Overview
James Cass's practice includes representing business development companies, small business investment companies, banks and borrowers in a broad variety of financing transactions. He advises clients in connection with structuring, negotiating, documenting and administering senior or unitranche credit facilities, second lien and mezzanine debt investments, and equity investments. James co-chairs the firm’s Private Credit Practice Group.
In the investment grade context, James has represented the lead agents and arrangers of a $3 billion senior revolving credit facility, as well as a lead arranger and lender of a $1.35 billion fully underwritten facility in support of an auction acquisition. He has experience in leveraged markets representing a wholesale insurance company as a borrower under first and second lien secured credit facilities totaling over $1.25 billion. As part of his mezzanine and junior capital practice, James has represented business development companies and small business investment companies in numerous credit structures, including unitranche, second lien and unsecured mezzanine debt.
Experience
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Advised Wells Fargo Securities LLC as sole book runner and sole lead arranger in connection with a $1.4 billion bridge financing for the acquisition by DTE Energy of midstream natural gas assets owned by M3 Midstream and Vega Energy Partners.
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Represented Wells Fargo Securities LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc. as joint book runners and joint lead arrangers in connection with a $3.65 billion bridge financing for the acquisition by Intercontinental Exchange Inc. of Interactive Data Corp. and $3.9 billion in revolving credit facilities for Intercontinental Exchange Inc.
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Represented the lead agent and arranger of $3 billion multicurrency senior credit facilities for a publicly held commodity and derivatives exchange in support of general corporate purposes and acquisitions.
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Represented the lead agent and arranger of $1 billion senior credit facilities for a publicly held internet security company.
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Represented the lender of approximately $8.5 million unitranche credit facilities for a privately held high-tech manufacturing and design company with an equity co-investment.
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Represented the lender of $19.5 million senior credit facilities in support of a sponsored acquisition of a high-tech manufacturing company, secured by working capital, personal property and realty.
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Represented a developer of solar farms as borrower of $30 million senior credit facilities.
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Represented the lead agent and arranger of $270 million senior credit facilities for a publicly held energy company secured by bonds issued by the borrower’s affiliate.
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Represented a wholesale insurance holding company as borrower of over $1.25 billion senior credit facilities.
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Represented the lead agent and arranger of $60 million senior credit facilities for a public food service company secured by property in 13 states.
Accolades
Honors & Recognitions
- North Carolina Super Lawyers, Rising Star, banking, 2014-19
Affiliations
Professional Affiliations
- Mecklenburg County Bar, Law & Society Committee, 2018-22
- Mecklenburg Bar Foundation, Board of Directors, 2017-21
- Mecklenburg County Bar Leadership Institute, Class of 2016
Community Affiliations
- Sustain Charlotte, Board of Directors, 2020-present
News & Events
News
Education
University of Virginia, J.D., 2009, Order of the Coif; Executive Editor, Virginia Law Review, 2008-09
University of Connecticut, B.S., cum laude, 2006
University of Connecticut, B.S.E., 2006
Bar Admissions
- North Carolina
