• Ann Arbor
    201 S. Division Street
    Suite 400
    Ann Arbor, MI 48104
    T 734-761-3780
  • Detroit
    1901 St. Antoine Street
    6th Floor at Ford Field
    Detroit, MI 48226
    T 313-259-7777
  • Grand Rapids
    99 Monroe Avenue NW
    Suite 300
    Grand Rapids, MI 49503
    T 616-205-4330
  • Troy
    201 W. Big Beaver Road
    Suite 500
    Troy, MI 48084
    T 248-743-6000
Go to page >
Go to page >
Search
competitive drive
 

Hebba Aref

Member,Detroit

T 313-393-7525F 313-393-7579313-393-7525

Practices & Industries
Languages
  • Arabic
  • Spanish
Education
  • The University of Michigan Law School, J.D.
  • The University of Michigan-Dearborn, B.A.
Admissions
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • New York
Overview

Ms. Aref represents financial institutions in commercial lending transactions, including the structuring, negotiating and documenting of loan transactions, including syndicated loans, bilateral loans, subordinated loans and participations.

She also has experience assisting corporate clients, including private equity firms, with borrowing and re-financing transactions, including secured and unsecured credit facilities, asset-based lending facilities, leveraged lending facilities, mezzanine financings, project financings, aircraft financings, acquisition financings, and lease financings.

Ms. Aref is the Co-Chair of Bodman’s Banking Practice Group.

Before joining Bodman, Ms. Aref practiced in the New York, Minneapolis and Palo Alto offices of Dorsey & Whitney, where she was a member of the commercial finance group representing lenders, borrowers, and private equity firms in bilateral and syndicated transactions. Prior to that, she practiced with the global law firm DLA Piper in Kuwait, Dubai, and London. While at DLA Piper, she advised local and international clients on complex corporate and finance matters including M&A transactions, investment funds, debt restructuring, trade finance, letters of credit, secured loans, Islamic finance, and aircraft finance.

As part of her diversified business law practice, Ms. Aref was seconded to Emirates, where she worked with the in-house legal team on aircraft deliveries, redeliveries, and other finance matters.

Ms. Aref is a member of the State Bars of Michigan, Minnesota and New York.  She is fluent in spoken Arabic and conversant in Spanish.

Honors, Awards, and Recognition
  • The Best Lawyers in America 2023-2024, Banking and Finance Law
  • DBusiness Magazine “Top Lawyers” 2024, Banking & Financial Services Law
  • Minnesota State Bar 2013 “North Star Lawyer”
  • Lawyers of Color Midwest Hotlist
Professional Affiliations
  • State Bar of Michigan
    • Business Law Section; Aviation Law Section
  • American Bar Association
    • Former Vice Chair, Islamic Finance Committee
Speaking Engagements
  • “Considerations When Entering into Agreements with Banks: Diligence, Drafting, and Enforcement Considerations to Mitigate Bank Failure-Related Risks,” ABA Business Law Fall Meeting (September 9, 2023)
Publications

 

Practices & Industries Education
  • The University of Michigan Law School, J.D.
  • The University of Michigan-Dearborn, B.A.
Admissions
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • New York