Dubai, United Arab Emirates
I started my career in Leveraged Finance at J.P. Morgan in London — consistently ranked the world’s number one leveraged finance franchise — where I worked on complex financing transactions across European corporates and financial sponsors. I then joined Houlihan Lokey’s London office — the world’s number one restructuring advisor — where I spent 18 years working on complex special situations and restructurings across EMEA. The deal sheet ranged from large-cap European industrials and shipping conglomerates to Gulf holding companies, African corporates, and cross-border situations touching multiple jurisdictions simultaneously. In 2017, I relocated to Dubai to build Houlihan Lokey’s presence in the region. The move allowed me to be closer to the emerging and frontier markets I’d always focused on and use Dubai as I did London to do deals across adjacent markets. My practice today sits at the intersection of three disciplines: special situations and restructuring, real estate advisory, and private credit — across the full cycle and across geographies that most advisors don’t cover. Over nearly two decades at Houlihan Lokey, I have advised on some of the most complex transactions in the region and beyond — including TID (Aston Martin), Abraaj, Oger Telekom, En+ Group, CMA CGM, Cell-C, Carbon Holdings, Emirates REIT, OSN, Edcon, Afrisam, AHAB, SHUAA, Dana Gas, Saudi Bin Laden Group, and Arcapita. I have arranged bespoke financings across KSA, UAE, and the UK, including for Arabian Centres Company ($3bn), Azizi, Imperial Avenue ($250m+), Five Hotels ($200m), OSN ($75m), and Aston Martin ($100m preferred equity). I serve as Senior Executive Officer of the firm’s MEA regulated entity and sit on the Board of Houlihan Lokey (MEA Financial Advisory) Ltd. That practice has taken me across four continents and through some of the most complex and consequential situations in global finance. Outside of advisory work, I believe finance has a role to play in places that rarely see it. I lead annual impact trips with my team — what we call Bankers Without Borders — working across Africa and Asia. The photo on this profile is from one of those trips — it matters to me that it’s here If you are navigating a complex restructuring, financing, real estate transaction, or require alternative private credit — or if you are a creditor or investor with exposure — I am always happy to have a conversation
Dubai Office & MEA Practice (April 2017 – Present) • Relocated from London to Dubai in 2017 to build Houlihan Lokey’s MENA and Africa practice; established the DIFC-regulated entity as the firm’s hub for emerging and frontier market advisory • Serves as Senior Executive Officer and Board Member of Houlihan Lokey (MEA Financial Advisory) Ltd, the firm’s DFSA-regulated entity • Practice covers special situations and restructuring, real estate advisory, and private credit — across the full cycle and across geographies that most advisors don’t cover Advisory & Financing Track Record • Advised on landmark restructuring and special situation mandates across MENA, Africa, and Europe — including Abraaj (Private Equity, UAE), AHAB (Holding Company, KSA), Dana Gas (PetroChem, UAE), Saudi Bin Laden Group (Construction & Real Estate, KSA), Arcapita (Private Equity, Bahrain), CMA CGM (Shipping, France), En+ Group (Russia), OSN (Cable, UAE), Oger Telekom (Turkey), Edcon (Retail, South Africa), and Cell-C (Telco, South Africa), among others • Arranged bespoke financings totalling several billion dollars across KSA, UAE, and the UK — including Arabian Centres Company ($3bn), Five Hotels ($200m), OSN ($75m), Fashion Retail KSA ($150m), and Aston Martin ($100m preferred equity) • Advises across the full capital structure and the full cycle — real estate and corporate advisory in growth periods; restructuring, creditor advisory, and distressed financing when conditions turn
Structured and executed leveraged finance transactions at the world’s number one leveraged finance franchise; covered complex financing across European corporates, financial sponsors, and cross-border emerging market situations
Competitively selected as a James H. Dunn Fellow; served as Economic Policy Advisor to the Governor of Illinois, advising on fiscal and economic policy