William Blair, a global investment banking and asset management firm, announced the expansion of its Leveraged Finance Investment Banking team with the addition of Jeff Zolkin, managing director-head of high-yield finance, and Jonathan Lee, director-high-yield finance, in the firm's Los Angeles office, and Paul Majeski, vice president-high-yield finance, in New York. Each was affiliated with Imperial Capital prior to joining William Blair.

"Jeff and his team built what we believe is the leading high-yield finance business targeting the midmarket with over $5 billion of lead-managed financings across more than 30 transactions since 2011, and we are thrilled they have joined our firm," said Global Head of Investment Banking Brent Gledhill. "The team has an outstanding track record of providing creative solutions and completing debt capital markets transactions for midmarket issuers. We look forward to introducing them and their capabilities to our corporate and private equity clients."

William Blair continues to build its leveraged finance capabilities, extending from its established base in leveraged loan arrangements to now include high-yield issuances.

"Adding strong high-yield capabilities completes our product offering and provides our clients the ability to execute their financings in the loan or bond markets, which we believe creates a uniquely comprehensive leveraged finance offering," said Head of Leveraged Finance Kelly Martin.

"William Blair's market-leading position within mergers and acquisitions and equity capital markets, along with their private equity relationships and highly regarded sector coverage, aligns perfectly with our high-yield financing expertise and focus," said Mr. Zolkin. "We are excited to be part of their expansion and believe we will quickly become the leading midmarket-focused leveraged finance platform."

William Blair's Leveraged Finance Investment Banking team prides itself on running well-orchestrated processes that produce successful outcomes for its clients. The team combines senior-level attention and product/sector specialists with careful preparation, well-developed financing strategies, and real-time market intelligence based on proprietary market data and long-standing lender relationships.

William Blair's investment banking group enables corporations, financial sponsors, owner/entrepreneurs, and governments around the world to achieve their growth, liquidity, and financing objectives.