Paul Weiss makes London structured finance push with senior Freshfields hire

Paul Weiss is making a structured finance push in London, hiring Freshfields partner Mandeep Lotay to lead its European structured finance and securitisation practice.

Lotay is joining after more than 25 years at Freshfields, where he made partner in 2012 and was based in Amsterdam.

He will be Paul Weiss' first dedicated structured finance partner in London. The US firm brought in structured finance counsel David Thomas from Slaughter and May in 2024. Thomas is currently the most senior structured finance specialist in the London office.

Lotay’s practice spans structured finance, securitisations, private credit and asset-backed finance, advising private capital firms, asset managers, financial institutions and corporates.

Neel Sachdev, Paul Weiss vice chair and co-head of its London office, said Lotay's experience would boost the firm's structured finance offering in the UK and Europe.

“Mandeep is a senior and deeply experienced partner in global structured finance and securitisation,” Sachdev said.

“His deep cross-border transactional experience will enhance our structured finance capabilities in the UK and Europe, and we are excited to have him join our growing London team.”

London build continues

The hire expands Paul Weiss into another area as the New York firm continues to build out the London operation it relaunched with a string of high-profile private equity hires in 2023.

The office initially focused heavily on private equity and related finance work but has since expanded into other areas.

Last year, Paul Weiss launched a London litigation practice with the hire of Akin partner Richard Hornshaw as head of European disputes.

The firm now has more than 50 partners in London.