Ward McKimm is the Firm’s Europe and Middle East Regional Managing Partner. As part of this role, Ward contributes to firm strategy and helps the firm achieve its strategic growth ambitions in Europe and the Middle East.

Ward’s career at Shearman & Sterling began in New York before moving to London with the firm in 1999. He re-joined the firm in 2018. He is one of the leading high yield lawyers in Europe, and has been recognised as:

• A member of the “Hall of Fame” in High-Yield by Legal 500 UK 2024.
• An “Eminent Practitioner” in Capital Markets: High-Yield Products by Chambers UK 2024.
• A leading practitioner by Chambers and Partners since 2012 who is “exceptional in his field”, “hugely experienced” and “one of the very best on the high yield scene”.

• The initial purchasers in connection with Loxam’s €300 million new money offering of senior secured notes due 2028.
• Hurricane Finance Plc and its subsidiaries in connection with its add-on issuance of £15 million senior secured notes due 2025.
• The initial purchasers in connection with Preem’s €340 million senior notes due 2027 by Preem Holding AB (publ).
• The initial purchasers, in connection with Loxam’s offering of €350 million senior secured notes due 2027.
• The initial purchasers in connection with a £700 million (equivalent) two-tranche sterling and euro-denominated senior secured bond offering that will serve as permanent financing for Cinven’s acquisition of True Potential Group Limited.
• Tereos SCA in connection with its high yield bond offering of €350 million senior notes through its subsidiary Tereos Finance Group I SA.
• VIA Outlets B.V. in connection with their inaugural green bond financing consisting of a €600 million notes offering.
• The initial purchasers in connection with the €3.7 billion (equivalent) four-tranche USD and Euro-denominated bond issue in support of the public to private acquisition of Iliad Group by Xavier Niel.
• The initial purchasers in connection with the offering of €550 million senior secured notes in the context of the acquisition of Agrifarma by Cinven.
• The lenders in connection with the senior financing in support of the €3.1 billion public-to-private acquisition of Iliad Group by Xavier Niel.
• The initial purchasers in connection with Elior Group’s €550 million notes offering.
• The initial purchasers in connection with Derichebourg SA’s $300 million offering as part of the financing of the proposed acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Groupe Ecore Holding S.A.S., the holding company of the Ecore group.
• The initial purchasers in connection with Premier Foods plc’s £330 million offering of senior secured notes by Premier Foods Finance plc.
• The initial purchasers in connection with Consolis Group S.A.S.’s €300 million offering of senior secured notes by Compact Bidco B.V.
• Tereos SCA in connection with its inaugural high yield bond offering of €300 million senior notes through its subsidiary Tereos Finance Group I SA.
• Paymentsense in connection with its inaugural high yield bond offering of £290 million senior secured notes through Hurricane Finance Plc.
• Synthomer plc in connection with its inaugural high yield bond offering of €520 million senior notes.
• The note purchasers in connection with Liberty Communications of Puerto Rico’s $820 million offering senior secured notes by LCPR Senior Secured Financing Designated Activity Company.
• The initial purchasers in connection with TalkTalk Telecom Group PLC’s £575 million offering of senior notes and their £110 million additional aggregate principal senior notes.
• The initial purchasers in connection with Cable and Wireless’s $150 million offering of senior secured notes.
• The initial purchasers in connection with Liberty Cablevision of Puerto Rico’s $1.2 billion offering of senior secured notes by LCPR Senior Secured Financing Designated Activity Company.
• The arrangers and bookrunners in connection with a €920 million term loan B financing for SYNLAB.
• The joint bookrunners in connection with Loxam S.A.S.’s high yield notes offering, consisting of €700 million senior secured notes, €450 million senior secured notes and €250 million senior subordinated notes.
• The initial purchasers in connection with Loxam’s €300 million senior secured notes and €200 million senior subordinated notes.
• Bain Capital in connection with the financing for Bain’s acquisition of FTE Automotive, including the issuance of €240 million senior secured notes.
• Advent International and Oberthur in connection with Oberthur’s €190 million offering of senior notes.*
• Goldman Sachs in connection with Almaviva S.p.A.’s offering of €250 million senior secured notes.
• Carlson Travel Inc. in connection with its $415 million senior secured notes, €330 million senior secured floating rate notes and $250 million senior notes.
• The initial purchasers in connection with Premier Foods’ offering of £210 million senior secured floating rate notes.
• Hellman & Friedman in connection with the financing for Hellman & Friedman’s €600 million acquisition of TeamSystem from HgCapital including an English governed senior secured bridge and New York governed privately placed floating rate notes.^*
• The Blackstone Group and Cinven in connection with their €5.5 billion bid for certain assets of Holcim Lafarge.^*
• CVC Capital Partners in connection with the financing, including €550 million floating rate senior secured high yield bonds, of CVC’s acquisition of ParexGroup Participations S.A.S, and in connection with its offering of €350 million senior secured notes and €525 million senior subordinated notes.^*
• The Carlyle Group and IDH Finance in connection with IDH’s offering of £200 million senior secured fixed rate notes, £125 million senior secured floating rate notes and £75 million second lien notes.^*
• Cinven, Carlyle, Altice and Numericable Finance & Co. S.C.A. in connection with the amendment and extension of Numericable’s senior credit facilities and Numericable’s €360.2 million offering of senior secured notes.^*
• Oaktree Capital Management and SGD Group S.A.S. in connection with the offering by SGD Group S.A.S. of €350 million senior secured notes.^*
• HSBC and the other initial purchases in connection with Motor Oil Hellas’ €350 million senior notes offering.^*
• HSBC, BNP Paribas, Barclays and Lloyds in connection with Premier Foods’ £300 million senior secured notes offering and concurrent tender offer.^*
• RAC and CVC in connection with RAC’s £275 million senior secured notes offering.^*
• Worldpay Finance plc in connection with its €500 million inaugural senior notes offering.^*
• ZPG plc on its £200 million senior notes offering.^*

* Denotes prior firm experience

• Ward is ranked as a “French Foreign Expert” by Chambers Global.