Profile

Ellen McGinnis is recognized for her critical thinking in structuring, and practical advice in execution of, financing transactions for lenders, focused in particular on subscription-secured credit facilities, having worked on the product since its initial development in the late 1980’s. Ellen is co-chair of the firm’s Fund Finance Practice Group, for which Haynes and Boone is trusted counsel for U.S. and foreign commercial and investment banks as lenders to private equity funds. She has recently represented a number of clients in hybrid collateral facilities, and works on many of the practice’s international and multi-currency transactions.

Ellen is currently the chair of the firm’s Admission to Partnership Committee and is a member of the board of directors, as well as participating on the Opinion Committee, and leads the firm’s knowledge management efforts. She has been a Finance Practice Group leader and has served on the firm's Computer and Technology Committee.

Prior to her focus on subscription lending, Ellen’s practice encompassed a wide range of lending structures, including asset-based and real estate-related transactions.

Ellen is highly involved in volunteer service to her alma mater, Yale University. Most recently she co-founded YaleWomen, the organization for women graduates of Yale College and Yale’s Graduate School and professional schools, and is currently the immediate past Chair of YaleWomen. Prior to that, she was chair of the board of governors of the Association of Yale Alumni, having served in each other officer position, as a member of the board, and as a delegate to the AYA Assembly for a formal duration of 14 years of service. She has also served as an officer of the Yale Alumni Association of Maryland and the Yale Club of Dallas, as well as treasurer of her Yale class. In 2012, the Association of Yale Alumni presented Ellen with the Yale Medal, the highest award presented by the association to recognize and honor outstanding individual service to Yale University.

Ellen has been active in women’s initiatives through her work with YaleWomen and at the firm, and through her service on the Council of Women’s Health Research at Yale, which advances health research for women across medical and psychosocial disciplines. She is a past partner of the ABA’s Commission on Women in the Profession, and an active sponsor of and advocate for women at Haynes and Boone.

Bar Admissions
District of Columbia, 1996
New York, 1986
New Jersey, 1986
Texas, 1990

Education
J.D., New York University, 1985
B.A., Yale University, 1982, cum laude

Areas of Practice

  • Finance
  • International

Professional Career

Significant Accomplishments
Represented major U.S. and foreign banks as lead agents and arrangers to structure, negotiate and document more than $30 billion of syndicated credit facilities and commercial paper facilities to real estate opportunity funds and other investment entities, secured by the capital commitments of fund investors.

Represented lead agents and arrangers in multi-currency, multi-jurisdictional credit facilities to U.S. and non-U.S. borrowers.

Represented lead agent in syndicated $700 million hybrid facility secured by capital commitments and portfolio assets for mezzanine fund.



Meet our Firms and Professionals

WSG’s member firms include legal, investment banking and accounting experts across industries and on a global scale. We invite you to meet our member firms and professionals.