Charles Newman is a partner serving as Co-Chair of the Banking & Specialty Finance Group at Cassels. Charles’ practice focuses on all types of secured and unsecured lending transactions, including cross-border transactions, project/infrastructure financings, syndicated loan transactions, debtor-in-possession financings, asset-based and real estate-based lending matters. Charles also does extensive work in the subordinated and convertible debt areas and in treasury management. He is recognized as a leader in his field by such authorities as the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Best Lawyers in Canada, IFLR, and Chambers Canada which notes that clients commend Charles’ “attention to detail, accuracy and problem-solving skills.”
In addition, Charles acts for Canadian and US-based private equity funds in connection with their cross-border investments in equity, quasi-equity, and qualified debt obligations. He also routinely acts on behalf of lenders, borrowers, and receivers in connection with special account, work-out related, security enforcement and receivership files.
A few examples of Charles’ notable work include acting for:
- Harley-Davidson Financial Services Canada in connection with Harley-Davidson, Inc.’s US$1.4 billion revolving credit facilities
- Wendy’s Restaurants of Canada in connection with the sale by Wendy’s Funding, LLC of US$950 million of secured notes
- Planet Fitness in Canada in connection with its refinancing by way of the issuance of US$1.275 billion in secured notes
- Connacher Oil and Gas Company Limited in connection with its CCAA debtor-in-possession loan and exit loan facilities
- Granite Real Estate Investment Trust in its $480 million term credit facilities
- The agent and the term lenders to Sears Canada Inc. in connection with a US$300 million secured syndicated debtor-in-possession credit facility
- The Federal Government of Canada, through the Ministry of Natural Resources, in connection with its credit substitution guarantee for the Muskrat Falls and Maritime Link portions of the Lower Churchill River hydro electric projects
- The Federal Government of Canada in connection with the restructurings and refinancings of General Motors and Chrysler
