Elizabeth Yahl was introduced to asset-based lending transactions as a first-year associate at Cahill Gordon & Reindel and found enjoyment in the industry immediately. In her 12 total years of experience with the firm, including a six-month secondment with Goldman Sachs’ leveraged finance legal team in 2017, she has made ABL a significant part of her practice by working on some of the most complex ABL deals in the industry, including sponsor-backed transactions in the context of leveraged buy-outs and many middle market asset-based loans.

Yahl’s varied portfolio has provided her with perspectives from all ends of the market spectrum, and she relishes the chance to work on complex transactions, causing her to always seek out a wide mix of deals that require creative thinking and dealmaking. But it takes more than an innovative mindset to succeed.

“It’s essential to keep relationships friendly and respectful. Having these collegial relationships goes a long way when we run into novel issues on our transactions and need to work collaboratively to come up with creative solutions,” Yahl says, noting that the “transactional world is relatively small,” meaning today’s lawyers and dealmakers will likely be across the table again on future deals.

In addition to overcoming challenges on the transaction side, Yahl also recently became a mother and has had to be creative strategically to meet Cahill Gordon & Reindel’s goal of being available whenever clients need help.

With a focus on mentoring young lawyers and helping them advance in their careers, Yahl serves as the co-chair of the firm’s professional development committee, offering guidance built off her own expertise to help associates learn and grow. From a bigger picture perspective, she also serves on the firm’s business development committee, helping to influence where the company is going and how best to support those goals.