Chambers and Partners USA

Nationwide Financial Services Regulation: Banking (Compliance) (Band 5)

Nationwide Financial Services Regulation: Financial Institutions M&A (Band 4)

According to Chambers USA 2012:

THE FIRM This firm's extensive financial services regulatory practice counsels clients on a broad range of banking and broker-dealer compliance matters, and is noted for providing tailored M&A expertise to financial institution clients. The banking regulatory practice is particularly active in Texas and the Southern states, advising regional and community banks such as Park Cities Bank and NexBank on a variety of compliance and enforcement matters. M&A clients include MS Financial and Encore Bancshares.

Commercial Awareness “Bracewell provides the legal pathway our organization needs. We have a lot of confidence in their skills and experience.”

KEY INDIVIDUALS Sanford Brown is one of the firm’s top names for banking-related regulatory and M&A work. According to sources, he “is very smart and responsive, and knows all the regulations and regulators.”

Julian Rainero heads the firm’s seven-lawyer broker-dealer practice group and is considered its go-to lawyer for advice on such matters. His key clients include Credit Suisse and BNY ConvergEx.

William Luedke heads the financial institutions group and focuses on M&A and regulatory matters. Clients appreciate that “he has seen the ups and downs of the market and can draw on that experience.”

Legal 500

Financial Services: Regulatory (Tier 6)

According to Legal 500 2012:

“One of the best banking firms in Texas,”Bracewell & Giuliani LLP “knows the regulatory players in the state along with a number of the bank management teams.” Sanford Brown is one of the pivotal members of the team and as part of his broad-ranging practice handles a mix of compliance, enforcement and M&A work. “One of the godfathers of banking attorneys in Texas,” William Luedke recently negotiated a consent with the FDIC and Texas Department of Banking. Spearheaded by Julian Rainero, the New York practice specializes in broker-dealer work, an area of expertise that was recently underscored by the firm’s appointment by SIFMA to prepare comments letters on FINRA’s supervision proposal and communications with the public proposal. Robert Frenchman is also recommended.