Latham & Watkins Expands Private Credit Practice with Double Partner Hire in London
Latham & Watkins1 is pleased to announce that Fergus Wheeler and Paul Yin will join the London office as partners in the Banking Practice. Wheeler and Yin have substantial experience advising international private credit funds and direct lenders, commercial and investment banks, private equity sponsors, and corporate borrowers on a variety of complex UK, European, and global cross-border debt financing matters, with a particular focus on private credit transactions.
“We are delighted to welcome Fergus and Paul to the firm,” said Stephen Kensell, Office Managing Partner of Latham & Watkins’ London office. “Their vast knowledge and experience of private credit is highly complementary to our existing capabilities in London, and their arrival will add further depth to our practice.”
Wheeler and Yin regularly advise on all aspects of acquisition financing, rescue financing, restructurings, liability management solutions and cross-border special situations lending. Their combined experience spans large-cap and mid-market transactions, and they are widely regarded as leading holdco financing lawyers in the City. They also have significant expertise in junior capital investment, including private high-yield and preferred equity financings.
“Private credit funds are playing an increasingly important role in Europe,” said Dan Seale, Global Chair of Latham & Watkins’ Banking Practice. “Over the years we have invested significantly in building the preeminent practice and few firms can match Latham’s breadth of expertise across leveraged finance, private credit, and private equity. Their experience in the private credit and debt finance arena will bring added strength to our team in London and globally.”
Yen Sum, Global Co-Chair of Private Capital at Latham & Watkins, added: “Fergus and Paul enjoy terrific respect in the market for their track record and deep industry knowledge. They are recognized as leaders in the direct lending space and bring a wealth of experience advising the most active credit funds on mid-market and larger cap lending transactions. Private credit is a key strategic focus for the firm, and we are excited to welcome Fergus and Paul to our strong and substantial global team.”
Wheeler and Yin join Latham & Watkins from Akin. Wheeler received his LLB from Trinity College, Dublin in 2000. Yin received his Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sydney in 2009, and his Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from The College of Law in 2010.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
1Latham & Watkins operates worldwide as a limited liability partnership organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (USA) with affiliated limited liability partnerships conducting the practice in France, Hong Kong, Italy, Singapore, and the United Kingdom and as an affiliated partnership conducting the practice in Japan. Latham & Watkins operates in Israel through a limited liability company, in South Korea as a Foreign Legal Consultant Office, and in Saudi Arabia through a limited liability company.