Seward & Kissel Adds Transportation Finance Partner Susanne Burstein to Maritime and Transportation Group

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Seward & Kissel LLP announced today that Susanne Burstein has joined the Firm’s Maritime and Transportation Group as Head of Transportation Finance.

Over her two decades of legal practice, Burstein has focused on finance transactions across transportation sectors with a particular focus on shipping and aviation. She represents domestic and international financial institutions, funds, borrowers, lessors and operators on cross-border asset-backed loans, restructurings, leasing transactions, export-credit backed financings, structured products and asset acquisitions. She is ranked by legal directory Legal 500 for her ship finance experience.

“Susanne’s addition reaffirms Seward & Kissel’s status as the destination for premier talent in shipping and transportation finance,” said James Cofer, managing partner of Seward & Kissel. “Her highly respected practice—which stretches from domestic to multi-jurisdictional transactions and from acquisitions to leases—complements the highly-regarded work of our Firm extremely well.”

Burstein comes to Seward & Kissel from the New York office of the London-headquartered, global firm of Watson Farley & Williams LLP (WFW) where she was a partner in the Assets and Structured Finance Group. During her career at WFW, Burstein advised on financings involving a variety of assets in the transportation space including vessels, aircraft, engines, unmanned electric aircraft, containers, buses and intermodal equipment. Burstein has also represented clients in the energy and infrastructure sectors.

“I am eager to build on the rich history of maritime and transportation finance work that Seward & Kissel is well known for,” said Burstein. “It’s an honor to join a team that has shaped so many of the maritime industry’s landmark transactions.”

“Susanne’s arrival not only reinforces the Firm’s leadership in the maritime industry but also unlocks powerful new opportunities to serve our clients’ specialized transportation finance needs,” said Keith Billotti, co-head of the Firm’s Maritime and Transportation Capital Markets Practice. “Her deep experience advising on financings across a broad spectrum of transportation assets brings invaluable perspective.”

Burstein received her J.D. from the Tulane University School of Law, with a Certificate of Specialization in Admiralty and Maritime law. She received her B.A. from Tufts University.

About Seward & Kissel LLP

Seward & Kissel LLP, founded in 1890, is a leading U.S. law firm with offices in New York City and Washington, D.C., with particular expertise in the financial services, investment management, banking, and shipping industries. The Firm is well known for its representation of investment advisers and related investment funds, broker-dealers, major commercial banks, institutional investors, and transportation companies (particularly in the shipping area). Its practices primarily focus on corporate, M&A, securities, litigation (including white collar), restructuring/bankruptcy, real estate, regulatory, tax, employment, and ERISA for clients seeking legal expertise in these areas.