Paul Hastings Expands Alternative Lending Finance Capabilities with Heavyweight Non-Bank Lending Partner

January 11, 2016

NEW YORK -- Paul Hastings LLP, a leading global law firm, announced today that William “Bill” Brady, a high-profile finance lawyer who represents alternative non-bank lenders, has joined Paul Hastings from Proskauer, as a partner in New York and head of the firm’s Alternative Lender group, focused on growing its global alternative lender platform. The move comes as the alternative finance space continues to expand and as the market for law firms that can handle complex finance matters — not just for banks, but also for alternative non-bank lenders — is tightening.

“Bill’s arrival advances our efforts to recruit top talent so that we are a firm of choice for financial institutions’ most important transactions across the capital structure,” said Elizabeth Noe, chair of the Corporate practice. “Our recruitment efforts have helped establish Paul Hastings as a go-to financing firm for leading banks and Bill’s addition paves the way for us to solidify our foothold with alternative finance providers,” she added.

“Bill will be a significant asset to Paul Hastings. His arrival builds on our existing strengths in acquisition finance and distressed debt and will provide us the opportunity to expand our alternative finance work in these and related areas,” said Jennifer Yount, chair of the Finance practice. “In the growing alternative lender market, a firm’s substantive expertise, relationships, and bench strength are critical to success. With Bill’s notable achievements, relationships with non-bank lenders, and market recognition, he brings the right capabilities and profile to complement our global finance capabilities and compete in this important segment of the market,” she added.

Mr. Brady’s practice focuses on complex finance transactions and credit arrangements, particularly those financings that include a junior capital component or multiple tranches of debt. He regularly structures and negotiates a wide range of financing facilities, such as mezzanine debt, second -lien loans, bifurcated uni-tranche facilities, first-out/last-out and term "B" facilities, and holdco note purchases.

Mr. Brady represents a broad array of alternative lenders and investors, including traditional mezzanine funds, second lien lenders, hedge funds, BDCs, SBIC funds, one-stop shops, insurance companies, and specialty finance companies, often in the context of domestic and cross-border leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, refinancings and restructurings. Over the past five years, Bill has structured and closed more than 150 financings for transactions ranging from $10 million to $2 billion across a wide array of industries.

Paul Hastings continues to make strategic additions of top talent in priority practices and offices. The firm recently announced that Paul Severs, a high-profile structured finance and capital markets partner joined in London, and that Roberta Bassegio, a New York and Brazil qualified energy and infrastructure partner, joined Paul Hastings proposed new office in São Paulo, Brazil, which is subject to regulatory approval.

At Paul Hastings, our purpose is clear — to help our clients and people navigate new paths to growth. With a strong presence throughout Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the U.S., Paul Hastings is recognized as one of the world’s most innovative global law firms.