Michael Bray
General Counsel
Michael has more than 45 years’ experience as an international banking lawyer. From 1976 to 2015 he was a partner in Clifford Chance where he held many senior positions, including leading the firm’s global banking and capital markets practice. Michael has acted for the world’s leading banks and was at the forefront of many innovative developments in the financial markets. He is an acknowledged expert in the fields of sovereign lending, acquisition finance, project finance and structured finance and has wide experience acting for banks in sovereign and corporate debt re-scheduling and work-out situations. He has also acted for the Loan Markets Association.
Mirthe van Kesteren
Partner – Bott Van Kesteren Partners Limited
Mirthe has advised on commodities-backed, receivables-backed and other structured transactions across Europe and the emerging markets for the past 24 years, acting for both financial institutions and borrowers. Before setting up Bott Van Kesteren Partners, Mirthe was a senior partner in a Magic Circle firm where she led its London based Structured Trade and Commodity Finance and Emerging Markets Banking practices and co-led its CIS and Ukraine Desks. Mirthe is a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales, a Member of the New York Bar and a Registered European Lawyer.
Michael Bott
Partner – Bott Van Kesteren Partners Limited
Michael has advised on transactions in the emerging markets, particularly Russia and the CIS, for the past 26 years. He has acted for international banks and corporates on some of the largest and most complex commodities-backed financings and restructurings in Russia. Before setting up Bott Van Kesteren Partners, Michael was a senior partner in a Magic Circle firm where he led its Russian Banking & Finance Practice. He speaks Russian fluently. Michael is a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales, a Member of the New York Bar and a Registered European Lawyer.