Profile: Paul Etienne Kumleben

Capital Markets

Biography: Capital Markets

Mr Kumleben is a member of Davis Polk & Wardwell's corporate department and is based in London. He represents European corporations and investment banks in securities offerings and other financings in the international public and private markets. He also advises clients on private equity and other mergers and acquisitions transactions.

His European company clients have included Lloyds TSB and Royal Bank of Scotland. He regularly advises investment banks on securities offerings by major European issuers. Examples of past representations include over US$14 billion in financings by STMicroelectronics, SABMiller's US$4 billion bond offerings and NXP's US$5.75 billion high-yield offering.

In 14 years of European practice, Mr Kumleben has advised on financings or other transactions for companies or governments in 24 countries. His work spans a range of industries, with particular emphasis on financial institutions, health care and technology.

Mr Kumleben joined Davis Polk in 1982 and became a partner in 1988. He has practised in the London office since 1992.

Mr Kumleben graduated from the University of Cape Town, South Africa, in 1976, and in 1978 received his LLB from the University of Natal. He received a first class degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, in 1981 from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. He received his JD from IIT, Kent, Chicago, in 1982.

He was a member of staff of the Brady Commission, established by President Reagan to investigate the 1987 stock market crash. He is a member of the American Bar Association and the New York City Bar.

Mr Kumleben has been listed as a leading lawyer in several industry publications: Chambers Global - Leaders in Their Field, Chambers Europe - Leaders in Their Field, IFLR's Expert Guide to the World's Leading Lawyers - Best of the Best, Legal Media Group's Expert Guide to the World's Leading Capital Markets Lawyers and PLC's Cross-border Finance: Secured Lending Handbook, as well as the present publication.