The ‘extremely knowledgeable’ New York partner Justin Wagstaff leads the team at White & Case, which advises corporate borrowers in sectors like data centres, energy and X in addition to assisting private equity sponsors on various debt financing matters, from first and second-lien deals to amendments and repricings. The lawyer lineup features Binoy Dharia, who has notable experience with liability management transactions in addition to debtor-in-possession and exit financings. Sherri Snelson comes recommended for fund and portfolio finance transactions and leveraged finance deals, and Brett Pallin focuses on distressed situations and various cross-border and domestic transactions, from asset-based financings to acquisition finance and dividend recapitalizations. Also integral to the offering is Yehuda Rubel, whose broad skill set spans everything from mezzanine financing to syndicated loans and exit financing.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘White & Case's borrower-facing commercial lending practice is exceptional. I have worked with several counsels in this area, and W&C is far more advanced in recognizing issues, understanding options, and coming up with commercial solutions. They're also more responsive and collaborative than most other groups I've worked with. Even though it is more complicated, we continue to use W&C for borrowing advice even when we don't hire their team for M&A advisory.’
‘Justin Wagstaff is the partner we work with-- he is the best borrower-facing legal advisor I've ever worked with. He is responsive and extremely knowledgeable. He is often able to diagnose issues and come up with solutions based on existing knowledge of a document or situation, which makes him more efficient than other attorneys, who will often need to do significant research before opining.’
- 'I was impressed and appreciative of W&C's ability to turn complex legal issues into normal business speak, communicate the risks and challenges with each drafted point, and using nuanced legal language to mitigate risk. W&C's collaboration to support an inexperienced team resulted in an outstanding outcome for the business.’
‘Yehuda Rubel was highly available and took the time to explain complex legal concepts to business issues. He provided the right level of support while delegating work scope to the associate team to drive cost efficiency.'
- 'Jessy Van Kooten worked with the management team to drive cost efficiencies and turn drafts quickly. Jesse was consistently available and spent more time than practical to explain the strategy behind his drafting. Mark Geraci provided organization support and kept both working groups organized and marching towards closing quickly.’
‘This practice is recognized for its strong commercial focus, deep market knowledge, and highly pragmatic approach to complex lending transactions. The team brings a balanced perspective to structuring and negotiating deals, combining technical excellence with clear, solutions-driven advice. We value the partner-led service, responsiveness, and ability to deliver efficiently under tight timelines.’
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Yehuda Rubel
Practice head
Justin Wagstaff
Other key lawyers
Binoy Dharia; Sherri Snelson; Brett Pallin; Yehuda Rubel; Eric Klar; Eliza McDougall; David Bilkis; Mike Kowalski; Jessy Van Kooten; Mark Geraci