Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Jay Ptashek

Jay focuses on syndicated and direct lender senior secured and bridge loan financings, primarily in the leveraged acquisition finance area. His experience also includes significant high-yield, corporate finance and restructuring engagements. Representative clients include financial sponsors such as Apax Partners, Blackstone, Cerberus, Advent, Partners Group and 3G Capital, as well as large financial institutions and a multitude of private equity portfolio companies and corporate borrowers, including Restaurant Brands International, Marriott Vacations Worldwide, Equinox Holdings and Kraft/Heinz.

Melissa Hutson

Melissa is a finance partner in Kirkland’s New York office and a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee. Melissa’s practice focuses on syndicated debt facilities, bank/bridge commitments and other structured financings for leveraged acquisitions by private equity firms, their portfolio companies, and public and private companies. She also advises clients on a broad range of other secured and unsecured lending and financing transactions, including first and second lien financings, mezzanine financings, subordinated loans and asset-based loans. Melissa also has substantial experience in liability management transactions and other debt restructurings. Representative clients include American Securities, Bain, Blackstone, New Mountain Capital and Olympus Partners, among others.

Michelle Kilkenney

Michelle focuses her practice on debt financing transactions and represents private equity groups, commercial lending institutions and other private and public companies in connection with the negotiation, structuring and documentation of secured and unsecured financing transactions for both borrowers and lenders, including senior, mezzanine and subordinated debt transactions, acquisition financings, and loan workouts and restructurings, including debtor-in-possession financings. Representative clients include AE Industrial Partners, Bain Capital, Energy Future Holdings, Pritzker Private Capital, Toys “R” Us and United Airlines.