
Overview
Jennifer St. John Yount is the co-chair of the Paul Hastings Global Finance practice. Ms. Yount 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 Ms. Yount has a strategic focus on private credit and specialty lenders in both cross-border and U.S.-focused transactions, Ms. Yount 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.
Ms. Yount practiced in the bankruptcy courts before becoming a finance and restructuring lawyer. She has industry expertise in many business sectors, with a special focus on global software, technology and payment systems businesses, healthcare, retail, aircraft, automobiles, and in-transit inventory.
Ms. Yount is a thought leader in the finance industry and speaks widely on the market challenges facing both traditional and nonbank lenders.
Recognitions
- The Legal 500 USA, Commercial Lending (2021-2022)
- Chambers USA, Leading attorney for Banking and Finance: "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
- Banking and Finance Lawyer of the Year, Women in Business Law Awards (2022)
- The Legal 500, Finance - Commercial Lending: Advice to Lenders (2021)
- Chambers USA, Leading attorney for Banking and Finance:
- 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
- Noted Practitioner in Banking and Finance. Chambers USA 2018
- Jennifer is “very adept at finding resolutions to complex situations or issues during negotiations.” Chambers USA 2017
- “[H]er demeanor when approaching negotiations and solutions is outstanding.” Chambers USA 2016
- “Jennifer's command of the law is beyond impressive. When she gets on the phone and I am against sophisticated counsel, she sets my mind at rest because I know I am going to be protected.” Chambers USA 2015
- Honored among Crain’s Notable Women in Law, a semi-annual series highlighting the top female lawyers in New York.
- The Secured Lender magazine – Leading Women in Asset-Based Finance
- M&A Advisor, 40 under 40 Award Winner
Education
- Southwestern University School of Law, J.D.
- University of California Santa Barbara, B.A.
news
- Paul Hastings Advised Direct Lenders on Financing of TPG’s $1.4 Billion Acquisition of Nextech - September 13th, 2023
- Jennifer Yount Named Honoree of “Collaborative Leadership” Award at Women, Influence and Power in Law Awards 2023 - August 30th, 2023
- Paul Hastings Advised Oak Hill Advisors on Financing for TPG Global’s Acquisition of Elite - June 8th, 2023
- Paul Hastings Advised Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. in Split-Lien Financing for Skullcandy, Inc. - June 1st, 2023
- Paul Hastings Advised Syndicate of Direct Lenders in Financing of Thoma Bravo’s $8 Billion Acquisition of Coupa Software - February 28th, 2023
- Paul Hastings Advised Lenders in BC Partners’ $750 Million Acquisition of Madison Logic - January 10th, 2023
- Paul Hastings Advises Lender Syndicate in Veritas Capital’s $3.1 Billion Sponsor-backed Acquisition of Wood Mackenzie - December 21st, 2022
- Finance Co-Chair Jennifer Yount Wins Women in Business Law Lawyer of the Year Award - June 10th, 2022
- Two Paul Hastings Partners Shortlisted for 2022 Euromoney Women in Business Law Americas Lawyer of the Year Awards - May 2nd, 2022
- Wells Fargo and Jefferies Lead $1.3 Billion Debt Financing for Chatham Asset Management’s Acquisition of R.R. Donnelley - February 25th, 2022
- Paul Hastings Recognized by Chambers Global 2022 - February 21st, 2022
- Wells Fargo, BMO Capital Markets, BofA Securities, and JP Morgan Complete $1B Sustainability-linked ABL Facility for Southwire - September 17th, 2021
- Paul Hastings Launches Interdisciplinary Energy Transition & Infrastructure Team to Help Clients Prepare for Low-Carbon Future - June 9th, 2021
- Paul Hastings Ranked as Top Three Firm for New Rankings and Recognized for Numerous Practice Strength and Growth in Chambers USA 2021 - May 21st, 2021
- Paul Hastings Practices and Lawyers Score Top Rankings in Chambers USA 2020 - May 1st, 2020
- Bumble Bee Receives $200 Million Credit Facility from Wells Fargo - November 25th, 2019
- Franchise Group Secures Senior Secured Term Loan; Finalizes Acquisition of Sears Hometown's Outlet Business - October 23rd, 2019
- Paul Hastings Practices and Lawyers Score Top Rankings in Chambers USA 2019 - May 1st, 2019
- Paul Hastings Practices and Lawyers Score Top Rankings in Chambers USA 2018 - May 11th, 2018
- Wells Fargo Bank, JPMorgan Chase Bank, and Morgan Stanley Serve as Lead Arrangers on Pandora Media’s Asset-Based Credit Facility - January 9th, 2018
Recognitions
- Jennifer Yount Named Honoree of “Collaborative Leadership” Award at Women, Influence and Power in Law Awards 2023 - August 30th, 2023
- Jennifer Yount Wins Women in Business Law Lawyer of the Year Award - June 10th, 2022
- Paul Hastings Global Finance Practice Recognized by Chambers USA 2022 - June 1st, 2022
- Paul Hastings Recognized by Chambers Global 2022 - February 21st, 2022
- Recognized by Chambers USA 2021 - May 21st, 2021
- Recognized by Chambers USA 2020 - May 1st, 2020
- Recognized as NLJ Trailblazers in Finance, Banking, & Capital Markets - October 1st, 2019
- Ranked by Chambers USA 2019 - April 26th, 2019
- Recognized among Crain's Notable Women in Law - January 14th, 2019
- Recognized as a Leading Woman in Commercial Finance - May 31st, 2018
- Recognized by Chambers USA 2018 - May 15th, 2018
- Recognized by Chambers USA 2017 - June 5th, 2017
- Recognized by Chambers USA 2016 - June 8th, 2016
- Recognized by the M&A Advisor's 40 Under 40 Awards - July 13th, 2010
insights
- Loan Market Update: Q1-Q3 Recap, Trends & What’s Next - October 2nd, 2023
- Market Intersection: A Quarterly Look at the U.S. Credit Markets 1Q23 - June 26th, 2023
- Finance in Five Minutes: Healthcare Finance Checkup - June 14th, 2023
- Ticking Fees Trends in the U.S. Loan Market - May 19th, 2023
- Delaware Bankruptcy Court Upholds Creditor’s Proxy Rights - April 19th, 2023
- Market Intersection: A Quarterly Look at the U.S. Credit Markets 3Q22 - November 16th, 2022
- Direct Lenders Are Navigating Rough Seas - September 1st, 2022
- Market Intersection: A Quarterly Look at the U.S. Credit Markets 2Q 2022 - August 5th, 2022
- Market Intersection: A Quarterly Look at the U.S. Credit Markets 4Q 2021 - February 8th, 2022
- District Court Judge Vacates Purdue Pharma’s Confirmation Order, Holding Nonconsensual Nondebtor Releases Impermissible - December 23rd, 2021
- The Private Debt Market is White Hot - September 1st, 2021
- Market Intersection: A Quarterly Look at the U.S. Credit Markets 2Q 2021 - July 28th, 2021
- Market Intersection: A Quarterly Look at the U.S. Credit Markets - June 22nd, 2021
- Market Intersection: A Quarterly Look at the U.S. Credit Markets -- 4Q20 - March 2nd, 2021
- Federal Reserve Seeks to Raise Interest by Issuing Revised FAQs for Its Main Street Lending Program - September 28th, 2020
- Market Intersection: A Quarterly Look at the U.S. Credit Markets-2Q20 - August 6th, 2020
- Federal Reserve Expands Main Street Lending Program to Nonprofit Organizations and Updates FAQs - July 20th, 2020
- Federal Reserve Board Revises and Prepares to Open the Main Street Lending Program - June 11th, 2020
- COVID-19: Federal Reserve Board Announces It Is Expanding the Scope and Eligibility for the Main Street Lending Program - May 1st, 2020
- Overview of the Credit Facilities Implemented by the Federal Reserve to Provide up to $2.3 Trillion Relying upon its Emergency Lending Powers - April 9th, 2020
Engagement & Publications
- Paul Hastings Associate Training – Client Serve (Feb 2021)
- Private Debt Investor Round Table – How a Crises-Hit Market is Taking Shape (Dec 2020)
- Private Debt Investor Round Table - Paul Hastings: Covid-19 forces managers to be more creative (Oct 2020)
- Credit Agreements – Client Presentation (Sep 2020)
- Asset Based Lending – Strafford Presentation (May 2020)
- Forbearance Agreements – Paul Hastings M&A Academy (Apr 2020)
- Software Restructurings – Client Presentation (Dec 2019)
- Paul Hastings Associate Training – Client Panel on the Importance of Client Service (Oct 2019)
- Private Debt Investor – Guggenheim, Alliance Bernstein, and Vista Debt Fund – Software and Healthcare Lending (Sept 2019)
- Paul Hastings Client Panel – Wells Fargo, RBC, and Bridgewater (Mar 2019)
- Private Debt Investor – Client Panel – Structures and Market Trends (Sept 2018)
- Emerging Structures in Asset-Based Lending: The Tension Between Innovation and Risk – The Secured Lender (Jan/Feb 2018)
- The Real Deal on Retail – Panel on Retail Finance – Paul Hastings Breakfast Briefing in New York (Nov 2017)
- Unitranche 3.0 – What You Don’t Know About the Evolving Unitranche Market? – Private Debt Investor Forum in New York (Sept 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 (Mar 2017)
- Cross-border Deals – Private Debt Investor Forum in London (Nov 2016)
- Borrower in Distress? A Toolbox for Secured Lenders – The Secured Lender (Oct 2016)
- Evaluating Key Intercreditor Arrangements: First Lien/Second Lien, Split Collateral, Senior/Mezzanine, and Unitranche Structures – Strafford Webinar (Jul 2016)
- Reading Between the Liens: An Inside Look at Current Trends in the Credit Markets – Paul Hastings Breakfast Briefing in New York (May 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 (Apr 2015)
- Intercreditor Arrangements – Reading Between the Liens – LSTA Webinar (Jan 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
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