William Schoenholz has extensive experience in complex domestic and international financing transactions, representing banks, commercial finance companies, funds and other institutional investors. He has structured, negotiated, and documented a wide variety of financing arrangements ranging from acquisition financing (including leverage buyouts and the financing of tender offers), bridge financing, and working capital financing. These transactions typically involve multi-facility secured credit arrangements that often include multiple borrowers and cross-border elements. Mr. Schoenholz also has considerable experience representing agents in syndicated and club loan transactions and in negotiating and documenting various inter-creditor arrangements. In addition to Mr. Schoenholz’s “front-end” practice, he often represents lenders in workouts and forbearance arrangements. In this connection, he has substantial experience in the enforcement of secured creditor remedies under the Uniform Commercial Code.

Since 2009 Mr. Schoenholz has been annually recognized by Chambers USA as a leader in the field of Bank & Finance and is AV Preeminent rated by Martindale Hubbell. He has also been recognized by the L.A. Times B2B Publishing as a Banking & Finance Visionary in 2023 & 2024.

From the most recent Chambers USA research, clients report:

“He has a solid command of the law with a balanced understanding of business aspects and very strong commercial awareness. This allows William Schoenholz to excel in his profession.”

“He is a top-tier banking lawyer and is an expert at representing clients.”

“In addition to being highly knowledgeable and experienced, Bill provides practical solutions and effectively works with us to reach reasonable compromises when negotiating legal and business points.”

He actively supports a number of non-profit organizations and charities. In 2024 Mr. Schoenholz was the recipient of the National Jewish Health Humanitarian Award. Annually, he participates in several golf tournaments and maintains a single-digit handicap.

  • Represented Snak Club and New Century Snacks in its investment by Insignia Capital
  • Counsel for agent in syndicated $400 million credit facility
  • Counsel for agent in club tender-offer financing
  • Counsel for lender in acquisition of corporation with international subsidiaries
  • Counsel for first lien lender in negotiation of intercreditor agreement
  • Counsel for lender in forbearance and liquidation agreements
  • Counsel for lender in foreclosures sales under Article 9 of UCC
  • Counsel for Bank of the West as administrative agent in the upsizing of the Duckhorn credit facilities.

Mr. Schoenholz earned his J.D. at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law and his B.A. in Business Economics with High Honors at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

  • Board Member, Financial Lawyers Conference
  • Member, Business Law Section of the California State Bar

Additional Specialties

Asset Based Lending
DIP Financing
First Lien Credit Facilities
Foreclosures on Collateral (Private, Public and Strict)
Intercreditor Agreements
Second Lien Credit Facilities
Secured Lending
Uniform Commercial Code
Workouts and Restructuring