Key Takeaways
- • Ezra Zahabi, partner-in-charge of Akin's London office, has been named to Financial News's "Fifty Most Influential Lawyers 2026" list, marking her first appearance on the annual recognition.
- • Zahabi is recognized as a financial regulation specialist advising major asset managers on UK and EU regulatory frameworks, including the FCA Handbook, MiFID II, and the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive.
- • Recent high-profile client work includes providing regulatory advice to Class A creditors in the Thames Water restructuring and advising Carlyle as lender to The Very Group's holding company during its administration sale.
- • The Financial News list recognizes leaders from the UK's largest legal firms, London and European heads of US legal powerhouses, and finance lawyers leading top practices, selected on team strength, client work caliber, and broader sector influence.
Summary
Ezra Zahabi, partner-in-charge of Akin's London office, has secured recognition on Financial News's prestigious "Fifty Most Influential Lawyers 2026" list. As a new entrant to the annual roster, Zahabi joins a cohort of legal leaders spanning the UK's largest firms, London and European offices of major US legal powerhouses, and senior finance practice leaders. The list selection criteria emphasize team strength, quality of client work, and broader influence within the legal sector.
Zahabi's professional focus centers on financial regulation, positioning her as an advisor to some of the world's largest asset managers navigating complex UK and EU legislative requirements. Her expertise spans critical regulatory frameworks including the FCA Handbook, MiFID II, and the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive—domains increasingly central to institutional investors and alternative asset managers managing cross-border operations.
Her recent mandates underscore her prominence in high-stakes financial restructurings and lending transactions. Zahabi provided regulatory counsel to Class A creditors during Thames Water's restructuring, a matter of significant scale given the utility company's market importance. Additionally, she advised Carlyle in its capacity as lender to The Very Group's holding company during the retailer's administration sale, demonstrating her experience advising on complex insolvency and lending arrangements affecting large institutional investors.
The recognition reflects growing market demand for specialized regulatory counsel as asset managers, lenders, and creditors navigate increasingly intricate compliance frameworks across UK and European jurisdictions. For institutional investors and alternative investment professionals, Zahabi's profile signals deep expertise in regulatory advisory work on matters directly impacting portfolio company valuations, restructurings, and lending decisions.
Zahabi's professional focus centers on financial regulation, positioning her as an advisor to some of the world's largest asset managers navigating complex UK and EU legislative requirements. Her expertise spans critical regulatory frameworks including the FCA Handbook, MiFID II, and the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive—domains increasingly central to institutional investors and alternative asset managers managing cross-border operations.
Her recent mandates underscore her prominence in high-stakes financial restructurings and lending transactions. Zahabi provided regulatory counsel to Class A creditors during Thames Water's restructuring, a matter of significant scale given the utility company's market importance. Additionally, she advised Carlyle in its capacity as lender to The Very Group's holding company during the retailer's administration sale, demonstrating her experience advising on complex insolvency and lending arrangements affecting large institutional investors.
The recognition reflects growing market demand for specialized regulatory counsel as asset managers, lenders, and creditors navigate increasingly intricate compliance frameworks across UK and European jurisdictions. For institutional investors and alternative investment professionals, Zahabi's profile signals deep expertise in regulatory advisory work on matters directly impacting portfolio company valuations, restructurings, and lending decisions.
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