Melissa Whigham

Melissa Whigham is an associate in Ice Miller's Business Group, where she advises middle market lenders, funds, borrowers, private equity sponsors, along with their portfolio companies, on a broad range of complex corporate financing transactions. Her practice focuses on the assessment, structuring, and negotiation of sophisticated debt facilities across a variety of industries.

Melissa has experience representing clients in domestic and cross-border financing transactions, including real estate financings, healthcare financings, sale-leaseback transactions, acquisition financings, and secured and unsecured credit facilities. She regularly advises clients on senior and mezzanine financings, first- and second-lien debt arrangements, private credit transactions, syndicated loan facilities, and private equity sponsor-backed financings. She is also knowledgeable in leveraged acquisitions, asset-based lending transactions, and debt restructurings.

Drawing on her experience representing both lenders and borrowers, Melissa provides practical and strategic legal guidance tailored to each client's unique business objectives and circumstances. Her ability to evaluate transactions from multiple perspectives enables her to efficiently navigate negotiations and develop solutions that advance her clients' goals.

In addition to her transactional practice, Melissa has advised debtors and creditors in bankruptcy-related and distressed debt matters, including loan workouts, restructuring negotiations, and forbearance agreements.

Melissa received her Juris Doctor from Loyola University Chicago, where she served as a staff editor of the Consumer Law Review. Prior to joining Ice Miller, she was a leveraged finance associate at a global law firm, representing clients in a wide range of financing transactions and related matters.