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Jonathan M. Cooper

Principal

Jonathan M. Cooper photo

Overview

Jonathan Cooper is a Principal in the firm’s Commercial Finance Group. He represents both institutional lenders and borrowers in all facets of commercial finance transactions, including senior secured asset-based and cash-flow transactions, first lien, second lien, unitranche and mezzanine positions, as well as in workouts and restructurings.

Jon is regularly engaged in international commercial finance transactions for a wide range of clients, primarily focusing on Europe and the Americas. He frequently gives presentations regarding international finance and has written several articles on the subject. He is also a past Chair of the American Bar Association Subcommittee on Cross Border and Trade Finance.

In addition, Jon has been actively involved in the reform of secured transactions law, including working with the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), the trade division of the United Nations, in developing the "Legislative Guide on Secured Transactions." He assisted in drafting significant portions of the Guide, which provides a comprehensive blueprint for countries wishing to modernize their secured transactions regimes, made presentations on the subject to the UN, and attended several UN working group meetings.

Jon was individually ranked in Chambers USA for his work in Banking & Finance for several years. In addition, he has been recognized as a Leading Lawyer in Corporate Finance, International Business and Secured Transactions Law by Illinois Leading Lawyers.

Experience

  • Served as lead counsel to Administrative Agent/Lead Lender in an approximately $115 million senior secured syndicated cash-flow financing of a major manufacturer of home furnishing goods (Borrower), involving significant operations in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, and multiple tiers of debt.
  • Served as lead counsel to Administrative Agent/Lead Lender in an approximately $100 million senior secured syndicated cash-flow financing of a major precession manufacturer (Borrower), involving significant operations in Germany, India and the United States, and multiple tiers of debt.
  • Served as lead counsel to Administrative Agent/Lead Lender in an approximately $250 million senior secured syndicated cash-flow financing of a major group of fast food franchise locations in Puerto Rico.
  • Served as lead counsel to Administrative Agent/Lead Lender in an approximately $250 million senior secured syndicated cash-flow financing of a major sports management company (Borrower). The Borrower owns and/or manages more than 140 sports facilities throughout the United States, including some of the country’s most premier facilities. Proceeds of the credit facility were used to finance the acquisition of one of the most exclusive golf resorts in the United States, as well as to finance operations throughout the Borrower’s entire portfolio of facilities.

Credentials

Education

  • Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, J.D., 1994

    cum laude

  • University of Michigan, B.B.A., Accounting/Finance, 1990

    –  high distinction

Admissions

  • Illinois (1994)

Publications

  • “Opportunity for Increased Foreign Subsidiary Report: New IRS Proposed Tax Regulation Limiting ‘956 Deemed Dividend’ Tax Impact,” co-authored with Stephen Legatzke, The Secured Lender, Jan./Feb. 2019.
  • “Measure Twice, Cut Once: Five Key Issues That Should Be Evaluated Upfront When Assessing a Cross-Border Lending Transaction,” co-authored with William Starshak, The Secured Lender, July 2012.
  • “What Area of the World Will Be the Next Growth Area for ABL?,” The Secured Lender, July/Aug. 2010.
  • “Shoring Up Distressed Cross-Border Loans,” The Secured Lender, July/Aug. 2009.
  • “Asset-Based Lending in Mexico: An Overview of Key Considerations,” The Secured Lender, July/Aug. 2008.

Presentations

  • Panelist, “Increased Opportunities for Cross-Border Finance,” at the Secured Finance Network’s Annual Convention, November 2019.
  • Moderator: “Arc of the Covenants: Who’s in Charge Here?” at the Secured Finance Network’s International Lending Conference, London, May 2019.
  • Moderator, “Chicago Bank CEOs” at the Middle Market Capital Symposium presented by the Midwest Chapter of the Secured Finance Network, Chicago, Oct. 2016.
  • Presenter, “Subordination Agreements: Protections, Pitfalls and Recent Developments” at the American Bar Association’s Business Law Section’s Annual Meeting, Chicago, Sept. 2015.
  • Presenter, “UCC Security Interests” at the Practising Law Institute’s Commercial Real Estate Financing Seminar, Chicago, April 2015.
  • Moderator, “Cross-Border ABL: WHY You Should Care and WHAT You Need to Know” at the Secured Finance Network’s Annual Convention, Washington, D.C., Nov. 2014.
  • Presenter, “Shoring Up Distressed Cross-Border Loans” at the American Bar Association’s Business Law Section’s Spring meeting, Denver, April 2010.

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