Most Highly Regarded Firms: California 2009 - Banking
Our research has uncovered 20 leading banking lawyers from 15 law firms.
This elite selection covers all areas of national and international banking law from electronic transfer systems to mezzanine finance.
Morrison & Foerster LLP leads the field with four entries in this chapter. Donna Zenor, Henry Fields and Joseph Gabai from the Los Angeles office and Roland Brandel in San Francisco were all praised for their "expert knowledge". Zenor has worked in all areas of banking including mortgage-backed securitisation and credit enhancement transactions. Fields has represented a number of national and international banks including the Union Bank of California, Bank of East Asia and the Bank of Taiwan. Gabai's work focuses on strategic planning, regulatory developments and retail banking; he also negotiates with the federal and state banking agencies on behalf of financial institutions. Brandel is known for his work in banking technology law including electronic transfer systems. One source said that he is "at the top of his game".
John Mendez is the head of Latham & Watkins LLP's West Coast banking group and represents commercial and investment banks. He was recommended for his "great understanding of client needs". Partner Vicki Marmorstein was praised as an "excellent asset-based lending and structured finance lawyer".
Alan Benjamin is the head of banking and finance at Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP and is a "key contact". Thomas Coleman has had first-hand experience of working in the banking sector as vice president and counsel at the Union Bank of California and comes "highly recommended".
William Harvey of Winston & Strawn LLP specialises in bank finance and capital markets transactions. He has represented agent banks in a range of syndicated financings. His regulatory works with foreign investors and in cross-border deals. Prior to joining Winston and Strawn LLP, Harvey worked as senior counsel for a leading bank where he dealt with wholesale bank lending, leasing, capital markets, derivatives and regulatory issues.
George Hisert co-chairs the banking and leveraged finance practice group at Bingham McCutchen LLP. He was described as a "credit expert" for his work in credit transactions and letters of credit. He is also a keen speaker, who gives regular talks for the ABA section on business law.
Jill Matichak of Chapman and Cutler LLP has worked on large banking transactions in the US and Europe, including second lien and mezzanine loans, secured and unsecured commercial lending arrangements, project financings, asset-based facilities, and restructurings. She was a popular choice in our research and is viewed as being "extremely competent".
John Hilson at Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker LLP works across a wide range of financing and investment projects and has represented hedge funds, commercial banks and investment banks. Hilson was recommended for his "proficiency" in cross-border deals.
At Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy LLP Ed Feo was named as a "fantastic lawyer". Through his project finance work Feo has developed a good relationship with a number of financial institutions and it is in the financing of energy projects that he is best known.
Rodney Peck of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP works on both transactional and regulatory law, and has represented banks and bank holding companies in connection with federal and state regulatory matters. He has advised Bank of America, BNP Paribas and the Bank of the West.
Teveia Barnes at Foley & Lardner LLP has represented banks and other financial institutions in a range of areas including asset-based financings, loan syndications, swap and derivative transactions, debtor-in-possession financings, mortgage-backed securities swaps and mortgage loan pool sales and servicing.
Hydee Feldstein of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP has been working on the funding of a biopharmaceutical company and the restructuring of a major US bank. Feldstein was noted for her "sound knowledge of bankrupcty prevention stategies".
Gary Rosenbaum of McDermott Will & Emery LLP specialises in leveraged finance trasactions. He has worked with a wide range of financial institutions to secure financing in a diverse range of industries from technology companies to retailers.
David McCarty of Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP is a "top-tier" practitioner and was also recommended in our insolvency and restructuring chapter. His clients have included US Bank, Comerica Bank and Union Bank of California.
Brian Kilb of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP advises on secured and unsecured financing deals as well as debt restructuring. In recent years, Kilb has worked with Hilton Hotels Corp, Pacific Life Insurance and Banc of America Securities.
Steven Sherman manages Shearman & Sterling LLP's West Coast private financing, project development and bankruptcy practice. He is "very active in the industry" nationally and internationally, particularly in New York. His recent work has included working as US counsel to the Royal Bank of Scotland and representing an agent bank in a number of complex cases.