Renee P. Lewis

Renee Lewis is a partner in Holland & Knight's Chicago office and a member of the firm's Financial Services Practice Group. Ms. Lewis is the co-chair of the firm's ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plans) practice. Ms. Lewis advises company executives and owners on strategically structuring complex financing transactions. Her practice focuses on counsel for financial institutions, privately held companies and trustees in the structuring, negotiation and documentation of ESOP transactions, which may entail leveraged buyouts, equity repurchases and corporate reorganizations.

Ms. Lewis's substantial corporate compliance and transactional experience includes:

• providing legal support on domestic and international restructuring initiatives
• analyzing complex tax, fiduciary and other issues related to employee benefit programs
• leading all aspects of corporate transactions, including financing considerations, budgeting, document production and legal due diligence conducted by various attorney specialists
• managing general corporate legal matters, such as organization and dissolution, limited liability company operating agreements, corporate structuring, organization and governance issues, employment agreements, deferred compensation plans and business contracts
• advising company executives and owners on transactional strategies, helping to ensure successful closings following appropriate due diligence
• providing structured financing documentation related to corporate credit facilities, ESOP loan transactions and asset-based financing vehicles for lenders and borrowers