Benjamin Ratliff
Biography
Ben focuses his practice on general corporate and finance matters. He is actively engaged in the negotiation and documentation of a wide variety of commercial lending transactions, including syndicated and single-bank credit facilities, asset-based lending (including reserve-based lending), sponsor-backed acquisition financing, master limited partnership financing, and second lien/mezzanine financing. He works with teams that frequently represent financial institutions, private equity sponsors and corporate borrowers in all stages of their financial transactions.
Professional experience
Representative experience
Representative experience
- Represented public company in a merger consummated through a double pre-packaged bankruptcy in connection with the negotiation and documentation of a $1.44 billion credit facility.
- Represented public company in connection with the negotiation and documentation of a $1.5 billion commercial paper facility.
- Represented international drilling services company in connection with the financing of a $350 million term loan closed simultaneously with its $775 million notes offering.
- Represented administrative agent in connection with the negotiation and documentation of a $1 billion reserve-based revolving credit facility for an exploration and production company secured by assets in the eagle ford shale formation.
- Represented sponsor-backed master limited partnership, as borrower, in connection with financing of a $100 million revolving credit facility closed simultaneously with the partnership's initial public offering.
- Represented sponsor-backed portfolio company, as borrower, in connection with the $62.5 million financing secured by sand reserves used in the hydraulic fracturing process.
- Represented international drilling services company in connection with the financing of a $500 million term loan closed simultaneously with its $1.15 billion notes offering.
- Represented bulk liquid chemical company in connection with the financing of a $200 million revolving credit facility.
- Represented second lien administrative agent in connection with the financing of a $15 million second lien facility for an owner and operator of oil and gas properties.
- Represented administrative agent in connection with the financing of a $66 million facility for a midstream company.
- Represented private-equity sponsor in negotiating an $8 million first lien facility and $9.5 million second lien facility in connection with the acquisition of a farm produce packaging company.
- Represented second lien administrative agent and lender in connection with the negotiation and documentation of a $20 million term loan to a consumer fireworks company.
- Represented private-equity sponsor in negotiating a $21 million senior secured facility and a $12.5 million mezzanine facility in connection with the acquisition of a specialty industrial products company.
- Represented private-equity sponsor in negotiating an $15.5 million financing in connection with the acquisition of an oilfield services business.
- Represented private-equity sponsor in negotiating an $19 million financing in connection with the acquisition of a food packaging company.
- Represented administrative agent in the workout and restructuring of a $200 million dollar facility secured by private equity assets closed simultaneously with the settlement of multiple lawsuits.
Rankings and recognitions
Rankings and recognitions
- The Best Lawyers in America, Banking and Finance Law, Best Lawyers, 2022 - 2025
- Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation, Lawdragon, 2023 - 2024
- Texas Rising Star, securities, Thomson Reuters, 2017 - 2019
Education
Education
JD, cum laude, Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, 2009
BBA., Finance and Accounting, The University of Texas at Austin, 2005
Ben is a member of the Order of the Coif.
Ben was admitted to practice law in Texas in 2009.
Admissions
Admissions
- Texas State Bar
Memberships and activities
Memberships and activities
- Dallas Association of Young Lawyers
- Dallas Bar Association
Insights and news
News
Two dozen lawyers selected to Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation guide
United States | July 10, 2023
Cross-border team represents CrowdOut Capital in acquisition of Sourceability
United States | January 11, 2023
CORE Industrial Partners and Arizona Natural Resources advised on procurement of Contract Filling Inc.
United States | September 02, 2022
Two dozen lawyers selected to Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation guide
United States | July 10, 2023
Cross-border team represents CrowdOut Capital in acquisition of Sourceability
United States | January 11, 2023
CORE Industrial Partners and Arizona Natural Resources advised on procurement of Contract Filling Inc.
United States | September 02, 2022
