With Reed Smith’s London office results touted to break the $200m mark next week, the top 30 global law firm has hired Travers Smith leverage finance partner Ben Davis to join its City office in March.
Davis advises on corporate facilities, refinancings, debt restructurings and general banking matters. Last year he advised Pace on its US law $470m financing for the acquisition of Aurora Networks, and thetrainline.com, backed by Exponent Private Equity, on its £190m unitranche and super senior refinancing facilities.
The firm’s London finance team now has 25 fee earners after a series of hires including Clifford Chance structured finance and derivatives partner Claude Brown last year.
Tamara Box joined from Berwin Leighton Paisner to head up Reed Smith’s structured finance practice in 2012, and in the same year private equity partner Perry Yam joined from legacy SJ Berwin to head the firm’s Europe and Middle East (EME) private equity practice.
Reed Smith’s finance team recently represented Siemens and Siemens Financial Services in the completion of the £1.6bn Thameslink transaction. The group also advised CBPE Capital on its £100m acquisition of award-winning restaurant group Côte Restaurants.
‘Ben’s arrival will ensure we continue to be closely aligned with the needs of our clients. He is very well regarded in the market and will complement our growing EMEA and US finance practice, as well as support the continued development of our UK and pan-European private equity practice,’ said Nola Beirne, vice chair of Reed Smith’s financial industry group for EME.
London is Reed Smith’s biggest office and last year London managing partner Roger Parker predicted the firm’s London office would break the $200m revenue mark. The firm’s financial results are expected next week.
David.stevenson@legalease.co.uk