Pinsent Masons launches in Luxembourg

Launched with an initial focus on the Financial Services sector, the firm’s 7^th office in Continental Europe provides significant benefit to Pinsent Masons’ clients, particularly corporate and investment fund clients in Ireland, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, the Netherlands, France and the UK.

Founded in 1923, Wildgen was one of the largest and oldest independent law firms in Luxembourg and served an international client base across the financial services, energy, technology, real estate and infrastructure sectors.

Richard Foley, Senior Partner at Pinsent Masons says:

“Luxembourg is an economic and trading centre that is of global importance. Expanding into the region strengthens our presence across continental Europe and broadens our ability to deliver cross-border expertise for clients operating within our core sectors.

“The partners and other colleagues who have joined us in Luxembourg represent a highly credible and experienced team with a strong reputation in the market. They share values that closely align with Pinsent Masons’ purpose of making business work better for people and are also passionate about driving efficiencies in the delivery of legal services.”

Michel Bulach, Head of the Luxembourg offices adds:

“Pinsent Masons has a strong European network, recognised for its seamless connectivity. The addition of our Luxembourg presence makes us one of few firms with capabilities that span the region in this way. Not only do we present a strong financial services offering, but the breadth of experience across our Luxembourg partners means we launch as a full-service firm.

The new office adds seven partners to the firm, and a further 16 lawyers. The new partners are:

Michel Bulach whose expertise lies in insurance and reinsurance, bank lending, capital markets and structured finance transactions. He has considerable experience advising financial institutions and their clients on their operational activities and on regulatory matters. Michel takes the role of head of the Luxembourg office.

Giuseppe Cafiero specialises in banking, finance and (re)insurance law. He excels at bridging (re)insurance expertise with capital market/banking skills. Over the years, he has developed a strong track record in bank lending, structured finance and securitisation transactions.

Isabelle Charlier is an expert in corporate, corporate finance and commercial law. She advises a wide range of international clients on multi-jurisdictional deals, mergers and acquisitions, reorganisation, corporate finance and debt structuring. She has also a longstanding experience in logistics, transport, maritime and aviation transactions.

David Maria specialises in tax and corporate law and has advised local and international businesses establishing in Luxembourg or setting up operations overseas through Luxembourg. His field of expertise also includes M&A transactions, company reorganisations, corporate financing and employees and management incentives.

Yann Payen advises on cross-border group restructurings, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, public or private bond issues, and private equity markets transactions, acting as either the investor’s or the seller’s representative.

Eric Perru has extensive experience in civil, banking and business litigation. He deals with complex affairs in civil and commercial matters and has knowledge of contract law, enforcement procedures and debt collection. Eric also specialises in art law, and advises on all related legal issues.

Mark Shaw specialises in the structuring and distribution of regulated and unregulated funds and has experience across the liquidity spectrum. Mark joins Pinsent Masons’ London office where he will focus on further developing relationships between our U.K. clients and Luxembourg.

Some of the team’s most recent mandates include:

• Advising the Luxembourg branch of RBS International on the scope of a senior facility agreement to be granted to NREP Income+ Fund, a Luxembourg investment fund. Deal value: EUR 300 Million.

• Assisted Arrow Global, a private equity firm, on the acquisition of a large hotel resort complex in Portugal. Deal value: EUR 100 Million.

• Assisted Risk & Reinsurance Solutions (2RS), a Luxembourg captive reinsurance and insurance management firm, in its acquisition of the captive management activity of Sogecore. Deal value: EUR 1,6 Million.