Overview
Mei Lian is a partner in the Financial Restructuring practice at Paul Hastings and co-chair of the London office. She has a broad and extensive practice with years of experience across a wide spectrum of high-end finance transactions, which often involve cross-border features.
Ms. Lian focuses her practice on representing institutional investors, as well as corporate borrowers, issuers, private equity funds and sponsors on a wide range of finance transactions. She has particular experience navigating complex stressed and distressed situations, advising across the entire capital structure, and utilizing various finance instruments. Ms. Lian also represents hedge funds and alternative credit providers in connection with bespoke financing transactions and distressed and restructuring investment opportunities.
Recognitions
- Named “Dealmaker of the Year” at The Global Legal Post’s inaugural Women and Diversity in Law Awards, 2023
- Named a “Leading Individual” for Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency – The Legal 500 UK 2023-2024
- Ms. Lian is recommended in The Legal 500 UK guide in the following categories: Finance: Securitisation and Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency. One testimonial states: “Mei Lian is an exceptional lawyer and a great team leader: in addition to her deep knowledge and expertise, her hands-on approach to each transaction, her attention to detail and her communication skills make her unique.” – The Legal 500 UK 2024
- Ms. Lian is recommended in The Legal 500 UK guide in the following categories: Bank Lending: Investment Grade Debt & Syndicated Loans; Acquisition Finance; and Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency. One testimonial states: “Mei Lian is outstanding. The best transaction lawyer I have worked with.” – The Legal 500 UK 2022
- Recommended for Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency, Bank Lending: Investment Grade Debt, and Syndicated Loans and Acquisition Finance and is recognised as an “incredibly gifted” key member of the bank lending team. – The Legal 500 UK 2020
- Sources also note, “Mei Lian has a knack for explaining complex things in a clear, easy to understand way. Her manner has often helped defuse heated negotiations and drive them to success through a constructive and business friendly ability to think out of the box.”
- Selected for the IFLR Women Leaders List for 2019-2023 by IFLR1000.
- Recognised as the “Best Lawyer in Insolvency & Restructuring” at the Euromoney Europe Women in Business Law Awards 2018.
Education
- Magdalene College, Cambridge, B.A. (LL.B.) with honors
Representations
- A fund on an investment in convertible notes issued by sustainable food and smart-farming business operating climate-controlled food production facilities in the Middle East.
- Metric Capital on its strategic structured investment in certain subsidiaries of Eurohold Bulgaria AD, to support Eurohold’s acquisition of the Bulgarian electricity distribution, supply and trading business of Czech energy group CEZ.
- A consortium of funds on the provision of litigation financing in connection with a portfolio of claims.
- A consortium of investors including Centerbridge Partners on their structured investment in the Soul Foods Group, a multi-national QSR franchisee, which owns and manages global food and coffee franchises, including Burger King, KFC, Starbucks and Taco Bell.
- A consortium of lenders including Carlyle on a preferred share financing for Apex Group Ltd., a leading provider of fund administration and financial services to the asset management and corporate sectors and on an equity investment in the same group.
- A consortium of investors on an investment in a Turkish pharmaceutical company, structured by way of a preference share investment.
- Attestor on the acquisition from NatWest Bank of the Project Mercatus portfolio, comprising a portfolio of non-performing loans relating to UK shopping centres, and the subsequent restructuring of certain loans in the portfolio.
- doValue as servicer and investor on the acquisition and subsequent sale of the mezzanine and junior notes relating to the Project Mexico securitisation of Greek non-performing loans by Eurobank S.A.
- Piraeus Bank on its Project Phoenix, Sunrise I and Sunrise II securitisations of portfolios of Greek secured and unsecured non-performing loans.
- Piraeus Bank on its €4.933 billion recapitalisation, which included an exchange offer and consent solicitation for certain outstanding senior and subordinated securities.
- The Frigoglass Group on its restructuring, which included €250 million 8.25% senior notes due 2018 issued by Frigoglass Finance and more than €80 million of existing bank debt across eight facilities agreements, through a consent solicitation and a scheme of arrangement.
- Nokia Corporation in connection with its €1.5 billion five-year multicurrency revolving credit facility, which included a sustainability feature tracking Nokia’s key sustainability targets relating to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
- The shareholders of Canary Wharf Group on financing arrangements, including intragroup and third party financings.
news
- Paul Hastings Advised Kakao Corp. in its Issuance of Convertible Bonds - May 7th, 2024
- Paul Hastings Adds Prominent Financial Restructuring Partner in London - February 20th, 2024
- Paul Hastings Shortlisted for Four Awards at the Turnaround, Restructuring & Insolvency Awards 2023 - October 26th, 2023
- Paul Hastings Again Recognized in the 2024 Edition of The Legal 500 UK Solicitors - October 5th, 2023
- Tereza Courmont Vlkova and Victoria Morton Recognized at Delinian’s Women in Business Law Awards EMEA 2023 - July 3rd, 2023
- Paul Hastings Wins “Team of the Year: Loans” Award at the IFLR Europe Awards 2023 - May 10th, 2023
- Paul Hastings Shortlisted for Five Awards at Delinian’s Women in Business Law Awards EMEA 2023 - May 4th, 2023
- Paul Hastings Shortlisted for Five Awards at IFLR Europe Awards 2023 - April 21st, 2023
- Mei Lian and Catherine Goodman Recognized at Women & Diversity in Law Awards 2023 - March 24th, 2023
- Paul Hastings Advised doValue in the Sale of Two Non-Performing Loans Portfolios - February 27th, 2023
- Paul Hastings Shortlisted for Nine Awards at Women & Diversity in Law Awards 2023 - January 24th, 2023
- Paul Hastings Receives High Rankings in the 2023 Edition of The Legal 500 UK Solicitors - September 29th, 2022
- Paul Hastings Received 11 Nominations for 2022 Euromoney Women in Business Law EMEA Awards - May 20th, 2022
- Paul Hastings Practices and Lawyers Recognized for Excellence in Legal 500 United Kingdom 2022 - October 1st, 2021
- Piraeus Bank Completes Landmark €7.2 billion Securitisation - July 29th, 2021
- Paul Hastings advises Metric Capital in connection with the financing of Eurohold’s acquisition of CEZ - July 27th, 2021
- Paul Hastings Continues Top-Tier Talent Surge in London with Addition of Leading Energy and Infrastructure Finance Partner - August 25th, 2020
- Mei Lian and Cathleen McLaughlin Named IFLR 1000 Women Leaders - June 23rd, 2020
- Finance & Restructuring Growth Continues at Paul Hastings with Notable Partner Addition in London - May 1st, 2020
Recognitions
- Paul Hastings Shortlisted for Five Awards at the Turnaround, Restructuring & Insolvency Awards 2024 - October 23rd, 2024
- Mei Lian Named in Financial News’ 100 Most Influential Women in European Finance 2024 List - October 14th, 2024
- Mei Lian and Jason Raeburn Named to The Lawyer’s Hot 100 2024 List - January 30th, 2024
- Paul Hastings Shortlisted for Four Awards at the Women, Influence & Power in Law UK Awards 2024 - January 16th, 2024
- Paul Hastings Shortlisted for Four Awards at the Turnaround, Restructuring & Insolvency Awards 2023 - October 26th, 2023
- Paul Hastings Again Recognized in the 2024 Edition of The Legal 500 UK Solicitors - October 5th, 2023
- Paul Hastings Wins “Team of the Year: Loans” Award at the IFLR Europe Awards 2023 - May 10th, 2023
- Paul Hastings Shortlisted for Five Awards at Delinian’s Women in Business Law Awards EMEA 2023 - May 4th, 2023
- Paul Hastings Shortlisted for Five Awards at IFLR Europe Awards 2023 - April 21st, 2023
- Mei Lian and Catherine Goodman Recognized at Women & Diversity in Law Awards 2023 - March 24th, 2023
- Paul Hastings Receives High Rankings in the 2023 Edition of The Legal 500 UK Solicitors - September 29th, 2022
- Paul Hastings Partners Recognized as Top Women Leaders by IFLR1000 - April 12th, 2022
- Recognized for Excellence in Legal 500 United Kingdom - October 1st, 2021
- Recognized among IFLR1000's Top Women Leaders for Transactional Law (2020) - June 23rd, 2020