Mark R. Kirsons represents commercial and investment banks, finance companies, hedge funds, private equity funds, insurance companies, and both private and public companies in traditional lending, asset securitization, and other structured finance transactions. He also represents debtors and creditors in workouts, restructurings, and bankruptcies. Mark covers a broad range of industries and market sectors, including agribusiness, telecommunications, aerospace, energy, mining, manufacturing, healthcare, finance and insurance, sports, gaming and leisure, food and beverage, restaurants, retail, transportation, chemicals, technology, real estate, media, publishing, packaging, and printing. He works with agents, arrangers, lenders, borrowers, and sponsors on investment grade, mid-corporate, and middle market transactions.
Mark has structured, negotiated, and completed a variety of secured and unsecured commercial financings (on a bilateral, club or syndicated basis, as dictated by the applicable transaction) and note offerings, including asset-based loans, cross-border and multi-currency credit facilities, second-lien facilities, bridge loans, fund-to-funds note offerings, acquisition facilities (including leveraged buyouts), recapitalization transactions, and regulated industry financings. He has advised clients on various domestic and foreign collateral issues, including those arising in financings secured by aircraft, oil and related petroleum products, nuclear fuel, securities, gaming rights, servicing rights, and satellites. He also has represented clients in restructurings, work-outs, and other insolvency related matters, including Chapter 11 proceedings, debtor-in-possession financings, and an assignment for the benefit of creditors.
In the securitization and structured finance context, Mark has advised various financial institutions, hedge funds, and corporate originators in connection with commercial paper conduit and term securitization programs. He has worked with clients to establish warehouse facilities and has securitized assets such as timeshares, structured settlements, and trade receivables. He also has represented financial institutions and corporate clients in establishing equipment lease programs and structuring synthetic lease transactions.
Mark has appeared in Chambers, Who’s Who of International Business Lawyers, The Legal 500, and IFLR 1000. He previously served as a co-leader of the global finance group at Sidley.
Notable Practitioner, IFLR1000 Financial and Corporate (2022, 2023)
Recommended, Finance: Commercial lending: advice to borrowers, The Legal 500 US (2024)
Recommended, Finance: Commercial lending: advice to lenders, The Legal 500 US (2022, 2023)
Recommended, Industry focus: Sport, The Legal 500 US (2022)
Ranked, Banking & Finance, Illinois, Chambers USA (2021–2024)
Member, American Bar Association
Member, Illinois Bar Association
Member, Chicago Bar Association
Member, Dean’s Advisory Board, Mitchell Hamline School of Law, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Board Member, Urban Gateways, a non-for-profit providing arts and music programming throughout Chicago’s public schools