The merger that formed A&O Shearman brought together two prominent high yield teams, though there has been some change in personnel. John Kicken leads the practice, following the retirement of Kevin Muzilla. Two legacy Shearman & Sterling partners, the experienced Trevor Ingram and the up-and-coming Gordon Houseman, plus six associates joined the group, though Marwa Elborai moved to Kirkland & Ellis International LLP, and Jeanette Cruz left the firm in late 2023. The newly reshaped practice, in which Bradley Weyland plays a pivotal role, hit the ground running with a role in six high yield deals following soon after the merger. This work included the first high yield bond in the commercial real estate sector since 2021. One client describes 'a leveraged finance and high yield powerhouse with the best integrated bank/bond practice in the market', and sees Kicken as 'hands down my go-to lawyer in the City for high yield and a respected leader in his field'. The firm remains a key adviser to the world's largest investment banks and private equity funds on leveraged finance deals.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘A&O Shearman is a leveraged finance and high yield powerhouse with the best integrated bank/bond practice in the market. The A&O high yield team is second to none – a league of highly-talented and widely recognised legal practitioners at the top of their game. They have the largest bank/bond practice in Europe. The A&O team have excellent service levels, surpassing all others in terms of deal execution, commerciality and breadth of market knowledge.'
'The A&O Shearman high yield team is a market-leading practice group with unmatched commercial awareness. When it comes to delivering to budget, A&O is transparent throughout the entire transaction. There's a clear focus on value add. The people I've worked with come from diverse backgrounds. A&O has a strong DE&I agenda to attract and promote the best lawyers in the city. You can tell they genuinely care about inclusiveness. Apart from being very talented lawyers, they are a kind and caring group of people that you want to work with and be around.’
‘John Kicken is hands down my go-to lawyer in the City for high-yield and a respected leader in his field. He has a stellar reputation and possesses an incredible commercial astuteness. John is best-in-class and understands high-yield covenants like no other. He is also an absolute standout in the Dutch market given his roots and experience.'
- 'John Kicken has built one of the most highly regarded teams in Europe. He leads by example and inspires others to excel. He is an absolute pleasure to work with, so it is no surprise why he is highly sought after.’
- 'Excellent high yield expertise, very experienced team and flawless execution of the transaction. Furthermore, friendly communication and excellent cooperation with their client.'
- 'John Kicken excellently leads the team, and keeps being highly involved in the matter himself. Excellent collaborations, both in his teams and with their client. He is really eager to achieve the best results possible.'
‘A&O Shearman is a clear market leader. A well-known high yield powerhouse. The quality of partners and associates is second to none. They understand how to run a high yield process and manage a large syndicate of banks. The team surpasses all others in terms of quality. They put the client first and look for innovative solutions to deliver value on deal.’
‘John Kicken is exceptional. He is a standout and a world-class high yield lawyer. He is a trusted adviser and dedicated to his clients. He knows how to deliver. He is an exceptional leader. No surprise he is the head of the high yield team now.’
Key clients
- Goldman Sachs International
- JP Morgan
- Deutsche Bank AG
- Barclays Bank plc
- Citigroup
- Paymentsense Limited
Work highlights
Advised the initial purchasers in connection with Travelodge’s senior secured notes due 2028 and €250m senior secured floating rate notes due 2028, issued by TVL Finance.
Advised the initial purchasers on Loxam’s €300m new money offering of 6.375% senior secured notes due 2028.
Advised the initial purchasers on Loxam’s €600m offering of 6.375% senior secured notes due 2029.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Trevor Ingram
Next generation partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Gordon Houseman
Practice head
John Kicken
Other key lawyers
Bradley Weyland; Trevor Ingram; Gordon Houseman