Richard Petretti joined Buchalter as a partner in its Los Angeles and San Diego offices and is a member of the commercial finance practice group.
“Richard is a highly regarded finance lawyer with deep experience across complex lending and restructuring matters, particularly in media and entertainment,” Adam Bass, president and CEO of Buchalter, said. “His breadth of transactional experience and industry knowledge will be an immediate asset to our clients and our firm.”
Petretti advises banks, financial institutions and corporate clients on a wide range of sophisticated financing transactions, including syndicated loans, leveraged acquisition financings, recapitalizations, debtor in possession financings, exit financings and other capital markets products. He also represents parties in restructurings, workouts, bankruptcies and acquisitions of troubled companies, acting on behalf of debtors, creditors, administrative agents, lender syndicates and investors.
A significant focus of Petretti’s practice is the media and entertainment industry. He has extensive experience with secured and unsecured film, television and music financings, including production and acquisition facilities, slate and single picture financings, library financings and music catalog financings. His clients include major studios, mini majors, independent film and television companies, joint ventures and service providers to the entertainment industry, as well as global banks and other financial institutions. In addition, his finance practice, includes representation of the healthcare, financial services, telecommunications, energy, chemicals, hospitality, transportation and retail industries, often involving cross border and inter-creditor issues.
“I am excited to join Buchalter because of the strength of its commercial finance platform and its collaborative, entrepreneurial culture,” Petretti said. “The firm’s full-service capabilities and strong presence in California create opportunities to better serve clients across industries, particularly in the media and entertainment space.”
Petretti’s practice also includes advising on large scale syndicated credit facilities, leveraged recapitalizations, acquisition financings and restructurings, many involving complex collateral structures and multi-jurisdictional considerations. He regularly represents administrative agents and lead arrangers on high value transactions, as well as borrowers and investors in strategically significant financings across a broad range of asset classes.
“We are thrilled to have Richard join our commercial finance practice,” Anthony Callobre, co-chair of Buchalter’s commercial finance practice group, said. “His work in media and entertainment industry and other highly regulated industries strengthens our ability to advise clients on sophisticated and evolving financing structures.”
Bass added, “Richard is a natural fit for Buchalter. We are excited to welcome him and look forward to the impact he will have across the firm.”
