Key Takeaways
Sidley Austin has hired five finance partners from Clifford Chance.
The team is led by Lee Askenazi, former co-head of Clifford Chance's US Global Financial Markets practice.
The arrivals strengthen Sidley's capabilities in structured finance, securitisation, fund finance, leveraged finance and tax.
The move follows Sidley's recent restructuring hires in London, continuing its investment in finance talent.
The hires reflect the intense competition among global firms for leading finance lawyers.
A Significant Team Move
Sidley Austin has added a five-partner finance team from Clifford Chance across New York and Washington, D.C., in one of the year's most significant lateral moves in the US finance market.
The group is led by Lee Askenazi, who joins the New York office alongside Alistair Dunlop and James Gouwar. Robert Hagan and Rebecca O'Brien have joined the firm's Washington, D.C. office.
Together, the team brings deep experience advising investment banks, private equity firms, asset managers, insurers and corporate borrowers on structured finance, securitisation, fund finance and other complex financing transactions.
Continuing a Growth Strategy
The hires are the latest step in Sidley's continued investment in its global finance platform. Earlier this month, the firm also recruited London restructuring partners Philip Hertz and Melissa Coakley from Clifford Chance, adding further strength to its transactional practice.
A Competitive Market
For Clifford Chance, the departures represent a notable loss within its US Global Financial Markets practice. More broadly, the move highlights the ongoing battle among elite law firms to attract leading finance talent as demand for sophisticated financing work remains strong.
With this latest addition, Sidley continues to strengthen its position in one of the market's busiest and most competitive practice areas.