Published : 7 years ago, on 27/04/2018

Christopher Carolan brings a breadth of experience counseling clients involved in complex debt finance transactions, and in private equity and venture capital investments

BakerHostetler announced today the addition of Christopher Carolan as a partner to the firm’s debt finance, private equity and venture capital practices. Carolan, based in New York, comes to the firm from Seyfarth Shaw LLP.

An experienced practitioner who was previously an assistant general counsel at BNP Paribas in New York, Carolan regularly works with clients on a wide variety of financing transactions. On the lending side, he represents financial institutions, funds and alternative lenders as arrangers, agents and lenders. He also represents borrowers, including publicly traded companies, REITs, private companies and portfolio companies of sponsors. Carolan’s deals have spanned a variety of industries, ranging from retail, telecommunications, technology, energy and commodities to project finance, skilled nursing homes, manufacturers and other service providers. He has handled asset-based loans; leveraged buy-outs, dividend re-caps, real estate loans, convertible note offerings and bridge loans; and counsels clients on intercreditor relationships. Carolan also has significant experience with the resolution of troubled loans, through in-court and out-of-court restructurings of distressed borrowers, including the provision of debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing, cash collateral arrangements and liquidations of collateral.

Carolan’s practice also extends to private equity and venture capital. In this space, Carolan represents sponsors in connection with their capital raising, formation, investments (both debt and equity) and acquisitions, with a particular focus on sponsors that invest in cybersecurity companies. Carolan is outside general counsel to a leading venture capital management firm that invests in, manages and provides growth support to leading companies in the information security, management and analytics sectors.

“When we add attorneys, we look for experienced dealmakers with a deep knowledge of financing transactions and a drive for success – and that’s exactly what we’ve found with Chris,” said John Gherlein, chair of BakerHostetler’s Business Group. “His commitment to client satisfaction and broad experience will increase the depth and strength already present in our accomplished business practice.”

“We are excited to have Chris join BakerHostetler in New York,” said George Stamboulidis, managing partner of BakerHostetler’s New York office. “His experience representing clients in a variety of sectors, transaction types and countries around the world bolsters our already impressive team of lawyers.”

Carolan earned a B.A. and M.A. from Fordham University, and his J.D. from New York University School of Law, where he was the Notes Development Editor for NYU Law Review.

He serves as a member of the national board of directors of the Human Rights Campaign, and has occasionally acted as HRC’s pro bono counsel.

“BakerHostetler’s commitment to efficient client service, innovation and cutting-edge legal work is impressive and well-known,” said Carolan. “I am thrilled to bring my debt finance and corporate practice to such a strong, successful platform.”

BakerHostetler’s debt financing team represents clients in debt finance transactions, often involving their most complex capital needs in the global debt finance market. Our lawyers have broad capabilities in project finance, real estate portfolios, receivables and other financial instruments. Both borrowers and lenders have benefited from our team using sophisticated techniques to facilitate billions of dollars of debt finance transactions.