US law firm Akerman has expanded its corporate, finance and private equity practice with the addition of corporate finance partner Robert J Stein in New York.
Previously a partner in the debt finance group at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Stein joins Akerman as the co-chair of its Corporate Finance and Lending Practice. His arrival strengthens the firm’s core corporate competencies, bolstering Akerman’s ability to represent clients in the structuring and negotiating of leveraged buyouts, recapitalisations, secured and unsecured financings, fund-level and high yield financings, and loan workouts and restructurings.
“Robby is a well-respected and exceptionally talented finance lawyer, whose extensive experience will deepen our strength in effectively and rapidly closing private equity and other corporate transactions while effectively mitigating risk,” says Carl Roston, co-chair of Akerman’s Corporate Practice Group. “Robby’s practice is a perfect complement to our growing corporate group and his addition further advances our capabilities in serving sophisticated private equity and other corporate clients nationwide.”
Stein focuses primarily on acquisition and other leveraged financing transactions for private equity sponsors, their portfolio companies, and other public and private companies. He regularly advises borrowers and lenders in the structuring, negotiation and documentation of a wide range of complex and routine domestic and international debt financing matters, including leveraged buyouts, debt commitments, first-lien, second lien, bridge, mezzanine and high-yield financing transactions, both secured and unsecured, fund-level financings, asset-backed loans, recapitalisations and related inter-creditor matters. He also counsels clients in debt restructurings and workouts and general corporate finance matters.
Stein’s recent work has involved sponsor-backed clients in a wide array of sectors, throughout the US and in international markets, including, business services, consumer, healthcare, industrials, manufacturing, restaurants and software-as-a-service (SaaS) and other technology plays and travel.
“Robby is an adept practitioner with the energy, vision and skills to co-chair our Corporate Finance and Lending Practice,” says Jonathan Awner, co-chair of Akerman’s Corporate Practice Group. “We are confident he will contribute to the growth and diversification of our practice and will help us continue to distinguish ourselves in corporate, M&A, finance and private equity work.”
Stein holds a JD from Columbia Law School, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and executive editor of the Columbia Journal of Environmental Law, and a BA from the University of Michigan.
