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
- 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
Education
- Southwestern University School of Law, J.D.
- University of California Santa Barbara, B.A.
news
- Paul Hastings Advised Lenders in Simpro’s Acquisition of BigChange - October 30th, 2024
- Paul Hastings Advised Blue Owl Credit Advisors, Blackstone Alternative Credit Advisors, and Ares Capital Management in $7.2 Billion Take-Private of Squarespace - October 17th, 2024
- Paul Hastings Advised Ares, KKR, Apollo, Oaktree, HPS, and Goldman as Lenders on Legends’ Acquisition of ASM Global - August 26th, 2024
- Paul Hastings Advises Lenders in Carlyle’s $3.8 Billion Purchase of Vantive Kidney Care from Baxter - August 14th, 2024
- Paul Hastings Advised Barclays on $3.15 Billion Financing for Sixth Street Partners’ $5.1 Billion Acquisition of Enstar Group - July 29th, 2024
- Paul Hastings Advised Wells Fargo on $1.95 Billion Financing for RR Donnelley’s Acquisition of Valassis - July 25th, 2024
- Paul Hastings Advised Blue Owl Credit Advisors, Blackstone Alternative Credit Advisors, and Ares Capital Management in $6.9 Billion Take-Private of Squarespace - May 13th, 2024
- Paul Hastings Advised Goldman Sachs in Thoma Bravo’s $5.3 Billion Acquisition of Darktrace - April 30th, 2024
- Paul Hastings Advised Lenders in Carlyle and Insight Partners Acquisition of Exiger - March 6th, 2024
- Paul Hastings Advised Wells Fargo as Administrative Agent for TowerBrook Capital Partners’ Majority Investment in Demakes Enterprises - December 14th, 2023
- Paul Hastings Advised Lead Arrangers on Financing for Madison Dearborn Partners’ Acquisition of Shaw Development, LLC - December 4th, 2023
- Paul Hastings Advised Lenders in Connection with Legends’ Acquisition of ASM Global - November 7th, 2023
- 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
Recognitions
- Jennifer St. John Yount Named “Dealmaker of the Year,” Jayme Goldstein a Finalist at 2024 New York Legal Awards - September 11th, 2024
- Paul Hastings Shortlisted for Law Firm of the Year and Two Dealmaker of the Year Awards by New York Law Journal - July 18th, 2024
- Paul Hastings Lawyers Shortlisted for Women in Business Law Americas Awards 2024 - April 10th, 2024
- 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
- 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
- PH COVID-19 Client Alert Series: Overview of the Liquidity and Credit Support Programs of the CARES ACT and Implemented by the Federal Reserve (UPDATED) - March 27th, 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