William A. Starshak is a Principal in the firm’s Commercial Finance Group. He represents financial institutions in a variety of lending transactions, including cash-flow and asset-based loans, unitranche structures, mezzanine financings and leveraged buy-out transactions.

Bill has extensive experience working on international finance transactions for both U.S. and foreign financial institutions. Notably, he worked with the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) to draft its “Legislative Guide on Secured Transactions,” which provides a comprehensive blueprint for countries wishing to modernize their secured transactions regimes.

Additionally, he has represented private equity funds and corporate clients in financing transactions as well as in domestic and international mergers and acquisitions.

Bill has been individually ranked in Chambers USA for his work in Banking & Finance Law every year since 2014. Since 2009, he has been recognized annually as a Leading Lawyer in Corporate Finance, International Business and Secured Transactions Law by Illinois Leading Lawyers.

Bill is a Lecturer in Law at The University of Chicago Law School, where he teaches cross-border lending. He speaks often on international lending issues throughout North America and Europe. He has been a regular presenter at various Meritas events, and is also a frequent panelist at the Secured Finance Network’s International Asset Based Lending Conference.

Bill recently participated in the “Launch of UNCITRAL-UNIDROIT Model Law on Warehouse Receipts” at “UNIDROIT’s Contribution to Private Law and Agricultural Development” meeting held May 23, 2025, and “Shaping the Future: The Impact of Negotiable Cargo Documents on Trade Finance, Regional Connectivity and Digital Evolution,” held May 27, 2025.