NEW YORK – Clifford Chance, a leading global law firm, has appointed Joanna Nicholas as a partner in its Global Financial Markets team, further expanding the firm’s collateralized loan obligations (CLO) capability in the U.S.
Nicholas joins Clifford Chance from Mayer Brown and brings over 20 years of experience advising collateral managers, arrangers, and investors on new issue CLOs, resets, refinancings, warehouse facilities, and other sophisticated financings.
Emma Matebalavu, Head of Global Financial Markets, commented:
“Joanna’s depth of experience in the sector strengthens our established global and U.S. structured capital markets offering for clients, especially as the CLO and private credit markets continue to grow in importance for investors.”
Lee Askenazi, Partner and Co-Head of the firm’s Global Financial Markets practice in the Americas, added:
“We look forward to welcoming Joanna to our growing team. Her experience and client base will strengthen our position to help clients navigate complex regulations, optimize deal structures, and effectively leverage market opportunities.”
Joanna Nicholas stated:
“I’m excited to join Clifford Chance, a truly collaborative global firm with deep capabilities in the securitization and CLO markets. I look forward to working with its highly skilled team to bring both domestic and international insight to our clients as activity in the private credit and securitization markets continues to flourish.”
Nicholas’ appointment reinforces Clifford Chance’s commitment to expanding its structured finance expertise, particularly as demand for CLOs and private credit solutions continues to rise.
About Joanna Nicholas
- Joins Clifford Chance from Mayer Brown.
- Advises collateral managers, arrangers, and investors on CLOs, resets, refinancings, warehouse facilities, and complex financings.
- Represents clients across private credit, asset management, and financial services markets.
- Holds a BS from the University of Illinois (1988) and a JD from the University of Minnesota Law School (1994).
- Admitted as an Attorney-at-Law in New York (2019) and Illinois (1994).
For further information or to speak with the team, please contact Michael Jalili.
