Steven Messina is global head of Skadden’s Finance Group. He represents investment banks, commercial banks, private equity funds and corporations in connection with a wide range of U.S. and international syndicated and other corporate financing transactions, including acquisition financings, leveraged buyouts, bridge financings, investment grade financings, asset-based loans, infrastructure financings, mezzanine loans, corporate recapitalizations and debtor-in-possession financings.
Lawdragon Honors
| Honor | Year | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| The 2027 Lawdragon 500 Leading Dealmakers | 2027 | Banking, Private Equity, Finance |
| The 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America | 2026 | Finance |
| The 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Dealmakers in America | 2026 | Banking, Private Equity, Finance |
| The 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Dealmakers in America | 2025 | Banking, Private Equity, Corporate Finance |
Notable representations include:
- Elon Musk in connection with $13 billion of secured debt financing facilities related to his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter
- Blue Owl and its portfolio companies STACK Infrastructure, Radius DC and DFNI in over $40 billion in financings to support the acquisitions, construction and fit-out of data centers across the U.S. and Europe
- SDC Capital in connection with a $1.2 billion senior secured construction financing related to a data center buildout
- JAB Holding Company in connection with:
- a $3 billion credit facility related to its $7.5 billion acquisition of Panera Bread
- a $500 million credit facility related to its $1.35 billion acquisition of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts
- a $2.4 billion unsecured credit facility to finance the acquisition of Dr Pepper Snapple by its portfolio company Keurig Green Mountain
- Coty, Inc. in connection with:
- $9 billion of credit facilities related to its acquisition of Procter & Gamble’s fragrance and cosmetics business in a reverse Morris trust transaction
- €400 million of incremental term loan facilities related to its acquisition of the beauty and personal care businesses of Hypermarcas
- Endo International PLC in a variety of matters, including advising on the financing and capital structure aspects of:
- its $8.05 billion acquisition of Par Pharmaceutical Holdings, Inc.
- its acquisition of Paladin Labs, Inc., a Canadian company, through the formation of a new Irish holding company, including the issuance of $700 million of notes, $1.5 billion term loan facility and $750 million revolving credit facility
- AbbVie Inc. with respect to:
- a £13.5 billion bridge loan facility and related financing transactions in connection with its proposed $55 billion acquisition of Shire plc
- a three-year $2 billion term loan credit facility
- Becton, Dickinson and Company in connection with:
- a $15.6 billion bridge loan facility, $2.25 billion term loan facility and $2.25 billion revolving credit agreement related to its $24 billion acquisition of Bard Corporation
- a $9 billion bridge loan facility and $1 billion term loan facility related to its $12.2 billion acquisition of CareFusion Corp.
- Kelso & Co. with respect to:
- senior secured and mezzanine financings related to its acquisition of Physicians Endoscopy, L.L.C.
- a $540 million credit facility to support its acquisition of a co-controlling stake in Progressive Solutions from affiliates of Stone Point Capital
- Hg Capital with respect to:
- a $205 million credit facility related to its acquisition of Litera Microsystems
- a $225 million credit facility related to its acquisition of Corepoint Health, LLC
- Deutsche Bank in connection with a $1.65 billion term and revolving credit facility for Extended Stay America
- Company in its $11 billion U.S. leveraged financing in connection with its merger with Mondelēz International’s coffee unit. This financing was awarded Loan Deal of the Year at the 2015 IFLR European Awards
- Centene Corp. in connection with a $1 billion term loan facility related to its $6.8 billion acquisition of Health Net, Inc.
- Moody’s Corporation in connection with a $1.5 billion bridge loan facility and $500 million term loan facility related to its €3 billion acquisition of Bureau van Dijk