Seward & Kissel LLP

Seward & Kissel LLP, founded in 1890, is a leading US law firm with an international reputation for excellence. The firm focuses its practice primarily on corporate issues and litigation in the financial services, corporate finance and capital markets areas. The firm is particularly well known for its representation of major commercial banks, investment banking firms, investment advisers and related investment funds (including mutual funds and hedge funds), broker-dealers, institutional investors and transportation companies (particularly in the shipping area).

Main areas of practice
Bankruptcy and corporate reorganization: the firm handles bankruptcy, workout and reorganization matters.

Business transactions (M&A and private equity): clients in connection with middle-market mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital transactions, joint ventures, strategic alliances and seed capital arrangements, with emphasis on investment management, broker-dealer and other financial services, shipping and media industry deals.

Capital markets: issuers and underwriters in US and global offerings of securities, ie registered initial and secondary public offerings (including ‘shelf’ offerings), private placements and Rule 144A and Reg S offerings.

Derivatives and other counterparty arrangements: dealers and counterparties in structuring, negotiating and documenting over-the-counter and cleared derivative instruments, including hybrid products, and advises industry participants on regulatory compliance programs, exchange-traded futures and options, and repurchase and securities lending programs.

Distressed debt and secondary-market trading: clients in the purchase and sale of distressed domestic and foreign loans, sovereign loans and other distressed debt, as well as in all aspects of the distressed debt practice area.

Global bank and institutional finance: domestic and international banks and financial institutions in structured finance, corporate trust, restructuring, workouts and insolvency, lending, aircraft and project finance; major banks in structuring innovative loan portfolio platform, leveraged loan transactions and total return swap transactions and distressed debt and claims trading.

Investment management: since forming the first hedge fund in 1949, the firm continues to represent a large market share of worldwide hedge fund work, with a client roster that includes a number of the top 100 hedge fund managers based on assets under management. The firm represents private investment and registered fund clients in fund formation, operation and other complex matters, including: tax, regulatory and compliance, business transactions, enforcement, litigation, management company, and fund structuring and reorganizations.

Litigation: banks, broker-dealers, investment managers and other clients in courts, regulatory proceedings, administrative tribunals and arbitrations, focusing on securities-related litigation, business disputes, government enforcement and internal investigations, employment matters, insurance, maritime, trademark, and bankruptcy and workout matters.

Maritime and aviation finance: creates innovative financing structures for shipowners and lenders, and handles complex transactional and other issues arising from the expansion and contraction of the shipping markets; advises owners, operators, lessors and financiers of commercial and corporate aircraft in the acquisition, leasing and financing thereof and the implementation of ownership structures.

Real estate: institutional investors, developers and others in buying, selling, developing and financing all types of real estate assets; joint ventures and the formation of, and investments in, private equity funds.

Structured finance and asset securitization: participants in connection with secured and unsecured, asset based, market value and cash flow transactions; multi-seller commercial paper conduit transactions; receivables transactions, including mobile device installment billing contracts; commercial lending; subscription finance; CLOs; risk retention structures and financing; public and private offerings of securities; project finance; and derivatives products.