harrison roberts
Partner
Atlanta
Overview
Harrison Roberts is a finance attorney who combines industry experience with business insight to create practical solutions for lenders and borrowers. He has worked with banks, credit syndicates, and institutional borrowers to negotiate, structure, and close secured lending transactions across a wide variety of industries. He also frequently helps financial institutions develop loan programs to enter new markets and reach new customers.
With two decades of experience in commercial finance, much of Harrison’s work centers around representing the banks and other lending institutions that provide capital to growing businesses. These transactions include asset-based loans, syndications, revolving credit facilities, and acquisition financing. Harrison also works with lenders on workouts, forbearance arrangements, and debtor-in-possession and exit financings. His practice also includes representing borrowers in negotiating large commercial loans and credit facilities.
Harrison is committed to seeing his clients reach their goals and get their deals completed. His wide-ranging experience enables him to protect lenders' interests while providing borrowers with flexibility to operate in a changing environment. At the same time, Harrison’s responsive communication style and diligent approach ensure that even the most complicated finance deals move smoothly through to closing.
Experience
- Developed a franchise loan program for a regional bank. The firm assisted the bank in establishing underwriting criteria, prepared form loan documents and closed more than 50 loan transactions exceeding $100 million in the aggregate.
- 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 lender, which extended a secured (asset-based) revolving credit facility to a Puerto-Rico based manufacturer and distributor. The transaction was the first material asset-based loan made by the client to a borrower in Puerto Rico and demonstrated the lender's willingness and ability to serve a unique customer in a non-traditional market.
- Represented a bank in connection with a syndicated club credit facility to a service provider in the oil and gas hydraulic fracturing industry, including an out-of-court restructuring of the transaction.
- Represented a bank, as agent for a syndicate of lenders, in connection with an asset-based revolving credit and term loan facility to a midstream oil and gas marketing and distribution company. The transaction posed complex debt structuring and collateral issues that are particularly applicable to companies in this industry.
- 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.
- Represented the agent in a $55 million loan transaction to a U.S. based alcohol distillery. The credit facilities included term loans supported by real estate and equipment, as well as an asset-based revolving credit facility supported by accounts receivable and alcohol inventory.
- Prepared form loan documents for a national finance company's asset-based lending program. Loans closed under the program often permit the borrower to include in the borrowing base inventory that is in-transit from overseas suppliers.
- Negotiated and documented an asset-based credit facility for petroleum product recycler. After the closing, the firm advised the lender regarding the purchase from another lender of the borrower's term loan facility, simplifying the borrower's capital structure and reporting requirements and strengthening the lender's relationship with its customer.
Thought Leadership
- Earnings Estimates in Emerging Markets: An Overview - Emerging Markets Quarterly, Spring 2001, p. 30 (Co-author, with George Hoguet)
- Forces for Stabilization: How U.S. Pension Funds Can Help Avert Future Crises - The International Economy, January/February 2001, p. 46
Areas of focus
- Financial Services
- Franchise
- Commercial Finance
- Corporate & Business Transactions
- Real Estate Transactions
- Restructuring & Bankruptcy
Education
- Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University (M.P.P., 2001) Concentrations in Macroeconomics; Financial Markets & Analysis
- University of Georgia School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1997)
- Davidson College (A.B., cum laude, 1994)
Accolades
- Listed in the 2013 edition of Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business for Banking and Finance
Professional affiliations
- Board Member, Atlanta Bar Association – Business and Finance Section
- Commercial Finance Association
Admitted to practice
- Georgia