Melissa J. Hutson, P.C.

Partner Debt Finance

New York +1 212 446 6459

Melissa J. Hutson, P.C.

Overview

Melissa Hutson is a finance partner in Kirkland’s New York office and a member of the Firm’s Global Management Executive Committee. Melissa’s practice focuses on syndicated debt facilities, debt commitments and bridge loan financings for leveraged acquisitions by private equity firms, their portfolio companies and public and private companies. She also advises clients on a broad range of other secured lending and financing transactions, including debt restructurings.

Melissa advises private equity sponsors, borrowers and lenders in the structuring, negotiation and documentation of debt financing transactions. She has substantial experience in acquisition financings, recapitalizations and debt restructuring.

Melissa was recognized for her work in Banking & Finance in the 2020 edition of Chambers USA, where clients describe her as an “absolute superstar” and have “complete trust in her work product and counsel.”

AbbVie in its $63 billion acquisition of Allergan

Carlisle Companies in the refinancing of its credit facility

Grubhub in multiple refinancing of its credit facilities

Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec in its major investment in Allied Universal

Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets in its purchase of Wheelabrator Technologies from Energy Capital Partners

A consortium led by CC Capital in the financing for its $6.9 billion acquisition of Dun & Bradstreet

Blackstone in the financings for its acquisitions of SESAC Holdings and Ulterra Holdings

Blackstone and ArcLight in the financing for the $2.17 billion acquisition of four Midwest power plants from subsidiaries of American Electric Power

Blackstone in the financing in connection with its investment in Trilliant Food & Nutrition

Avaya in connection with its $2.925 billion senior secured first-lien term loan facility and a $300 million secured asset-based facility

American Securities in connection with the financings for its acquisitions of Prince International, United PF Holdings and Belfor

Olympus Partners and its portfolio companies in connection with the financings for multiple acquisitions and refinancings, including AmSpec, Petmate, Rise Baking Co., Tank Holding Corp. and Vaco 

New Mountain Capital in connection with the financings for its acquisitions of Classic Collision, Horizon Group and other portfolio company financings

Funds managed by Gamut Capital Management in the financing for their acquisition of Grede

Celanese in connection with the financing for its proposed joint venture with Blackstone to create a global acetate tow supplier

Alvarez & Marsal Capital in the financing in connection with its acquisition of AC Linen

Cenveo in connection with the debtor-in-possession financing for its Chapter 11 filing and the exit financing for exit from Chapter 11 bankruptcy

WL Ross Holding Corp. in connection with the financing for its acquisition of Nexeo Solutions from TPG Capital

KKR in connection with the financing for its acquisition of Resource Environmental Solutions

KKR in its strategic investment in UFC

Talen Energy Corp. in its $5.2 billion sale to Riverstone Holdings

WGL Holdings in its $6.4 billion sale to AltaGas

Blackstone and its portfolio companies in the financings for multiple acquisitions and refinancings, including those for Catalent Pharma Solutions, SeaWorld Entertainment, Travelport, Accuvant, Lonestar Generation and Utility One Source*

*Transactions handled prior to joining Kirkland.

More

Recognition

Banking & Finance – Nationwide, Chambers USA, 2020

Next Generation – Commercial Lending, The Legal 500 United States, 2020

M&A – Large Deals ($1bn+), The Legal 500 United States, 2020

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • 2003New York

Education

  • University of Virginia School of LawJ.D.2001
  • University of VirginiaB.A.with High Honors1998