Kristopher Ring

Kristopher Ring is a partner in Goodwin’s Private Equity group and a member of the firm’s Debt Finance practice. He is also a former Business Law Office leader for Santa Monica. He focuses on all aspects of corporate finance – including the representation of private equity groups, private credit clients, hedge funds, venture capital firms, public and private companies, royalty monetization investors, financial institutions, family offices, independent sponsors, and other capital sources – in a host of complex financing arrangements of all dollar sizes, including leveraged buyouts, cross-border transactions, recapitalizations, royalty and synthetic royalty financings, workouts and restructurings, special-situation financings, and subscription facilities.

Kristopher has extensive experience negotiating, documenting, and closing transactions for companies and lenders involved in a diverse group of industries in a wide range of transaction structures, including, among others, senior secured and unsecured financings, first lien and second lien financings, asset-based loan facilities, cash flow facilities, mezzanine and other subordinated financings, unitranche financings, split collateral structures, debtor-in-possession financings, exit financings, capital call facilities, NAV facilities, structured financings, and payment systems/sponsorship arrangements.

Kristopher has been named as a leading debt finance lawyer by Chambers, Legal 500, and Super Lawyers.  Chambers has referred to Kristopher as a “great tactician” who is “always pleasant and efficient” and “extremely knowledgeable and knows the market well."

Kristopher has been quoted in various publications and has spoken on podcasts regarding the financial industry, including Bloomberg, Private Debt Investor, ACG Middle Market, Private Equity Wire, Reuters’ Refinitiv, Yahoo! Finance, International Financing Review, Reorg, and 9fin.

Prior to joining Goodwin in 2019, Kristopher was a partner at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, and before that a partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP.

Kristopher’s experience includes representing:

Private Equity Firm Matters

• A Boston-based private equity firm in:
  
  • acquisition financing of a company providing application security solutions
  • acquisition financing of a multi-brand, multi-channel and multi-category platform company serving the tattoo, pet and beauty industries
  • acquisition financing to its portfolio company, a provider of real estate and investment management software
  • acquisition financing to its portfolio company focused on information technology and software in the areas of systems and network management, business intelligence, security and compliance
  • financing to its portfolio company, a provider of enterprise security solutions
• A Boston-based private equity firm in:
  
  • acquisition financing to its portfolio company, a provider of enterprise resource planning and supply chain solutions
  • acquisition financing to its portfolio company, a distributor of uniforms and equipment to public safety agencies
  • acquisition financing to its portfolio company, a provider of comprehensive insurance coverage, risk management strategies and benefits consulting services
  • acquisition financing to its portfolio company, a dental partnership organization
  • acquisition financing to its portfolio company, a provider of enterprise resource planning, operational and regulatory compliance software
  • capital call facilities and NAV facilities to its funds
• A Menlo Park-based private equity firm in:
  
  • an acquisition financing to its portfolio company, a provider of shift-based workforce management and payroll solutions
  • a financing to its portfolio company, a provider of fundraising, advocacy and marketing software to nonprofit organizations
  • a financing to its portfolio company, a cloud-based software and services provider that develops integrated technology platforms for sales and marketing for the travel and hospitality industry
  • a financing to its portfolio company, a title support company providing tech-enabled due diligence services and software for property closing professionals
• A Menlo Park-based private investment firm in:
  
  • an acquisition financing of a company providing a software and cloud-based technology platform designed to increase employee satisfaction and productivity
  • a financing to its portfolio company, a provider of marketing and communications software for home service providers
  • a financing to its portfolio company, a provider of enterprise hybrid migration and optimization
• A Los Angeles-based private equity firm in connection with an acquisition financing of a creative advocacy agency
• A Boston-based private equity firm in connection with an acquisition financing of a digital payments solutions vendor focused on the insurance industry
• A Massachusetts-based private equity firm in connection with an ABL financing to its portfolio company, an omnichannel retailer of English equestrian products
• A New York-based private equity firm in connection with a financing to its portfolio company, a provider of substance abuse and mental health treatment services
• A New York-based private equity firm in connection with an acquisition financing of a company providing specialty cleaning products
• A New York-based private equity firm in connection with the refinancing of the loan facility of its portfolio company, an owner operator of freestanding veterinary hospitals*
• A New York-based private equity firm in connection with the refinancing of the prior loan facility of its portfolio company who is a provider of vehicle service contracts and related ancillary protection products*
• A New York-based private equity firm in:
  • three different subscription loan facilities for three of its funds*
  • acquisition financing of a company providing natural gas distribution and related services*
  • financing in connection with the recapitalization of a company providing turnkey outsourced emergency department management services to medical surgical hospitals*
  • debt investment at the holding company level in its minority-owned company providing liquid bulk chemical transportation and logistics services*
• A San Francisco-based private equity firm in:
  • asset-based/term loan acquisition financing for a family footwear retailer*
  • refinancing of credit facilities of a retailer of sportswear, outerwear, gear and accessories for outdoor activities*
  • debt and equity investment in a women’s apparel and accessories retailer*
  • refinancing of debt investment in a specialty jewelry retailer*
• An independent, Los Angeles-based investment management firm in:
  • acquisition financing for the material handling products business of a global provider of equipment and services for the energy industry*
  • acquisition financing for a global specialty clinical laboratory specializing in testing that supports the personalized diagnosis, treatment and prevention of chronic disease*
  • dividend recapitalization for a manufacturer and distributor of taxidermy supplies*
  • dividend recapitalization for a strategic brand management company with a focus on franchising*
  • dividend recapitalization for a supplier of proprietary nail and beauty care products*
  • dividend recapitalization for a provider of accident avoidance training for fleet vehicle drivers*
  • financing for a franchisor in the custom sign and graphics industry*
  • financing for an environmental consulting firm that specializes in providing compliance-driven air-quality services*
• A Los Angeles-based alternative investment firm in:
  • acquisition financing for a business information and events company*
  • acquisition financing for a provider of sports, news and agriculture programming*
  • financing for an investment in a healthcare communications agency*
  • debt investment in a provider of mobile advertising technology*
  • debt and equity investment in a provider of media and marketing services*
• A Los Angeles-based investment firm in:
  • recapitalization of a provider of telecommunications products and accessories*
  • financing for an investment in a provider of in-building wireless software*
• A global private equity investment firm and its debt funds in:
  
  • acquisition financing for a demand-management software and systems provider for utilities and other energy suppliers;* and
  • financing for the combination of two commercial and industrial demand response businesses into a stand-alone company*
• A global private equity firm in:
  
  • acquisition financing for a provider of security solutions for cyberattacks and data theft;* and
  • subscription facility financings for certain of the private equity firm’s funds*
• A Dallas-based private investment firm in connection with its acquisition financing of an international producer of branded, co-packed and private label pork rinds*
• A Chicago-based private equity firm in:
  
  • financing of the simultaneous acquisition of a company providing industrial skills training and another company providing continuing education for working professionals*
  • financing for its portfolio company, a national distributor of industrial abrasive products, equipment, specialty ceramics and ancillary services*
  • acquisition financing of a printing company* 
  • financing for its portfolio company who is a provider of integrated services and software for the creative production industry*
• A New York-based private equity firm in connection with its capital call facility*
• A Chicago-based private investment firm in:
  
  • financing for its portfolio company who is a distributor of cabinet hardware, laminates and surfacing products, board products, edgebanding and woodworking supplies and manufacturer of laminated panels*
  • financing for its portfolio company who is a tomato producer* 
  • acquisition financing for the purchase of a provider of hyperlocal direct marketing services offering consumers coupons and discounts to local merchants and national advertisers*
• A Chicago-based private equity firm in:
  
  • a financing provided to its portfolio company, a provider of overhead crane services and equipment;* and
  • an acquisition financing of a company who is a designer, manufacturer and online retailer of drone products and equipment*
• A Chicago-based private equity firm in connection with financing for its portfolio company who provides car seats and travel accessories and products*
• A Chicago-based private equity firm in connection with an acquisition financing of both a company focused on designing, importing and wholesaling proprietary-branded and third-party branded cigar-related accessories, and another cigar accessory brand compan.*
• A Chicago-based private equity firm in:
  
  • financing of the recapitalization of two companies to form a company that operates veterinary clinics and provides services to companion animals*
  • refinancing of a credit facility for its portfolio company who is a regional network of animal hospitals in the Southern United States*
• A Dallas-based private equity firm in connection with providing loans to a Canadian public company to invest in an operator of digital skill-based gaming terminals in Southeast United States*
• A New York-based private equity firm in:
  • acquisition financing for a restaurant franchisor*
  • acquisition financing for a designer, manufacturer and marketer of specialty automotive aftermarket performance products*
  • recapitalization of a provider of management services to physicians specializing in interventional pain management procedures focused on relieving back and neck pain*
  • recapitalization of a home care and medical staffing services franchisor*
• A San Francisco-based private equity firm in:
  • dividend recapitalization for its portfolio company that is a managing general underwriter providing specialty insurance products for homeowners and small businesses;*
  • acquisition financing for a consumer healthcare manufacturer and marketer of personal care and over-the-counter products;* and
  • financing for a for-profit educational institution company.*
• A global alternative investment management firm, its strategic credit group and its energy group in:
  
  • debt investment in connection with the sale of its portfolio company who is a premier designer and installer of residential and commercial solar systems in California to a company that provides technology-driven solar energy solutions to residential and commercial customers*
  • acquisition financing (and later dividend recapitalization) for a diversified global manufacturer of wood preservation chemistry and technology, and a specialty service provider to the utilities and railroad industries*
  • together with a Los Angeles-based, global private equity firm, first and second lien financing facilities for the merger between two producers and distributors of radio programming*
  • debt investment in a provider of wet wipe products*
  • financing for an energy service company*
  • financing for a shipping investment management company* and
  • debt investment in a provider of electronic payments solutions*
• A Chicago-based private equity firm in connection with an acquisition financing of a technology company providing innovative engineering solutions and precision manufacturing services to high-tech industries and an OEM of optical fiber polishing equipment*
• A San Francisco-based private equity firm in its acquisition of a technology provider to the digital audio industry*
• A private equity investment firm in its acquisition financing for a manufacturer, distributor and multichannel retailer of educational products*
• A private equity investment firm in its dividend recapitalization for a provider of systems life cycle management, endpoint security and IT service management solutions for desktops, servers and mobile devices*
• A technology investment firm in its financing for an investment in a financial software provider*

Hedge Fund Matters

• A Connecticut-based hedge fund as lender in a financing to a real estate investment and services company
• A New York-based hedge fund as lender in:
  
  • acquisition financing involving equity and term loans for a public pure-play antibiotics company to purchase the infectious disease business of a public biopharmaceutical company focused on cardiovascular disease caused by bad cholesterol*
  • acquisition financing of term loans for a Canadian public healthcare company and its Irish subsidiary to purchase the specialty pharmaceutical business and other products and royalties out of the US and Canadian bankruptcies of a specialty pharmaceutical company*
  • providing of a delayed draw term loan facility to a public ophthalmic pharmaceutical company*
  • providing of separate asset-based and term loan facilities to a public company that develops and manufactures minimally invasive treatments for aortic disorders*
  • providing a term loan and delayed draw term loan facility and working capital loan facility to a privately-owned company that is an operator, owner and manager of hospitals in various markets*
  • providing a term loan and delayed draw term loan facility to a private Canadian contract development and manufacturing organization specializing in liquid and semi-solid product development and manufacturing*
• A New York-based hedge fund in connection with purchasing distressed indebtedness from other secured creditors and providing debtor-in-possession bankruptcy financing and post-bankruptcy financing to a public patient-centered healthcare company that such hedge fund purchased out of bankruptcy*

Public Company Matters

• A public company who is an automotive research and shopping website in connection with a cash flow revolving credit facility
• A public company who is a membership-only warehouse club chain in connection with its ABL financing
• A public company who is an aerospace manufacturer and launch service provider in connection with a financing
• A public biopharmaceutical company who develops and commercializes precision therapies in connection with a royalty financing and senior secured credit facility
• A public company who is a value-based primary care provider in connection with a financing
• A public company who specializes in providing a prescription digital therapeutics platform for treating cardiometabolic diseases in connection with a financing
• A public company who provides parking, ground transportation and related services in connection with its acquisition financing for the purchase of a provider of remote airline check-in, baggage handling and related services*

Venture Capital Firm Matters

• A San Francisco venture-backed company who provides cyber insurance and security in connection with a financing
• A Chamblee, Georgia venture-backed software as a service company who provides a partner relationship management platform in connection with a financing
• A Eugene, Oregon-based crypto-focused venture capital fund in connection with capital call facilities for its fund.
• A venture capital fund focused on autism spectrum disorder in connection with a capital call facility
• A San Francisco-based venture capital firm in connection with capital call facilities for its funds
• A San Francisco-based venture capital firm in connection with a capital call facility for its fund
• A San Francisco-based venture capital firm in connection with a capital call facility for its fund
• A Chicago-based venture capital firm in connection with capital call facilities for its funds
• A Chicago-based venture capital firm in connection with a capital call facility for its fund*

Royalty Monetization Investors

• A New York-based buyer of biopharmaceutical royalties and synthetic royalties and lender to biopharmaceutical companies in:
  
  • a royalty purchase from a public commercial-stage biotechnology company with a focus on oral treatments for rare diseases and intercreditor arrangement with such company’s senior secured lender
  • a royalty purchase from a public biopharmaceutical company with a focus on development and commercialization of therapies for patients with debilitating neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases
  • a credit facility provided to, and a synthetic royalty purchase from, a public biopharmaceutical company with a focus on developing muscle activators and muscle inhibitors as treatments for people with impaired or declining muscle function diseases
• A San Diego-based manufacturing and technology company in connection with a royalty purchase from a biotherapeutics company with a focus on T cell immunotherapy

Bank Representation Matters

• A Cincinnati-based bank as agent and lead left arranger in connection with a financing to an NBA basketball team
• A Los Angeles-based bank in:
  
  • capital call facilities to funds of a Los Angeles-based private equity firm
  • capital call facilities to funds of a New York-based investment manager
  • a credit facility to a fund of a Chicago-based investment management company
• A Providence-based bank in:
  
  • a sponsorship arrangement with a Cincinnati-based payment processing company
  • a sponsorship arrangement with a Troy, Michigan-based payments technology company
  • a sponsorship arrangement with an Atlanta-based software, consulting and technology company providing professional services and electronic products
  • a sponsorship arrangement with a subsidiary of a London-based online payments company
  • a sponsorship arrangement with an Allentown, Pennsylvania payment processing company
• A Massachusetts-based bank as agent in connection with a revolving loan facility to a tech-enabled, omnichannel consumer finance public company

Restructuring Matters

• An energy company in its Chapter 11 restructuring*
• A power producing company in its Chapter 11 restructuring of senior unsecured notes and other obligations*
• Independent directors for a sponsor-backed independent oil and natural gas company in connection with its restructuring and its revenue-based lending facility*
• A provider of processing services for the real estate finance industry in connection with its out-of-court restructuring*
• Senior lenders in connection with the out-of-court restructuring of a developer of software and electronics products for the arts and crafts market*

Independent Sponsor Matters

• A Chicago-based independent sponsor in:
  
  • acquisition financing of a company that provides non-discretionary heating, ventilation and air conditioning*
  • financing for its portfolio company who connects meeting professionals, association managers, incentive/recognition specialists and business executives with a curated collection of the world’s most prestigious hotels, cruise ships, DMCs and travel partners*
• A Chicago independent sponsor in connection with its acquisition financing of a company who is a beverage alcohol importer, distributor and service provider*

Miscellaneous Matters

• A Los Angeles-based FinTech lender in connection with a financing
• A Swiss-based compensation management software company in connection with a financing
• A Los Angeles headquartered company operating clothing and household items stores throughout the United States and Puerto Rico in connection with their asset-based and term loan facilities*
• Representation of a Los Angeles-based family office in connection with an acquisition financing of a German licensing and distribution company focusing on theatrical and multi-platform distribution*
• A private biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel treatment options for people with rare, orphan diseases in connection with its delayed draw term loan facility*
• A private company who provides comprehensive physical, occupational and speech therapy services to skilled nursing facilities, continuing care retirement communities and outpatient/home health settings in connection with their senior secured and mezzanine loan facilities*
• A private dental instrument manufacturing company in connection with an asset-based financing*
• A private healthcare consulting firm in connection with a senior secured financing*

*Denotes experience prior to joining Goodwin.

Kristopher was a judicial extern in Spring 2006 for the Honorable Catherine D. Perry in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.

While at law school, Kristopher was the executive articles editor of the Washington University Journal of Law & Policy.

Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business has ranked Kristopher as a Leading Individual in the Banking and Finance category. He has also been recognized as a Recommended Attorney in Finance by the Legal 500 and named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers.