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 publicly traded medical device company as borrower in a comprehensive refinancing and restructuring of its $1.8 billion senior secured credit facilities, including a $1.1 billion multicurrency revolving credit facility and $700 million term loan facility.
- Represented Commercial Metals Company as borrower in a $400 million incremental revolving commitment increase to its existing credit facility, bringing the total revolving credit facility to $1 billion.
- Represented a global financial institution as co-lender in a confidential $900 million non-amortizing term loan facility supporting a private investment vehicle's acquisition of an equity interest in a professional sports franchise.
- Represented Nabors Industries Ltd. with financing aspects related to the $600 million sale of its Quail Tools subsidiary to Superior Energy Services, Inc.
- Represented a global financial institution as lender in two confidential loan financings totaling $410 million, supporting the acquisition of ownership in a professional sports franchise.
- Represented Fermi America in a senior loan facility for equipment financing to support the company's HyperGrid Project.
- Represented a publicly traded company focused on personal lines insurance brokers in connection with a $300 million term loan B and $75 million revolving credit facility.
- Represented Avantax in securing a $175 million incremental term loan to finance its acquisition of HK Financial Services, a CPA-focused captive registered investment advisor.
- Represented a public insurance agency in the amendment and restatement of a $105 million syndicated credit facility.
- Represented Valesco Industries in the acquisition financing related to its majority investment in Five Lakes Manufacturing, Inc., a leading U.S. producer of commercial and architectural wood doors.
- Represented Valesco Industries in the acquisition financing related to its majority investment in NEC Inc., a Houston-based manufacturer of PVC-coated electrical conduit and fittings serving wastewater, midstream energy, and data center infrastructure markets.
- Represented Valesco Fund III, L.P. and its portfolio company in connection with a million dual-tranche acquisition financing, including a senior secured credit facility and senior subordinated note purchase agreement, to fund Valesco's acquisition of a Texas-based specialty industrial distribution company.
- Represented Valesco Fund II in the acquisition financing for its majority buyout of BARRIER1 SYSTEMS, INC.
- Represented a private equity firm in its financing of its acquisition of a Canadian cosmetics brand focused on false eyelashes.
- Represented a private equity fund client in connection with the financing of its acquisition of a skincare line and related senior secured financing.
- Assisted with the representation of a private equity firm in its financing of an acquisition of a manufacturer of specialty paper consisting of senior loans and senior subordinated loans secured by real and private property.
- Assisted with the representation of a private equity firm in its financing of its acquisition of Kansas' largest oilfield supply company and related acquisition financing consisting of $senior secured loans and senior subordinated secured loans.
- Assisted with the representation of a private investor group in its acquisition financing of a chain of liquor stores and the restructuring and assumption of a related line of credit secured by real and private property.
- Represented a national retailer in connection with two debtor-in-possession loan facilities that provided access to up to $125 million to finance operations during its bankruptcy case, and two exit loan facilities totaling $150 million.
- Represented an oilfield services company in connection with debtor-in-possession and exit financing.
- Represented an administrative agent in a multimillion-dollar construction loan for a large entertainment facility.
- Represented an administrative agent and lender in connection with multiple mortgage warehouse loans and loans secured by mortgage servicing rights.
- Represented a prominent regional bank in negotiating, documenting, and closing a secured term loan and revolving credit facility to a pharmaceutical company.
- Assisted with the representation of a distributor of home-related furnishings and products in connection with an asset-based loan comprising a senior secured revolving credit and term loan facility.
- Assisted with the representation of a leading provider of cathodic protection systems and engineering services in connection with a senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility.
- Assisted with the representation of a leading processor of Medicare Part B claims reimbursement for pharmacies, managed care organizations, and commercial organizations in connection with a senior secured loan and subordinated secured loan.
- Represented American Airlines, Inc. in negotiating a regional flying arrangement with another carrier, including a Capacity Purchase Agreement, aircraft and engine leases, bailment agreements, and maintenance agreements.
- Assisted with the 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 the representation of a prominent Texas family office in connection with a proposed loan facility secured by structured settlements.
- Assisted with the formation of the first privately sponsored investment fund focused on developing 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