Mayer Brown today announced that, effective January 1, 2026, it will promote 57 lawyers to partner and counsel, including 36 new partners globally.
Among the newly elevated partners are three lawyers in the firm’s Fund Finance practice:
Daniel B. Blackburn, Banking & Finance (Charlotte) — Daniel regularly represents U.S. and international commercial banks and private equity funds in structuring and negotiating subscription-credit and NAV credit facilities, and fund formation financings. Daniel has been involved in many complex transactions involving funds managed by some of the world’s most distinguished fund sponsors and was a member of the deal team for the first ESG subscription credit facility in the US market.
Michael D. Kwasigroch, Banking & Finance (Chicago) —Michael focuses his practice on representing financial institutions, investment funds and corporate borrowers in a variety of secured and unsecured finance transactions, including subscription-backed credit facilities, bi-lateral loans, bridge loans, acquisition financing arrangements and asset-based financings.
Laura M. Watson, Banking & Finance (Chicago) — Laura Watson acts for a wide range of clients, including domestic and foreign banks and other financial institutions, investment funds, private equity sponsors, and corporate borrowers in a variety of complex domestic and international financing transactions. Clients turn to Laura to successfully structure, negotiate, and document a variety of secured and unsecured finance transactions. She counsels clients in their roles as borrower or lender (individually or as an agent) in bi-lateral and syndicated financing transactions. Clients also rely on Laura for her experience with acquisition financings and asset-based financings.
The new partners represent the firm’s accelerating momentum in fund finance, private capital, and investment funds — reflecting rising demand for sophisticated fund-financing solutions globally.
Mayer Brown congratulates Daniel Blackburn, Michael Kwasigroch, and Laura Watson on their well-earned promotion to partner, and looks forward to their continued contributions at the forefront of fund finance and banking law.