Christopher Melendez advises lenders and borrowers in commercial finance transactions, primarily in the retail, restaurant, investment management, and logistics industries. His representations cover acquisitions, refinancings, modifications of existing credit facilities, workouts of troubled credits, tranched financings, and debtor-in-possession and exit facilities. These wide-ranging transactions frequently include a global element of security granted by or a lending facility created in favor of overseas businesses. Chris is an associate representative for the firm’s Veterans Lawyer Network.
Chris’s representation of national and international financial institutions includes fully secured and unsecured syndicated debt financings to support both common capital needs and emerging business opportunities. The credit profile of borrowers, both represented and as counterparties, ranges from investment grade, to startups, to troubled retail and restaurant companies. As a member of Morgan Lewis’s coronavirus (COVID-19) task force, Chris advised existing and new clients across the firm on the Small Business Association’s Paycheck Protection Program.
Having served in the Marine Corps for eight years, Chris now focuses his pro bono practice on legal work to improve the lives of veterans. He has secured successful outcomes for veterans seeking VA disability compensation and state benefits under Massachusetts’ Chapter 115 Benefits/Safety Net Program. Recently, he has also begun working on programs to assist veterans in law school seeking to adapt their resumes and interview strategy to corporate law.
Member, Board of Directors – Malden YMCA