Company: Clayton Utz
Title: Senior associate
Age: 30
During 2019, Mark Chahine engaged and assisted new players in the securitisation market, particularly fintechs. He acted for Athena Home Loans, advising on their initial debt raising. He worked directly with management to understand its complex financing arrangements, participated in all negotiations, and conducted most of the drafting. Chahine also assisted Prospa Advance in the establishment of its securitisation warehouse acting for the funder. He was the key contact assisting the funder in negotiations and on regulatory issues which represented a risk allocation to the funder. Chahine also engaged with existing clients on how to streamline and simplify existing processes. In what has been one of the busiest years in the securitisation market since prior to the global financial crisis, Chahine has maintained his professionalism and work ethic, meeting tight, and often unrealistic, deadlines on numerous competing deals. However, he has taken the time to engage in pro bono matters. One such example is his continued work with Rough Threads who engage with disadvantaged members of the community and provide them with various services not otherwise accessible. Despite the demands of day to day client needs, Chahine also works internally with Clayton Utz on its graduate training programmes.