Mirroring the firm’s overarching focus on the asset management sector, Dechert LLP‘s acquisition finance team is best-known for its work for fund clients engaged in leveraged finance transactions. Although it does handle some mandates for private equity sponsors, much of this work is for private credit funds where the team has established a particularly strong position as a result of its ability to advise on new money and refinancing transactions utilising debt across all levels of the capital structure. Key to the firm’s success in the area is the work of David Miles and Philip Butler, who have both been closely aligned to the development of the direct lending product since its inception in the European market. Both continue to pick up work for some longstanding and loyal clients, including Ares, which regularly instructs the firm on many of its European transactions.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘It is a good team that is flexible with billing and overall commercial terms.’
- ‘Always ready to jump on a short order. Prioritising reaching deadlines and achieving such has been excellent.’
Key clients
- Alcentra
- Apollo Asset Management
- Ares Management Limited
- Baring Asset Management
- BlackRock
- Blackstone Credit
- Cordet Capital
- CVC Credit Partners
- Kartesia Management
- LGT Private Debt (UK)
- Metric Capital
- Cerberus
Work highlights
Advised Ares Management on its continued investment in the RSK Group via participating in the £500m preference share raise and commitment of £1.4bn of continued senior debt funding.
Advised Ares Management on the debt, equity and M&A aspects of the sale by the Daisy Group of DCS Holdings Group by way of a merger with the Wavenet Group.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
David Miles
Other key lawyers
Philip Butler; David Miles; Giles Belsey; Anthony Lombardi; Sarah Moffat; Beej Radia