Best Lawyers in America for Banking and Finance Law

Jose E. Sirven is a partner in Holland & Knight's Miami office and co-chairs the firm's Financial Services Practice Group. He has practiced in the financial services, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and cross-border fields for more than 30 years. A significant part of his cross-border work has involved Latin American and Caribbean jurisdictions, including Mexico and nearly every country in South and Central America. Mr. Sirven regularly conducts complex negotiations and drafts...

Steven J. Ryan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law, Commercial Finance Law and Real Estate Law. Steven J., who practices law in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Steven J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jason Avery is a member of the Firm’s Real Estate Practice Group and the Natural Resources and Banking and Financial Services Practice Teams. Unlike many other lawyers who concentrate in either a transactional practice or litigation, Jason represents clients in both areas, splitting his time between real estate transactional matters and real estate and mortgage litigation. This hybrid practice allows Jason to think progressively on transactional matters by understanding potential areas ...

Jeffrey S. Schloemer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) and Corporate Law. Jeffrey S., who practices law in Cincinnati, Ohio, has been recognized since 2006. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jeffrey S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Eddie Booher practices in the area of complex finance transactions, focusing on commercial real estate (acquisitions, development, leasing and construction) and other transactional lending work. Eddie has primary responsibility for the representation of institutional lenders in several commercial real estate conduit loan/securitization programs involving a broad spectrum of property types, including hospitality, multifamily, industrial, retail, office and healthcare properties. His experience...

Kirsten H. Frey is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law, Real Estate Law and Trusts and Estates. Kirsten H., who practices law in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kirsten H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Aaron Martin is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Transactions / UCC Law and Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law. Aaron, who practices law in Salina, Kansas, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Aaron is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and leg...

Bryan is the chair of the firm’s Real Estate Department and a member of the firm’s Board of Directors. He has more than 30 years of experience in commercial real estate law, with a focus on transactional finance, sales and acquisitions, leasing and title insurance. Bryan advises purchasers and sellers in all phases of contract negotiations and due diligence for property acquisition, development and sale. His work includes §1031 exchanges and large acreage agricultural propert...

Richard W. Hawthorne is a partner at DMHD, where he focuses on real estate and banking law. He represents buyers and sellers in commercial and residential real estate transactions, landlords and tenants in commercial leasing and developers of multifamily housing and retail buildings. He also has significant experience representing buyers and sellers of debt obligations.Mr. Hawthorne previously worked for Arthur Anderson & Co. (Jacksonville, Florida) as a tax accountant, Foley & Lardne...

Bernard J. Berry, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Bernard J., who practices law in Red Bank, New Jersey, has been recognized since 2008. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Bernard J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michael Waters is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group. He focuses on issues facing banks, financial institutions, and other financial-services entities. Mike has practiced corporate and securities law, primarily in the financial institutions area, for more than 30 years. He routinely represents banks, bank holding companies, and other financial entities in acquisitions, capital raising transactions, SEC and shareholder issues, new bank formations, and board fiduciary duty issues. He has...

David A. Ephraim is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law. David A., who practices law in Boston, Massachusetts, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Following graduation from law school, Michael served as a law clerk to the Honorable Jon J. Chinen, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Hawaii. Since joining the firm in 1980, he has continued to use his expertise in bankruptcy law, the main emphasis of his practice. Michael also practices in the areas of bankruptcy & creditor’s rights, business & commercial, dispute resolution, and real estate & land use. In 1992, he and DKLKH colleague, Kenneth Kupchak, co-a...

Dan Ennis is a lending attorney with a singular focus on closing lending transactions. He works with banks, finance companies, and other lenders to provide the secured debt necessary to power growing businesses across the U.S. and internationally. Dan’s energy and business-oriented approach creates the optimal environment for the success of his deals. Having a concentration in lending work, Dan helps his clients through transactions with a wide range of size and complexity. His deals in...

Ryan is a partner in the firm's Maine office. Ryan assists clients with a wide variety of federal, Maine and Massachusetts regulatory compliance matters. Ryan's retail financial compliance experience includes prepaid access, consumer and commercial deposit products, electronic banking and payment services, consumer finance products (residential mortgages, home equity loans/lines, personal loans/lines, credit cards, student loans, auto loans and leases, and retail installment sales contracts),...

Bailey Pham is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law. Bailey, who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Bailey is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.