TLT bolsters structured finance practice with second partner appointment in four months

Law firm TLT has further expanded its national structured finance practice with the appointment of Steve Downey as a partner, following the appointment in December of fellow partner Mark Thomas. The appointments form part of the firm’s strategic plans to continue to grow TLT’s UK-wide banking and structured finance offering.

Steve Downey also joins TLT from Squire Patton Boggs, bringing the number of partners in the team to seven, making the firm’s structured finance practice one of the largest and most skilled in the UK.

Boasting over 15 years’ experience working as a City lawyer at a combination of leading law firms, Steve is a highly experience structured finance practitioner. Before joining TLT Steve was a legal director at Squire Patton Boggs for almost a decade, DLA Piper as an associate for three years and trained and qualified at Sidley Austin, spending four years at the firm.

Steve has frequently ranked in the Legal 500 in the structured finance category and in other banking categories with a link to structured finance, such as the asset-based lending category. Steve has worked on all aspects of securitisation, receivables finance, asset-based lending, structured lending and bridging, development and commercial lending. Steve’s recent experience includes acting for an international oil company as originator in a USD700m trade receivables securitisation; acting for a leading commercial bank which was restructuring 120 securitisation transactions in relation to its role as account bank in response to changes to the direct debit scheme rules; and acting for a leading servicer in its provision of trustee and agency services to securitisations and warehouse facilities.

Steve’s arrival follows the appointment of Mark Thomas as partner and co-head of the firm’s structured finance team in December. Formerly head of structured finance at Squire Patton Boggs and, previously, Addleshaw Goddard, Mark Thomas is one of the most knowledgeable structured finance practitioners in the city. Mark joined TLT at the beginning of the year to co-lead its structured finance practice alongside Rich Hughes, bringing with him over 26 years’ experience advising clients on a range of finance matters, acting for banks, borrowers, originations, issuers, servicers and trustees in relation to UK and cross-border transactions.

Mark Thomas, co-head of TLT’s structured finance team said: “Steve is an outstanding structured finance lawyer and has built a strong reputation as one of the leading practitioners in his field. Steve will be a significant addition to the team at TLT, working as a trusted advisor helping support our clients for what comes next.”

Partner and head of financial services at TLT Andrew Lyon said: “Mark and Steve in combination with Rich Hughes, Tom Ward and Abby Hadfield now represent a formidable team who will further elevate our structured finance practice and our exceptional work in critical areas such as real estate finance, securitisation, specialist / warehouse lending and supply chain finance. Their exceptional skills are significant additions to the best-of-class service and talent for which our London-based banking and finance team is known. We’re delighted to welcome them to our national structured finance team.”

Steve said: “I’m very pleased to be joining the team at TLT. It’s an exciting time to join the structured finance practice in London, during a significant period of growth. I look forward to getting started and supporting the firm’s clients, enhancing the reputation of the practice.”