Christopher J.
Kelly

Mr. Kelly’s representative matters have included:

• Strategic acquisition financings in connection with Ashland’s acquisition of Pharmachem Laboratories, Biovail’s merger of equals with Valeant Pharmaceuticals, Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox, Extreme Reach’s acquisition of Digital Generation, the acquisition by The Kraft Group and Schwarz Partners of New‑Indy Containerboard, Laborie’s acquisition of Cogentix Medical, New Media’s acquisition of Gannett and Scientific Games’ acquisition of WMS Industries;

• Private equity acquisition financings in connection with Ares Management’s acquisition of Insight Global, the acquisition by Ares Management and the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board of Neiman Marcus, the acquisition by EQT and Goldman Sachs Asset Management of Parexel, the acquisition by EQT of Storable, the acquisition by Golden Gate Capital of Extensity and Aspect Software, MacAndrews & Forbes’ investment in Scientific Games, Onex’s acquisition of The Warranty Group, Permira’s acquisition of WeddingWire, Temasek’s acquisition of Global Healthcare Exchange and TPG’s acquisition of Vertafore;

• Advising on a diverse range of bank financings for borrower‑side clients such as Amblin Partners and Steven Spielberg, AMG Critical Materials, Ashland, Brunswick, Crown Castle, Fortress, Gannett, Gopuff, Illumina, Qualcomm, TerraForm Power, Valvoline, Variant, WestRock and WorldStrides;

• Advising leading financial institutions in connection with loans provided to companies such as Allegion, Alvaria, ASC Engineered Solutions, Belron, Braun, Burger King, Chemours, Citadel Securities, Claire’s, Compass Minerals, Concentra, Cumulus Media, Entegra, First Student, GrafTech, Infor, Insight Global, International Markets Centers, Itron, Kaman, Laborie, Live Nation, Navistar, New Era Cap Company, New‑Indy Containerboard, Q’Straint, SCA Health, Seadrill, Seagate Technology, TI Automotive, Trane Technologies, TRW Automotive, USG Corporation, Vectrus and Vertafore, as well as financial sponsors such as Ares, Blue Owl / Owl Rock, Brookfield, Golden Gate Capital and One Equity Partners;

• Asset-based credit facilities and other structured financings for companies such as Ashland, Claire’s, Crown Castle, New Era Cap Company, PETCO Animal Supplies, USG Corporation and WestRock; and

• Restructurings and distressed financings including representing Credit Suisse Asset Management on matters relating to supply chain financing arrangements between Bluestone Resources and Greensill Capital, Eurazeo as Debtor‑in‑Possession (“DIP”) lender in the chapter 11 proceedings of WorldStrides, Fifth Season Investments as DIP lender in the chapter 11 proceedings of GWG, PG&E in financing matters related to its reorganization proceedings under chapter 11 and the agent and arranger of financing provided to YRC Worldwide as part of a recapitalization transaction.

Mr. Kelly has been recognized for his work in commercial lending by The Legal 500 US and has been recognized by Lawdragon as among the “500 Leading Dealmakers in America.”

Mr. Kelly was born in Mount Kisco, New York. He received a B.A. summa cum laude from Columbia University in 1996, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1999, where he was Supervising Editor of the Journal on Legislation.

Mr. Kelly joined Cravath in 1999 and was elected a partner in 2022.