Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is best known for high-yield debt offerings connected to leveraged financings. It is primarily an issuer-side practice with much of it driven by private equity clients, such as Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, in financing their acquisitions. The firm is also noted for insurance and financial services sector transactions. Steven Slutzky is co-head of the capital markets group and a recognised expert in high-yield debt. Matthew Kaplan is chair of the corporate department and another experienced figure in high-yield. Both are based in New York.

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Key clients

  • Access Industries, Inc.
  • agilon health
  • American Coastal Insurance
  • American International Group
  • Ambac Assurance Corporation
  • Antares Holdings LP
  • BofA Securities, Inc.
  • Booz Allen Hamilton
  • Carlyle Group
  • Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, LLC
  • Core & Main Inc.
  • Corebridge Financial Inc.
  • Cornerstone Building Brands, Inc.
  • DoubleVerify
  • Elliott
  • Everest Re
  • Fifth Wall Ventures Management, LLC
  • Gogo, Inc.
  • Goldman Sachs Group
  • International Paper Company
  • JetBlue Airways Corporation
  • KKR
  • LABL
  • Lincoln Financial
  • Manulife
  • MBIA
  • Morgan Stanley
  • National Life Group
  • Pacific Life Insurance Company
  • Principal Financial Group
  • Providence Equity Partners
  • Prudential Plc
  • Spirit Airlines
  • The Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association (TIAA)
  • Voya Financial
  • Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.
  • Warner Music Group
  • Westpac Banking Corporation
  • WhiteCap
  • Wm Morrison Supermarkets Limited

Work highlights

  • Represented CD&R and LABL, Inc. in the offer and sale of $300m of 9.500% Senior Secured Notes due 2028.
  • Advised Ambac Assurance Corporation in the mandatory partial redemption of its 8.50% Senior PIK Notes secured by certain interests in proceeds of certain litigation due 2055.
  • Advised Spirit Airlines on its $600m secured notes offering, backed by assets and intellectual property of Spirit’s Free Spirit and Spirit Saver$ Club programs.

Lawyers

Leading lawyers
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Paul Rodel, Steven Slutzky

Other key lawyers

Matthew Kaplan