Reed Smith has expanded its global finance practice with the addition of Kevin-Paul Deveau as a partner in its Financial Industry Group in London. Kevin-Paul joins from Dechert, and will play a key role in the further growth of Reed Smith’s funds finance practice and wider banking team.
Kevin-Paul’s funds finance practice focuses on advising lenders, general partners, and fund managers on capital call, net asset value and asset-backed facilities, intra-fund financing and structuring issues, and finance considerations related to fund formation. He also advises banks, financial institutions, alternative lenders, and borrowers on a broad range of domestic and cross-border debt finance transactions, including acquisition finance, real estate finance, project finance, general corporate lending, and restructuring. Kevin-Paul’s areas of focus also include emerging markets, and he has extensive experience in Germany, Central and Eastern Europe, Southeast Europe, Turkey, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
“We are delighted to welcome Kevin-Paul to the firm. As Reed Smith continues to grow in line with our 2020 strategy, we’re focused on building a leading global funds finance practice. The addition of Kevin-Paul sends a clear message to the market that we’re determined to continue growing our funds finance and wider finance practice, advising our clients on their most important, complex, cross-border transactions,” said Ed Estrada, global chair of Reed Smith’s Financial Industry Group. “Kevin-Paul will be part of the market leading funds finance team that is headed up by partners Leon Stephenson, Bronwen Jones, and Nick Stainthorpe. His arrival will further reinforce Reed Smith’s position as the leading law firm in Europe acting for lenders and funds on funds finance transactions.”
Leon Stephenson added: “This depth of experience that is achieved by having four partners in London specialised in funds finance permits Reed Smith to expand its practice and handle a larger volume of complex transactions.”
At a time when fund financing is being driven by an increase in the use of debt finance by funds, Reed Smith has built one of the largest teams of funds finance lawyers in Europe. This team provides unrivalled advice to clients on new and developing products in this area, while also leaning on its multi-jurisdictional experience in financings of direct lending, real estate, infrastructure secondaries, and private equity funds.
“In addition to strengthening and deepening the quality of our funds finance offerings, Kevin-Paul also brings significant experience in direct and special situations lending,” said Nola Beirne, vice-chair of the Financial Industry Group for EME. “With the addition of Bronwen Jones earlier this year and Kevin-Paul today, we can assertively lay claim to being one of the best resourced and most experienced funds finance practices in Europe.”
Kevin-Paul received his M.A. and J.D. in International Relations and Law in 2005 and his B.A. (Hons.) in 2002, both from the University of Toronto. Prior to joining Dechert, he worked in the London and Bucharest offices of Clifford Chance LLP.
Source: www.reedsmith.com
