Niels Jensen

Niels Jensen is a Partner in Simpson Thacher’s Capital Markets Practice, with a focus on securitizations, including digital infrastructure, whole business and PDP well securitizations. Based in the New York office, his practice encompasses a broad range of structured, asset-backed and corporate financing transactions, many of which are first-of-their-kind and feature novel structures and bespoke solutions. Niels has been recognized by Chambers USA, with clients describing him as “very pragmatic and very solution-oriented, and thinks outside the box” and “an incredible lawyer . . . practical and supremely intelligent.”  Niels’ work is often cross-border and spans numerous industries, including energy and infrastructure, transportation and healthcare, among others.

Notable experience prior to joining Simpson Thacher includes advising:

• SelectQuote, an insurance distribution company, in its innovative securitization of healthcare insurance commissions and establishment of a novel receivables agency
• A leading Rocky Mountain independent natural gas producer, in connection with the first-of-its-kind issuance of investment-grade rated subordinated notes out of two existing PDP well securitizations through an aggregator vehicle
• Investors in the residual interest in an upstream oil & gas well securitization, the first transaction to sell a residual interest in securitized oil and gas well assets
• Sponsors and servicer in the first aircraft-backed ABS combining a debt securitization with equity investment through a Japanese operating lease structure
• A leading energy company in a securitized notes offering secured by oil & gas wells and issued out of a master trust to refinance three existing securitization transactions
• A leading natural gas producer in connection with the creation of a PDP master trust securitization and the issuance of subordinated notes out of its existing PDP securitization
• Investors in a novel upstream securitization out of a master trust, featuring the first variable funding note structure in the sector and a first-of-its-kind credit support arrangement from a major U.S. oil & gas company
• Underwriters in three aircraft-backed securitizations and equity offerings serviced by GECAS, including the first aircraft ABS that sold equity in a 144A/Reg S format and was recognized as “ABS Deal of the Year” by Airfinance Journal (2018)
• Underwriters and investors in American Airlines’ EETC offerings, Series 2015-1, 2015-1C, 2015-2, 2016-1, 2016-2, 2016-2B, 2016-3, 2016-3B, 2017-1, 2017-1C, 2017-2, 2017-2B, 2017-2C, 2011-1B(R), 2019-1 (engines), 2019-1C (engines), 2019-1, 2012-B(R), 2020-1 (super C) and 2021-1
• Underwriters in United Airlines’ EETC offerings, Series 2015-1, 2016-1, 2016-1B, 2016-2, 2016-2B, 2018-1 and 2019-1
• JCPenney’s first-lien lender group in the structuring of a liquidating trust for the retail and distribution center properties received by the group in JCPenney’s chapter 11 proceeding
• Lenders in a $1.5 billion syndicated, senior secured asset based multi-draw facility consisting of a stub lease delayed draw term loan facility with Irish and U.S. aviation borrowers and an accordion with blind pool warehouse mechanics, which was recognized as “Commercial Bank Deal of 2023” by Ishka
• A public U.S. company in connection with a factoring facility for U.S. receivables
• A credit fund in connection with a synthetic revolver for a fractional ownership operator
• Large private equity fund in a $650 million senior secured direct lending facility provided to a maintenance, repair and overhaul provider

Niels received his J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School in 2011, where he was Editor of the Vanderbilt Law Review. He received his B.B.A. from Belmont University in 2007, cum laude. He is admitted to practice in New York.