McGuireWoods has gained an experienced banking and finance lawyer from competitor Winston Strawn in Chicago.
Kay McNab, who represents both commercial and investment banks in numerous types of financings, is now a partner in the Chicago office of McGuireWoods. McNab advises underwriters and placement agents in domestic and cross-border secured and unsecured loan transactions. While at Winston Strawn, McNab played a role in advising Energy Transfer Partners in a $1.45 billion refinancing and in the formation of seed capital venture firm Shawnee Ventures.
In a discussion with IFLR1000, McNab described how she began working with Energy Transfer Partners while they were a small firm, and has watched the client grow over time. She has also worked with Kentucky Utilities and other energy companies, and expects further growth in the sector, she said.
"I think the lending work is growing very strong right now, and that's a positive trend. We've gotten over the humps of the recession and regulatory overlays, so banks are out there looking for transactions," McNab observed.
She went on to outline a few of the factors that drew her to her new firm. "What was so intriguing to me about McGuireWoods is the intersection between its lending practice and its public finance practice. It's one of the top 10 U.S. firms in lending, and does a significant amount of transactions for some of the largest banking clients in the country."
"As banks have continued to look for firms that have that kind of specialized expertise, their list of firms is narrowed. You want to make sure, when you've been practicing for over 25 years, that your clients are very comfortable," McNab added.
McNab holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law.