Shoosmiths is pleased to announce the arrival of two partners, John Dawson and Graham Knight, to the firm’s Banking and Finance team.
Published: 12 January 2026
John joins from CMS (UK), prior to CMS he was a partner in the banking and finance teams at Vinson & Elkins and Clifford Chance. Graham joins after secondments to Bank of America and Goldman Sachs having practised in the projects, energy and infrastructure group at A&O Shearman (formerly Allen & Overy).
John is a highly experienced finance specialist bringing with him a strong track record of building and growing client relationships. In his previous work, John has led transactions for a range of clients, including banks, private equity sponsors and sovereign wealth investors often with an international element. He advises borrowers, lenders and investors on the full spectrum of financings in the private debt markets. He has extensive experience working on public and private acquisition financings, fund financings and special situations lending and restructurings.
Graham brings over two decades of experience in the Energy and Infrastructure finance sector, acting for sponsors and lenders at leading international law firm A&O Shearman before moving on to secondments working closely with the business desks at Bank of America and Goldman Sachs. He has extensive experience in the negotiation and execution of financings for significant international and domestic energy and infrastructure projects. His addition to the team is an exciting next step in strengthening our sector offering.
Commenting on the partner hires, Head of Banking and Finance, Rebecca Mauleverer, said: “We’re thrilled to announce the arrival of John and Graham to Shoosmiths, not only for their deep understanding of their respective sectors and the immense experience they add to our firm, but their cultural alignment with our ethos.”
“The appointments will enable the firm to continue delivering outstanding results for our clients whilst expanding our current portfolio as we make significant strides in our 2030 growth strategy. The addition of both John and Graham to the partnership will enable Shoosmiths to boost its reputation in the finance and energy and infrastructure sector.”
John commented: “I am very impressed by Shoosmiths' strong track record for growth and reputation for stellar client service and I very much look forward to further building its successful banking restructuring and corporate finance practices."
Graham said: “I’m delighted to join Shoosmiths at such an exciting point in the firm’s growth. Strengthening the firm’s energy and infrastructure finance offering and working with such a forward thinking team is an exciting opportunity in a dynamic area of the market. I’m looking forward to supporting the firm’s clients on their transactions in this important sector.”
Shoosmiths’ Banking & Finance team advises borrowers, lenders, and investors on corporate, real estate, leveraged and acquisition finance, asset-based lending, and sector-specific transactions. Working nationally across the UK and across industries such as energy, infrastructure, mobility, and retail, the team supports clients through growth, acquisitions, restructurings, and working capital solutions. Known for combining deep market insight with collaborative, end to end execution, Shoosmiths is trusted by major banks, funds, financial institutions, and corporates to deliver clear, commercial and results-driven advice in an increasingly complex financial environment.