Wragge & Co LLP has further expanded its finance capability with the appointment of a new partner. Clifford Chance senior associate Kieron Dwyer joins the Banking & Finance team from 1 May 2008. His arrival takes the total number of finance partners to ten.

Chris Brierley, head of banking and finance, said: "Wragge & Co's finance practice has achieved 100% revenue growth in the two years to April 30 2008. This growth has come in particular from market penetration in acquisition finance and asset based lending, where partner Paula Laird is a market leader."

"We continue to strengthen our offering, focusing on partner involvement, technical excellence and market knowledge. Kieron's appointment provides strategic focus to the continued development of our project finance offering, particularly in energy and infrastructure. His track record, experience and contacts complement our own strong projects practice and will enable us to gain further market share on funder and sponsor mandates."

A structured finance lawyer with a particular focus on project finance work, Kieron has a strong track record. He advised Challenger Infrastructure Fund on its acquisition of LBC Group from One Equity Partners and has handled deals for Deutsche Bank, Standard Bank and the Royal Bank of Scotland. A six-month secondment to Dubai and three years spent in Clifford Chance's Tokyo office give Kieron significant international experience.

As part of Clifford Chance's highly-rated Energy and Infrastructure team, Kieron was involved in a number of high-profile, international projects. He acted for International Finance Corporation and Standard Bank on the privatisation and acquisition financing of the Eleme petrochemical plant in Nigeria. He also advised the lenders on Project Finance Magazine's 2006 IWPP deal of the year in the Middle East – the Al Hidd power and water project in Bahrain.

Kieron Dwyer said: "Joining Wragge & Co offers a unique opportunity to expand my current practice. With considerable strength, plus some excellent clients, in the banking, PFI, energy and infrastructure sectors, the firm has a great opportunity to develop a first-class reputation for project finance work. I identify strongly with the firm's single team ethos and am looking forward to being part of a highly motivated and ambitious firm."

In 2006, Wragge & Co underlined its commitment to enhancing its national finance presence with the hire of new partner Kirsty Jefferies from CMS Cameron McKenna.

Wragge & Co's national Banking & Finance team handles UK and cross-border mid-market deals for lenders, issuers and borrowers. Its acquisition, debt, asset, leveraged and structured finance specialists work alongside projects, insolvency, finance litigation and securitisation lawyers to deliver a comprehensive, cross-firm finance capability. Clients include HSBC, Barclays and GE Commercial Finance.

In addition to boosting its finance credentials, the firm has also signalled its commitment to other key markets with the promotion of nine new partners. From 1 May, Toby Askin (real estate), Sharon Ayres (corporate), Alexandra Brodie (IP), Paul Green (construction), Karen Howard (planning), Luke Kempton (life sciences), Richard Lee (human resources), Greg Standing (finance litigation) and Jonathon Wilkes (real estate) also join the firm's all-equity partnership.

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For further information about this press release, contact Kathryn Hobbs on +44 (0)121 213 2397, Alexa Highfield on +44 (0)121 213 2396 or Michelle Dolphin on +44 (0)121 213 2369

This press release may contain information of general interest about current legal issues, but does not give legal advice.