8 June 2009 - Gide Loyrette Nouel strengthens its banking and finance practice in Asia and launches English and Hong Kong law capability:

Gide Loyrette Nouel (GLN) is pleased to announce that it has today strengthened its Asia practice with the appointment of banking and finance specialists Colin Mercer and Balbir Bindra to lead the GLN Asia Banking & Finance Group, and the launch of its Hong Kong and English law capability. The team will also have New York qualified practitioners, enabling GLN to provide full finance capability in the region.

The developments follow the successful opening of the Hong Kong office in June 2006 and reinforces the Firm’s commitment to Asia which began nearly thirty years ago. The Asia team now comprises 90 lawyers working from three offices in Greater China and two in Vietnam.

Colin Mercer is currently head of the London Office and a partner in the GLN Finance/Project Finance Department. He represents leading investment banks and multinational corporations with a particular focus on structured finance and debt-related products. Colin will divide his time between London and Hong Kong.

Balbir Bindra joins GLN from Sidley Austin and advises arrangers, issuers, investors and swap providers on a broad range of banking, capital markets, securitisations and structured finance matters. His expertise includes acting for financial institutions on infrastructure-related finance projects, syndicated loans, structured note programmes, securitisations of different asset classes throughout the Asian region and, recently, commercial property-based structured lending in the P.R.C and debt and debt/equity capital raising in India. Balbir is currently ranked as a "leading individual" for capital markets by Chambers Asia, and for structured finance and securitisation by The Asia Pacific Legal 500.

Commenting on the news, Senior Partner Pierre Raoul-Duval said: “The addition of Hong Kong and English law capability was a logical next step for the Firm as it provides our international clients with a seamless platform from which to do business in Asia. Colin and Balbir bring significant expertise to the Hong Kong Office ensuring the Firm is well equipped to offer its clients complete coverage of the banking and finance sector.”

Partner in charge of the Hong Kong Office, Rebecca Silli, said: “The Hong Kong Office has grown steadily over the last three years, advising clients on corporate/M&A, infrastructure projects and intellectual property matters. The addition of Hong Kong and English law capability significantly enhances our ability to service both our corporate and finance clients in Hong Kong and across the region.”