Global law firm Reed Smith has announced the appointment of finance partner Fernand Arsanios to its Financial Industry Group in Paris. Fernand joins the firm from Gide Loyrette Nouel on 1 July 2015.
Fernand has extensive experience in domestic and international lending transactions, representing banks and alternative investment funds (including private equity funds and sponsors, credit funds and mezzanine lenders) on innovative financing structures and debt restructuring operations, with a particular focus on leveraged finance transactions. Fernand has handled a wide range of acquisition finance transactions ranging from private leveraged buy-outs and public-to-private acquisitions to corporate acquisitions. He also has broad experience advising on international project finance transactions for many of the world's premier financial institutions and credit export agencies.
“Fernand’s appointment is another important step for Reed Smith in building a market-leading, truly global, finance practice. Recent years have seen the growth of our London Financial Industry Group to more than 70 lawyers advising on an increasing number of high profile complex cross border transactions. The continued growth of our Continental European finance offering remains a priority for us” said Tamara Box, global chair of the Financial Industry Group.
The expansion of Reed Smith’s Paris Finance practice follows the June launch of Reed Smith’s Frankfurt office with the hires of finance partners Dirk-Peter Flor, Dr Simon Grieser and Dr Volker Kammel. In the past three years, the firm has added 29 financial services partners to its London, Paris, Munich and Frankfurt offices.
’Our ambition for our Global finance practice is to build on this success, uniting our lawyers across the United States, Europe and Asia to provide a seamless service to our clients.” Tamara added.
“With an office in Paris for 10 years, Reed Smith has a long established commitment to the Paris market’’ commented Benoit Charot, Paris office managing partner. “Our global strength in finance and transactional work make Fernand a very exciting addition to the Paris team.”
Fernand’s arrival not only builds on the success of the firm’s acquisition finance work in Paris but is also complimentary to the growing leveraged finance practice in Reed Smith’s London office, led by partner Ben Davis and Counsel Monica Dupont-Barton who both joined last year. With Fernand’s appointment, across Europe the firm now has six partners focusing on mid and upper market leveraged finance transactions.
“The presence of international credit funds for French leveraged finance transactions, has led to an increasing trend towards the use of English and NY cov-loose style financings.” said Monica Dupont-Barton. “Our domestic French and international clients are increasingly looking to us for advice in this area and Fernand’s renowned experience in complex and innovative transactions will be a tremendous addition to our European team.”
