Bird & Bird appoints Samrad Nazer as partner in London, expanding its Banking and Finance team

Samrad joins from U.S. firm Locke Lord in London where he was a partner and head of the firm's Banking & Finance team. He has particular expertise in banking but also has experience working in a number of Bird & Bird's sectors including Energy & Utilities, FinTech and Sport.

Samrad advises on both lender and borrower side transactions within the areas of corporate finance, general corporate lending and structured finance. In addition to the more traditional areas, he also advises on debt capital markets and structured finance. He has experience in both regional and cross-border transactions, with a focus on the mid-markets and US deals. His diverse skill set and unique sector-specific expertise will continue to evolve and further diversify the existing London Banking & Finance practice.

Nick Perry, Head of London, says: "We are very pleased to welcome Samrad to Bird & Bird. We have ambitious plans to grow our overall client offering and have made great progress with this over the last year. Recruiting Samrad represents another step towards our goal, and we are fortunate now to have a Banking & Finance partner who deepens our experience in a variety of the sectors in which we are so active.

Trystan Tether, Head of London Banking Group, says: "Samrad's experience in the London banking and finance markets will be a valuable asset for Bird & Bird. His appointment is part of our long term strategy to grow the Banking & Finance practice both locally and internationally."

Samrad Nazer added: "I am delighted to join Bird & Bird where I will have the opportunity to work for a more developed, international platform and have a more focussed strategic direction within the Banking and Finance practice. I am looking forward to joining the team and using my expertise to help further develop the Banking & Finance practice in London and Bird & Bird offices across the globe."