Simpson Thacher & Bartlett added Katie Taylor as a partner in San Francisco, where she will focus on banking and other finance matters. Given Taylor’s experience working on liability management transactions, as well as more traditional leveraged finance matters, her addition further expands the firm’s growing platform advising clients across the full capital structure.
“Katie brings a deep command of leveraged finance, grounded in trusted relationships with leading private equity sponsors. She executes transactions across the full spectrum of financing matters at the highest level,” Brian Steinhardt, co-head of the firm’s global banking and credit practice, said.
“Katie’s experience advising on capital structure solutions, including liability management and complex restructurings, adds significant strength to our platform. Her decision to join the Firm reflects the momentum of our practice and the caliber of lawyers we continue to attract,” David Nemecek, head of the firm’s capital structure solutions practice, said.
Taylor brings extensive experience across all aspects of debt financing transactions — including leveraged buyouts, liability management, restructurings and cross-border financings — representing private equity firms, corporate borrowers and lenders in a wide variety of industries including technology, software, energy, retail and healthcare.
“We are excited to welcome Katie to our Firm and our San Francisco office. Her experience handling complex leveraged finance and other debt finance matters is a strategic addition to our capabilities in the Bay Area and across the West Coast, enhancing our ability to provide clients — both regionally and nationally — with best-in-class advice on sophisticated financing solutions,” Atif Azher, managing partner of the firm’s Bay Area presence, said.
“Simpson Thacher is building something truly differentiated in the Bay Area with an integrated offering across its debt finance and capital structure solutions teams,” Taylor said. “The growth and demand the firm has seen is a testament to how much the market needs that kind of sophisticated counsel, and I’m looking forward to expanding our presence on the West Coast.”
Taylor’s addition marks continued growth of the capital structure solutions practice since its formation in February 2026, and follows the recent additions of partners Brian Schartz, John (Jack) Luze, Christine Bae and Jacob Ruby. Her arrival also signals the expansion of the firm’s San Francisco office, which opened in January 2026. At the heart of the Bay Area, the firm’s San Francisco office advises prominent technology companies, private equity firms and financial institutions — as well as global leaders across industries — on complex corporate, regulatory and disputes matters.
