Sidley Austin has deepened its raid on Magic Circle rival Clifford Chance, hiring a five-partner finance and tax team in New York and Washington, D.C., to bulk up its global finance and tax platforms.
The group is led by former Clifford Chance US global financial markets co-head Lee Askenazi, alongside finance partners Alistair Dunlop, Rebecca O’Brien and Robert Hagan, and tax partner James Gouwar, all joining Sidley’s Global Finance and Tax practices.
The move follows a string of lateral hires as Sidley positions its finance bench as a “destination practice” for complex cross-border financings and structured products.
Sidley recently announced its 52 partner elevations and salaried partner tier, while Clifford Chance has been in court battling other departed partners in their clawback case.
Read the full announcement from Sidley here.
Sidley Strengthens Global FinancePractice With Finance PartnersLee Askenazi, Alistair Dunlop,Robert Hagan, and RebeccaO’Brien in New York andWashington, D.C., With TaxPartner James Gouwar in New York
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New York/Washington, D.C. – Sidley is pleased to announce that Lee Askenazi, Alistair Dunlop, Robert Hagan, and Rebecca O’Brien have joined the firm’s Global Finance practice, and James Gouwar has joined the firm’s Tax Practice. Mr. Askenazi, Mr. Dunlop, and Mr. Gouwar join the firm’s office in New York. Mr. Hagan and Ms. O’Brien join the firm’s office in Washington, D.C. All five join from Clifford Chance, where Mr. Askenazi was co-chair of the U.S. Global Financial Markets practice. He is ranked Band 1 in Chambers USA 2026 for Capital Markets: Securitization: RMBS.
Mr. Askenazi, Mr. Dunlop, Mr. Hagan, and Ms. O’Brien have extensive experience in structured capital markets and structured finance, advising clients across a broad range of securitization and asset-backed financing transactions. They regularly represent sponsors, issuers, investors, asset managers, arrangers, sellers, purchasers, and other market participants in connection with complex structured products, including asset-backed securities, residential mortgage-backed securities, collateralized loan and fund obligations, rated note feeders, and other securitization vehicles. Their experience spans warehouse and other secured financing facilities, new issuances, refinancings, restructurings, and related financing transactions involving a variety of asset classes. They advise clients on the structuring, execution, and financing of sophisticated transactions in both the U.S. and international markets, including private credit and ABF transactions. Their practices also encompass regulatory and transactional advice relating to evolving structured finance frameworks, including matters affecting asset-backed lending.
Mr. Gouwar’s practice concentrates on the tax aspects of structured finance transactions such as mortgage- and asset-backed transactions, collateralized loan and debt obligations (cash and synthetic), and real estate mortgage investment conduits. He has been involved in the development of innovative securitization structures and has worked in a broad range of financial assets. Mr. Gouwar is a Band 1 Chambers USA 2026-ranked lawyer in Capital Markets: Securitization: Tax. Mr. Gouwar also has experience with private equity funds, hedge funds, regulated investment companies, and other pooled vehicles.
“We are building a fully integrated platform that enables us to advise clients across every facet of the most sophisticated financing transactions,” said Brian Fahrney, Chair of Sidley’s Executive Committee. “Lee, Alistair, Becky, Rob, and Jim deepen our capabilities across Global Finance and Tax while creating opportunities to collaborate with our private equity, investment funds, insurance, and real estate teams. Their complementary practices and strong client relationships will enhance the value we deliver to existing clients and position us to win new mandates across the private capital markets.”
“Lee, Alistair, Becky, Rob, and Jim are outstanding additions whose practices further strengthen Sidley’s leadership in structured finance, private credit, and securitization,” said Yvette Ostolaza, (pictured) Chair of Sidley’s Management Committee. “This team of five partners is well known to many of our existing clients and colleagues. Their arrival reflects our continued investment in premier teams and practice areas that are strategically important to our clients and to our firm’s long-term growth. They are highly collaborative lawyers whose approach and values make them an excellent fit for Sidley’s culture.”
The arrival of Mr. Askenazi, Mr. Dunlop, Mr. Hagan, Ms. O’Brien, and Mr. Gouwar follows Sidley’s addition of eight other Global Finance and Tax partners in 2026 alone — Sumita Ahuja, Kat Molnarova, Jeff Ross, Jeremy Trinder, Leah Edelboim, Ike Chidi, and Ji Hye You in Global Finance; and Greg Featherman in Tax.
Sidley’s Global Finance group is a destination practice for high-value, complex financings across a broad spectrum of platforms, industries, and asset types. The firm is consistently recognized as having one of the world’s leading finance practices, with more than 200 lawyers practicing across a wide variety of industries.
Sidley’s Tax practice includes more than 60 tax lawyers located across the U.S. and Europe. Our team combines deep industry knowledge and technical excellence with a practical perspective to provide clients with tax services in multiple jurisdictions. Our lawyers work seamlessly to help clients navigate the tax implications of an ever-evolving business and legal environment around the world.
Sidley is an elite global law firm. With approximately 2,300 lawyers and 160 years of experience, we have established a reputation for deploying innovative legal strategies to achieve powerful results for our clients in complex transactional, restructuring, crisis management, investigation, regulatory, and litigation matters.
Our perspective and reach are truly global, supported by 21 offices strategically situated in key commercial, regulatory, and financial centers across the world. Our lawyers and business professionals, fluent in more than 75 languages, possess the cultural awareness and cross-border legal acumen needed to bring clarity to a dynamic business landscape.
Attorney Advertising—Sidley Austin LLP is a global law firm. Our addresses and contact information can be found at www.sidley.com/en/locations/offices. Sidley and Sidley Austin refer to Sidley Austin LLP and affiliated partnerships as explained at www.sidley.com/disclaimer.
