Willkie Farr & Gallagher has hired a new banking and finance partner in Paris from Gide, the latest in a series of prominent European partner hires by the U.S.-based firm this year.

Thomas Binet, who practiced at Gide for 14 years, is a specialist adviser to lenders in structured finance, debt restructuring and corporate finance. At Willkie, he joins a seven-lawyer team led by partner Paul Lombard.

"The arrival of Thomas is an important step for the Paris office," Lombard said in a statement. "I have had the opportunity to work on many deals with Thomas and we are pleased to welcome one of the best practitioners in the Paris market. His experience advising lenders and in debt restructuring will be a major asset in serving our clients in today's environment."

Noting that Lombard and his team had solid relationships with lenders and debt funds, Binet said that bringing his practice to Willkie would allow the firm to propose "a full financing solution to clients."

"Strengthening the team led by Paul is part of our wider strategy of developing a leading European platform to advise our clients in the areas of financing, private equity, special situations and restructuring," Eduardo Fernandez and Christophe Garaud, co-managing partners of Willkie's Paris office, said in a statement.

Willkie's Frankfurt office has also made two prominent partner hires this year. Markus Lauer, an mergers and acquisitions specialist, arrived in January from Herbert Smith Freehills. Also in January, Cornelia Thaler, former head of Clifford Chance's real estate practice in Germany, joined as head of real estate.

The firm also announced this week that it has hired corporate practice partner Jorge Kamine for its Latin America practice. Kamine is based in Washington, D.C.

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