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USA California Banking & Finance

This section covers lending transactions and recognizes those working on behalf of lenders and borrowers. Both banks and alternative lenders, such as credit funds, are recognized as lenders. Transactions may include acquisition financings, refinancings and general lending. All structures and methods of credit facility are relevant to this chapter. In states where Project Finance is not recognized separately, such work may be submitted to that state's Banking & Finance section. While the financing of property transactions may be relevant as part of a broad practice, firms or lawyers with a financing practice which revolves entirely around this should submit to the relevant Real Estate section. Where a specific Real Estate: Finance section exists covering the same geographical area, property work should not be included in Banking & Finance submissions.

1
Band 1
  1. Kirkland & Ellis LLP
    1
    Kirkland & Ellis LLP
    Banking & Finance
    2023 | Band 1 |
    Stands out for its high-level expertise in advising private equity funds on debt and acquisition financings. Increasingly active in representing alternative investors. Go-to debt financing group acting for borrowers and lenders, while also offering experience of restructuring matters.
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  2. Latham & Watkins LLP
    1
    Latham & Watkins LLP
    Banking & Finance
    2023 | Band 1 |
    World-renowned finance group with an established position at the forefront of the California market. Regularly acts on behalf of top-tier clients across the whole spectrum of industries, with a concentration on emerging growth companies, providing expert representation for both borrowers and lenders in a variety of leveraged financing transactions. Particularly noted for its entertainment finance capabilities.
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2
Band 2
  1. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
    2
    Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
    Banking & Finance
    2023 | Band 2 |
    Expert representation of corporate borrowers and private equity funds complemented by a strong lender practice. Eminent acquisition financing expertise, with a team of lawyers providing vast expertise across a range of high-value transactions including significant real estate deals.
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  2. Paul Hastings LLP
    2
    Paul Hastings LLP
    Banking & Finance
    2023 | Band 2 |
    Robust finance group that offers a full-service practice, with nationwide capabilities and resources. Works with a broad range of clients in a variety of sectors. Frequently retained to handle large-scale leveraged financing transactions. Active in a number of industries, with a particular focus on transactions in the healthcare space.
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3
Band 3
  1. Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
    3
    Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
    Banking & Finance
    2023 | Band 3 |
    Extensive finance practice fielding significant national and international capabilities as well as deep relationships with California-based clients. Broad experience includes complex venture debt financing, acquisition financing and transactions involving Native American gaming entities. Stands out for its accomplished public finance arm and representation of states, cities, counties and public bodies. Well positioned to act for clients operating within the direct lending space.
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  2. Proskauer Rose LLP
    3
    Proskauer Rose LLP
    Banking & Finance
    2023 | Band 3 |
    Highlighted for its broad-based finance expertise which sees it act for lenders, borrowers and sponsors across a range of regulated industries. Notable depth in leveraged financing transactions and distressed lending. Standalone practice complemented by firmwide strength in areas such as tax. Industry-specific knowledge relating to sports, healthcare, media and gaming, among others.
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  3. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates
    3
    Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates
    Banking & Finance
    2023 | Band 3 |
    A talented transactional practice with an enviable client following of elite lenders and corporate borrowers on significant domestic and international deals. Experienced team of lawyers providing a plethora of expertise across a range of matters including restructurings and exit financings as well as acquisition financing arrangements. Notable experience in private equity deals across a range of industries.
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  4. White & Case LLP
    3
    White & Case LLP
    Banking & Finance
    2023 | Band 3 |
    Strong West Coast finance group with national and international experience. Counts household-name financial institutions among its clientele and is active in a diverse range of industries, including healthcare, technology and automotives.
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4
Band 4
  1. Alston & Bird LLP
    4
    Alston & Bird LLP
    Banking & Finance
    2023 | Band 4 |
    Alston & Bird boasts a talented bench of partners in the banking and finance space. The team demonstrates its ability to represent both lenders and borrowers, including private equity funds and commercial banks. The group is notably adept at providing counsel on asset-based lending deals. Its practitioners also routinely assists clients on debt and high-yield bond financings.
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  2. Buchalter, A Professional Corporation
    4
    Buchalter, A Professional Corporation
    Banking & Finance
    2023 | Band 4 |
    Extensive team of lawyers with a strong reputation on a range of transactional matters, including asset-based lending and large syndicated loans. Offers capabilities in areas such as technology finance and agricultural finance, with particular expertise on cross-border work. Regularly acts for lenders on acquisition financing transactions, with additional sector-specific experience in manufacturing.
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  3. Cooley LLP
    4
    Cooley LLP
    Banking & Finance
    2023 | Band 4 |
    Cooley's group offers its clients complete coverage in lender, borrower and sponsor matters. The team is renowned for its ability to handle matters arising from the technology and life sciences sectors. Its practitioners have experience in advising on complex acquisition financings and asset-based financings, as well as debt and equity restructuring.
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  4. Goodwin
    4
    Goodwin
    Banking & Finance
    2023 | Band 4 |
    Strong lender practice with additional expertise assisting borrowers in the middle market. Well placed to handle acquisition finance matters in addition to working capital financings. Acts for a wide range of clients, including sponsors and regional corporates.
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  5. McGuireWoods LLP
    4
    McGuireWoods LLP
    Banking & Finance
    2023 | Band 4 |
    Established finance practice that has capabilities across both big-ticket syndicated financings and a range of midmarket transactions. Regularly sought after by a diverse array of clients including financial institutions and corporate borrowers from different industries, including retail and manufacturing.
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  6. Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
    4
    Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
    Banking & Finance
    2023 | Band 4 |
    Active financing group that is regularly sought after by premier financial institutions, most notably with respect to its asset-based lending practice. Maintains a strong corporate borrower client base and additionally highlighted for its lender-side entertainment finance practice.
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  7. Morrison Foerster
    4
    Morrison Foerster
    Banking & Finance
    2023 | Band 4 |
    Maintains an impressive borrower-side client roster while also offering extensive experience in acting for lenders and credit funds. Comprehensive experience on a variety of transactions, including acquisition financings and syndicated lending. Prominent presence in impact lending around socially conscious ventures, such as clean energy projects.
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  8. Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
    4
    Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
    Banking & Finance
    2023 | Band 4 |
    Maintains an active West Coast finance practice, frequently representing significant clients on both the lender and borrower sides of complex transactions. Notable strength in restructuring and bankruptcy matters. Further experience advising financial institutions with regard to regulatory, licensing and form compliance issues. Regularly appears on the lender side of commercial and residential real estate finance transactions.
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  9. Sidley Austin LLP
    4
    Sidley Austin LLP
    Banking & Finance
    2023 | Band 4 |
    Versatile finance group, regularly retained to act on transactions such as cross-border secured financings, acquisition financing and asset-backed lending involving nontraditional collateral. Regularly sought after by an array of high-profile institutional lenders and borrowers across the whole spectrum of industries, with particular expertise in emerging growth companies including those in the entertainment and technology sectors.
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