DLA Piper scales Global Fund Finance platform with strategic lender-side hires

DLA Piper welcomes Katie McShane as Head of East Coast Fund Finance and Jonny Byrne-Leitch as Of Counsel in the firm’s Leveraged Finance practice, further strengthening the lender-side Global Fund Finance platform in crucial areas including subscription lines, NAV facilities, hybrid capital facilities, and other GP finance solutions. They will be based in the firm’s New York office.

McShane advises banks and other alternative lenders on Fund Finance transactions with a focus on subscription credit facilities. She represents leading global and US financial institutions in their roles as agent, arranger, and lender. Her experience across New York, London, and Dublin provides a valuable cross-border perspective, informing her counsel on public and private securities offerings and asset-backed finance transactions for banks, investment banks, and private equity sponsors.

Additionally, Byrne-Leitch—a recognized advisor to both bank and non-bank lenders in the Fund Finance market—deepens the firm’s bench across the Fund Finance and Private Credit sectors. The arrival of McShane and Byrne-Leitch follows Fund Finance Partner Shana Ramirez’s move to the firm last fall.

“We are intentionally growing and scaling our lender-side Global Fund Finance practice to meet increasing market demand from banks and non-bank lenders,” said Ryan Moreno, Co-Head of DLA Piper’s Leveraged Finance practice. “Katie and Jonny are accomplished advisors whose experience strengthens our ability to serve these clients across subscription, NAV, and hybrid facilities, and this expansion reinforces our commitment to delivering best-in-class, global Fund Finance counsel.”

“As the Fund Finance market continues to evolve and broaden, lenders increasingly rely on sophisticated legal counsel with both deep technical acumen and global perspective,” said Jamie Knox, Co-Head of the firm’s Leveraged Finance practice. “These hires, combined with Shana Ramirez’s arrival, significantly enhance our lender-side bench and position DLA Piper to support clients across major Fund Finance jurisdictions worldwide.”

DLA Piper advises on all aspects of financing, across borders, sectors and financial products. The firm’s lawyers advise issuers, underwriters, selling shareholders, sponsors, arrangers, lead managers, originators, dealers, trustees and depositaries on a broad range of capital markets offerings, including equity, equity-linked and debt securities, structured and project financings, and securitizations.