(LONDON) Katten Muchin Rosenman UK LLP today announced that two partners have joined in London, launching the Structured Products and Derivatives practice and advancing the firm’s strategic growth.
Joining the firm to lead the new practice is Jennifer Kafcas, working alongside Alvino van Schalkwyk, to enhance the firm's capabilities in the structured finance and financial markets space. Together, they bring comprehensive strengths across high-value, complex derivatives and structured products transactions, covering the full range of structuring, legal and documentation considerations across all major asset classes.
"Bringing on these talented attorneys reflects our commitment to executing our strategic plan, specifically pursuing high-caliber lateral teams that deepen our bench strength in finance and expand our London platform to meet our clients’ evolving needs," said Katten Chairman Gil Soffer. "This move underscores the momentum we are building and further positions Katten as a firm to watch on both sides of the Atlantic."
Kafcas and van Schalkwyk advise on the derivatives aspects of transactions; review financing documentation for finance‑linked swaps; and evaluate regulatory, antitrust and other deal‑closing conditions in deal‑contingent trades. Their work also encompasses structured notes, equity-linked and credit-linked notes, collateral bridges, securitizations and structured credit solutions.
The Structured Products and Derivatives practice is viewed as an extension of the work handled by both the Structured Finance and Securitization practice, led by Co-Chairs Anna-Liza Harris and Howard Schickler, and the Financial Markets and Funds practice, led by Global Chair Lance A. Zinman.
"As derivatives markets grow more complex and regulatory demands intensify around the world, our clients increasingly need trusted advisors with both technical depth and strong cross-border experience. We see a crucial opportunity to serve our clients, and this team is strategically positioned to offer sophisticated solutions that seamlessly complement our existing practices," said Harris.
The new team advises major investment banks, commercial banks, alternative capital providers, corporates and private equity funds across global markets. They represent buy-side and sell-side participants across equities, credit and commodities, structuring, negotiating and documenting products, including derivatives products; transaction-linked and event-driven instruments; financing and funding structures; and structured finance and collateralized products.
"As a long-established leader in the derivatives industry, we’re further strengthening our ability to serve clients by adding this caliber of talent in London," Zinman said. "These new partners significantly deepen our derivatives capabilities, allow us to enhance our delivery of comprehensive cross-border client counsel, and help solidify our position as a sophisticated, full-service financial markets and funds practice that handles transactional, regulatory, litigation and enforcement matters."
Kafcas and van Schalkwyk have managed a substantial volume of transactions across Asia, Europe, the UK, the United States and Latin America, developing unique and unparalleled market insight across evolving legal and regulatory regimes.
They are the latest partners to join Katten in London, following the recent additions of Restructuring Partner James Davison, who arrived in January with Counsel Victoria Procter, and Intellectual Property Partner Nathan Smith, who joined in 2025.
