Overview

Kris Russell advises private credit funds and other commercial lenders in middle-market financing transactions, with a particular focus on sponsor-backed acquisitions, growth financings, recapitalizations, and restructurings. She also regularly represents large corporate borrowers in complex financing transactions with institutional, commercial bank and farm credit lenders. Her experience spans domestic and cross-border transactions across diverse industries, including agribusiness, entertainment, and consumer products. Kris also serves as outside counsel to businesses across a range of industries, advising on transactional, contract, and general corporate matters.

Kris serves on the board of directors of OGALLA, the Headwaters Council of The Freshwater Trust and the steering committee of the Reed Legal Network. She maintains an active pro bono practice, including work with the Lewis & Clark Small Business Legal Clinic and the ACLU of Oregon. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kris was an active participant in the firm’s Main Street Relief Project Task Force, a team of attorneys who launched and manage a no-cost legal service program for independent restaurants, bars, and retail establishments in the communities where the firm has offices.

Prior to joining Stoel Rives, Kris practiced law in New York and London. Kris’s experience negotiating and managing complex multi-party transactions is also useful on the home front where she balances a variety of stakeholders that includes a librarian, two children, an enthusiastic standard poodle, and two aggressively affectionate cats.

Education

University of Virginia School of Law, J.D., 2011; Articles Editor, Virginia Tax Review; Site Coordinator, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program; Assistant Producer, Libel Show

Reed College, B.A., Economics, 2008; Presidential Scholarship

Admissions

Oregon

New York

Experience

  • Counsel to Reed College in completing an issuance of $125 million of taxable fixed rate bonds in order to refinance the college’s existing indebtedness, allow the termination of certain swap liabilities, and provide funding for general corporate purposes of the college.
  • Counsel to Bridgetown Natural Foods, LLC, a Portland-based manufacturer of food products, in refinancing its existing credit facilities and equipment financing arrangements.
  • Counsel to a private equity firm in connection with restructuring the debt of a manufacturing company in which it holds a majority interest.
  • Counsel to Blue Star Donuts in connection with its reorganization and related corporate matters.
  • Counsel to Yakima Chief Hops, a global supplier of premium hops to the beer industry, in connection with its loan facilities and related corporate matters.
  • Counsel to Proterra Finance LLC, a Minneapolis-based private equity firm focused on investments in the natural resources sectors of agriculture, food, metals, and mining, in establishing a secured, term loan credit facility for a California-based producer of agricultural packaging materials in connection with its acquisition by a Washington-based private equity firm.
  • Counsel to Westward Partners LLC in the financing for the acquisition of Grant Aviation, Inc., an operator of scheduled and charter flights for passengers, cargo, and medevac throughout greater Alaska, as well as the delivery of U.S. Postal Service bypass mail throughout greater Alaska.
  • Counsel to a local family-owned food business in connection with obtaining private equity financing to take out existing debt and support ongoing growth.
  • Counsel to a biofuel company in connection with a construction loan to finance the development of a renewable refinery project.
  • Provided U.S. high-yield covenant guidance to the lenders in connection with multiple high-profile restructuring and financing transactions for a variety of European credits including the travel, healthcare, food & beverage, and customer experience industries.
  • Representation of financing sources in connection with multi-currency offerings for German-based international healthcare company.
  • Representation of the administrative agent and financing sources in connection with multicurrency credit facilities and notes offerings for large European-based packaging group.
  • Representation of specialty industrial chemical company in connection with its ongoing cross-border financing and refinancing needs.
  • Representation of a world leader in heavy lifting solutions in connection with its high yield notes offering.
  • Representation of the initial purchasers in connection with notes offering for a premium American television network and private placement for a free-to-air television network and shopping channel.
  • Representation of initial purchasers in connection with a series of acquisitions in the travel retail space.

Client Successes

Insights

Insights & Presentations

  • Presenter, “Law School for the CFO—Tips for Negotiating Credit Agreements,” CFO Leadership Council, April 27, 2023
  • Presenter, “Negotiating Credit Agreements,” Alaska Bar Association CLE, April 19, 2023
  • Quoted, “Support Your Employees Through the Pandemic: The Cares Act and Other Relief Programs Intend to Help Employers Maintain Their Payrolls,” Spirited Magazine, April 28, 2020

Podcasts

Recognition

  • Included in The Best Lawyers in America® (Corporate Governance Law), 2027

Affiliations

Professional

  • OGALLA—Oregon’s LGBTQIA+ Bar Association, Board Member

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