Sector developments and company hires

UK

Hunton Andrews Kurth has recruited David Klass as a partner in its London office. Klass brings more than 15 years of experience advising on a wide range of tax issues and transactions, particularly those with an international element. Among the clients he advises are asset originators and arrangers in connection with structured finance deals. He was previously a partner with the London office of Gide Loyrette Nouel.

US

Clifford Chance has hired Steven Mastrovich to its New York office, where he will be involved in the firm’s REIT, real estate, hospitality, private equity, fintech and specialty finance practices. He will be supporting clients in private capital raising, joint venture and capital formation, enterprise reorganisations, complex transactions and in developing next step strategies to support enterprise growth and success. Prior to joining the firm, he was md and head of real estate at UBS in its private funds group, with global responsibility for the real estate private capital markets business.

New York Mortgage Trust has named Jason Serrano as president of the company, reporting to ceo Steven Mumma. Serrano was previously a partner at Oak Hill Advisors and ran its mortgage investment business. Prior to joining OHA, he served as a principal at Blackstone (where he led the structured finance investment team) and a vp at Fortress (assisting in the management of US$2bn of distressed structured products and whole loan portfolios).