LAWYER
Blake Gilson
Counsel | New York
Blake Gilson

Blake Gilson focuses his practice on structured finance insurance solutions, advising clients regarding rated note feeders, collateralized fund obligations and other structured transactions for facilitating insurance capital investments into private fund strategies. Mr. Gilson represents fund sponsors, investors and underwriters in the space, and has experience negotiating among all transaction parties and with rating agencies.

Prior to joining Dechert, he was an associate in New York at another international law firm. 

Key Matters

  • New Mountain Capital in a first-of-its kind US$330 million hybrid rated note feeder/CLO issuance.
  • A middle-market lender and investment manager in structuring a rated note feeder with a US$200 million four-tranche note issuance.
  • A sponsor in structuring a US$249 million collateralized fund obligation.
  • An insurance company sponsor in structuring a US$550 million collateralized fund obligation.
  • A borrower and sponsor in connection with a US$200 million combined term loan and a revolver warehouse facility for acquiring a loan portfolio.
  • A lender in a US$500 million upsize (from US$200 million to US$700 million) of an existing loan warehouse revolving facility.
  • A guaranteed lender in an EXIM-backed satellite export financing.

Includes matters handled at Dechert or prior to joining the firm.

  • Immigration legal aid – Regularly work with non-governmental organization partners to secure deferral of enforcement action and transition to lawful immigration status for juvenile undocumented immigrants born outside the United States.
  • Uncontested divorce assistance – Regularly work with charity organizations to provide legal services to persons seeking a divorce on an uncontested basis.
Services Industries
    • Columbia University, B.A., 2001
    • Fordham University School of Law, J.D., 2012, magna cum laude
    • New York
    • English
    • Japanese