Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP today announced the addition of restructuring partner Edward Downer in the London office. Mr. Downer joins the Firm’s Business Reorganization & Restructuring Department. He was previously at Morrison & Foerster LLP.

With extensive experience in international financial restructurings, distressed debt investment and stressed and distressed financings, Mr. Downer is a go-to adviser for clients investing or involved in financial distress situations. He has developed a broad restructuring practice in the UK, Europe, Australia and the US, representing distressed debt investors, special situations lenders, distressed companies and other finance parties including bank and non-bank trustee companies. His cross-sector work has focused particularly on technology, oil and gas, retail, shipping, property, infrastructure, financial services, mining, metals and manufacturing.

Peter Burrell, London Managing Partner, commented: “I am delighted to welcome Ed to the Firm. We are committed to investing in our London office by adding strength and depth to our existing market leading capabilities and I believe he will bring tremendous value to our London transactional team.”

“Ed is a highly regarded and talented restructuring lawyer whose skillset and client relationships perfectly complement the growth strategy for our London practice,” said Graham Lane, partner and head of Willkie’s Business Reorganization & Restructuring practice in London. “His addition aligns with our commitment to deepen our financial restructuring offering and having worked with Ed on various transactions, I know what a huge asset he will be for our expanding team.”

“I am delighted to join Willkie’s Business Reorganization & Restructuring practice and play a significant role in its growth in London,” said Mr. Downer. “Willkie is highly regarded for its broad international restructuring capabilities and interdisciplinary collaboration and I am looking forward to using my experience and relationships to further strengthen its offering.”

Mr. Downer’s addition follows the 2019 London office hires of partners Ashley Young (finance), Gavin Gordon and David Arnold (private equity) and Jane Scobie (tax).

Willkie’s Business Reorganization & Restructuring Department is a global practice with market-leading capabilities in all aspects of business and financial restructurings and insolvency matters. The team represents a broad spectrum of clients (both in and out of court) in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany and other key European jurisdictions.