Mayer Brown continues to expand its global finance capabilities following the arrival of three partners—Musonda Kapotwe, Andy Kolacki and Myles Mantle—who have joined the firm in London. The new partners further strengthen Mayer Brown’s non-contentious financial regulatory, loan finance and project finance capabilities. Musonda and Andy join the firm’s Banking & Finance practice; Myles joins the Project Finance team, and will relocate to the Tokyo office in 2022. Kolacki was previously a partner at DLA Piper, Kapotwe joins from Barclays, and Mantle was previously a partner at Haynes & Boone.

“We are delighted to welcome Musonda, Andy and Myles to our growing financial services focused teams,” said Dominic Griffiths, co-head of the global Banking & Finance practice at Mayer Brown. “They are each highly skilled in their area of practice. Musonda’s cross-border financial regulatory and transactional experience will complement the market-leading capabilities of our finance, insurance and ESG teams, where we continue to invest for growth. Andy has an impressive track record advising across a range of domestic and international lending transactions, and though Myles will be in London for a short time, his established reputation advising on emerging markets and Japan-related development transactions will be of tremendous value to clients internationally.”

Musonda has extensive experience advising on the impact of UK financial services regulation on banking, capital markets and derivatives transactions. As an in-house lawyer at two large financial institutions, she advised boards, senior management and other stakeholders on large-scale, cross-border regulatory implementation projects, including Brexit, client assets, recovery and resolution, prudential regulation, regulatory capital and outsourcing. Musonda’s regulatory background also includes recent environment, social and governance regulations affecting the prudential, disclosure, marketing and other requirements related to the sale and distribution of financial products to UK retail and wholesale clients.

Andy has considerable experience representing private credit funds, banks, private equity sponsors and corporate borrowers. He advises on both domestic and international acquisition and leveraged financings, refinancings and restructurings in relation to senior and subordinated capital structures. 

Myles, a project development and finance lawyer, advises on the development, financing, and acquisition of complex and high-profile energy, offshore, petrochemical, manufacturing and infrastructure projects, mainly in emerging markets for leading trading houses, investors, operators, lenders and export credit agencies. In addition, he has a significant track record advising on FPSO and other offshore transactions globally. Myles has worked in various locations, including Japan, Russia, the UAE, UK, France and Singapore. He will initially be based in London, before relocating to the firm’s Tokyo office in early 2022. 

“Myles has an established pedigree advising on Japan-related transactions worldwide and is a strong addition to our global Project Finance practice, particularly in the energy sector,” said Rupert Burrows, Mayer Brown’s Tokyo office managing partner. “Having previously worked with Myles for over a decade in Tokyo, I know that he perfectly aligns with our global strategy and will further enhance our relationships with Japanese clients.”

“Our work in financial services is one of our key strengths and we are committed to expanding our capabilities to ensure that our clients always receive the best service,” said Sally Davies, Mayer Brown’s London managing partner. “These hires enhance our global offering in three key areas and we are delighted to welcome them to Mayer Brown.”