Vedder Price‘s global transportation finance team leverages considerable experience in rail finance and securitization, being frequently retained by client from the equity sector, including insurance companies, private equity, hedge funds and others. The department is broadly experienced, with a portfolio of matters involving railcar leasing joint ventures and asset-backed financing, railcar sales, restructuring of rail facilities, sales of rail platforms and other assets, and rail-related asset backed securitization. The team includes experts from Chicago, Los Angeles and New York, and is highly sought after for matters involving several jurisdictions, especially in North America and Asia. Chicago-based Geoffrey Kass heads the practice, and is accompanied by Michael Draz , who is a port of call for matters requiring expertise in rail transactions and structured financings, including securitization, asset loan facilities, both local and cross-border operating leases, acquisitions and strategic joint ventures, areas that frequently see the involvement of Joel Thielen. Jeffrey Veber advises clients on structured financing and asset purchases involving commercial railcars and platforms out of New York, while Clay Thomas advises on a variety of structured financing transactions involving rail, including rolling stock portfolio acquisitions, sale-back transactions and various lease-related transactions.
L’éditorial du Legal 500
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Témoignages
Collectés indépendamment par l'équipe de recherche du Legal 500.
‘Experience is unrivaled in the rail industry’
‘Work ethic and technical experience’
‘The team at Vedder Price has extensive experience in all aspects of rail finance work. They have worked on virtually every rail-related ABS or bank financing deal in the past decade-plus and are at the forefront of developments in this area. ’
‘I have worked extensively with Jack Bycraft, Clay Thomas, and Jillian Musa for several years. They are, without exception, responsive, thorough, and thoughtful. They strike the right balance between zealous advocacy of a client's position and flexibility to complete a transaction.’
Clients clés
- Chicago Freight Car Leasing Co.
- Atlas SP
- Export Development Canada
- Greenbrier
- ITE Management
- J.P. Morgan Asset Management
- National Steel Car Limited
- PNW Railcars, Inc.
- Stonebriar Commercial Finance
- Trinity Industries, Inc.
Points forts
- Represented ITE Management in connection with its acquisition of SMBC Rail Services LLC and related financing arrangements, a transaction involving over 50,000 railcars and resulting in one of the largest railcar leasing platforms in North America.
- Represented Greenbrier in connection with the $179 million GBXL Series 2023 – 1 railcar asset-backed securitization, Greenbrier’s second ABS issuance.
- Represented Trinity Rail Leasing Warehouse Trust in an extension and renewal of its bankruptcy remote secured warehouse loan financing of a revolving portfolio of railcars and related leases.
Avocats
Hall of Fame
Avocats au sommet de leur profession, largement reconnus et respectés par l'ensemble du marché pour leur expertise éprouvée et leur intervention récurrente et longue date dans les dossiers les plus complexes et prestigieux.
Les grands avocats du marché
Avocats associés reconnus parmi les leaders du marché par leurs pairs et leurs clients, régulièrement présents dans les grands dossiers dans lesquels ils sont au premier plan.
Les grands avocats de demain
Jeunes associés disposant d’une reconnaissance montante sur le marché, jouant régulièrement un rôle clé dans des dossiers majeurs.
Joel Thielen
Clay Thomas
Meilleurs collaborateurs
Jeunes avocats collaborateurs ou counsels qui se distinguent régulièrement par leur présence dans des dossiers importants du marché, et qui sont identifiés par le marché comme de jeunes talents à suivre.
Responsable de la pratique
Geoffrey R. Kass
Autres avocats clés
Michael E. Draz; Jeffrey T. Veber; Clay C. Thomas; Joel R. Thielen; Jack Bycraft; Jillian Musa