TSL Express Daily News

Jeffrey B. Dunlop and Maria T. McGuire have been named Co-Chairs of Goldberg Kohn's Commercial Finance Practice Group. They succeed Michael Hainen, who completed his highly successful nine-year term as the practice group leader at the end of 2023.

Jeff and Maria take the helm of the largest practice group at Goldberg Kohn, with nearly 50 attorneys dedicated to representing banks, private credit funds, specialty lenders and other commercial lenders in loan transactions ranging from $15 million to $650 million and involving borrowers across a broad spectrum of industries and sectors. The practice is nationally recognized by some of the largest and most successful financial services companies in the world, and regularly competes toe-to-toe with the largest, most prestigious law firms in the United States and beyond.

Jeff, who joined Goldberg Kohn in 2006, focuses his practice on the representation of banks and other commercial lenders in a variety of commercial finance transactions. He is experienced in handling secured asset-based and cash-flow loans, leveraged buy-outs, mezzanine financings, second lien financings and unitranche loan transactions. In addition, he has extensive experience in cross-border lending transactions involving North and South America, Europe and Asia.

Maria, who joined Goldberg Kohn in 2005, represents banks, finance companies, private credit and specialty lenders in asset-based and cash-flow loans, and working capital and acquisition finance transactions. She has experience in a variety of business sectors, including technology finance transactions. Maria also has extensive experience in international finance transactions, primarily focusing on Europe and North America, and is regularly engaged in restructurings and workouts. 

Both Jeff and Maria were named "40 Under 40" award recipients by The Secured Finance Network, which recognizes "the best and brightest rising stars in secured finance."

"Jeff and Maria are outstanding lawyers with significant market savvy. I know their experience and vision will help guide our commercial finance practice to the highest level of success, and look forward to supporting their leadership," said outgoing chair Mike Hainen.

Maria added: "Jeff and I are honored to have been selected to lead such a talented, dedicated team of attorneys. We will continue to grow the practice while maintaining our focus on our clients, their business and legal needs, and the market conditions affecting them."

Goldberg Kohn's Commercial Finance Practice Group represents banks, commercial finance companies, private credit and specialty lenders, and other institutional lenders in structuring, negotiating, documenting and closing a wide range of lending transactions. These include asset-based and cash-flow loans, unitranche structures, leveraged buyouts and mezzanine financings. Attorneys in the group are engaged in mergers and acquisition financings, recapitalization financings, refinancings, and other complex financial arrangements requiring institutional debt, and often "trouble spot" deal structures and documentation, particularly in co-lend arrangements, as well as lead multi-bank/multi-borrower facilities. The attorneys have extensive experience in bilateral and syndicated credit facilities, often representing agent banks, and are equally adept at handling split-lien and multi-lien structures.

Additionally, Goldberg Kohn foresaw the globalization of middle-market lending in the mid-1980s, which resulted in one of the strongest cross-border lending practices in the United States. Attorneys in the Commercial Finance Practice Group have represented clients in international lending transactions in Europe, Asia, South America and Central America, which have included taking foreign collateral or guaranties to finance cross-border acquisitions involving funding in multiple currencies. 

About Goldberg Kohn
With 90 attorneys based in Chicago, Goldberg Kohn maintains a national and international practice providing big firm transactional and litigation skills and experience with the personal touch and attentiveness you would expect from a boutique law firm. We offer sophisticated legal services with an emphasis in Bankruptcy & Creditors' Rights, Commercial Finance, Corporate Law & Transactions, Intellectual Property, International Lending, Labor and Employment, Litigation and Real Estate. 

Our firm represents public and private businesses in a wide range of industries, both domestic and international, including Fortune 500 companies, startups, entrepreneurs, private equity sponsors, banks, finance companies and other lenders.