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Mei Lian

Partner, Corporate Department

meilian@paulhastings.com

London

Phone: +44-20-3023-5214
Fax: +44-20-3023-5314

Overview

Mei Lian is a partner in the Financial Restructuring practice at Paul Hastings and co-chair of the London office. She has a broad and extensive practice with years of experience across a wide spectrum of high-end finance transactions, which often involve cross-border features.

Ms. Lian focuses her practice on representing institutional investors, as well as corporate borrowers, issuers, private equity funds and sponsors on a wide range of finance transactions. She has particular experience navigating complex stressed and distressed situations, advising across the entire capital structure, and utilizing various finance instruments. Ms. Lian also represents hedge funds and alternative credit providers in connection with bespoke financing transactions and distressed and restructuring investment opportunities.

Accolades

  • Named “Dealmaker of the Year” at The Global Legal Post’s inaugural Women and Diversity in Law Awards, 2023
  • Named a “Leading Individual” for Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency – The Legal 500 UK 2023-2024
  • Ms. Lian is recommended in The Legal 500 UK guide in the following categories: Finance: Securitisation and Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency. One testimonial states: “Mei Lian is an exceptional lawyer and a great team leader: in addition to her deep knowledge and expertise, her hands-on approach to each transaction, her attention to detail and her communication skills make her unique.” – The Legal 500 UK 2024
  • Ms. Lian is recommended in The Legal 500 UK guide in the following categories: Bank Lending: Investment Grade Debt & Syndicated Loans; Acquisition Finance; and Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency. One testimonial states: “Mei Lian is outstanding. The best transaction lawyer I have worked with.” – The Legal 500 UK 2022
  • Recommended for Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency, Bank Lending: Investment Grade Debt, and Syndicated Loans and Acquisition Finance and is recognised as an “incredibly gifted” key member of the bank lending team. – The Legal 500 UK 2020
  • Sources also note, “Mei Lian has a knack for explaining complex things in a clear, easy to understand way. Her manner has often helped defuse heated negotiations and drive them to success through a constructive and business friendly ability to think out of the box.”
  • Selected for the IFLR Women Leaders List for 2019-2023 by IFLR1000.
  • Recognised as the “Best Lawyer in Insolvency & Restructuring” at the Euromoney Europe Women in Business Law Awards 2018.

Education

  • Magdalene College, Cambridge, B.A. (LL.B.) with honors

Representations

  • A fund on an investment in convertible notes issued by sustainable food and smart-farming business operating climate-controlled food production facilities in the Middle East.
  • Metric Capital on its strategic structured investment in certain subsidiaries of Eurohold Bulgaria AD, to support Eurohold’s acquisition of the Bulgarian electricity distribution, supply and trading business of Czech energy group CEZ.
  • A consortium of funds on the provision of litigation financing in connection with a portfolio of claims.
  • A consortium of investors including Centerbridge Partners on their structured investment in the Soul Foods Group, a multi-national QSR franchisee, which owns and manages global food and coffee franchises, including Burger King, KFC, Starbucks and Taco Bell.
  • A consortium of lenders including Carlyle on a preferred share financing for Apex Group Ltd., a leading provider of fund administration and financial services to the asset management and corporate sectors and on an equity investment in the same group.
  • A consortium of investors on an investment in a Turkish pharmaceutical company, structured by way of a preference share investment.
  • Attestor on the acquisition from NatWest Bank of the Project Mercatus portfolio, comprising a portfolio of non-performing loans relating to UK shopping centres, and the subsequent restructuring of certain loans in the portfolio.
  • doValue as servicer and investor on the acquisition and subsequent sale of the mezzanine and junior notes relating to the Project Mexico securitisation of Greek non-performing loans by Eurobank S.A.
  • Piraeus Bank on its Project Phoenix, Sunrise I and Sunrise II securitisations of portfolios of Greek secured and unsecured non-performing loans.
  • Piraeus Bank on its €4.933 billion recapitalisation, which included an exchange offer and consent solicitation for certain outstanding senior and subordinated securities.
  • The Frigoglass Group on its restructuring, which included €250 million 8.25% senior notes due 2018 issued by Frigoglass Finance and more than €80 million of existing bank debt across eight facilities agreements, through a consent solicitation and a scheme of arrangement.
  • Nokia Corporation in connection with its €1.5 billion five-year multicurrency revolving credit facility, which included a sustainability feature tracking Nokia’s key sustainability targets relating to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
  • The shareholders of Canary Wharf Group on financing arrangements, including intragroup and third party financings.

News

    Accolades

    Insights

    Practice Areas

    Financial Services

    Securities and Capital Markets

    Direct Lending and Private Credit Lending

    Private Equity

    Financial Restructuring


    Languages

    English


    Admissions

    England and Wales Solicitor


    Education

    Magdalene College, University of Cambridge, B.A./LL.B. 1996