Esther Sohn practices business law with a focus on financial services. She advises on syndicated financing, secured lending, cross-border asset and project finance, public-private partnerships (P3) transactions, restructuring, refinancing and debt modification as well as corporate and commercial transactions. Esther’s broad client-base includes Canadian financial institutions, corporate borrowers, security providers and startups.

Advising multinational corporations, export credit agencies, lessors, lessees, project companies and private equity sponsors, Esther has substantial experience preparing and negotiating credit facility agreements, loan and security agreements, and equity financing documents.

Esther brings valuable international expertise and insight gained through experience in jurisdictions that include Canada, the U.K., Singapore and Korea. After completing her articles in Toronto, Esther worked at premier U.K. law firms in Singapore and a leading law firm in South Korea where she managed numerous cross-border debt and equity financing transactions.



Representative Matters

  • Represented Deutsche Bank in connection with US$30 million K-sure Covered Secured Term Facility provided to E-land Asia Holdings Pte. Ltd. guaranteed by E-land World Limited.
  • Represented BMW Group and BMW Financial Services Korea on the issuance of KRW130 billion unsecured bonds.
  • Advised Ernst & Young, Singapore in connection with the proposed sanctions by and review hearings at the Financial Supervisory Commission of South Korea.
  • Advised a leading power company in Korea on its JPY14.8 billion financing from KDB, on-lent from Japan Bank for International Cooperation, Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd. and The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.
  • Advised KEXIM in connection with US$470,743,000 financing of the four container vessels under the French Tax Lease structure provided to CMA CGM SA by BNP Paribas, CM-CIC and KEXIM.
  • Acted for Korea Development Bank (KDB) in relation to the establishment of the Volcker Rule Compliance Program.
  • Represented Stokke Holdings AS regarding the senior term and revolving facilities guaranteed by Stokke Korea Co., Ltd. and related intercompany loan arrangements.
  • Represented Starkist Co. in connection with US$230million senior loan facility provided by a syndicate of lenders guaranteed by Dongwon Enterprise Co., Ltd.
  • Represented Chenavari Investment in connection with the sale of non-performing loan to Taeheung.
  • Advised National Pension Service (NPS) regarding the issuance of US$125million Class A5 Notes by Acushnet Company whereby a portion of such notes were acquired via a trust based in Korea.
  • Advised Lotte Shopping Co., Ltd. in connection with its issuance of KRW321,200,000,000 US$-Settled Zero Coupon Exchangeable Bonds, with the concurrent securities lending transactions entered into with each of the joint lead managers with the intermediation of Woori Investment & Securities Co., Ltd.
  • Represented Nonghyup Bank in connection with various credit facilities provided by foreign banks including Commerzbank AG, SMBC and ING.
  • Represented MetLife in connection with its up to KRW20billion participation in the army BTL project in Paju, Korea.
  • Represented Hyundai Capital Services, Inc. in connection with various corporate financing provided by foreign banks including Bank of America, N.A.
  • Advised Hana Bank its issuance of THB8billion notes arranged by Standard Chartered Bank (Thai) Public Company Limited and Kasikornbank Public Company Limited.
  • Acted for Unison Capital of Japan relating to the acquisition of Gongcha Korea.
  • Represented equity investors in relation to the acquisition of one of the top five coal producers in Indonesia with an enterprise value of US$1,180 million by way of acquiring various intermediary holding companies in BVI, Indonesia, Netherlands, Malta, Seychelles and Singapore.
  • Represented mandated lead arrangers of a syndicate of 15 lenders in connection with the US $661 million guarantee project financing of a 300 mm wafer fabrication plant in Singapore, supported by a capital assistance loan from the Economic Development Board, Singapore.
  • Represented a hydro-electric power company in the Philippines in relation to refinancing of debt service reserve facility and debt modification.

News


Rankings & Recognition

  • Bull Housser & Tupper Academic Award in Technology Law
  • Jongman Kim Memorial Academic Award in Korean Legal Studies

Directorships & Affiliations

  • Canadian Bar Association

Education & Admissions

2019
Called to the British Columbia bar
2006
Called to the Ontario bar
2005
LLBUniversity of British Columbia
2002
MAOntario Institute for Studies in Education
1997
BA, Education (magna cum laude)Ewha Womans University

Deals & Cases (2 Posts)

Featured Insight

Aurora Cannabis Inc. acquires TerraFarma Inc.

On May 5, 2022, Aurora Cannabis Inc. (NASDAQ: ACB) (TSX: ACB) (“Aurora”) acquired TerraFarma Inc., the parent company of Thrive Cannabis (“Thrive”), an Ontario-based vertically integrated cannabis company, by way of a three-cornered amalgamation for $38 million in cash and Aurora shares, plus additional earnouts of up to $10 million for satisfying certain near-term revenue targets and up to $20 million for satisfying certain long-term revenue targets.

Read More
May 5, 2022
Featured Insight

McMillan LLP Acts for West Fraser in $4 billion Acquisition of Norbord

McMillan LLP Acts for West Fraser in $4 billion Acquisition of Norbord

Read More
Nov 26, 2020