
Neil Devaney
Partner
Areas of Focus
- Financial Restructuring
- Capital Solutions
- Special Situations
- Preferred Equity & Hybrid Capital
- Private Capital
- Crisis Management
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Corporate Governance
- Corporate
- Credit Funds
- Co-head of Akin’s global financial restructuring practice.
- Advises clients on restructurings, capital solutions and special situations across global markets.
Neil serves as head of Akin’s financial restructuring practice in Europe and co-head of the firm’s global restructuring practice.
His practice is focused on advising credit funds on complex, high-value debt restructurings and alternative investments. Neil is also frequently called upon by investors, corporates and private equity sponsors to advise on stressed, distressed and special situations, including associated M&A.
Neil is recognised as a market leading restructuring lawyer by all major legal directories, including Chambers UK and Legal 500 UK. Clients have described Neil as “the ideal combination of technical knowledge, diligence and commerciality” and as a lawyer who “is able to look through complexity to come up with pragmatic and innovative solutions and is willing to fight for his clients' interests in difficult circumstances.” Clients have further commented that, “from a technical perspective, Neil is excellent - a 360-degree lawyer.”
- Maxeda DIY Group: Counsel to the ad hoc group of noteholders on the comprehensive, fully-consensual recapitalisation of the leading DIY retailer in the Benelux region.
- Petrofac: Counsel to the ad hoc group of bondholders on the financial restructuring of the UK-based engineering, construction and energy transition company.
- Selecta: Counsel to the ad hoc group of lenders in relation to the Group’s financial restructuring, implemented through a distressed disposal in the Netherlands.
- Intrum: Counsel to the ad hoc group of bondholders of the Swedish debt collection company in relation to its financial restructuring, implemented pursuant to chapter 11 and Swedish reorganisation proceedings.
- Vialto Partners: Counsel to the CD&R portfolio company, on its recapitalisation and refinancing of its debt facilities.
- TalkTalk: Counsel to Ares on the refinancing and recapitalisation of the UK telecommunications group.
EducationLL.M., University College, London, 2009
D.L., Nottingham Law School, England, 2001
LL.B., University of Exeter School of Law, England, 1999
LL.M., University College, London, 2009
D.L., Nottingham Law School, England, 2001
LL.B., University of Exeter School of Law, England, 1999
Bar AdmissionsSolicitor, England and Wales
Solicitor, England and Wales
- Chambers UK, Restructuring and Insolvency.
- The Legal 500, Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency.
- IFLR 1000, Restructuring and Insolvency.
- R3: Association of Business Recovery Professionals.
- Insolvency Lawyers Association.
