Overview
International law firm McDermott Will & Emery welcomes Christopher (Chris) Kandel as a partner in its Transactions Practice Group in London. Chris focuses his practice on leveraged finance, special situations, acquisition and other event driven finance and restructurings.
“Chris is one of the leading acquisition finance lawyers in London and is conversant with both US and European products,” said Harris Siskind, global head of McDermott’s Transactions Practice Group. “He brings exceptional depth to our finance capabilities across mid-market and large caps and is extremely complimentary to our international private credit and private equity practices.”
With over three decades in the European market, Chris brings extensive experience in various areas of finance beyond his main focus, including high-yield and debt capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, margin loans, securitization, derivatives fund finance, investment grade, pre- and post-initial public offering financings and other related fields under English and US law.
Notably, Chris has advised on a number of groundbreaking transactions, including the first super senior revolver in Europe, the first pari passu secured bank/bond issue in Europe, the largest margin loan on shares of a private (unlisted) company, the now-second largest leveraged buyout (LBO) financing in Asia and a pioneering Western-sponsor-style LBO financing in Russia.
“I am excited to be part of McDermott’s growth, and the chance to help expand its high-value finance practice in London, Europe and the United States is very attractive, as is working again alongside Aymen Mahmoud,” said Chris. “McDermott’s strong European platform and service offering, with PE, restructuring, real estate and finance in Paris, Frankfurt/Munich and Milan, makes McDermott a compelling offering to clients.”
In The Legal 500 UK, clients referred to Chris as being “one of the best leveraged finance lawyers out there, very capable acting for the banks, but equally adept acting for sponsors.” He also has been honored as part of the Financial Times’ Innovative Lawyers Awards Europe for his contributions to the Pirelli take-private financing.
“Chris is an outstanding lawyer with substantial experience and demonstrates an unwavering commitment to client service,” said Aymen Mahmoud, London office managing partner. “Furthermore, this appointment provides an important signal to the market of McDermott’s continued aspiration to grow – and to do so with the best lawyers in the market.”
This appointment follows the recent additions of Michal Berkner, Graham White and Fatema Orjela.
