--Cathy Cunningham
Baker & McKenzie is expanding its structured finance presence globally, and looking to hire partners and associates with structured finance and derivatives experience in New York, London, Moscow and Asia. The firm is looking to hire two junior and two senior partners in New York, as well as someone to head up its Latin American practice at a partner level, said Dick Rudder, partner and head of the securitization group in New York. “We want to hire someone with investment bank contacts to do cross-border work.”
In addition, Baker wants to hire one senior associate in New York with expertise in collateralized debt obligations, despite current market issues. “We were looking to expand in [CDOs] before the bottom fell out,” explained Rudder. “While it is hard to predict when this market will come back, we want to be ready when it does. In the meantime, we are willing to warehouse someone, so to speak.”
In London, Baker is looking to hire five people, both senior and junior. As U.K. law is the governing law for several transactions in Europe the base is very busy, explained Rudder. In Moscow, the firm is looking to hire six at all levels to handle the rapidly expanding Russian securitization market. In Asia, Baker is looking to hire one senior partner in Hong Kong and one junior professional plus one senior person in Tokyo.