Mary C. Fontaine

Mary Fontaine is currently a Senior Counsel in the Chicago office of Mayer Brown, having served for over 20 years as a partner in the Finance practice.  Mary’s skill at adapting to changes in the capital markets is reflected in the range of transaction types for which she was engaged over the years, including oil and gas finance, asset-based lending, LBOs, derivatives, cross-border loans, project finance, CDOs, securitization, workouts and bankruptcies.  Recent matters include a “AA” rated DIP using securitization technology for a major media company and in a variety of debt restructurings and dispositions of distressed portfolios of trade receivables, life settlements, credit card receivables, student loans, auto loans, residential mortgage loans and other consumer and commercial assets.

Many of these transactions include structured solutions which, on a funded or synthetic basis, transfer risk to third parties.  The structure is designed around the client’s objectives, including regulatory capital relief, minimization of credit, tax and accounting losses, or addressing mark-to-market volatility.  Design features include derivatives, credit linked notes, insurance and reinsurance and other tailor-made devices to address a client’s particular needs.

According to Chambers USA 2010, Mary "knows the market inside out and is a very strong advocate."  Chambers Global 2011 states that Mary is known for her ability to “distill complex issues into easy choices.”  Also, Mary "is praised for [her] ability to devise creative solutions to a variety of issues.” Chambers USA 2009. Prior editions of Chambers USA have described Mary as a "smart and creative adviser," "tough, practical and exceptionally organized" and a "resilient negotiator."  Mary is also listed in Euromoney's Guide to the World's Leading Structured Finance Lawyers.

• The University of Chicago Law School, JD
• Syracuse University, BA, summa cum laude

• New York
• Illinois