Withers has strengthened its private capital debt finance team by appointing Jon Bond as a senior partner.
- Jon Bond brings extensive experience in debt finance across diverse asset classes, enhancing Withers’ capabilities.
- The move aligns with Withers’ strategic emphasis on private capital as mainstream banks cut back on private debt exposure.
- Jon Bond’s addition is expected to bolster connections with private lenders including family offices and non-bank lenders.
- This development marks a significant step in Withers’ commitment to alternative finance solutions amid changing market dynamics.
International law firm Withers has significantly enhanced its private capital debt finance capabilities through the strategic appointment of Jon Bond as a senior partner. Joining from Charles Russell Speechlys, Bond is recognised for his vast expertise in debt finance across a multitude of asset classes, including residential and commercial real estate, retirement living, care homes, student accommodation, and hospitals.
Bond’s proficiency spans various financing techniques such as syndicated lending, real estate finance, leveraged and acquisition finance, mezzanine finance, and shari’ah-compliant financing. This depth of experience is set to fortify Withers’ ambition to serve a broader spectrum of clientele, extending from funds and banks to high net worth individuals and family offices.
Isobel Young-Herries, who has collaborated with Bond for a decade, also joins the team as a senior associate. Hers is a strategic role, particularly in real estate finance, where she engages with both borrowers and lenders. Her clientele features ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) and clients with intricate trust structures, a niche which matches well with Withers’ focus.
Jeremy Wakeham, CEO of Withers’ Business Division, highlighted the synergy brought by Bond and Young-Herries to the firm’s evolving banking and finance team, which is increasingly focused on private capital. According to him, their experience aligns closely with the firm’s strategic goals of tapping into alternative financing avenues that exist outside traditional banking.
Bond himself emphasised the opportunities that his new role at Withers presents. As traditional banks reduce their exposure to private debt, the law firm’s robust foothold in the family office sector promises exciting prospects for strengthening ties with non-bank lenders. He remains optimistic about assisting with the surge in alternative lending activities, which require seasoned guidance.
Withers’ strategic reinforcement of its team, underlined by key appointments, positions it as a forward-thinking player in the evolving realm of private capital finance.
