Key Takeaways
- • Debevoise & Plimpton appointed Andrea Hwang as partner in its Leveraged and Corporate Finance practice in New York, bringing nearly two decades of sponsor-side financing experience to the firm.
- • Hwang's expertise spans acquisition financings, recapitalizations, asset-based lending facilities, and complex leveraged finance structures—core service areas for private equity and corporate clients.
- • The lateral hire reflects Debevoise's strategic expansion of its private capital platform in response to increased client demand for sophisticated financing advice across M&A, leveraged buyouts, and strategic investments.
- • Presiding Partner Peter Furci and practice co-chair Ryan Rafferty emphasized that clients are "ramping up transactional activity" and navigating increasingly complex financing environments, driving law firm investment in senior sponsor-side talent.
Summary
Debevoise & Plimpton has bolstered its private capital finance capabilities by appointing Andrea Hwang as a partner in its Leveraged and Corporate Finance practice in the New York office. The appointment underscores the firm's commitment to expanding its transactional platform at a time when private equity sponsors and corporate borrowers are accelerating deal activity and requiring more sophisticated financing structures.
Hwang brings nearly two decades of specialized experience advising private equity sponsors, portfolio companies, and corporate borrowers on complex financing transactions. Her practice encompasses a broad range of leveraged finance work, including acquisition financings, recapitalizations, and asset-based lending facilities. Her sponsor-side pedigree—a critical credential in the competitive market for legal talent—positions her to serve the firm's growing base of private capital clients navigating increasingly intricate deal structures.
The hire aligns with Debevoise's broader strategic objective to scale its private capital platform organically and through lateral recruitment. According to Presiding Partner Peter Furci, "We continue to grow our private capital practices organically and laterally to meet increasing demand from our clients, who are ramping up transactional activity across the board." Furci emphasized that the firm's leveraged finance practice is central to client growth strategies, particularly as transaction volumes surge across mergers and acquisitions and leveraged buyouts.
Ryan Rafferty, co-chair of the Leveraged and Corporate Finance practice, reinforced this market assessment, noting that "Our clients are in growth mode and navigating increasingly complex financing structures." This statement reflects a broader industry dynamic: as deal complexity increases and financing markets evolve, institutional investors and sponsors require legal advisers with deep experience in non-traditional structures, multi-layered debt arrangements, and alternative financing mechanisms.
The timing of this appointment reflects sustained momentum in private capital markets heading into the second half of 2026, with firms competing aggressively for partner-level talent capable of advising on high-stakes, structurally sophisticated transactions.
Hwang brings nearly two decades of specialized experience advising private equity sponsors, portfolio companies, and corporate borrowers on complex financing transactions. Her practice encompasses a broad range of leveraged finance work, including acquisition financings, recapitalizations, and asset-based lending facilities. Her sponsor-side pedigree—a critical credential in the competitive market for legal talent—positions her to serve the firm's growing base of private capital clients navigating increasingly intricate deal structures.
The hire aligns with Debevoise's broader strategic objective to scale its private capital platform organically and through lateral recruitment. According to Presiding Partner Peter Furci, "We continue to grow our private capital practices organically and laterally to meet increasing demand from our clients, who are ramping up transactional activity across the board." Furci emphasized that the firm's leveraged finance practice is central to client growth strategies, particularly as transaction volumes surge across mergers and acquisitions and leveraged buyouts.
Ryan Rafferty, co-chair of the Leveraged and Corporate Finance practice, reinforced this market assessment, noting that "Our clients are in growth mode and navigating increasingly complex financing structures." This statement reflects a broader industry dynamic: as deal complexity increases and financing markets evolve, institutional investors and sponsors require legal advisers with deep experience in non-traditional structures, multi-layered debt arrangements, and alternative financing mechanisms.
The timing of this appointment reflects sustained momentum in private capital markets heading into the second half of 2026, with firms competing aggressively for partner-level talent capable of advising on high-stakes, structurally sophisticated transactions.
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