LAWYER
Christopher Desmond
Partner | Boston
Christopher Desmond

Christopher Desmond is a partner in Dechert’s global finance practice, with extensive experience in a broad range of structured and leveraged finance transaction types.  Mr. Desmond primarily focuses on representing asset managers, sponsors and issuers in collateralized loan obligation ("CLO") transactions, as well as managers and borrowers in a variety of fund financing structures, including subscription credit facilities and asset-backed leveraged loan warehouses. He has represented issuers, originators, agent banks and underwriters in connection with asset-backed and residential mortgage securitizations and commercial paper conduits, as well as lenders and borrowers in leveraged finance transactions. He has also represented counterparties to numerous derivative transactions, including credit, currency and commodity derivatives.

Mr. Desmond has consistently been recognized by industry publications for his work in structured finance, including The Legal 500 US.

Prior to joining Dechert, Mr. Desmond worked as an associate in the finance and restructuring department of an international law firm.

  • Manager’s counsel on numerous CLO transactions with respect to both broadly syndicated and middle-market loans.
  • Borrower’s counsel on numerous asset-backed and subscription-based fund finance facilities, including:
    • A joint venture between a BDC and a public university system endowment in a US$50 million subscription financing facility backed by capital commitments of the joint venture partners, and a US$200 million asset-backed loan facility backed by corporate loans.
    • A special-purpose Cayman Islands-registered financing facility in a US$75 million subscription financing facility backed by capital commitments of US and international investors, including ERISA investors, and a US$75 million asset-backed loan facility backed by corporate loans.
  • Lender’s counsel on numerous leveraged and asset-backed corporate loan facilities, including:
    • DIP lenders in a US$505 million super-priority senior secured loan to a national chain of bookstores through its bankruptcy and liquidation.
    • The senior lenders in a US$60 million secured cash-flow term and revolving loan facility as part of the leveraged buyout of a regional fast-food chain.
    • The senior lenders to a re-refiner and marketer of used motor oil in split-collateral asset-backed credit facility.
  • The ticket revenue securitization trust of a Major League Baseball franchise and related entities in connection with the bankruptcy and ultimate sale of the franchise.
  • A major U.S.-based chemical manufacturer in the restructuring of a €500 million securitization of its European subsidiaries’ trade receivables in order to obtain off-balance-sheet treatment under FAS 166 and 167.
  • The administrative agent and related conduit purchaser in a US$100 million asset-backed commercial paper facility for a major manufacturer and distributor of hardwood flooring and other wood products.

Includes matters handled at Dechert or prior to joining the firm.

  • Fund Finance: Liquidity Management Solutions for the Nimble Investory - SuperReturn North America 2023,  New York, NY (November 7, 2023)
  • Private Funds Panel - Los Angeles Investment Management Symposium, Dechert LLP, Los Angeles, CA (October 27, 2022)
  • Middle Market CLOs - Opal Group's CLO Summit 2020, Virtual Conference (December 9, 2020)
  • US Manager Roundtable - Opal Group's CLO Market Outlook 2020, Virtual Conference (June 24, 2020)
  • Considerations for Warehouse Borrowers - Dechert LLP, Webinar (April 16, 2020)
  • CLO Markets in a Regulated Environment - Opal Group's CLO Summit 2019, Dana Point, CA (December 9, 2019)
  • ABCs of Fund Finance Webinar: Subscription Lines, NAV Facilities and Asset-Based Loans - Dechert LLP, Webinar (September 10, 2019)
  • Dispatches from the CLO Trenches - Creditflux Symposium, London (May 8, 2019)
  • Investing in CLOs for Family Offices & Pension Funds - Opal Group's CLO Summit 2018, Dana Point, CA (November 28, 2018)
Services
    • Stanford University, B.A., 2002
    • Stanford University, M.A., 2003
    • New York University, J.D., 2006
    • Massachusetts
    • New York