Andrew Traynor
Partner
Ireland
Andrew is co-head of our Finance and Capital Markets Practice Group.
He specialises in finance and capital markets, securitisation, insurance-linked securities (ILS), distressed investment, finance, private equity and restructurings.
Andrew advises issuers, managers, sponsors, arrangers, trustee houses and agents, financial institutions and investors on a range of finance and capital markets transactions (both public and private). He focuses particularly on debt capital markets, securitisation, ILS, structured credit, distressed investment, restructurings and work-outs.
Andrew also provides Irish legal and structuring advice on bespoke, tax-efficient financing and investment platforms. He regularly acts for leading hedge funds, private equity outfits, credit opportunity funds and other market participants on joint-ventures, acquisition, servicing and disposing of non-performing loan portfolios, investments and other receivables in Europe and Asia.
Andrew advises issuers, managers, sponsors, arrangers, trustee houses and agents, financial institutions and investors on a range of finance and capital markets transactions (both public and private). He focuses particularly on debt capital markets, securitisation, ILS, structured credit, distressed investment, restructurings and work-outs.
Andrew also provides Irish legal and structuring advice on bespoke, tax-efficient financing and investment platforms. He regularly acts for leading hedge funds, private equity outfits, credit opportunity funds and other market participants on joint-ventures, acquisition, servicing and disposing of non-performing loan portfolios, investments and other receivables in Europe and Asia.
Incredibly well coordinated and able to take complex issues and simplify them efficiently. He simplifies topics and presents a comprehensive, understandable view of a legal issue.
Experience and recent work
Previously Andrew was a member of the Finance Group of a leading Irish law firm.
Transactions include:
Transactions include:
- Acting as lead counsel to a US$5 billion US hedge fund in relation the acquisition and on-going work-out of a US$1 billion portfolio of distressed Spanish loans and listing of related financing notes on the Global Exchange Market (GEM) of the Irish Stock Exchange (ISE);
- Acting as lead counsel to a UK fund manager in connection with the issuance of €300 million Senior Secured Notes and £300 million Senior Secured Notes by an Irish special purpose vehicle which listed on GEM. The note proceeds have been used to acquire a diverse portfolio of European commercial real estate loans backed by core / core+ collateral;
- Acting as lead counsel to a leading Asian alternative investment manager in relation to the establishment of a US$10 billion ABS programme backed by Chinese listed securities. This was a landmark transaction and the first of its kind both in Ireland and the People's Republic of China.
Qualifications
Admitted in:
- England and Wales (not practising)
- Ireland
Education:
- LLB (Hons), University of Wales, Cardiff
Andrew is a member of the Law Society of Ireland, Dublin Solicitors Bar Association and the Law of Society of England and Wales.
2024 Legal 500 - Leading individual: Capital Markets: Debt - "Andrew Traynor has regularly been the primary advisor we've turned to. He has been responsive, thoughtful, clear and commercial and it has led to a very helpful advisory relationship."
2024 Chambers Global - Band 2: Capital Markets: Debt - "One of Andrew Traynor's strengths is his understanding of the commercial drivers and regulatory sensitivities, but perhaps his biggest strength is his flexibility and his ability to approach matters in a practical manner."
2024 IFLR1000 - Highly Regarded - Capital Markets: Structured Finance and Securitisation; Capital Markets: Debt and Capital Markets: Derivatives
2024 Chambers Global - Band 2: Capital Markets: Debt - "Andrew is a great technical expert in his field, and stands out because he goes above and beyond for his clients."
2023 IFLR1000 - Highly Regarded - Capital Markets: Structured Finance and Securitisation; Capital Markets: Debt and Capital Markets: Derivatives - "Incredibly well coordinated and able to take complex issues and simplify them efficiently. He simplifies topics and presents a comprehensive, understandable view of a legal issue."
2023 IFLR1000 - Highly Regarded - Capital Markets: Structured Finance and Securitisation; Capital Markets: Debt and Capital Markets: Derivatives - "A good builder of relationships and understands the risk horizon well (from a regulatory perspective)."
2023 Chambers Global - Band 2: Capital Markets: Debt - "Andrew Traynor is incredibly responsive and knowledgeable and always helps to ensure a smooth transaction."
2022 IFLR 1000 (32nd Edition) - "Good understanding of client's needs, extremely responsive, very good business and legal knowledge."
2022 Chambers Global - Notable Practitioner - Capital Markets: Debt - "Clients find Andrew Traynor to be "a very smart guy" and "very good to deal with."
2021 IFLR 1000 - Highly Regarded
2021 Legal 500 - Leading Lawyer and Recommended Lawyer (Capital Markets: Debt) - ‘Andrew Traynor and Matt Hedigan have been very professional, reliable and most helpful with the task at hand. They have shown their dedication to the client and flexibility where required.’
2021 Chambers Europe Guide - Band 2 (Capital Markets: Debt)
2021 Chambers Global Guide - Band 2 (Capital Markets: Debt) - Andrew Traynor remains a prominent presence in the DCM market and has notable experience in diverse structured finance mandates, including synthetic RMBS transactions that entail the issuance of CLNs. One respondent finds him "super responsive and extremely knowledgeable," also noting that "he is great in distilling complex issues down to what matters."
2020 Legal 500 - Recommended Lawyer (Capital Markets: Debt) - "Andrew Traynor and Ian McNamee are extremely personable, actively involved in matters and able to understand when work is pressing and needs their attention. They understand cost pressures and manage matters accordingly."
2020 Legal 500 - Recommended Lawyer (Banking and Finance) - "Andrew Traynor, Ian McNamee, Noeleen Ruddy, associate Charlotte Chestnutt and of counsel Ailís Garvey are all excellent: very approachable, responsive and knowledgeable. They have detailed understanding of the varying types of transactions that we are involved in and the various capacities in which we act and this makes them ideally placed to provide consistently excellent service."
2020 Chambers Europe Guide - Band 2 (Capital Markets: Debt)
2020 Chambers Global Guide - (Capital Markets: Debt) - "Traynor is very solid, responsive, collaborative and astute. He strikes the right balance between providing us with appropriate legal advice, as well as business and operational insights."
2020 IFLR 1000 - Leading Lawyer and Highly Regarded
2019 Legal 500 - Recommended Lawyer (Banking and Finance)
2019 Legal 500 - Recommended Lawyer (Capital Markets)- Andrew Traynor 'provides consistently excellent service'
2019 Chambers Global Guide - Notable Practitioner (Capital Markets: Debt) - Andrew Traynor "is very experienced, responsive and astute, and strikes the right balance between providing appropriate legal advice and pragmatic commerciality."
2019 - IFLR1000 - Highly Regarded:
"He is an excellent lawyer who is a pleasure to deal with and very reliable. He really takes time to understand our business, risk appetite and works through complex problems in a smart and efficient way, uses plain English (important for us) and goes about his business with no airs and graces. He is refreshingly honest, and it is very reassuring to know that we are in safe hands."
2018 Legal 500 - Recommended Lawyer: "Impressive"
2018 Chambers Global & Europe Guide - (Capital Markets: Debt) A Notable Practitioner. "A very capable, pragmatic partner who always goes the extra mile."
2018 IFLR 1000 - Highly Regarded
2017 Legal 500 - Recommended Lawyer: "Andrew Traynor is ‘very good as coordinating multi-track processes’."
2017 Chambers Global & Europe Guide - (Capital Markets: Debt) A Notable Practitioner. "Andrew Traynor assists with securitisations and insurance-linked securities. Clients say he is 'exceptional in his turnaround time, his willingness to take on work and hit deadlines,' adding: 'He has a very practical and commercial approach'."
2017 IFLR 1000 - Leading Lawyer
2016 Legal 500 - Recommended Individual: "Andrew Traynor is ‘very considered and responsive’."
2016 Chambers Global - Andrew Traynor has a growing presence in the DCM sphere, coming recommended for his work on securitisation and insurance-linked securities, amongst other areas. He receives wide-ranging praise from clients for his approach to his caseload, with sources saying: "He is thoughtful, very pleasant to work with, really knows his stuff, and comes across as someone you can trust and would not doubt."
2015 IFLR 1000 - “Walkers service is exemplary. Swift to respond, clear and sensible analysis,” notes one structured products client. While another, who used the firm for a securitisation, says: “The services of Walkers are outstanding. High technical quality, client focus and experience are their most remarkable virtues.” Recent work highlights for the practice included Andrew Traynor’s advice to Santander on a static cash securitisation of auto loans to obligors in Finland valued at almost €500 million".
2015 Legal 500 - “Ranking among the best internationally’, Walkers Ireland’s ‘top-league team’ stands out for its ‘impeccable service levels’. The firm advised Banco Santander on the first ever auto loan securitisation in Denmark...Andrew Traynor is ‘commercial and practical’.
Andrew regularly tutors at the Law Society of Ireland in a variety of disciplines and has presented at industry events and seminars. He is also regularly published in industry publications.
Team Members
