Linklaters has hired a partner from Shearman & Sterling in London to bolster its leveraged finance offering.  

Rahul Chatterji has joined the magic circle firm’s Asia banking practice after less than two years at Shearman, which he joined as a partner in 2021 from Milbank. 

His is the latest in a string of partner exits in recent months from Shearman’s Europe and Middle East offices, including six partners in London since the start of the year. 

Chatterji is a debt finance lawyer and brings experience advising lenders and borrowers on complex cross-border financing transactions, including leveraged buyouts, public-to-private transactions, investment grade borrowings and special situations transactions.

David Irvine, Linklaters’ global co-head of leveraged finance, said: “We are delighted to have Rahul on board. Leveraged finance is a key growth area for the firm, reflected by the three internal promotions and four lateral hires into our team over the past year. I look forward to working closely with him as we continue to support our clients’ needs.”

Chatterji has a track record in offshore Indian transactions and at Linklaters will focus on the India and Southeast Asia leveraged finance market, working closely with the firm’s Singapore and London teams to support clients across Asia. He is also expected to play a key role in developing the firm’s existing India-facing structured lending business alongside its capital markets team in Singapore.

Narayan Iyer, head of Linklaters’ India group, and Philip Badge, Asia head of banking, commented: “The Indian economy is one of the fastest growing in the world and offers exciting opportunities for our clients. Rahul’s cross-jurisdictional expertise in advising on leveraged finance matters and familiarity with the India market enhances our India-facing offering and provides synergies with the existing leveraged finance team in London and China, as well as with other practices in the region. We are thrilled to welcome Rahul to the Asia banking practice where his skillset will strengthen a targeted area of growth.”

Chatterji’s hire follows Linklaters adding partners Noel Hughes, Giacomo Reali and Christianne Williams to its leveraged finance practice in London last year from Vinson & Elkins. 

He will join Linklaters in May and will initially be based in the firm’s London office before relocating to Singapore later this year.

Meantime Chatterji’s departure follows heavyweight finance duo Korey Fevzi and Philip Stopford leaving Shearman’s London office earlier this month to start a UK law practice Cravath Swaine & Moore. In the past few months the office also lost EMEA and Asia M&A head Phillip Cheveley to Sidley Austin and international arbitration partner Garreth Wong and restructuring partner Helena Potts to Paul Hastings. 

The New York firm has also recently seen partners exit in Paris, Dubai and Abu Dhabi for rivals including Allen & Overy, Gide Loyrette Nouel and Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, and earlier this month lost almost its entire Germany team to Morgan Lewis.