Mr Kit Johnson > Hogan Lovells International LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

The London office of Hogan Lovells International LLP is particularly well known for advising trustees and agents on DCM deals, though the team advises on a broad range of transactions in close collaboration with colleagues  across the firm’s global network. The firm has both English and US law capability in London, as well as specialist trustee expertise. Indeed, practice head Kit Johnson is regarded as one of the market’s leading advisers to corporate trustees on debt and structured finance instruments. Key partner Andrew Carey is highly experienced in international debt offerings, including securities programmes, corporate, and sovereign bonds, and he frequently acts for trustees in bond restructurings. Johnson recently advised Citibank in its trustee and agency capacities on a €700m sustainability-linked bond offering by Faurecia S.A. Carey recently acted for automotive safety supplier Autoliv in the update of its €3bn EMTN programme.

Hogan Lovells International LLP has ‘a very capable and experienced team with good knowledge of the market and regulation‘. The firm handles the full range of derivatives transactions, though it is particularly strong in structured finance and structured finance-related derivatives, having established and updated many securitisation and repackaging programs containing swaps and repos. It also stands out for its regulatory expertise, as well as its capability in commodity derivatives. Global head of corporate and finance James Doyle leads the practice and is adept in securitised derivatives, repackagings, funding structures, and regulatory issues. Jennifer O’Connell is ‘an experienced derivatives and structured finance partner, who is hands-on and effective‘. She recently advised Teneo and the Special Administrators of Sova Capital on derivatives, securities lending, repo issues arising from its administration. The firm is one of the few to have a dedicated trustee practice, and Kit Johnson is a highly regarded practitioner. Bryony Widdup, who joined from DLA Piper at the end of 2022, brings significant expertise in digital assets including token structuring and issuance.