Hong Kong, November 20, 2006 – LAWFUEL – Law News, Law Jobs Network – Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP announced today that Michelle Taylor, a leading Asia-focused securitization and structured finance lawyer, has joined the firm’s Hong Kong office as a partner. Taylor has advised in numerous prominent transactions including the first CMBS securitization in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), the first whole business securitization in Asia and the first future flow securitization in Korea.
“Adding Michelle presented a unique opportunity for the firm to add an exceptional partner to our global structured finance practice and to expand our structured finance capability to Asia,” said Joshua Raff, co-head of Orrick’s Structured Finance practice. “Michelle’s addition will enable us to offer the quality and level of legal service our clients have come to expect from us in each jurisdiction in which we practice.”
Securitization and the broader field of structured finance are among the fastest growing and evolving sectors in capital markets around the world. Government regulators and financial institutions across Asia have now clearly recognized the advantages of more sophisticated debt markets. Many countries have adopted legislation aimed at developing a vibrant structured finance sector as tools of economic policy, to strengthen the domestic banking systems and to increase national financial stability, as well as providing a means to finance economic development.
“We are excited to add someone like Michelle who is extremely bright and energetic and is exceptionally well-regarded by the most active international investment banks in the sector,” said Al Sawyers, co-head of the firm’s Structured Finance practice. “We believe the potential for continuing growth in the structured finance sector in Asia is enormous, and Michelle is among the very few practioners in the region who currently is focused solely on structured finance and capable of building a leading practice in Asia.”
Taylor’s practice focuses on advising clients in securitization transactions throughout the Asia region, including the PRC, Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong and elsewhere. She has acted for arrangers, originators, trustees, rating agencies and monoline insurers on high profile transactions including the Indocoal securitization, which was awarded securitization Deal of the Year by IFLR Magazine in 2006.
“The opportunity to combine my skills and experience with the global resources and commitment to structured finance at Orrick is an exciting prospect,” said Taylor. “I look forward to helping the firm continue to build its broader finance practice across Asia and working closely with my finance partners in Hong Kong, Tokyo, New York and London to do so.”
Prior to joining Orrick, Taylor was a partner in the Hong Kong office of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker. She is qualified in Hong Kong and England, and is member of the board of the Asia-Pacific Securitisation Forum, a non-profit organization aimed at promoting securitization in Asia.
About Orrick
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is an international law firm with more than 950 lawyers in North America, Europe and Asia. The firm focuses on litigation, complex and novel finance and innovative corporate transactions. Orrick clients include Fortune 100 companies, major industrial and financial corporations, commercial and investment banks, high-growth companies, governmental entities, start-ups and individuals. The firm’s 18 offices are located in New York, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Orange County, Pacific Northwest, Beijing, Hong Kong, London, Milan, Moscow, Paris, Rome, Shanghai, Taipei and Tokyo.
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