Continued investment in A&O’s leveraged finance practice with high yield hire

Brad’s expertise encompasses high yield bonds, bridge loans and credit facilities with a particular focus on advising investment banks, private equity and corporates on capital markets transactions and Term Loan B facilities.

A&O’s co-head of global leveraged finance, Nick Clark said: “Leveraged debt as an asset class has proven to be particularly resilient during the past 18 months, with 2020 being the second most active year for high yield issuance in a decade. Brad’s arrival will enhance our global integrated high yield and loan offering enabling us to continue delivering our clients a leading one stop solution for advice across the capital structure.”

Denise Gibson, co-head of global leveraged finance, added: “We’re pleased to bring Brad on board at a time of continued investment in our global finance practice. Following the recent appointments of partners Annette Kurdian and Robert Burt into our leveraged finance team in London, Brad’s expertise will further build on our investment and allow us to continue offering an integrated and seamless service for our clients.”

Kevin Muzilla, head of European high yield added: “With the convergence of deal terms across the U.S. and Europe markets and loans and high yield products, bench strength in both geographies and specialisms in the leveraged finance market is imperative. High yield expertise continues to be critical both for standalone high yield instructions, and also for loan instructions where covenant terms are based on bond market norms and drafting.”

A&O maintains a leading top-tier global leveraged finance and high yield practice with more than 250 lawyers across the U.S., EMEA and Asia Pacific, including 19 partners and over 50 associates in London. In February 2021, Jake Mincemoyer arrived as head of U.S. leveraged finance in New York followed by leveraged finance partners Gordon Mak and Stan Kostov in June. In London and Paris, Adam Zecharia and Thomas Roy were promoted to leveraged finance partners and Temi Esho was promoted to leveraged finance counsel. And in May, A&O announced the arrival of leveraged finance partners Annette Kurdian and Robert Burt in London.

A&O once again received multiple top rankings as an adviser in several categories for leveraged finance and high yield in Europe, according to data published by Debtwire which covers the first half of 2021.