James J. Ohlig

James J. Ohlig focuses his practice in distressed and high-yield debt transactions. He represents investment banks, broker-dealers, investment funds and other financial institutions in connection with the purchase and sale of various U.S. and international distressed assets, including bank loans, high-yield debt and securities, and claims against bankruptcy estates. Mr. Ohlig has extensive experience in the review and analysis of credit documentation, and specializes in the preparation and negotiation of primary and secondary market loan and claims trading documentation under the LSTA and LMA regimes, as well as secondary market private securities trading documentation.  more +

Mr. Ohlig has been engaged by investors seeking to acquire strategic positions in companies undergoing financial restructuring or in bankruptcy, and often provides advice to these clients on related reorganization or bankruptcy matters. He has advised clients in connection with thousands of trading transactions in bank loans, bankruptcy claims, reorganization equity and credit derivatives relating to both distressed and par borrowers in a variety of industries and geographic areas, including Safety-Kleen, EuroTunnel, AMF Bowling, Iridium, Refco Capital Markets, Northwest Airlines, WR Grace, Overseas Shipholding Group, Lyondell and Cengage. 

Mr. Ohlig is currently an active participant in The Loan Syndications and Trading Association (LSTA) and sits on numerous LSTA committees. He is admitted to practice in New York.

• Represented a major investment bank in connection with its purchases of the proceeds of various disputed bankruptcy claims in exchange for its guaranty of potential claimholder disgorgement obligations under the borrower's plan of reorganization.

• Represented a large hedge fund in connection with its purchases of multiple claims totaling nearly $90 million against a large U.S. subprime mortgage investor involved in a contentious out-of-court restructuring.

• Represented a major investment bank in connection with its purchase by participation of hundreds of loan assets relating to a total return swap and CLO warehouse transaction.

Active Member, The Loan Syndications and Trading Association (LSTA)