><li>London: Information Technology & Outsourcing </li><li>London: Corporate Crime & Investigations </li></ul>The following lawyers in the firm’s London office were recognized: <ul><li>Scott Ashton, UK-wide: Capital Markets: Debt</li><li>Annabel Gillham, UK-wide: Data Protection & Information Law</li><li>Hayley Ichilcik, London: Financial Crime: Corporates</li><li>Alistair Maughan, London: Information Technology & Outsourcing</li><li>Mercedes Samavi: Information Technology & Outsourcing</li><li>Chiraag Shah, UK-wide: International Arbitration</li><li>Ben Summerfield, London: Commercial and Corporate Litigation </li></ul>From our office in the heart of London’s world-renowned financial district, our UK- and U.S.-qualified lawyers work with clients on complex, cross-border transactions and help them expand their businesses and manage risks. We handle some of the world’s largest cross‑border transactions and resolve some of the biggest disputes across multiple jurisdictions. Based in the thriving financial hub of the city, we have deep roots in the tech sector and a strong understanding of the intersection of law and technology. We advise dynamic tech companies on strategic matters that are shaping the future. Working alongside our colleagues in the United States and Asia, we draw on cultural, jurisdictional, and market knowledge to deliver the best-tailored advice and client service with a global approach. To view the complete list of Morrison Foerster’s rankings in the 2026 edition of Chambers UK, please visit the <a href="https://chambers.com/law-firm/morrison-foerster-uk-1:7854" target="_blank">publication’s website</a>.

Morrison Foerster Named a Leading Firm by Chambers UK 2026

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Scott has a corporate finance practice with emphasis on cross–border securities offerings, mergers and acquisitions, and restructurings. His capital markets experience includes private placements and public offerings of debt and equity (including Rule 144A, Regulation S, and SEC–registered offerings); his M&A experience encompasses public and private acquisitions, asset sales, and tender offers; and his restructuring experience includes debt restructurings, bankruptcy proceedings, and corporate spin‑offs.As part of the firm’s leading private placement team, Scott has specialized experience in representing issuers who wish to make private placements of securities to institutional investors. In addition to traditional model form transactions, Scott is a member of the Loan Market Association working group on private placements that developed the LMA private placement documentation.

Scott D. Ashton

Partner

Annabel is a partner at Morrison Foerster and co-Managing Partner of the London office. As a member of our renowned global data privacy team, Annabel specializes in employee data protection and data crisis management. Described by clients as “excellent, very pragmatic , efficient and completely client-oriented”, she works across a variety of sectors, including technology, retail, and financial services, and frequently manages multi-jurisdictional advice for international clients. Her practice includes advice on:<ul><li>cross-border labor and employment matters</li><li>employee litigation</li><li>data privacy compliance management</li><li>data security breach management</li><li>internal and regulatory investigations</li></ul>Annabel regularly helps senior management and HR executives with the “people” aspects of takeovers, restructuring projects, business and share sales, and outsourcings. She also advises employers in relation to sensitive claims, such as unlawful discrimination, equal pay, and whistleblowing. Annabel also advises on team moves.She supports her clients on all aspects of General Data Protection Regulation compliance and regularly advises organizations facing ICO enforcement action. She has developed particular specialties in complex areas, such as the collection and use of data relating to criminal offenses and the application of data protection law to insolvency practitioners.As an experienced litigator with experience in helping clients defend group litigation, Annabel helps clients develop their strategy for responding to regulatory action and court claims relating to the use of employee and customer personal data. She regularly designs and presents employment and data protection law training and updates to senior managers and HR executives and is involved in preparing responses to UK government consultations.In addition, Annabel is qualified to practice in the British Virgin Islands, where she spent three years advising on cross border commercial litigation and insolvency matters, including high value board and shareholder disputes, freezing orders, and third-party disclosure orders.

Annabel Gillham

Managing Partner, London

Hayley specializes in representing financial institutions, corporate clients and senior individuals in highly sensitive litigation, regulatory enforcement matters and internal investigations. She is Head of Morrison Foerster’s European Compliance Practice and regularly advises clients in relation to their compliance program and diligence of third parties.Hayley has advised clients facing parallel enforcement actions in multiple jurisdictions and those facing parallel criminal, regulatory and civil litigation. Hayley has advised clients on diverse matters across Europe, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East and Africa in the banking/financial services, energy, chemicals, construction/engineering, manufacturing and technology industries. She is also a member of our global Sustainability + Corporate Responsibility steering committee.In addition, Hayley has an active sanctions practice and frequently guides clients through complex UK financial sanctions and export control issues, including making license applications and interfacing with the Office of Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development office (FCDO).Hayley has been recognized as a Next Generation Partner and described in the Legal 500 UK as “…massively experienced with an enormous breadth of knowledge when dealing with the most complex cross-border regulatory investigations. She combines an excellent intellect with really practical application. Top quality.” “She’s a very able lawyer whose commercial practice covers a wide range of areas, and she’s adept at each of them; she’s clever, tough, charming and a delight to work with. Clients love her, as does her legal team: she provides encouragement, reassurance and adept handling of the most difficult case. First-rate.”Hayley is also recognized in Chambers UK, with clients commenting on her ability to “combine strong communication skills with excellent legal expertise. She is a strong collaborative partner to work with… she is ridiculously hard-working and has great judgement on how to cut through everything. She is a great person to have on your side.” Hayley was named by Global Investigations Review (GIR) to its list of Women in Investigations in 2021.Hayley was formerly an Investigative Lawyer at the Serious Fraud Office in the UK.

Hayley Ichilcik

Alistair Maughan co-leads Morrison Foerster's European Technology and Commercial Practice. He delivers commercial contracts and technology-based projects for major companies and public sector organizations. He advises on:<ul dir="ltr"><li>Commercial licensing and sales contracts</li><li>Service-based outsourcing transactions</li><li>Technology delivery models, such as cloud and as-a-service platforms</li><li>Contracts for the supply and acquisition of technology equipment</li><li>Key regulatory issues</li><li>Services and software</li><li>Agency and distribution contracts</li><li>Issues and contracts related to e-commerce</li><li dir="ltr">Drafting, negotiating, and advising on technology contracts and issues</li></ul>He advises on the deployment of new technology platforms involving, for example, the internet of things, AI and machine-learning, and blockchain and distributed ledger technology.He also has many years of experience of working alongside our corporate lawyers on the IP, technology and ongoing transitional services aspects of some of the largest technology sector M&A transactions in recent years.In recognition of his deep knowledge in this area, Alistair is recommended in leading independent guides to the legal profession, including Legal 500, Chambers UK, and Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom. Clients comment that he “is incredibly pragmatic, helpful, collaborative and smart” and “brings common sense to the negotiating table”. He “enjoys an excellent reputation as an outsourcing expert and for his deep experience in a wide range of technology issues” and “has a great ability to take a broad view and is proactive in finding legally correct solutions around the discussion points”.Alistair is a member of the Technology Transactions Group and the Global Sourcing Group.

Alistair Maughan

Senior Counsel

Mercedes Samavi’s practice spans both the Technology Transactions Group and the Data, Cyber & Privacy Group. She regularly advises clients on a broad spectrum of commercial and technology matters, including complex tech licensing, digital regulatory compliance projects with a particular emphasis on online safety, outsourcing arrangements, and corporate transactions. As part of her privacy and cybersecurity work, Mercedes has extensive experience helping clients develop global and pan-European programmes and strategies to protect their data, respond to regulatory requests and investigations, and implement robust data and operational resilience contractual frameworks. In the words of her clients, “Mercedes Samavi is incredibly responsive and a dream to work with. Nothing is ever too much trouble, she will always go the extra mile to ensure the client’s needs are met, and her legal expertise is exceptional and her advice always delivered in a practical, realistic way for the client.” (Legal 500 UK). In addition, Mercedes is involved with the firm's extensive pro bono practice and her pro bono work has been recognized by Morrison Foerster, which awarded her the 2019 Kathi Pugh Award for Pro Bono Service. She has also spent six months in each of the firm's Singapore and DC offices, as well as providing support on multiple client secondments across a wide variety of sectors. Mercedes is qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales. She is fluent in Farsi.

Mercedes Samavi

Of Counsel

Chiraag Shah is an international disputes partner in the London office of Morrison Foerster. He has over 2 decades of experience representing clients in domestic and cross-border disputes including commercial and investor-state arbitrations around the world. Chiraag also has significant experience of cross-border multi-jurisdictional commercial litigation and sanctions related disputes.Recognised in the Arbitration Powerlist: UK, Chambers UK and as a leading individual in the Legal 500 UK, Chiraag is ‘commended for his ability to handle disputes involving the engineering and technology sectors. Recent work includes advising on proceedings related to arbitral awards, as well as ICC and SIAC arbitrations.’. Clients describe him as “breathtakingly hard-working and as a result provides exceptional results for his clients. He always has a good sense of what is best to do. He has dealt with so many arbitrations he knows exactly how it works.” “He is very responsive and provides excellent guidance and advice… is very conscientious and a pleasure to work with.” “He is cool, calm and collected... and in control all of the time.”Chiraag is dual-qualified (Kenya and England and Wales) and has represented clients in disputes in Africa and the Middle East across a range of sectors. His ‘on-the-ground experience both in Kenya (and other African jurisdictions) and the UK make him an ideal choice for disputes straddling both jurisdictions. Very well networked.’.<h4 dir="ltr">Select Experience:</h4>Arbitration<ul><li>Advising a European client in ICC Arbitration proceedings relating to sanctions compliance issues. English law applied, venue: London</li><li>Advising a Singapore headquartered commodities trader in ICC Arbitration proceedings against one of its suppliers. English law applied, venue: London</li><li>Advising a Mauritian consortium in relation to an LCIA arbitration and subsequent court proceedings in England relating to the acquisition of a Madagascan power company.</li><li>Advising a Middle Eastern entity in a SIAC arbitration relating to a joint venture project involving a telecommunications investment in Myanmar. Singapore law applied, venue: Singapore.</li><li>Advising an Israeli listed company in an ICDR Arbitration against a global distributor of medical devices regarding the distribution of high dependency units in the United States. Delaware law applied, venue: London.</li><li>Advising a Hong Kong based investment and brokerage firm in an ICC arbitration relating to post-acquisition indemnity claims arising out of the acquisition of a brokerage business. Hong Kong law applied, venue: Amsterdam.</li><li>Advising an Indonesian power company in connection with a SIAC arbitration relating to a joint venture agreement with a foreign investor, including related regulatory proceedings in Singapore. Singapore law applied, venue: Singapore.</li><li>Advising a North American Pension Fund in relation to ICC and HKIAC arbitration proceedings against Chinese entities regarding breaches of a shareholders agreement.</li><li>Advising a Chinese investor in ICSID arbitration proceedings against a European state relating to the expropriation/nationalization of assets during the economic crisis.</li><li>Advising a Middle Eastern company in an ICSID investment treaty arbitration against an Asian state relating to treaty breaches and the expropriation of investments.</li></ul> Commercial Litigation<ul><li>Advising one of the world’s leading internet streaming providers in English High Court proceedings against an AI Bot service provider</li><li>Advising a client in a multi-faceted cross-border dispute spanning numerous jurisdictions arising out of an East Asian telecoms project</li><li>Advising the bondholder creditor committee in relation to various disputes in respect of the Steinhoff Group of companies.</li><li>Advising a Qatari investor in relation to expert determination proceedings in respect of a hotel development project in Egypt.</li><li>Advising a Middle Eastern entity in relation to a customs automation project and related disputes in a West African state.</li><li>Advising an Asian consortium in relation to investment claims and boundary disputes arising out of an infrastructure project in South America.</li><li>Advising a German based manufacturer in relation to ADR and court proceedings arising out of the supply of aeronautical components to an East African based airline company.</li></ul>

Chiraag Shah

Ben Summerfield is a partner, global co-chair of Morrison Foerster's Complex Litigation + Advisement Practice Group and Litigation Head for our London office.Ben advises clients on complex, high-value, cross-border commercial disputes. He represents clients in major litigation before the English courts and regularly manages the strategic coordination of litigation in other jurisdictions. Ben also regularly acts as lead counsel in international arbitrations.“[A] high-class litigator,” an “excellent tactician and strategist,” and “a powerhouse of a lawyer,” “Ben Summerfield is a genuine superstar – the complete package of legal knowledge, experience and judgment. You would always want him on your side in a difficult case.” He “really knows the case and gets to know the client to identify their desired outcome and achieve it.” "Ben is an extraordinarily hard-working litigator.”Ben has been ranked as a Leading Individual for Commercial Litigation for six consecutive years in the Legal 500 UK. He “controls matters at a strategic level with good commercial judgement and creative thinking, while always finding time to be on top of the detail of the legal and factual issues. An all-round star performer who inspires trust and confidence in clients and barristers alike.”Ben is considered to be “an extremely knowledgeable, dynamic litigator” and “he does not miss a trick. He has a lot of insight and is someone you really want as part of a team.”In addition, clients say that “Ben is an exceptional partner [who is] extremely bright and quick thinking with good judgement. While he has a good instinct, he backs that up with detailed research and careful thought. He is a good strategist and tirelessly promotes the interests of his clients going above and beyond in order to deliver a premium service.” Ben has also been described in the Legal 500 and Chambers directories as “very switched-on,” “bright, responsive and keen to get into the detail,” and “manages his team well, so as to bring out the best in everyone and ensure that the task at hand is completed efficiently. He is very determined in finding solutions and is a very versatile and strategic thinker. He is also good fun to work with, which is essential in difficult and intensive situations.".Before joining Morrison Foerster, Ben was a partner and co-chair of the commercial disputes group of another global law firm.Ben is qualified as a solicitor in England & Wales.