Direct Lending & Private Debt

Latham’s global direct lending and private debt practice draws on a long history of innovation and experience. We advise the most active lenders, funds, credit platforms, and investment managers, as well as borrowers, in the full range of transactions — from the middle market to large-cap.

We advise sophisticated global direct lenders and private capital providers on hundreds of front-end transactions each year, including first and second lien, unitranche and mezzanine loans, and preferred equity and other junior capital. We advise across a range of deal sizes stretching from the middle market through the largest and most complicated unitranche transactions with deal sizes in excess of US$1 billion. We regularly design and implement multi-tiered capital structures for clients and handle subordination, security, and intercreditor issues, as well as restructurings, equity co-investments, and tax and regulatory matters.

Our experience advising borrowers and lenders on such transactions provides us a 360-degree view, regardless of where we sit with our clients at the negotiating table. Our team regularly advises on the full range of private debt products, including:

• Annual recurring revenue loans
• Asset-based loans
• Convertible debt offerings
• Holdco and mezzanine notes and loans
• Preferred equity
• Structured equity
• Unitranche loans

We were early direct-lending pioneers, so clients benefit from our deep understanding of the market and strong relationships with key players, including the leading global private capital funds, financial sponsors, borrower-side law firms, information sources, and other market participants. And we collaborate across Latham’s global private capital platform to deliver seamless services tailored to each client’s strategy and each transaction’s objectives.