James Ktsanes

Chicago
  • 330 North Wabash Avenue, Suite 2800
  • Chicago, IL 60611
  • USA
 
 

James Ktsanes advises creditors and debtors in workouts and bankruptcies, as well as buyers of distressed assets.

Mr. Ktsanes represents secured lenders, noteholder groups, asset purchasers, and corporate debtors in all aspects of out-of-court restructurings, bankruptcies, and special situations. In advising clients, Mr. Ktsanes draws on significant knowledge of the banking industry and experience with a wide variety of financing arrangements. In addition to traditional amendments, workouts, and bankruptcies, Mr. Ktsanes has advised clients in connection with:

  • Strict foreclosures
  • Assignments for the benefit of creditors
  • Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) sales
  • Exchange offers
  • Priming credit facilities
  • Comprehensive restructuring amendments with only “required lender” support
  • Utilization of available covenant baskets in connection with creative restructurings and liquidity injections

Mr. Ktsanes was named to the American Bankruptcy Institute’s 2020 40 Under 40 list, which recognizes insolvency professionals who are committed to the highest standards of achievement at work and in their communities.

Mr. Ktsanes’ experience includes representing:

  • Antares Capital, as first-lien lender, in connection with several bankruptcies, including the Bar Louie chapter 11, and numerous workouts and out-of-court restructurings
  • Orion Energy, as prepetition term lender and DIP lender, in the CarbonLite bankruptcy 
  • Ares Capital in connection with numerous out-of-court restructurings and the Centric Brands chapter 11 
  • Goldman Sachs as the exit lender in the Peabody Energy bankruptcy, ABL lender in the Murray Energy bankruptcy, and term lender in a confidential workout
  • Royal Bank of Canada, as first lien agent, in the chapter 11 cases of Vantage Drilling
  • JP Morgan in the Briggs & Stratton bankruptcy
  • Morgan Stanley, as ABL Agent, in the 24-Hour Fitness bankruptcy 
  • Bank of America in the Key Energy bankruptcy
  • Bank of Montreal in connection with foreclosure sales and an assignment for the benefit of creditors
  • A global investment management firm in connection with confidential restructurings and bankruptcy litigation
  • Golub Capital in connection with confidential workouts
  • NXT Capital in connection with confidential workouts
  • A steering group of subordinated lenders in connection with Affinion Group Holdings’ exchange offer
  • An ad hoc noteholder group in Community Choice Financial’s exchange offer
  • Dairy Farmers of America in connection with its acquisition under §363 of Dean Foods
  • The Catalyst Capital Group in its DIP financing and acquisition under §363 of Advantage Rent-A-Car 
  • American Energy Permian Basin in connection with its out-of-court restructuring of US$2.2 billion of funded debt and as debtor in its subsequent chapter 11 cases
 
  • Bar Qualification
    • Illinois
    Education
    • JD, University of Chicago Law School, 2007
      With Honors
    • BA, Northwestern University, 2004
      magna cum laude
  • Practices
 
 
Notice: We appreciate your interest in Latham & Watkins. If your inquiry relates to a legal matter and you are not already a current client of the firm, please do not transmit any confidential information to us. Before taking on a representation, we must determine whether we are in a position to assist you and agree on the terms and conditions of engagement with you. Until we have completed such steps, we will not be deemed to have a lawyer-client relationship with you, and will have no duty to keep confidential the information we receive from you. Thank you for your understanding.