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James C. Schulwolf

Partner

Jim Schulwolf is a partner in Shipman's Business and Corporate Practice Group.  He focuses his practice on advising clients in financing, investment, acquisition, and restructuring transactions.  He is known as a trusted advisor who provides practical and creative advice and cost-effective solutions in the transactions in which he is involved. 

In the Finance sector, Jim regularly represents financial institutions including banks, mezzanine funds, and other institutional investors in structuring, documenting, and closing complex senior and mezzanine financings, including mezzanine financings with equity co-investments.  He regularly represents lenders in connection with acquisition financings, financing of alternative energy projects (including wind, solar, and fuel cell projects), asset-based loans, cash flow loans, and syndicated credit facilities and also represents Shipman's corporate clients and private equity portfolio companies in their financing transactions. 

In the Investment sector, Jim regularly represents SBICs in connection with their debt and equity portfolio investments as well as SBA regulatory matters.   He also regularly represents institutional investors in connection with their investments in private equity funds, domestic and offshore hedge funds and direct portfolio companies.  He also represents institutional lenders and independent schools in connection with tax-exempt and taxable bond financings. 

 

In the Mergers and Acquisitions Sector, Jim represents buyers and sellers of businesses in a number of industries, including insurance, defense, manufacturing, and construction.  He also serves as formal and informal outside general counsel to a number of clients, including emerging companies in the biotechnology space, defense contractors and private equity funds.  He represents emerging companies in their corporate and capital-raising activities as well as venture capital providers.

Jim has built long-standing relationships with his clients who value his expertise, good humor and problem-solving approach.  He is committed to sharing his expertise and regularly presents webinars on a variety of topics for clients and fellow professionals.  He has frequently lectured and written on intercreditor agreements, syndicated credit agreements and relationships between agents, lenders, and co-investors.  

Jim is a national leader in the American Bar Association’s Section of Business Law.  He is currently the Immediate Past Chair of the Section.  He was Chair of the Section in 2022-2023, and previously held numerous other leadership positions in the Section, including Editor-in-Chief of The Business Lawyer, Chair of the Commercial Finance Committee, and Chair of the Leadership Development Committee.  He is a Fellow and former Regent of the American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers. 

In the Mergers and Acquisitions Sector, Jim represents buyers and sellers of businesses in a number of industries, including insurance, defense, manufacturing, and construction.  He also serves as formal and informal outside general counsel to a number of clients, including emerging companies in the biotechnology space, defense contractors and private equity funds.  He represents emerging companies in their corporate and capital-raising activities as well as venture capital providers.

Jim has built long-standing relationships with his clients who value his expertise, good humor and problem-solving approach.  He is committed to sharing his expertise and regularly presents webinars on a variety of topics for clients and fellow professionals.  He has frequently lectured and written on intercreditor agreements, syndicated credit agreements and relationships between agents, lenders, and co-investors.  

Jim is a national leader in the American Bar Association’s Section of Business Law.  He is currently the Immediate Past Chair of the Section.  He was Chair of the Section in 2022-2023, and previously held numerous other leadership positions in the Section, including Editor-in-Chief of The Business Lawyer, Chair of the Commercial Finance Committee, and Chair of the Leadership Development Committee.  He is a Fellow and former Regent of the American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers. 

Credentials

Education

  • Amherst College, B.A., 1977, cum laude
  • New York University School of Law, J.D., 1980

Bar Admissions

  • Connecticut, 1993
  • Massachusetts, 1980

Distinctions

  • AV Preeminent® Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
  • Named "Lawyer of the Year" (2014, 2025): Best Lawyers® Hartford Region Banking and Finance Law
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®: Banking and Finance Law (2006-2025); Equipment Finance Law (2010-2025); Corporate Law (2016-2025); Commercial Transactions/UCC Law (2017-2025)
  • Listed as a Connecticut Super Lawyer®: Banking, Mergers & Acquisitions (2006-2009); Business/Corporate (2006-2024)
  • Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers: Corporate M&A (2018-2019)
  • American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers: Fellow (1998-present) and Member of the Board of Regents (2005-2009)
  • Connecticut Bar Foundation: James W. Cooper Fellow
  • American Law Institute, Member 

Professional Affiliations

  • American Bar Association, Section of Business Law, Chair-Elect (present), Vice-Chair and Editor-in-Chief, The Business Lawyer (2020-2021), Secretary and Co-Editor, Business Law Today (2019-2020), Leadership Development Committee  (Chair 2017-2019), Business Law Basics Subcommittee (Chair, 2015-2019), Section Council (2013-2017); Commercial Finance Committee: Chair (2010-2013), Vice-Chair (2007-2010), Co-Chair, Subcommittee on Programs (2003-2007); Co-Chair, Subcommittee on Intellectual Property Financing (1997-2002); Committee on Uniform Commercial Code; Regional Coordinator, Joint ABA/NCCUSL National Task Force for the Enactment of Revised Article 9; Member, Connecticut Revised Article 9 Task Force (2000-2001), Member, Connecticut Law Revision Commission Advisory Committee on 2010 Amendments to UCC Article 9 (2010)
  • Crossroads Venture Group: President, Hartford Chapter (2003-2008); Member, State Board of Directors
  • Turnaround Management Association, Connecticut Chapter: Member, Board of Directors
  • Association of Commercial Finance Attorneys
  • The Business Lawyer: Editor-In-Chief
  • American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers: Fellow, Former Regent

Community Involvement

  • Amherst Association of Connecticut
  • Town of West Hartford: coached, youth soccer and baseball; managed travel soccer team
  • Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Hartford: Permanent Board Member; Former President and Board Chair
  • Leadership Greater Hartford

Experience

Private equity & mezzanine finance

Mezzanine Financing for Manufacturing Company in the Marine and Vehicle Industries

Representation of a privately-held manufacturing company in connection with the offer and sale to a group of investors of (i) 15% senior subordinated promissory notes in the aggregate principal amount of $12,000,000 and (ii) warrants to purchase approximately 30% of the outstanding units of membership interests of the company on a fully diluted basis after giving effect to the transaction.

General

$400,000,000 Project Financing for Fortune 500 Company

Off-balance sheet project financing of a plastics plant expansion for a Fortune 500 company and a lead national lender totaling $400,000,000.

James C. Schulwolf bio photo

Hartford

860.251.5949

jschulwolf@goodwin.com

Areas of Focus

  • Finance
  • Renewable Energy Finance
  • Business and Corporate
  • Mergers, Acquisitions and Joint Ventures
  • Commercial Finance
  • Mezzanine Finance
  • Private Equity and Venture Capital
  • Workout, Restructure and Bankruptcy
  • Outside General Counsel
  • Opportunity Zones

Related Industries

  • Banking and Financial Services
  • Life Sciences
  • Manufacturing
  • Startups
View All Insights

May 05, 2025

James C. Schulwolf Elected to American Law Institute

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Drafting Legal Opinions for Article 9 Security Interests: Navigating the Complexities and Avoiding Liability | Strafford

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