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James D. Gradel

Profile photo for James D. Gradel
Profile photo for James D. Gradel
Partner

James D. Gradel

James has advised public and private companies in commercial and real estate finance matters for more than 45 years.

James Gradel represents institutional and private lenders and borrowers in secured and unsecured debt financing transactions. He assists these clients with multi-lender loan syndications and participations, senior and mezzanine financing of leveraged buyouts, construction and permanent real estate loans, intercreditor transactions, high-yield note offerings and credit-enhanced bond financing.  

Jim has worked in a wide range of industries, including energy, retail, technology, telecommunications, broadcasting, hospitality, manufacturing, timber, construction, and senior living. 

Education & Credentials

Education

  • Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, J.D., with honors, 1978
  • University of Cincinnati, B.B.A., Accounting, summa cum laude, 1975

Bar and Court Admissions

  • Washington

Professional Recognition

  • Ranked by Chambers USA as “America’s Leading  Lawyers" for Banking & Finance,  2021-2024

  • Listed in Super Lawyers Magazine, "Washington's Super Lawyers," 2003-2019

  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America: Banking and Finance Law; Commercial Finance Law, 2008-2025

  • *Peer Review Rated AV in Martindale-Hubbell
    (AV®, BV® and CV® are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies.)

Impact

Professional Leadership

  • Washington State Bar Association, Member
  • King County Bar Association, Member

Professional Experience

Commercial Finance

Multi-national Acquisition and Operating Credit Facilities

Represented public company in the manufacturing industry in $1.6 billion multi-currency acquisition and operating credit facilities.

Senior and Mezzanine Acquisition Loans

Represented privately held borrower in the telecom industry in $1.2 billion senior secured and mezzanine acquisition and operating credit facilities.

Utility Financing

Represented public utility in $850 million operating credit facilities.

Multi-national Acquisition Credit Facilities - Senior Credit Facility

Represented multi-national publicly traded manufacturing company in connection with $415 million in senior secured acquisition credit facilities and unsecured senior subordinated notes.

Marine Contractor Financing

Represented national bank as an administrative agent in connection with a $250 million revolving credit and term loan facilities to a marine contractor secured by documented and undocumented vessels.

Multi-national Senior Secured Revolving Credit and Term Loan Facility

Represented public company in connection with a syndicated $310 million senior secured credit facility, consisting of a $60 million revolving loan and a $250 million term loan facility.

Multi-national Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility

Represented public company in connection with a syndicated $100 million credit facility, secured by substantially all the company's assets, including intellectual property and domestic and foreign stock.

Multi-state Acquisition Credit Facilities

Represented borrower in the telecommunications industry in connection with senior and mezzanine secured acquisition credit facilities totaling $470 million.

Retail Industry Secured Credit Facilities

Represented privately held borrower in the retail industry in connection with $70 million of syndicated senior secured credit facilities.

Fishing Industry

Represented national bank, as administrative agent, $475 million syndicated revolving credit facility and term loan extended to a borrower in the fishing industry.

Manufacturing Industry

Represented privately held multi-national manufacturer company in connection with $900 million of syndicated senior secured credit facilities.

Multi-national

Represented public multi-national aerospace company in connection with $675 million of syndicated senior secured credit facilities.

Energy Industry Revolving Credit

Represented borrower in the energy industry in connection with a syndicated senior unsecured revolving credit facility and receivables securitization facility totaling $700 million.

Syndicated Revolving Credit and Term Loan Facilities

Represented national bank, as administrative agent, in connection with $70 million syndicated, and secured loans to a manufacturer of high-temperature materials consisting of a $40 million revolving credit facility and a $30 million term loan facility.

Manufacturing Industry Senior Note Offering

Represented public company borrower in the manufacturing industry in the issuance of $250 million of senior notes and €330 million in senior euro-notes.

Service Retail Industry Senior Note Offering

Represented public company borrower in the service retail industry in the issuance of $650 million of senior notes.

Syndicated Secured Credit Facilities

Represented national bank, as administrative agent, in connection with $155 million syndicated senior secured credit facilities to borrowers in the timber and manufacturing industry.

Real Estate Finance

Hotel Construction Loan

Represented lenders in $88 million hotel tower construction financing.

Apartment Construction Loan

Represented national bank, as administrative agent, in numerous syndicated real estate secured apartment construction and take out loans for projects across the United States and in amounts ranging from $20.25 million to $90 million.

Condominium Construction Loan

Represented national bank, as administrative agent, in connection with a $115 million real estate secured residential condominium tower construction loan.

Hospitality Industry Revolving Credit Facility

Represented national bank, as administrative agent, in connection with a $50 million syndicated real estate secured revolving credit facility for a borrower in the hospitality industry.

Multi-state Hotel Financing

Represented national bank, as administrative agent, in connection with a $120 million syndicated secured credit facility to a hospitality company secured by eighteen hotels in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho and Montana.

Regional Shopping Center Construction Loan

Represented national bank, as administrative agent, in connection with a $75 million regional shopping center construction loan.

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