Elizabeth J. Kirk
Partner, New York
Biography
Overview
Elizabeth Kirk is a partner in the Firm's Debt Finance practice based in New York. She advises financial institutions, private credit providers, sponsors and borrowers on a wide range of financing matters, with a particular focus on cross-border and acquisition and leveraged finance transactions. Clients value her extensive experience in the energy, infrastructure and maritime sectors and knowledge of sophisticated financing structures, including term loan B, project financing and multi-source transactions. Elizabeth has also advised on several high-profile restructuring matters in the US and Europe.
Elizabeth spent more than a year on secondment with the Firm's EMEA Debt Finance team in London and eight months on secondment to the Global Loans Syndication team in the Shipping, Offshore & Oil Services group at Nordea Bank in Oslo and London. Prior to joining White & Case in 2010, Elizabeth worked in the in-house legal department at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London.
In addition to her practice, Elizabeth co-leads the firm’s Innovation Committee and Technology Committee.
Bars and Courts
New York
Education
JD
Georgetown University Law Center
BSJ
Northwestern University
Languages
English
Experience
Leveraged Finance
- CVC in connection with various financings for the Alvogen Group, including a debt recapitalization involving incurrence of more than US$900 million of extended ABL facilities and new first lien and second lien term loan facilities.
- Jefferies as sole lead arranger and bookrunner, in connection with a US$750 million term loan facility and a US$275 million super-priority revolving facility for Jefferies Finance LLC and JFIN Co-Issuer Corporation, as co-borrowers.
- Jefferies agent, arranger, bookrunner and lender in connection with a repricing of US$3.5 billion of outstanding term loans under Fertitta Entertainment, LLC's existing credit facility.
- Jefferies as lead arranger and incremental lender in the Second Amendment to the Credit Agreement between Pagaya Technologies Ltd. and Pagaya US Holding Company LLC as Borrower and Acquiom Agency Services LLC as Administrative Agent.
- Arrangers and lenders in connection with senior secured credit facilities provided to Cisive, a leading background screening provider, in connection with its acquisition by GTCR.
- Jefferies as initial purchaser in connection with InfraBuild Australia Pty Ltd’s offering of US$350 million aggregate principal amount of its 14.500% senior secured notes due 2028.
- Deutsche Bank, Mizuho and Credit Agricole, as Joint Lead Arrangers, for US$1.54 billion of senior secured credit facilities made available to Foundation Holdings, a wholly owned subsidiary of SoftBank, to finance the acquisition of Fortress Investment Group.
Energy, Infrastructure and Transportation
- Deutsche Bank, as sole lead arranger and lender, in connection with both a US$300 million Senior Debtor-In-Possession (DIP) credit facility provided to certain subsidiaries of Hornblower Holdings LP in connection with its commencement of Chapter 11 proceedings in the US Bankruptcy Court and a US$370 million exit facility provided to Hornblower in connection with its emergence from Chapter 11. This deal was awarded “Restructuring Deal of the Year” at the 2024 Marine Money Awards.
- Antin Infrastructure Partners UK Limited, as Sponsor, and Vicinity Energy, Inc. as Borrower, in connection with Vicinity's approximately US$950 million of credit facilities, including green loans. Vicinity Energy, Inc. is a provider of district energy solutions in the United States.
- Exxon and its affiliates in connection with acquisitions of, and financings relating to, various floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels;
- Nordea Bank in connection with various financings for International Seaways, including a $500 million sustainability linked revolving credit facility.
- Beal Bank and its affiliates as agents, arrangers and lenders in connection with an up to US$550 million facility provided to finance the acquisition of two newbuild seventh generation ultra-deepwater drillships from Samsung Heavy Industries in South Korea. This deal was awarded “Offshore Bank Debt Deal of the Year” at the 2024 Marine Money Awards.
- A group of lenders in connection with a multi-source US$1.3 billion post-delivery financing of the Agogo FPSO to be located off the coast of Angola.
- Certares, in connection with its loan to and investment in Wheels Up Experience Inc., a leading provider of on-demand private aviation
- A group of lenders, in connection with a term loan facility of the CHF equivalent of $593,952,912 to National Company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy and JSC Kaztemirtrans guaranteed by the Export-Import Bank of the United States.
- Proman AG, one of the world’s largest methanol producers, on a green loan ship financing in support of the launch of an industry-first sustainable shipping fund in partnership with Stena Bulk AB, an internationally recognized and leading European shipping company
- Beal Bank and its affiliates as arrangers and lenders in connection with a US$149 million secured loan and refinancing by Centerline Logistics Corporation. Centerline Logistics is a provider of Jones Act U.S. marine transportation services.
- Nordea Bank in connection with various financings for Genco Shipping & Trading Limited, including a US$450 million sustainability linked revolving credit facility.
- Certares, in connection with its investment in Mystic Invest Holding, a leading Portuguese river cruise company and an emerging expedition cruise operator and related financings.
- The senior secured lender group in a comprehensive out of court restructuring of a Brazilian-based offshore drilling company
- Beal Bank in connection with an up to US$306 million financing for Nordic American Tankers Limited.
- The coordinating committee of senior secured lenders in the restructuring of Seadrill Limited, the world's largest offshore oil drilling company.
