A&O Shearman announces the appointment of Diego Esposito as a leveraged finance partner in Milan, Italy. Diego’s hire is a key part of A&O Shearman’s ongoing investment in its global and local leveraged finance team. It marks a further step in the firm’s commitment to growing its private capital offering in Italy, following the recent promotion of partner Alessandra Pala.
“Diego’s arrival marks a very important milestone in our growth strategy and reflects our ambition to be a leading player in private capital, at a time when leveraged finance is a key element in supporting complex transactions” commented Paolo Nastasi, managing partner of A&O Shearman in Italy. “Diego joins a highly qualified and recognized team, further strengthening our ability to offer integrated Italian, English, and U.S. law leveraged financing solutions to our clients.”
Diego is a highly regarded lawyer in the Italian and international leveraged finance market, with extensive experience in acquisition and leveraged finance, syndicated lending, corporate loans, super senior revolving credit facilities, high-yield bonds, and private bond structures. Over the course of his career, Diego has advised arrangers, sponsors, financing and private credit providers, and borrowers on a wide range of domestic and cross-border transactions. Prior to joining A&O Shearman, Diego was a partner at Linklaters in Milan and previously worked in the firm’s Hong Kong and London offices.
Nick Clark, global co-head of debt finance at A&O Shearman, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Diego to our global team. His extensive expertise and outstanding reputation in the Italian and international leveraged finance markets will be invaluable as we continue to grow our practice and support our clients’ most complex financing needs. Diego’s arrival further strengthens our ability to offer leveraged finance expertise under both Italian and international law. It reinforces our commitment to being the leading leveraged finance team in Europe and globally.”
Diego commented: “I am excited to join A&O Shearman at such a dynamic time for both the firm and the leveraged finance market. The sector is playing an ever more significant role in supporting growth in the real economy and strategic business initiatives. I look forward to working with my new colleagues in Italy and globally to develop the practice further and to continue supporting clients on their most challenging, complex, and high-profile transactions.”
