Chambers and Partners USA

Nationwide Financial Services Regulation: Banking Compliance (Band 5)

Nationwide Financial Services Regulation: Financial Institutions M&A (Band 3)

According to Chambers USA 2011:

THE FIRM Bracewell & Giuliani has a broad geographic footprint, with a strong team in both Texas and in New York. It is particularly well recognized in the South, where it represents a number of major banks. The team continues to act as regulatory counsel to Lehman Brothers and has assisted several other financial institutions in M&A transactions across the Gulf, from Florida to Texas. It also maintains a well-regarded broker dealer advisory practice in Manhattan, working with high-frequency trading firms, prime brokerage and ATS. 

Sources say: "The team is a big deal in the South. It does all of the major Texas transactions."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Julian Rainero is a key contact at the firm for broker dealer advice. He is known for his expertise on trading issues, including acting for Credit Suisse, Nomura and Mitsubishi UFJ. Sanford Brown has a strong reputation for regulatory matters in the Gulf region. He has been active in the bank M&A space and is seen to give high quality advice to regional banking clients in and around Texas. William Luedke "knows the Texas market well and maintains strong relationships there." He has an excellent reputation for M&A transactions involving publicly traded banking institutions.

Legal 500

Financial Services: Regulation (Tier 5)

According to Legal 500 2011:

Bracewell & Giuliani LLP's "top-notch" practice provides a "knowledgeable, responsive and practical service" across a range of bank regulatory matters including financial services M&A, litigation and compliance. Sanford Brown is a pivotal member of the team and as part of his broad-ranging practice has handled transactional work for the likes of Dallas-based bank Connemara Bancorp on its acquisition of First Amherst Bancshares. "Not only does he possess deep knowledge in all banking and financial regulatory areas but he has the unique ability to translate complex issues into actionable business language." The firm also benefits from five attorneys who focus on broker-dealer matters, although it is the "knowledgeable, responsive and practical" Julian Rainero, who is the "clear superstar" in this field. Rainero recently advised one of the country’s leading clearing firms on the launch of a multi-currency, multi-asset class clearing firm. William Luedke is also recommended and is "extremely knowledgeable in the needs of publicly traded financial institutions." Clients include Lehman Brothers Holdings, Prosperity Bancshares, Green Bancorp, Fidelity Investments, Bank of New York, Oppenheimer, Sandler O’Neill & Partners and Credit Suisse.