Jonathan W. Cranz

BIOGRAPHY

Jonathan Cranz specializes in public finance with experience representing both borrowers and lenders.  In his capacity as bond counsel, Mr. Cranz has represented municipalities, counties, and a variety of special districts including school districts, hospital districts, municipal utility districts, fresh water supply districts, water control and improvement districts, and various improvement districts.

Mr. Cranz also has experience representing both publicly traded and privately held corporate clients in a variety of matters, including formations, general corporate governance, commercial contracts and mergers and acquisitions.

EXPERIENCE AND HIGHLIGHTS
  • Assisted numerous municipalities in connection with PID creation and governance, as well as “new money” bond issuances and refundings
  • Participated in financings for the City of Fort Worth, Tarrant County Hospital District and a number of other state and political subdivisions
  • Assisted with representation of Hastings Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ) in connection with its acquisition by an affiliate of National Entertainment Collectibles Association, Inc. for a total equity value of approximately $76 million
  • Assisted in the representation of an NYSE public company in connection with a variety of acquisitions, including an $80 million acquisition of assets from a provider of electrical and mechanical equipment and services for enhancing the safety of nuclear facilities
  • Represented a domestic airline in connection with the closing of sale/leaseback transactions for newly acquired aircraft
  • Represented an oil field services company and its shareholders in connection with a $100 million equity investment by a private equity fund and concurrent bank financings related thereto
  • Represented private equity investment funds in negotiating and documenting confidentiality agreements in connection with exploratory due diligence in support of potential mergers and acquisitions and other business investment vehicles, involving energy, industrials, real estate, biotech, healthcare, media and other opportunities
AFFILIATIONS
  • Tarrant County College Foundation, Board
  • Cristo Rey Fort Worth, Board
  • Botanical Research Insitute of Texas (BRIT), Board
  • The Continuum of Care Program (CoC), Board
  • Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow
  • Tarrant County Bar Association, Member
HONORS
  • Top Attorney, 360 West magazine, 2017-2024
    • Banking and Financial
    • Government and Administrative Law
  • Top Attorney, Fort Worth Magazine, 2018-2020, 2022-2024
    • Banking and Financial
    • Public Finance
  • Best Lawyers®, Dallas/Fort Worth-Ones to Watch, U.S. News & World Report, 2021-2022
    • Public Finance Law
  • Forty Under Forty Honoree, Fort Worth Business Press, 2020
EDUCATION
  • Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2010
  •      Phi Delta Phi
  • The University of Texas at Arlington, B.S., summa cum laude, 2007
ADMISSIONS
  • State Bar of Texas

Jonathan W. Cranz

Of Counsel

jonathan.cranz@kellyhart.com
P: (817) 878-9385
F: (817) 878-9280

V-Card

Licenses

  • State Bar of Texas

Practice Areas

Top Attorney, Fort Worth Magazine, 2018-2020, 2022-2024