Seward & Kissel LLP announced today that it has formalized its Private Credit group to handle its growing work within the rapidly expanding private credit asset class, now valued at $1.6 trillion. The group combines the deep knowledge of the attorneys in Seward & Kissel’s Corporate Finance group who routinely work on credit transactions with the abilities of its renowned Investment Management practice, offering unique advantages to asset managers engaged in the private credit sector as lenders, as well as to investors, borrowers, and other participants in the industry.

“Economic and regulatory factors have attracted a variety of asset managers and investors to the benefits of private credit in recent years, including those who have traditionally focused on equity investments,” said Kevin Neubauer, partner and co-head of Seward & Kissel’s Investment Management Group. “We are uniquely positioned to serve all participants in the growing private credit markets, supporting them in connection with fund formation, structuring and negotiating a variety of loan and other financing transactions, as well as implementing their exit strategies.”

High interest rates, global instability, and other forces have all contributed to the boom in private credit, which grew at a 23% annual rate from 2020-23 and has facilitated record-breaking deals. In this active space, Seward & Kissel’s Private Credit practice will continue the firm’s work for lenders and other parties in a variety of industries using direct lending for acquisitions, working capital, rescue financing, and other needs. The firm’s unrivaled experience in forming private credit funds provides unique value for private credit lenders across the entire life cycle of direct-lending funds.

“We regularly execute private credit transactions across various industries from food delivery services to medical staffing,” said Seward & Kissel Corporate Finance partner Sophia Agathis. “This group formalizes our commitment to the private credit space and concentrates our knowledge in one interdisciplinary group for the benefit of asset managers, borrowers, and others involved in private credit transactions.”

The new practice will reside within Seward & Kissel’s Corporate Finance practice and draw on the firm’s experience in areas including Investment Management, Credit Funds, Business Transactions, Capital Markets and Corporate Securities, Private Equity, Real Estate, Corporate Restructuring and Bankruptcy, and Tax.

About Seward & Kissel LLP

Seward & Kissel LLP, founded in 1890, is a leading U.S. law firm with offices in New York City and Washington, D.C., with particular expertise in the financial services, investment management, banking, and shipping industries. The firm is well known for its representation of investment advisers and related investment funds, broker-dealers, major commercial banks, institutional investors, and transportation companies (particularly in the shipping area). Its practices primarily focus on corporate, M&A, securities, litigation (including white collar), restructuring/bankruptcy, real estate, regulatory, tax, employment, and ERISA for clients seeking legal expertise in these areas.

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