People: Burges Salmon boosts banking and finance practice; WBD strengthens restructuring and insolvency offering with new partner

Burges Salmon has recruited James Barrett, who joins the Bristol firm as a director in its banking and finance team.

He joins following a career with Allen & Overy as a key member of the securitisation and structured finance team.

Barrett has extensive experience advising originators, sponsors, arrangers, warehouse lenders and private asset managers and hedge funds on a range of public and private asset backed finance transactions across different asset classes and structures.

He also has strong experience in corporate and leveraged finance and debt capital markets and spent three years as a lawyer within HM Government working on financial services regulation and commercial contracts.

Barrett said: “Burges Salmon’s Banking and Finance practice is very highly regarded, with an impressive and diverse range of clients. I am very much looking forward to joining the team and applying my experience to develop Burges Salmon’s Structured Finance practice, along with providing support to the firm’s Corporate Finance team.”

Andrew Eaton, head of Burges Salmon’s banking and finance team, added: “It’s great to be able to announce James’ arrival at the firm.  He is a hugely experienced finance lawyer with an excellent track record and reputation – we’re delighted that he has decided to join us.”

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Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) has strengthened its UK-wide restructuring and insolvency practice with the appointment of Bristol-based partner Alan Bennett.

Joining from Ashfords where he headed up the restructuring and insolvency practice, Bennett advises on high value contentious and non-contentious matters for a wide range of clients including insolvency practitioners, directors, lenders and private clients. He also specialises in cross-border insolvency work particularly in the US, Europe, Australia and Asia.

He has a strong track record advising on a range of restructuring and insolvency issues including antecedent transactions, sale and purchase of insolvent businesses, advice on Centre of Main Interest issues, recognition of foreign insolvency proceedings as well as general advice to corporates facing financial difficulties.

Andy Stirk, partner and WBD’s national head of restructuring in the UK, said: “We’re pleased to welcome Alan to the firm and to our growing UK-wide insolvency practice. Alan’s experience and specialism in cross-border work brings a significant amount of complementary expertise to our Bristol team and he will play an important role in bolstering our regional, national and international offering.”

Bennett added: “WBD has a strong reputation across the UK and US with an impressive client portfolio. I look forward to working with colleagues here in Bristol, and across the UK and beyond, to support our clients and boost the firm’s insolvency practice in the South West.”