Overview
Marija Pecar is a partner in Paul Hastings’ Financial Restructuring group, and a member of the firm’s Global Finance practice, and is based in the New York office. Marija is dual-qualified to practice both New York and English Law. Her client base spans the finance industry, and includes leading investment and commercial banks, hedge funds, private equity sponsors, alternative asset managers, private credit providers, CLO managers, and BDCs. She also regularly advises corporates operating in a broad range of industries and sectors in connection with raising capital in the capital markets and private credit sector, including clients in energy, industrials, healthcare, infrastructure, retail, technology and logistics.
Clients call on Marija for strategic counsel and commercial advice on an array of complex domestic and cross-border financing transactions, including leveraged acquisition and syndicated credit facilities, distressed debt and other ‘special situations’ financings and restructurings (including bridge facilities, “debtor-in-possession” financings and Chapter 11 exit finance), liability management and debt exchange transactions, asset-based lending and high-yield bonds. Marija has also established a practice advising clients on structuring investments and joint ventures involving cryptocurrencies, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and other digital assets, and monetizing intellectual property on the blockchain.
Prior to joining Paul Hastings, Marija practiced at leading finance and restructuring firms in New York, as well as a top-tier international “magic circle” firm in London, where she worked on a variety of European and emerging markets financings, and complex derivatives and structured finance transactions (including pensions hedging and longevity swaps). While in London, Marija also spent a portion of her time in-house at CVC Capital Partners supporting US and European private equity deal-teams.
Recognitions
- Best Lawyers in America, "Ones to Watch"
- The Deal, “Top Women in Dealmaking”, 2023
- The M&A Advisor, "Emerging Leader", 2023
- Turnaround Management Association, 2021 Turnaround of the Year: Mid-Size Company for American Addiction Centers
Education
- Master of Arts, University of Oxford, 2014
- Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice, Commendation, The College of Law, 2011
- L.M., New York University School of Law, 2010
- Bachelor of Arts (Jurisprudence), University of Oxford, 2009
Representations
- 21st Century Oncology, Inc. (ad hoc cross-holder creditor group providing bridge, DIP and Chapter 11 exit financing)
- American Addiction Centers (majority lenders in prepetition, DIP and exist financing transactions and debt-to-equity exchange)
- Animal Supply Company (ad hoc group of second lien lenders)
- Caesars Entertainment Corporation (ad hoc group of first lien lenders)
- Chase Industries (ad hoc group of 1.5L and 2L lenders)
- Cenveo (DIP agent and lenders)
- Convene (senior secured term lenders)
- Core Scientific (ad hoc group of convertible noteholders)
- Dex Media Inc. (senior secured term facility lenders)
- Digicel (ad hoc group of secured lenders and secured noteholders)
- Foresight Energy LLC (ad hoc bondholder group in consensual restructuring of $1.4 billion capital structure)
- Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp. (prepetition secured lender and DIP lender in credit bid and Chapter 11 transaction)
- Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. (term lender and revolving lender in special situations financing transaction)
- Iracore International Holdings, Inc. (senior secured lenders in out-of-court debt-to-equity exchange and term financing)
- Permian Production Partners (senior secured lenders in out-of-court restructuring financing)
- Pipeline Health (prepetition equity holder and term lender)
- Reagan Corporation (borrower in whole-business securitization financing)
- Sandy Creek Energy Station (ad hoc group of first lien lenders in out-of-court debt-to-equity exchange and term financing)
- Strike Industries (American Industrial Partners, as sole provider of bridge and DIP financing and majority lender leading Chapter 11 and foreclosure transaction)
- Summit Midstream (majority lenders leading consensual debt exchange and foreclosure transaction)
- Transmar Commodity Group Ltd. (ABL credit facility lender and agent)
- VIP Cinema Seating (second lien lender and DIP lender in Chapter 11 restructuring)
Engagement & Publications
- Co-author, "Unblocking the Blockchain: Regulating Distributed Ledger Technology," Futures & Derivatives Law Report, November 2016
- Speaker, "Making It Big: Maximizing the Benefits of Sponsors and Mentors," Centerforce’s Virtual Summit on Women, Diversity & Change on Wall Street, October 6, 2021
- Panelist, “Hot Button Issues in Transactional & Corporate Compliance,” 2018 Hispanic National Bar Association Annual Convention, September 6, 2018
- Speaker, "Blockchain Technology and the Financial System: Legal and Regulatory Issues", New York City Bar Association, Futures & Derivatives Regulation Committee, June 14, 2017