Profile
Hilary R. Sledge-Sarnor represents businesses and financial institutions in a range of legal matters. Hilary has over 15 years of experience representing financial institutions, corporate borrowers, funds and fund sponsors in a broad range of syndicated cross-border and domestic financings. Hilary is experienced in a wide range of industries, including technology, fund finance retail and entertainment. She regularly provides counsel on secured transactions and UCC Article 9. Hilary is well-versed in loan market trends ranging from the middle market and asset-based lending space to the investment grade market.
Hilary most recently worked in-house at MUFG Bank, Ltd. (fka The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.) and MUFG Union Bank, N.A. where she was the trusted strategic advisor to heads of business in a wide variety of industry and product verticals. She structured, negotiated and documented finance transactions and advised and trained senior management, bankers, credit, compliance and operations teams on legal, regulatory and reputational issues and risks arising in transactions.
Hilary regularly counsels foreign and U.S. financial institutions, as well as their holding companies, on a wide range of financial regulatory, corporate governance and compliance matters. As the former executive counsel to the general counsel of MUFG Americas, she was instrumental in the negotiation of the definitive documentation and governance and regulatory aspects of the $8.0B sale of the assets of MUFG Union Bank, N.A. Hilary also served as the general counsel proxy supporting multiple bet-the-bank regulatory remediations to improve the effectiveness of MUFG America’s risk management practices.
Hilary’s practice includes advising Fintech and digital payment companies, money services businesses and crypto and digital asset companies on a wide range of regulatory matters including licensing and chartering, compliance with Bank Secrecy Act (BSA)/anti-money laundering (AML) laws and regulations and bank partnership agreements.
Hilary is the past Chair of the ABA’s Loan Documentation Subcommittee and frequently speaks at conferences relating to commercial finance, blockchain and digital assets matters and diversity, equity and inclusion.
Hilary also served as the Chair of the Digital Assets Working Group within the MUFG Americas Legal Department.
Capabilities
Experience
- $8.0B sale by MUFG Bank, Ltd. of the assets of Union Bank, N.A. to enable MUFG Bank to withdraw from the U.S. retail banking sector.
- Restructure and simplify governance framework and advise on resulting legal implications involving 14 foreign and U.S. operating entities and holding companies of a global financial institution.
- $3.5B revolving credit facility for private equity firm to finance technology investments.°
- Administrative Agent in The Weinstein Company’s $520M bankruptcy and offensive debtor-in-possession financing (1st offensive DIP for MUFG).°
- $1B revolving credit facility for Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company to finance its operating subsidiaries in various energy sectors.
- $4.1B bridge, revolving and term loan facilities for a global fashion house’s acquisition of an iconic accessories brand.
- Bankruptcy and restructuring of Open Road Films’ credit facilities and $87.5M sale of Open Road to Raven Capital Management.
- $200M revolving credit facility for private equity firm to finance investments in technology and healthcare businesses.
- $600M revolving loan facility providing a partner loan program for new partners making capital contributions to a global accounting firm.
- $4B revolving and term loan facilities for Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. in connection with the consummation of the acquisition of Starz by Lions Gate.
- $1.7B revolving and term loan facilities for Metro Goldwyn Mayer Inc. (“MGM”) to finance the purchase of Studio 3 Partners, LLC (“EPIX”)
- $750M term loan credit facility for a global fashion house’s acquisition of a prominent shoe and accessories brand.
- $100M lease purchase program, equity investments and warrants for private equity firm’s motorcycle lease financing business.
- $40M senior credit facility to finance the $138M take private acquisition by Vector Capital of RAE Systems, Inc.
°The above representations were handled by Ms. Sledge-Sarnor prior to her joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
- MUFG Bank, Ltd. and MUFG Union Bank, N.A., 2013-2022
- Executive Counsel to General Counsel, 2021-2022
- Corporate Investment Banking & Markets, 2013-2020
- Americas Legal Department Inclusion and Diversity Council Chair, 2017-2022
- Public Policy Fellow, Panetta Institute for Public Policy, 2006
- Legal Extern, Hon. Thelton Henderson, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, 2005
- Congressional Intern, Office of Senator Hillary R. Clinton, 2002-2003
Recognition & Leadership
- Recipient, Multicultural Women Executive Leadership Program, USC Marshall School of Business, Courage in Leadership Award, 2022
- Member, Leadership Advisory Committee, National Women’s Law Center, 2024-Present
- Fellow, American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers (ACCFL), 2023-Present
- Fellow, Multicultural Women Executive Leadership Program, USC Marshall School of Business, 2022
- Observer to Joint Committee on the Uniform Commercial Code and Emerging Technologies, 2022
- Member, Black Women Lawyers of Los Angeles, 2021-2023
- Mentor for Morehouse and Spelman College students, MUFG Mentorship Program, 2020 and 2021
- Member, American Bar Association, 2009-Present
- Co-Chair, Syndications and Lender Relations Subcommittee, 2024-Present
- Chair, Commercial Finance: Loan Documentation Subcommittee, 2018-2021
- Vice-Chair, Commercial Finance: Loan Documentation Subcommittee, 2016-2018
- Editor, Commercial Law Newsletter (published by the Commercial Finance Committee and UCC Committee of the American Bar Association Business Law Section), 2013-2017
- Chair, Board of Directors, Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center, 2013-2015
- Treasurer, Black Women Lawyers of Northern California, 2012-2013
- Member, San Francisco Community College Board Bond Oversight Committee, 2010
Credentials
-
J.D., Santa Clara University School of Law
- Research Editor, Santa Clara Law Review
- B.A., cum laude, Barnard College
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, 2006-2007
- California
- Spanish, Conversational