All Professionals
Overview
Jennifer St. John Yount is the co-chair of the Paul Hastings Global Finance practice. Jennifer is based in the firm’s New York office and leads a global team of finance and restructuring lawyers to service the firm’s clients. Before settling in New York, she practiced in the firm’s California offices.
While Jennifer has a strategic focus on private credit and specialty lenders in both cross-border and U.S.-focused transactions, she also represents a wide range of traditional and investment banks. Her work for both banks and nonbanks includes acquisition financings, cash-flow, asset-based lending, distressed credit, special situations and restructurings. She represents clients in all parts of the capital structure – senior, junior, first lien, second lien, first out, last out, super-senior and preferred equity.
Accolades
- Dealmaker of the Year, New York Law Journal’s New York Legal Awards
- Band 1 – Private Credit, Chambers USA (2024)
- “Jennifer's transaction experience and rapport working with other law firms is unmatched.”
- “Jennifer threads the needle very well and is trusted by both sides of a transaction.”
- Leading attorney for Banking & Finance, Chambers USA (2007-2024)
- “She balances legal points with commercial reality very well.”
- “She is smart, articulate and overall outstanding.”
- Finance – Commercial Lending, Legal 500 US
- Banking and Finance Lawyer of the Year, Women in Business Law Awards
Education
- Southwestern University School of Law, J.D.
- University of California Santa Barbara, B.A.
Engagement & Publications
- Paul Hastings Associate Training – Client Serve (February 2021)
- Private Debt Investor Round Table – How a Crises-Hit Market is Taking Shape (December 2020)
- Private Debt Investor Round Table - Paul Hastings: Covid-19 forces managers to be more creative (October 2020)
- Credit Agreements – Client Presentation (September 2020)
- Asset Based Lending – Strafford Presentation (May 2020)
- Forbearance Agreements – Paul Hastings M&A Academy (April 2020)
- Software Restructurings – Client Presentation (December 2019)
- Paul Hastings Associate Training – Client Panel on the Importance of Client Service (October 2019)
- Paul Hastings Client Panel – Wells Fargo, RBC, and Bridgewater (March 2019)
- Private Debt Investor – Client Panel – Structures and Market Trends (September 2018)
- The Real Deal on Retail – Panel on Retail Finance – Paul Hastings Breakfast Briefing in New York (November 2017)
- Unitranche 3.0 – What You Don’t Know About the Evolving Unitranche Market? – Private Debt Investor Forum in New York (September 2017)
- The Convergence Between Large Cap and Middle Markets – Debtwire Middle Market Private Credit Forum in Los Angeles (July 2017)
- Intercreditor Structures: A Comparison of U.S. and U.K. Law – The Loan Market Association in London (March 2017)
- Cross-border Deals – Private Debt Investor Forum in London (November 2016)
- Evaluating Key Intercreditor Arrangements: First Lien/Second Lien, Split Collateral, Senior/Mezzanine, and Unitranche Structures – Strafford Webinar (July 2016)
- Reading Between the Liens: An Inside Look at Current Trends in the Credit Markets – Paul Hastings Breakfast Briefing in New York (May 2016)
- Intercreditor Arrangements – Reading Between the Liens – LSTA Webinar (January 2015)
- Speaking engagements at banking and lending institutions, including:
- Structural Considerations in Acquisition Financings
- Insolvency and Restructuring: A Comparison of U.K. and U.S. Law
- Breaking Down Borders: Cross-border Deals and Blurring Lines between U.S. and Europe
- Interlender Topics and Trends: Intercreditor Agreements, Subordination Agreements, and Agreements Among Lenders
- Middle Market vs. Large Market Deals: Converging Markets
- Unitranche Structures
- Equity Co-Invest: How to Protect Your Minority Investment
- Private Debt Investor – Guggenheim, Alliance Bernstein, and Vista Debt Fund – Software and Healthcare Lending (September 2019)
- Emerging Structures in Asset-Based Lending: The Tension Between Innovation and Risk – The Secured Lender (January/February 2018)
- Borrower in Distress? A Toolbox for Secured Lenders – The Secured Lender (October 2016)
- RadioShack – Bankruptcy Court Implicitly Recognizes Enforceability of Agreement Among Lenders But Limits Coverage of First Out Contingent Indemnification Claims – Paul Hastings Client Alert (May 2015)
- Predictions for Intercreditor Arrangements in 2015 and Beyond – The Devil Really is in the Details – The Secured Lender (April 2015)
Involvement
- Secured Finance Network (formerly the Commercial Finance Association)
- Private Debt Investor
- Loan Syndications & Trading Association
- Turnaround Management Association
- Shane’s Inspiration – Inclusive Playgrounds and Programs for Children
- Institute for Educational Advancement