DLA Piper appoints Paul Latto

DLA Piper has appointed Saudi Arabian-based banking and finance specialist, Paul Latto, to its partnership in the Middle East. Latto joins the firm from Clifford Chance, where he had been a partner since 2013; prior to that he was with Linklaters.

Latto has experience across a broad spectrum of banking and finance transactions, covering both conventional and Islamic finance.  His work includes leveraged and acquisition finance, derivatives and capital markets, asset and project finance, general bank lending and restructuring. He has led many of the largest and often innovative finance transactions undertaken in the region, including recently acting for a syndicate of international banks on Saudi Electricity's USD1.4 billion revolving credit facility, which signed in London in January.  He is consistently recognised as a leader in his field by legal directories and is described in the current edition of Chambers Global as being held "in high regard by both clients and peers for his commercial approach to transactions and comprehensive banking knowledge".

Based primarily in DLA Piper's Riyadh office, Latto will continue his focus on Saudi Arabia, whilst also playing an active role in strengthening the firm's finance capabilities across the broader region.

Commenting on the appointment, Trevor Butcher, regional head of the firm's Finance and Projects Group said, "We are delighted that Paul has joined us. His appointment significantly bolsters our finance capability in the region and supports our growth ambitions in Saudi Arabia. Paul's strong market reputation and significant experience aligns with the strategic direction of our practice and his connections on both the financial institution and borrower sides complement our existing client base."