Melinda Perera > Linklaters > Luxembourg, Luxembourg > Lawyer Profile

Linklaters
AVENUE JOHN F. KENNEDY 35
L-1855 LUXEMBOURG
Luxembourg

Work Department

Capital Markets and Banking

Position

Melinda joined Linklaters Luxembourg in 2003, was promoted to Partner in 2017 and since May 2022, has been appointed as head of the Capital Markets and Banking practice of Linklaters Luxembourg.

Her capital markets practice concentrates on debt instruments and securitisation.

Melinda’s banking practice includes advising on syndicated lending, investment grade, margin loan and leveraged acquisition finance, asset finance, real estate finance and distressed debt acquisitions.

She also has special expertise in restructuring and insolvency and has played a major role in complex cross border restructuring, notably (i) for the Central Bank of Luxembourg as principal creditor of the Luxembourg banking subsidiary of collapsed Icelandic banks Landsbanki Islands hf., Glitnir Banki hf. and Kaupthing Bank; (ii) in restructuring in the renewable energy sector, the inspection safety business, the paper industry and in real estate. She has extensive experience of advising on multi-disciplinary and cross-border real estate finance transactions in the most demanding circumstances.

Melinda has considerable experience advising clients on all sides of finance transactions, including banks, financial institutions, private equity houses and corporate clients. Her experience extends to a range of restructuring, insolvency, real estate financing, private equity, regulatory and capital markets transactions.

She also takes an active interest in pro bono and community work both inside and outside the firm.

Memberships

Country of Admission: Luxembourg

Education

Melinda studied law at the University of Strasbourg and was a PhD student in constitutional law.

In the context of her PhD studies, Melinda obtained a scholarship for a Fulbright Seminar, which was conducted at Lafayette College.

Lawyer Rankings

Luxembourg > Banking, finance and capital markets

(Next Generation Partners)

Melinda PereraLinklaters

A strong offering in its own right and also able to leverage international resources across the network, the ‘approachable, dedicated and efficient’ team at Linklaters is able to ensure full alignment for large global creditors and debtors engaged in cross-border financings. ‘Always abreast of legal developments and market trends,’ team head Melinda Perera has gained trusted advisor status for clients on banking as well as debt capital markets work, where she has regular engagement from banks as underwriters on landmark supranational debt issuances. The ‘exceptional’ Patrick Geortay has a broad ranging practice that includes both regulatory and transactional expertise, including in relation to asset, acquisition and real estate finance. Nicki Kayser is ‘definitely someone you want in your team for complex matters,’ including for advice on debt issuances in digital form through DLT. The ‘very accessible, responsive and solutions oriented’ Eliane Dejardin Botelho is also recommended on regulatory issues and the establishment of bespoke derivatives and securities financing structures.

 

Luxembourg > Real estate and construction

Leaning into the firm’s broader corporate, banking, tax and investment funds practices, Linklaters deploys a cross-disciplinary approach to real estate work, providing ‘flexible, technical and commercial’ advice to institutional investors, end users and developers across a range of downstream investment work relating to office, retail and logistics buildings. Corporate real estate counsel Anton Cox is the main contact for this work and provides ‘straightforward and deal-oriented advice’ on acquisitions and disposals through share deals, as well as being well-versed in commercial leases and environmental and town planning matters. Patrick Geortay and Melinda Perera also handle finance work in the sector for borrowers and lenders.