Overview
James Gelman serves as Counsel at McDonald Hopkins. With decades of experience representing commercial banks, investment banks, and other financial institutions, as well as corporate borrowers, James offers guidance and insight to his clients on financing transactions, including secured and unsecured lending transactions, asset-based financings, acquisition financings, bridge financings, cross-border transactions, corporate restructurings, workouts, and other leveraged financings. James brings a practical, business-minded perspective to his legal work, helping clients navigate complex financial transactions, regulatory issues, and risk management while keeping their strategic goals in focus.
James is a firm believer in pro bono work. He was a pro bono leader in his former law firm. James has work on immigration matters, transgender name changes, financing of a 501C(3) academy of music, consolidation of two synagogues, work on cemetery issues, and other matters,
James earned his J.D. from New York Law School and his Bachelor of Arts from Rutgers College.
Representative Cases & Matters
- Representation of administrative agent in a $7 billion senior credit facility to a Japanese auto loan finance company.
- Representation of administrative agent and joint lead arranger in a $750 million senior secured cross-border credit facility to manufacturer of clothing rolls used in the paper industry secured with collateral in Latin America, Europe and Asia.
- Representation of Japanese bank in $30 million credit facility to a financial institution in Panama.
- Representation of administrative agent and joint lead arranger in a $100 million senior credit facility to a multinational electric power company in Latin America.
- Representation of lender in a $100 million credit facility to a financing institution in Colombia.
- Representation of administrative agent and joint lead arranger in a $150 million senior term loan facility to a financial institution in Peru.
- Representation of administrative agent and joint lead arranger in a $500 million senior term loan facility to an energy and forestry company in Chile with a chain of gasoline stations.
- Representation of administrative agent and joint lead arranger in a $200 million senior term loan facility to a steel manufacturing and mining company in Chile.
- Representation of administrative agent and joint lead arranger in a $350 million senior credit facility to a mining company in Chile.
- Representation of administrative agent and joint lead arranger in a $150 million senior credit facility to a gas pipeline company.
- Representation of administrative agent and joint lead arranger in a $280 million 364-day senior credit facility and a $280 million senior credit facility to a chemical company.
- Representation of administrative agent and co-lead arranger in a $1 billion senior credit facility to an international sporting goods manufacturer and retailer.
- Representation of administrative agent and joint lead arranger in a $1 billion senior credit facility to a national retailer.
- Representation of administrative agent and joint lead arranger in a $500 million senior credit facility to a consumer products manufacturer.
- Representation of administrative agent and joint lead arranger in a $100 million secured credit facility to a broker-dealer.
- Representation of administrative agent and joint lead arranger in a $455 million senior term loan facility to a gas pipeline company.
- Representation of a national retailer in a $220 million senior asset-based credit facility.
- Representation of an international luggage manufacturer in a $500 million and Euro 22.7 million senior secured cross-border credit facility.
Honors & Recognition
Best Lawyer, Banking and Finance: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Super Lawyer, Banking: 2014, 2015
Credentials
Education
New York Law School, J.D., magna cum laude
Rutgers College, B.A.
Admissions – State
- New Jersey
- New York
Languages
- Spanish
Professional & Civic
Professional Activities
New York State Bar Association
American Bar Association
Hispanic National Bar Association
Community Involvement
Central Synagogue-Beth Emeth, Member of the Board & past Co-President
Co-chair of several Rockville Centre UJA Breakfast Galas