Dechert announced newly elected financial services and corporate partners effective January 1, 2015. They include:

William J. Bielefeld (Financial Services – Washington)
Bielefeld advises registered funds and business development companies, their investment advisers and their boards of directors trustees on a wide range of matters relating to the development and launch of new funds, fund reorganizations, M&A, and regulatory and compliance matters relating to existing funds, fund governance issues and SEC examinations.

Jean-Louis Frognet (Financial Services – Luxembourg)
Frognet has more than 10 years of experience in advising international clients on corporate structurings, M&A, and corporate finance transactions, including the formation, management, financing and liquidation of companies, joint ventures and investment vehicles. He also focuses on specific financial services matters such as securitization transactions, and advice to financial professionals, as well as public offerings and listing of bonds and shares (including of investments funds) on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.

Justin J. Gdula (Finance and Real Estate – Philadelphia)
Gdula advises investment banks, life insurance companies, commercial banks, institutional investors and loan servicers in a variety of commercial real estate finance matters, with particular emphasis on origination, acquisition, mortgage loan syndication and disposition, mezzanine financing, loan sale and purchase, post-closing modification, work-out and foreclosure transactions.

Matthew B. Ginsburg (Finance and Real Estate – Philadelphia)
Ginsburg focuses his practice on commercial real estate finance and investment with concentrations in the origination, acquisition, syndication and disposition of mortgage loans, mezzanine financings and subordinate debt and joint venture and preferred equity investments. In addition, he has experience in post-closing modifications, restructurings and workouts of complex distressed-debt structures.

Andrew Harrow (Corporate – London)
Harrow advises on a wide range of UK and cross-border transactions including joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions (both public and private), reorganizations, privatizations, IPOs and fundraisings for listed and private companies internationally as well as general corporate matters. He has a particular interest in transactions in the life sciences, technology, crowdfunding and insurance sectors.

Patrick Lyons (Corporate – London)
Lyons represents issuers, underwriters and other transaction participants in all types of equity and debt capital markets offerings, as well as on liability management exercises, restructurings and mergers and acquisitions. In particular, he has significant experience working in emerging markets and with debut issuers.

Andrew P. Pontano (Finance and Real Estate – New York)
Pontano focuses his practice on asset-backed financing and securitization. He advises clients regarding public and private securities offerings and other complex finance transactions involving a wide range of asset classes, including auto loans and leases, credit card, equipment lease and trade receivables, residential mortgage loans and mortgage servicing rights. He also has significant experience with derivative instruments, including interest rate and currency hedges.

Sean Solis (Finance and Real Estate – New York)
Solis advises financial institutions, real estate funds, hedge funds, underwriters, issuers, institutional investors, asset managers and sponsors in structured finance transactions and other complex financings, often in a cross-border context, as well as in connection with derivatives and distressed loan trades. He has experience in a wide variety of structured credit and structured products transactions (including collateralized debt obligations and collateralized loan obligations), credit facilities, leveraged loan facilities, asset finance, tax structured transactions, restructurings and acquisition finance.

“We congratulate and welcome our new partners,” said Daniel O’Donnell, the firm’s CEO. “They are a talented group whose innovative ideas, client focus and strong work ethic will only strengthen the partnership.”