Biography
Monika Sanford has over 17 years of experience in the finance and banking industry, and serves as the co-chair of the Finance Practice Group of Haynes Boone. Monika represents financial institutions, alternative lenders and private credit funds in structuring, negotiating, and documenting sophisticated lending arrangements. Clients rely on Monika’s solutions-oriented approach to a variety of debt transactions, from multi-jurisdictional subscription-secured credit facilities with top-tier private equity funds to working capital facilities for public companies. Monika has significant experience in the fund finance space, and has documented subscription facilities for some of the largest sponsors in the industry with some of the most complex structures.
Monika is also well versed in documenting and negotiating senior secured and unsecured debt, 144A and other types of notes offersing, second lien loans, mezzanine investments and other forms of subordinated debt, as well as acquisition financing.
Monika is a trusted advisor to her clients because of her practical, business oriented approach. She adopts a collegial approach to her work, and easily manages a team across offices and time zones and has strong working relationships with all parties involved in a transaction.
In addition to serving as the co-chair of the Finance Practice Group, Monika has served as a member of the board of directors of local organizations, including the Dallas Asian American Bar Associations. She has been involved with many of Haynes Boone’s internal committees, including serving as co-chair of the firm’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. She is committed to serving as a strong mentor for junior attorneys and law students.
Monika Sanford has over 17 years of experience in the finance and banking industry, and serves as the co-chair of the Finance Practice Group of Haynes Boone. Monika represents financial institutions, alternative lenders and private credit funds in structuring, negotiating, and documenting sophisticated lending arrangements. Clients rely on Monika’s solutions-oriented approach to a variety of debt transactions, from multi-jurisdictional subscription-secured credit facilities with top-tier private equity funds to working capital facilities for public companies. Monika has significant experience in the fund finance space, and has documented subscription facilities for some of the largest sponsors in the industry with some of the most complex structures.
Monika is also well versed in documenting and negotiating senior secured and unsecured debt, 144A and other types of notes offersing, second lien loans, mezzanine investments and other forms of subordinated debt, as well as acquisition financing.
Monika is a trusted advisor to her clients because of her practical, business oriented approach. She adopts a collegial approach to her work, and easily manages a team across offices and time zones and has strong working relationships with all parties involved in a transaction.
In addition to serving as the co-chair of the Finance Practice Group, Monika has served as a member of the board of directors of local organizations, including the Dallas Asian American Bar Associations. She has been involved with many of Haynes Boone’s internal committees, including serving as co-chair of the firm’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. She is committed to serving as a strong mentor for junior attorneys and law students.
- Represented Landry’s, Inc. and its subsidiaries in a $300 million increase to the existing term facility and a $30 million increase to the existing revolving facility in connection with the acquisition, and joinder to the facilities, of the Del Frisco Restaurant Group.
- Assisted in the representation of major U.S. and foreign lenders as lead agents in connection with documenting and closing more than $3 billion of subscription secured revolving credit facilities to private equity funds secured by the capital commitments of the fund's various investors.
- Assisted in the representation of lead agent and arranger in documenting and closing $600 million worth of revolving credit facilities to an investment grade insurance company and its affiliate.
- Assisted in the representation of lead agent in connection with a $160 million revolving credit facility provided to a pharmaceutical company secured by the assets of the borrower and the various subsidiary guarantors.
- Assisted in representation of one of the largest dining, hospitality and entertainment companies in the United States in connection with: a $235.6 million senior secured revolving credit facility and a public offering of $406.5 million of subordinated secured notes together with an additional tack-on offering of $50 million subordinated secured notes, secured by real and personal property assets managed by domestic subsidiaries; and the private offering by the parent company of $110 million of senior secured notes, secured by the capital stock of a subsidiary.
- Assisted in the representation of an oil and natural gas company engaged in the acquisition, development and exploration of onshore North American oil and natural gas properties in connection with the public offering of $750 million of senior unsecured notes and the simultaneous redemption and discharge of $350 million of senior secured notes.
- Assisted in the representation of an international apparel manufacturing company in connection with the negotiation and documentation of a $140 million senior secured revolving credit facility secured by real and personal property.
- 2020 Member of the Podium – Dallas
- Dallas Association of Young Lawyers Fellows
- 2015 President-Elect of the Dallas Asian American Bar Association
- 2015 Advisory Director for the Dallas Bar Association
- Member of 2015 State Bar of Texas Leadership Class
- 2010 Co-Chair of the Year Award – Dallas Asian American Bar Association
- Dallas Asian American Bar Association, Board of Directors, 2012-2013
- Asian Pacific Interest Section of Texas State Bar
- Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America, Woodward/White, Inc., 2023
- Ranked in The Legal 500 U.S., Legalease Ltd., 2024
- Featured in D Magazine’s “Best Lawyers Under 40” directory, D Magazine Partners, 2021-2022
- Recognized by Texas Super Lawyers Rising Stars, Thomson Reuters, 2013-2023
- Included in Texas Super Lawyers Women’s Edition, Thomson Reuters, as a Rising Star, 2023
- APIS Best Lawyers Under 40 Award, 2015
- “Fund Finance Security Guide,” Praxio Law & Tax, co-author, May 1, 2024.
- "Financing Alternatives for Privately-Held Businesses," presented at 12th Annual Advanced Business Law Course hosted by the Business Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, November 6, 2014.
- "Anatomy of a Loan Agreement,” presented as in-house CLE, June 23, 2014.
- “Eurodollar Lending,” Commercial Finance Guide, Matthew Bender & Company, Inc., coauthor with Scott Night, 2014.
- "Financial Covenants 101," presented as in-house CLE, November 14, 2013.
- “Lenders Beware: Can Your Intercorporate Guaranty Withstand a Fraudulent Transfer Attack?” XXVIII ABI Journal 4, 40-41, 78, May 2009.
Education
J.D., Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, 2007, cum laude; SMU International Law Review, Staff Editor; Asian American Law Students Association, Vice President.
B.B.A., Finance, The University of Texas at Austin, 2004, with high honors, Minor in Economics
Languages
Hindi
Admissions
Texas
26 Haynes Boone Attorneys Listed in 2023 Texas Super Lawyers Women’s Edition
December 14, 2023