Sakina Rasheed Foster
Biography
Sakina Rasheed Foster represents borrowers and financial institutions in complex commercial loan transactions and helps lead Haynes Boone's Commercial Contracts Practice Group. She also serves as Dallas Office Managing Partner.
She advises private equity firms, corporate entities, banks, direct lenders, and individuals on senior and subordinated financing, including syndicated and single-bank loan facilities, acquisition financings, asset-based lending, and debtor-in-possession financing.
Sakina's commercial contracts practice focuses on structuring, drafting, and negotiating complex commercial agreements that support clients' business relationships. Her work spans multiple industries, with a notable aviation component.
Airline clients rely on Sakina to draft and negotiate complex regional flying arrangements and advise on loyalty programs, premium customer experiences, and corporate services arrangements. She has represented American Airlines, Inc. in connection with various capacity purchase agreements and related arrangements.
Sakina's client work is informed by an emphasis on understanding the business relationship behind each financing or commercial contract. Her business acumen was recognized by D CEO (D Magazine Partners), which selected her as one of the region's most influential business leaders in 2020, 2021, and 2025.
She was also named one of D Magazine's "Best Lawyers in Dallas" in banking & finance in 2019-2026 (D Magazine Partners) and was featured in the 2020 and 2022-2024 editions of Texas Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters). When she is not serving clients, Sakina serves on the Boards of the Texas Women's Foundation and AT&T Performing Arts Center.
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- Represented a national retailer in connection with two separate debtor-in-possession loan facilities that provided access of up to $125 million to finance operations during its bankruptcy case and two exit loan facilities totaling $150 million.
- Represented a private equity firm in its acquisition of a Canadian cosmetics brand focused on false eyelashes.
- Represented oilfield services company in connection with debtor-in-possession and exit financing.
- Represented Administrative Agent in multi-million dollar construction loan for large entertainment facility.
- Represented Administrative Agent and Lender in connection with multiple mortgage warehouse loans and loans secured by mortgage servicing rights.
- Represented private equity fund client in connection with acquisition, and related senior secured financing, for skincare line.
- Represented Valesco Fund II in its majority buyout (and related acquisition financing) of BARRIER1 SYSTEMS, INC.
- Represented Blucora, Inc. in securing a $175,000,000 incremental term loan to finance the acquisition of HK Financial Services, a CPA-focused, captive registered investment advisor.
- Represented public insurance agency in the amendment and restatement of a $105mm syndicated credit facility.
- Represented American Airlines, Inc. in negotiation of regional flying arrangement between American Airlines, Inc. and another carrier, which involved a Capacity Purchase Agreement (CPA), aircraft and engine leases between American Airlines, as lessor, and the regional carrier, as lessee, bailment agreements and maintenance agreements.
- Assisted with representation of a private equity firm in its acquisition of a manufacturer of specialty paper and related acquisition financing of $21.5 million of senior and $10 million of senior subordinated loans secured by real and personal property.
- Assisted with representation of AMR Corporation, parent company of American Airlines and American Eagle, in its selection and purchase of General Electric GEnx engines for its future fleet of Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
- Assisted with representation of a private investor group in its acquisition of a chain of liquor stores and the restructuring and assumption of a related $33 million acquisition financing line of credit secured by real and personal property.
- Assisted with representation of a private equity firm in its acquisition of Kansas' largest oilfield supply company and related acquisition financing of $21.5 million of senior secured and $6.5 million of senior subordinated secured loans.
- Assisted with representation of a distributor of home-related furnishings and products in connection with a $43.5 million asset based loan comprised of a senior secured revolving credit and term loan facility.
- Assisted with representation of a leading provider of cathodic protection systems and engineering services in connection with a US $16.675 million and CAN $12.325 million senior secured asset based revolving credit facility.
- Assisted with representation of a leading processor of Medicare Part B claims reimbursement for pharmacies, managed care and commercial organizations in connection with a $13 million senior secured and $6 million subordinated secured loan.
- Acted as counsel to a lender in the documentation of a $15 million secured revolving credit facility to a commercial real estate company.
- Represented a prominent regional bank in negotiating, documenting and closing a secured term loan and revolving credit facility to a pharmaceutical company.
- Assisted with representation of a prominent Texas family office in connection with a proposed loan facility secured by structured settlements.
- Assisted with formation of the first privately-sponsored investment fund focused on the development of a secondary market for mortgage and micro-loans originated in Latin America.
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- Young Presidents' Organization, YPO DFW Chapter Member
- Executive Women's Roundtable, Dallas Regional Chamber
- AT&T Performing Arts Center, Board of Directors
- Texas Women's Foundation, Board of Directors
- Texas Women's Foundation Women's Leadership Institute, Member of Cohort 1
- Women’s Leadership Council, Co-Chair, 2022-2023
- Dallas Bar Foundation, Fellows Committee Chair, 2021
- Equal Access to Justice Campaign for the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program, Co-Chair, 2017-2018
- Board Member, Dallas Women Lawyers Association, 2022
- Dallas Asian American Bar Association, Former President and Director
- Dallas Bar Association Board, Former Director and Secretary-Treasurer
- Leadership Dallas Member, Class of 2016
- Dallas Association of Young Lawyers Foundation Fellow
- Dallas Bar Association Fellow
- State Bar of Texas Leadership, Class of 2013-2014
- American Muslim Professionals of Dallas, Former Advisory Director
- State Bar of Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program Committee, Former Vice-Chair
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- Recipient of the Outstanding Woman Lawyer Award by the Dallas Women Lawyers Association (DWLA), 2026
- Listed in Chambers USA, Chambers and Partners, for Banking and Finance, 2025-2026
- Recognized as “Champion of Diversity” by the Asian Pacific Interest Section of the State Bar of Texas, awarded at the 26th Annual APIS Conference, April 2024
- Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America, Woodward/White, Inc., 2024-2026
- Named the 2023 Trailblazer of the Year by the Texas Minority Counsel Program, 2023
- Featured in D CEO Magazine's Dallas 500, D Magazine Partners, as one of the "most influential leaders in North Texas," 2020, 2025
- Recognized by The National Diversity Council as one of the Top 50 Women Lawyers - Dallas, 2017
- Selected for inclusion in Texas Super Lawyers Rising Stars, Thomson Reuters, 2018
- Recognized in Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, Banking, 2020 & 2022-2025
- Included in Texas Super Lawyers Women’s Edition, Thomson Reuters, as a Super Lawyer, 2023
- Recognized among the Up-and-Coming 50: Women Texas Rising Stars, Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2017
- Recognized as a Best Lawyer in Dallas by D Magazine, D Magazine Partners, for Banking and Finance, 2016, 2019-2026
- Recipient of the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, 2015
- Asian Pacific Interest Section of the State Bar of Texas Outstanding Mentor Award, 2015
- Named to the Lawyers of Color "First Annual Hot List" by Lawyers of Color LLC, 2013
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Education
- J.D., The University of Texas School of Law, 2003
- B.B.A., Southern Methodist University, 2000, cum laude
Admissions
- Texas
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What finance matters do you handle?
I represent borrowers and financial institutions in complex commercial loan transactions. My work includes senior and subordinated financing, syndicated and single-bank loan facilities, acquisition financings, asset-based lending, and debtor-in-possession financing.
Who are your typical clients?
I advise private equity firms, corporate entities, banks, direct lenders, and individuals. My representative work includes matters for corporate borrowers, private equity funds, banks, private credit lenders, administrative agents, and aviation clients.
What is your commercial contracts practice focused on?
I structure, draft, and negotiate complex commercial agreements that support clients' business relationships. As a leader of Haynes Boone's Commercial Contracts Practice Group, I focus on agreements that connect legal terms to the commercial objectives of the relationship.
How do you work with aviation clients?
I draft and negotiate complex regional flying arrangements and advise on matters involving corporate services arrangements. My work includes representing American Airlines, Inc. in capacity purchase agreements and related arrangements.
What leadership roles do you hold?
I serve as Dallas Office Managing Partner and lead Haynes Boone's Commercial Contracts Practice Group. I also serve on the Boards of the Texas Women's Foundation and AT&T Performing Arts Center.
Haynes Boone Advises Valesco Industries on Majority Investment in NEC Inc.
May 11, 2026