Since establishing its Houston office in 2023 Clifford Chance has continued to expand with over 24 lawyers now working in the UK-based firm’s office. Despite losing Devika Kornbacher, the co-chair of Clifford Chance’s tech division and head of the Houston office, who departed for an Austin boutique earlier this year, the firm has recruited Carter Olson to boost its financial capabilities.
The firm’s media announcement on Olson’s recruitment is below –
Olson’s practice focuses on secured and unsecured finance matters, representing borrowers, end-users, lenders, private equity sponsors and portfolio companies in a variety of complex debt financings and derivative products.
His experience includes project finance, general syndicated finance, reserve-based and other asset-based revolving loans in a variety of sectors, including maritime, oilfield services, upstream and midstream oil and gas, renewables and power generation.
Partner and Co-Head of the firm’s Global Financial Markets practice in the Americas Lee Askenazi says, “We look forward to Carter joining the team. His arrival supports our continued growth in the private credit and finance space and reflects our focus on investing in talent with a proven track record in sophisticated, novel financing transactions. Carter’s experience across derivatives and structured finance further strengthens our ability to deliver innovative structures and solutions in response to increasing client demand across the private credit market.”
Houston Office Managing Partner Alex Wilde says, “Carter’s addition builds on the strong momentum of our Houston office as we continue to expand our capabilities, including strengthening energy finance capabilities to support clients in the US and globally.”
Olson says, “I’m excited to join Clifford Chance and collaborate with this talented team that has built such a highly regarded reputation. I look forward to working with everyone to further our offering in derivatives and energy-related structured finance.”
Olson’s arrival underscores the firm’s continued growth in Houston this year, strengthening its energy derivatives capabilities and building on the expansion of its litigation and arbitration offering following the additions of J. Laurens Wilkes and Caitlin Gernert in May.
The Americas region is a core part of Clifford Chance’s global platform and an important focus of the firm’s strategic investment. With more than 450 attorneys across New York, Washington, DC, Houston and São Paulo, the firm combines deep local market knowledge with the reach of a fully integrated global partnership. The Americas team advises clients on complex US, Latin America and cross-border transactional, regulatory and disputes matters across key sectors including private capital and financial services, healthcare and life science, technology, infrastructure, and energy.
