Jeff Lawlis, Global Vice Chair of Latham & Watkins’ Capital Markets Practice, advises companies, sponsors, and investment banks on cross-border corporate finance transactions involving complex structuring issues. 

Jeff serves as a go-to advisor to many clients on their full range of financing needs. He brings particular experience in leveraged finance and high yield bridge and bond transactions, as well as other debt and equity capital markets offerings, including private placements, and liability management transactions. Jeff regularly advises on the financing aspects of M&A transactions, while also providing advice on general corporate and securities law matters.

Drawing on more than two decades of on-the-ground experience in Europe, Jeff delivers sophisticated and business-driven counsel with a focus on the Italian, Spanish, and Greek markets.

Jeff's representative experience includes advising:

  • Telecom Italia S.p.A. in connection with an exchange offer of €5.537 billion (equivalent) of Notes to be automatically exchanged for notes of the bidco formed by KKR to acquire Telecom Italia's network business
  • International Design Group S.p.A. (a Carlyle and Investindustrial portfolio company) in connection with the acquisition and combination of Flos, B&B Italia, and Louis Poulsen through an issuance of Senior Secured Notes
  • J. P. Morgan in connection with the financing of the acquisition of Cerved Group S.p.A. by Castor S.p.A. (an Ion portfolio company) through an issuance of Senior Secured Notes
  • Fire (BC) S.p.A. (a Bain Capital portfolio company) in connection with the acquisition of Italmatch Chemicals S.p.A. through an issuance of Senior Secured Notes
  • Duomo Bidco S.p.A. (an L Catterton portfolio company) in connection with the acquisition of Kiko S.p.A. through an issuance of Senior Secured Notes
  • TeamSystem S.p.A. (a Hellman & Friedman portfolio company) in connection with offerings of Senior Secured Notes
  • Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank in connection with offering of Senior Secured Notes and Senior Unsecured Notes by Lorca Telecom Bondco, S.A.U. to finance the acquisitions of Grupo MásMóvil and Eusketel by KKR, Cinven, and Providence
  • BNP Paribas in connection with the financing of the acquisition of Engineering - Ingegneria Informativa S.p.A. by Centurion Bidco S.p.A. (a Bain portfolio company) and the subsequent acquisition of BeGroup through issuances of Senior Secured Notes
  • Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan in connection with offerings by Aston Martin Capital Holdings Ltd. of Senior Secured Notes
  • J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs in connection with an offering by the parent company of Wind Hellas of Senior Secured Notes
  • F-Brasile S.p.A. (a Carlyle portfolio company) in connection with the acquisition of Forgital S.p.A. through an issuance of Senior Secured Notes
  • Zoncolan Bidco S.p.A. (a Partners Group portfolio company) in connection with the acquisition of Eolo S.p.A.
  • Evoca S.p.A. (a Lone Star portfolio company) in connection with an offering of Senior Secured Notes
  • Inter Media and Communications S.p.A. in connection with offerings of Senior Secured Notes
  • J.P. Morgan in connection with the financing of the acquisition of Polynt-Reichhold by a company controlled by Black Diamond, through an issuance of Secured Notes
  • Fabbrica Italiana Sintetici S.p.A. in connection with an offering of Senior Secured Notes
  • Deutsche Bank in connection with an offering by La Doria S.p.A. (an Investindustrial portfolio company) of Senior Secured Notes
  • J.P. Morgan in connection with the financing of the leveraged buyout of Pirelli S.p.A. by ChemChina and associated liability management transaction
  • Rekeep S.p.A. (f/k/a Manutencoop) in connection with offerings of Senior Secured Notes
  • Credit Suisse in connection with the financing of the acquisition of the carved-out pharma packaging business of Bormioli Rocco S.p.A. (Bormioli Pharma S.p.A.) by a company controlled by Triton, through an issuance of Senior Secured Notes
  • Goldman Sachs in connection with the financing of the acquisition of Allfunds Bank S.A. by a company controlled by Hellman & Friedman through an issuance of Senior Secured PIK Toggle Notes
  • Mulhacen Pte. Ltd. in connection with the financing of the acquisition of WiZink Bank S.A. by Värde Partners through an issuance of Senior Secured PIK Toggle Notes
  • J.P. Morgan in connection with the acquisition of AS Roma football club by The Friedkin Group
  • HSBC and Goldman Sachs in connection with an offering by Public Power Corporation S.A. of sustainability-linked Senior Notes
  • Marcolin S.p.A. (a PAI Partners portfolio company) in connection with offerings of Senior Secured Notes
  • Morgan Stanley in connection with offerings by Canary Wharf Group Investment Holdings plc of Senior Secured Notes
  • Bank of America in connection with the financing of the acquisition of Itelyum by Stirling Square through an issuance of Senior Secured Notes
  • BNP Paribas in connection with an offering by Cedacri S.p.A. (an ION Group portoflio company) of Senior Secured Notes
  • Goldman Sachs in connection with an offering by Almaviva S.p.A. of Secured Notes
  • BNP Paribas in connection with offerings by Adler Pelzer Holding GmbH of Senior Secured Notes
  • Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, and UniCredit in connection with an offering by Moby S.p.A. of Senior Secured Notes
  • Snai S.p.A. in connection with offerings of Senior Secured Notes and Senior Subordinated Notes
  • Credit Suisse in connection with offerings by Guala Closures S.p.A. of Senior Secured Notes
  • Morgan Stanley in connection with an offering by Haya Real Estate S.A. of Senior Secured Notes
  • Morgan Stanley in connection with offerings by Naviera Armas S.A. of Senior Secured Notes, including in connection with the acquisition of Trasmediterranea
  • J.P. Morgan in connection with an offering by Almirall S.A. of Senior Notes
  • J.P. Morgan in connection with an offering by PortAventura Entertainment Barcelona B.V. (an Investindustrial and KKR portfolio company) of Senior Secured Notes
  • Deutsche Bank in connection with offerings by Lecta S.A. (a CVC portfolio company) of Senior Secured Notes together with a concurrent exchange offer

Bar Qualification

  • England and Wales (Registered Foreign Lawyer)
  • New York

Education

  • JD, University of Michigan, 1998
    cum laude
  • BA in History, Denison University, 1995
    summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa

Languages Spoken

  • Italian