Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is an international law firm of approximately 650 attorneys with offices in New York, Washington, Paris, London, Milan, Rome, Frankfurt and Brussels. Founded in 1888, the firm is regularly sought to represent multinational clients in an array of corporate and securities-related transactions and litigation and arbitration matters. The firm has also developed a significant practice in a number of specialized fields of law.

Our firm built its reputation in the trademark and unfair competition field long before other general practice firms recognized the value of intellectual property. We secured the first federal registration of the COCA-COLA mark in the early part of the 20th century, and later persuaded the Supreme Court to rule in the company’s favor in Coca-Cola Co. v. Koke Co. of America, 254 U.S. 143 (1920). We also assisted in the cultivation of trademark-based rights in the distinctive contoured COCA-COLA bottle, which is now one of the most famous trade dresses in the world. We have steadily built upon this tradition and today have an extensive and widely recognized domestic and international trademark practice.

Our Banking and Institutional Finance Practice Group advises the complete spectrum of capital providers as well as seekers of financing in connection with leveraged acquisition financings, commercial bank loans, publicly-offered and privately-placed notes, traditional private placement transactions, debtor-in-possession and bankruptcy exit financing, in-court and out-of-court restructurings, project financings, derivative and swap transactions and other financings. Our capital provider clients include banks, insurance companies, hedge funds, institutional investors, trustees, finance companies, investment banks and other financial institutions. We also regularly represent seekers of capital, including private equity sponsors, hedge funds, investment funds and domestic and foreign corporations. Additionally, we work closely with our colleagues in the firm’s Structured Finance, Capital Markets and Real Estate practice groups to provide a full range of financing options for our clients and streamline complicated financing structures. Our extensive breadth of practice and market knowledge is matched by few firms, providing clients with comprehensive services in the financing markets.

Leveraged Finance; Syndicated Credit Facilities. Willkie is a leader in acquisition financing, syndicated credit facilities and high-yield bond offerings.

Workouts and Restructurings. Willkie’s finance attorneys work closely with the firm’s globally-recognized Business Reorganization and Restructuring practice group to provide seamless service to debtor and creditor clients in major restructurings, both in and out of bankruptcy, including debtor-in-possession and exit credit facilities and financing.

Institutional Private Placements. Willkie has long been a leader in representing investors, including major insurance companies and other institutional investors, and issuers in the global institutional private placement market. In recognition of our preeminence in this area, one of our partners has been named a Trustee of the American College of Investment Counsel, a leading industry group.

Debt Offerings. Willkie frequently represents underwriters, initial purchasers and issuers in private and public offerings of high-yield and investment grade notes, convertible bonds, subordinated notes and other debt securities.

Project Finance. We have established a strong reputation for our expertise in the fields of financing law, public law and energy law, as well as environmental law and regulated activities. Working collaboratively, our attorneys have uniquely integrated their specialized legal skills to build a practice that is widely recognized as a leader in the areas of public financings, public private partnerships (PPPs), concessions and project financings (infrastructure and energy) notably in France, North Africa and the Middle East. The group also assists in an array of related legal matters involving procurement law, administrative law and construction law, and provides comprehensive advice on project planning and permitting. We handle a wide range of financing transactions including leveraged finance, acquisition finance, real estate finance, and project finance, as well as advise on syndicated and bilateral lending transactions. The firm advises both public and private entities on major public and social infrastructure projects such as the development of underground trains, high speed railway lines, motorways, hospitals, stadiums, airports, tunnels, and waste treatment facilities, among others, including in the context of PPPs. We also advise on projects in the water, power, petrochemical, industrial and metals, and mining sectors. Clients include host governments, regulators, sponsors, contractors, off-takers, export credit agencies and lenders.

Derivatives. Willkie counsels hedge fund, investment bank, institutional investor and corporate clients in structuring and documenting complex over-the-counter derivative products, credit default swaps, cash flow swaps, total rate of return swaps along with interest rate, equity, commodity and currency swaps and other hybrid instruments. We also advise on a wide range of regulatory issues related to derivative products, including securities, commodities and insolvency issues.

Litigation. Our litigators add crucial depth and perspective to our finance practice. Our collaborative approach to client service ensures that our clients benefit from their knowledge in the latest developments in the intersection of relevant law and finance.