Press Release
Leading Group of Leveraged Finance Partners Joins Latham & Watkins in London
July 1, 2024
Arrival of three prominent partners with extensive transactional experience adds further depth to Latham’s finance capability in London and globally.
Latham & Watkins LLP1 is pleased to announce that Jonathan Brownson, Joydeep Choudhuri, and Prue Criddle have joined the firm’s London office as partners in the Banking Practice. The group of partners is highly regarded in the market for their extensive experience advising investment banks, private credit funds, and other capital providers on a variety of complex domestic and cross-border transactions, particularly in leveraged and acquisition financings.
“Latham has an unrivaled global reputation for high-end finance work and is uniquely placed to advise sponsors, borrowers, and lenders in financings across the capital structure,” said Stephen Kensell, Office Managing Partner of Latham & Watkins in London. “Jonathan, Joydeep, and Prue enjoy tremendous respect in the market for their vast industry knowledge, track record, and commercial acumen. Their mix of experience is very complementary to our already strong lender side banking practice as well as our private debt, private equity, capital markets, and restructuring practices.”
Serving a broad range of clients at the cutting-edge of the practice, Brownson, Choudhuri, and Criddle have advised on some of the most significant event-driven financings in the European market in recent years. Their practice spans the full spectrum of finance transactions, including syndicated lending, recapitalizations, bridge lending and loan commitments, and other secured and unsecured lending matters.
“Latham’s ability to seamlessly transition between all forms of loan, bond, and hybrid capital structures across multiple jurisdictions gives our practice a unique vantage point in the global market,” said Dan Seale, Global Chair of Latham’s Banking Practice. “Jonathan, Joydeep, and Prue’s expertise is a perfect strategic fit with our existing capabilities around the world from London to New York, Frankfurt to Singapore. We are thrilled to welcome them to the team, and their arrival will further enhance our reputation as the leading global law firm for sponsor and lender side work.”
“This talented group of partners are fantastic additions to our practice. They will be significant contributors to our growth plans in London and globally. Beyond adding three experienced partners to the team, Jonathan, Joydeep, and Prue also bring a level of knowledge and expertise across a range of finance products that is truly second-to-none,” added Jeffrey Chenard, Global Department Chair of Latham’s Finance Department.
Brownson, Choudhuri, and Criddle are the latest prominent partners to join Latham’s market-leading Banking Practice in London, following the arrival of private credit partners Fergus Wheeler and Paul Yin. The firm also recently promoted London banking associates Hayden Teo and Tracy Liu to the partnership. Latham advised on the three largest public-to-private transactions and the three largest private credit transactions in 2023 and ranks #1 for Debt Finance Deals in UK/EU 2023–2024 YTD, according to Pitchbook.
Brownson, Choudhuri, and Criddle join Latham & Watkins from Cahill Gordon & Reindel. Brownson received his LLB from the University of Leeds; Choudhuri received his LLB from West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences; and Criddle received her LLB from the University of Western Australia.
About Latham & Watkins
Latham & Watkins delivers innovative solutions to complex legal and business challenges around the world. From a global platform, our lawyers advise clients on market-shaping transactions, high-stakes litigation and trials, and sophisticated regulatory matters. Latham is one of the world’s largest providers of pro bono services, steadfastly supports initiatives designed to advance diversity within the firm and the legal profession, and is committed to exploring and promoting environmental sustainability.
Notes to Editors
1 Latham & Watkins operates worldwide as a limited liability partnership organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (USA) with affiliated limited liability partnerships conducting the practice in France, Hong Kong, Italy, Singapore, and the United Kingdom and as an affiliated partnership conducting the practice in Japan. Latham & Watkins operates in Israel through a limited liability company, in South Korea as a Foreign Legal Consultant Office, and in Saudi Arabia through a limited liability company.