Three structured finance partners – Michael Smith, Diala Minott and Cameron Saylor – are to join the London office of law firm Paul Hastings from Ashurst.

This team’s addition follows the June 2015 arrival of structured finance partners Scott Faga and Eugene Ferrer from Ashurst, where they were global co-head of the securities and derivatives group and managing partner for the US offices, respectively.
 
“Our London office is thriving and our leading global Finance practice is integral to that growth,” says Seth Zachary, chair of Paul Hastings. “Attracting top-tier talent like Michael, Diala and Cameron will help us continue to strengthen our London office and our Finance practice,” he adds.
 
“We are welcoming these accomplished lawyers following years of significant growth in our Finance practice in London,” says Ronan O’Sullivan, chair of the London office. “We took significant steps forward with the arrival of high yield bond partner Peter Schwartz and leveraged finance partner Luke McDougall and with the addition of this new team, we will be able to offer clients an integrated, versatile practice with a connection to our market-leading structured finance team in New York and Washington, DC.”
 
Smith focuses on structured finance, securitisation, capital markets, credit funds and derivatives. He has been a market leader in the structured finance market for over 20 years and has had a key role in the development of several financial products. 
 
Minott specialises in credit funds and CLOs with a particular expertise in Luxembourg regulated credit funds. She has advised numerous sponsors in connection with funds using a range of innovative structures.
 
Saylor specialises in structured finance and securitisation, with a particular emphasis on CLOs. He has a wide range of experience in structured finance and securitisation, advising both arrangers/underwriters and collateral managers. Before he joined Ashurst in January 2015, Saylor spent almost eight years in the structured finance practice at a magic circle firm. He trained and worked as a lawyer in Canada prior to moving to London.