Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft has hit Reed Smith and Ashurst in London for a trio of fund finance lawyers.

Partner Bronwen Jones has moved over from Reed Smith, while partner Douglas Murning has joined from Ashurst alongside Matthew Worth, who is joining as a partner having been a counsel at his former firm. 

The hires see 430-lawyer Cadwalader restock its London finance bench after the bulk of the firm’s London fund finance team exited for King & Spalding last summer. 

Wes Misson, head of Cadwalader’s fund finance practice, said the trio’s hire reinforced the firm’s commitment to providing “best-in-class” transatlantic legal advice and deal execution capabilities for its clients. 

He added: “An evolving global fund finance market requires a dedicated full-service approach. We’re the only firm that has it, and our new partners’ related multidisciplinary debt experience makes our London team even stronger.”

Jones brings more than 20 years’ experience in fund finance and is recognised by legal rankings guides as a top lawyer in the space. She acts for banks and other financial institutions, sponsors, general partners and fund managers on matters including capital call facilities, net asset value (NAV) facilities, hybrid facilities and general partner and co-investment facilities.

A Reed Smith spokesperson commented: “We wish Bronwen well with her endeavours.” 

Murning is similarly recognised by the guides as a leading lawyer in complex NAV and portfolio financings, primarily advising investment bank and credit fund clients. In addition to fund financing, he focuses his practice on leveraged finance, private debt and special situations, working with credit funds and private equity sponsors. 

Meantime, Worth’s practice covers all aspects of fund finance and private credit, with a particular focus on advising on NAV financings for private equity sponsors and direct lending. He also has experience in a range of debt finance, including leveraged finance, project and infrastructure finance, special situations and restructuring.

The trio’s arrival brings Cadwalader’s European fund finance team to around 15 London-based lawyers. They will work closely with partners Trent Lindsay and George Pelling, the latter of whom was promoted following the exits for King & Spalding last year. 

The departures included fund finance partners Samantha Hutchinson, Nathan Parker, Mathan Navaratnam and sustainable finance partner Sukhvir Basran alongside eight further lawyers. 

Ashurst’s London private credit team also took a hit last October when private equity co-head David Carter moved over to O’Melveny & Myers alongside partner Braeden Donnelly, who had led Ashurst’s UK/European private equity practice.