James Ktsanes

Partner

Chicago
james.ktsanes@lw.com
+1.312.876.7700

PRACTICES

  • Restructuring & Special Situations

BAR QUALIFICATIONS

  • Illinois

EDUCATION

  • JD, University of Chicago Law School, 2007
    with honors
  • BA, Northwestern University, 2004
    magna cum laude

PROFILE

James Ktsanes represents secured lenders, noteholder groups, and other creditors, as well as asset purchasers, in all aspects of out-of-court restructurings, bankruptcies, and special situations. James has extensive experience representing direct lenders in private credit matters. In addition to traditional amendments, workouts, and bankruptcies, James has advised clients in connection with:

  • Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) sales and strict foreclosures
  • Exchange offers
  • Priming credit facilities and uptier exchanges
  • Liability management transactions

James was named to the American Bankruptcy Institute’s 2020 40 Under 40 list, which recognizes insolvency professionals who are committed to the highest standards of achievement at work and in their communities.

EXPERIENCE

James' experience includes representing:

  • Antares Capital, as first-lien lender, in connection with several bankruptcies, including the Bar Louie chapter 11, and numerous workouts and out-of-court restructurings
  • Ares Capital in connection with numerous out-of-court restructurings and the Centric Brands chapter 11 cases and CARD chapter 11 cases
  • Blue Owl Capital in connection with several out-of-court debt-for-equity exchanges and other restructurings
  • Golub Capital in connection with confidential workouts and restructurings 
  • Orion Energy, as prepetition term lender and DIP lender, in the CarbonLite bankruptcy, as well as other workouts
  • NXT Capital in connection with confidential workouts
  • Macquarie Capital in connection with an out-of-court workout of a recycling business 
  • Ad hoc groups of secured lenders in connection with multiple out-of-court restructurings of healthcare companies 
  • Goldman Sachs as the exit lender in the Peabody Energy bankruptcy, ABL lender in the Murray Energy bankruptcy, and term lender in a confidential workout
  • Royal Bank of Canada, as first lien agent, in the chapter 11 cases of Vantage Drilling and other confidential workouts and restructurings 
  • JP Morgan in the Briggs & Stratton bankruptcy and confidential workouts and restructurings
  • A steering group of subordinated lenders in connection with Affinion Group Holdings’ exchange offer
  • An ad hoc noteholder group in Community Choice Financial’s exchange offer
  • The Catalyst Capital Group in its DIP financing and acquisition under §363 of Advantage Rent-A-Car and other distressed acquisitions