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Jim Schneider represents lenders, agents and borrowers, in connection with a variety of commercial and project financings, advising banks, sponsors, public companies and private companies in domestic and cross-border transactions across a broad range of industries, with a focus on renewable energy and sustainability.
Jim has significant experience with syndicated and single-bank credit facilities and private placements, focusing his practice on drafting and negotiating financing agreements and security documents for a variety of debt facilities, including asset based, quasi-asset based and cash flow facilities, credit agreements for unsecured and bridge loan facilities, financing agreements and note purchase agreements in connection with energy project finance, and intercreditor and subordination agreements with mezzanine and junior creditors (especially in connection with acquisition financings) and tax equity investors. He also documents and negotiates letter of credit facilities and the related standby letters of credit and guarantees.
In the energy sector, Jim has represented administrative agents, lenders, sponsors and borrowers in financing the development, acquisition, construction and operation of numerous utilities, pipelines, mineral extraction projects and renewable electricity generating facilities, including wind, solar and battery projects. Such financings have included secured and back-levered project financings of portfolios of generating facilities, as well as single projects.
- In 2023, represented a large US energy company and its various portfolio and project companies in connection with a new project and back-leveraged financings, in respect of portfolios containing over 50 utility-scale solar, wind and battery projects, aggregating over 7GW of renewable energy generation capacity and over 1GW of storage capacity, with loan proceeds totaling over US$3 billion.
- In 2023, represented a large US energy holding company in a broadly syndicated US$5.5 billion senior unsecured revolving credit and letter of credit facility, as well as a US$3.25 billion 364-day senior unsecured credit facility and in connection with senior unsecured bilateral loan and letter of credit agreements totaling over US$10 billion.
- In 2023, represented a large US public utility in a broadly syndicated US$2.9 billion senior unsecured revolving credit and letter of credit facility, and in connection with senior unsecured bilateral loan agreements totaling over US$1.5 billion.
- Represented administrative agents and lenders in asset-based and quasi-asset-based transactions, involving borrowers in the manufacturing, chemical, consumer, healthcare, financial, technology, agricultural and various other industries.
- Represented administrative agents and lenders in secured term, capex and revolving credit facilities for leveraged buyouts by private equity firms.
- Represented a large US energy holding company in a broadly syndicated, US$2.5 billion senior secured revolving credit and letter of credit facility.
- Represented the borrower and project company in connection with an approximately US$620 million project finance of a 250MW solar energy facility and related 230MW/920MWh battery energy storage system.
- Represented the borrower and project companies in connection with an approximately US$420 million project finance of four wind energy facilities aggregating approximately 580MW in nameplate capacity.
- Represented the issuer of an over US$1 billion principal amount of senior secured limited-recourse notes in a private placement in respect of its indirect ownership interests in electricity transmission assets located across the US.
- Represented the issuers of an over US$1.75 billion principal amount of senior secured limited-recourse notes in back-levered financings of their indirect ownership interests in natural gas pipelines located in the southeastern US.
- Represented the issuer of an approximately US$100 million principal amount of senior notes in a private placement secured by the issuer’s ownership of a natural gas pipeline in the southeast US.
- Assisted several large regional US banks in establishing, documenting and administering their Main Street Lending Program loans (for COVID-19 relief).
- Represented the administrative agent and lead lender in syndicated, unsecured term and multicurrency revolving credit facilities aggregating US$1.45 billion in connection with the acquisition by a health insurance business of a retail business.
- Represented administrative agents and lenders in related project financings for the construction and operation of wind power projects, with construction loans, PTC bridge loans, back-levered term loans and letter of credit facilities aggregating more than US$60 million.
- Represented administrative agents and lenders in project financings for the construction of two related solar power projects, with construction loans and ITC bridge loans aggregating more than US$120 million, and the eventual refinance of the related portfolio with a back-levered term loan.
- Represented the borrower in syndicated credit facilities for the joint-owner of a portfolio of pipelines, including a US$205 million back-levered term loan and a US$270 million back-levered revolving credit facility for the repurchase of equity.
- Represented the borrower in a US$350 million back-levered, syndicated term loan facility for the joint-owner (non-managing member) of a 250MW solar power generation facility.
- Represented a dairy cooperative as borrower in a US$150 million asset-based revolving credit facility.
- Represented the administrative agent and lead lender in syndicated, secured term and revolving credit facilities aggregating US$85 million for US and Canadian borrowers to enable an acquisition of companies outside of the US.
- Represented the administrative agent and lead lender in a US$150 million syndicated, asset-based revolving credit facility for a leading participant in the international trade of aluminum products.
- Represented the administrative agent and lead lender in a US$80 million syndicated, senior secured revolving credit facility (quasi-ABL) for a US borrower in the aircraft industry.
- Represented the administrative agent and lead lender in connection with syndicated, senior secured term and revolving credit facilities aggregating more than US$400 million for a casino (and subsequent amendments and restatements thereof).
- Represented the administrative agent and lead lender in connection with syndicated, senior secured term and revolving credit facilities aggregating more than US$350 million (in US dollars and various alternate currencies) for US and non-US borrowers.
Education
- The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, 2011
- University of Notre Dame, B.A., summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, 2008
Admissions
- District of Columbia, 2023
- Florida, 2022
- New York, 2020
- Ohio, 2011
- Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2023 and 2024 for Banking and Finance Law