Michael Doran

Partner
About

Michael is a finance partner in the London office and has deep experience of the international financial markets.

Michael has extensive experience across the developed, emerging and frontier markets. His clients include private equity/credit funds, investment banks, multinational corporations, sovereign governments, state-owned entities, state agencies, supranational development banks, sovereign wealth funds and family offices.

EXPERIENCE

Michael's practice centres on:

  • Debt Capital markets work (including equity-linked bonds); and
  • Sovereign advisory work (including new money financings and sovereign debt restructurings, as well as strategic sovereign advisory mandates for Governments, central banks and state owned entities);
  • Real Estate advisory, investment and financing;
  • Bank restructuring/ de-leveraging following the Great Financial Crisis and now the Covid-19 Pandemic - with a focus on various types of non - performing loan portfolio sales and related advisory work;
  • Special situations financings and re-financings.
Languages
  • English
  • Spanish
  • French

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

  • ‘Michael Doran is noted for his expertise in private placement transactions, frequently advising on matters that have cross-border elements' –  Chambers (2025)
  • Michael has been approachable, responsive and willing to engage directly in detailed issues' – Chambers (2025)
  • Michael is a highly experienced lawyer and great to work with. He is a problem-solver and a very commercial thinker'Chambers (2025)
  • ‘Michael Doran is a senior statesman for European capital markets - he can turn his hand and vast expertise to almost any transaction with ease' – Legal 500 (2025)
  • ‘Michael Doran is a superb partner to help navigate the international capital markets – he is pre-eminent in the London market and has huge depth of experience.’ – Legal 500 (2024)
  • Michael is listed in the Debt Capital Markets 2025 "Power Players: Distinguished Advisers" - Financier Worldwide
Education
  • Institute of Professional Legal Studies Belfast, 1987

  • Queen's University Belfast (LLB, with Honors), 1986

Publications

  • Lead contributor / commentator in February 2021 Article “Sovereign Wealth Funds : The Great Reconstruction 
  • Co-authored article published in Les Cahiers de droit de l’Entreprise (Paris) – “Unprecedented Challenges Complicate the Design and Execution of Much Needed Sovereign Debt Restructurings in Africa (November 2020)
  • Co-author of book from The Africa Legal Support Facility (ALSF) – “Sovereign Debt in Africa – Options, Opportunities and Overcoming Obstacles” (2019)
  • Co-author, "Critical Challenges Facing the Green Bond Market," International Financial Law Review (September 2019)
  • Author, "The view from Cyprus: Paradigm shift in approach to Eurozone crisis," Journal of International Banking and Financial Law (JIBFL) (2013)
  • Author, "Bond exit consents: No way out?" PLC, (30 August 2012)
  • Author, "Difficult Times for Junior Creditors: IMO Car Wash and other recent developments," Bankers Law (March 2010)
  • Author, "Sovereign wealth funds: the rapidly evolving landscape," PLC (January/February 2009)
  • Author, "Sovereign Wealth Funds - The Heirs Apparent," PLC (March 2008)
  • Author, "The European Debt Capital Markets – An Introduction," PLC (August 2005)
  • Author, "The Name is Bond, Convertible Bond," The European Lawyer, (September 2003)
  • Author, "Pan European Retail Debt Offerings: Fact, Farce or Fiction?" The European Lawyer, (September/October 2001)

Admissions

  • Supreme Court of England~United Kingdom, 1995
  • Northern Ireland, 1988

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales, 1995
  • Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Northern Ireland , 1988