Francis Fitzherbert-Brockholes, who has qualified both as an English barrister and as a member of the New York Bar, represents banks and other private and public entities and sovereign governments in various financial transactions with particular emphasis on their activities in the international capital markets. He is the co-head of the firm's European capital markets group and head of the London office practice group.

Francis has also had considerable experience in acquisitions of public and private companies, in the establishment and organisation of financial institutions and investment funds, in the privatisation of state-owned enterprises and in the organisation of multi-jurisdictional transactions, including acquisitions and joint ventures.

He has advised on many equity and debt offerings, securitisations and ECP and EMTN programmes. These include both registered and unregistered equity and debt offerings in the United States as well as many offerings outside the United States, including some of the first international offerings by issuers from Central and Eastern Europe and Asia.

Francis works for sovereign governments in such areas as international financings, external debt rescheduling and restructurings and privatisations.

Francis has lectured extensively on various aspects of his practice at seminars and conferences. He has been a partner in the firm since 1985, having joined the firm as an associate in 1978. Prior to that, he practiced at the English Bar and in New York.

Recent transactions include:

• Acting for the dealer manager in connection with a tender offer and consent solicitation relating to US$200 million 8.75 per cent. Notes due 2010 issued by Interpipe Limited; 
• Acting for Poland in its US$4 billion shelf registration with the SEC in June 2009; 
• Acting for Svenska Handelsbanken in the establishment of its US$15 billion MTN programme in September 2008 and the US$1.25 billion offering under it in June 2009; 
• Acting for Zhaikmunai LP in its US$100 million IPO in March 2008, the first London listing of GDRs representing limited partnership interests; 
• Acting for Gabon on its debut US$1 billion offering in December 2007; 
• Acting for Citigroup and Goldman Sachs on the establishment of Eurasian Development Bank's US$3.5 billion EMTN programme in December 2007; 
• Acting for Deutsche Bank as depositary for numerous ADR and GDR programmes; 
• Acting for TNK‑BP in its US$1.5 billion EMTN issue in October 2007; 
• Acting for leading Indian real estate company DLF in July 2007 in its US$2.25 billion IPO, at the time the largest ever in India; and 
• Acting for Merrill Lynch in the debut bond issues by Bank of Georgia (January 2007) and Çalık Holding A.Ş. (March 2007).

Francis is also a trustee of a number of charities including The Deutsche Bank Microcredit Development Fund, The Oratory School Association and The Brampton Trust.