Commercial Financing and Secured Transactions

Gordon Arata Montgomery Barnett attorneys adeptly guide clients through secured and unsecured lending transactions.  From commercial real estate lending, to corporate debt and structured finance, we structure and negotiate financing transactions to protect our clients’ rights and achieve their business goals.  On each transaction, our attorneys creatively resolve the legal, regulatory and business challenges our clients face in even the most complex financing and business combination matters.

Our lender and borrower clients include banks and institutional lenders, the Louisiana Office of Community Development, private equity companies, significant public companies and closely held private companies.  We advise our clients through all phases of the financing transaction, providing a thorough risk and cost-benefit analysis. We also act as local counsel in multi-state or international financings for due diligence, drafting and negotiating documents, and rendering third-party legal opinions, working together with lead counsel to ensure optimal and efficient representation.

Our attorneys have structured, negotiated and closed:

• Real estate acquisition financings
• Revolving credit facilities
• Equipment, facility and inventory financings
• Bridge loans
• Intercreditor arrangements
• Letters of credit transactions
• Vessel financings
• Work outs and restructures of troubled loans

In structuring and documenting transactions, our attorneys have prepared lending agreements for credit facilities and the required documentation for Uniform Commercial Code perfection. We have similarly advised on priority and secured lending issues.

Some of the recent transactions our attorneys have handled include representing:

• A bank in its development financing of two solar projects in Louisiana
• A startup energy company in its term financing for federal offshore lease development
• A bank in the successful restructure of an oilfield pipe and equipment loan that had gone into default
• A chemical plant with its $210 million first lien credit facility and second lien note issuance
• The Louisiana Office of Community Development in numerous financings involving Community Development Block Grant funds and job creation incentives
• Numerous oil and gas companies in acquisition financings and re-financings
• Borrowers in rendering third-party legal opinions regarding the enforceability of Louisiana loan documents and the creation and perfection of the liens and security interests created thereby