William A. Starshak

Overview

William A. Starshak is a Principal in the firm's Commercial Finance Group. He represents financial institutions in a variety of lending transactions, including cash-flow and asset-based loans, unitranche structures, mezzanine financings and leveraged buy-out transactions.

Bill has extensive experience working on international finance transactions for both U.S. and foreign financial institutions. Notably, he worked with the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) to draft its "Legislative Guide on Secured Transactions," which provides a comprehensive blueprint for countries wishing to modernize their secured transactions regimes.

Additionally, he has represented private equity funds and corporate clients in financing transactions as well as in domestic and international mergers and acquisitions.

Bill has been individually ranked in Chambers USA for his work in Banking & Finance Law every year since 2014. Since 2009, he has been recognized annually as a Leading Lawyer in Corporate Finance, International Business and Secured Transactions Law by Illinois Leading Lawyers.

Bill is a Lecturer in Law at The University of Chicago Law School, where he teaches cross-border lending. He speaks often on international lending issues throughout North America and Europe. He has been a regular presenter at various Meritas events, and is also a frequent panelist at the Secured Finance Network’s International Asset Based Lending Conference.

Bill recently participated in the following United Nations Committee on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) projects:

"Digital Assets and Data as Collateral," the UNCITRAL "Colloquium on Navigating the New Era of Digital Finance," February 20, 2025
“Launch of UNCITRAL-UNIDROIT Model Law on Warehouse Receipts” at “UNIDROIT’s Contribution to Private Law and Agricultural Development,” May 23, 2025
“Shaping the Future: The Impact of Negotiable Cargo Documents on Trade Finance, Regional Connectivity and Digital Evolution,” May 27, 2025

Experience

Represented administrative agent on a $1.1 billion asset-based credit facility to a service provider in the oil and gas industry.
Represented administrative agent on a $440 million asset-based credit facility with loan parties and collateral located in the United States, Brazil, Colombia, Finland, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.
Represented U.S. and Canadian administrative agents in connection with the provision of a $435 million asset-based credit facility provided in connection with a material acquisition in North America. Negotiated split lien intercreditor agreement with senior secured noteholders.
Represented administrative agent in connection with global going private transaction, which included the perfection of collateral in Australia, Brazil, Germany, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Represented administrative agent on an asset based credit facility in the United States and four Caribbean jurisdictions.
Represented U.S. and European administrative agents on an asset-based credit facility with borrowers in the United States, Canada, Belgium, Spain and the United Kingdom.
Represented U.S. and Canadian administrative agents in the provision of cash flow credit facility, which included the perfection of collateral in the United States, Brazil, Canada, Ireland and Israel.
Represented lender in connection with the provision of a credit facility to a tier one private equity fund.
Represented first out lender in connection with its position in a unitranche credit facility during a Chapter 11 bankruptcy process.
Advised U.S. and European clients on complex cross-border asset-based lending structures in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia.

Credentials

Education

Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, J.D., 1999
– cum laude
University of Virginia, B.A., Foreign Affairs and History, minor in Economics, 1994
– with high distinction

Admissions

Illinois (2000)
New York (2016)

Professional Activities

Secured Finance Network, Member International Finance Committee
Meritas, Board of Directors Member (2013-2016); Global Strategy Committee Member (2010-2011)
University of Virginia Benefactors Society, Board Member
U.S. Soccer Development Council of the United States Soccer Federation, Founding Member
Chicago-Hamburg Sister Cities Committee, Member
The University of Chicago Law School, Lecturer in Law

Publications

“Measure Twice, Cut Once: Five Key Issues That Should Be Evaluated Upfront When Assessing a Cross-Border Lending Transaction,” co-authored with Jonathan Cooper, The Secured Lender, July 2012.
“The Next Phase of Secured Lending Reform in Mexico,” The Secured Lender, July 2012.

Presentations

“Transformative Tools in Restructuring, Recovery & Insolvency,” the TMA Europe and Secured Finance Network Europe’s “2025 European Distressed Investing & Asset Based Lending Summit,” Prague, Sept. 30, 2025.
“Digital Assets and Data as Collateral,” the United Nations Committee on International Trade Law’s “Colloquium on Navigating the New Era of Digital Finance,” New York, Feb. 20, 2025.
“International Lending 201,” Secured Finance Network Midwest Chapter Lunch and Learn, Chicago, Nov. 20, 2024.
“Asset Based Lending Methods – Techniques & Markets Methodology,” the TMA Europe and Secured Finance Network Europe’s “2024 Asset Based Lending in Poland & CEE Summit,” Warsaw, Nov. 5, 2024.
“International Lending 101,” Secured Finance Network Midwest Chapter Lunch and Learn, Chicago, Oct. 2023.
“Financing Goods in Transit,” the Secured Finance Network’s International Lending Conference, London, May 25, 2022.
“Building Co-Lender Relationships in Cross-Border Deals,” the Secured Finance Network’s Cross-Border Lending Summit, New York, Sept. 10, 2014.
“Cross Border Lending in Central and Eastern Europe and Asia,” at the Secured Finance Network’s 5th Annual International Lending Conference, London, June 2011.
“Due Diligence Issues in Cross Border Loans,” the Secured Finance Network’s 5th Annual International Lending Conference, London, June 2011.