Kent, who has practiced as a syndicated finance attorney for over 30 years, concentrates his practice on corporate lending, particularly in large and middle market leveraged and investment grade finance.
He has extensive experience in syndicated, club and bilateral debt financings and related capital raising transactions, managing all phases of complex credit facilities, from structuring and documentation to distribution and syndicate management. Kent has represented the administrative agent and participant banks in a variety of matters across loan structures and products, including underwritings and best efforts transactions, pro rata and institutional term loans, leveraged recapitalizations, acquisition financings and working capital facilities. Kent’s experience spans a variety of industries, including technology, telecommunications, engineering & construction, healthcare, manufacturing & general industries, professional sports franchises, aerospace & defense, education, financial institutions, and consumer & retail.
Kent’s clients appreciate his commercial and practical approach to the market, as someone who understands the needs of both lenders and borrowers and works to achieve a practical and workable result for all parties.
- Representation of a leading financial institution, as administrative agent, in connection with both a term loan facility and a revolving credit facility primarily supporting the issuance of letters of credit. The facility was part of a complex restructuring and bankruptcy exit for an engineering & construction company.
- Representation of a leading financial institution, as administrative agent, in its $1.15 billion credit facility, which included an ESG metrics adjusted pricing mechanic, for one the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm.
- Representation of a leading financial institution, as administrative agent, in up to $625 million of acquisition financing, including revolving and term loan facilities, for a major food producer.
- Representation of a leading financial institution, as administrative agent, in connection with $2.2 billion of senior secured credit facilities to an engineering, procurement and construction company to fund recent M&A and project requirements and provide working capital revolver capacity.
- Representation of a leading financial institution, as administrative agent, in connection with financing for the acquisition of a major professional sports franchise.
- Representation of a leading financial institution, as administrative agent, in connection with sponsor-related acquisition financing in the auto parts distribution sector.
- Representation of a leading financial institution, as administrative agent, in connection with incremental financing for a major television and media company.
- Representation of a leading financial institution, as administrative agent, in connection with sponsor-related acquisition financing in the wireless communications sector.
- Representation of a leading financial institution, as administrative agent, in connection with sponsor-related acquisition financing, and various related incremental increases and refinancings, in the clinical asset management space of the healthcare sector.
- Representation of a leading financial institution, as administrative agent, in connection with sponsor-related acquisition financing and related incremental financings for a healthcare services organization in the claims management and insurance compliance sector.
- Representation of a leading financial institution, as administrative agent, in connection with acquisition financing for a major provider of clinical research services in a wide range of therapeutic areas.
- Representation of a leading financial institution, as administrative agent, in connection with unsecured term and revolving credit facilities for a provider of dental consumables, equipment, and services to dental professionals.
- Represented a leading financial institution, as sole lender, in connection with bilateral credit facilities for a major Northeast educational institution.
Insights
- Co-author, "The International Comparative Legal Guide to Lending & Secured Finance 2014 Edition," The International Comparative Legal Guide to Lending & Secured Finance, 2014 Edition
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Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America, Banking and Finance Law, Woodward/White, Inc., 2009-2026
Selected for inclusion in Leading Lawyers, Banking & Finance, North Carolina, Chambers USA, 2017-2025
Selected for inclusion in “Legal 500 United States,” Commercial Lending, 2020
Selected for inclusion into the North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society, 2019
Named to “40 Under 40,” Charlotte Business Journal, 2004