Paul Hastings’ Finance and Restructuring Rise Progresses with Bi-Coastal Partner Team

February 20, 2020

Los Angeles and New York — Paul Hastings LLP, a leading global law firm, continues its hiring spree with another significant bolster to its dynamic Finance and Restructuring practice, announcing the addition of a bi-coastal Finance and Restructuring partner duo from Winston & Strawn. Justin Rawlins, who currently leads Winston & Strawn’s Restructuring practice, will join as a partner in Los Angeles, and Phil Ratner will join as a partner in New York.

“The investments we are making in our Finance and Restructuring practice reflect the trust major financial institutions are placing in us to help them with their most important transactions and restructurings,” said Seth Zachary, chair of Paul Hastings. “In the current economic environment, the need for expertise with restructurings and other distressed transactions is likely to increase and Justin’s and Phil’s legal and business prowess in tackling this complex area positions Paul Hastings well for achieving the greatest success for our clients,” he added.

“Paul Hastings’ global platform, particularly the firm’s strength in California, Houston, New York and London, and the firm’s financial strength and economic trajectory were extremely attractive to me,” said Rawlins. “The momentum of Paul Hastings’ Finance practice and the expected market conditions make the firm the ideal place to best serve my clients.”

“The growth and depth of Paul Hastings’ Finance and Private Equity practices, along with the entrepreneurial spirit throughout the firm were huge draws,” said Ratner. “I’m looking forward to taking our practice to the next level with Justin and our new partners.”

Rawlins represents credit and hedge funds, lending institutions, companies, and committees in providing counseling on financing transactions, restructurings, recapitalizations, corporate governance matters, acquisitions and divestitures, with an emphasis on distressed and special situations.

Ratner’s practice focuses on the representation of credit funds, private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies, corporations, and investment banks on a diverse range of complex secured and unsecured corporate finance transactions. He also has substantial experience with special situations and distressed debt transactions, including chapter 11 reorganizations and out-of-court restructurings, and strategic lending transactions.

The addition of Rawlins and Ratner continues the firm’s lateral hiring boom after a strong 2019. In 2019, the firm announced the addition of Capital Markets and Leveraged Finance partner Frank Lopez and Derivatives partner Joyce Xu in New York; Capital Markets partner Jonathan Ko in Los Angeles; Mergers and Acquisitions partner Jonathan Kellner and Capital Markets partner David Flechner, along with several members of their team, in São Paulo, Brazil; Private Equity partners Ed Harris and Leanne Moezi and M&A partner Steven Bryan in London; Private Equity partner Alex Kaufman and M&A partners Bill Choe and Jason Rabbitt-Tomita in Palo Alto; Energy transactional partners Ned Crady and David Peterman in Houston; Tax partner Bruno Leroy, Capital Markets partner Charles Cardon, and Managing Director of Investigations and Compliance Nicola Bonucci in Paris; and Private Equity partner Adam Brown and Investigations and White Collar Defense partners Jonathan Drimmer, Matt Herrington and Tom Best in Washington, D.C.

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.