Christine L. Swanick

Christine Swanick is a partner in the Finance and Bankruptcy practice group in the firm's New York office. Christine serves as Team Leader of the Tribal and Indian Law Team.

Areas of Practice

Christine concentrates her practice in the area of commercial financing and other credit transactions, including commercial loans, letter of credit facilities, syndicated credit facilities and note and bond financings, especially in the area of tribal-related financing projects. Additionally, Christine advises on restructuring of tribal debt. She also represents tribes and entities doing business with tribes in contractual, gaming, regulatory and economic development matters. Her work puts her in regular contact with federal decision-makers, including attorneys at the National Indian Gaming Commission.

Experience

• Represented Administrative Agent and Lead Arranger in $310 million syndicated financing to a tribal gaming authority in the Pacific Northwest
• Represented Administrative Agent and Lead Arranger in $250 million syndicated financing to a tribal gaming authority in the Southeast
• Represented tribal borrower in $500 million syndicated financing to refinance existing debt
• Advised utility company regarding power plant located on Indian lands
• Acted as Indian law counsel to Administrative Agent, Lead Arranger and Underwriter in $230 million term loan B and $260 million bond financing to tribal authority in California
• Acted as Indian law counsel to Administrative Agent, Lead Arrangers and Underwriter in $400 million term loan B and $450 million bond financing for greenfield tribal gaming project in California
• Represented tribal borrower in $160 million secured syndicated financing for both tax-exempt and gaming related purposes
• Represented tribal borrower in $600 million secured syndicated financing related to gaming operations
• Represented Administrative Agent in $410 million secured syndicated financing to a tribal gaming authority
• Represented Administrative Agent in $290 million secured syndicated financing to a tribal gaming enterprise
• Represented Agent, as special counsel, in restructure of $700 million secured syndicated financing
• Represented lenders in over 50 commercial bank financings, including single bank, club deals and syndicated financings
• Represented borrower in $950 million secured syndicated financing of casino expansion project
• Represented underwriters in numerous bond financings and high-yield debt offerings
• Represented creditors and borrowers in restructuring debt obligations

Honors

Named a "Leading Lawyer" in the Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America, 2019

Named a “2019 Notable Women in Law,” Crain’s New York Business

Listed in Best Lawyers in America, 2012-2025

Ranked "Leading Individual" in Native American Law by Chambers USA, 2008-2024

Ranked "Up-and-Coming Individual" in Native American Law by Leading Lawyer, Chambers USA, 2006, 2007

Elected as a Fellow of the American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers

Articles

• "IRS Authorizes Optional TEDB Volume Cap Extensions, Requests Comments on Reallocation of Volume Cap," November 2, 2011
• Conference on Consumer Finance Law Quarterly Report, "Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Lake of the Torches Economic Development Corp," Spring 2011

Finance & Bankruptcy Law Blog Posts

• "Supreme Court Finds Bankruptcy Code Abrogates Tribal Sovereign Immunity," June 16, 2023
• "NIGC Issues New Guidance on Financing Document Reviews and Declination Letters," October 7, 2021

• "Federal Reserve Clarifies that Distributions to Tribal Governments are Permitted Under the Main Street Lending Program," July 15, 2020

• "How Can the CARES Act Help My Tribe? A Briefing on Economic Stimulus for Tribes," April 1, 2020

• "When the “Lights Go Out on Broadway” Will the Lights on Tribal Slot Machines be Next? What Do State COVID-19 Emergency Actions Mean for Tribal Gaming Operations?," March 17, 2020

• "DOJ Opinion Leaves Industry Hanging: If UIGEA Exclusions Don’t Modify the Wire Act What Does That Mean for Intrastate Gambling Transactions?" January 18, 2018 
• "Federal Court Limits Tribe’s, Secretary’s Options When States Balk at Gaming Compact," October 22, 2014
• "U.S. Supreme Court Decision in Michigan v. Bay Mills Indian Community et al.," May 27, 2014
• "Interior’s Carcieri Opinion Means More Diligence for Trust Land Development Projects," March 14, 2014
• "Tribal Corporate Bankruptcy Petition Raises Issues of First Impression for Bankruptcy Court," March 7, 2013

Media Mentions

Speaking Engagements

• Presenter, “Hot Topics in Native American Financing 2014,” Lorman Education Services Webinar, November 20, 2014
• Panelist, "Best Practices for Your Tribe's Debt Management," The Native American Finance Officers Association’s (NAFOA) 32nd Annual Conference, April 14, 2014
• Panelist, "Native American Gaming Panel," Bank of America Merrill Lynch Leveraged Finance Conference, December 3, 2013
• Moderator, "Integrating Community Values in Your Tribal Investments," The Native American Finance Officers Association (NAFOA), September 9, 2013
• Panelist, "You Might Need Permission and To Re-Fi or Not to Re-Fi," Develop Native America (DNA) Conference, April 30-May 1, 2013
• Panelist, "The March Toward Bank Refi's 2013," The Native American Finance Officers Association (NAFOA), April 19, 2013
• Presenter, "Investing in Indian Country 101 and Tribal Gaming Update," Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton CLE, March 20, 2013
• Presenter, "Tribal Trust Land Attributes & Acquisitions," Lorman Seminars CLE, December 17, 2012
• Presenter, "Native America Gaming Panel," Bank of America Merrill Lynch Leveraged Finance Conference, December 5, 2012
• Panelist, The National Native American Law Students Association (NALSA) Career Panel at the Federal Bar Association's 37th Annual Indian Law Conference, April 19, 2012
• Panelist, "Project Feasibility," Develop Native America (DNA) Conference, April 11, 2012
• Panelist, "Lowering the Cost of Capital," The Native American Finance Officers Association (NAFOA) Conference for Indian Country, March 20, 2012
• Co-Author and Co-Presenter, "Current Issues in Tribal Financing," Lorman Seminars CLE, November 2011
• Panelist, "Distressed Credits and Debt Management," Native American Finance Officer's Association Conference, October 2011
• "The New Deal: Understanding & Managing Your Tribal Economics in a Difficult Economy," Global Gaming Expo Webinar, September 2010
• "Is Your Per Capita Sustainable?” National Indian Gaming Association Conference, April 2010
• "From Dead Ends to Disasters: Native American Finance at a Crossroads," Native American Finance Officer’s Association Conference, March 2010
• "Issues Related to Native American Debt Structuring," FBR Capital Markets Telephone Conference, March 2010
• Panelist, "Unchartered Territory, Issues in Native American Debt Restructuring," Banc of America Securities, May 2009
• Panelist, "Coping with a Brave New World," Native American Officer's Association Conference, February 2009
• Moderator, "Sovereignty, Governance, and the Law," Native American Finance Officers Association Conference, New Jersey, September 2007
• Panelist, "Executive Forum: Tribal Sovereign Immunity," Native Nations Institute, May 2007
• "Financing in a High Yield Market," IMN Native American Finance Conference, February 2007

Events

Memberships

Native American Editorial Advisory Board, Law360, 2018

Lecturer in Law for NALSA section Legal Practice Workshop, Adjunct Faculty Member, Columbia Law School, 2014-2017

Digital Media