Chris, an accomplished leveraged finance lawyer, serves as Managing Partner of McGuireWoods’ Atlanta office and co-chairs the firm’s Healthcare & Life Sciences industry team.
Chris represents agents, lenders and borrowers across industries in syndicated and bilateral finance transactions, including working capital lines of credit and leveraged buyouts, with a focus on the healthcare and life sciences sectors. He advises on leveraged finance transactions in the areas of senior care (owners and operators), physician practice management, early-stage life sciences companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors and related organizations, and healthcare providers.
The types of leveraged finance transactions that Chris handles include asset-based loans, cash-flow loans, acquisition financing, real estate financing, venture financing, trade-receivable securitizations and debtor-in-possession financings. Such transactions include the financing for a broad range of ownership structures including private equity-backed, closely held and publicly traded companies.
His work has earned him recognition for banking and finance law in the prestigious Chambers USA guide and in The Best Lawyers in America. Chris is also a frequent contributor to McGuireWoods’ annual Healthcare and Life Sciences Private Equity and Finance Conference.
Experience
- Representation of a major U.S. financial institution, as administrative agent and lender in connection with senior secured credit facilities to finance the operation and acquisition of skilled nursing and long term care facilities.
- Representation of a major U.S. financial institution, as administrative agent and lender in connection with senior secured real estate loan to finance a hospital and nursing facilities chain.
- Representation of a major U.S. financial institution, as administrative agent and lender in the funding and subsequent maintenance of a credit facility for a pharmaceutical sales and manufacturing company.
- Representation of a major investment and corporate banking services company in funding and maintenance of a senior secured credit facility for a national television broadcasting corporation.
- Representation of a major U.S. financial institution in the funding and subsequent maintenance of a senior secured credit facility for the owner and operator of a ski resort.
- Representation of a major U.S. financial institution in the funding and subsequent maintenance of a credit facility for a corporate family of regional television stations.
- Representation of the administrative agent and lender in connection with a venture loan facility for an early-stage pharmaceutical company.
- Representation of the administrative agent and lender in connection with a venture loan facility for an early-stage medical device manufacturer.
- Representation of the administrative agent and lender in connection with a real estate loan for a corporate group of skilled nursing facilities.
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The University of Georgia School of LawJD
cum laude, Notes Editor, Georgia Law Review
2001 - The University of GeorgiaBBAAccounting1997
Member, American Bar Association
Member, Business Law Section and Uniform Commercial Code Committee, Georgia Bar Association
Member, Class of 2010, Leadership Buckhead
Volunteer, Hands on Atlanta
Volunteer, Habitat for Humanity
Volunteer and Event Coordinator, PUSH America (People Understanding the Severely Handicapped)
Pro Bono Legal Assistance Provider, Grandparent Adoption Program, Atlanta Legal Aid
- Moderator, "A View from Senior Lenders," 2024 McGuireWoods Healthcare Private Equity and Finance Conference, May 8, 2024
- Moderator, "Current Views from Senior Lenders," 15th Annual Healthcare and Life Sciences Private Equity and Finance Conference, February 21, 2018
- Moderator, "Insights from Lenders," 13th Annual Healthcare and Life Sciences Private Equity and Finance Conference, February 24, 2016
- Presenter, "Sponsor Hot Buttons in Syndicated and Leveraged Finance Transactions," Georgia CLE Secured Lending Seminar, February 3, 2012
- Moderator, "Positioning a Company for Lender Attractiveness," 9th Annual Healthcare & Life Sciences Private Equity & Finance Conference, McGuireWoods LLP and McGladrey LLP, February 22 - 23, 2012
- Georgia
Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America, Litigation – Banking and Finance Law, Woodward/White, Inc., 2017-2025
Selected for inclusion as a “Leading Lawyer” in Banking and Finance, Georgia, Chambers USA, 2018, 2019, 2021-2024
- Author, Pay for Delay Passes House of Representatives for First Time, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, May 22, 2019
- Co-author, "A Means to Stave Off Medicare Termination," Law360, February 27, 2015
- Author, Florida Bankruptcy Court Offers Potential Means to Stave Off Medicare Termination, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, February 17, 2015