Ropes & Gray is to bolster its City and Hong Kong arms with a two-partner hire from US rival Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson.
In London former Allen & Overy finance partner Mark Wesseldine will join from Fried Frank on 1 May, bringing the City partner and counsel total to 20, while Fried Frank capital markets and M&A partner Victoria Lloyd is to join the Hong Kong office on 13 May.
Wesseldine has over ten years’ experience advising clients in the European leveraged finance market on complex cross-border financings and restructurings. He acts for lenders, borrowers and private equity sponsors and has recently advised credit investors and special situation funds.
‘We work with highly sophisticated investors and Mark’s experience in complex cross-border work will enable us to continue to service that market to a high level.’
Lloyd, meanwhile, focuses on advising clients, including issuers and underwriters, on equity capital market and M&A transactions – said by Ropes & Gray to complement its emphasis on M&A, private equity and capital markets in the region.
London office co-head, Mike Goetz, said of the London hire: ‘We work with highly sophisticated investors and Mark’s experience in complex cross-border work will enable us to continue to service that market to a high level.’
‘Mark’s addition rounds out a significant team that enables us to provide clients with a complete spectrum of services from banking and high-yield through mezzanine, direct lending and special situations/restructuring, all operating as part of an integrated practice,’ added Jay Kim, partner and co-head of the firm’s global finance practice.’
francesca.fanshawe@legalease.co.uk
