Birketts—Colin Tan

Birketts has announced the appointment of Colin Tan as a Partner in its highly reputable Banking and Finance Team.  He will be based in Birketts’ Cambridge office, but will support colleagues across all five offices in London, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich and Norwich.

Colin has a wealth of finance and general banking experience. In addition to advising on leveraged and structured finance transactions, he has advised banks and corporate borrowers on operating bank facilities such as supply chain financing, working capital facilities, cash pooling arrangements and letters of credit and bank guarantee facilities. He also advises clients on international trade commercial matters and insolvency and restructuring. He has acted for English and European companies on domestic and cross border financings and commercial matters and advised banks and debt arrangers in the UK, US and Europe. Colin has been practising law for more than twenty years since graduating from Cambridge and is fluent in Mandarin. He joins Birketts from the London office of a US law firm.

Commenting on his appointment, Colin said: “I am delighted to join Birketts’ highly regarded Banking and Finance Team and to have the opportunity to contribute to a rapidly growing area of the firm’s practice. I look forward to undertaking fresh challenges and advising old and new clients.”

Birketts is also pleased to announce the appointment of Alex Schaafsma, Partner, as the new Head of Banking and Finance, taking over from Mark Henry.

Commenting on her appointment, Alex said: “Birketts has in recent years recognised Banking and Finance as a core area of growth for the firm and I am very grateful to Mark Henry for all his hard work in establishing a specialist team. I have no doubt that Colin will be an asset to the firm and clients alike and that his experience and knowledge will complement the team’s existing skill set, providing additional depth of expertise. As a Tier 1 team, I feel that we have some very exciting years ahead and are in a strong position to offer our clients a fantastic alternative to a large London law firm.”