Paul Stallebrass is the CEE head of Banking & Finance and a member of the Bar of England and Wales, Czech Bar Association and The Law Society of England & Wales.
Paul has more than 15 years' experience advising on a range of finance transactions and regulatory issues, in the UK, CEE and elsewhere in Europe. Paul is the leading expert on leveraged buyouts in CEE and has advised on the financing of a large number of high profile and ground-breaking transactions in this field for both banks and sponsors. Paul has a truly international practice, with experience of advising on transactions in a large number of European and emerging markets jurisdictions, including Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the UK.
Paul also advises regularly on transactions structured through most 'off-shore' holding jurisdictions including, Austria, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Netherlands Antilles.
Paul is recognised by all the legal guides as a leading finance lawyer in CEE. Chambers Europe lists him in Tier 1 for CEE and says he 'is widely acclaimed as "one of the best CEE financing lawyers" and impresses clients through his "amazing knowledge of the different markets". In addition, interviewees feel that he "understands the dynamics of a transaction, takes a reasonable approach and drives the transaction towards a conclusion”.' Clients report that he is very adapt at handling transactions across the entire region: 'He is not constrained to one particular country, which makes him a natural first port of call for multi-jurisdictional projects.'
Relevant experience includes advising:
- JP Morgan Partners, AIG and Baring Communications on the financing of the acquisition of ICZ (later Karneval) which was the first syndicated LBO in CEE
- Bulgarian Telecommunications Company privatisation (for Advent International), which was the first leveraged privatisation in CEE and the first leveraged buy out in Bulgaria
- On the $45 million public takeover of Terapia SA in Romania (the first leveraged public-to-private in CEE and the first leveraged buyout in Romania)
- Zentiva NV on the EUR460 million acquisition and financing of 75% of Eczacibasi Generic Pharmaceuticals in Turkey
- Mid Europa Partners on the financing of the acquisition of Vivendi Telecom Hungary, which was the first leveraged buyout in Hungary and for some time the largest leveraged buyout in CEE
Education:
1990: Cambridge University, Law Degree with Honours. 1991: Inns of Court School of Law, London, Bar Vocational Course. Member of the Bar of England and Wales, Member of the Law Society of England and Wales, Member of the Czech Bar Association.