Two Promoted To Senior Counsel At Walkers
Walkers Bermuda announced the promotion of two attorneys in its Corporate, Finance, Funds & Insurance Group: Nathalie West and Rachel Nightingale have both been elevated to the position of senior counsel.
Nathalie West, Senior Counsel, Corporate, Finance, Funds & Insurance
A spokesperson said, “Nathalie West originally joined Walkers’ Bermuda office in 2018. Her practice includes a range of finance and corporate transactions in connection with leveraged buy-outs, share and bond offerings, subscription finance, securitisations, CLOs, restructurings, project and infrastructure finance and other complex cross-border financings.
“Nathalie has extensive experience in leveraged and acquisition financings. She also advises clients across the aviation and shipping industries including major operating lessors, financiers, airliners and ship operators, as well as leading on-shore law firms on a variety of finance, leasing and registration transactions.
“Nathalie has been ranked as a ‘Rising Star’ and ‘Associate to Watch’ in Legal 500 and Chambers Global [respectively] – the leading legal directories – with one client commenting that she “approaches tasks with the required commerciality and is responsive and proactive.”
“Nathalie was previously an associate with Kirkland & Ellis International LLP and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP in London, England.
Rachel Nightingale, Senior Counsel, Corporate, Finance, Funds & Insurance
“Rachel Nightingale joined Walkers in 2017. She has extensive corporate transactional and advisory experience. Her practice involves advising clients in relation to cross-jurisdictional mergers and acquisitions, public offerings [IPOs], private equity investments, amalgamations, corporate governance and complex restructuring projects, including redomiciliations.
“Rachel has particular expertise advising on Bermuda’s digital asset legal and regulatory framework and represents a variety of FinTech clients at different stages of their lifecycle from start-up to industry leaders.
“Rachel has contributed to a number of articles and legal publications on Bermuda law matters and has spoken at various seminars on topics relating to compliance with Bermuda’s digital asset licensing legal and regulatory framework. She also sits on the Business Development Agency’s Technology Legal and Regulatory Sub-Committee.
“In the 2022 Legal 500 directory, Rachel was ranked as a ‘Rising Star’. One client described her as being ‘responsive, creative, flexible and smart [2021 Legal 500].’
“Prior to joining Walkers, Rachel was a solicitor at Shoosmiths LLP in Birmingham, England. She was also previously legal counsel at Compass Group plc, a FTSE 100 company.”
Comments
Speaking to the recent promotions, Walkers Bermuda Managing Partner Kevin Taylor shared: “Nathalie and Rachel’s promotions are very well-deserved and are a reflection of their commitment to our clients and their desire to continuously develop and strengthen their skills as attorneys.
“Beyond their capabilities and professional growth, both young women have also played integral roles in our pupillage programme, acting as mentor to pupils during their formal legal training.
“We could not be prouder of their achievements and congratulate them on their most recent promotions,” he added.
“Throughout their careers at Walkers, Nathalie and Rachel have acted on several significant deals in Bermuda, including on behalf of:
- Saturn Group on the development of the island’s first solar farm;
- Norwegian Cruise Line on their recent multi-billion debt and equity offerings;
- Athene Holding Ltd. on the Bermuda law aspects of its merger with Apollo Global Management Inc.;
- Apex Group on its various acquisitions including its recent acquisition of FundRock Management Company SA and FundRock Partners Ltd;
- Gemini Trust Company, a cryptocurrency exchange and custodian, on the launch of its captive insurance company, Nakamoto Ltd. – the world’s first captive to insure crypto currency; and
- Diamond Standard Ltd with respect to its application for a class M licence under the Digital Asset Business Act 2018 [as amended].”
