Finance
Sidley Austin LLP‘s global finance practice is ’knowledgeable, efficient, and genuinely enjoyable to work with’, and its securitisation specialists in London continue to deepen their expertise in key areas of the market. Lead partner Rupert Wall is ‘a leader in structured finance’ and clients praise him as ’brilliantly sharp and relentlessly driven’. He is active in the CLO market for the likes of CVC, Permira and Spire Capita, as well as advising on complex and often esoteric securitisation. A prime example is his work for JP Morgan on the £233m securitisation of art loan receivables, a highly novel asset class. Azeem Sulemanji has a particular focus on European CLOs, but as part of a broader practice that spans numerous structured finance, securitisation and structured lending transactions. He recently assisted new client LGT Capital with closing its inaugural CLO warehouse. Luke Stowe, who joined as counsel from Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP in late 2024, is a key adviser to CLO managers.
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Profile
Work Department
Global Finance
Position
Partner
Career
RUPERT WALL is the head of Sidley’s Global Finance group in Europe.
Rupert has over 20 years’ experience in structured finance transactions involving a diverse range of asset classes (including trade, consumer and other secured and unsecured receivables; auto, student, aircraft, shipping, corporate, mid-market/direct lending and other loans and leases; vehicle rental fleets and residential and commercial mortgage loans), encompassing a wide range of public and private financing structures (including RMBS, CMBS, ABCP conduits, covered bonds, whole-business securitisations and CLO/CBO/CDOs, as well as more esoteric or synthetic structures).
Rupert advises fund sponsors, arrangers, originators, investment managers and investors on all aspects of securitisation, structured finance, asset-backed lending, fund financing, structured products and derivatives. He also advises counterparties in relation to general capital markets issuances, leveraged finance transactions and portfolio transactions (both performing and distressed/non-performing).
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Sidley's team has grown organically in this space and they now have a great senior and junior bench - we have worked with them for a while, and they understand our business and we get the senior involvement when we need it.’
‘Rupert Wall leads the team - he is adept at negotiations whilst also ensuring timely execution - also always available for a call or other assistance. New hire Rei See is a mid level associate - she holds the pen on our deals with Sidley recently and is exceptional in delivery and client service - a future star.’
‘Rupert Wall has a strong knowledge of securitisation and is able to translate complex securitisation topics to something a layman would understand.’
‘Rupert Wall knows securitisation regulations and also how to describe that to clients.’
‘Knowledgeable, efficient, and genuinely enjoyable to work with. We have relied on this team for years, and they consistently deliver.’
‘Rupert Wall is brilliantly sharp and relentlessly driven. His tenacity and deep expertise make him an indispensable force in any complex deal.’
'Recent lateral hires have expanded the strength in depth of the team.'
'Rupert Wall is extremely experienced combining a high level of technical ability with commercial understanding of transactions. Luke Stowe is a recent hire who is and extremely capable and responsive lawyer.'
Key clients
- CVC Credit (CLO) Jaja Finance / KKR / TDR Capital (Securitisation) Brigade Capital (CLO) ABN AMRO Bank N.V. (Securitisation) Permira Credit (CLO) Zenith / Bridgepoint (Securitisation) J.P. Morgan (Securitisation) Spire Partners (CLO) Beryllium / Icelake (Securitisation) RBC Bluebay (CLO) LGT (CLO) Fair Oaks Capital (CLO) LahiTapiola (Securitisation) Morgan Stanley Investment Management (Securitisation)
Work highlights
Advised J.P. Morgan on a securitisation of art loans for auction house Sotheby’s.
Advised CVC Credit, Spire Partners and Permira on multiple European CLO issuances.
Advised ABN AMRO on a securitisation of residential mortgage loans originated by Perenna Bank.