Brant J. Norquist

Brant Norquist is a partner in the Corporate practice group and co-chairs the Debt Finance practice. For nearly 15 years, Brant has helped borrowers and lenders structure and negotiate complex commercial loan and other debt financing transactions.

Brant has extensive experience representing public companies, large private companies, and financial institutions in bank credit transactions, including syndicated credit facilities, asset-based loans (ABL), real estate-backed loans, and vehicle floorplan credit facilities. Brant also represents private equity firms in leveraged acquisition financings and mezzanine financing transactions, including those involving equity co-investments or warrants.

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Education

University of Oregon, School of Law, J.D., 2009; Order of the Coif; Staff Editor, Oregon Law Review

University of Oregon, M.B.A., 2009

University of Portland, B.A., Philosophy and Political Science, 2006, maxima cum laude; President's Scholar; Member, Honor's College

Admissions

Oregon

New York

ABL and Other Commercial Loan Transactions

• Counsel to Lithia Motors, Inc. (NYSE: LAD) in connection with its senior secured syndicated credit facility providing revolving and motor vehicle floorplan loan commitments totaling $6.0 billion.
• Counsel to Cricut, Inc. (Nasdaq: CRCT) in obtaining its senior secured, multicurrency syndicated credit facility providing revolving loan commitments totaling $300 million.
• Counsel to Alaska native corporation in multiple debt financing transactions including a Rule 144A private placement of secured notes and in obtaining ABL revolving credit facilities and a term loan facility totaling $800 million.
• Counsel to a national rental equipment company in its Rule 144A private placement of second-lien notes and its first-lien ABL credit facility aggregating to approximately $1.0 billion.
• Counsel to Northwest Natural Gas Company (NYSE: NWN) and affiliates in connection with senior unsecured credit facilities providing loans with aggregate commitments totaling nearly $1.0 billion.

Leveraged Acquisition and Mezzanine Financing Transactions

• Counsel to True West Capital Partners in numerous senior, second-lien, split-lien, and subordinated loans and equity co-investments.
• Counsel to Endeavour Capital in its participation as the lead investor in subordinated promissory notes.

Real Estate-Backed Loan Transactions

• Counsel to timberlands management and investment group in connection with obtaining from an insurance company real-estate backed revolving credit facilities with loan commitments totaling $175 million.
• Counsel to Lithia Motors, Inc. in obtaining syndicated and single-lender real estate-backed credit facilities with aggregate commitments exceeding $500 million.

Mergers & Acquisitions

• Representation of Ahern Rentals, Inc., the eighth largest rental equipment company in North America, in its sale of substantially all of its assets to United Rentals, Inc., for approximately $2 billion.
• Representation of buyer in its $800 million acquisition of all of the equity of a manufacturer of pipes.
• Representation of buyer in its $500+ million acquisition of all of the equity of a manufacturer in the commercial and military aerospace sectors.
• Representation of Oregon-based Fortune 500 company in a strategic acquisition for approximately $350 million.

Insights & Presentations

• Presenter, “Negotiating Credit Agreements,” Alaska Bar Association CLE, 2023
• Presenter, “Law School for the CFO—Tips for Negotiating Credit Agreements,” CFO Leadership Council, 2023
• Author of Advising Oregon Businesses, Chapter 19, “Debt Financing,” Oregon State Bar CLE publication, 2017
• Presenter, “What Every Business Lawyer Should Know About Credit Agreements,” In-House CLE, 2017

• Pro Bono Attorney of the Year—Lewis & Clark Law School’s Small Business Legal Clinic (2014)

Professional

• Pro bono attorney with Lewis & Clark Law School’s Small Business Legal Clinic (2011–present)
• American Bar Association Commercial Finance Committee, Member

Civic

• Schoolhouse Supplies, former Director
• Project Access NOW, former Director
• University of Portland Mock Trial, former Volunteer Coach