Sidley has announced that Lee Askenazi, Alistair Dunlop, Robert Hagan, and Rebecca O’Brien have joined the firm’s Global Finance practice, and James Gouwar has joined the firm’s Tax Practice. Mr. Askenazi, Mr. Dunlop, and Mr. Gouwar join the firm’s office in New York. Mr. Hagan and Ms. O’Brien join the firm’s office in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Askenazi, Mr. Dunlop, Mr. Hagan, and Ms. O’Brien have extensive experience in structured capital markets and structured finance, advising clients across a broad range of securitization and asset-backed financing transactions. They regularly represent sponsors, issuers, investors, asset managers, arrangers, sellers, purchasers, and other market participants in connection with complex structured products, including asset-backed securities, residential mortgage-backed securities, collateralized loan and fund obligations, rated note feeders, and other securitization vehicles.
Their experience spans warehouse and other secured financing facilities, new issuances, refinancings, restructurings, and related financing transactions involving a variety of asset classes. They advise clients on the structuring, execution, and financing of sophisticated transactions in both the U.S. and international markets, including private credit and ABF transactions. Their practices also encompass regulatory and transactional advice relating to evolving structured finance frameworks, including matters affecting asset-backed lending.
Mr. Gouwar’s practice concentrates on the tax aspects of structured finance transactions such as mortgage- and asset-backed transactions, collateralized loan and debt obligations (cash and synthetic), and real estate mortgage investment conduits. He has been involved in the development of innovative securitization structures and has worked in a broad range of financial assets. Mr. Gouwar also has experience with private equity funds, hedge funds, regulated investment companies, and other pooled vehicles.
“We are building a fully integrated platform that enables us to advise clients across every facet of the most sophisticated financing transactions,” said Brian Fahrney, Chair of Sidley’s Executive Committee. “Lee, Alistair, Becky, Rob, and Jim deepen our capabilities across Global Finance and Tax while creating opportunities to collaborate with our private equity, investment funds, insurance, and real estate teams. Their complementary practices and strong client relationships will enhance the value we deliver to existing clients and position us to win new mandates across the private capital markets.”
“Lee, Alistair, Becky, Rob, and Jim are outstanding additions whose practices further strengthen Sidley’s leadership in structured finance, private credit, and securitization,” said Yvette Ostolaza, Chair of Sidley’s Management Committee.
The arrival of Mr. Askenazi, Mr. Dunlop, Mr. Hagan, Ms. O’Brien, and Mr. Gouwar follows Sidley’s addition of eight other Global Finance and Tax partners in 2026 alone — Sumita Ahuja, Kat Molnarova, Jeff Ross, Jeremy Trinder, Leah Edelboim, Ike Chidi, and Ji Hye You in Global Finance; and Greg Featherman in Tax.
Sidley is an elite global law firm. With approximately 2,300 lawyers and nearly 160 years of experience, they have established a reputation for deploying innovative legal strategies to achieve powerful results for their clients in complex transactional, restructuring, crisis management, investigation, regulatory, and litigation matters.
