Joanne De Silva Resume

PROFILE

·   Lecturer in Law at Columbia Law School; Adjunct Professor at New York University School of Law

·   Experienced lawyer with over thirty years of practice at leading international law firms, primarily as a partner, in New York (1999-2024) and Singapore (1993-1999)

·   Speaker at continuing legal education programs and conferences

·   Certified executive coach

EXPERIENCE

Columbia Law School (2023-Present)
Lecturer in Law
New York                                                                            

New York University School of Law (2024-Present)
Adjunct Professor
New York                          

·   Acquisition Finance course:

  • Covering legal and finance concepts in acquisition financing transactions including credit agreement fundamentals, intercreditor arrangements, and liability management exercises

  • Integrating negotiation, drafting, and client development skills training

  • Examining impact of Artificial Intelligence on legal practice

Mayer Brown LLP (2021-2024)
Partner
New York                                                                                                                               

·   Specialist in acquisition financings, recapitalizations, and equity co-investments by institutional lenders

·   Member of firm’s Women’s Leadership Committee

·   Mentor to junior partners, counsel, and associates

·   Moderator and panelist at conferences and trainings on financing terms and market updates

Ropes & Gray LLP (2015-2021)
Partner
New York  

·   Head of Private Credit Practice Group representing institutional lender clients in financing transactions

·   Speaker at legal education programs at Practicing Law Institute and American Bar Association

·   Member of firm’s Recruiting Committee  

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP (1996-2015)
Partner; Associate
Singapore, New York

·   Led financings, including senior, junior, unitranche, and asset-based loans, and private placement of notes, for institutional lenders

·   Advised lender groups in workouts and restructurings during Global Financial Crisis

·   Established Singapore office of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius as part of three-lawyer team

Coudert Brothers (1993-1996)
Associate
Singapore 

·   Represented banks in cross-border bilateral and syndicated loans, project financings, and note issuances for investments in Indonesia, Thailand, and Japan

EDUCATION

University of Oxford
Bachelor of Arts in Law (1991), Master of Arts

BAR ADMISSIONS

New York  (2002)
Singapore (1993)
England and Wales (1992)