Andrew Kwok joined Mayer Brown as a partner in its global funds and asset management practice in Los Angeles. Kwok joins from PEG Companies, where he served as chief legal officer.
“Andrew brings sophisticated in-house leadership experience from his time as chief legal officer, general counsel for a real estate investment platform, and as a senior legal executive at a major global investment bank, where he advised on complex structured credit transactions, and the post GFC restructuring of billions of dollars of structured credit products,” Timothy Clark, co-leader of Mayer Brown’s global funds and asset management practice, said. “That experience has given Andrew a grounded, practical approach informed by firsthand experience with how complex transactions can falter and what clients expect from their outside advisers when execution matters most. His background in structured finance, combined with his recent real estate funds work, will be of tremendous value to our clients.”
Kwok has a broad corporate practice with more than two decades of experience spanning private investment funds, capital markets, public company representation, structured finance and restructuring. Most recently, he has focused on the formation, structuring and operation of private investment funds, including co-investments with international institutional investors, separate managed accounts for sovereign wealth funds, bespoke fund and portfolio level financing arrangements, and the restructuring of distress private equity investments. His recent experience also includes advising a publicly traded REIT on corporate governance, Securities Act, Exchange Act and Nasdaq compliance, as well as capital markets and liquidity management transactions, and advising a public interval fund with a unique investment strategy.
“After spending a substantial period in house, I took a thoughtful and deliberate approach to returning to private practice,” Kwok said. “What I am seeing in the market is a convergence of private funds, structured finance and insurance. Private fund sponsors are increasingly using structured finance techniques, often in transactions that require an integrated understanding of all three areas. Mayer Brown has leading capabilities across each of these practices and, importantly, a track record of advising on transactions that bring them together. That multidisciplinary strength is rare, and it is what drew me to the firm. I am excited to work with colleagues across these practices to support clients on complex and innovative transactions.”
John Nadolenco, managing partner of the Los Angeles office, said, “Andrew is an excellent addition to funds group in Los Angeles, which recently welcomed Jarrod Huffman. Andrew’s arrival reaffirms Mayer Brown’s continued investment on West Coast expansion and commitment to enhancing its private investment funds capabilities.”
