Richards Kibbe & Orbe (RK&O) has appointed Denise R Hamer as a partner in the firm’s London office where she will focus on finance, distressed debt, financial restructuring and special situations, with a particular emphasis on developing markets.
Hamer has joined RK&O from Central European law firm Schoenherr, where she was a banking and finance partner.
With more than two decades of practice in Central and Eastern Europe, including Russia, Hamer expands the corporate team’s European platform. She has represented financial institutions, investment banks, funds, supranationals and corporates in a multitude of domestic and cross-border matters, including contentious and non-contentious restructurings and the sale and acquisition of performing and non-performing assets and portfolios.
Hamer’s previous experience includes senior positions with banks Societe Générale, Citigroup and BAWAG PSK (the Austrian bank portfolio company of US distressed debt fund Cerberus Capital Management), corporates and law firms.
“With its strong focus on finance and distressed debt, Richards Kibbe & Orbe provides unique client support in the expanding restructuring and ‘special situations’ scenario across Europe, as well as other markets. I am delighted to participate in the further growth of the firm’s expertise and geographic reach,” Hamer says.
In addition to hiring Hamer, RKO has also promoted three associates to partner. In the London office, the distressed debt team has been bolstered with the promotion of Matthew Hughes. Hughes has been with the firm for seven years. He advises investment banks and other financial institutions including hedge funds on the investment in and trading of syndicated loans, claims and other high yield investment products. Recent work has included representing creditors for MF Global, insolvent Icelandic Banks and Lehman Brothers.
The US office has promoted to partner Ryan Jackson and Keith Sambur in the lending and restructuring department. Jackson focuses his practice on commercial lending transactions, financial restructurings of distressed companies and event-driven acquisitions and dispositions. Sambur focuses his practice on bankruptcy and restructuring matters with an emphasis on assisting companies facing financial or operational distress.
