Pinsent Masons enhances its finance and restructuring capabilities with double partner hire

Joining from Travers Smith, Edward has over 25 years’ experience in advising on restructuring matters, particularly on high-profile restructurings in the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors. Now with Pinsent Masons, Edward will, amongst other matters, use his experience to advise company boards experiencing financial distress. 

Seya joins the firm from Norton Rose Fulbright and has over 10 years’ experience in the banking and finance sector advising borrowers, lenders and financial facilitators on complex cross-border financial transactions. He will support Matthew Escritt in growing the finance practice in Dubai, and his work will cover financial institutions and corporate clients in the UAE and across the Middle East. 

Commenting on this double hire, Pinsent Masons’ Head of Finance and Restructuring, EMEA, Matt Morgan said: “Both Ed and Seya bring with them a wealth of restructuring and finance experience and are great additions to our team. As the Middle East region continues to see growth in the banking sector, Seya’s expertise will bring a fresh perspective to our clients in the region, add to the strong existing team we already have and further cement our commitment to building a truly cross-jurisdictional finance practice.” 
Head of Restructuring, Steve Cottee added: “We know that restructuring is an incredibly difficult time for a business and having the right legal advice is critical in ensuring the process runs smoothly. We have recently acted on the administration of the ISG construction group and the restructure of Poundland and Ed’s arrival gives us additional depth of expertise to support clients like these during these testing times.” 

On joining Pinsent Masons, Ed said: “Pinsent Masons was a natural fit for me. It has a fantastic reputation within the sector and I am looking forward to working with Steve and the team.” 

Commenting on his appointment, Seya said: “Pinsent Masons has a strong reputation in the Middle East and I am thrilled to be joining the team to support clients in the banking and finance space.” 

Seya’s appointment is the latest strategic hire in the Middle East, following closely that of Bill Reichert to the firm’s Dubai Corporate team, whilst in London, Ed’s arrival will mark the sixth partner hire in the last three months.