M. Shams Billah

• Selected by the New York City Bar Association as a 2019 fellow of the Associate Leadership Institute.
• Counsel for transaction awarded Middle East Deal of the Year 2019 by Airfinance Journal.
• Counsel for transaction awarded Shipping & Services Restructuring of the Year Award by Global M&A Network at the 2018 Annual Turnaround Atlas Awards.
• Counsel for transaction awarded Americas Deal of the Year 2015 by Project Finance International and North American LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) Deal of the Year 2015 by IJGlobal.
• Counsel for transaction awarded Project Finance Deal of the Year 2014 (Americas) by International Financial Law Review US; Deal of the Year 2014 (Americas) by Trade Finance; Global Project Finance Deal of the Year 2014 by The American Lawyer; and highly commended Innovation in Finance Law 2014 by Financial Times US Innovative Lawyers.
• Counsel for transaction awarded Middle East Industrial Deal of the Year 2013 by Project Finance International, and Middle East Mining & Metals Deal of the Year 2013 by Project Finance.
• Counsel for transaction awarded Asia Pacific Oil & Gas Deal of the Year 2012 by Project Finance International; Asia Pacific Oil & Gas Deal of the Year 2012 by Project Finance; Standout Energy Deal by Financial Times US Innovative Lawyers; and Best Project Finance Deal by Finance Asia.

• Panelist, “Doing Business with the Middle East: Trends, Challenges, and Strategies,” New York City Bar Association, June 24, 2021.
• Instructor, "Islamic Finance in the Aviation Sector," JetBlue Continuing Legal Education Seminar, November 5, 2020.
• Speaker, "Islamic Banking and its Future," St. Francis College, November 14, 2019.
• Panelist, “Islamic Finance in the West,” New York University Stern School of Business, October 21, 2019, with co-panelist Majid Dawood, CEO of Yasaar Capital.
• Speaker, “Halal Economy: Trends and Opportunities in Islamic Finance,” Muslim Urban Professional (Muppies) Annual Conference, September 21, 2019, with co-panelist Sheikh Taha Abdul-Baseer, former Chaplain at Harvard University, and Amany Killawi, Co-Founder and COO of LaunchGood.
• Speaker, “Structuring Islamic Finance Transactions in the United States,” New York University Stern School of Business, April 1, 2019.
• Speaker, “Overview of Project Finance,” University of Chicago Law School, May 6, 2015.  
• Instructor, “Introduction to Islamic Finance,” Sullivan & Cromwell LLP Continuing Legal Education Seminar, July 17, 2014.
• Presenter, “Ibn Rushd’s Contributions to the Study of Islamic Commercial Law,” Annual Islamic Studies Conference at University of California – Santa Barbara, April 9, 2011.
• Author, “Arab Money: Why Isn't the United States Getting Any?”, University of Pennsylvania Journal of International Law (2011).

• Co-Founder of the In-House Group of the Muslim Bar Association of New York.  
• Annual Conference Program Committee member of the National Association of Muslim Lawyers.
• Member of Muslim Urban Professionals (Muppies).
• Member of the Islamic Finance Group at New York University.
• Member of the Banking Law Committee of the International Bar Association.
• Member of the New York City Bar Association.
• Member of the South Asian Bar Association of New York.
• Standing Member of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Co-Founder of the Interfaith Attorney Affinity Group and Member of the Asian Attorney Affinity Group of Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP.

Highlighted Corporate Credit Facility Matters

• Representation of Coupang, the largest Korean e-commerce website, in connection with its credit facilities.
• Representation of a syndicate of lenders in a $1.25 billion senior secured revolving credit and term loan facility for AMC Networks Inc. led by Bank of America, N.A. 
• Representation of a syndicate of lenders in a $1.06 billion senior secured revolving credit and term loan facility for CBS Radio Inc. led by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
• Representation of Cenveo Corporation in connection with a syndicated $240 million asset-based revolving credit facility led by Bank of America, N.A. and a $50 million notes offering by Allianz.
• Representation of Geller & Company LLC in connection with its term loan and revolving credit facility led by Santander Bank, N.A.
• Representation of Allegiance Crane & Equipment LLC in connection with its senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility led by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

Highlighted Private Equity, Public M&A and Acquisition Financing Matters

• Representation of SPAC Isos Acquisition Corp., in its proposed $2.6 billion merger with Bowlero Corp. that will take the world’s largest owner and operator of bowling centers public.
• Representation of Grab Holdings Inc., Southeast Asia’s leading super app, in its proposed merger with Altimeter Growth Corp., a special purpose acquisition company or SPAC, that will take Grab public in what is expected to be the largest-ever U.S. equity offering by a Southeast Asian company ascribing to Grab a pro-forma equity value of approximately $39.6 billion.
• Representation of Platinum Equity in its $2 billion public acquisition of Wesco Aircraft and $1.475 billion public acquisition of Nesco Holdings Inc.
• Representation of Patrick Drahi in his $3.7 billion public acquisition of Sotheby's.
• Representation of CBS Corporation in connection with its public merger with Viacom Inc.
• Representation of JD Sports in its acquisition of athletic footwear and apparel streetwear retailer DTLR Villa.
• Representation of JD Sports in connection with a $315 million senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility led by PNC Bank and £400 million unsecured revolving credit facility led by Barclays and HSBC, each utilized to finance the public acquisition of The Finish Line, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
• Representation of JD Sports in the acquisition of U.S. athletic footwear, apparel and accessories retailers Shoe Palace and Nice Kicks.
• Representation of Turnitin, a subsidiary of Advance Publications, in its acquisition of online assessment platform Examsoft.
• Representation of Infosys in the acquisition of Blue Acorn iCi, a digital services and consulting agency.
• Representation of The Madison Square Garden Company in connection with a $122 million senior secured term loan and revolving credit facility led by Goldman Sachs (and later refinanced by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.) and utilized to finance the acquisition of a majority ownership interest in restaurant and night club operator TAO Group.
• Representation of Brambles Ltd. in connection with senior secured credit facilities utilized to finance its joint venture with Hoover Container Solutions, including a $255 million senior secured first lien term loan and revolving credit facility and a $150 million second lien term loan facility.
• Representation of Cipla in connection with its acquisition financing of U.S.-based specialty pharmaceutical firm Avenue Therapeutics, a Fortress Biotech company.
• Representation of Brightwood Capital Advisors in connection with its various acquisition financings, including financings for The Action Environmental Group, Inc., Home Medical Equipment Specialists, LLC, Impero Waste Services, LLC, The Corridor Group Holdings, LLC, Teinnovations, LLC and ECP-PF Holdings Group, Inc. (the second largest Planet Fitness franchise).
• Representation of Greenbriar Equity Group in connection with its acquisition financings of various transportation and logistics companies.
• Representation of private equity firm Kenner & Company, Inc. in connection with senior secured notes and a senior secured revolving credit facility for its portfolio company Pace Industries, Inc.
• Representation of The Smithfield Group LLP, an independent fundless sponsor, in connection with an asset-based revolving credit facility provided by KeyBank National Association and utilized as a working capital facility for Safety US Holdings Corp. following its acquisition.
• Representation of two independent fundless sponsors, The Smithfield Group LLP and Kensington Capital Partners, in connection with a senior secured term loan and revolving credit facility led by The PrivateBank and Trust Company and utilized to finance the acquisition of Pure Power Technologies, Inc.
• Representation of Kuramo Capital Management in connection with its various loan facilities, including financings for Feronia Inc. and a bridge facility with Silicon Valley Bank.

Highlighted Restructuring and Distressed Financing Matters

• Representation of Pace Industries, LLC with respect to its senior secured debtor-in-possession revolving credit facility led by Bank of Montreal and Regions Bank (and related exit financing) and separate senior secured debtor-in-possession term loan facility led by TCW and Cerberus (and related exit financing) in connection with its bankruptcy filing.
• Representation of United Airlines as a creditor in connection with the restructuring of Colombian-Panamanian aviation group Avianca.
• Representation of Paris-based minerals company Imerys SA in the Chapter 11 cases initiated by its three indirect subsidiaries to address their historic talc-related liabilities in the United States.
• Representation of DNB Bank ASA in connection with its $125 million senior secured exit financing and $80 million senior secured debtor-in-possession financing of GulfMark Offshore, Inc. and its subsidiaries, a marine transportation service company.
• Representation of Patriot National, Inc. with respect to its $15.5 million senior secured debtor-in-possession term loan facility in connection with its bankruptcy filing, led by Cereberus.
• Representation of CST Industries, Inc. with respect to its $15 million senior secured debtor-in-possession revolving credit facility in connection with its bankruptcy filing, led by BNP Paribas. 
• Representation of Ultrapetrol in the Chapter 11 restructuring of its international shipping and service business that operates in seven jurisdictions globally.
• Representation of Eastman Kodak Co. with respect to its initial $950 million senior secured debtor-in-possession term loan and revolving credit facility in connection with its bankruptcy filing, led by Citibank, N.A. 

Highlighted Islamic Finance Matters

• Reprensentation of Citi Islamic Investment Bank E.C. and other Citibank affiliates in connection with a $500 million senior secured murabaha revolving warehouse facility for NCB Capital and its affiliates, the investment banking and aviation finance arm of the National Commercial Bank based in Saudi Arabia.
• Representation of Wafra Capital Partners in a number of Islamic financings to fund in-bound U.S. acquisitions, including the acquisitions of and joint ventures with Access Point Financial, Inc., Allegiance Crane, Anchor Loans, LP, EasyPay Finance, GA Telesis, LLC, North Mill Equipment Finance, Oxford Finance LLC, Reliance Asset Management, Stephenson's Rental, TriplePoint Capital LLC and UC Credit.
• Representation of Emirates Aluminium in connection with a $475 million Islamic finance tranche of the $4 billion project financing of its Phase II aluminum smelter located in the United Arab Emirates.
• Representation of Goldman Sachs on potential Volker Rule issues with respect to an Islamic bond.
• Representation in connection with securities law disclosure for MSCI EAFE Islamic+ Index.

Highlighted Energy and Project Finance Matters

• Representation of a syndicate of lenders in five senior unsecured syndicated credit facilities for FirstEnergy Corp. and certain of its subsidiaries.  The credit facilities included a $4.0 billion revolving loan and letter of credit facility for FirstEnergy Corp., a $1.0 billion revolving loan and letter of credit facility for FirstEnergy Transmission, LLC, and three term loan facilities for FirstEnergy Corp. (for $1.2 billion, $125 million and $125 million, respectively).  
• Representation of MUFG Union Bank, N.A. as administrative agent and joint lead arranger in the amendment and extension of a $400 million secured revolving credit facility for electric energy company Avista Corp.
• Representation of MUFG Union Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and syndication agent, in a $350 million senior unsecured syndicated revolving credit and letter of credit facility for El Paso Electric Company.
• Representation of MUFG Union Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, joint lead arranger and lender, in three separate senior unsecured syndicated credit facilities for UNS Energy Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries.  The credit facilities included a $150 million revolving loan and letter of credit facility for UNS Energy Corporation, a $250 million revolving loan and letter of credit facility for Tucson Electric Power Company, and a $100 million revolving loan and letter of credit facility for UNS Electric and UNS Gas. 
• Representation of The Huntington National Bank, as administrative agent, collateral agent and lender, in a $120 million credit facility for Global Mining Holding Company, LLC.
• Representation of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, as administrative agent, letter of credit issuing bank and lender, in a $30 million revolving credit and letter of credit facility for GennConn Energy LLC.
• Representation of Associated Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, issuing bank and lender, in a revolving credit and letter of credit facility for Upper Peninsula Power Holding Company and its subsidiary.
• Representation of MUFG Union Bank, N.A. in connection with a letter of credit facility for Illinois Power Marketing Company.
• Representation of Cheniere Corpus Christi Holdings LLC in connection with the $15 billion project financing of its liquefied natural gas export facility located in Texas.
• Representation of Cameron LNG LLC in connection with the $10 billion project financing of its liquefied natural gas export facility located in Louisiana, and accompanying letter of credit facility and expansion.
• Representation of Australia Pacific LNG in connection with the $8.5 billion project financing of its liquefied natural gas export facility located in Australia.

Highlighted Real Estate Finance Matters

• Representation of a joint venture between real estate investor Sylvan Road Capital and credit hedge fund manager Varadero Capital in connection with a $400 million asset-based, revolving credit facility led by Citibank, N.A.
• Representation of Anchor Loans, LP and its affiliates in connection with various mortgage loan purchase agreements and master repurchase agreements.

Highlighted Capital Markets Matters

• Representation of underwriters in connection with $800 million of senior notes issued by AMC Networks Inc.
• Representation of underwriters in connection with $400 million of senior unsecured notes issued by CBS Radio Inc.
• Representation of Cytec Industries Inc. in connection with its $250 million senior notes offering and the accompanying tender offer.
• Representation of Citigroup and JPMorgan as underwriters in connection with a $700 million common stock equity offering for Newmont Mining Corp.