Karen Davies

One of the most-prolific dealmakers in the UK, Karen maintains a practice focused on mergers and acquisitions and equity capital markets work. As a trusted board advisor, Karen leads several of the firm’s FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 client relationships.

Karen has extensive experience advising both corporate clients and investment banks on a full range of domestic and cross-border corporate finance transactions. She advises on acquisitions and disposals, as well as corporate finance matters (Official List and AIM).

Described as having an 'excellent breadth of knowledge' by Chambers UK, Karen is named amongst the top dealmakers by MergerLinks, and has led the MergerMarket lawyer rankings for both the number of M&A deals and number of deals by value.

In August 2021, Karen became Global Chair of Ashurst, the first woman to hold the role in the firm's 200+ year history, and was re-elected in 2025 for a second term. She has served on the Ashurst Board since 2017 and previously led the firm’s UK Corporate practice. Her leadership and management roles, combined with her successful practice, have been instrumental to the firm’s growth. Karen continues this legacy as Global Co-Chair of Ashurst Perkins Coie.

Recognition

Karen is listed by Chambers UK as an 'Eminent Practitioner' for M&A, and in Legal 500's Hall of Fame.

Financial News has named Karen as one of the 'Fifty Most Influential Lawyers' and amongst their 100 'Most Influential Women in European Finance' for four years running. She has also featured as an Innovative Leader by the Financial Times and in the Lawyer's Hot 100, as well as a Leader in Law in Law.com International's Women, Influence & Power in Law list.