Jons Lehmann > Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP‘s active fund finance practice caters to many of the highest-profile and valuable asset managers, being entrusted to act on some of their most challenging transactions. The team has successfully undertaken a number of innovative deals such as those relating to securitisation and ESG-linked facilities. Kathryn Cecil is noted for her prowess with matters concerning subscription, asset-backed, NAV, and preferred equity across the full range of asset classes. Jons Lehmann is a broadly talented finance lawyer, capable with a plethora of products including leveraged finance, NAV facilities, and preferred equity financings. Graham Greenwood supports his clients with cross-border subscriptions and GP liquidity lines. Both Ryan Jenkinson and Kris Paltoglou are active in acquisition, high-yield, and syndicated bank financings.

As part of its very fluid and flexible partner-led finance team, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP regularly handles global loans work for both borrowers and lenders. The ‘extremely strategic’ Neil Caddy effectively ‘balances legal knowhow with commercial pragmatism’ on new money transactions and refinancings to ensure that clients receive optimal results, including in the context of sustainability/ESG-linked loans. Jons Lehmann also regularly handles investment-grade-related financing and refinancing matters.

The ‘very strong’ team at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP ‘combines deep technical knowledge, strong negotiation skills and a commercial mindset’ to ensure that transactions are completed in an efficacious way, irrespective to which side of the table they are on. The arrival in March 2023 of the ‘exceptionally commercial and solutions-oriented’ Chris Barron from Dickson Minto WS has galvanised the firm’s borrower-side debt financing credentials, in light of his exclusively sponsor-focused workload, complementing a recently enhanced M&A offering. Neil Caddy additionally handles some sponsor work, although his workload is more eclectic and includes a considerable volume of mandates for private credit funds as lenders. Jons Lehmann is also adept at advising on sponsor-related work although much of that is focused on servicing lenders on the provision of fund financing. All of the aforementioned practitioners also benefit from access to the firm’s strong US resources, ensuring that the team is well-positioned to advise on transatlantic deals and those tapping into a US investor base.