Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance hires partner Joanna Nicholas, expanding US structured finance capabilities

Global law firm Clifford Chance has appointed Joanna Nicholas as a partner in its Global Financial Markets team as the firm expands its collateralized loan obligations (CLO) capability in the US.

Nicholas, who joins Clifford Chance from Mayer Brown, has more than 20 years of experience advising collateral managers, arrangers, and investors on new issue CLOs, resets, refinancings, warehouse facilities, and other complex financings.

Head of Global Financial Markets Emma Matebalavu says, "Joanna's depth of experience in the sector strengthens our established global and US structured capital markets offering for clients, especially as the CLO and private credit markets continue to grow in importance for investors."

Partner and Co-Head of the firm's Global Financial Markets practice in the Americas Lee Askenazi says, "We look forward to welcoming Joanna to our growing team. Her experience and client base will strengthen our position to help clients navigate complex regulations, optimize deal structures, and effectively leverage market opportunities."

Nicholas says, "I'm excited to join Clifford Chance, a truly collaborative global firm with deep capabilities in the securitization and CLO markets. I look forward to working with its highly skilled team to bring both domestic and international insight to our clients as activity in the private credit and securitization markets continues to flourish."