Adam Brenneman > Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton > New York, United States > Lawyer Profile

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton is a market leader in distressed financings, refinancings and restructurings, most notably in Brazil and Mexico, where it has a significant market share of the major engagements. The firm has also led the way in Chile and is increasingly active in Peru. Building on its expertise in restructurings, it is now at the forefront of private credit financings in Latin America. It also has a presence in high-value syndicated loans for large Latin American corporates and continues to make a further impression in sustainability-linked financings. The Brazil office continued to work on numerous large-scale restructurings and distressed financings during in the jurisdiction during 2023; a case in point being its advice to Samarco Mineração on its continued debt restructuring and its pre-petition, pre-export, finance facilities. ‘Rainmaker‘ Richard Cooper is a leading practitioner in debt restructurings and new money financings in Latin America, while Sao Paulo’s Francisco Cestero is ‘extremely friendly, smart and has a unique understanding of the Brazilian market and culture’, and is noted for distressed financings, private credit financings and restructurings. Adam Brenneman is also noted for special situations financings and liability management exercises. Carina Wallance is a key figure at counsel level, while David Botter joined from Akin in 2023 to reinforce the firm’s restructuring expertise. All named individuals are based in New York unless stated otherwise.

Overseeing multi-jurisdictional offerings relating to senior secured notes and Rule 144A, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton routinely acts on behalf of domestic and international issuers and underwriters. The practice is well equipped to handle cross-border inaugural green bond offerings and complex high-yield debt transactions, with the primary areas of focus being finance, aviation, and oil. The New York-based outfit is particularly active in South American and European markets, with Duane McLaughlin being highly experienced in representing investment grade and leverage borrowers. Adam Brenneman is an expert in liability management transactions, DIP financings, and insolvency proceedings, while Jorge Juantorena covers US securities law and regulations applicable to foreign issuers. The team is especially knowledgeable on the disclosure and covenant aspects of complex high-yield transactions.