Reed Smith bolsters finance practice

Law firm Reed Smith has hired Ben Davis as leveraged finance partner at its UK finance practice.

Davis will focus primarily on leveraged finance but will also advise on corporate facilities, refinancings, debt restructurings and general banking matters, the firm said in a statement confirming his appointment. He begins work at the London-based firm on 18 March.

Davis previously worked at Travers Smith where he represented a number of debt funds and alternative lenders in the leveraged finance market. He has experience working on deals across the capital structure, including senior, unitranche, mezzanine and PIK facilities. His clients have included private equity sponsors, corporate borrowers, financial institutions and alternative lenders.

“Ben’s arrival will ensure we continue to be closely aligned with the needs of our clients. He is very well regarded in the market and will complement our growing EMEA and US finance practice, as well as support the continued development of our UK and pan-European private equity practice,” Nola Beirne, vice chair of Reed Smith’s financial industry group for EME said in the statement.

Davis’s appointment reflects Reed Smith’s ongoing strategy to grow its global and EMEA finance practice. The firm has more than 250 lawyers based in 25 offices advising on all aspects of finance transactions, including leveraged buyouts, structured finance, asset-based lending, real estate, structured trade and commodity, derivatives as well as workouts, restructurings, debtor-in-possession financings and exit financings. It also provides regulatory advice and guidance to financial institutions and alternative lender clients.