Counsel to Community Banks Regarding Regulatory Matters
Counseled community bank clients on expansion of products and services, including outlining regulatory expectations and guidance related to offering new products and services.
Joseph E. Silvia
Counsel for Large Regional and Community Banks in Mergers & Acquisitions
Represented large regional and community bank clients in applications for approval of mergers and acquisitions of bank and non-bank entities.
Joseph E. Silvia
Counsel to Community Bank Regarding Anti-Money Laundering Compliance
Review and drafting of policies and procedures for community bank client regarding anti-money laundering compliance.
Joseph E. Silvia
Representation of Financial Services Firm in FINRA Matters
Representation of a financial services firm in multiple arbitrations before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) against former employees, obtaining awards against the employees on loans provided to them by the firm and denial of all counterclaims.
Laurie A. Perez
Counsel to Financial Institutions
Represented multiple financial institutions in real estate, construction, and working capital financing transactions, including lead negotiation and drafting of credit agreement, promissory note, mortgage, assignment of leases, security agreement, and other ancillary documents related thereto.
Nolan A. Yaldo
Counsel to Financial Institutions in Contested Mortgage Foreclosure Matters
Represented financial institutions in contested mortgage foreclosure cases including a lien priority dispute between the client and another financial institution stemming from the borrower's failure to close a line of credit with second lender. Obtained a judgment in favor of the client holding that client's lien was in first position.
Tejal S. Desai
Sale of 37 Parcels – Cook County
Served as primary attorney for the simultaneous sale of 37 parcels of real estate in Cook County, Illinois for a bank client.
Charles A. Semmelhack
FINRA Arbitrations
Representation of a financial services firm in multiple FINRA arbitrations resulting in awards in favor of the financial services firm.
Mike Braun
Successful Settlement for National Financial Services Firm of ADA Claims
Lead trial counsel for national financial services firm in ADA lawsuit alleging failure to accommodate and disability discrimination. Multiple deposition admissions eviscerated plaintiff's claims and drove a cost effective nuisance value settlement, avoiding protracted litigation and attorney fees.
Brian A. Kreucher
Outstanding Loan Claims Settled on Behalf of Financial Services Firm
Successfully negotiated a number of settlements of outstanding loan balances on behalf of a financial services firm, resulting in the payment of millions of dollars on the loans.
Mike Braun
Non-Solicitation and Trade Secrets
Successfully advised a financial services firm in connection with the hiring of various financial advisors to avoid litigation over violations of non-solicitation and trade secret provisions.
Mike Braun
Representation of Financial Services Firm in FINRA Matters
Represented a financial services firm in multiple arbitrations before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) against former employees, successfully obtaining awards on loans provided to the employees by the firm.
Tim Gronewold
Successful Defense of Financial Institution and Award of Attorney's Fees
Successfully represented a financial institution and obtained dismissal with prejudice and award of attorneys' fees against customer who alleged negligence and fraud by allowing a rogue employee to cash checks and convert over $1MM of the customer's funds.
Joseph B. VanFleet,
Tim Gronewold, Chase M. Hundman
Verdict in Favor of Publicly Traded Bank
Represented a super regional publicly traded banking institution over a seven-day trial in California where the bank was sued for tort and contractual damages stemming from a failed commercial lending facility. Obtained a verdict in favor of lender.
Scott C. Frost
Counsel to Seller in Financial Institutions Merger
Represented seller in a merger of regional financial institutions, successfully coordinated shareholder disclosure and vote approving unreduced supplemental pension payments to seller's key executives. The approval exempted the payments from treatment as parachute payments for tax purposes. Without shareholder approval, the seller's key executives would have received significantly reduced benefits.
Robert B. Johnston
Successful Verdict for Bank Client
Obtained a verdict in favor of a banking client after a four-day trial in Alameda County, California, defeating the claim of the borrower who asserted that the bank's mortgage was invalid.
Daniel S. Rubin
Financial Services Provider Wins $1.6MM on Counterclaim
Successfully obtained a $1.6MM judgment for a financial services provider client on its breach of contract counterclaim after two years of litigation in Ohio state court against a publicly traded plaintiff company that had initiated the lawsuit. The plaintiff was seeking to collect the remaining $1MM it claimed was due on a $20MM stock purchase agreement. The plaintiff received nothing on its claim, and our client obtained $1.6MM on its counterclaim.
Stephen P. Dunn
Counsel to Commercial Lender
Counsel to private commercial real estate lender relating to creation of multiple private investment vehicles to engage in more than $100MM of real estate secured loans.
Christopher M. Warburton
Counsel Regarding Critical Vendor Agreements
Negotiation and review of critical vendor agreements, including core processing agreements.
Joseph E. Silvia
Counsel to Banks and Bank Holding Companies on Corporate Governance and Regulatory Matters
Advised bank and bank holding company clients on corporate governance requirements and regulatory expectations for new directors and senior executive officers.
Joseph E. Silvia
Merger of Bank Holding Company
Counsel to a publicly traded bank holding company in connection with a stock-for-stock merger with large regional financial services company. We were responsible for negotiating the merger agreement, preparing the proxy statement, counseling board and shareholders regarding the transaction, and preparing the employment and incentive arrangements for certain continuing employees.
Jude Sullivan,
Donna M. Goelz, Mark Ryerson, Robert B. Johnston
Transfer Obtained for Financial Services Company
Represented a member of a financial services company in a tort action. We obtained transfer of the action based upon a forum selection clause. Morse v. Ten X Holdings, LLC, 2017 WL 4079264 (D. Nev. Sept. 13, 2017).
Robert Hernquist
Dismissal Obtained in Securities Lawsuit
Obtained a dismissal with prejudice on behalf of a bank client of all claims brought by four plaintiffs who filed a multimillion-dollar securities lawsuit against the bank arising from their purchase of $7MM unsubordinated debentures.
Jeff Sorenson,
Tim Gronewold
Successful Dismissal of Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Case Resulting in Favorable Outcome for Financial Institution
Represented financial institution in contested evidentiary hearing regarding valuation of real estate in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy case. Obtained a ruling in favor of the client as to valuation of the real estate, resulting in denial of confirmation of borrower's Chapter 13 plan and dismissal of the Chapter 13 bankruptcy case.
Tejal S. Desai
$4.6MM Arbitration Award for Financial Services Firm
Represented a financial services firm in an arbitration against two former employees, obtaining an award of $4.6MM against the employees on loans provided to them by the firm and complete denial of their counterclaims.
James L. Komie
Counsel for Initial Public Offering for Bank Holding Company
Counsel to an Illinois based bank holding company regarding their restructuring and initial public offering, which was followed by a sale, in a stock-for-stock merger, to a large regional financial services company. We were responsible for drafting the restructuring documents, drafting and filing Form S-1 for the IPO, drafting the Nasdaq listing application, 1934 Act filings after the IPO, and counseling board and executives through the public sale process.
Jude Sullivan,
Mark Ryerson, Donna M. Goelz, Robert B. Johnston
Counsel Regarding State Money Transmitter Licensing with FinCen
Assisted non-bank client with licensing requirements and approvals for state money transmitter license and registration as a money services business with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”).
Joseph E. Silvia
Bank Recovers $2MM from Insurer on Embezzlement Action
Recovered the full amount of a bank client's nearly $2MM embezzlement loss from the client's fidelity bond insurer. The loss was sustained as a result of an employee who embezzled over a 17-year period. We obtained a full recovery, notwithstanding the insurer's arguments that our client's alleged negligence was a cause of the loss.
Jeff Sorenson
Bank Recovers Losses Suffered from Ponzi Scheme
Successfully represented a bank that sustained a major fraud loss of several million dollars as a result of a complicated Ponzi scheme. Despite repeated denials of coverage by the client's insurance carrier, we were able to obtain full reimbursement of our client's loss.
Jeff Sorenson
Counsel Regarding Branch Purchases
Represented bank and non-bank clients in applications for branch purchases from other financial institutions.
Joseph E. Silvia
Successful Representation of Community Bank
Lead trial counsel for a community bank for a scheduled multiple-day jury trial in Stark County. The opponent had commenced litigation in Stark County, Henry County, Peoria County, and the Appellate Court. The matter was resolved during the final pretrial conference with the judge, approximately 20 minutes before we were to begin selecting a jury from the 50 plus Stark County residents present in the courtroom.
Tim Gronewold
Successful Bankruptcy Court Decision on Behalf of Bank
Successfully represented a bank in the appeal of a bankruptcy court decision, which denied motion to dismiss the bankruptcy based on debtors' failure to adjust their lifestyle before filing bankruptcy.
Daniel S. Rubin
Counsel Regarding Virtual Currency Business Applications
Assisted non-bank client with virtual currency business application requirements.
Joseph E. Silvia
Successful Defense of FLSA Collective Action Against Bank
Defended an FLSA collective action against a regional bank, alleging misclassification of mortgage loan underwriters.
Jon R. Steiger
Law Firm Liable to Bank for Conversion
Successfully represented a bank client and obtained a judgment against a law firm for conversion of the bank's collateral. The law firm's client (an advertising business) and the bank executed loans and security agreements that granted the bank a secured interest in various collateral in the event of default. At the time, the third-party checks payable to the advertising business were deposited in the law firm's IOLTA account, the bank's security interest had attached, due to cessation of business operations. The trial court held, and it was affirmed on appeal, that the law firm could not establish as a matter of law that it was a holder in due course of the checks, and therefore, the law firm was liable to the bank for conversion.
Jeff Sorenson
Successful Defense of Bank in ERISA Action
Defended a regional bank in an ERISA company stock drop class action, alleging that its stock was an imprudent 401(k) Plan investment during a certain time period.
Jon R. Steiger
Stock Compensation Plan for Financial Institution
Designed and implemented a stock compensation plan for a regional financial institution, successfully obtaining shareholder approval despite shareholder activist objections to the plan.
Robert B. Johnston
Counsel to Community Bank
Represented community bank requesting regulatory approval to pay dividends.
Joseph E. Silvia
Counsel Regarding FinCen Matters
Counseled bank client on responding to inquiry from FinCEN related to customer relationships.
Joseph E. Silvia
Representation of National Bank in Bankruptcy Matters
Represented a national bank in a wide variety of matters including a successful motion for appointment of a Chapter 11 Trustee over a marina, successful motions for appointment of receivers for various real property developments, and successful defense of a fraud claim in connection with a settlement placed on the record in state court.
Lisa S. Gretchko
$26MM Award for Bank in Deficiency Action
Successfully represented plaintiff bank in an action for deficiency judgment and obtained a judgment in bank's favor in excess of $26MM.
L. Christopher Rose
Summary Judgment Granted and Attorneys' Fees Awarded to Bank
Successfully defended a bank in a fraud and negligence action brought by a general contractor seeking over $4.2MM for work to property that was acquired by the bank in foreclosure. Obtained summary judgment on all claims in bank's favor and an award of attorneys' fees of over $200,000.
L. Christopher Rose
Lead Counsel to European Bank
Lead counsel to a European bank in the foreclosure upon, leasing, and subsequent $50MM sale of a luxury hotel/casino property located in Lake Las Vegas, NV (listed in the top 5 largest S. Nevada real estate deals in 2012).
Mark J. Gardberg
Counsel to Community Bank Regarding Tier 2 Capital
Advised community bank client on regulatory capital requirements for subordinated debt offering in order to qualify proceeds as Tier 2 Capital.
Joseph E. Silvia
Counsel to Community Bank Regarding Regulatory Compliance for New Branch Locations
Advised community bank client regarding applications and process for opening new physical branch locations.
Joseph E. Silvia
Obtained Consent Foreclosure Judgment
Favorably negotiated a settlement resulting in a Consent Foreclosure Judgment on behalf of a lender.
Tiffany L. Carpenter
Counsel to Community Bank Regarding Account Agreements
Reviewed and advised community bank client regarding online account agreements.
Joseph E. Silvia
Slander of Title and Negligence Actions Dismissed
Achieved dismissal on behalf of a financial institution against a borrower's slander of title and negligence causes of action.
Tiffany L. Carpenter
Counsel to Banks Regarding Treasury and Cash Management Services
Advised bank clients on treasury management and cash management services and the relevant service level agreements with business customers, including for ACH, positive pay, lockbox and other cash management services for business customers.
Joseph E. Silvia
Representation of European Dairy Conglomerate During the Enron of Europe
Representation of trustee of a European dairy conglomerate in actions against major lenders and accounting firms, relating to fraud and illicit financing transactions that preceded its financial collapse, often referred to as the Enron of Europe.
Jon R. Steiger
$4.5MM+ Settlement for Land Owners/Developers
Represented land owners/developers and obtained a settlement in excess of $4.5MM in a dispute with a lender. We successfully took over representation of the client following dismissal of the matter for failure to state a claim in its second amended complaint, which was filed by another law firm. We filed a compelling third amended complaint that prompted the lender to settle.
Michael Wais
Counsel to Bank Clients in Change in Control Applications
Represented bank clients in Change in Control Applications to state and federal bank regulatory agencies.
Joseph E. Silvia
Counsel to Community Banks in Examination and Enforcement Matters
Represented community bank clients before state and federal banking agencies related to various examination and enforcement matters.
Joseph E. Silvia
ERISA Compliance
Represented a regional bank holding company in the conversion of common trust funds to proprietary mutual funds. Numerous ERISA compliance issues were presented, including regulators' assertion of prohibited transactions with respect to the common trust funds and to all retirement plan investments. In addition to the successful conversion, regulatory agencies withdrew all assertions of prohibited transactions.
Robert B. Johnston
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