Buckley King

9 Best Lawyers awards

Buckley King logo

Awarded Practice Areas

Banking and Finance Law Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) Commercial Finance Law Commercial Litigation Commercial Transactions / UCC Law Corporate Compliance Law Corporate Governance Law Corporate Law Derivatives and Futures Law Financial Services Regulation Law Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law Litigation - Banking and Finance Litigation - Municipal Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants Project Finance Law Public Finance Law Securitization and Structured Finance Law

Biography

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 one of the nation's top attorneys for high-stakes litigation by Corporate Responsibility Magazine, the Best Lawyers in America®, one of the "Top 50 Attorneys in Cleveland," "Top 100 Attorneys in Ohio," and Super Lawyers. Brent's business judgment and experience makes a distinctive impact at the closing table and in the courtroom.

Brent is regularly retained in matters involving "bet the company" litigation, multi-district litigation, class actions and business disputes primarily on behalf of corporations, financial institutions and educational entities. He also has successfully defended directors and officers and matters involving professional liability.

Brent is active on community, professional and civic boards serving in leadership roles for many non-profit organizations. He is often sought to speak to the legal community and business organizations on commercial litigation issues, business and governance matters.

Buckley King

9 Best Lawyers awards

Buckley King logo

Overview

  • English

  • Cleveland State University, J.D., graduated 1982
  • Case Western Reserve University, BA, graduated 1977

  • Ohio, Supreme Court of Ohio
  • Georgia, State Bar of Georgia

  • Cleveland Institute of Music - Board of Trustees, Vice Chair
  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association - Business, Banking & Corporate Counsel Section, Chair
  • Cleveland-Marshall College of Law - Board of Visitors
  • College Now Greater Cleveland - Board of Directors, Secretary
  • First Tee . Cleveland - Board of Directors
  • Friends of James A. Garfield National Historic Site - Trustee
  • Greater Cleveland Film Commission - Board of Trustees
  • Greater Cleveland Sports Commission - Board of Trustees
  • Judge John M. Manos Inn of Court - Member
  • Judicial Conference of the Eighth Judicial District - Life Member
  • St. Vincent Charity Medical Center - Board of Directors, Secretary
  • United Way of Lake County - Board of Directors
  • English
  • Ohio, Supreme Court of Ohio
  • Georgia, State Bar of Georgia
  • Cleveland Institute of Music - Board of Trustees, Vice Chair
  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association - Business, Banking & Corporate Counsel Section, Chair
  • Cleveland-Marshall College of Law - Board of Visitors
  • College Now Greater Cleveland - Board of Directors, Secretary
  • First Tee . Cleveland - Board of Directors
  • Friends of James A. Garfield National Historic Site - Trustee
  • Greater Cleveland Film Commission - Board of Trustees
  • Greater Cleveland Sports Commission - Board of Trustees
  • Judge John M. Manos Inn of Court - Member
  • Judicial Conference of the Eighth Judicial District - Life Member
  • St. Vincent Charity Medical Center - Board of Directors, Secretary
  • United Way of Lake County - Board of Directors
  • Cleveland State University, J.D., graduated 1982
  • Case Western Reserve University, BA, graduated 1977

Client Testimonials

Mr. Buckley is involved in client relationship at a level that would not be typically expected given his position at the firm. No matter how small, he sincerely wants to know what is going on.

Brent Buckley's deep level of experience has been extremely insightful in the many matters I have worked on with him. His ability to communicate with clients of various levels of experience makes him an asset to the legal community. Brent's passion and support of the Cleveland Market have made a difference in the marketplace both at the legal level and the local communities in and around Cleveland.

Brent is an exceptional business partner.

Jennifer Altstadt (Weatherchem Corporation)

Twinsburg, OH

Brent's expertise goes far beyond that of a phenomenal attorney; he's a pillar of the community, an outstanding strategist and gives 110% of himself in all that he takes on. I've never interacted with another person in business quite like him but it's a privilege to have him as my counsel. Only such a brilliant man would be capable of attracting and leading the dynamic and stellar team at Buckley King.

Chris Vitale

Brent is a very hands-on and involved attorney. His thoroughness and understanding of the markets served are truly assets I would recommend to just about anyone. Despite his many duties, one can always count on a quick call back and/or an immediate response from Brent. More importantly, Brent does a great job learning what one is trying to accomplish prior to offering suggestions. He gets to know the facts, offers different strategic initiatives and/or suggestions, and is a real partner. He is very involved in the community, and I have been privileged to work with him over the years.

John Macks (First National Bank)

Awards & Focus

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2024 - Financial Services Regulation Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2023 - Litigation - Banking and Finance
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Financial Services Regulation Law, Cleveland (2024)
  • Litigation - Banking and Finance, Cleveland (2023)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Banking and Finance Law
  • Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
  • Commercial Finance Law
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Commercial Transactions / UCC Law
  • Corporate Compliance Law
  • Corporate Governance Law
  • Corporate Law
  • Derivatives and Futures Law
  • Financial Services Regulation Law
  • Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
  • Litigation - Banking and Finance
  • Litigation - Municipal
  • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
  • Project Finance Law
  • Public Finance Law
  • Securitization and Structured Finance Law
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Administrative / Regulatory Law
  • Arbitration
  • Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
  • Copyright Law
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar
  • Economic Development Law
  • Entertainment Law - Music
  • Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants
  • Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Municipal Law
  • Privacy and Data Security Law
  • Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants
Awards:
  • 2014 Legal Who's Who - Top Attorneys in the Nation for High-Stakes Litigation (Corporate Responsibility Magazine)
  • Top 50 Attorneys in Cleveland
  • Top 100 Attorneys in Ohio
  • Best Lawyers in America - Corporate Law
  • Best Lawyers in America - Banking & Finance Litigation
  • The Top Legal Minds in Northeast Ohio - Leading Lawyers
  • Top Rated Lawyers
  • Leading Lawyers - Corporate Law
  • Super Lawyers - Business & Corporate Law
  • AV-Preeminent Rated (Martindale-Hubbell)
  • People of Vision Award - 2012 Honoree, (Prevent Blindness Ohio)
  • Leadership Cleveland - Class of 2000

Additional Information

Spinning circle Big letter B

Case History

Cases
  • Litigation - Banking & Finance, Class Actions and MDL
Defend class actions and MDL, most recently on behalf of a multi-national bank victimized in alleged Ponzi scheme involving twenty banks across the country, financing securitized transactions with actual losses nearing $500 million
  • Litigation - Banking & Finance
Represents large and regional banks in corporate investigations and matters of first impression including banking crimes, lender liability, lender misconduct claims, business torts, claims of wrongdoing involving officers, directors and employees, and UCC matters.
  • Litigation - Banking & Finance
Represents banks and businesses in coordination with Federal law enforcement and secret federal grand juries involving money laundering, white collar crimes, embezzlement, fraud, SARs, Patriot Act, RICO, wire fraud, Financial Anti-Terrorist Act, FinCEN and BSA matters.
  • Litigation - Banking & Finance, Appellate
Successfully defended, in trial and appellate courts, bank and mezzanine lender against multi-million dollar allegations of fraud, breach of fiduciary duties, civil conspiracy and fraudulent transfer.
  • Litigation - Banking & Finance
Defended one of the world's largest insurance companies in corporate and criminal investigations, successfully resolved 60 lawsuits involving the largest embezzlement/defalcation in company history (at the time).
Transactions
  • Finance
Represented lender in structuring a multi-million dollar credit facility to corporation and its affiliates (including B2B company and Asian subsidiary) engaged in the design, custom manufacturing and worldwide distribution of products used in footwear, military equipment, medical applications and sporting goods, secured by assets including aircraft, real estate and intellectual property.
  • Finance
Represented lender in the restructuring of a multi-million dollar syndicated credit facility, including municipal bonds and letters of credit to non-profit organization providing senior living facilities.
  • Finance, M&A
Management-led buyout of subidiary of an international company in multi-million dollar acquisition and complex financing.

Your browser is not fully compatible with our automatic printer friendly formatting.

Please use the print button to print this profile page.

Spinning circle Big letter B