Peter S. Burke

PETER BURKE has practiced law for over 25 years in both the public and private sectors. Peter represents alternative lenders, investors, hedge funds, traditional banks, and investment banks, as well as borrowers and sponsors. He specifically focuses his practice on complex finance transactions, including asset-based and cash flow financings, special situations financings, cross-border matters, and intercreditor arrangements. He negotiates intercreditor agreements, including first- and second-lien transactions, split collateral, and unitranche arrangements. Peter also has extensive experience with distressed situations, debt restructurings, and insolvency proceedings, including debtor-in-possession and exit financings, restructuring support agreements, credit bid arrangements, 363 sales, and Chapter 11 plans. He has advised banks, agents, private credit funds, and specialty lenders in Chapter 11 cases, out-of-court restructurings, and workouts. Additionally, he structures credit facilities with private equity and private credit funds in subscription, NAV, hybrid, and asset-based financings.

Earlier in his career, Peter worked in the bankruptcy courts. He served in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Trustee Office in Los Angeles, being admitted through the prestigious and highly selective U.S. Attorney General’s Honors Program. He then transitioned to private practice, where he focuses on commercial and corporate finance transactions, representing major banks, private credit funds, and other direct lenders in working capital facilities (cash flow and asset-based), acquisition financings, structured financings, restructurings, and recapitalizations — both cross-border and U.S.-focused. He has deep industry experience in various business sectors, including technology and software, healthcare, transportation and logistics, energy, retail, food and beverage, and manufacturing and industrials. He works on deals of all sizes, from bi-lateral financings and “club” deals for middle-market companies to widely syndicated credit facilities, as well businesses with cross-border operations or that are sponsor-owned.

Peter has been recognized by Chambers USA for California Banking & Finance each year since 2009 (2009–2025), was included in the U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Lawyers” list (2022–2023), selected to Super Lawyers (2012–2013, 2018), and was an M&A Advisor “40 under 40” award finalist (2014).

Peter has advised:

• WhiteHawk Capital Partners in connection with providing financing to newly formed acquisition vehicles of Brigade Capital Management, LP and Macellum Capital Management, LLC.
• Multinational financial services company as an administrative agent providing a go-forward asset-based revolving facility for TowerBrook Capital Partners, L.P. in a majority equity investment in Demakes Enterprises, LLC.
• A group of lenders in international investment firm BC Partners’ US$750 million acquisition of a majority stake in Madison Logic.
• Multinational financial services company as administrative agent on a US$200 million asset-based revolving credit facility for Bumble Bee Foods.
• Multinational investment bank, U.S. broker-dealer, Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., Goldman Sachs Lending Partners, LLC, RBC Capital Markets, and investment bank and brokerage firm, as lead arrangers and bookrunners, and multinational investment bank and multinational financial services company, as administrative agents, in connection with US$4,745,000,000 in term loan and asset-based revolving credit facilities for Bass Pro Group, LLC’s acquisition of Cabela’s Incorporated.

Some of the above matters were handled prior to joining Sidley.

• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, California State Bar
• Member, Maryland State Bar Association
• Member, Virginia State Bar
• Member, Secured Finance Network (formerly, the Commercial Finance Association)
• Member, Loan Syndications & Trading Association
• Member, Shane’s Inspiration – Inclusive Playgrounds and Programs for Children
• Member, Institute for Educational Advancement
• Former Member, Uniform Commercial Code Committee, Business Law Section of the California State Bar