Global law firm K&L Gates LLP has expanded further its finance practice with the addition of four new partners in the London office. Matthew G.J. Duncan, Theresa D. Kradjian, and Paul J. Matthews join the firm from Sidley Austin LLP, while Sean J.W. Crosky arrives from Norton Rose LLP.
An experienced finance lawyer, Matthew G.J. Duncan represents clients such as lenders, investment and commercial banks, funds, issuers, borrowers, trustees, insurers, and others in a wide range of finance matters, with a primary focus on residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS), covered bonds, and the establishment of new lending platforms. In addition to advising on the purchase and sale of institutions and asset portfolios, Duncan works with clients on matters involving spin-offs/divestitures/carve-outs, restructurings, warehouse financings, and outsourcing agreements.
“With a first-class platform across 41 offices and around 140 London lawyers, K&L Gates combines a highly collaborative culture and depth and range of capabilities with a modern approach to legal services, all in line with the needs of financial institutions and other clients in the new business landscape,” said Duncan.
Theresa D. Kradjian advises on a wide range of asset-backed and residential mortgage-backed financings. She has significant experience on a variety of cross-border structured finance transactions, repurchase transactions, and securities lending arrangements.
“I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to K&L Gates’ global finance practice and helping to expand the firm’s capital markets and structured finance capabilities in the London and New York markets, utilizing the insights I have gained through more than 15 years in this area of law,” expressed Kradjian.
Concentrating on derivatives, Paul J. Matthews has been innovating and developing the role of swaps and repurchase agreements in cross-border finance transactions for more than 15 years with a particular emphasis on credit derivatives and synthetic securitization. He works with a range of financial institutions and investors in the UK and internationally.
Matthews commented: “It is very energizing to be a part of such an ambitious team with a fresh and positive outlook on the world of structured finance. I am looking forward to working with my derivatives colleagues in the U.S. and Asia, as well as to exploring new opportunities in the Middle East.”
Sean J.W. Crosky advises such clients as international banks, commercial mortgage lenders, and car manufacturers, among others, on a variety of securitization, loan, restructuring, and finance transactions, including those involving derivatives and other tax-structured products. He also has represented arrangers, originators, and trustees in transactions in the UK, U.S., Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East, and has advised on a number of Shariah compliant structures in Europe and the Middle East.
“I am really pleased to have joined K&L Gates at this exciting time for the firm, with significant growth in the global structured finance practice,” said Crosky. “I am also looking forward to assisting in the continued growth of the firm’s Islamic finance platform and Middle East finance practice.”
Tony Griffiths, Administrative Partner of K&L Gates’ London office, stated: “The growth of our London commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) structured finance capability has made a significant contribution to the office’s 18% revenue growth over the past two years. Sean’s recruitment sees us building to strength in that area as well as in Shariah finance. Matthew’s top-rated RMBS skills not only complement the CMBS practice but also our market-leading U.S. consumer finance practice. Theresa’s experience in U.S. and UK capital markets links our structured finance capability on both sides of the Atlantic, and Paul’s derivatives practice nicely strengthens our UK derivatives offering. We are delighted that they have joined us.”
K&L Gates’ London office has now added six partners since the start of the year, having also welcomed funds and financial services partner Sean Donovan-Smith in July and corporate crime partner Elizabeth Robertson in January, with the firm’s finance practice also having added partners in the Dubai, Doha, Milan, Frankfurt, and Hong Kong offices in recent months.
