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Katherine E. Bell

Partner, Corporate Department
Orange County
T 1(714) 668-6238
F 1(714) 668-6338
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Katherine Bell is a partner in the Finance and Restructuring practice of Paul Hastings and is based in the firm’s Orange County office.

Her practice focuses on commercial and corporate finance transactions. Ms. Bell regularly represents commercial banks, investment banks, finance companies, other lenders, and borrowers in working capital facilities (cash flow and asset-based), acquisition financings, structured financings, and other leveraged finance transactions including leveraged buyouts, restructurings, and recapitalizations. Ms. Bell has significant experience negotiating intercreditor relationships, including 1st lien/2nd lien transactions, split collateral arrangements, and unitranche transactions. She has industry experience in a variety of business sectors and has considerable experience in cross-border transactions.

Ms. Bell recently co-authored 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
  • 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

  • “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)
  • “LexisPSL Banking Finance Cross-Border Guide (California)” – LexisNexis
  • “Women in Commercial Finance:  Growing Our Ranks” — The Secured Lender
  • Numerous speaking engagements and training programs on a variety of topics, including:
    • 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
  • Moderated the “Southern California Women’s Business Connection: Bringing Together Financial Professionals and Entrepreneurs” (March 2017)
  • Moderated the “Intercreditor Issues Panel” at the CFA 71st Annual Convention (November 2015)

Professional and Community Involvement

  • Member of the Commercial Finance Association Executive Committee
  • Secretary of the Board of Governors of the Financial Lawyers Conference
  • Member of the State Bar of California, the American Bar Association, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and the Orange County Bar Association
  • Chair of the Women in Commercial Finance Committee of the Commercial Finance Association. In this role, Ms. Bell works with committee members to impact the organization’s national visibility, presence in local Chapters, and outreach to member firms with Diversity and Women’s Networking groups. Click here to learn more about WICF

Education

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