Schiff Hardin LLP announced today that Ben Leese has joined as a partner in the Finance Practice Group in the New York office. Leese focuses his practice on leveraged finance and private equity-sponsored acquisition financing in particular.

“Having worked across the table from Ben and seeing his talent first-hand, we are thrilled to bring him onto the Schiff Hardin team,” said Andrew Kling, co-leader of the firm’s Finance Practice Group. “Ben is a natural fit with our practice, and he will enhance our continuing growth in representing lenders and sponsors in LBO and related transactions. Our clients will benefit greatly from Ben’s 15+ years of finance experience, adding additional breadth to our firmwide capabilities in the nation’s financial center.”

Leese represents middle-market lenders, investors, PE sponsors, and portfolio companies in acquisition financings and related debt transactions. He advises clients throughout the entire process of a transaction from structuring to closing and beyond.

“I am pleased to be joining Schiff Hardin’s Finance team, which takes a pragmatic, collaborative approach to get deals done in a way that satisfies all parties involved,” Leese said. “During a period of anticipated growth in this sector, the firm is well-positioned in the market and I am eager to help expand its offerings across the spectrum of senior debt and junior capital transactions whether secured or unsecured, stretch, unitranche, first and/or second lien or otherwise.”

Leese is admitted to practice in New York. Originally from the United Kingdom, he earned his Bachelor of Laws at University of Bristol and obtained his Diploma of Legal Practice (Distinction), Legal Practice, from Nottingham Law School before concluding his training at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.