Clifford Chance has appointed Taner Hassan and Silvia Menendez as leveraged finance partners, expanding its global Private Capital offering. Both lawyers are rejoining Clifford Chance after practicing at Paul Weiss, bringing additional expertise in leveraged and infrastructure finance transactions involving private equity sponsors, borrowers, financial institutions, and portfolio companies.
Hassan will return to Clifford Chance as a partner in London, having most recently served as Head of European Leveraged Finance at Paul Weiss.
His practice encompasses leveraged finance and infrastructure financing for private equity transactions, including acquisitions, buyouts, public takeovers, mergers, joint ventures, and initial public offerings.
He also advises on corporate restructurings, refinancings, and financing arrangements involving private equity portfolio companies.
His experience combines transaction structuring with financing advice across different stages of an investment, from initial acquisition financing through subsequent capital transactions and exits.
Menendez will also rejoin Clifford Chance as a partner, having previously practiced in the firm’s London office before moving to Paul Weiss.
She advises private equity sponsors, borrowers, and financial institutions on leveraged and infrastructure finance transactions across European and international markets.
Qualified to practice in England and Wales, Spain, and New York, Menendez has advised clients on financing transactions involving multiple jurisdictions.
Her appointment expands Clifford Chance’s European leveraged finance capabilities and strengthens its ability to advise international clients on transactions across different financing markets and legal systems.
The appointments form part of Clifford Chance’s continued investment in its global Private Capital business.
The practice combines transactional and financing expertise across mergers and acquisitions, leveraged finance, infrastructure finance, private credit, fund formation, portfolio company matters, restructurings, and exits.
By adding Hassan and Menendez, Clifford Chance is expanding the senior-level resources available to private capital clients pursuing acquisitions and other transactions that require coordinated legal advice across jurisdictions.
Following these appointments, Clifford Chance said it will have welcomed nine global private capital lateral partners during 2026. The additions span New York, London, Paris, Madrid, Düsseldorf, and Luxembourg, including Michal Netanyahu, Charles B. Tanenbaum, Christopher Phillips-Hart, Matthias Kerbusch, Patrick Tardivy, Paul Loisel, and Thyl Haßler.
The hiring activity reflects the firm’s efforts to expand its capabilities across multiple private capital markets while strengthening collaboration among its corporate, finance, and investment funds practices.
Hassan and Menendez will contribute to that strategy through their established client relationships and experience advising on complex financing transactions.
KEY QUOTES:
“Our strategy remains clear: we are growing our global Private Capital offering with exceptional lawyers who will work collaboratively to continue to deliver excellent service for our clients. Taner and Silvia are outstanding additions, bringing deep expertise, strong client relationships and practices that complement our own. We are delighted to welcome them back to Clifford Chance.”
Emma Matebalavu, Global Head of Debt Finance at Clifford Chance
“I know first-hand the calibre of Clifford Chance and, above all, its people. The firm has built an exceptional global Private Capital offering, bringing together deep M&A, transactional and financing expertise, which combined with unrivalled international reach, delivers outstanding results for clients. I’m delighted to be rejoining the firm and very much look forward to contributing to its continued success.”
Taner Hassan, Partner at Clifford Chance
“I am excited to be returning to Clifford Chance. As Private Capital becomes increasingly global and complex, clients need advisers who can understand the full picture while navigating the detail of transactions. I am looking forward to supporting clients throughout the investment lifecycle, from origination and financing through to exit, helping to consistently deliver successful outcomes.”
Silvia Menendez, Partner at Clifford Chance
