Global law firm Reed Smith has announced the appointment of real estate finance partner Matthew Heaton. Matthew will join the firm’s UK real estate finance practice.
Matthew focuses primarily on structured real estate finance transactions, advising banks, private equity funds, listed corporates, private companies, insolvency practitioners and other senior and mezzanine funders. Recent experience involves representation of debt funds on real estate loan portfolio acquisitions.
Matthew’s addition to Reed Smith’s global real estate finance platform will augment the high level of expertise which we can offer to our clients in this dynamic sector and is part of our strategy for the continued growth of our global finance practice. In addition to Matthew’s arrival, the firm’s London team was joined in June by counsel Monica Dupont-Barton (from Freshfields) and, in March, by leveraged finance partner Ben Davis (from Travers Smith). Both Ben and Monica have extensive experience in leveraged finance, Term B loans and high yield transactions.
Tamara Box, global co- chair of Reed Smith’s financial industry group, commented:
“2014 has been a busy year for the European real estate finance market, with many alternative investors entering the market and strong demand for real estate debt. Our clients in this market are increasingly looking for a ‘one stop shop’ for advice on real estate loan origination, loan servicing, portfolio loan acquisition and capital markets financings.
“Following the launch of our structured finance practice, and the strengthening of our private equity team (in 2012), the addition to our UK finance practice of Matthew, Ben and Monica augments the high level of expertise that our clients expect from Reed Smith as a pre-eminent global law firm”.
Matthew Heaton commented:
“I am very excited about joining Reed Smith. The firm’s truly international capability and the breadth and depth of its client base will provide me with fantastic opportunities to further develop my structured real estate finance practice. The recent hires into the financial industry group make this a very exciting time to be joining Reed Smith.”
ENDS
Note to Editors:
About Reed Smith’s financial industry group
Reed Smith’s global financial industry group has more than 250 lawyers based in 25 offices advising on all aspects of finance transactions, including leveraged buyouts, structured finance transactions, asset-based lending transactions, real estate transactions, structured trade and commodity transactions, derivatives as well as workouts, restructurings, debtor-in-possession financings and exit financings; additionally, the team provides regulatory advice and guidance to financial institution and alternative lender clients across the globe. The fully integrated practice is uniquely positioned to advise on cross-border and European deals requiring U.S., English and/or local law capabilities.
About Reed Smith’s UK finance expansion
In 2012, the firm launched its structured finance practice with the arrival of partner and head of structured finance Tamara Box, who now heads up a 25-strong team of lawyers based in London. 2012 also saw the launch of the firm’s Europe and Middle East private equity group with the arrival of partner and head of EME private equity Perry Yam.
In March, the team was joined by leveraged finance partner Ben Davis from Travers Smith. Most recently, Monica Barton joined the team as counsel from Freshfields. Monica has extensive acquisition finance experience as well as dual capabilities in leveraged finance and restructuring.
She is accustomed to advising lenders, sponsors and financial advisers in respect of a wide range of financing products in the European leverage market. Monica has advised Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan as well as several leading private equity sponsors in connection with high yield bond offerings. More recently, she worked on direct lending transactions including unitranches, real estate investments and special situations.
About Reed Smith
Reed Smith is a global law firm with 25 offices and more than 1,800 lawyers in offices across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the United States.
For further information, please visit www.reedsmith.com or contact Jeyda Star (Senior PR & Communications Manager EME) on +44 (0)20 3116 2571.