Gary Simmons is the Managing Director of the AFME High Yield division, for which he leads AFME’s efforts to lower costs and increase efficiency in the execution of high-yield transactions, and lobbies for the reform of corporate insolvency laws. He also heads the AFME Prime Services division, which monitors business, legal and regulatory issues affecting the prime brokerage industry, and provides advocacy for member positions.

Gary is a New York-qualified lawyer and was previously a senior associate at Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton. After an initial period in New York, Gary spent several years in London, gaining extensive experience in cross border and emerging markets debt transactions, particularly high-yield bond issuances and leveraged loans.

Gary has a Juris Doctor from Rutgers University School of Law (with honors) and a Bachelor of Arts (with highest honors) from Rutgers University. Following law school, he was a law clerk to the Honorable William H. Walls of the United States Federal District Court, District of New Jersey.

Gilles Teerlinck is a capital markets partner in the London office of White & Case. Gilles advises issuer and underwriter clients, as well as alternative capital investors on international capital markets and cross-border leveraged finance transactions, with a particular focus on high-yield bond financings and acquisition financings.

Gilles also advises on debt liability management transactions, restructurings, initial public offerings and U.S. securities law matters.

Based in both London and Paris and fluent in English, French and Dutch, Gilles has a deep understanding of the European leveraged finance market and he heads the French high yield practice at White & Case.

Thierry joined IK Partners in 2020 and is a Partner, heading up the Capital Markets team in London. He is responsible for leading acquisition financing and overseeing related activities for the Firm’s buyouts and portfolio companies as well as managing the Firm’s relationships with lenders. Since joining, Thierry has grown the team considerably and set a framework for Capital Markets involvement throughout the lifecycle of an investment.

Prior to joining IK Partners, Thierry was at KKR, focusing on private credit investments and capital markets activities.

Thierry began his career in leveraged finance at J.P. Morgan, where he was actively involved in leveraged loans and high yield transactions. Thierry holds an MSc in Management from HEC Paris.