Scott A. Lessne
Overview
Scott A. Lessne chairs the firm's Commercial Finance & Lending team. Scott's practice involves the representation of financial institutions and corporate clients in connection with the negotiation and documentation of commercial, asset-based, project-related, and real estate loan transactions, as well as advising clients on legal issues arising in complex single and multi-lender loan workouts and restructures. In addition, Scott advises financial institution clients on creditors' rights remedies, including judicial and non-judicial enforcement actions and bankruptcy strategies. Scott has particular experience in the financial services, health care, energy, restaurant, and hospitality industries.
Career & Education
- Western New England University School of Law, J.D., law review, 1983
- Trinity College, Hartford, B.A., economics, 1980
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
Professional Activities and Memberships
American Bar Association, Business Law Section, Commercial Finance Committee:
- Co-Chair, Programs, Meetings, and Communications Subcommittee
- Administrative Committee Director
- Past Co-Chair-Commercial Loan Documentation Subcommittee
- Member-Joint Task Force On Deposit Account Control Agreements
Connecticut Bar Association, Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section
American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers:- Fellow and Past Member -Board of Regents
Association of Commercial Finance Attorneys, Inc.:
- Past President and Member-Board of Directors
Teaching Engagement
Suffolk University Law School, Boston Massachusetts-Course: Secured Transactions, 2002
- Co-Chair, Programs, Meetings, and Communications Subcommittee
Scott's Insights
Publication | 06.12.24
Event | 04.16.24
ACFA April CLE Program: A Practical Guide for the Junior Lawyer
Speaking Engagement | 04.16.24
ACFA April CLE Program: A Practical Guide for the Junior Lawyer
Client Alert | 4 min read | 07.25.23
Avoid the Surprise: Assessing and Addressing Preference Risk
Representative Matters
- Representation of a senior secured bank lender in connection with an $80 million asset-based revolving loan, term loan and letter of credit facility to an agricultural cooperative.
- Representation of a senior secured bank lender in connection with a $35 million asset-based loan to a developer of educational curriculum materials.
- Representation of a senior secured bank lender in connection with a $15 million revolving loan to a national fast casual restaurant chain.
- Representation of a senior secured private equity lender in connection with the asset-based working capital and term loan acquisition financing of a community based mental health system.
- Representation of a special servicer in connection with receivership proceedings and the resolution of a distressed $40 million CMBS loan secured by a hospitality property.
- Representation of a special servicer in connection with the resolution of a distressed $15 million CMBS loan secured by a commercial office building.
- Representation of aspecial servicer in connection with receivership proceedings and the resolution of a distressed $76 million CMBS loan secured by a retail shopping and restaurant complex.
- Representation of a specialty aircraft charter and leasing companyin connection with a $50 million asset- based revolving loan, term loan and delayed draw term loan.
- Representation of an acquirer of a global metals processing company in its aggregate $500 million combined ABL and high-yield bond financing.
- Representation of an independent power developer in a secured $715 million refinancing and working capital facility in the term loan B market.
- Representation of a global oil and gas exploration company in a $20 million senior secured working capital facility.
- Representation of a specialty aircraft service provider in a combined $25 million senior secured revolving term loan and mortgage facility, and in a $5 million senior subordinated note purchase facility.
- Representation of a global aerospace manufacturing company in connection with a $600 million revolving loan facility and a $100 million senior secured term loan.
- Representation of a distributor of specialty medical equipment in connection with a $40 million asset-based credit facility.
- Representation of a real estate special servicer in connection with a deed-in-lieu transaction involving multiple Class-A office properties.
- Representation of a Chilean manufacturing company in connection with a multi-million dollar cross-border credit facility.
- Representation of investors in multiple fast casual restaurant ventures in connection with debt finance and debt restructures.
Representative matters while serving as in-house counsel include:
- Restructuring of syndicated loans to subprime automobile lenders and equipment leasing companies.
- Bankruptcy and Federal District Court litigation in connection with global energy and telecom company frauds.
- Structuring and negotiating $500 million of revolving and term loan facilities for the post-bankruptcy acquisition and working capital needs of a national health care company.
- Creation of a state charted industrial loan bank and the acquisition of branches and deposits from a failing financial institution.
- Investigation and involuntary Chapter 7 of a $1 billion global metals trading company fraud.
- Restructuring and Chapter 11 of a $300 million syndicated loan to a global lighting equipment manufacturer and supplier.
- Restructuring and payoff of a $150 million syndicated loan to a global sea cargo container company.
Scott's Insights
Publication | 06.12.24
Event | 04.16.24
ACFA April CLE Program: A Practical Guide for the Junior Lawyer
Speaking Engagement | 04.16.24
ACFA April CLE Program: A Practical Guide for the Junior Lawyer
Client Alert | 4 min read | 07.25.23
Avoid the Surprise: Assessing and Addressing Preference Risk
Insights
The Workout as an Exercise in Creative Problem Solving
|02.01.10
56 The Practical Lawyer 25
Maximizing Recovery of Distressed Debt
|07.02.07
22 Commercial Lending Review 21
Preparation: The Key to Enhancing Distressed Debt Recovery Opportunities
|01.01.07
22 Commercial Lending Review 21
ACFA April CLE Program: A Practical Guide for the Junior Lawyer
|04.16.24
Merchant Cash Advance Redux: Loan vs True Sale – New York Federal Courts Weigh In
|08.18.22
Crowell & Moring’s Restructuring Matters
UCC Financing Statements and Debtor Name Errors: The Litigation Continues
|12.14.21
Crowell & Moring’s Restructuring Matters
- |
12.08.21
Crowell & Moring’s Restructuring Matters
Corporate Directors’ Exposure to Breach of Fiduciary Duty Claims
|12.07.21
Crowell & Moring’s Restructuring Matters
Practices
Scott's Insights
Publication | 06.12.24
Event | 04.16.24
ACFA April CLE Program: A Practical Guide for the Junior Lawyer
Speaking Engagement | 04.16.24
ACFA April CLE Program: A Practical Guide for the Junior Lawyer
Client Alert | 4 min read | 07.25.23
Avoid the Surprise: Assessing and Addressing Preference Risk