DLA Piper appoints fintech and derivatives specialist, Paul Landless

Global law firm DLA Piper announces that it has appointed global fintech and derivatives specialist, Paul Landless, as a partner in its Finance Group, effective today.

Paul joins the firm’s London office from Clifford Chance, where he spent over two decades in various roles spanning London, Singapore and Hong Kong. Paul has built a highly successful practice advising banks, financial market infrastructure providers, digital asset exchanges and traders, hedge funds and corporates on complex and cross-border transactions and regulatory challenges – including structured finance, derivatives, structured notes and securities financing.

Paul’s appointment is the latest strategic hire within the Finance practice, which has also added Richard Hughes, Sudhir Nair and Adam Plainer, in London, Noni Shannon in Sydney, Juan Verdugo in Madrid and Shana Ramirez in Los Angeles.

Colin Wilson, International Group Head of DLA Piper’s Finance practice, commented: “Paul is a highly skilled and well-respected practitioner who will bring a wealth of experience, knowledge and capabilities to our international fintech offering. With his international background and client base, Paul will be a valuable addition to our growing practice.”

Matt Christmas, UK Group Head of DLA Piper’s Finance practice, added: “With a strategic focus on supporting some of the world’s leading banks, financial market infrastructure providers and digital asset traders on complex cross-border transactions and regulatory changes, Paul will significantly strengthen our bench and elevate our offering, not for our clients, but his extensive client roster.”

Paul Landless concluded: “I am excited to join the rapidly expanding Finance practice and fintech teams at DLA Piper at a time when the firm is best poised as a transatlantic legal powerhouse and full service global offering to advise on key transactional and regulatory trends, while managing shifts in the legal market underway. With the firm’s leading technology offering (from the US to APAC on an unmatched global scale) and leveraging its deep-rooted sector approach, I look forward to working with all of DLA Piper’s talented teams worldwide to ensure clients are given the best business advantage with technical excellence, innovative service and forward-looking insights.”

In recent months, DLA Piper’s International Finance practice has advised high-profile clients on matters including:

• Advising Banco Santander on the provision of EUR1.4 billion warehouse financing facility to Klarna.
• Advising Goldman Sachs and others on the EUR332 million financing package to support the redevelopment of Valencia Club de Fútbol’s stadium.
• Assisting Bridgepoint Credit on a financing package to fund the acquisition of a UK data centre power provider.
• Supporting the Saudi Water Partnership Company on its USD2.2 billion water pipeline project.