Kevin A. Gooch
Partner
Overview
Kevin Gooch is a financial services attorney in Holland & Knight's Atlanta office. Mr. Gooch focuses his practice on representing financial institutions, non-bank lenders, corporate borrowers and private equity funds in complex finance and restructuring transactions, including syndicated credit facilities, bilateral loan transactions, acquisition financings, asset-based financings and notes offerings. In connection with these transactions, he drafts and negotiates loan documentation, including credit agreements, security agreements, pledge agreements, promissory notes, resolutions and legal opinions.
Mr. Gooch has represented various clients in more than $20 billion of financing and restructuring transactions. In addition, he has significant experience advising publicly traded borrowers and clients in the healthcare space on credit facilities and secured loans.
In addition to his work on finance and restructuring transactions, Mr. Gooch has extensive experience working with entrepreneurs and emerging growth companies in all phases of their business life cycles, from company formation to helping his clients raise capital through initial seed funding, later stage rounds and managing other legal risks.
Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Mr. Gooch was a transactional attorney for a multinational law firm in its Atlanta office, with a focus on finance transactions and other corporate matters.
In addition, Mr. Gooch served as an adjunct professor from at Emory University School of Law designing and teaching "Commercial Lending" from 2015 to 2018. Additionally, he serves as a guest lecturer in "Deal Skills" at the University of Georgia School of Law on an annual basis. Mr. Gooch also is the moderator and host of "Let's Talk Leadership" series for the 100 Black Men of Atlanta Inc., where he interviews C-suite executives about their leadership journey.
Representative Experience
- Advise clients on strategic alternatives and the impact of such alternatives on their outstanding debt obligations
- Represented clients in nearly $1 billion of lending transactions
- Represented one of the largest franchisees of a fitness company in obtaining and maintaining a credit facility in excess of $100 million
- Represented a software company in obtaining and maintaining a secured credit facility in excess of $150 million
- Represented various portfolio companies of private equity funds in obtaining and maintaining loans ranging from $25 million to $100 million
- Represented a medical devices company in all aspects of legal representation relating to its business operations, including corporate governance matters, separation of one of the former C-suite executives and acquisition of a competitor
- Represented a materials company in all aspects of legal representation relating to its business operations, including overseeing employment matters, equity issuances and a variety of other matters
- Represented a food logistics company in all aspects of legal representation relating to its business operations, including equity issuances, litigation management and contract drafting and analysis
- Represented a mobile communications retailer in all aspects of legal representation relating to its business operations, including corporate governance matters, employment matters, contract drafting and analysis and an acquisition of multiple competitors
Credentials
- University of Georgia School of Law, J.D., cum laude
- Emory University, B.A., Philosophy and Political Science
- Georgia
- State Bar of Georgia
- 100 Black Men of Atlanta Inc., Chairman of the Board of Directors, 2019-2021, Immediate Past Chairman, 2021-present
- The Carter Center, Board of Councilors, 2020-Present
- Oxford College of Emory University, Board of Counselors, 2008-Present
- University of Georgia Alumni Association, Board of Directors, 2019-Present
- Emory Center for Ethics, Emory University, 2020-Present
- Emerging 100 of Atlanta, President, 2013-2015
- The University of Georgia School of Law, Board of Visitors, 2005-2008
- The University of Georgia School of Law, Student Bar Association, President, 2003–2004
- The University of Georgia School of Law, Student Bar Association, 1L Class President, 2001-2002
- The Best Lawyers in America guide, Banking and Finance Law, 2025; Commercial Finance Law, 2025
- Georgia 500, Professional Services, Georgia Trend, 2022
- Rick Palmore Alumni Award, Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, 2021
- Atlanta 500 Most Powerful Leaders: Professionals, Atlanta Magazine, 2021-2023
- Leadership Atlanta, Class of 2019
- Leadership Georgia, Class of 2017
- Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellow, 2015
- Outstanding Atlanta, Class of 2014
- LEAD Atlanta, Class of 2013
- 40 Under 40, American Bar Association, 2016
- Nation's Best Advocate – 40 Under 40, National Bar Association (NBA), 2016
- 40 Under 40, Emory University Alumni Association, 2016
- Atlanta Business Chronicle, 40 Under 40, 2015
- Fulton County Daily Report, 40 Under 40, 2015
- Georgia Trend Magazine, 40 under 40, 2015
- 40 Under 40, University of Georgia Alumni Association, 2015
- Young Lawyers' Division Advocacy and Leadership Award, National Bar Association, 2014
- American Bar Association (ABA) Legal Opportunity Scholar, The University of Georgia School of Law, 2001-2004
- University of Georgia Regents Opportunity Scholar, 2002-2004
- Arnold Foundation Scholar, Emory University, 1997-2001
