Pillsbury Enhances Private Credit Offering with Arrival of Finance Partner Jeff Norton in New York

“Jeff is a stand-out debt finance practitioner who has proved himself not just as a trusted legal adviser but also as a collaborative leader and practice builder,” said Pillsbury Chair David Dekker. “His track record on sophisticated finance transactions enhances our private credit offering and reinforces the international finance capabilities our firm already brings to bear.”

Norton has decades of experience advising clients across the full spectrum of complex public and private financing transactions, including leveraged and acquisition finance, private credit, structured finance, capital markets, fund finance, project finance, and restructuring. He represents financial sponsors, corporations, funds and financial institutions in the U.S. and internationally, with a practice distinguished by sophisticated, cross-border matters that require close collaboration across disciplines and jurisdictions, particularly in connection with UK, European, Asian, and Latin American markets.

Norton also brings significant leadership experience. Before acting as Chair of O’Melveny & Myers’ Corporate Finance practice, he held leadership roles at Linklaters.

“Jeff has cultivated longstanding client relationships,” said Mark Lessard, Pillsbury’s Global Head of Finance & Restructuring. “Several of his clients are already Pillsbury clients and we look forward to expanding our relationship with these institutions.”

Pillsbury has been in growth mode, welcoming 34 new partners last year and 51 since the start of 2024. The firm has significantly expanded its Private Capital team that advises across the lifecycle of private investment. The firm recently welcomed Corporate Partners Glenn Luinenburg and Todd Rumberger from WilmerHale and Steven Green from Goodwin in Silicon Valley, Scott Perlov from Polsinelli in Los Angeles, Khalid AlArfaj from AlArfaj & Partners in Riyadh, and Sarah Melaney from Withers and Hamid Yunis from McDermott Will & Schulte in London; Finance & Restructuring Partners Stephen Humes from Holland & Knight, Robert “Robby” Stein from Goodwin and John Storz from Paul Hastings in New York, Natasha Atkinson from DWF and Peter O’Hare from K&L Gates in London, and Katsumi Shirai from Jones Day in Tokyo; Investment Funds Partners Eunice Choi from Goodwin in San Francisco and Silicon Valley and David Holland from Kirkland & Ellis in Washington, DC; Real Estate Partners Nellie Camerik and Pejman Razavilar from Weil, Gotshal & Manges in Miami and New York; and Tax Partner Mark Leeds from Mayer Brown in New York.

“I’m excited to join Pillsbury and continue my practice at a firm that values long-term client relationships, collaboration and sustained growth,” Norton said. “This move puts me in the best position possible to do what I enjoy most—building client relationships, advising on complex financings and helping to establish formidable, resilient and integrated teams.”

Pillsbury provides comprehensive private capital services to clients primarily through its Finance & Restructuring, Capital Markets, Private Equity, Emerging Companies and Venture Capital, Real Estate, and Investment Funds practices. The firm represents a broad spectrum of market participants, including issuers, underwriters, venture funds, and private investors.