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Peter M. Gaines

Peter Gaines is a part-time of counsel attorney with Lathrop GPM who also is of counsel of Rutherford & Bechtold LLC, Minneapolis, Minnesota. He serves firm clients on matters designated by mutual agreement of the two firms, with the consent of each affected client.

For over 35 years, Peter has represented banks and other financial institutions, and borrowers and financial sponsors, (i) in a variety of acquisition and leveraged (non-investment grade) financings, including change-of-control financings related to mergers and acquisitions (of stock and assets), divestitures, and recapitalizations; (ii) in many syndicated and bilateral financings involving investment grade borrowers and issuers; and (iii) in project and other limited recourse transactions in the U.S., Europe, Africa, and Latin America, where he has specialized in the energy, mining, and utilities industries. Peter has experience in virtually all areas of the energy industry, including upstream, midstream and downstream oil and gas, mining and minerals, electricity generation, waste incineration, disposal, and recycling facilities, chemicals and petrochemicals, industrial plants, and roadways and bridge projects. Many of these transactions have involved structured and trade financing, complex leasing, securitization, and derivatives. Peter has been recognized by several independent third-party sources as one of the leading U.S. and international finance practitioners, including Chambers & Partners who once described Peter as “someone you'd want to have on your side of the table.” Several of the transactions led by Peter have received “Deal of the Year” awards, including the Barracuda and Caratinga offshore oil and gas financing which was undertaken by Petrobras--the largest-ever in Latin America.

Prior to joining Rutherford & Bechtold LLC, Peter had been a partner in several prominent law firms including Mayer Brown, Baker & McKenzie, Faegre & Benson (now known as Faegre Baker Daniels) and Jenner & Block. Over the course of his career, he has been posted in Chicago, Minneapolis, and London.

Honors

  • Note & Comment Editor, Wisconsin Law Review
  • Order of the Coif 
Photo of Peter M. Gaines
F: 816.292.2001

Court Memberships

  • Florida
  • Illinois
  • Minnesota
  • New York 
  • Not admitted in Missouri

Education

University of Wisconsin Law School, J.D., 1975

University of Wisconsin, B.A., 1972