Best Lawyers in America for Banking and Finance Law
Select a location from the list below to find the best legal talent for your needs.
State
Bart Bacigalupi focuses his practice on corporate business matters, including commercial finance, real estate, leasing, software contracts, start-up advice, services agreements, corporate governance and other commercial matters. He advises companies in general business matters across various industries, including energy, shipping, financial middle-market lenders, real estate investors, technology, hospitality and public utilities with respect to their legal business needs. Bart seeks to serve...
David R. Singleton focuses his practice primarily upon the representation of lenders in real estate loan transactions. This representation includes construction loans and permanent loans and includes various types of properties such as retail centers, condominiums, affordable housing projects, office buildings and industrial buildings. His practice also includes the representation of lenders and borrowers in commercial loan transactions that are unsecured or are secured by personal property. ...
Craig W. Hammond focuses his practice in the areas of public finance, banking and economic development law, with more than 30 years of experience representing lenders, state and local units of government, underwriters and borrowers in connection with economic development projects and tax exempt bond financings. Craig is recognized as one of the leading public finance attorneys in the State of Michigan in financings for senior housing, health care, higher education, charter schools, economic d...
John Myers' practice focuses on a wide variety of commercial finance, corporate and commercial law matters, with an emphasis on representing institutional lenders, investors and businesses in commercial lending (including real estate lending) transactions and creditors' rights and insolvency matters; business acquisitions and dispositions and debt/equity investments; and general contracting and commercial law matters. John has significant experience with the Uniform Commercial Code, including...
Thomas W. Lawless earned his JD in 1980 from the Nashville School of Law and was admitted to practice in Tennessee in 1981. He is admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Tennessee as well as the Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the United States Supreme Court. He is a board certified Creditors’ Rights Law Specialist by the American Board of Certification and the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Speci...
M. Lee Johnsey, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law, Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law. M. Lee, who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which M. Lee is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
David Wetsch is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law, Real Estate Law and Trusts and Estates. David, who practices law in Des Moines, Iowa, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Julia Bernstein’s practice focuses on all aspects of the representation of lenders and borrowers in secured and unsecured transactions, finance transactions involving commercial real estate, corporate finance transactions and multi-state transactions. Julia frequently issues legal opinions in connection with multi-state projects and as local counsel for transactions originated outside of Alabama secured by real property located within the state.
Caroline is a business lawyer who helps businesses expand, transition ownership, negotiate commercial financing, form, wind-up, or sell. Caroline’s practice also involves real estate, including condominium and timeshare developments, corporate compliance, securities, regulatory matters, land use, and commercial litigation. Caroline advises her clients on transactional matters, how to avoid litigation, and what to do and expect if litigation occurs. She continues to be selected by her pe...
Linda H. Prentiss is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law. Linda H., who practices law in Madison, New Jersey, has been recognized since 2015. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Linda H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Ed O’Keefe advises and represents financial institutions. From strategy to tactics and logistics, Ed’s experience includes investigations, litigation, regulatory compliance, governance, cybersecurity, compensation, and risk management. He also advises on law department management, including effective legal engagement with regulators and control functions. Ed is the former Global General Counsel of Bank of America Corporation. Having also headed or served as a senior executive with...
John's practice exercises his extensive experience in the deployment and recovery of debt and equity capital and in commercial law. His practice includes business formations, acquisitions and dispositions, distressed asset investing, private equity transactions, mezzanine lending, commercial lending, creditor's rights, loan workouts and recoveries, lender liability, securitizations, the Uniform Commercial Code, and commercial law generally. John’s practice spans a wide range of differen...
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),...
Melissa K. Bridges represents banks and other financial institutions in a broad range of operational, regulatory compliance, and lending matters. She represents depository institutions and other financial companies in matters before regulatory and licensing agencies. She also assists financial services clients in connection with the development of new products and the implementation of new technologies. Her clients include national, regional, and community banks, credit unions, and mortgage c...
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...
Our Methodology
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.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.