Kramer Levin Enhances Banking and Finance Practice With Addition of Three Asset-Backed Securitization Partners

Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel announced today that it has expanded its Banking and Finance Group with the hiring of three new partners who focus on asset-backed securitization transactions: Gilbert K.S. Liu, Laurence Pettit and Richard D. Rudder. Prior to joining Kramer Levin, the three lawyers practiced at Baker & McKenzie.

“Gilbert, Laurence and Richard bring a full range of securitization experience and expertise to the firm and to our clients,” said Paul Pearlman, the managing partner of Kramer Levin. “We’re excited to add this group of talented lawyers to continue our growth and help our clients take advantage of opportunities that present themselves during this challenging economic period.”

Mr. Liu represents issuers, underwriters, borrowers, lenders and service providers on private and public structured finance and securitization transactions involving a wide variety of asset classes including commercial real estate assets, energy efficiency contracts, timeshare loans, equipment leases, auto loans and intellectual property. At his prior firm, Mr. Liu was the head of the New York office’s Banking, Finance and Major Projects Practice Group and co-Chair of the Pro Bono Committee. He has a J.D. from New York University School of Law and a B.A. from the University of Michigan.

Mr. Pettit regularly advises issuers and financial advisors on structured finance transactions involving a wide range of jurisdictions and asset classes. He also represents clients in debt capital markets transactions, which in recent years have included tier two capital notes for bank issuers, extendible liquidity notes, commercial paper, and medium-term notes. Mr. Pettit has also been involved in significant work in the project finance area supporting the construction of power generation facilities and toll roads. He has a J.D. from Columbia University School of Law and a B.A. from Columbia College.

Mr. Rudder represents major commercial and investment banks, issuers, investors, trustees and bond insurers in public and private financings involving esoteric assets. He has acted as deal counsel in the closing of many first-of-a-kind transactions including the first commercial mortgage loan conduit transactions, the first music royalty securitization, the first timeshare loan transaction and many of the first mergers and acquisitions transactions to employ securitization as the principal financing technique. Mr. Rudder has an M.B.A. from Bernard M. Baruch College, an LL.B from New York University School of Law and a B.A. from Lafayette College.