17 of our partners have again been awarded top honors among leading Georgia law firms in the prestigious 2021 Chambers USA guide
May 20, 2021
bobbi acord noland
Partner
Atlanta
"very knowledgeable, creative . . and very effective in difficult negotiations"
Chambers USA 2020
Overview
Bobbi Acord Noland is the consummate finance attorney. Throughout her 30-year career, Bobbi has helped lenders negotiate and conclude hundreds of secured loan transactions at all levels of complexity. Her collaborative, deal-focused approach serves as a catalyst for progress and creates positive customer relationships for her clients.
As head of the Commercial Finance practice, Bobbi guides global banks, regional banks and finance companies through domestic and cross-border transactions ranging from $5 million to more than $1 billion. She has handled practically every aspect of commercial lending, from single-lender deals to syndicated facilities involving multiple lenders, borrowers, creditors and multi-tiered debt tranches. In addition, Bobbi frequently advises her clients on workouts and restructurings.
Bobbi is totally committed to pushing client deals over the finish line. Her diverse experience helps her identify the borrower’s goals without compromising the lender’s commercial agenda. At the same time, her productive communication style creates the rapport needed to negotiate a win-win conclusion. Bobbi acts as the bond and leader that holds the transaction together while serving as a sophisticated and effective advocate for her client.
As a testament to her dedication and effectiveness, Bobbi has many client relationships that have spanned decades.
Experience
- Represented Bank of America, N.A., as agent, in connection with a senior secured, asset-based, cross-border revolving credit and term loan facility provided to Modular Space Holdings, Inc. and affiliates, which engaged in the sale and leasing of temporary buildings and structures. The companies filed pre-arranged chapter 11 bankruptcy cases in Delaware, and the firm represented the agent bank in the pre-petition, post-petition, and exit financings.
- Represented a national bank, as the agent for a syndicate of lenders, in providing a $1 billion pre-petition and post-petition syndicated senior secured asset-based credit facility to a sponsor-backed national distributor of tires, which facility included a cross-border component with both U.S. and Canadian borrowers and asset pools, and featuring additional first in - last out facilities. The transaction also required the negotiation of a complex lien subordination and intercreditor agreement with the term lenders holding secured term loan debt.
- Represented a national bank, as agent for a syndicate of lenders, in providing a syndicated senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility to an international office products supply business, which transaction featured cross-border revolving credit facilities with U.S., Canadian, German, and Swedish obligors, and a separate disclosed and full recourse receivables purchase facility with respect to receivables originated by affiliated businesses in France and Italy.
- Represented a national bank, as the sole lender, in providing a senior secured revolving credit facility, which transaction featured dual cross-border revolving credit facilities with U.S. and Dutch borrowers and asset pools.
- Represented a national bank, as agent for a syndicate of lenders, in providing a senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility to a U.S. based manufacturer and distributor. The transaction featured cross-border revolving credit facilities with U.S. and Canadian borrowers and asset pools, a sub-facility for certain assets located in Mexico, and the negotiation and documentation of an extensive array of supply chain finance transactions.
- Represented a national bank, as agent for a syndicate of lenders, in providing a $600 million senior secured asset-based credit facility to consumer finance company, which transaction included the negotiation and documentation of complex intercreditor and securitization documentation.
- Represented an investment bank and financial services company in connection with a cross-border secured credit facility to a group of companies that specialize in the development, manufacture and distribution of lighting products. This facility involved U.S., U.K., and Belgian borrowing facilities.
- Represented an investment bank and financial services company in connection with a senior secured credit facility to a fast-growing domestic company that supplies consumer goods to retailers in the U.S. and Canada.
- Represented senior lender in multi-tiered financing in connection with a new market tax credit transaction.
- Represented a bank, as agent for a syndicate of lenders, in providing a senior secured cash flow revolving credit facility to a consumer products manufacturer with international operations and distribution. This transaction featured cross-border revolving credit facilities with U.S. and Hong Kong asset pools.
- Represented a bank, as administrative agent and lead arranger for a syndicate of lenders, in connection with senior secured credit facilities provided to a U.S. based manufacturing company. The credit facilities included a traditional asset-based revolving loan facility, a “FILO” revolving loan facility and a term loan facility, and positioned the borrower for sale by its private equity sponsor. After the sale, the firm documented a replacement working capital facility, including complex intercreditor arrangements with the holders of senior secured notes.
Thought Leadership
- Moderator, "Annual Lenders' Panel," Turnaround Management Association Atlanta (March 2021)
- Panelist, "Capital Markets Boot Camp," Secured Finance Network Asset-Based Capital Conference (March 2021)
- Co-presenter, "Representing Co-Lenders in Syndicated Credit Facilities: Consent Rights, Sacred Rights, Waterfall and Pro-Rata Sharing Provisions, Removal and Addition of Co-Lenders," Strafford Webinar (March 2021)
- “Interview with Bobbi Acord Noland, SFNet’s New Co-General Counsel,” Michele Ocejo, The Secured Finance Network Women in Secured Finance Newsletter (February 2021)
- Co-presenter, “Report of General Counsel,” SFNet Annual Convention (November 2020)
- Presenter, "Trends in the Syndicated Loan Market," State Bar of Georgia Secured Lending Seminar (March 2020)
- Presenter, "Representing Co-Lenders in Syndicated Credit Facilities," Strafford Webinar (January 2020)
- Moderator, Annual Lender Panel Breakfast, TMA Atlanta (January 2020)
- Panelist, "A Conversation on Career and Community," The Atlanta Women's Foundation Women in Finance Reception (May 2019)
- Co-presenter, "Troubled Credits – A Deal Attorney's Primer for the Next Market Disruption," State Bar of Georgia Business Law Section Secured Lending Seminar (March 2019)
- Presenter, "Syndicated Credit Agreements - Current Issues and Best Practices," UNC Banking Law Institute (March 2017)
- Presenter, "Cross-Border Lending: Key Distinctions Between Canada and United States," Georgia Secured Lending Seminar (February 2017)
- Contributor, "Internationalisation of Asset-Based Lending," Financier Worldwide, TalkingPoint (April 2016)
- Presenter and Panel Member "Issues for ABL Commitment Letters in Acquisition Financing: Be Careful What You Wish For!," Commercial Finance Association's Annual Convention (November 2013)
- Chair and Moderator, Georgia ICLE Secured Lending Seminar (February 2011 and February 2012)
- Chair, Moderator and Presenter "Non-Uniform Collateral: Issues for the Unwary Secured Lender," Georgia ICLE Secured Lending Seminar (February 2010)
- Presenter and Panel Member, "Security Interests Outside of the UCC," ALI-ABA Commercial Banking and Lending Law Seminar (January 2010)
- Author and Presenter, "Perfection, Priority and Enforcement: Documented Vessels, Aircraft and Automobiles," ALI-ABA Commercial Banking and Lending Law Seminar (January 2009)
- Contributor, "Second Lien Loans in Today's Markets," Financier Worldwide (December 2008)
- Author and Presenter, "Certain Non-UCC and UCC "Gotchas" for the Unwary Secured Lender," Section of ABA Business Law Meeting (April 2008)
- Author and Presenter, "Real Estate Issues from the Senior Secured Lender's Perspective," Secured Lending Seminar (February 2008)
- Author, Presenter and Panel Moderator, "Default and Enforcement Under Revised Article 9," Revised Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code in Georgia Seminar (December 2005)
- Author, Presenter and Panel Moderator, "What Practitioners Need to Know," Revised Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code in Georgia Seminar (February 2005)
- Author, Presenter and Panel Moderator, "Default and Enforcement Under Revised Article 9," Revised Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code in Georgia Seminar (February 2004)
- Author, Presenter and Panel Moderator, "Default and Enforcement Under Revised Article 9, " Revised Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code in Georgia Seminar (February 2003)
- Author and Presenter, "Revised UCC Article 9 Secured Transactions," Recent UCC Developments Seminar (July 2002)
- Presenter, "Enforcement of Security Interests Under Revised Article 9," Revised Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code in Georgia Seminar (February 2002)
- Author and Presenter, "Starting the Process—Initiating the Loan" and "Lender Liability—What it is and How to Mitigate the Risk," Structuring the Commercial Loan in Georgia Seminar (October 2001)
- Author and Presenter, "Enforcement of Security Interests Under Revised Article 9," Community Banker’s Association of Georgia (May 2001)
- Presenter, "Selected Bankruptcy Issues for Secured Lenders" and "Lender Liability Pitfalls," Commercial Lending in Georgia Seminar (July 2000)
- Panel Participant and Presenter, "Intellectual Property Issues in Secured Transactions," ABA Section of Business Law 2000 Spring Meeting (March 2000)
- Author and Presenter, "Loan Proposals, Term Sheets and Commitment Letters, " Secured Lending Seminar, Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia (November 1999)
- Author and Presenter, "The Law of Letters of Credit—Effect of Recent Cases and Proposed Changes to Article 9," Secured Lending Seminar, Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia (November 1998)
- Author and Presenter, "The Why and How of Multi-Lender Agreements," Asset Based Lending Seminar (October 1998)
- Author and Presenter, "The Why and How of Multi-Lender Agreements," Asset Based Lending Seminar (June 1998)
- Author and Presenter, "Structuring Issues in Multiple Party Financings," Secured Lending Seminar, Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia (November 1997)
- Co-Author: "Commitment Letters: Uses and Pitfalls," The Journal of Commercial Lending (July 1993)
Areas of focus
- Financial Services
- Business Capitalizations
- Commercial Finance
- Corporate & Business Transactions
- Mergers & Acquisitions; Joint Ventures & Strategic Alliances
- Private Equity
- Real Estate Transactions
- Restructuring & Bankruptcy
Education
- Wake Forest University (J.D., cum laude, 1989); Corpus Juris Secundum Awards in Torts and Contracts; Editor-in-Chief, Wake Forest Law Review, 1989
- Wake Forest University (B.A., Politics, summa cum laude, with honors in politics, 1986); Phi Beta Kappa
Accolades
- Featured as one of the "50 Women in ABL" Leaders by ABF Journal (2021)
- Fellow, American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers
- Selected as a "2020 Woman Leader in the Law" by ALM Media
- Selected by The Best Lawyers in America© as the 2018 Lawyer of the Year in Georgia in the practice area of Banking and Finance Law
- Recognized as one of the "50 Women in Commercial Finance" by The Secured Lender (2017)
- Chambers USA America's Leading Lawyers for Business (Banking and Finance)
- The Best Lawyers in America© (Banking and Finance Law)
- Georgia Super Lawyer
- Phi Beta Kappa (1986)
Professional affiliations
- Co-General Counsel, Secured Finance Network (2020-present)
- UCC Committee, State Bar of Georgia, Former Chair and Committee Member (2008-2013)
- Chair (2015-2016), Vice Chair (2014-2015), and Secretary (2012-2013) of the Business Law Section of the Georgia State Bar
- Atlanta Bar, Board, Business and Finance Section, Former Chair and Board Member (2007-2013)
- Former Co-Chair, ABA Subcommittee on Loan Documentation (2007-2010)
- President, Wake Forest Law Alumni Council and National Law Fund Chairperson for Wake Forest Law School (2004)
- Wake Forest University Presidential Search Committee (2004-2005)
- Wake Forest Law Alumni Council (1993-2010) and Board of Visitors (2013-present)
- Parker, Hudson, Rainer & Dobbs LLP Executive Committee and Compensation Committee
- Practice Group Leader - Commercial Finance Team
- Adjunct Professor, Emory Law School (Spring 2013 and Spring 2014)
- Turnaround Management Association, Board Member (2011-present)
- National Co-Chair, CFA Education Foundation 2017 Campaign
Admitted to practice
- Georgia
- New York