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Find Lawyers in America for Litigation - Banking and Finance
Practice Area Overview
Banking and finance litigation typically arises over specific loans, trades, transactions or financial products, or disputes and investigations concerning stock and commodities exchanges, pricing, disclosure, management, and servicing issues. However, because consumers and/or public shareholders are often involved, these industries are among the most highly regulated and scrutinized. Banks and financial services institutions, many of which are public, must comply with — and can also easily be accused of violating — any number of laws, including federal and state securities laws, Dodd-Frank, the Bank Secrecy Act, the Patriot Act, Credit Card and Consumer Protection laws, Truth in Lending, Equal Credit Opportunity, Fair Credit Reporting Act, and Fair Debt Collection Practices Acts.
Banks and financial institutions often become the targets of investigative or enforcement proceedings commenced by governmental entities, including the Securities And Exchange Commission, FINRA, Department of Justice, State AGs, Commodities Futures Trading Commission, FTC, Treasury Department, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, OCC, and other regulators. Counseling companies on the potential liability and risk they face for failing to comply with relevant laws and regulations also is an essential part of the financial litigator’s role.
Financial litigators generally have experience representing corporate and individual clients in a wide spectrum of matters involving the federal securities laws, and state corporate, consumer, securities and common laws, and bankruptcy proceedings. Such matters can include, for example, shareholder class actions and derivative suits challenging the validity of disclosures and the appropriateness of transactions, as well as suits alleging insider trading, broker-dealer non-compliance, misrepresentations in financial reporting, and securities or other fraud. Financial litigators also should be experienced in the representation of corporate directors and officers in litigation arising from alleged breaches of their fiduciary and other duties. Often, the duties of officers and directors are intertwined with the substantive claims asserted against the financial entities for whom they serve.
Finally, skilled financial services litigators also regularly defend and prosecute claims arising out of complex securities, derivatives, commodities, and foreign exchange transactions in both litigation and arbitration proceedings throughout the United States and globally. Success in dealing with such claims often requires a thorough understanding of the regulations, laws, customs, and practice in various state and foreign countries.
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J. Mark Adkins is a partner in the Charleston office of Bowles Rice and a member of the Business Litigation Practice Group. His primary areas of practice include business litigation, commercial and contract disputes, financial services/banking litigation, energy litigation, construction litigation, election law and products liability litigation. A native of Salt Rock, West Virginia, Mr. Adkins received his J.D. in 1997 from the West Virginia University College of Law, where he was a member of...
Richard Aguilar is resident in the firm's New Orleans office. His multi-state practice focuses on bringing his extensive business experience to bear for clients dealing with issues in areas involving creditor's rights, foreclosure, bankruptcy, reorganization, and high-consequence business and commercial litigation.
Tom Ajamie is the founder of Ajamie LLP. He represents clients in complex commercial litigation and arbitration. His work includes groundbreaking securities and financial cases, cross-border litigation, business contract disputes and employment issues. His cases have been featured in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and The American Lawyer. He established The Ajamie Foundation, which provides scholarships to university students. He is co-author of the book Fina...
Alan Albert is a nationally-honored trial lawyer who has represented clients from Muhammad Ali to multinational corporations in a broad array of commercial disputes, white-collar criminal investigations and prosecutions, intellectual property litigation and other governmental and regulatory matters. Mr. Albert has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America continuously for the past 20 years, and is one of a small number of lawyers in the country to be recognized by Best Lawyers in six dis...
Wendell's practice focuses on representing financial institutions in government enforcement actions, regulatory compliance matters, internal audits, and real property controversies. Wendell’s litigation experience is broad, having represented clients in a wide variety of matters but with a particular focus in financial services, consumer finance, real property and construction litigation. In addition to litigation, his practice includes performing internal risk assessments and regulator...
John Allen focuses his practice on business and commercial litigation. He is a Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate, by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. With over 30 years experience handling legal problems, John has written and co-written dozens of articles and books, and speaks frequently to business and law groups. On a regular basis, he teaches courses in law and trial practice to other lawyers, and often serves as an expert witness. He is a certified arbitrator and mediator.
Phil is a commercial litigator in state and federal courts. He takes pride in advising his clients on how to succeed at trial, on appeal, or how to avoid litigation altogether. Louis Armstrong, the greatest trumpet player of all time, said “never play anything the same way twice.” Phil has taken this advice to heart in his practice, advising unique clients facing distinct challenges with an individualized approach. Phil represents a diverse set of clients across a broad range of i...
After serving as a federal law clerk in the Middle District of Alabama for one year, Mr. Bailey began practicing law with the firm in 1980 and has been a shareholder since 1983. Building upon a strong background of product liability and insurance defense, Mr. Bailey's practice has evolved into handling a variety of complex litigation directly for clients who are either self-insured or have control over the selection of defense counsel.Mr. Bailey works closely with corporate counsel and is the...
Bill Banowsky focuses his practice on complex business litigation and arbitration, securities litigation, and corporate governance investigations. He also represents national and international energy industry clients in various disputes involving contract rights and business torts. In recent years, he has become involved in numerous disputes representing healthcare providers including hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, medical device suppliers, physician groups and ancillary providers. Mr...
Rick Bass practices in the area of complex commercial and product liability litigation. He has substantial experience in the representation of financial institutions and the litigation and settlement of class actions, mass tort and other complex matters. Mr. Bass is a frequent lecturer on litigation issues, and for several years has served as Adjunct Professor of Trial Advocacy at Mississippi College School of Law. He also served on the faculty for the NITA Gulf Coast Deposition Program.
Armando is a commercial and real estate litigator and is leader of the Distressed Commercial Debt Litigation team. He represents businesses and owners in a wide variety of contractual, shareholder and commercial realty disputes. He devotes a large portion of his practice to representing holders of commercial debt in all aspects of work-outs, foreclosures, receiverships and guaranty enforcement actions. I focus my practice on the following areas: Distressed Commercial Debt I represent special ...
Jamie Becker is an experienced financial services litigator and shareholder in Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd's Columbia office. His practice focuses on complex business litigation in areas such as business and consumer financial services, business contracts, automobile sales and marketing, commercial and consumer real estate transactions, and real estate development.
J. Adam Behrendt represents a variety of businesses in their day-to-day disputes. He focuses on finding pragmatic and cost-effective solutions to problems both large and small. These matters often concern commercial law and contract disputes, land use, and affairs concerning shareholder and minority owner oppression. Adam has significant experience in assisting financial institutions in virtually all aspects of their business including litigation surrounding insolvency, loan workout and recei...
Robert Bieck is special counsel in the Litigation Practice Group. He focuses on securities and other regulatory compliance and enforcement defense, and capital markets products and corporate governance litigation. Rob represents securities brokers, banks and other financial institutions, and corporations, as well as their directors, officers, and other employees, in matters arising under federal and state securities laws, general corporate laws, banking laws, and the Employee Retirement Incom...
Tom Bieging is of counsel with the firm. He focuses his practice in the areas of banking and commercial litigation. Mr. Bieging’s financial institutions practice includes holding company and change of control applications, loan documentation, regulatory compliance advice, loan work outs, board representation, and the sale, acquisition, and merger of banks and bank holding companies. Mr. Bieging has litigated with government agencies on financial institution policy matters with national ...
Brandon Black is a CPA (inactive) and a partner in the Litigation Practice Group, where he advises clients on a range of complex commercial disputes. Brandon represents clients in litigation in state and federal courts and in arbitrations involving business and commercial transactions, the federal False Claims Act, defamation, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, consumer banking litigation, construction matters, bankruptcy, foreclosures, creditors’ rights, family bus...
I help business leaders, house counsel, and individuals remove barriers to success by providing creative dispute resolution and transactional services. In addition to a national complex commercial litigation, mediation, and arbitration practice; I maintain an outside general counsel practice for individuals and business leaders who have varied legal needs. In the latter, I am aided by my experience handling business disputes across the country. I have been: - Recognized by Lawyers Weekly for ...
MARK BOSCO has been a regular lecturer at numerous regional and national mortgage banking and default servicing seminars, and he has published numerous articles on mortgage banking, default servicing and related topics. Mr. Bosco has been appointed as approved Counsel for Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) to provide services in the areas of foreclosure, bankruptcy, loss mitigation, eviction, related litigation, and REO ...
My practice is a mix of business litigation and insurance cases. I regularly represent clients in state and federal courts throughout NC in business disputes. Typical claims are: breach of contract, tortious interference with contract, unfair competition, fraud, defamation, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, unfair and deceptive trade practices, and other statutory violations. I have represented both policyholders and insurers in insurance coverage disputes. I also represent dentists in ma...
Roland E. Brandel is a Senior Counsel in the San Francisco office of the international law firm of Morrison & Foerster. He is a member of, and served as the first chair of, the firm’s financial services practice group. He has written several books, including The Law of Electronic Fund Transfer Systems , The Community Reinvestment Act , Policies and Compliance , and Truth in Lending: A Comprehensive Guide and numerous articles on financial service topics. He has served as Chair of th...
While fully engaged as Managing Partner of Buckley King, Brent Buckley counsels and represents financial institutions, private equity firms, lenders, businesses and executive management on business issues, complex and structured finance, workouts, asset-based lending, corporate internal investigations, and commercial litigation matters. Brent is nationally recognized for excellence in both corporate law and banking and finance litigation. He is named among the prestigious Legal Who's Who as o...
Joseph L. Buckley is a member of the Firm’s Management Committee and Chair of the Litigation Department. He has over 35 years of first chair trial experience in a wide variety of complex cases in federal and state courts in New Jersey and New York. He is certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney.
Jason Burge has more than 17 years of experience recovering funds for victims of financial misconduct in single plaintiff, mass action, and class action cases against banks, loan servicers, stockbrokers, and investment firms. With a background in economics, Jason specializes in distilling complex financial transactions into terms that judges, arbitrators, and jurors can understand. Jason routinely represents individual and institutional investors and borrowers in securities fraud and lender l...
Guy has over 40 years of trial experience with over 100 trials in State and Federal Courts, as well as dozens of trials conducted before arbitration panels. He primarily represents plaintiffs in complex commercial, securities, financial malpractice and consumer fraud litigation and in class actions, generally on a contingency fee basis. He also represents defendants in selected large, complex commercial disputes. He has successfully represented plaintiffs in numerous disputes against brokerag...
Jason Bushby provides regulatory compliance, enforcement, and litigation assistance to a range of financial services clients across the country. On the compliance and enforcement side, Jason assists numerous clients as they bring their operations into compliance with various obligations imposed on them by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), including the Mortgage Servicing Final Rules in Regulations X and Z and the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure Rule. He also advises clients on...
Jon is a commercial litigator with experience in litigation of supply chain disputes, asset purchase agreements, franchise agreements, and other business related litigation. Jon also has a substantial practice in securities dispute, including litigation and arbitration of securities and investor disputes, in which he has successfully represented investors and broker-dealers. His experience on sophisticated matters includes bringing cases to summary judgment, trial, and courts of appeal. Jon i...
Joe Callow leads litigation matters on a national, regional, and local basis. Joe works primarily on complex litigation. He has experience in class actions/collective actions and multi-district litigation, as well as environmental, securities, IP, antitrust, and commercial litigation. Joe currently represents several state Attorneys General in complex litigation. Joe was one of the lead litigation counsel for the State of Ohio in its litigation against opioid distributors that resulted in an ...
Mr. Campbell is the founding member of Campbell Law Firm PLLC, a litigation boutique. He specializes in complex litigation involving creditor’s rights, securities, commercial torts, product liability, and bankruptcy issues. Mr. Campbell grew up in South Florida. He graduated from Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School with high honors in 1972 and went on to attend both college and law school at the University of Florida. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Banking and Fi...
Jose A. Casal practices in the areas of business and real estate litigation, international litigation and arbitration, and bankruptcy and creditors’ rights. He has handled civil trials in both Florida state and federal courts, and has conducted international arbitrations in both Miami and New York. His representative matters include corporate and partnership disputes, real estate and title insurance claims, receiverships, workout transactions, international litigation, banking litigatio...
Steve Coffaro is a business lawyer who focuses his practice on commercial litigation matters, including corporate, intellectual property, environmental, employment and real estate related disputes. He represents both public and private companies and individuals and has actively represented clients in litigation matters pending in state and federal courts. He is licensed to practice in the state and federal courts in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. Steve has particularized expertise related to the...
Steve Collins is a partner practicing in the firm’s Litigation & Trial Practice and Securities Litigation Groups. His practice focuses on (1) securities litigation, investigations and enforcement proceedings; (2) financial services litigation; and (3) transaction-based litigation, as the principal components of a commercial litigation practice. Securities Litigation and Investigations: Mr. Collins represents clients in SEC, stock exchange and state securities investigations and enfo...
E.K. Cottrell practices in the area of complex commercial litigation. Some of his representative areas of practice include defense of class actions on behalf of insurers, business entities, and management for alleged improper market conduct or business practices, and fiduciary obligations; representation of insurers and reinsurers in coverage and regulatory compliance matters; and other general business litigation. E.K. has litigated class actions and other complex commercial litigation matte...
Clay Culpepper serves as counsel for a number of businesses and aggressively advocates for injured individuals. Clay has litigated cases from Tennessee to California, in federal and state courts, in front of both juries and judges. Clay represents and counsels clients in various actions, including, but not limited to: Significant Personal Injury: Automobile accidents Trucking accidents Premises liability Malpractice Wrongful death Negligence Business/Commercial Litigation: Contract/transactio...
J. Dillon Curran has a broad experience base gained through hands on representation of financial institutions and providers of financial products. His practice areas include business litigation, bankruptcy, real estate, energy and commercial transactions. Mr. Curran also regularly represents companies and individuals in the real estate, oil and gas and transportation industries. At this early stage in his career, Mr. Curran already has structured, negotiated and closed numerous complex inter-...
Bill Daniel represents major financial services companies in commercial and consumer finance matters, and chairs the firm’s Financial Services Practice Group. He has extensive experience representing financial services companies in virtually every phase of their operations including litigation, regulatory, compliance, workouts, transactions and bankruptcy. Bill speaks to industry and bar groups on Texas financing law. Bill was named Lawyer of the Year for Financial Services Regulation L...
Dan Deane is co-leader of the TCPA team and deputy leader of the Class Actions and Aggregate Litigation group. His practice focuses on defending businesses and individuals in high exposure complex civil and criminal litigation in state and federal court and before regulatory agencies. Dan’s clients include national and international businesses and individuals in a variety of industries with a focus in health care, insurance, and financial services. What do you focus on? My practice focu...
Frank DeBorde is the Chair of the Creditors’ Rights and Bankruptcy Practice and has practiced as a bankruptcy and workout lawyer for more than three decades. Mr. DeBorde regularly represents creditors in state court, bankruptcy court and federal district court. Mr. DeBorde frequently conducts complex workouts and represents creditors in bankruptcy courts nationwide. His practice also includes representing creditors’ committees in bankruptcy proceedings, handling contested foreclos...
A first-chair trial lawyer, Megan Costa DeVault prosecutes and defends complex commercial, business, and real estate litigation in state and federal courts. On behalf of Fortune 500, publicly traded, and privately owned business, including builders, developers, investors, financial institutions, and corporate fiduciaries, she litigates contractual disputes, shareholder class actions, and derivative suits, including serving as lead counsel in dozens of trials and arbitrations. Owing to the com...
Michael is a member of the firm’s Board of Directors and focuses his practice on complex business litigation and insolvency matters. He has many years of trial experience in cases involving business torts, bankruptcy proceedings, corporate governance issues, employment disputes, and litigation concerning contracts, secured transactions, fraudulent transfers, financial workouts, lender liability, banking relationships, and commercial paper. For 12 years, Michael was a senior executive wi...
Ron has accumulated a vast amount of first chair trial experience. As an Assistant United States Attorney in Miami for seven years, he tried several large criminal cases. In his final year as a federal prosecutor, he served as Deputy Chief of the Major Crimes Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Ron’s broad trial and litigation skills allow him to represent clients in diverse types of disputes in nearly any locale in the country. Since joining Varnum, Ron has tried and litigate...
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Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
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