Katten's New Structured Products and Derivatives Team Grows in London With Additional Team Member Joining

(LONDON) Katten Muchin Rosenman UK LLP today announced that Partner Charles Wakiwaka has become the latest addition to its newly launched Structured Products and Derivatives practice in London. He joins from Crowell & Moring LLP following the arrival of Partners Jennifer Kafcas and Alvino van Schalkwyk last month.

"Adding Charles to the newly launched practice in London reflects our strategic commitment to deepen our Transatlantic bench strength in finance. Expanding our capabilities positions us to meet the increasing demand from clients operating across global markets," said Katten's London Managing Partner Christopher Hitchins.

The Structured Products and Derivatives practice, led by Kafcas, launched in June as part of the firm's broader strategic investment in its finance platform, enhancing the firm's capabilities in the structured finance and financial markets space. Together, the trio brings deep experience across high-value, complex derivatives and structured products transactions, covering the full range of structuring, legal and documentation considerations across all major asset classes.

In his practice, Wakiwaka advises buy-side and sell-side market participants on cash and synthetic transactions spanning numerous asset classes, including fixed income, equities, credit and commodities. His work includes finance-linked hedging, deal‑contingent instruments, fund syndication and structured notes, and his practice also extends across repackaging transactions, credit-linked deposits, bespoke fund investments and related collateral or insurance arrangements.

His perspective is informed by a secondment with a major investment bank, where he provided senior-level support to multiple trading desks. That hands-on experience gives him a distinct advantage when advising clients, including investment banks, insurance and reinsurance companies, issuers and investors in funds and other structured products. His clients rely on his ability to navigate intricate matters ranging from securitization structures and structured note programs to margin loans and equity derivatives, and to reach practical solutions that meet regulatory compliance requirements.

"It is great to have Charles back on the team. We have collaborated for many years on complex, cross-border transactions spanning Asia, Europe, the United States and Latin America, giving us a shared understanding of evolving legal and regulatory frameworks," said Kafcas, head of the Structured Products and Derivatives practice. "Our clients are highly sophisticated and have come to rely on our team for efficient solutions to extremely complex structures and transactions. Charles is an invaluable team member whose expertise strengthens our ability to guide clients in this respect as we build out this new practice at Katten."

Collectively, the team advises major investment banks, commercial banks, alternative capital providers, corporates and private equity funds across global markets. Their practice spans structuring, negotiating and documenting products, including derivatives products, transaction-linked and event-driven instruments, financing and funding structures, and structured finance and collateralized products.

Wakiwaka is the latest partner to join Katten in London this year. Aside from the additions of Kafcas and van Schalkwyk in June, Katten also welcomed Financial Markets and Regulation Partner Charlotte Hill earlier this month, and Restructuring Partner James Davison and Counsel Victoria Procter in January.