Community Based, Nationally Recognized (sm)

Category Archives: Media Mentions

Media Mentions – August 20, 2010

With attorneys and staff worldwide, Bryan Cave attorneys often make the news. Sometimes media mentions highlight the firm’s involvement with notable clients, sometimes the individual accomplishments of attorneys and staff. Recent media mentions of attorneys in the financial institutions practice include:

Klingler in American Banker

Atlanta Associate Robert Klingler was quoted Aug. 4 by American Banker regarding the charges against Rep. Maxine Waters, and whether those charges might be of use to banks denied TARP funds. An ethics panel report alleges Waters may have broken rules when she helped a trade group arrange a meeting between then-Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and executives of OneUnited Bank, an institution with financial ties to her husband and huge losses from the takeovers of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Klingler said the government had a uniform standard for deciding TARP investments – essentially awarding funds to institutions that could prove their viability – and no one ever expected the system to be perfect. “We understand that the process will sometimes result in wrong outcomes,” he said, adding that those who believe they were treated unfairly could use the Waters investigation for “rhetoric” at best. “I don’t know that it is rhetoric that necessarily the public is happy with. Generally, the public is opposed to TARP. So hearing a bank whine about not getting TARP isn’t going to get the American public riled up.”

Moeling in National, Regional Publications 

Atlanta Partner Walt Moeling was quoted in the August edition of US Banker on the moves being made by community banks to boost their capital ratios. “In this kind of market, the most successful banks that deal with their problems don’t just take one approach, they pull out the playbook,” Moeling said. “My most successful clients have cut expenses, sold branches, consolidated charters, disposed of nonbank activities.” Click here to read the full article. Moeling was quoted Aug. 10 by American Banker (reprinted by Bank Investment Consultant online) concerning a push of stock offerings expected this fall from community banks, particularly via private placements rather than public offerings. Click here to read the article. In addition, he was quoted Aug. 2 in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution regarding JPMorgan Chase & Co., which plans to open 10 new bank branches across the northern metro Atlanta area by the end of the year. Eight currently are under construction. Click here to read the article.

(more…)

Media Mentions

With attorneys and staff worldwide, Bryan Cave attorneys often make the news.  Recent media mentions include Walt Moeling of the Financial Institutions practice group:

Moeling on WABE Radio, in Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Partner Walt Moeling was interviewed July 26 by WABE Radio, the Atlanta NPR affiliate, and was quoted July 22 in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on the anticipated uptick in Georgia’s bank failures. Moeling said he expects to see two to four failures per month through the end of the year. “If the economy remains stable, it’s one answer,” he told the Journal-Constitution. “If it slumps…borrowers are going to give up [paying their loans] quickly, and that will boost the number.” Thirty-nine banks have failed in Georgia since August 2008 – the most for any state. Click here to read the full Journal-Constitution article.

Media Mentions – July 2, 2010

Recent media mentions of attorneys in Bryan Cave’s financial institutions practice include:

Atkinson in Virginian-Pilot
Charlotte Partner B.T. Atkinson was quoted June 7 by The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Va., concerning private-equity firms that are investing in troubled banks. Hampton Road Bancshares, parent company of Hampton Road Bank and Shore Bank, recently announced that private equity firms will invest in the company. Click here to read the article.

Hester in American Banker
Atlanta Associate Barry Hester was quoted June 10 by American Banker on a controversial provision of the financial reform bill that would tighten capital restrictions on many banks, including those still participating in the government’s TARP bailout program. “It will immediately result in undercapitalization for a number of banks,” Hester said. “It would be like flipping the switch, where banks that are currently OK would suddenly need to raise more capital. It could be a disaster if it isn’t phased in to let people plan ahead.”

Klingler on thestreet.com, bailoutsleuth.com 
Atlanta Associate Robert Klingler was quoted June 4 by thestreet.com regarding bank capital standards. Click here to read the article. He also was quoted that same day by bailoutsleuth.com on the Small Business Lending Fund, which is designed to inject $30 billion into small banks – defined as those with less than $10 billion in assets – with the idea that they will in turn lend money to small businesses. Click here to read the article.

(more…)

Media Mentions – May 7, 2010

With attorneys and staff worldwide, Bryan Cave attorneys often make the news.  Sometimes media mentions highlight the firm’s involvement with notable clients, sometimes the individual accomplishments of attorneys and staff.  Recent media mentions of attorneys in Bryan Cave’s financial institutions practice include:

McAlpin in Atlanta Business Chronicle

Atlanta Partner Jim McAlpin was highlighted, with photo, April 30 in the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “Power 50″ – the publication’s annual list of the region’s key business leaders. The list includes top managers, directors, CEOs and corporate heads from companies across Atlanta. McAlpin was recognized for his comprehensive experience in corporate and business law.

 Moeling in American Banker, Journal-Constitution, US Banker

Atlanta Partner Walt Moeling was quoted April 29 in American Banker on the U.S. Treasury Department’s decision to allow two banks to convert preferred shares into common equity at a steep discount rather than allow those banks to fail. He was quoted April 28 by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution concerning the fact that federal authorities have opened criminal investigations into a number of bank failures in northern Georgia. Moeling was quoted April 14 by American Banker on how savvy investors who bought failed banks’ assets from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. for pennies on the dollar have recovered their money many times over. He also was quoted in the May edition of US Banker on the difficult time community banks have had finding the support they need to regain their financial footing and start making loans again.

Media Mentions – April 26, 2010

With attorneys and staff worldwide, Bryan Cave attorneys often make the news.  Sometimes media mentions highlight the firm’s involvement with notable clients, sometimes the individual accomplishments of attorneys and staff.  Recent media mentions of attorneys in Bryan Cave’s financial institutions practice include:

Blanchard in Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta Partner Jerry Blanchard was quoted April 8 in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution regarding the stepped-up scrutiny of real estate lenders in economic hard times.
Moeling in Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Business Chronicle
Atlanta Partner Walt Moeling was quoted April 17 by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on recent bank failures in Georgia mountain communities, and how the boom and bust of the vacation home market hit the Ellijay area. Moeling also was quoted April 2 in the Atlanta Business Chronicle regarding Georgia banks venturing into the stock market.
Rinearson, Strahlberg in Paybefore Update
New York Partner Judith Rinearson and Chicago Associate Margo Hirsch Strahlberg authored an article outlining key aspects of the Federal Reserve Board’s final gift card rules in connection with Title IV of the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act (the CARD Act) in the March edition of Paybefore Update. Rinearson, Strahlberg and DC Counsel John ReVeal will present a webinar on this topic from 2 to 3 p.m. EST Wednesday, April 28.

Media Mentions – April 14, 2010

With attorneys and staff worldwide, Bryan Cave attorneys often make the news.  Sometimes media mentions highlight the firm’s involvement with notable clients, sometimes the individual accomplishments of attorneys and staff.  Recent media mentions of attorneys in Bryan Cave’s financial institutions practice include:

Moeling in Deal Pipelines

Atlanta Partner Walt Moeling was quoted March 26 in The Deal Pipeline, an online transaction information service from The Deal, regarding the assets from failed banks that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has been able to sell off recently.

Rinearson in Post-Dispatch, Inside Regulatory Strategies

New York Partner Judith Rinearson was quoted March 28 by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on new gift card rules announced recently by the Federal Reserve. She also was quoted March 8 by Inside Regulatory Strategies concerning the Federal Reserve and competing proposals for a new consumer protection entity. Rinearson said consumer protection can be housed either at the Fed, the Treasury or the FDIC, as long as the agency in charge has autonomous rulemaking powers and independent funding, a presidentially appointed head and examination and enforcement powers.

Media Mentions March 26, 2010

With attorneys and staff worldwide, Bryan Cave attorneys often make the news.  Sometimes media mentions highlight the firm’s involvement with notable clients, sometimes the individual accomplishments of attorneys and staff.  Recent media mentions of attorneys in Bryan Cave’s financial institutions practice include:

Moeling in Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta Partner Walt Moeling was quoted March 18 by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on the tough time former CEOs of failed Georgia banks are having finding work.

Rinearson on FinancialFraudLaw.com
New York Partner Judith Rinearson was quoted March 19 on FinancialFraudLaw.com regarding the proposal from Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) for a consumer protection division within the Federal Reserve. The idea is part of the ongoing development of new financial regulations for the banking industry.

Media Mentions March 12, 2010

With attorneys and staff worldwide, Bryan Cave attorneys often make the news.  Sometimes media mentions highlight the firm’s involvement with notable clients, sometimes the individual accomplishments of attorneys and staff.  Recent media mentions of attorneys in Bryan Cave’s financial institutions practice include:

Blanchard in Financial Industry Outlets

Atlanta Partner Jerry Blanchard was quoted Feb. 25 by Bank Info Security and Cuinfosecurity.com and Feb. 23 on Financial Fraud Law.com concerning the high number of banks and credit unions that continue to fail nationwide, despite what many see as a turnaround in the economy.

Moeling in Business Week, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Partner Walt Moeling was quoted Feb. 25 in a BusinessWeek/Bloomberg article regarding the new investment group BSE Management LLC, which hopes to raise $1 billion to buy failed lenders in the Southeast U.S. He also was quoted Feb. 28 in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on what happens when FDIC officials arrive to take over a failing bank.

Media Mentions February 26, 2010

With attorneys and staff worldwide, attorneys in Bryan Cave’s financial institutions practice often make the news.  Sometimes media mentions highlight the firm’s involvement with notable clients, sometimes the individual accomplishments of attorneys and staff.  Recent media mentions include:

Klingler in Buffalo News

Atlanta Associate Robert Klingler was quoted Feb. 21 in the Buffalo News on President Barack Obama’s pledge to direct $30 billion in repaid TARP funds to community banks, which could allow those banks to lend more to small businesses.

Media Mentions February 12, 2010

With attorneys and staff worldwide, attorneys in Bryan Cave’s financial institutions practice often make the news.  Sometimes media mentions highlight the firm’s involvement with notable clients, sometimes the individual accomplishments of attorneys and staff.  Recent media mentions include:

Atkinson in Winston-Salem Journal

Charlotte Partner B.T. Atkinson was quoted Feb. 3 in the Winston-Salem Journal on the Obama administration’s proposal to offer $30 billion in financing to community banks to help support the Small Business Lending Fund, which is aimed at creating jobs.

Klingler in Financial Times, Others

Atlanta Associate Robert Klingler was quoted Feb. 2 in the Financial Times on President Barack Obama’s pledge to direct $30 billion in repaid TARP funds to community banks, so they can beef up lending to small businesses. He also was quoted Feb. 3 in BNA’s Banking Daily on Obama’s pledge and Feb. 5 in the Memphis Business Journal describing why less than 10 percent of TARP recipients have paid back their TARP funds.

Moeling in Atlanta Business Chronicle

Atlanta Partner Walt Moeling was quoted Jan. 29 in the Atlanta Business Chronicle concerning First National Bank of Georgia, which was seized and sold to Community & Southern Bank, an investment group led by former bank regulator and noted turnaround specialist Patrick Frawley.

Strahlberg in ABA Bulletin

Chicago Associate Margo Hirsch Strahlberg was featured in an ABA continuing legal education bulletin for her part in the Jan. 28 ABA-sponsored teleconference on gift cards and rebates. Strahlberg’s presentation focused on consumer protection issues related to prepaid cards under both state and federal law. About 80 attendees registered for the event.