(August 27, 2015) Baker Donelson has named new practice group leaders within the Firm's Financial Services Department.
- Linda S. Finley, shareholder in the Firm's Atlanta office and a member of the Firm's board of directors, was named chair of Baker Donelson's Consumer Finance Litigation and Compliance Group. Dylan W. Howard, also a shareholder in the Firm's Atlanta office, was named vice chair of the group. The Consumer Finance Litigation and Compliance Group works with lenders, servicers and investors on a range of residential mortgage and other consumer-related legal issues, including contested matters, origination, bankruptcy, default and other types of litigation.
- John H. Rowland, a shareholder in Baker Donelson's Nashville office, was named chair of the Firm's Corporate Restructuring and Bankruptcy Group, a team of more than 50 attorneys across the Firm's footprint who assist clients with litigation and transactions relating to all types of bankruptcy and insolvency issues, including matters involving debtor/creditor relationships and asset restructuring.
- Kristine L. Roberts was named chair of Baker Donelson's Financial Services Litigation Group. Ms. Roberts is a shareholder in the Firm's Memphis office and a member of the Firm's board of directors. The Financial Services Litigation Group is a multi-disciplinary team of attorneys who represent financial services companies in state and federal courts, in arbitration, and before regulatory agencies. The matters handled by the Group include allegations of mortgage fraud, predatory lending, breach of fiduciary duties, securities fraud, alleged regulatory violations and other disputes involving financial institutions, including class actions and other complex litigation.
- Jackie G. Prester, shareholder in the Memphis office, was named chair of the Firm's Financial Services Transaction Group. This group helps financial services businesses and their owners with legal challenges arising from transactions occurring throughout the course of business, from initial formation to acquisition and sale transactions as well as regulatory and compliance issues.
"Each of these group leaders brings a tremendous amount of experience in serving the financial industry," said Timothy M. Lupinacci, chair of the Firm's Financial Services Department. "They are leading a Financial Services team with a truly integrated focus on representing financial institutions across the broad spectrum of financial services and products. Working together, these practice groups give us the ability to assist banks and other financial service providers with the complex issues they face every day."
With more than 130 attorneys solely dedicated to financial services, Baker Donelson's Financial Services Department represents clients across the financial sector, providing legal services and industry insight for regulatory, transactional and litigation matters. Clients include all sizes of national and state chartered banks providing commercial and investment services; bank holding companies and bank subsidiaries; independent and captive finance companies; financial services companies; public and private investment funds; residential and commercial mortgage servicers and special servicers; trusts; wealth management companies; insurance companies; and vendors providing goods and services to the industry.