Mercedes M. Jackson

Mercedes specializes in debt finance transactions and advises clients on compliance matters under financing and corporate governance documents.

Mercedes has represented corporate borrowers, private equity groups and financial institutions in connection with secured and unsecured commercial lending transactions, including acquisition financings, senior, second-lien and mezzanine financings, secured bond offerings, debt restructurings and debtor-in-possession financings.

Mercedes is a shareholder in Fredrikson’s Private Equity Group and Banking and Finance Department. Prior to joining the firm, she was a partner with Kirkland & Ellis LLP, an AmLaw 50 law firm, in Chicago.

• Represented litigation finance fund in connection with $75,000,000 commercial paper facility and $25,000,000 receivables facility.
• Represented national packaging company in connection with $100,000,000 senior secured credit facility and $250,000,000 shelf facility.
• Represented national liquor distributor in connection with $250,000,000 revolving credit facility.
• Represented mezzanine lender in connection with $25,000,000 acquisition financing and intercreditor negotiations related to an investment in a US-based manufacturer.
• Represented Canadian banks in connection with guarantees and security documentation for US assets.
• Represented US subsidiaries of European borrowers in connection with guarantees and security documentation for US assets.
• Represented international technology company in connection with secured and unsecured loans to strategic partners.
• Represented private equity group and targets in connection with acquisition financing, including senior and mezzanine secured credit facilities, note purchase agreements, and intercreditor negotiations.
• Represented a private equity group in connection with $1,700,000,000 senior secured asset-based and term loan facilities for acquisition of a national department store retailer.
• Represented a national department store retailer in connection with the amendment and restatement of its existing senior secured revolving credit facility.
• Represented a private equity group in connection with $975,000,000 senior secured first-lien credit facilities and a $260,700,000 secured second-lien term loan facility for acquisition of a paper manufacturing company.
• Represented a private equity group in connection with $650,000,000 senior secured first-lien credit facilities, $225,000,000 secured second-lien credit facilities and $75,000,000 unsecured facilities for acquisition of a consolidated group of companies leading the craft industry.
• Represented a global commercial vehicle systems provider in connection with $47,500,000 secured revolving credit facility and $16,800,000 second-lien secured term loan facility.
• Represented a tier-1 automotive supply company in connection with $115,000,000 senior secured revolving debtor-in-possession credit facilities and $170,000,000 senior secured term loan debtor-in-possession facilities and its subsequent successful plan of reorganization and exit financing, including
  $110,000,000 senior secured revolving credit facility and $83,750,000 second- lien secured term loan credit facility.
• Represented a Fortune 500 power company and hundreds of its domestic subsidiaries in connection with $2,000,000,000 revolving and term loan debtor- in-possession credit facilities.
• Represented a radio company in connection with $386,000,000 senior secured term loan facility and $25,000,000 senior secured super-priority revolving credit facility.
• Represented a joint owner in television programming entity in connection with issuance of $119,000,000 senior secured notes.
• Represented an international corporate relocation company in connection with $150,000,000 senior secured term loan facility and $50,000,000 senior secured revolving credit facility.

Education

• Yale Law School, J.D., 2005
• The Ohio State University, B.A., 2002, magna cum laude

Admissions

• Minnesota, 2014
• Illinois, 2005

• 40 Under 40 Honoree, Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, 2020
• Phi Beta Kappa

Professional Activities

• American Bar Association
• Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), Fellow, 2017
• Women Corporate Directors Pipeline Initiative, Cohort III
• Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal Women’s Leadership Council
• Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers
• National Bar Association

Community

• Science Museum of Minnesota Board of Trustees, Vice Chair of Governance and Nominations
• EMERGE Community Development Board of Directors, Past Chair, Past Vice Chair, Finance Committee
• Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Executive and Planning Committee; Board Development Committee
• Mitchell Hamline Gateway to Legal Education Program, Advisory Committee Member
• Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Organization
• Step-Up Women’s Network, Past Luminary Circle Member
• Loyola ChildLaw Center, Public Interest Initiative Fellow, 2005
• Jerome N. Frank Legal Services Organization, Clinic Director for Advocacy for Children and Youth Clinic
• Yale Journal of International Law, Editor