Jifree Cader

Sidley Austin

Sidley Austin’s ambitious plan to boost its restructuring credentials paid off last year as it fought off stiff competition to land a mandate for foreign exchange bureau Travelex. Jifree Cader, who joined Sidley at the start of the practice’s growth phase in 2016, co-led on the deal with fellow partner Mark Knight, a newer member of Sidley’s expanding restructuring group.

Over five months, Cader played a pivotal role in Travelex’s financial and operational reorganisation, helping to secure the company’s future after a rocky start to 2020. It was not just Covid that had hampered business for the exchange bureau; a hack in January and ties to under-pressure Finablr meant there was a real mountain to climb for Cader and his team.

The Travelex gig was just the latest company-side mandate won by Cader, while others last year included ACPS Automotive, a TowerBrook portfolio company. In a dismal year for the hospitality sector, Cader was also involved in one of the saves, as TowerBrook nabbed Zizzi owner Azzurri Group. Momentum is certainly on Cader’s side for 2021.