We Understand Your Business

The financial services industry drives the global economy and enables companies across all business segments to grow and thrive. With such widespread influence, it is particularly important for participants in the financial services industry to stay attuned to current trends in the marketplace. For instance:

  • The importance of environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives continues to grow, with financial institutions realizing the need for the industry to do its part to combat climate change through climate finance innovation and helping transition companies to a net-zero world, as well as improve financial inclusion and "fairness" efforts that broaden access. Those at the forefront of this movement will have opportunities others won't.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the emphasis on digital transformation throughout the industry, with many banks reducing spending on branch locations in favor of self-service digital platforms such as mobile and online banking, as well as embedded banking offered through other partner websites. Along with that has come an ever-increasing focus on cybersecurity to protect sensitive institutional and customer data.
  • The increasing evolvement of blockchain technology, virtual currencies and the digital assets market is continuing to blur the line between traditional finance models and FinTech. The transformation is increasing bank-FinTech partnerships and reducing underlying processes and the need for intermediaries, bringing with it the potential to save the industry billions of dollars in annual operating costs but also an increased need to manage risks in the areas of fraud, anti-money laundering, liquidity, transparency and compliance with a still-developing regulatory landscape.
  • Retail investors are showing increased interest in derivatives and other structured products, prompting brokers to work to meet demand for availability for these trades, often on mobile platforms. The risk metrics that accompany these new products may cause both investors to more closely examine their investment options and firms to be cautious regarding investor actions.

Is your company positioned to succeed?

We Can Help

As increased regulations continue to complicate financial transactions, industry participants require sophisticated legal counsel to navigate the changing environment and respond to opportunities and challenges. With more than 500 members throughout the firm, Holland & Knight's Financial Services Team has the depth and experience to effectively serve borrowers and lenders in all of their legal needs, including:

  • Corporate Services: We can assist you in conducting all aspects of your business operations, from corporate governance and transactions to mergers and acquisitions and data privacy and security, while ensuring that your activities are in full compliance with relevant regulations, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the Dodd-Frank Act.
  • Financial Services: As merger and acquisition (M&A) activity increases across many business segments, the demand for capital likewise increases. Our team can assist you in negotiating, documenting and completing every type of financial transaction, including commercial lending, private equity, venture capital, structured finance and public finance. We can also help protect your interests through workouts and restructuring of problem loans.
  • Insurance: Directors and officers of financial institutions face risks to their personal assets from multiple sources and state-of-the-art insurance protection is more important than ever. Our team can assist you in evaluating, negotiating and enforcing your directors and officers (D&O) fiduciary, employment practices and other management liability insurance policies.
  • International: As the global marketplace continues to fuel expansion opportunities around the around the world, we can assist you with all aspects of growing or maintaining your international operations, from transactional needs to mergers and acquisitions. In addition, we can also help your organization to prevent and address allegations of fraud and corruption such as anti-money laundering and violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
  • Labor, Employment and Benefits: We can guide your organization through common employment issues such as policies and training as well as more complex issues such as executive compensation, which has taken on added significance due to changing regulations.
  • Litigation and Dispute Resolution: Heightened regulations mean increased investigations and enforcement actions for participants in the financial services industry. We can defend your interests in any type of investigation and litigation, including those initiated by or involving the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the U.S. Department of Justice, antitrust, RICO, consumer fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and regulatory compliance.
  • Public Policy & Regulation: More than 80 individuals, including lawyers, senior public affairs professionals and legislative assistants with prior Capitol Hill, executive branch, and regulatory experience, are dedicated to the Public Policy & Regulation Group. Our group is a strong bipartisan team with deep ties throughout Washington, D.C. Our firm also maintains a federal Political Action Committee (PAC), which in recent election cycles has ranked among the top law firms in the total contributions given to candidates for Congress. These combined experiences and political reach of our team enables us to provide crucial advice necessary in complex policy areas and with required access to key decision-makers from both parties. Our financial services experts offer clients in-depth understanding of government relations and advocacy; significant legislative and technical knowledge of financial services; and deep experience in strategic communications, media, and grassroots/tops management. Our wealth of experience spans a diverse set of clients on financial services issues, ranging from traditional banking, insurance, private equity, consumer finance and credit/lending, commodities, all the way to data privacy and cybersecurity. What sets us apart is our combination of subject matter knowledge, significant relationships, and the creativity and strategic vision that we bring to clients over the course of our engagements.
  • Real Estate: Most financial services companies require brick and mortar locations and our team can help you with the acquisition, development, leasing and sale of the land and facilities required for your operations.
  • White Collar Defense and Investigations: With government investigations on the rise, compliance programs aimed at preventing regulatory violations are critical for companies engaged in the financial services industry. Our team can help you develop and implement such programs, and we can also defend your organization against allegations of fraud, corruption and money laundering.

Guidance You Can Trust

The combination of our thorough knowledge, our extensive experience and our sincere commitment to provide responsive service is why clients entrust our Financial Services Team to handle their legal needs. These attributes are also the reason why members of our team have been recognized among the top legal professionals in the country by leading publications, including:

Chambers USA – America's Leading Lawyers for Business recognized members of the following Holland & Knight practices as leaders in their fields:

  • Banking & Finance – Florida: Public Finance, Regulatory and Transactional
  • Banking & Finance – California
  • Banking & Finance – Pennsylvania
  • Banking & Finance – Georgia
  • Banking & Finance – North Carolina
  • Financial Services Regulation: Broker Dealer (Compliance)
  • Insurance – Florida
  • Latin America-Investment – Florida
  • Nationwide Aircraft Finance
  • Nationwide Equipment Finance & Leasing
  • Nationwide Investment Funds: Hedge Funds
  • Nationwide Shipping Finance

Chambers Global recognized members of the following Holland & Knight practices as leaders in their fields:

  • Banking & Finance – Latin America-wide
  • Banking & Finance – USA
  • Banking & Finance – Mexico
  • Banking & Finance – USA
  • Capital Markets – Mexico
  • Capital Markets – Latin America-wide
  • Aviation: Finance – Global-wide
  • Shipping: Finance – Global-wide

Chambers Latin America recognized members of the following Holland & Knight practices as leaders in their fields:

  • Banking & Finance – Mexico
  • Banking & Finance – Latin America-wide
  • Capital Markets – Mexico
  • Capital Markets – Latin America-wide

Best Lawyers in America recognized members of the following Holland & Knight practices as leaders in their fields:

  • Banking and Finance Law
  • Derivatives and Futures Law
  • Equipment Finance Law
  • Financial Services Regulation Law
  • International Trade and Finance Law
  • Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
  • Litigation – Banking and Finance
  • Private Funds / Hedge Funds Law
  • Project Finance Law
  • Public Finance Law
  • Securitization and Structured Finance Law
  • Venture Capital Law

Legal 500 recognized members of the following Holland & Knight practices as leaders in their fields:

  • Banking & Finance – Colombia
  • Banking & Finance – Mexico
  • Capital Markets – Mexico
  • Latin America: International Firms – Capital Markets
  • Projects and Infrastructure – Mexico
  • Structured Finance: Securitization – USA

Case Studies

Multimedia

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What Israeli Investors and Their Counsel Need to Know About Recent U.S. Transparency Developments
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Podcast - Breaking Down the Decision to Declare the Corporate Transparency Act Unconstitutional
CTA Declared Unconstitutional
CTA Declared Unconstitutional
The Corporate Transparency Act and Its Impact on Private Client Transactions
The Corporate Transparency Act and Its Impact on Private Client Transactions
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Financial Services Regulatory Crystal Ball Outlook for 2024
The Corporate Transparency Act: What You Need to Know
The Corporate Transparency Act: What You Need to Know
Section 105(l) Leases and Loan Borrowing: A New Quasi-Guarantee
Section 105(l) Leases and Loan Borrowing: A New Quasi-Guarantee
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Podcast - Open Finance
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Current Trends in Health Care M&A: An Update
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Bank M&A: The Crystal Ball Outlook for 2023
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Current Trends in Health Care M&A
Addressing Inflation in Government Contracts
Addressing Inflation in Government Contracts
Corporate Transparency Act Reporting Rules: What You Need to Know
Corporate Transparency Act Reporting Rules: What You Need to Know
CPA Webinar
What You Should Know About U.S. Sanctions Imposed on Russian Elites, Proxies and Oligarchs
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Part 2: Sanctions and Seizures: Federal Investigations of Oligarchs, Real Estate, Banks and More
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Al Paredón con Jorge Hernán Peláez
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Cryptocurrencies: How Far Ahead or Behind is the Legalization Process in Colombia?
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The Evolution of Climate-Impact Blended Finance for the Caribbean
A Discussion with the U.S. Export-Import Bank on Green Finance and its New Domestic Financing Program
A Discussion with the U.S. Export-Import Bank on Green Finance and its New Domestic Financing Program
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Sanctions and Seizures: Federal Investigations of Oligarchs, Real Estate, Banks and More
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Financial Services Regulation: 2022 Crystal Ball Roundtable
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Automating Loan Documents
Descontinuación de la Tasa LIBOR
Libor Discontinuation
Al Paredón con Jorge Hernán Peláez
Al Paredón con Jorge Hernán Peláez
The Attorney/Client Privilege Under Attack
The Attorney/Client Privilege Under Attack
Coffee & Conversation
Coffee & Conversation - The SPAC Boom Through an Investigator's Lens, Part 2
Coffee & Conversation
Coffee & Conversation - The SPAC Boom Through an Investigator's Lens, Part 1
The Eyes on Washington Podcast: A Conversation on Cannabis Legislation with Rep. Ed Perlmutter
Podcast - A Conversation on Cannabis Legislation with Rep. Ed Perlmutter
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What to Expect from President Biden's Consumer Advocate
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New Business Regulatory Trends in the Biden Administration: What Israeli FinTech Companies with U.S. Operations Need to Know
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Election 2020: Potential Impacts Series - Financial Services
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Part 3: Potential Issues Associated with Pursuing a Potential Senior-Level Political Appointment
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Financial Frenzy: Financial Options and New Laws Related to COVID-19
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The History Behind FIBRA UNO

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