Paul Hastings Bolsters Restructuring Team with the appointment of William Needham in London
Paul Hastings Bolsters Restructuring Team with the appointment of William Needham in London
Global law firm Paul Hastings has enhanced its London restructuring team by recruiting a partner from investment firm KKR.
After a distinguished nine-year tenure at KKR, William Needham is joining Paul Hastings, a top 25 US law firm, and will co-chair its European restructuring practice alongside fellow partner Mei Lian.
Paul Hastings anticipates that Needham's expertise, background, and extensive industry connections will significantly contribute to the expansion of the firm's financial restructuring practice both in Europe and globally.
The firm's restructuring team received a significant boost in the US last year with the landmark hire of an 18-partner restructuring team from Stroock & Stroock & Lavan. This expansion was further strengthened earlier this year with the addition of partner Helena Potts from Shearman & Sterling in London.
A seasoned restructuring lawyer, Needham gained extensive experience at Jones Day and Weil before joining KKR, where he held prominent roles, including European head of restructuring, global head of sustainable credit, and former European general counsel for KKR credit.
At KKR, Needham held the position of Managing Director on the credit team, where he played a central role in restructuring debt totalling approximately $10 billion. His expertise extended to leading bankruptcy proceedings and informal workouts for KKR in numerous asset classes across Europe. Additionally, he served on the boards of multiple KKR portfolio companies, demonstrating his trusted position within the firm.
The addition of Needham to Paul Hastings' London office marks the continuation of a strategic hiring initiative that has attracted senior laterals to the firm's 50-partner team. With a focus on funds, finance, M&A/PE, investigations, and white-collar defence, the London office has experienced significant growth in recent years.
