Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP has announced the addition of Alan Cunningham and Richard Skipper as partners in its London office, strengthening the firm’s business finance practice. Both lawyers are recognised leaders in finance law, offering extensive expertise across various sectors, including aviation, shipping, rail, defence, automotive, and energy.
Cunningham and Skipper come to Hunton Andrews Kurth from Ernst & Young’s legal services arm, EY Law, where they significantly contributed to the firm’s asset finance practice. Prior to their tenure at EY, they were partners at DLA Piper, leading the firm’s asset finance team. Their reputation in the legal industry is well-established, with both consistently ranked as top lawyers in their field by Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners.
Their new roles will see them representing a diverse range of clients, including financial institutions, private credit and equity firms, leasing companies, airlines, ship and rail owners, as well as high-net-worth individuals across Europe, the United States, the Middle East, and Asia. John Schneider, co-head of Hunton Andrews Kurth’s business finance practice group, praised their arrival, stating, “Alan and Richard are highly regarded finance lawyers who are well known and respected throughout the London legal market. Their addition underscores both our strategic focus on financial services and our commitment to outstanding client service.”
Cunningham brings a wealth of experience in high-end transactional mandates and financing within various sectors. His work encompasses aviation, shipping, equipment finance, automotive, defence, and receivables. Notably, he advises on the sale and purchase of asset finance portfolios, forward flow receivables transactions, and securitisation efforts, alongside providing counsel on broader aviation issues.
On the other hand, Skipper’s practice centres on aviation finance and leasing, equipment finance, renewable energy assets, and shipping and rail. He has represented a variety of stakeholders, including airlines, banks, funds, lessors, and manufacturers. Noteworthy is his involvement in the first sustainable finance transaction for an international airline in 2019, aimed at securing funding for projects aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Ferdinand Calice, managing partner of Hunton Andrews Kurth’s London office, expressed his enthusiasm about their integration into the team, noting, “Alan and Richard are outstanding lawyers who very nicely complement the experience and depth of our London team. Their arrival aligns with our growth strategy, which we continue successfully to execute to secure our position as leaders in the London legal market.”
Cunningham and Skipper’s addition to the firm comes as Hunton Andrews Kurth continues to enhance its London presence. Recent additions to the London office include energy project finance partners Ayesha Waheed and Seyfi Can Kandemir, as well as corporate energy partner Philip Mace and energy and infrastructure disputes partners Maurice Kenton and David Hesse, among others. This strategic growth aims to solidify the firm’s standing in the competitive London legal landscape. To learn more, please visit huntonak.com.