For Michael A. Jacobson, success in private credit is defined by the ability to deliver clarity and execution in the most complex, high-pressure environments. As partner and chair of the Private Credit Department at Katten, he coordinates across multiple lenders, private equity sponsors and advisors, frequently spanning jurisdictions and layered capital structures with competing priorities. With over three decades of experience, Jacobson has worked on various complex transactions that demand both speed and precision.
One recent transaction exemplifies this complexity: representing a lead investor in a financing that combined equity kickers, a substantial equity investment at closing, a “first out/last out” debt structure and future delayed funding commitments tied to highly customized conditions. Deals like this require not only technical understanding but also precision. Jacobson effectively coordinates with restructuring, corporate, private equity, labor, benefits and litigation partners to form an efficient, effective team.
Beyond deal execution, Jacobson’s philosophy centers on deep, strategic client relationships. He believes that understanding a client’s business, constraints and long-term objectives is essential to serving as more than just legal counsel.
“We focus on being true partners to everyone at the table in every sense and strive to be facilitators of fair and balanced resolutions,” Jacobson says.
By acting as a true partner, he has built enduring relationships with many of the most active players in private credit since the sector’s early growth in the 1990s. Jacobson’s clients rely on his depth and expertise to anticipate challenges and avoid surprises. At the core of his effectiveness is a deceptively simple secret weapon: communication. Jacobson excels at distilling highly complex legal and structural issues into clear, actionable guidance, ensuring all parties understand risks, opportunities and trade-offs. In an environment where alignment is everything, clarity is often what turns complexity into successful outcomes.
