Overview

About Kris

Kris Russell is a Corporate attorney in the Firm’s Portland office. Kris’s practice includes supporting both borrower and lender clients of varying sizes as they navigate debt financing arrangements, whether in connection with acquisitions, expansions or restructurings. Kris also provides outside counsel assistance to clients in a variety of industries on transactional, contract and general corporate matters. She has experience in both domestic and cross-border debt and equity transactions, covering a range of industries including agribusiness, entertainment, health care, manufacturing, and consumer products.

Kris serves on the Headwaters Council of The Freshwater Trust and the steering committee of the Reed Legal Network. She maintains an active pro bono practice and has worked with the Lewis & Clark Small Business Legal Clinic and the ACLU of Oregon. Kris was involved in the coordination and response to client queries through the Firm’s CARES Act Task Force, a team of attorneys dedicated to coordinating debt relief guidance for clients impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and provided guidance through 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 worked as a senior associate at Allen & Overy LLP (2016–2019) in London and an associate at Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP (2011–2016) in New York and London. If you ask nicely, she will share London pub tips and pictures of her family’s very well-travelled dogs.

Expand to Read More + See Less -

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.
Represented financing sources in connection with multi-currency offerings for German-based international healthcare company.
Represented the administrative agent and financing sources in connection with multicurrency credit facilities and notes offerings for large European-based packaging group.
Represented specialty industrial chemical company in connection with its ongoing cross-border financing and refinancing needs.
Represented a world leader in heavy lifting solutions in connection with its high yield notes offering.
Represented 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.
Represented initial purchasers in connection with a series of acquisitions in the travel retail space.