Boutique bank Sonenshine ups restructuring staff

NEW YORK Feb 4 (Reuters) - Boutique investment bank Sonenshine Partners hired a banker to boost its restructuring practice, as it looks to capitalize on business from companies running into trouble due to the financial crisis.

David Haase joined the New York-based firm as managing director. He was earlier in the restructuring and leveraged finance group at Wachovia Bank, Sonenshine said on Wednesday.

Sonenshine Partners, which was founded in 2000, also said it had named turnaround specialist Jerry Levin to its advisory board.

Many advisory firms are beefing up their restructuring practices anticipating more business from distressed companies as the credit crisis and economic downturn take their toll. (For more M&A news and our DealZone blog, go to www.reuters.com/deals) (Reporting by Paritosh Bansal; Editing by Gary Hill)