SJ Berwin sees structured finance setback as practice head quits

City-based Brian Carne, who has headed the seven-lawyer team since 2006, tendered his resignation earlier this month and is expected to leave by the end of October. The departure will leave the specialist team with just six associates and no partner capacity.

The structured finance and derivatives team is a stand-alone practice within the firm's 45-lawyer finance practice group. It holds relationships with many key clients, and this March won the firm around eight advisory roles on the Bank of New York panel.

The firm will announce the new leader of the group shortly. It is considering internal promotions within the group, which has three
senior associates.

SJ Berwin's finance head Jeremy Cross said: "We had not expected Brian's resignation and it is a shame to lose him, but all the areas we have covered in the past will continue to be covered by the team."

Carne, whose practice focuses on advising financial institutions and corporate clients in relation to securitisations, repackaging, derivatives and all other types of structured finance products, has yet to decide his next move.

He has headed the structured finance and derivatives group since joining SJ Berwin from Lovells, where he was head of the derivatives practice.

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