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.”
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Note to Editors:
About Fernand Arsanios
Fernand Arsanios is a member of the New York Bar and the Beirut Bar. In 1999, he received his Maîtrise from the Université Saint‐Joseph in Beirut. He then moved to Paris where he obtained his DEA "Droit Privé Général", (equivalent to an LLM) from the Université Paris X Nanterre in 2000. He obtained an LL.M from Boston University in 2003. Fernand joined Gide in Paris as an associate in 2004, becoming a partner in 2013. Fernand is qualified to practice law in New York, Paris and Beirut.
About Reed Smith’s Financial Industry Group
Reed Smith’s global financial industry group has more than 250 lawyers based in 26 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. The team also 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, Asian and/or local law capabilities.
About Reed Smith in Paris
Reed Smith’s Paris office is made up of over 50 lawyers including 19 partners who work in a variety of practice areas including corporate / mergers & acquisitions / equity capital markets, competition law, domestic and international arbitration, energy, environmental law, finance, industrial risks, insolvency, corporate restructuring, insurance and reinsurance, intellectual property, labor and employment / personnel restructuring, litigation / dispute resolution, pharmaceutical and healthcare, private equity, professional, health and industrial risk prevention and management, real estate, shipping, transportation and logistics / international trade and customs, social security law, tax law, urban planning and construction, white collar crime. Benoît Charot is the office managing partner.
About Reed Smith
Reed Smith is a global law firm with 26 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.