John A. Hreno
John Hreno provides counsel to institutional investors, direct lenders, nonprofit organizations, impact investors, and large financial institutions on a diverse range of debt transactions, including private placements, debt funds, venture debt transactions, first- and second-lien financings, project finance transactions, mezzanine financings, and asset-based facilities. John advises on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and impact investment financing transactions, including structuring and negotiating financing documents to embed and track sustainability-linked provisions, green provisions, and social impact. He also counsels corporate clients on real estate financings, acquisition financings, factoring arrangements, and working capital facilities.
John represents borrowers and lenders throughout the lifecycle of domestic and cross-border investment transactions across a variety of industries, including technology, financial services, media and telecommunications, life sciences, energy, and real estate. John also has experience counseling clients through out-of-court restructurings and workouts.
Prior to joining Morgan Lewis, John led a regional policy analysis group focused on fostering public health–public safety partnerships at the NY-NJ High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area federal program administered by the US Office of National Drug Control Policy. John previously worked on short-term projects with the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana, Inter-American Development Bank, and Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.
- Represented a group of institutional investors holding $175 million of senior unsecured notes in the complex restructuring of a private commercial real estate lender involving multiple affected creditor groups
- Represented a group of institutional investors in the restructuring of four separate private placement financings totaling nearly $350 million of senior secured notes issued by a large commercial real estate owner, investor, and operator
- Represented Candide Group LLC and its subsidiary in connection with establishing a loan facility of up to $100 million, including commitments in the form of program-related investments (PRI), with proceeds used to expand access to affordable clean energy solutions and support affordable clean energy projects in distressed communities
- Represented the institutional investors in a $1 billion private placement secured financing of an infrastructure investment fund and asset manager
- Represented a nonprofit organization in establishing an approximately $15 million debt fund to provide low-cost facilities financing to charter schools serving high-need communities
- Represented a nonprofit impact investor in a $2 million investment in a pilot portfolio that aims to increase energy access to off-grid populations in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Represented a nonprofit impact investor in an $8 million loan to a community development financial institution that invests in projects benefiting low-income, low-wealth, and other disadvantaged communities by financing the development of community facilities and multifamily housing projects
- Represented the institutional investors in a $110 million private placement financing for the development of a cruise port in the Bahamas
- Represented the institutional investors in a $90 million private placement financing for the development of a cruise port in Houston
- Represented the institutional investors in a $150 million private placement financing, including $50 million in Green Notes, of a private equity fund that invests in income-producing real estate assets in major US markets, including apartment, industrial, office, retail, and self-storage assets
- Represented the institutional investors in a $282 million private placement by a subsidiary of Harrison Street Real Estate Capital LLC, a leading investment management firm exclusively focused on alternative real assets, in connection with a student housing portfolio joint venture
- Represented Ares Capital, as administrative agent and collateral agent, in a rescue financing and amendment and restatement of senior secured unitranche credit facilities in the aggregate principal amount of $645 million for a leading airport terminal concession manager operating restaurants, bars, lounges, and gourmet markets
- Represented an institutional investor in a £65 million (approximately $91 million) shelf facility and initial issuance of £30 million (approximately $42 million) of notes by Aberdeen, a UK-based investment company with a portfolio focused on Asian small caps
- Represented the administrative agent in a syndicated $560 million revolving credit facility to a master distributor of stainless steel products headquartered in California, and its affiliates
- Represented the bank lender in an amendment and restatement of an existing revolving credit facility, upsized from $350 million to $550 million, extended to an American media and film production company
- Represented Ares Capital as administrative agent, collateral agent, and last-out lender in the workout of a $120 million senior secured unitranche credit facility for a large restaurant franchisee, including structuring a complex exit to allow the borrower to continue operations, avoid a bankruptcy, and maximize recoveries by the first-out lenders, last-out lenders, and franchisor
- Represented the bank lender in negotiating and closing a $100 million credit facility for an emerging technology software company specializing in business process automation technology
- Represented the institutional investors in the $150 million restructuring of mining company Intrepid Potash, Inc.
- Represented the bank lender in negotiating and closing a $50 million syndicated, three-year working capital credit facility, including a revolving L/C sublimit, to a global apartment rental company that provides short-term leases of its curated apartments to travelers abroad
- Represented the administrative agent and lender in a $50 million senior secured hybrid corporate warehouse credit facility for an emerging tech company that leases used vehicles through an app-based platform
- Represented the institutional investors in a $440 million private secured placement to a real estate investment trust (REIT) with properties in a variety of locations across the United States
Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
- Fordham University School of Law (J.D.)
- Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs (M.P.A.)
- Hertie School of Governance (Berlin) (M.P.P.)
- Rutgers University (B.A. Journalism, Political Science/History)
- New York
- New Jersey


