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Brett M. Santoli
Brett M. Santoli
Partner — Finance
E: bsantoli@velaw.com T: +1.212.237.0266
VCard BIO PDF
Partner — Finance

Brett M. Santoli

Brett M. Santoli
New York
T: +1.212.237.0266
F: +1.917.849.5304

The Grace Building
1114 Avenue of the Americas
32nd Floor
New York, New York 10036

E: bsantoli@velaw.com
VCard BIO PDF
start quote symbolI have a broad base of experience in the finance area — there's very little I haven't seen and done. I draw on that experience when structuring deals for my clients to think through complicated problems and anticipate variables and outcomes.end quote symbol
Brett M. Santoli

Brett Santoli represents borrowers and lenders in complex domestic and cross-border financings in an array of industries. In the energy space, he advises upstream and midstream oil and gas companies, power generation and transmissions businesses and oilfield services firms. He has also structured deals involving maritime firms, restaurant franchises, airlines, mining companies, agribusiness firms, gaming companies, insurance firms, broadcasters, publishers and sports businesses. In addition to his U.S.-based work, he has handled numerous matters in Europe and South America.

With more than 20 years of experience, Brett is a veteran of project finance, general syndicated finance, acquisition finance, private placements, asset-based facilities, work-outs and debtor-in-possession and exit facilities; but, much of his practice revolves around bespoke solutions, specially tailored for clients facing exceptionally challenging or unprecedented circumstances.

Brett’s deft work has resulted in recognition by several publications, including Marine Money magazine and Project Finance magazine.

Experience Highlights

  • An issuer in a $1.061 billion private placement to finance a cross border pipeline (2014 IJGlobal North America Project Bond Deal of the Year)

  • An offshore drilling company in a $1.25 billion Term Loan B and super-priority revolving facilities (Marine Money Offshore 2013 Refinancing Deal of the Year)

  • A borrower in the development and bridge financing of an approximately $5 billion natural gas pipeline

  • A borrower in $1 billion project financing of two ultra-deepwater drillships

  • A borrower in the project financing of a $250 million sugar cane ethanol plantation and port facility in Peru (Project Finance Magazine 2010 Latin American Biofuels Deal of the Year)

  • A major quick-serve restaurant franchisor in a $950 million minority recapitalization transaction

  • An offshore drilling company in a $1.25 billion Term Loan B and super-priority revolving facilities (Marine Money Offshore 2013 Refinancing Deal of the Year)

  • A borrower in a $1 billion construction and acquisition of two ultra-deepwater drillships

  • The Lenders in a $300 million revolving facility secured by eight offshore support vessels

  • A borrower in a $45 million multi-draw term loan for financing the acquisition of four vessels

  • A borrower in a $100 million construction financing of eight marine service vessels

  • A borrower in a $200 million acquisition financing of a public Norwegian subsea services company

  • An E&P company in a $5.0 billion reserve-based credit facility

  • An E&P company in a $1.5 billion reserve-based credit facility

  • An E&P company in a $900 million reserve-based credit facility

  • An oilfield services company in a $375 million Term Loan B facility

  • An oilfield services company in a $215 million term loan and revolving credit facility

  • An oilfield services company in a $150 million unsecured bridge facility

  • An oilfield services company in receivables borrowing base credit facility

  • An E&P company in a $150 million reserve-based credit facility

  • An issuer in a $1.061 billion private placement to finance a cross border pipeline (2014 IJGlobal North America Project Bond Deal of the Year)

  • A borrower in the $550 million project financing of a transmission line crossing three states

  • A borrower in the project financing of a bridge

  • A lender in the project financing of a domestic soybean biodiesel and crush facility

  • A lender in the term loan financing of three soybean biodiesel facilities in Colorado and New Jersey

  • The lead arranger and underwriter in the project financing of a gas-fired cogeneration facility in Texas

  • A borrower in the development and bridge financing of an approximately $5 billion natural gas pipeline

  • A borrower in the project financing of a $250 million sugar cane ethanol plantation and port facility in Peru (Project Finance Magazine 2010 Latin American Biofuels Deal of the Year)

  • A lender in the project financing of a cross-border transit tunnel connecting Canada and the United States

  • A borrower in $200 million project financing of a greenfield gas pipeline connecting gas fields to a liquefaction facility in Trinidad and Tobago

  • Lead arrangers and underwriters in the refinancing of project financing of cross-border gas pipeline in Canada and the United States

  • Lead arrangers and underwriters in the project financing of a gas compression platform in Mexico

  • The lead arranger and underwriter in the project financing of a gas-fired cogeneration facility in Illinois

  • The lead arranger and underwriter in the project financing of a greenfield gas-fired cogeneration facility in Colombia

Credentials

  • Cornell Law School, J.D. with specialization in International Legal Affairs, 1998
  • Colby College, B.A., Government and Classical Civilization magna cum laude, 1995
  • Legal 500 U.S., Energy: Renewable/Alternative, 2017; Project Finance, 2013 and 2014; Finance: Commercial Lending, 2019–2024
  • Selected to the New York Rising Stars list, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2013
  • IFLR1000, 2020–2023
  • Selected to the 500 Leading Energy Lawyers, Lawdragon, 2023 and 2024
  • Member: American Bar Association
  • New York
  • “Hot Topics in Offshore Capital Markets,” 7th Annual Houston Offshore Finance Forum, May 2017 (moderator)

News & Insights

Deals & Cases
Relevate Acquires Gravity Renewables, Doubling Sustainable Baseload Power Capacity and Strengthening Industry Leadership
December 5, 2024
Rankings & Awards
The Legal 500 US 2024 (Legalease Ltd.) Recognizes Vinson & Elkins in 44 Practice Categories, 131 Lawyers Recommended
June 12, 2024
Rankings & Awards
Marine Money Selects Two Vinson & Elkins Matters as 2023 Deals of the Year
April 25, 2024
Deals & Cases
Diamond Offshore Announces $550 Million Upsized Private Placement
September 22, 2023