Linklaters

Linklaters has appointed Brian Gray as the new co-head of the firm's leveraged finance practice.

Brian, who joined Linklaters in 2007 as a banking partner, specialises in leveraged and acquisition financing. His experience covers leveraged buy-outs, event driven investment grade and crossover credit work, restructuring (including distressed M&A) and infrastructure for underwriters and sponsors. 

Brian will lead the leveraged finance practice with existing co-head, Nick Syson. He takes over as co-head of the leveraged finance practice from Gideon Moore, following Gideon’s appointment as Linklaters' Global Head of Banking.

Brian's recent experience includes advising the arrangers on the financing of Rhone Capital’s acquisition of Evonik Carbon Black; the arrangers on the refinancing of Group Vitalia; the arrangers on the financing of Blackstone’s acquisition of Jack Wolfskin; the Carlyle Group on the acquisitions of Integrated Dental Holdings and Associated Dental Practices in partnership with Palamon Capital Partners; and the senior creditors in relation to the restructurings of Samsonite, Gala and Abbot/KCA Deutag.

ENDS

For further information, please contact Katie Taylor on +44 20 7456 2287 or Rupert Winlaw on +44 20 7456 3219.

Notes to editors:

• Linklaters LLP is a leading global law firm, supporting clients in achieving their strategies wherever they do business. We use our expertise and resources to help clients pursue opportunities and manage risk across emerging and developed markets around the world.
• Linklaters’ banking team advises banks and other financial institutions, companies and governments on domestic and international bank financing transactions in every major financial centre around the world. Our experience of acting not only for arranging banks and lenders but also for credit enhancers and borrowers in relation to a wide range of industrial and financial sectors means we are able to anticipate and address the requirements of all parties to a transaction. Our team is over 400-strong and provides clients with a wide range of the highest quality legal advice on the most complex banking transactions globally.

We have recently strengthened our banking practice with the addition of two dedicated U.S. high yield partners and a number of dedicated U.S. associates. Our high yield team is fully integrated into our top-ranked leverage finance group which ensures that we can deliver seamless and efficient execution of multi-tranche bank and bond capital structures.  We are one of the first law firms to reflect market developments by integrating our practice in this way.