Corey Wright and Lisa Collier join Latham & Watkins in New York

Corey Wright and Lisa Collier join Latham & Watkins in New York

They were previously working with Cahill Gordon & Reindel

Prominent banking partners Corey Wright and Lisa Collier have joined Latham & Watkins in the firm's New York office.

Representing banks and financial institutions in a broad range of complex leveraged finance transactions, they advise on both high-yield bond and bank sides of financings and re-financing, debt and equity offerings, and out-of-court debt restructurings, including debt exchange and debt tender offers.

Wright and Collier have extensive experience in guiding domestic and cross-border leveraged finance and asset-based lending transactions, including acquisition financings, buyouts, recapitalizations, bridge lending and loan commitments, and other secured and unsecured lending transactions.

Commenting on the hires, Marc Jaffe, the managing partner of Latham & Watkins' New York office said, "We are delighted that Wright and Collier have joined us. They are highly regarded banking partners with strong and deep ties to leading financial institutions. Both are exciting additions to our world-class banking practice and their transactional experience and drive strongly complement our long-term growth strategy in New York."

He added, "Wright is an exceptionally talented practitioner in the broader banking community, and one of the foremost lender-side finance lawyers in the US. He brings a wealth of experience representing a wide range of financing sources in high-profile leveraged buyouts. Collier has established a reputation as a go-to partner for a number of major banks on their most complex leveraged and acquisition financings."

Dan Seale, the global chair of Latham & Watkins' banking practice, said, "Wright and Collier are highly experienced advisors to a premier lender-side client base. Their arrival further solidifies our position as the market-leading firm for leveraged and acquisition financings. Their track record in advising major banking institutions will also deepen and broaden our presence on large-cap syndicated and high-yield transactions. It will further enhance our leadership in the fast-growing private debt market."

Meanwhile, Jeffrey Chenard, the global department chair of Latham's finance department remarked, "Our premier banking practice is at the vanguard of the market, and Wright and Collier's arrival further strengthens our capability. They have a terrific reputation for providing superior client service, and their tireless work ethic and team-oriented approach make them fabulous additions to our firm. They will be an important force in helping us grow and expand our practice in the US and beyond."

Wright stated, "I am thrilled to join Latham's exceptional team and contribute to the firm's continued growth and success in New York and globally. This is a unique opportunity to build my practice and I look forward to working with colleagues across the firm's global platform, including the firm's top-notch teams in restructuring, litigation, bank regulatory, derivatives, and convertibles."

Collier said, "I have long admired Latham's cross-disciplinary and team-oriented approach to client service. Latham is strongly positioned to advise on both syndicated and direct lending transactions. Joining the firm provides an exciting opportunity to work with clients on a broad range of complex transactions that span practices and products."

Wright and Collier were earlier working with Cahill Gordon & Reindel.

While Wright received his JD from Columbia Law School and BA from Western New England College, Collier received her JD from the University of Virginia, MA from the University of Chicago, and BA from the New College of Florida.