John A. Lister

Partner

Chicago
john.lister@lw.com
+1.312.876.7637

PRACTICES

  • Banking
  • Private Equity
  • Private Equity Finance
  • Restructuring & Special Situations

INDUSTRIES

  • Financial Institutions

BAR QUALIFICATIONS

  • Illinois
  • Michigan

EDUCATION

  • JD, University of Michigan Law School, 2013
    magna cum laude
  • BA (Hons) in Economics, University of Michigan, 2010
    with high distinction

PROFILE

John Lister advises clients on leveraged finance, with a particular focus on private credit middle-market lending, and private equity-backed financings.

John leverages his keen market sense to guide financial institutions, corporate borrowers, and private equity funds on the full spectrum of leveraged finance transactions, including:

  • Acquisition financings
  • Recapitalizations
  • Syndicated loan transactions
  • Working capital financings
  • Senior secured lending
  • Restructuring transactions and distressed situations

He draws on deep relationships with private credit providers, private equity funds, and counsel within the leveraged finance sector to effectively and efficiently consummate sophisticated financing transactions. John helps clients understand and prioritize the issues that may arise during a transaction, and he constructively works with opposing counsel to achieve commercial solutions.

John advises lenders in financings for middle-market and large-cap companies, with a focus on companies operating in the healthcare space, including CPOM transactions (transactions relating to the corporate practice of medicine), and the restaurant and franchise space. 

A recognized thought leader, John regularly conducts trainings on topics that his clients face in the market and co-hosted the Chicago office’s Direct Lending Roundtable.

He maintains an active pro bono practice, including partnering with JPMorgan to represent victims of domestic violence in immigration-related matters.

EXPERIENCE

John's longtime clients in lower-middle-market to large-cap transactions for both public and private company borrowers include:

  • Antares Capital
  • Audax Private Debt
  • JPMorgan Chase Bank
  • MidCap Financial Trust
  • Morgan Stanley Private Credit
  • NXT Capital

His experience includes representing:

Private Credit

  • The lead arrangers and administrative agent in US$500 million senior secured credit facilities that supported a private equity sponsor’s acquisition of a leading hair-care treatment brand and company
  • The lead arranger and administrative agent in unitranche credit facilities to support a refinancing and acquisition financing for a private equity sponsor’s financial services portfolio company
  • The lead arranger and administrative agent in a US$200 million senior secured credit facility for a US clothing manufacturer amid a recapitalization and working capital financing
  • The joint lead arrangers, administrative agent, and collateral agent in a US$565 million first-lien and US$185 million second-lien multicurrency acquisition financing of two world-leading company formation and corporate services providers

Syndicated Transactions

  • Antares Capital in the first-lien credit facilities that financed AEA Investors’ acquisition of TricorBraun Holdings, one of the packaging industry's largest suppliers of plastic and glass containers, closures, dispensers, and tubes
  • JPMorgan in US$38.3 billion term loan facilities in Takeda’s acquisition of Shire, an Ireland-based biopharmaceutical company
  • An over-the-counter pharmaceutical manufacturer, distributor, and producer in asset-backed loan and term loan facilities, including for acquisition financing related to a target

Healthcare

  • NXT Capital in the senior credit facility that financed Sentinel Capital Partners’ investment in MB2 Dental Solutions
  • The lead arranger and administrative agent in a US$655 million unitranche credit facility that supported a private equity sponsor’s acquisition of a nationwide network of obstetrician practices

Franchise

  • The administrative agent and lender in a US$17.5 million senior secured acquisition financing of group of restaurant franchisees
  • The administrative agent and lenders in a US$58.75 million senior secured acquisition financing of group of exercise center franchisees

Borrower-Side Transactions

  • A public company borrower in negotiations regarding restructuring transactions, as well as with existing noteholders and new asset-based lending lenders