Michael Bates, regional managing partner for the UK at Clifford Chance, was a clear winner for the Outstanding Individual of the Year, with judges effusive about his work in the infrastructure advisory space and his commitment to diversity and inclusion.  

As one judge put it: “Michael has been a, if not the, leading lawyer in the infra market for the last 30 years. He has led many market defining transactions through multiple cycles, dealing with the financial crisis as well as growth periods. He truly deserves such an award.” 

While another member of the judging panel said: “Michael is an absolute legend and his successes are hard to enumerate! He would be a very worthy winner with a solid reputation that precedes him.” 

Put simply by another judge: “Michael is an important figure for the community and stands out in his field.” 

Michael specialises in banking and capital markets work in the infrastructure sector. He has been working in infrastructure since the emergence of the asset class and has been balancing his infrastructure practice alongside his role as the UK Regional Managing Partner for Clifford Chance since 2018. 

With over 20 years of experience as a transactional partner, Michael has worked on some of the most significant matters in the infrastructure sector, including the acquisition and subsequent refinancing of BAA (the world’s largest airport operator, acquired for $24.7 billion), Kelda Water, Opengrid Europe, Arqiva and UK Power Networks. 

The submission said: “In the judging period for this award, Michael has been central to the Mansfield Rule certification in US and UK, a 12-month certification process that measures whether law firms have considered at least 30% women, racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ lawyers, and lawyers with disabilities for leadership and governance roles, equity partner promotions, formal client pitch opportunities, and senior lateral positions. Clifford Chance has been awarded this for the seventh consecutive year – continued certification has been instrumental in helping the firm deliver its inclusion and people strategies.” 

The judging panel, made up of industry experts, was effusive about Michael’s contribution to the infrastructure sector, Clifford Chance as a whole and the City.  

A member of the judging panel said: “One of the best known lawyers in the industry, and as demonstrated by the list of transactions to Michael’s name.” 

Another pointed out: “Measurable results and leadership, including a great effort in creating a diverse and inclusive workplace.” 

One judge said: “Not only a founding figure in the infrastructure sector in the legal industry, but also a serious contributor to innovation and social development in the legal industry generally.” 

To conclude another judge said: “Michael is a giant amongst legal advisers in the UK and European infrastructure space and has been in the sector since its inception. At his firm, he has led on diversity issues and his contribution to diversity and inclusion initiatives has marked out his time as Regional Managing Partner, which complements his personal mentoring of some of the younger stars in the industry.”