Sullivan & Cromwell hires high yield and restructuring partners in London

Global law firm Sullivan & Cromwell (S&C) has appointed Patrick Bright and William Needham as partners in its London private capital practice.

Bright joins to lead the firm’s high-yield capability, while Needham has been hired as co-head of S&C’s European restructuring and special situations practice.

S&C has made the appointments amid increased client demand for advice across high yield, private credit, restructuring and special situations at its London practice.

Bright, who regularly acts for investment banks, sponsors, corporates and bond investors on marquee high-yield offerings and leveraged finance transactions, has experience in bond restructurings, complex capital markets transactions and general US securities law matters, giving him knowledge of capital structures across the debt cycle.

Needham is a restructuring and special situations lawyer with first-hand experience as a principal investor. His practice focuses on complex cross-border restructurings, distressed debt, bespoke capital solutions and private credit workouts for asset managers, sponsors and corporates across Europe.

“They are outstanding lawyers with deep experience in the private capital markets, and their arrival significantly enhances our ability to support sponsors, investors and lenders across the private capital spectrum in Europe,” said Robert Giuffra and Scott Miller, co-chairs of Sullivan & Cromwell.

According to London co-managing partners Kon Asimacopoulos and John Horsfield-Bradbury, the firm’s clients increasingly want lawyers who can operate across the debt spectrum.

“Patrick and Will, together with our continued growth in specialty lending, acquisition finance, private equity and restructuring, are well placed to meet that demand,” they added.

Lawyers in S&C’s credit and leveraged finance practice work on a range of financing transactions to meet the needs of corporate borrowers, private equity sponsors, private credit providers, and financial institutions.