Christopher P. Duerden
Partner | Charlotte
Christopher P. Duerden

Christopher P. Duerden, a partner in Dechert's global finance practice, focuses his practice on securitization and capital markets transactions. Mr. Duerden leads Dechert’s Structured Credit and CLO team, which has not only been ranked one of the most active in the CLO market since it restarted but also one of the most distinguished in terms of industry awards for best CLO law firm. 

Mr. Duerden has extensive experience with collateralized loan obligations, leveraged loan warehouse facilities and a variety of asset backed securities transactions. In particular, he has focused on transactions involving the middle market sector but also has significant experience with securitizations of trade receivables. He represents various underwriters, collateral managers and borrower and lenders in respect of term and revolving warehouse facilities. Mr. Duerden also advises managers and borrowers in a variety of fund financing structures, including NAV facilities, collateralized fund obligations and rated feeders.

Mr. Duerden is ranked as a leading securitization and CLOs lawyer by Chambers USA, which noted Mr. Duerden "has vast market intelligence, and he is thorough and creative in finding solutions." Additionally, he has been named as a recommended lawyer for structured finance and securitization by The Legal 500 U.S. Mr. Duerden is also recognized as a Rising Star for structured finance by Law360.

Prior to joining Dechert, Mr. Duerden worked at a large international law firm where he was an associate in the banking and finance practice group.

  • Bespoke CLOs / Aletnerative CLO Structures - Opal Group's CLO Summit 2023, Dana Point, CA (December 5, 2023)
  • CFO and Rated Note Feeders, FFA's 12th Annual Global Fund Finance Symposium, Miami, FL (February 9, 2023) 
  • The Role of Structured Finance in Private Credit, 2022 Permanent & Private Capital Summit, Dechert LLP – New York, NY (May 24 – 25, 2022)
  • Private Funds Nuts & Bolts: Raising Capital From Insurance Companies | Fund Structuring for Risk-Based/Solvency Capital for Insurance Companies in the U.S. and Europe - Dechert LLP, Webinar (June 23, 2021)
  • CLOs and Their Role Within a Private Credit Platform - 2021 Permanent & Private Capital Summit, Virtual Conference (June 2-3, 2021)
  • The Current State and Outlook of the CLO Market - Opal Group's CLO Summit 2020, Virtual Conference (December 9, 2020)
  • Looking Beyond Vanilla - Creditflux's CLO Investor Summit, Virtual Conference (November 13, 2020)
  • Middle Market CLOs - Opal Group's CLO Market Outlook 2020, Virtual Conference (June 24, 2020)
  • Middle Market: Leading the Troops in Battle - IMN's U.S. CLOs & Leveraged Loans Virtual Conference, Webinar (June 16, 2020)
  • Considerations for Warehouse Borrowers - Dechert LLP, Webinar (April 16, 2020)
  • How to Construct a CLO: Building a Portfolio and Negotiating Documents - Opal Group's CLO Summit 2019, Dana Point, CA (December 9, 2019)
  • Credit Fundamentals: CLO and Loan Document Trends - IMN's 8th Annual Investor's Conference on CLOs and Leveraged Loans, New York, NY (May 20, 2019)
  • The Current State and Outlook for the CLO Market - Opal Group's CLO Summit 2018, Dana Point, CA (November 28, 2018)
Services
    • The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A., 2001, Highest Distinction, Phi Beta Kappa
    • University of North Carolina School of Law, J.D., 2004, Merit Scholarship Recipient, Gressman-Pollitt Award Winner for Best Overall Oral Advocate
    • North Carolina