Ashurst expands US structured products, derivatives and complex financial products offering with partner hire in New York

Global law firm Ashurst announces the appointment of Nick Allen as partner in the global markets practice, based in New York, as the firm continues to invest in its US structured products, derivatives and complex financial products capabilities. Joining together with Nick are two experienced financial services attorneys, Andrea Stanovic and Juan Franco.

Nick advises banks, asset managers and hedge funds across a broad range of derivatives and financial products transactions, with particular experience in structured notes and related platform issues and equity, index, rate, commodity and currency derivatives, as well as other structured products. He is recognized by Chambers and Partners in “Capital Markets: Structured Products” and was named a Top 10 Influential Structured Products Lawyer in the US by Business Today in 2023.

"We are delighted to welcome Nick, who joins at an exciting time for us as we continue to gain momentum in the United States in our core areas of structured products, derivatives and complex financial products", said Mike Logie, head of global markets (UK/US). "Clients speak incredibly highly of him and that, together with his impressive skill-set across structured products, derivatives and complex financial products, will help us to further establish our offering for these products in the US and add further bench strength to our existing offering. Nick's arrival – together with Andrea and Juan – will significantly bolster the continued growth and success of our leading global platform of structured products, derivatives and complex financial products specialists."

Global CEO of Ashurst, Paul Jenkins, added: "The addition of Nick and his team is a reflection of our continued strategic focus on growing our global finance practice and a sign of Ashurst's commitment to invest in and expand our offering in the US more broadly. We are seeing increasingly new uses for derivatives and structured products in connection with risk transfer and capital optimization, which is only set to continue as capital and regulatory constraints grow. Nick and his team, who bring a wealth of experience and expertise to our existing strong presence in this area in the US and globally, will help us to further support our clients to respond to these issues."

New York office managing partner, Sharon Kim, commented that Nick's experience will complement Ashurst's existing offering in New York. "Nick's varied skill set in derivatives and structured products and ability to advise on market-edge solutions will be hugely beneficial for our clients", she said. "He is a great addition to our US global markets team, which has gone from strength-to-strength following the arrival of Julia Lu and Lloyd Harmetz in recent years. We are very pleased that Nick is joining us in New York."

Nick added that "Ashurst's growing profile in the US structured products, derivatives market and complex financial products and its leading global practices in these areas make it an excellent platform. I am excited to work with my new colleagues across the firm to serve new and existing clients and continue growing Ashurst’s structured products and derivatives practices in the US.”

Nick joins Ashurst from Fried Frank.