Rupert Wall > Sidley Austin LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Sidley Austin LLP has a deep bench of securitisation lawyers handling complex and innovative deals. The firm has a long pedigree in the market and continues to adapt to clients’ needs, currently focusing on bilateral securitisations across many asset classes, as well as maintaining an active CLO practice. Head of the global finance group Rupert Wall is a key adviser to some of the biggest CLO managers in the world, though he also acts for collateral managers, arrangers and investors. His pure securitisation work includes a €500m direct lending deal for a global investment bank. Emerging talent Emilie Stewart is highly active in real estate-backed and NPL transactions. In the junior ranks, Azeem Sulemanji is tipped for a bright future, having been heavily involved in CLOs, large auto securitisations and significant NPL deals. Nick Brittain retired from practice.

Fielding a cross-practice offering, the Sidley Austin LLP global finance team, led by Rupert Wall, works closely with the firm’s real estate team, advising a range of private equity firms, alternative investment managers, and real estate investment trusts. Emilie Stewart regularly handles loan-on-loan and real estate backed non-performance loans across Europe.

Sidley Austin LLP climbs the ranking this year and is best known for its expertise in structured products, notably repackagings, synthetic securitisations, and regulatory capital trades, as well as related contentious matters. It is also highly active in structured products involving direct lending loans, and commercial real estate assets. This work accompanies the work of its strong regulatory advisory practice, and a growing volume of work on derivatives for corporates and private equity clients. Structured products partner Rupert Wall is the standout practitioner, with recognised derivatives specialist and senior associate Netanya Clixby emerging as a real talent in the practice. Clixby’s work spans advice on ISDA master agreements, prime brokerage documentation, securities lending, and repurchase agreements for both buy-side and sell-side clients. Nick Brittain retired from the firm.