Clifford Chance's Global Asset Finance Practice in the U.S. Adds Even More Firepower as Geoffrey White Moves to New York
NEW YORK, Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Clifford Chance today announced that the senior partner of its global asset finance practice, Geoffrey White, is relocating from London to New York, further bolstering an already strong U.S. asset finance practice. White, who has been a partner at the firm since 1979, has more than 30 years experience in the asset finance field and is widely respected across the world for his work with clients in the Americas, Europe and Asia.
White previously headed up the firm's global asset finance practice from London and also had three long-term stints for Clifford Chance in Japan, where he documented the first ever cross-border aircraft lease from Japan and was involved in the development of each of the different cross-border asset finance structures which evolved. White, who will be joined in New York by two London office associates -- Patrick O'Reilly and Jennifer Cringean -- has extensive experience in export credit agency-supported financing, and specializes in advising operating lessors, airlines and bank lenders.
"We have a stellar asset finance team in the Americas led by partners Zarrar Sehgal and John Howitt. Adding someone of Geoffrey's caliber to the mix is very exciting for all of us because it brings yet another dimension to what we can deliver to clients," said Craig Medwick, regional managing partner of the Americas for Clifford Chance. "During the past few years, Geoffrey has been very active in operating lessor M&A transactions and, in doing so, has worked closely with our M&A and tax departments here in New York. He has spent considerable time working from our New York office on various financing transactions, so this will be a very easy and welcome transition for all of us."
White added: "I am most excited about the move to New York because it enables me to combine practices and work full-time in the same location with John Howitt and Zarrar Sehgal. Additionally, asset financing for Latin American clients is already an important part of my business. By working in this region, I can more easily apply additional focus to Latin America, and further develop existing relationships there. In sum, this move will deliver additional value to our clients in a region of the world that is highly important to Clifford Chance."
William Glaister, the firm's global practice area leader for Global Asset Finance, said White's vast experience and insights into the evolution of the asset financing market and its products will add great value to clients active in the Americas region. "His relocation to New York demonstrates our firm's ongoing commitment to placing our top people nearest the most relevant markets for our clients. This is something clients tell us they recognize and value, and we expect that absolutely will be the case with Geoffrey moving to the U.S."
Clifford Chance is one of the world's leading law firms, helping clients achieve their goals by combining the highest global standards with local expertise. The Firm has unrivalled scale and depth of legal resources across the four key markets of the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, and focuses on the core areas of commercial activity: capital markets; corporate and M&A; finance and banking; real estate; tax; pensions and employment; litigation and dispute resolution. Clifford Chance has 29 offices in 20 countries with some 3,600 legal advisers. The Firm also operates a 'best friends' arrangement with AZB & Partners in India and with Lakatos, Koves & Partners in Hungary, and a co-operation agreement with Al-Jadaan & Partners Law Firm in Saudi Arabia.
Clifford Chance was ranked 'tier one' in more international tables than any other firm in the Chambers Global 2009 Directory. This independent analysis focuses on firms' legal ability, professional conduct, client service, and commercial awareness, and these rankings provide outstanding recognition for the Firm's breadth of expertise and consistency of quality across global markets.
