Banking & Finance | USA

Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP has a highly regarded bench of practitioners with a market-leading presence in the lending market. The team is known for acting with some of the world's largest investment funds and private equity houses. It offers seamless coordination between its capital markets and leveraged finance partners in its handling of high-yield bond work. The group represents arrangers in high-end M&A, including in the technology, healthcare and retail sectors.

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP boasts a deep bench of expert financing practitioners notable for their breadth, serving both borrower and lender clients at the highest level. The team is highly regarded for both leveraged and investment-grade lending, including debt restructuring and acquisition financing. It boasts impressive international reach, with a stellar reputation for deals involving Latin American countries.

Kirkland & Ellis has a uniquely positioned New York banking and finance group that is able to draw on nationwide and global strength in fund-related financings. It acts on both single-lender and syndicated transactions for both private equity sponsors and lenders. The team is well-known for its offerings on high-yield, mezzanine and bridge financing transactions. It is capable of middle-market work in addition to its large-cap and investment grade work.

Latham & Watkins LLP is a go-to practice with a strong bench, acting for high-profile corporate borrowers as well as major financial institutions. The firm is recognized for its strengths in syndicated loan transactions and highly esteemed for its strength on cross-border transactions. It fields experienced attorneys with expertise across bridge financings, investment-grade loans and multicurrency facilities.

Paul Hastings LLP has a broad finance practice with a particular focus on lender-side and private equity sponsor representation. The team is particularly noted for its significant presence in the asset-based lending space, and its work with clients on term loans and bridge loans, as well as restructuring matters. It represents a good choice of firm for cross-border transactions, with a pronounced focus on energy financings.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP has a group of market-leading experts handling a number of the biggest financing deals in the US and globally. In addition to a dealsheet of top-class acquisition financings, it offers expertise in asset-based lending as well as more general term loans and revolvers. The firm is well-reputed among all sectors of the market, with corporates, sponsors and lenders turning to the group for large transactions.

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP has a top-tier department handling eye-catching financing mandates for a clientele of corporate behemoths and Wall Street lending institutions. The firm boasts capabilities in cross-border loan structuring in addition to domestic transactions, including acquisition financing. It combines strength in high-value term and revolving credit facilities with more esoteric matters, including recapitalizations and asset-based lending.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP has an accomplished finance practice that is widely regarded for its representation of leading borrower clients, particularly private equity funds. It is highly adept in leveraged finance matters and routinely sought after for its skills in high-yield debt offerings, second-lien financings and mezzanine capital matters. The team is active in transactions across an enormous range of industries, with demonstrable expertise in healthcare, media and insurance.

Milbank LLP has a compact team of renowned finance lawyers offering in-depth market knowledge and expertise. The team is noted for its reputation of leading lenders, and is also adept at acting for borrowers and private equity sponsors across the whole spectrum of finance transactions. It is highly regarded for its cross-border expertise on large-scale transactions, including LBOs. The group notably represents companies in the energy, technology and transportation sectors.

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP's practice is known for its representation of leading private equity and borrower clients, as well as its capabilities in direct lending. The firm offers expertise in debt financing, including LBOs and asset-based loans, and regularly sought after to advise on recapitalizations and restructurings. It possesses additional strength in distressed situation lending matters.

White & Case LLP has a thriving finance practice, and the team represents a loyal following of clients on both domestic and international transactions. It offers experience in syndicated lending, acquisition finance and asset-based lending, among a host of other areas. The team is highly regarded for its debtor-in-possession work. Its client base includes heavyweight underwriters, investment banks and household name corporations, as well as private equity firms and their portfolios.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton is very adept at handling a wide range of finance mandates. The team has in-depth experience in debt financings including acquisition financing, strategic acquisitions and credit facilities. The firm is equally at home providing advice on secured and unsecured financing, refinancings and private credit matters. The firm is able to bring to bear a strong international network.

Ropes & Gray LLP attracts a wide array of leading private equity clients and continues to be highly regarded for its expertise in leveraged finance work acting for borrowers in both domestic and cross-border transactions. The firm is renowned for its expertise on the whole spectrum of financings including acquisition financings, private equity investments and whole business securitizations. It is also noted for its strengths in mezzanine debt and direct lending matters. The team maintains client relationships across a diverse range of sectors, with noteworthy activity in the technology, healthcare and consumer products spaces.

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP is a well-regarded firm that is noted for its strong focus on lender-side and borrower-side work. The firm has niche expertise in handling direct lending matters for insurance companies. It regularly works with household name corporates, private equity houses and financial institutions. The team ably assists clients with international and cross-border matters.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP has a robust finance practice, highlighted for its balanced approach in representing prominent lender and borrower clients. The team is noted for its adept counsel on cross-border acquisition financing and also enjoys a fine reputation for its work on restructurings in the energy sector. It also excels in its representation of private equity clients and their portfolio companies, and is increasingly active on behalf of non-bank direct lenders. The firm has expert capabilities when handling sophisticated investment-grade acquisition financings.

A&O Shearman is a major corporate player with a growing financing practice and strength in both borrower and lender representation, regularly acting for banking syndicates. The firm displays particular strength in syndicated lending, acquisition financing, asset-based lending, mezzanine financings and bond offerings. It is highly regarded in the market for handling the finance elements of major cross-border transactions. The group has extensive experience acting for its diverse roster of clients in industries such as retail, energy and technology.

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP has a robust finance practice, with the team representing private equity sponsors, banks and corporations on a wide range of financings, including senior secured credit facilities, syndicated loans and recapitalizations. It offers complementary expertise in M&A and is regularly engaged to handle big-ticket sponsor work, as well as matters across the middle market.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP has expertise in key markets, including New York, California and Texas, across the whole gamut of financing transactions, and is renowned for its work on behalf of borrowers and private equity clients. The team possesses substantial experience in financing transactions across a wide range of sectors including energy, consumer products and telecommunications. It regularly handles complex acquisition financings.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates has an established finance group that is recognized for its strategic representation of leading borrower and lender clients. The team is well-equipped in both domestic and cross-border financing matters and much sought after for its strengths in acquisition financing and leveraged recapitalizations. It also excels in corporate restructuring and asset-based loan matters. The firm boasts a diverse client base, extending across the real estate, pharmaceuticals and energy sectors.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP has an expanding finance practice reinforced by nationally recognized M&A and bankruptcy groups. The team handles a wide array of finance transactions, frequently representing some of the leading private equity funds, corporate borrowers and investment banks. It has additional experience representing hedge funds and registered funds in high-value redemption and subscription credit facilities. The firm is highlighted for its significant cross-border expertise and a wealth of experience in the energy sector.

DLA Piper is regarded for its ability to handle a range of financings for borrower and lender side clients. The team has considerable experience across a number of sectors including technology, healthcare and entertainment. Its particularly noted for its expertise in cross-border transactions.

Freshfields' team represents private equity and portfolio companies in various strategic advice matters and refinancings. Their experience includes debt restructuring among other borrower-side matters with a specialty in the technology sector. They also have experience handling cross-border matters.

Goodwin houses a well regarded banking and finance group, capable of assisting clients with an array of finance transactions. The team is very adept at managing middle market financial transaction matters. The practitioners are very well-versed in syndicated revolving and term loans, bridge facilities and restructurings. It has added expertise in the private equity space.

Mayer Brown LLP's team is noted for its broad banking and finance practice. The group has considerable experience in advising both lenders and borrowers across a diverse range of transactions. The practitioners are notably adept at handling issues with cross-border elements. Its team is renowned for its ability to provide counsel on acquisition financings, as well as debt restructuring.

Morgan Lewis & Bockius comes highly recommended for its expertise across a broad range of debt financings, including asset-based lending, direct lending and mezzanine investments among others. The group has additional expertise in distressed matters. It is also noted for its experience with cross-border financings.