Krystyna Blakeslee and Christopher Duerden Named as Emerging Leaders by The M&A Advisor
June 07, 2019
Dechert LLP partners Krystyna Blakeslee and Christopher Duerden have been named as Emerging Leaders by The M&A Advisor in its 10th Annual Emerging Leaders Awards. The contest celebrates the achievements of young M&A, financing and turnaround professionals who have enjoyed a significant level of success and made a notable contribution to their industry and community. Winners are selected by an independent judging panel of business leaders.
Krystyna Blakeslee, a real estate finance partner based in New York, steers banks and other large lenders through the origination of complex mortgage loans, mezzanine financings and subordinate debt secured by property types of all kinds. She has led on a number of very large transactions secured by multiple properties located in different states. She also has significant expertise on the equity side and has advised fund sponsors, funds and asset managers on the acquisition, financing and disposal of real estate assets.
A former Marine Corps sergeant who served in Iraq, Ms. Blakeslee also chairs Dechert Heroes, the firm’s veterans’ affinity group. In October 2018, she was named a “Working Mother of the Year” by Working Mother, a national magazine for career-committed mothers.
Christopher Duerden, a global finance partner at the firm’s Charlotte, North Carolina office, focuses his practice on securitization and capital markets transactions. He has developed significant expertise in connection with the formation and operation of collateralized loan obligation platforms, along with regulatory compliance issues related to CLOs.
Mr. Duerden has played a significant role in helping Dechert complete 60+ deals in 2018 with a total issuance value of US$32.6 billion, earning it accolades such as “CLO Law Firm of the Year” (GlobalCapital), “Law Firm of the Year” (Private Debt Investor), and “Leading CLO Manager’s Counsel Law Firm” (Asset Backed Alert).
Winners will be honored at a ceremony in New York City on September 17.
About Dechert
Dechert is a leading global law firm with 26 offices around the world. We advise on matters and transactions of the greatest complexity, bringing energy, creativity and efficient management of legal issues to deliver commercial and practical advice for clients.
