James B. Kelly

Since joining Kirkland, James has been involved in the following representations:

• Antero Resources Corporation (NYSE: AR), an independent natural gas and natural gas liquids company engaged in the acquisition, development and production of unconventional properties located in the Appalachian Basin in West Virginia and Ohio, in connection with its entry into a new unsecured credit facility with lender commitments of $1.65 billion.
• Antero Midstream Partners LP, an owner, operator and developer of midstream energy assets and a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Antero Midstream Corporation (NYSE: AM), in connection with its entry into a new $1.25 billion credit facility.
• Lagoon Operating – Midland, LLC, in its sale to Deep Blue Midland Basin LLC, a joint venture between Diamondback Energy (NASDAQ: FANG) and Five Point Energy.
• Bernhard Capital and its DOE and NNSA platform on the acquisition of Strategic Management Solutions, LLC, a provider of expert management and technical consulting services for federal and large industrial clients focused on nuclear programs and projects.
• Thrasio Holdings, Inc., the largest aggregator of Amazon brands in the world, and 240 of its affiliates in their prearranged Chapter 11 cases in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey.
• Fengate Private Equity in its acquisition of Saco Foods Holdings, LLC from Benford Capital Partners.
• Powin, a global leader in energy storage solutions, in its partnership with Hitachi Energy in eks Energy.
• Daseke, Inc. (NASDAQ: DSKE), a North American transportation solutions specialist, in connection with its $1.1 billion sale to transportation and logistics company TFI International Inc. (NYSE and TSX: TFII).
• The Heritage Group in EQT Infrastructure’s majority stake investment in Heritage Environmental Services.
• LM Energy, a portfolio company of Old Ironsides Energy, in the carveout sale of its crude oil gathering business in the Delaware Basin.
• Quantum Capital Group, 547 Energy and ConnectGen in the $768 million sale of ConnectGen to Repsol.
• Hornbeck Offshore Services, a leading provider of technologically advanced, new generation offshore service vessels, in connection with its financing matters.
• Civitas Resources (NYSE: CIVI) in various matters, including:
  
  • its approximate $2.1 billion agreement with Vencer Energy, a Vitol investment, to acquire oil producing assets in the Midland Basin of West Texas.
  • its $2.45 billion definitive agreement to acquire oil producing assets in the Delaware Basin from Tap Rock Resources, a portfolio company of NGP Energy Capital Management.
  • its $2.25 billion definitive agreement to acquire oil producing assets in the Midland Basin from Hibernia Energy III, a portfolio company of NGP Energy Capital Management.
• Nuveen in connection with financings in the energy industry.
• SiO2 Medical Products, a material life sciences company, in its prearranged Chapter 11 cases filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
• LEMOINE, a Bernhard Capital Partners portfolio company, in its acquisition of Macro Companies, a leading emergency fuel and water supplier.
• Main Street Capital Corporation in various financings in the software and technology industry.
• Greenbelt Capital Partners in its majority investment in Unirac, a leading designer and manufacturer of solar photovoltaic mounting solutions.
• Goodnight Water Solutions, a Tailwater Capital portfolio company and a leading midstream produced water infrastructure company, in connection with a $100 million revolving credit facility and $325 million senior secured notes. 
• Warren Equity Partners in connection with financing for its acquisition of MacQueen Equipment, LLC, a heavy environmental equipment dealer, lessor and service provider. 
• Tailwater Capital, together with Waste Management (NYSE: WM) through a newly formed joint venture, in its acquisition of a significant interest in Continuus Materials, a waste-to-product business that transforms discarded plastic and fiber material into engineered building products.
• HPS Investment Partners, LLC (HPS) in C$120 million term loan financing provided to Canaccord Genuity Group, Inc. (CGGI), a leading financial services firm based in Canada, in connection with CGGI’s redemption of its convertible debentures and the subsequent acquisition by HPS of preferred shares issued by CGGI’s UK wealth management subsidiary.
• Subscription/capital call facilities, NAV facilities, management company and topco loans and other fund financings for numerous private equity clients including Summit Partners, Golub Capital and Bluescape Energy Partners, among others.
• Multiple private equity and developer clients in connection with real estate-based financings, including acquisition and development loans, construction loans and revolving credit lines.

Prior to joining Kirkland, James was involved in the following representations:

• AB Private Credit Investors in connection with a senior secured acquisition financing to Comvest Partners in its acquisition of Engage2Excel, Inc.
• Antares Capital in connection with multiple acquisition financing transactions for private equity sponsors.
• Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc. (NASDAQ: BECN) in connection with its corporate credit facilities.
• Eagle Materials Inc. (NYSE: EXP) in connection with its corporate credit facilities.
• Highview Capital, LLC, in connection with financing for its acquisition of Gold Star Foods, Inc.
• Inspired Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: INSE) with respect to its £240 million senior secured facilities established in connection with its acquisition of the Gaming Technology Group of Novomatic UK Ltd.
• Legacy Reserves Inc. in connection with its $350 million DIP financing and $1.5 billion reserve-based exit facility established in connection with its financial restructuring and emergence from Chapter 11.
• Luxor Capital Group, LP, in connection with a SPAC-related acquisition financing transaction for a corporate borrower.
• Raising Cane’s Restaurants in connection with its financing matters.
• ShoreView Industries in connection with financing for its acquisition of California Retina Associates.
• Affiliates of Z Capital Partners, L.L.C., in connection with their acquisition of Techniks Tool Group.
• Affiliates of ZMC in connection with financing for their acquisition of Simeio Solutions.
• A media company in connection with multiple secured margin loan facilities.
• Multiple private equity sponsors in connection with their subscription credit facilities.
• A privately held manufacturer of building and construction material and packaging products in connection with the refinancing of its $1.25 billion secured credit facility.
• An upstream oil and gas company in connection with multiple reserve-based revolving credit facilities.
• An upstream oil and gas company with respect to financing for an asset purchase and related corporate restructuring in connection with a joint venture.