Description of field of expertise

Jennifer Kent is a partner at Latham & Watkins LLP, specializing in debt finance transactions. She represents borrowers – including private equity firms, privately-held companies, and public companies – in secured lending and other financing matters, such as syndicated credit facilities, direct lender facilities, acquisition financings, asset-based loans, recurring revenue facilities and liability management transactions. Jen’s clients operate in a variety of industries, including technology, healthcare and life sciences, airline, retail/consumer products, and manufacturing. 

Jennifer draws on extensive cross-border experience, having advised on more than US$20 billion worth of complex multijurisdictional financings. Having previously worked in Latham’s London office, she also brings clients a unique understanding of European-based financings and restructurings.

Jen helps clients meet their emerging needs by unlocking opportunities across Latham’s robust global platform. She leads debt finance teams that work closely with Latham’s M&A, capital markets and restructuring practices to achieve seamless execution on transactions of all sizes and levels of complexity.

In addition to her commercial practice, Jen served as a Global Chair of Latham’s Black Lawyers Group and a member of the firm’s Recruiting Committee. She has been widely recognized by organizations for both her commercial work and for her leadership in the area of equal opportunity and inclusion, including being named a “DC Rising Star” (National Law Journal) and “40 Under 40” (Black Women in Asset Management).

 

What advice would you offer to new attorneys interested in your field?

Your reputation starts being built on Day 1. Supervisors and clients will initially assess you by things they can see quickly—your responsiveness, reliability, and attention to detail. The good news is that you have meaningful control over these early signals! So always take pride in your work and put your best foot forward, especially with respect to things you don’t need a law degree for (ex. (i) being responsive, (ii) being a team player and (iii) delivering polished work product).

That being said, junior attorneys sometimes think of themselves as mere paper pushers, and I encourage you not to fall into that mindset. Your brain is your superpower — so think critically, speak up, and be coachable. You have the opportunity to learn so much in your first few years of practice, and the more you dig in, the quicker that growth and development will happen.