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Christopher M. Swartout

Principal

Christopher M. Swartout photo
D: 312.863.7137
christopher.swartout@goldbergkohn.com

Overview

Chris Swartout is a Principal in the firm's Commercial Finance Group. He represents banks and non-bank financial institutions in structuring, negotiating and documenting a broad range of commercial finance transactions, including acquisition and working capital financings, recapitalizations, refinancings and other complex financial transactions. He is experienced with secured asset-based and cash-flow loan transactions, first-lien/second-lien, split-lien and unitranche structures, and mezzanine and hybrid lending products. 

Chris frequently represents lenders in international financings involving multiple jurisdictions. He has been engaged in transactions with borrowers from numerous industries, including manufacturing, technology, software, business services, healthcare and agriculture business. 

Among his accolades, in 2025 Chris was chosen as a "40 Under 40" award recipient by The Secured Finance Network. The award recognizes "the best and brightest rising stars in secured finance." Since 2024, he has been recognized annually in "The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch" publication in the area of Banking and Finance Law.

Experience

  • Represented administrative agent in connection with $98 million senior secured credit facilities to provide financing for the acquisition of certain divisions of an international manufacturing firm based in Switzerland, including the documentation of guaranties and perfection on collateral in Switzerland, Luxembourg, France, Hong Kong and Bermuda. 
  • Represented administrative agent in providing $215 million asset-based, multi-currency revolving loan facility to affiliated U.S., Canadian, Dutch and U.K. borrowers as part of a split-lien financing totaling $330 million. 
  • Represented administrative agent and term lender in providing $35 million term loan facilities as part of $95 million split-lien acquisition financing to a provider of marketing and staging services for retail stores. 
  • Represented first-out lender and administrative agent in connection with $203 million unitranche credit facility to finance the acquisition of a manufacturing business and subsequent add-on acquisitions. 
  • Represented U.S. administrative agent in connection with $36 million senior secured credit facilities advanced in the U.S. and the Netherlands in support of the acquisition of German and Hungarian entities by a U.S. specialty chemical company, including drafting and negotiating a novel intercreditor agreement to provide for risk-sharing by U.S. and European lenders. 
  • Represented administrative agent in $160 million credit facility to provide financing for the leveraged buy-out of a leading fruit processing company and subsequent add-on acquisitions. 
  • Represented first-out lender and administrative agent in the provision of $66 million unitranche credit facility to a leading hospitality services company. 
  • Represented administrative agent in $35 million revolving and term loan facilities to a provider of call center software and technology solutions. 

Credentials

Education

  • Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, J.D., 2011

    – cum laude

  • St. John Fisher University, B.A., 2007

    – magna cum laude

Admissions

  • Illinois (2011)

Professional Activities

  • American Bar Association, Member

Publications

  • “Ready, Set, Disclose? ESG Lending and The Middle Market,” co-authored with Jeffrey Dunlop and published in The Secured Lender, Oct. 2021. 
  • “Security Interests and Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code,” co-authored with Joel Brown and published in the Banking and Finance module of the “Lexis Practice Advisor®,” 2014.