The Banking and Financial Services Practice Group advises banks and bank holding companies as well as other nonbank financial institutions of all sizes - from large regional holding companies with operations throughout the Southeast to smaller publicly-held and closely-held bank holding companies and community banks. Lawyers in the group assist our clients in financing transactions of all types (in the case of securities issued by state and local governments and agencies in coordination with our Public Finance Practice Group) and advise banks and other financial institutions and lenders on state and federal regulatory and compliance matters and on a variety of other laws and issues that affect banks and other financial services companies.

Lawyers in the group regularly serve as local counsel for banks, insurance companies and other lending institutions based in other states and nations. The group has had substantial involvement in the development of enforceable arbitration provisions in the consumer credit context, in developing risk-reduction strategies for consumer lenders and expansion of bank powers in the areas of insurance, securities, electronic banking and real estate.

The Banking and Financial Services Practice Group is also experienced in the capital market activities of banks. We have participated extensively in bank note offerings and other capital activities relating to the creation of regulatory capital. The firm has been among the most active in Alabama in the formation of new banks and bank holding companies. The firm also is a leader in representing issuers, loan sellers and servicers in securitization transactions. These transactions have involved various types of collateral, including commercial mortgage loans, automobile paper and manufactured home sales contracts. In addition, as described in the Corporate and Securities Group section of this web site, the firm is among the most active in the nation in the acquisition and disposition of financial institutions.