John Kearns

Expertise

John is a leading debt capital markets and structured finance lawyer and a partner in the firm's Finance and Projects group.

He advises domestic and international issuers, originators, arrangers and trustees on a wide range of public and private securitisation transactions and on Ireland's Section 110 securitisation regime. John is experienced across asset classes, including residential mortgages, consumer loans, auto loans, commercial mortgages, NPLs, trade receivables, and advises on the acquisition, financing and disposal of loan portfolios.

He also focuses on a wide range of Debt Capital Markets work, including advising underwriters and issuers in connection with issues of debt (listed eurobonds, private placements, and medium-term note programmes), liability management exercises (tender offers, exchange offers and consent solicitations), and Islamic Finance securities in international markets.

Experience

Recent experience includes advising:

Barclays Bank PLC on numerous warehouse financings, including those in compliance with the UK Government's Recovery Loan Scheme and Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme;
European financial institutions and factoring businesses on factoring transactions;
A Japanese financial institution on its supply chain financing product in Ireland;
Arranger counsel on private repackaging programme establishments and issuances;
A multinational investment bank on acquisition, refinancing and disposal of Irish residential loans;
A stablecoin issuer on the establishment of a profit participating note financing structure;
Globe Trade Centre S.A. on its debut €500m green bond issuance and subsequent related transactions (English law);
A multinational EMTN issuer on consent solicitations;
An Irish debut issuer on the establishment of its EMTN programme; and
Irish issuers on obligations owed to sanctioned entities.