We represent lenders in connection with loans of various sizes in all industries and throughout the country. Our experience runs the gamut from drafting and negotiating loan documents, to reviewing due diligence materials and structuring credit facilities, to working with credit teams, relationship managers, closing coordinators and in-house counsel to deliver efficient service to our client’s customers and stakeholders.

Commercial & Industrial Loans 

Our team regularly represents lender clients in connection with commercial and industrial credit facilities (including equipment financing) and borrowing base loans. We counsel clients of all types and sizes, ranging from non-traditional lenders, family offices, and funds to national and multi-national institutions. As a result, we can provide valuable insight with respect to obligor and collateral structure, documentation, negotiation and maintenance of credit facilities.

Commercial Real Estate Loans 

Our team has deep expertise in structuring, documenting, and negotiating all types of real estate loans, including: (1) construction loans and project financing; (2) permanent credit facilities; (3) bridge facilities; (4) subordinate and mezzanine debt; and (5) syndicated credits and loan participations. In each case, we leverage both the practice expertise and industry knowledge of attorneys across the firm’s geographic footprint to provide the most efficient and impactful representation when helping clients conceive and close  real estate transactions.

Asset-Based Lending 

We have substantial experience in the asset-based lending space advising lenders on structuring, documenting, collateralizing, and negotiating revolving lines of credit, letters of credit, working capital loans, and purchase money loans for borrowers. Our team understands the current market terms and routinely advises our lender clients on such trends, with the aim of keeping them ahead of the curve and thus competitive in the marketplace.

Our team has substantial experience representing lenders in connection with routine and highly specialized matters. We regularly assist banking clients in the following areas:

• Collection and foreclosure actions
• Receiverships
• Defense of consumer claims and making counterclaims
• Shareholder/securities litigation
• Defending against lender liability claims
• Employment terminations and discrimination claims

Additionally, we have a seasoned group of attorneys who specialize in loan workouts and restructurings and are adept at navigating unique relationships between lenders, borrowers and other stakeholders, particularly with respect to the following:

• Restructuring, workout and forbearance matters
• Bankruptcy proceedings and state and federal regulatory enforcement actions
• Special asset conversion, administration, and resolution
• Debtor-in-possession financing matters
• Note purchase agreements and sales

Our corporate support team offers community and regional banks the full spectrum of corporate services, ranging from general governance matters to planning for and defending against hostile takeovers. With a long history of successfully and creatively structuring mergers and acquisitions, we are frequently sought out by clients to assist in bank and bank holding company formations, complying with regulatory requirements, and addressing tax issues.

Some of our core service areas include: 

• Mergers and acquisitions of financial institutions for cash or equity
• Tax-free mergers and stock exchanges
• Purchase and assumption transactions involving branches, loans, or other assets
• Planning for and defending against hostile takeovers

Governance, Shareholder, and Tax Issues

Our team has significant experience advising our clients on (1) procedures and corporate governance matters, (2) planning for and preparing tender offers or other redemptions of stock, (3) compliance with the Change in Bank Control Act, (4) properly and timely making elections to be taxed pursuant to Subchapter S of the Internal Revenue Code and other tax issues, (5) management and succession planning issues and the preparation of shareholder buy-sell agreements, and (6) reorganizations, restructures, and problem financings.

Additionally, our team has served as counsel for investment groups on the formation of both state and national banks and holding companies, and we have prepared subscription materials and documents, securities solicitation material and prospectuses, and other investment materials. Our team also has deep expertise in advising on initial stock offerings for both banks and bank holding companies, and the issuance of debt securities and various private placements of securities, including, but not limited to, convertible debentures, trust preferred securities, and other forms of preferred equity.

Furthermore, our team has experience preparing regulatory applications and bank charters and assisted with obtaining deposit insurance.

Regulatory Compliance 

Our team has substantial experience helping our banking clients to navigate issues raised by routine regulatory examinations with respect to safety and soundness, Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) matters, Bank Security Act (BSA) issues and compliance, including negotiation of, and compliance with, a regulatory consent order, formal agreement and memorandum of understanding.

Additionally, our team has significant experience advising our banking clients on (i) compliance with regulatory capital requirements, (ii) preparation of capital plans in response to regulatory issues, (iii) Regulation O issues involving loans and other financial relationships with directors and officers, (iv) Truth in Lending, Truth in Saving, Equal Credit, and other lending and deposit compliance issues, and (v) management of disputes and controversies with regulators.