At Mayer Brown International LLP, 'the team is renowned for its ability to engineer novel solutions for its clients n securitisation transactions involving different asset classes'. London managing partner Dominic Griffiths is 'well known for his skilled technical knowledge'. He handles cross-border securitisations, asset-based lending, senior secured lending, loan-on-loan deals and other innovative structured financings. He recently acted for BNP Paribas, Citibank and Citigroup as arrangers in a $3bn cross-border securitisation of trade receivables originated by subsidiaries of Chinese technology company Lenovo Group. 'A first-rate lawyer with encyclopaedic knowledge', David O’Connor is highly regarded for his work on RMBS and CMBS deals, and is a key adviser to global investment banks such as Citigroup. CLO specialist Dasha Sobornova moved to Akin but Ronan Mellon joined from DLA Piper to bolster the firm's capability in that area as part of his broad structured finance practice. Key banking and finance partner Charles Malpass is 'thoughtful, detail oriented and commercial', and senior securitisation consultant Neil Hamilton also plays a key role in the practice. Both acted for Ellington Management Group, LLC as issuer, seller and retention holder of a €495m public RMBS deal, which is backed by a portfolio of Spanish re-performing residential mortgage loans.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Charles Malpass is one of the best securitization lawyers I have come across. He is thoughtful, detail oriented and commercial.’

  • ‘The team is renowned for its ability to engineer novel solutions for its clients in DCM and in securitisation transactions involving different asset classes. The team ability to manage multi-jurisdictional transactions is massive. Also the young associates within the team are able to perfectly conduct transactions, in any event a partner is always present at the table.’

  • ‘Preferred lawyers in my point of view are Dominic Griffiths for all the securitisation products and David O'Connor for the DCM transactions. Dominic is one of the best lawyers I have ever worked with and he is well known for his skilled technical knowledge. He is also in charge with the Firm in London and his ability to develop loyal client relationships is incredible. David is excellent within the DCM market and he is also incredibly skilled in handling his team very well. He is a first-rate lawyer with an encyclopaedic knowledge in DCM products.’

Key clients

  • BNP Paribas
  • Citibank
  • Waterwheel Capital Management
  • Ellington Management
  • Northcross Capital

Lawyers

Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Mayer Brown International LLP
Dominic Griffiths heads Mayer Brown’s banking and finance group in London, representing financial institutions and companies across a broad spectrum of domestic and international financing transactions. His practice is particularly focused on commercial and investment bank asset-based lending and structured finance. Dominic has in-depth experience with regard to European and Trans-Atlantic cross-border secured loans and trade receivables financings. He also represents clients engaged in the structuring and execution of finance transactions in Italy. The group Dominic leads in London includes lawyers focussing on debt capital markets, derivatives, structured finance, asset based lending, asset finance, project and commodities finance, acquisition finance, restructuring, corporate and real estate finance. The team frequently works with the London office’s substantial corporate, real estate, insurance and litigation groups as well as with lawyers in the firm’s extensive network of offices across the Americas, Europe and Asia.
Mayer Brown International LLP
David O’Connor is a structured finance and securitisation partner in Mayer Brown’s London office. He has represented lenders, arrangers, servicers, borrowers and investors in numerous financing transactions and restructurings involving commercial real estate debt in Europe. He works closely with hedge funds, private equity funds and investment banks on CMBS, RMBS and covered bond transactions. He also advises on whole business securitisations, trade receivables securitisations, warehouse lines and loan portfolio sale transactions (both distressed and performing).

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Dominic Griffiths, David O’Connor

Other key lawyers

Ronan Mellon, Charles Malpass, Neil Hamilton