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. 

Jennifer practiced in the bankruptcy courts before becoming a finance and restructuring lawyer. She has industry experience in many business sectors, with a special focus on global software, technology and payment systems businesses, healthcare, retail, aircraft, automobiles and in-transit inventory.  

Jennifer is a thought leader in the finance industry and speaks widely on the market challenges facing both traditional and nonbank lenders.

• Dealmaker of the Year, New York Law Journal’s New York Legal Awards (2024)
• Chambers USA, Private Credit – Band 1 (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.”
• Chambers USA, Leading attorney for Banking & Finance (2007-2024)
  • “She balances legal points with commercial reality very well.”
  • “She is smart, articulate and overall outstanding.”
• The Legal 500 USA, Finance – Commercial Lending (2021-2023)
• Banking and Finance Lawyer of the Year, Women in Business Law Awards (2022)
• Chambers USA Banking & Finance client feedback:
  • “Jennifer gives commercial, nuanced advice and she is always available to discuss any matter that may arise. Her work product is also excellent.” “She is excellent at leading complex global deals.” Chambers USA 2023
  • “She has an excellent command of the law while also understanding how to temper what is required from a legal perspective with business needs.” Chambers USA 2022
  • Jennifer “is one of the best attorneys in the direct lending field. She has a thorough grasp of market terms and knows how to dissect and analyze complicated, unique financing structures - she's a true pleasure to work with.” Chambers USA 2020
  • “Jennifer is often my first call when I have a legal question or topic, particularly complex issues. She knows how to get a deal done and is able to balance her extensive legal expertise with a business lens.” Chambers USA 2019

•  Southwestern University School of Law, J.D.
•  University of California Santa Barbara, B.A.