International law firm Reed Smith is delighted to announce the appointment of banking specialist Leon Stephenson to add further to its UK banking and finance practice. Leon will join the firm on the 1st December 2005 as a partner.

Leon, formerly a senior associate at Cleary Gottlieb, has significant experience in corporate banking and financing transactions including syndicated secured financings and acquisition financings. In the past, Leon has represented a substantial number of well known corporates and financial institutions with specific emphasis on LBO transactions acting for private equity houses. Leon also has significant knowledge and experience of the French legal market, he is admitted to practice in Paris, New York and England and is a fluent French speaker, which is particularly relevant given the recent opening of the firms Paris office.

Leon’s addition, as a partner, to the practice follows a stream of recent and impressive associate level hires to the London finance and corporate teams. These include senior associate Saul Sender, previously at Allen & Overy, Laurence Applegate from Richards Butler and pensions specialist Angela Sharma from Sacker & Partners.

Tim Foster, UK Managing Partner, Reed Smith commented: -
“Reed Smith has a major banking and finance practice in the US, advising 42 of the top 50 US banks. We have high ambitions to develop a leading UK banking and finance practice from that US platform and our existing strong UK team, and recruiting Leon is a significant step in implementing the plan “

Leon Stephenson added:
“Joining Reed Smith is an attractive proposition, the firm has a clear commitment to the development of its reputable banking capability and its European operations are expanding at a rapid rate. I am very much looking forward to joining the team.”