Jonathan K. Bernstein
Jonathan K. Bernstein counsels clients on general corporate finance matters in such areas as debt and structured financings, and bankruptcies. Representing clients in all aspects of professional sports ventures, he advises on the financing of sports teams, stadiums, and arenas. Nationally recognized for his service to clients, including Fortune 500 companies, Jonathan is leader of the firm’s finance practice.
Jonathan represents companies in both public and private workouts and restructurings. Several funds that deal in distressed transactions come to Jonathan for his guidance and experience. He also counsels clients in senior, second lien, mezzanine, and debtor-in-possession financings.
Before joining Morgan Lewis, Jonathan was a partner at another international law firm and co-chaired its banking and leveraged finance group.
Public Workouts and Restructurings
- Represented the syndicate agents and lenders in the cross-border workouts and bankruptcies of two NHL franchises and related arena facilities.
- Represented the syndicate agent and lenders in the workout and bankruptcy of a petroleum refinery and its affiliates, the majority operator of retail gas stations in Puerto Rico and related tank farm and transportation facilities.
- Represented the syndicate agent and lenders in the workout and bankruptcy of one of the largest financiers and business credit providers to owners and operators of medical diagnostic facilities and related medical services.
- Represented the syndicate agent and lenders in the workout and restructuring of credit facilities to the largest provider of lease and other financing for "micro-ticket" equipment.
- Counsel to the syndicate agent and lenders in the workout and bankruptcy of a manufacturer and supplier to the semiconductor and aviation businesses.
- Counsel to the syndicate agent and lenders in the workout and bankruptcy of the leading manufacturer and distributor of league-licensed sports and athletic apparel.
- Counsel to the US lender in the restructuring of cross-border credit facilities to a worldwide leading manufacturer and supplier to the cable and wire industry.
- Counsel to the senior lenders in the workout and bankruptcy of a multibillion-dollar conglomerate engaged in energy production, aviation services, and entertainment.
Private Workouts and Restructurings
- Counsel to the syndicate agent and lenders in the workout of credit facilities to a national retail catalog sales organization of high-end domestic goods.
- Counsel to the syndicate agent and lenders in the workout of a multibillion-dollar construction business operating across the United States and one of the largest contractors for civil construction jobs on the East Coast.
- Counsel to the syndicate agent and lenders in the workout and restructuring of one of the largest facilities maintenance companies in North America and a related captive insurer.
- Counsel to the lender in the workout and restructuring of one of the largest independent US providers of dining, vending, and office refreshment services.
- Counsel to a group of lenders in the workout and restructuring of a group of US television stations focusing on Hispanic audiences and markets.
- Counsel to a consortium of insurance company lenders in the workout of a European-based asset management firm.
Public Company Financings
- Counsel to the syndicate agent and lenders in the senior secured financing as part of the leveraged recapitalization of a global manufacturer of advanced structural composite materials—including structural adhesives—and a major worldwide supplier to the aircraft industry.
- Counsel to the syndicate agent and lenders in the senior secured financing of a transportation and logistics company providing nationwide operator truckload operations and transportation services.
- Counsel to the syndicate agent and lenders in the acquisition financing for the joint purchase of the life insurance operations of a national insurance company by two holding companies for $1.35 billion.
- Borrower's counsel to a publicly held REIT in multiple debt facilities, including globally syndicated bank financings and note issuances.
General Corporate Representations
- Primary outside counsel to a professional football club and its ownership and affiliates.
- Primary outside counsel to New England's largest regional-based providers of in-rigging, heavy hauling, and crane rental services.
- Primary outside counsel to a producer of precast, prestressed concrete building systems, including parking structures, bridges, concrete, and composite piles.
- Primary outside counsel to the leading producer of ready-mix concrete in the southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island area.
- Primary outside counsel to a wholesale provider to convenience stores located in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Vermont.
- Brandeis University, 1984, B.A., Summa Cum Laude
- University of Pennsylvania Law School, 1987, J.D., Cum Laude
- Massachusetts
- Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Lawyer of the Year, Sports Law, Boston, The Best Lawyers in America (2023)
Lawyer of the Year, Securitization and Structured Finance Law, Boston, The Best Lawyers in America (2019)
Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Banking and Finance Law, Boston(2007–202)
Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Securitization and Structured Finance Law, Boston, The Best Lawyers in America (2007–2025)
Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Sports Law, Boston, The Best Lawyers in America (2007–2026)
Recommended, Industry Focus: Sport, The Legal 500 US (2024)
Recommended, Finance: Commercial lending: advice to borrowers, The Legal 500 US (2024)
Recommended, Finance: Commercial lending: advice to lenders, The Legal 500 US (2017–2023)
Recommended, Finance: Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate, The Legal 500 US (2019, 2020)
Ranked, Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2006, 2007)
Member, American Bar Association
Member, Massachusetts Bar Association
