Pillsbury Continues Financial Services Industry Push, Adding Prominent Leveraged Finance Partners Mike Michetti and Joel Simon in New York

Michetti and Simon have known each other for almost three decades—first collaborating as associates at Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP—and have worked together as partners since 2011. Michetti co-founded what became one of the top acquisition finance practices in the United States at Paul Hastings LLP, where he and Simon collaborated closely.  For more than a decade, Simon held leadership roles in that firm’s London and Paris operations.

“Mike and Joel are talented, knowledgeable and extremely well-connected, and they have a strong track record of building and leading large, successful teams,” said Firm Chair David Dekker. “Their addition represents a significant step as we build a market-leading bank and leveraged finance practice that meets the growing demands of our clients.”

Michetti focuses his practice on leveraged financings for acquisitions, recapitalizations and going-private transactions. His clients include leading investment banking firms and commercial banks, and he has represented underwriters, placement agents and initial purchasers in public and private high-yield and equity offerings and secured bank loans in an array of industries. He has also represented broker-dealers in numerous matters, including dealer-manager and consent solicitation agent engagements, and has represented issuers and broker-dealers in tender and exchange offer transactions. Chambers Global, Chambers USA, IFLR1000 and Best Lawyers have all consistently recognized him as one of the world’s foremost finance lawyers.

Simon represents clients in complex transactions, including senior bank and mezzanine debt financings; high yield debt; acquisitions and dispositions; joint ventures between operating businesses; joint ventures between financial investors and operators of businesses, corporate and financial restructurings; and general commercial advice.

The team has substantial experience with financing, restructuring and advisory matters for clients in a variety of industry sectors, including telecommunications and media, technology, energy, building materials, real estate, hotels and hospitality, auto parts, aviation, commercial audio, retail, spirits, biotechnology, industrial machinery and financial services.

Added Finance practice section leader Mark Lessard: “Mike and Joel are widely considered to be among the most talented leveraged finance lawyers in the United States. Their arrival strengthens Pillsbury’s connections to the investment banking and private equity communities and our acquisition finance foundation in New York, from which we can grow rapidly alongside our market-leading project finance and asset finance practices. We are thrilled to have them on board.”

“Having worked together and built substantial practices over a long period, Joel and I know well the value of collaboration and collegiality,” added Michetti. “Pillsbury has long set the standard in that regard among law firms, and it is one of the things we found most compelling about joining its partnership. The firm has a great brand and reputation in the finance and capital markets community and we very much look forward to teaming up with our new colleagues to continue building that practice.”

Pillsbury’s global finance team counsels more than 200 financial institutions—including many of the world’s largest banks—on all types of secured and unsecured financings, from initial issuance through repayment. The team combines in-depth industry and regulatory knowledge with keen technical skill to helps financial services providers and users manage risk, navigate business, legal and regulatory challenges, leverage opportunities, and get deals done.