Katherine E Bell

Partner, Corporate Department

Orange County

T 1(714) 668-6238

F 1(714) 668-6338

Katherine Bell is a partner in the Paul Hastings Global Finance and Restructuring practice. Ms. Bell is based in the firm’s Orange County office.

Ms. Bell focuses her practice on commercial and corporate finance transactions. She regularly represents banks, investment banks, finance companies, private debt lenders, other lenders, and borrowers in working capital facilities (cash flow and asset-based), acquisition financings, structured financings, and restructurings and recapitalizations—both cross-border and U.S. focused. She has industry experience in a variety of business sectors including technology and software, healthcare, transportation and logistics, energy, retail, food and beverage, and manufacturing and industrials.

Ms. Bell has significant experience negotiating intercreditor relationships, including 1st lien/2nd lien transactions, split collateral arrangements, and unitranche transactions. 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.

Ms. Bell is the co-author of Asset-Based Lending: A Practical Guide to Secured Financing (Practising Law Institute, 8th ed. 2015), which is generally considered to be the definitive treatise on asset-based lending.

Accolades and Recognitions

Chambers USA, Banking and Finance, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019
Clients commend her “full understanding of what's on the table” and describe her as “a highly effective and efficient advocate for her clients.” Chambers USA 2016
Chambers USA, “Up and Coming” in 2014 and 2015
Chambers USA, “Associate to Watch” in 2011, 2012, and 2013
Chambers USA, “Up and Coming Finance Lawyer of the Year” shortlist in 2012

Speaking Engagements and Publications

"Strategies for Growth" – Southern California Women's Business Connection (April 2018)
“The Convergence Between Large Cap and Middle Markets” – Debtwire Middle Market Private Credit Forum in Los Angeles (July 2017)
“Enforceability of Intercreditor Agreements” – American Bankruptcy Institute Webinar (February 2017)
Co-author of the treatise “Asset-Based Lending – A Practical Guide to Secured Financing,” Practising Law Institute (8th Ed. 2015)
"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)
"Comparing Intercreditor Arrangements" – LSTA Loan Market Chronicle 2015
“Predictions for Intercreditor Arrangements in 2015 and Beyond – The Devil Really is in the Details” – The Secured Lender (April 2015)
“Evaluating Key Intercreditor Arrangements: First Lien/Second Lien, Split Collateral, Senior/Mezzanine, and Unitranche Structures” – Strafford webinar
“Intercreditor Arrangements – Reading Between the Liens” – LSTA webinar (Jan 2015)
“LexisPSL Banking Finance Cross-Border Guide (California)” – LexisNexis
“Women in Commercial Finance: Growing Our Ranks” – The Secured Lender
Regular speaking engagements and training programs for clients on a variety of topics, including:

Restructurings
Debtor-in-Possession Financing
Structuring a Deal
Intercreditor Agreements
Split Collateral Intercreditor Arrangements
Trends in commercial loan documentation
Interplay between the Uniform Commercial Code and Bankruptcy law
Unitranche facilities
Credit Agreements
Due Diligence
Confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements

“Southern California Women’s Business Connection: Bringing Together Financial Professionals and Entrepreneurs” (March 2017)
“Intercreditor Issues Panel” at the CFA 71st Annual Convention (November 2015)

Professional and Community Involvement

Fellow, American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers
Director of the Secured Finance Network (formerly the Commercial Finance Association)
Vice President of Board, Inclusion Matters by Shane’s Inspiration – Inclusive Playgrounds and Programs for Children
Member of the State Bar of California and the Orange County Bar Association
Member and former President, Financial Lawyers Conference
Former Chair of the Women in Commercial Finance Committee of the Secured Finance Network (formerly the Commercial Finance Association)

Education

J.D., from Cornell Law School in 2001
B.A., from University of California at Irvine in 1998

Rankings & Awards

Recognized by Chambers USA 2020
Chambers USA 2020: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business listed the firm in 37 research areas and named 104 firm lawyers to its rankings of leading lawyers and law firms in the United States.
May 01, 2020

Ranked by Chambers USA 2019
Chambers USA 2019: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business listed the firm in 44 practice areas and named 107 firm lawyers to its rankings of leading lawyers and law firms in the United States.
April 26, 2019

Recognized by Chambers USA 2018
Chambers USA 2018: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business listed the firm in 45 research areas and named 112 firm lawyers to its rankings of leading lawyers and law firms in the United States.
May 15, 2018

Recognized by Chambers USA 2017
Chambers USA 2017: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business named 46 of the firm’s practice areas and 112 individuals to its ranking of leading lawyers and law firms in the United States.
June 05, 2017

Recognized by Chambers USA 2016
Chambers USA 2016: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business named 47 of the firm’s practice areas and 112 individuals to its ranking of leading lawyers and law firms in the United States.
June 08, 2016

United Way's Emerging Tocqueville Leaders
United Way recognized Panteha Abdollahl and Katherine Bell as members of its Emerging Tocqueville Leaders.
May 06, 2014

Recognized by the Chambers USA Women in Law Awards
Chambers USA 2012 has named Paul Hastings Barbara Brown to the "Employment Lawyer of the Year" shortlist and Katherine Bell to the "Up & Coming Finance Lawyer of the Year" shortlist, which are part of its upcoming Women in Law Awards to honor outstanding female stars of the US legal community.
December 19, 2011

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Katherine E Bell

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