Mayer Brown International LLP‘s structured finance practice is ’smart, swift, and a joy to work with — this team makes complex deals feel effortless’. The firm continues to invest in its full-spectrum offering, which encompasses mortgage-backed securities, bespoke and hybrid trade receivables deals, CLOs, and transactions involving esoteric asset classes. Dominic Griffiths and the ‘commercially sharp and pragmatic’ David O’Connor lead the group with new hire Chris McGarry, who joined along with Adam Farrell from White & Case LLP in early 2025 to boost the firm’s profile in the CLO market. McGarry and Farrell have hit the ground running with their work for CVC, one of the top three European CLO managers, on a €502m deal being just one example. The firm also has standout practitioners in Ronan Mellon, who handles SME loans, trade receivables, project financing, CLOs, and other UK and cross-border transactions, and Neil Hamilton, who is a key adviser to arrangers, originators, servicers, and investors on deals in a wide variety of asset classes, as well as complex regulatory issues.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘MB is always a trusted advisor with knowledge, depth and availability.’
‘Neil Hamilton works with us in a number of matters. He is always available al provides good reliable advice.’
‘Mayer Brown's team is partner-led and we get more involvement at senior level than with any other firm in the space.’
‘Team is led by Chris McGarry with day-to-day contact with Adam Farrell - both have long-term experience in the market and are able to provide live market intel, alongside the usual transaction execution.’
‘A very well-trained team, extremely focused on the customer's needs. A partner of the team is always present and very hands-on in every aspect of the transaction.’
‘In cross-border transactions, they are very good at coordinating the jurisdictions involved, over the years they have developed a strong sensitivity to the particularities of Italian law, as opposite to other UK or US firms. they are outstanding.’
‘I have worked with Neil Hamilton and Jakub Telika and they are both excellent lawyers and a pleasure to work with.’
‘Counsel (and hopefully soon to be partner) Mariana Padinha Ribeiro is a brilliant legal architect in the world of structured finance. Her precision, insight, and strategic finesse turn complex securitisation deals into seamless masterpieces. Partner David O'Connor is a commercially sharp and pragmatic partner — always focused on solutions, easy to work with, and trusted to get the deal done right.’
Key clients
- Apollo
- Banco Santander S.A.
- Bank of America
- Barclays Bank Plc
- Barings, LLC
- Blackstone
- BNP Paribas
- CA-CIB
- Citigroup
- CVC Credit Partners Investment Management Limited
- Ellington Management Group
- Growth Lending Limited
- Goldman Sachs International
- Golub Capital Partners
- ING
- Lloyds Bank Plc
- M&G
- Merchant Money
- MUFG
- Natixis
Work highlights
Represented Citibank N.A. London Branch, BNP Paribas, Royal Bank of Canada, Société Générale, Natixis, Barclays Bank Plc, Lloyds Bank Plc, Banco Santander S.A., and Morgan Stanley in the upsize, extension and restructuring for STS purposes of a EUR 3.2 billion senior financing of KKR’s acquisition of a portfolio of Buy-Now-Pay-Later receivables on a forward flow basis.
Representing key client CVC Credit Partners Investment Management Limited (the top ranked European CLO manager by AUM) as collateral manager of CVC Cordatus Opportunity Loan Fund-R DAC in connection with a new issue CLO, representing the first static European CLO for this client.
Advising Rabobank, BNP Paribas, CA-CIB, Citibank and BBVA in the global securitisation of Bunge's trade receivables programme with corporate originators in multiple EU jurisdictions, the UK, the US and Canada.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Dominic Griffiths; David O’Connor; Chris McGarry
Other key lawyers
Ronan Mellon; Neil Hamilton; Adam Farrell; Mariana Padinha Ribeiro