Weil Gotshal & Manges has added to its London banking practice with the hire of a new partner.

Paul Stewart joins the firm from Ashurst. He focuses on acquisition finance and debt restructuring and acts for banks, credit funds and direct lenders.

Between 2008 and 2012 he headed up Ashurst's English law lending operation in Milan.

Recent matters include advising Liberty House on the acquisition of a number of European steel assets from ArcelorMittal and advising the sole bookrunner on the debut issue €255 million of senior secured floating rate notes due 2023 by Groupe Ecore.

Other recent hires for the firm in London including the addition of Sidley Austin private equity partner Mark Thompson in February 2019.