Latham scoops former MBRM securitisation star

Former Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw securitisation star Mark Nicolaides has resurfaced at Latham & Watkins to spearhead its drive into the European asset-backed securities market.

Christopher Hall, vice chair of Latham's global finance department, told The Lawyer: “In London we have a footprint in leveraged finance, project finance and debt restructuring. Mark’s practice is the fourth leg of the table and the maturity of the other finance divisions means its is an ideal time to bring him in.”

Nicolaides will now drive forward the firm’s European asset-backed securities practice and help develop its Europe-based structured finance practice.

Nicolaides shocked the London securitisation market in May when he quit Mayer Brown after 20 years without signing up with another firm.

Nicolaides said: “At Mayer Brown we got a good start but we were feeling the limitations of what we had accomplished. Latham has great brand recognition among clients and has a great platform in Europe and the US.”

The addition of Nicolaides gives Latham a 10-partner strong London finance practice.