Kathy Lai, Finance Expert in Chicago, IL, United States
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Kathy Lai

Verified Expert  in Finance

Finance Expert

Location
Chicago, IL, United States
Toptal Member Since
December 8, 2016

Prior to freelancing, Kathy was a director at a middle market investment bank where she spent six years advising companies on M&A transactions. Her responsibilities included preparing companies for sale, drafting investor materials, conducting financial analyses, contacting potential acquirers, facilitating due diligence, and negotiating deal terms. Kathy became a freelancer to obtain greater flexibility and work-life balance.

Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)Financial ModelingMergers & Acquisitions (M&A)ValuationPrivate Equity

Career Highlights

Director
Lincoln International LLC
Associate
JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Education Highlights

Master's in Business Administration (MBA)
The Kellogg School of Management
Bachelor's Degree
Northwestern University

Case Studies

Work Experience

Director

2011 - 2017
Lincoln International LLC
  • Executed 12 sell-side assignments for privately owned and private equity-held companies spanning the industrial, automotive, electronics, and consumer-end markets.
  • Built complex and dynamic financial projections and valuation models to help sell-side and buy-side clients evaluate various financial scenarios and cases.
  • Drafted marketing materials for sell-side clients including teasers, confidential information memorandums and management presentations—to enable potential acquirers to assess the opportunity.
  • Negotiated initial offers, final offers and transaction documents—including valuation and key contract terms—with multiple counterparties.
  • Facilitated extensive business and transaction due diligence for sell-side clients—including synthesizing company data, leading diligence calls/meetings, and organizing virtual data rooms.
  • Managed multiple cross-office and cross-border deal teams each comprised of 2-4 junior bankers and served as a formal mentor to 10+ junior bankers.
Focus areas: Valuation, Financial Modeling, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)

Summer Associate

2009 - 2009
The Blackstone Group
  • Evaluated, structured, and negotiated financial and strategic alternatives for 3 distressed company clients.
  • Built dynamic financial models and 13-week cash flow models to assess restructuring solutions.
Focus areas: Valuation, Financial Modeling, Restructuring

Associate

2004 - 2008
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
  • Closed 10 transactions totaling $130 million in mezzanine debt and private equity investments.
  • Evaluated potential mezzanine debt and private equity investment opportunities.
  • Presented opportunities to investment committee for approval.
  • Conducted business due diligence on potential acquisition targets.
  • Developed detailed financial projections and valuation models.
  • Negotiated transaction terms and documentation.
Focus areas: Valuation, Financial Modeling, Private Equity, Debt, Mezzanine
2008 - 2010

Master's in Business Administration (MBA) in Finance; Entrepreneurship

The Kellogg School of Management - Evanston, IL, USA

2000 - 2004

Bachelor's Degree in Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences; Economics

Northwestern University - Evanston, IL, USA

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