Jennifer Brennan

Latham & Watkins

In the final days before Christmas, Jennifer Brennan and her Latham restructuring team were closing their final matter of 2020: the Swissport restructuring, reducing the company’s debt by €1.9bn (£1.7bn). It was typical of an intense year for the team, which has grown significantly in recent years, not least with Brennan’s arrival from Sidley in 2018.

The standout matter of her year was probably the restructuring of New Look, though similar work for aviation services company Swissport, manufacturer Doncasters and olive oil producer Deoleo were no less important for their respective businesses. On New Look, Brennan advised on the Company Voluntary Arrangement of its store portfolio and a restructuring of its £1.35bn debt restructuring in 2019 and of its £600m debt and equity restructuring last year. But as co-chair of the London finance department, Brennan’s practice is much wider than just restructuring and her focus is on having a close relationship with her clients and working with them on whatever their investment strategy might be.

Having begun her career in her native Australia and having worked in Japan, Hong Kong and Ireland as well as the UK, Brennan is now well settled in London but admits to enjoying the wandering lifestyle. As uncertain times continue, Britain’s businesses will be hoping we can hold on to her for many more years to come.