Mayer Brown expands Global Leveraged Finance & Private Capital practice with the addition of leading leveraged finance and private credit lawyers Frederick Cristman and James Adams

WASHINGTON DC — Mayer Brown announced today that Frederick Cristman and James Adams have joined the Washington DC office as partners in the firm’s Global Leveraged Finance and Private Capital Group. They join from Hogan Lovells and bring years of dealmaking experience in complex finance transactions. 

“Fred and James are both highly respected finance lawyers in the cash flow and ABL space with a tremendous client following and deep market experience,” said Fred Fisher, co-leader of Mayer Brown’s Global Leveraged Finance and Private Capital Group. “They align perfectly with our strategic growth plans across our global platform in private credit. Their arrival, combined with the recent additions of Brian Trudgen in Chicago and David Miles and Philip Butler in London, further strengthens our ability to advise financial institutions on complex, high-impact and time-sensitive matters. We are lucky to have them on the team.”

“Private credit continues to evolve rapidly, with explosive growth across asset classes and increasing demand for sophisticated legal counsel,” said Matt O’Meara, co-leader of Mayer Brown’s Global Leveraged Finance and Private Capital Group. “Fred and James bring the kind of deep market insight and transactional experience that our clients rely on. Their addition reflects our commitment to building a world-class private credit platform that can support clients globally.”

Fred advises clients on a wide range of commercial financing transactions, representing both private credit and bank lenders as well as corporate and private equity borrowers in domestic and cross-border deals.  Fred’s practice includes a particular focus on asset-based lending, acquisition financing, and working capital and cash flow financings, across industries like healthcare, technology, manufacturing, energy, retail, and telecommunications.

“I’m thrilled to join Mayer Brown’s premier finance team,” said Fred Cristman. “The firm’s strong finance and restructuring capabilities, collaborative culture and global reach will allow me to better support clients across the full spectrum of lending and financing matters.”

James regularly represents both borrowers and lenders in various debt financing transactions, including domestic and cross-border transactions such as acquisition financings, asset-based lending, and working capital and cash flow deals.

“I’m excited to bring my practice to Mayer Brown,” said James. “The firm’s breadth of capabilities and strong private credit presence provide an outstanding platform to help clients navigate evolving markets and regulatory dynamics.”

“We are delighted to welcome Fred and James to our Washington DC office,” said Andrew Olmem, managing partner of Mayer Brown’s Washington DC office. “Their proven strength in complex leveraged finance and private capital transactions will immediately deepen our capability to serve both lenders and borrowers. Their arrival also underscores the DC office’s continued investment in top-tier talent.”

Fred and James are the latest partners to join Mayer Brown’s Global Leveraged Finance and Private Capital Group following the recent hiring of Brian Trudgen, Sheel Patel, and Blaise Latella. Restructuring partner Richard Stieglitz also joined the firm earlier in the year and works on ABL bankruptcies.

“Over the past several years, we have welcomed exceptional lateral talent across our finance and private credit platform, and Fred and James are the latest example of that momentum,” said Mayer Brown Chair Jon Van Gorp. “In a period of heightened lateral activity and accelerating private credit demand, our global platform, deep product bench and strong restructuring capabilities give lawyers like Fred and James the tools to help clients navigate complexity and move quickly.”