Mary Ann Christopher

Mary Ann Christopher

Mary Ann Christopher is a partner with Foley & Lardner LLP. She is a member of the Finance & Financial Institutions and Transactional & Securities Practices, as well as the Energy Industry Team. She represents clients in the development, acquisition, sale, finance, and leasing of major infrastructure projects and equipment assets, with a particular emphasis on the energy and aircraft industries. She also counsels clients in the acquisition of regulated public utility companies and related transactions.

Ms. Christopher has represented parties to transactions involving a broad array of electric generation technologies, including nuclear, fossil fuel, hydro, wind, and waste-to-energy, as well as transactions involving the transportation and distribution of natural gas. Her experience includes representation of independent developers, utility affiliates, and other equity participants in the development of wind, cogeneration, waste-to-energy, and biomass-to-biofuel projects; representation of both sellers and successful bid participants in competitive auction sales of utility and non-utility generation assets; representation of a utility holding company in competitive auction sales of regulated natural gas distribution companies; representation of both utility and non-utility purchasers of power generation assets in bilateral, negotiated transactions; representation of borrowers in the financing and refinancing of generation acquisitions; and representation of lenders in the financing and financial restructuring of power and other industrial projects.

Ms. Christopher's experience in the aircraft industry is highlighted by her recent representation of a U.S. airline in the restructuring of lease and finance arrangements relating to 38 aircraft. She has also represented finance parties in the restructuring of several aircraft leases within the Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding of a major U.S. airline. She regularly represents clients in the original financing or leasing of aircraft, including corporate aircraft.

Ms. Christopher's role in these various transactions has included managing extensive legal due diligence efforts, preparing and negotiating transaction agreements (e.g., development and joint venture agreements, asset purchase agreements, stock purchase agreements, restructuring agreements, power purchase agreements, interconnection agreements, equipment purchase and lease agreements, leveraged lease agreements, and credit agreements), assisting with the fulfillment of closing conditions, closing the transactions, and providing advice and counsel with respect to transition issues. She regularly draws upon and manages a dedicated team of regulatory, tax, labor and employment, benefits, intellectual property and real estate colleagues to provide support for these transactions.

Ms. Christopher joined Foley in June 1994, after practicing law in the Chicago office of Latham & Watkins. She graduated magna cum laude from Carleton College in 1988, and received a J.D. degree from Northwestern University School of Law in 1991.

Ms. Christopher is a member of the state bars of Illinois and Wisconsin and is a member of the national Energy Bar Association. She is also a member of the Great Lakes Wind Collaborative, and actively participates in its Offshore Wind Working Group.