A consummate consensus-builder and problem-solver, Lee Podair represents financial institutions in secured lending and other finance transactions, developing creative solutions that protect clients while still addressing the concerns of the borrower and their counsel. As a testament to this, he is regularly requested by his lender clients’ clients, after they’ve had positive experience working across the table with Lee.
With the insights and confidence that come from deep experience, Lee aims for the win-win and never assumes an unnecessarily adversarial posture. For almost 40 years, he has employed this approach, effectively collaborating with clients on finance matters including acquisition and cross-border financings, financings for working capital, leveraged recapitalizations, debtor-in-possession financings, unitranche, second lien and mezzanine facilities, and fund guaranty facilities for private equity sponsors.
Lee has extensive knowledge of intercreditor issues (generally, as well as issues that may be applicable to specialized structures, such as unitranche facilities and receivables securitizations), cross-border financing issues and other areas that impact financings, including bankruptcy law and non-standard collateral issues (e.g., intellectual property and foreign collateral).
In addition to his core secured finance practice, Lee has had the opportunity to work on numerous bankruptcy-related matters, regularly representing lenders in workouts, restructurings and distressed debt financings. He also has experience representing capital providers in litigation finance transactions.
Lee has served on panels for the Practicing Law Institute, the Banking Law Institute, SFNet (formerly the Commercial Finance Association) and the Association of Commercial Finance Attorneys. He has published articles on secured lending and bankruptcy law issues in The New York Law Journal, The Secured Lender and other publications.
experience
- Represented agent in large syndicated secured credit facility for provider of theater and concert lighting and scenic design services.
- Represented agent in large syndicated secured credit facility for supplier of airplane parts to engine manufacturers.
- Represented agent in large syndicated secured credit facility for multi-location supermarket chain.
- Represented agent and first-out lender in large unitranche credit facility for provider of food services for correctional facilities.
- Represented first-out lender in large unitranche credit facility for specialty health care organization.
- Represented agent in workout of syndicated credit facility for supplier of airplane parts to engine manufacturers.
- Represented agent in workout of syndicated credit facility for provider of theater and concert lighting and scenic design services.
- Represented lender in credit facility extended to provider of airline logistics services.
- Represented lender in credit facility extended to brand marketing consultant.
- Represented lender in workout of loan to developer of New York City residential/mixed use real estate project.
- American College of Finance Lawyers Regent
- SFNet Foundation Board of Directors
- American Bar Association, New York State Reporter for the Commercial Law Survey
- Commercial Finance Association’s Harry H. Chen Memorial Award, 2015
- Listed in New York Metro Area Super Lawyers (by Thomson Reuters), 2006-2007, 2009-2011, 2013-2021
- “Five Things a Client and Transactional Counsel Should Discuss at the Start of a Deal”
The Secured Lender, October 2013
I am the world’s biggest Brian Wilson (of Beach Boys fame) fan. In fact, there is a poster of him in my office. In addition to his musical talent, I appreciate people who can persevere and overcome challenges, even after others would count them out.