Alston & Bird has added a leveraged finance practice to its London office with the arrival of partner Paul Simcock. Bringing more than two decades of experience, Simcock advises sponsors, lenders, and borrowers in complex leveraged financings, including acquisitions, public takeovers, and other national and cross-border corporate debt mandates in both Europe and the U.S.

“Paul adds both depth and breadth of experience to our London Finance team, strengthening our transatlantic corporate debt finance practice,” said Matthew Wrysinski, Alston & Bird partner and co-head of the firm’s Finance Group. “Paul’s significant national and cross-border deal experience enhances our growing transactional capabilities in London and will help meet the demand from European and U.S. clients for guidance on sophisticated, complex financings across the full range of leveraged finance mandates.”

Simcock advises a wide spectrum of market participants, including private equity sponsors, senior and junior lenders (including alternative credit providers), strategic investors, and corporate borrowers. He specializes in infrastructure-related transactions but also has extensive experience in the energy, financial services, retail, and health care sectors.

Simcock’s recent client representations include advising a leading European infrastructure fund and its portfolio company in a €675 million debt refinancing and representing a global oil and gas company in establishing a £600 million European commercial paper program under the COVID Corporate Financing Facility scheme offered by HM Treasury and the Bank of England.

“It’s an exciting time to welcome Paul to our growing London office,” said Rich Willis, partner in charge of Alston & Bird’s London office. “Paul’s leveraged finance practice and client relationships share many synergies with our existing transactional and restructuring offerings in London and further complement and enhance our ability to serve clients both here and in the U.S.”

Simcock is the fifth finance partner to join Alston & Bird in London since the office’s opening in 2019 and the 11th partner overall. The firm’s most recent London hiring was high-yield and debt capital markets partner Tamer Bahgat in December 2020.