Noted European Restructuring Lawyer David von Saucken Joins Kaye Scholer

Partner von Saucken to divide his time between Firm’s London and Frankfurt offices

New York (November 1, 2011): David von Saucken, a noted Restructuring & Insolvency lawyer, dually qualified to practice in Germany and England and Wales, has joined Kaye Scholer as a Partner in the firm’s London and Frankfurt offices.

Previously a partner with Ashurst LLP, von Saucken focuses on advising funds and investment banks in special situations, with a particular emphasis on CMBS and other complex real estate-related restructurings. He also counsels on debt, hedge funds and private equity investments in performing German situations.

“We are delighted to have David join us as a partner as part of our strategy to grow our bankruptcy and restructuring capabilities internationally,” said Michael Solow, Co-Managing Partner of Kaye Scholer and himself a bankruptcy attorney. “The European markets currently face great uncertainty at a time when leverage is still high in most areas as a consequence of the lending boom prior to the ongoing financial crisis. This has led to ongoing high client demand for restructuring assistance in Europe. There couldn’t be a better time to bring on someone with David’s unique strengths and talents.”

Among von Saucken’s recent work is the representation of mezzanine lenders to Highstreet, a vehicle owning some of Germany's largest department stores, the representation of a group of banks and a securitized lender in the work-out of a residential mortgage portfolio in excess of €1bn through an offshore receivership, and the representation of various bondholders groups in European and Middle Eastern restructurings.

According to 2011 Chambers UK, which ranks him as a leading bankruptcy attorney, “international clients describe David von Saucken as ‘a great lawyer – responsive, capable and a good tactician.’ He offers strong technical know-how in German insolvency matters and has advised a number of Anglo-American funds on their transactions in the region. Distressed M&A deals, restructurings and non-performing loans all form significant components of his caseload.”