Finance

The ArentFox Schiff Finance team specializes in structuring and executing complex financing transactions. We represent banks, insurance companies, private debt funds, and other institutional investors, providing individualized advice based on their unique business objectives and risk management concerns. We also assist issuers and borrowers as they navigate the financial landscape. Our team of skilled professionals works closely with clients to offer customized advice, taking into account their specific business goals and risk management considerations. 

Our attorneys are regularly recognized as leaders in their field. Our lawyers are individually ranked by Chambers USA for both Banking & Finance and Public Finance. Our partners are also active in leading organizations of finance attorneys including Fellows of the American College of Investment Counsel (ACIC) and Fellows of the American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers (ACCFL).

What We Offer

Our Finance team is widely recognized for value-added qualities integral to a successful transaction, including:

• Extensive Experience: Our knowledge of current market trends combined with the perspective of past practice creates an unsurpassed ability to reach the right answers.
• Personalized Service: Each deal has its own characteristics. We avoid a cookie cutter approach and tailor our work to the particular needs at issue. We go the extra mile to not just meet, but exceed, expectations.
• Calm in the Storm: The pace of transactions is oftentimes fast and furious. Time and again our clients have praised our steadying focus and ability to stay on course toward a mutually satisfactory result.
• Relationship Building: We understand the importance that our clients attribute to maintaining and building strong working relationships with the other parties to a transaction.  Finding common ground. Being responsive, reasonable and credible. Innovative problem solving. These characteristics describe ArentFox Schiff ’s practice and help lead to strong relationships and repeat transactions.
• Cost Effectiveness: Our depth of experience and knowledge of the market allows us to “cut to the chase.” We identify issues early. We know the alternatives. We work through concerns quickly and efficiently.

Our Work

• Syndicated & Leveraged Finance: We represent agents, arrangers, lenders, and borrowers in all forms of syndicated and private credit direct lending transactions. Our work includes the negotiation and documentation of traditional revolving credit, term loan, and letter of credit facilities, along with other lending arrangements such as asset-based lending, subscription facilities, securitizations, and various structured finance transactions, leveraged buyouts, unitranche, one-stop, and second lien financings.
• Private Placements: We have represented clients in private placement transactions for more than 50 years, collaborating with placement agents, investors, and issuers to close a large volume of secured and unsecured domestic and cross-border transactions. We serve as a trusted advisor helping to structure and analyze the terms of financings, giving investors the ability to effectively evaluate the legal risks of each potential transaction prior to making a decision to invest. We represent many of the largest institutional investors in the private placement market.
• Mezzanine and Junior Capital Transactions: We have a preeminent nationally recognized practice representing clients in a broad spectrum of junior capital transactions, including senior subordinated and junior subordinated debt facilities (secured and unsecured), holdco and PIK note facilities, preferred securities (including various classes of stock and LLC interests) as well as common securities (including warrants, options and other equity kickers, direct co-investments and control investments) and NAV loans. Our work spans the life of the loan or investment transaction from early stage diligence, commitment and closing through exit including, if and as needed, all facets of workouts, recapitalizations, and restructurings. We routinely face complex deal structures and difficult situations in both sponsored and non-sponsored transactions. Our approach involves a seamless integration of multiple specializations, and we pride ourselves on our longstanding track record of total client satisfaction and surpassing expectations.
• Public Finance: We maintain a leading public finance practice focused on the underlying borrowers and creditors and are a national leader in representing trustees, institutional investors, public agencies, and conduit bond obligors in restructuring public finance debt. We also have substantial experience representing national and regional investment banking firms on a wide variety of transactions.
• Issuers and Borrowers: We recognize that each borrower has unique objectives and concerns when embarking on a capital-raising plan. We make it our job to understand those objectives and concerns, and we use our in-depth knowledge of the finance markets to counsel clients on the best way to proceed. Our clients come from all areas of the economy, including manufacturing companies, private equity funds, governmental agencies, REITS, finance companies, consumer products companies, and various specialized service providers.
• Debt Capital Markets: We advise investors and issuers on public and private offerings of debt securities, including one-time takedowns and shelf issuances, high-yield, convertible, and other equity-linked securities and zero-coupon securities. We also advise on offerings made in connection with issuer stock repurchase programs, including tender offers and accelerated stock buybacks.
• Workouts & Restructurings: We represent creditors, bankruptcy and indenture trustees, municipalities and other governmental agencies, and borrowers alike in all aspects of corporate restructurings, workouts, foreclosures, and bankruptcies, including those arising from corporate and real estate financings, financing leases, public finance transactions and repurchase obligations. We offer advice on debtor-in-possession and exit credit facilities, collateral, and other credit support issues, forbearance and waiver agreements, and intercreditor arrangements.