Jeffrey W. Bieszczak

Jeff ‘s commercial finance practice focuses on representing administrative agents, lenders and borrowers in a diverse array of lending transactions, with an emphasis on fund finance and bilateral and syndicated middle-market, asset-based and leveraged loan transactions.   Jeff’s fund finance experience includes advising banks in structuring, negotiating and documenting a variety of fund-finance loan products, including subscription lines of credit, NAV loans, “umbrella” credit facilities, “fund of one” credit facilities and private-banking loans to high-net-worth investors. 

Jeff’s workout and restructuring practice focuses on out-of-court workouts and restructurings, chapter 11 reorganizations and other commercial bankruptcy and creditors’ rights proceedings, with a particular emphasis on representing secured creditors in workouts and bankruptcy proceedings involving asset-based revolving lines of credit. 

NOTABLE EXPERIENCE:

• advised a national bank, as administrative agent, in the secured financing provided to a multinational metals company
• advised a national bank in connection with the restructuring of senior secured and subordinated financing provided to a multinational American company
• advised a regional lender in structuring and documenting umbrella lines of credit to numerous affiliated U.S. and Cayman Islands private equity funds with over $60 million in lender commitments
• advised a regional lender in structuring over a dozen subscription lines of credit with over $150 million in aggregate commitments for private equity funds managed by a prominent national wealth management firm
• advised a regional lender in connection with “fund of one” and “fund of three” hybrid fund finance line of credits involving complex ERISA and regulatory issues
• advised Greif, Inc. in its $2.475 billion credit facility and $500 million Notes offering in connection with the financing of Greif’s acquisition of Caraustar Industries Inc., a Georgia-based box manufacturer, for a purchase price of $1.8 billion
• represented an administrative agent in connection with a 2020 Southern District of Texas chapter 11 case and accompanying 363 asset sale relating to a $100 million asset-based line of credit
• represented a chapter 11 liquidating trustee in connection with the prosecution of over 50 preference actions in the District of Delaware
• represented a large multinational retailer in its 2017 chapter 11 reorganization in the District of Delaware

Prior to joining Vorys, Jeff was a law clerk for the Honorable Arthur I. Harris at the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Ohio

Jeff received his J.D. magna cum laude from the Case Western Reserve University School of Law, where he was the executive notes editor for the Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law and a member of the Order of the Coif and the Order of Barristers.  He received his B.A. magna cum laude from Miami University and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Honors & Recognitions

Best Lawyers in America, 'Ones to Watch,' Banking and Finance Law, 2021-2023; Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2021-2023

Alumnus, 2019-2020 Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Leadership Academy

Professional & Community Activities

Association for Corporate Growth, Member

Fund Finance Association, Member

College Now Greater Cleveland, Mentor

Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association “3Rs” Program, Mentor