Banking

Companies involved in cross-border transactions face numerous regulatory hurdles relating to the export and re-export of sensitive goods and technologies; investments and other dealings having national security implications; and relationships with persons and entities that may be governed by U.S. economic sanctions, anti-money laundering and anti-corruption laws.

To be successful, consumer financial services companies strive to offer new and innovative products and services through traditional and online channels. Banks and thrifts, mortgage companies, consumer lenders, credit card issuers, payments networks, auto lenders, technology companies and leasing entities regularly turn to our experienced consumer financial attorneys at Goodwin for counsel. We provide regulatory advice involving the development of new products, assist with the chartering and licensing of new financial services companies, draft compliance policies and procedures, conduct compliance reviews, and counsel on privacy and cybersecurity matters. Our attorneys regularly represent consumer financial services companies and trade associations — including the Electronic Funds Transfer Association and the Consumer Bankers Association — before Congress and federal and state regulatory agencies.

Goodwin’s unique combination of deep experience serving both the innovators and investors in a rapidly-changing, technology-driven economy sets us apart. We partner with clients to embrace the promise and potential of innovation to make a lasting impact. Our Debt Finance practice represents borrowers, private equity sponsors and lenders in a broad range of financing transactions. Our Debt Finance lawyers work closely with the firm's Private Equity, Technology Companies, Capital Markets, and Financial Restructuring groups structuring, negotiating and documenting domestic and cross-border debt financing arrangements, including secured and unsecured senior, mezzanine and subordinated debt facilities, acquisition-financing transactions, working capital facilities, as well as loan workouts and restructurings.

On the borrower side, Goodwin represents private equity firms and their portfolio companies, leading public and private companies and start-ups in a wide variety of business industries. On the lender side, Goodwin’s clients include domestic and international banks, insurance and finance companies, mezzanine lenders, business development companies and other institutional investors.

Workouts. Reorganization. Liquidation.

Companies of all sizes – from start-ups to more established businesses and international corporations – have benefited over the last several years from sustained economic growth, favorable interest rates and higher investment income. Banner years have been common for many businesses. Yet the reality is that not every business succeeds. Shifting investor preferences, regulatory developments, ongoing disputes over tariffs and trade, and the potential for economic slowdown could mean trouble for many companies going forward.

Technology has permeated the modern age and influences nearly every aspect of our daily lives. Long-standing financial services institutions are a prime example of how far the technological revolution has reached. Brick and mortar financial institutions are facing new disruptive competitors in everything ranging from mobile and peer-to-peer payments to online banking and lending. Fintech companies are receiving record high investments across the globe and the market is thriving at an unparalleled pace. With new regulatory considerations developing in tandem, it is crucial for a successful Fintech company to have expert legal counsel that is fully apprised of all the newest developments, such as GDPR in Europe, and how they affect the industry.

As businesses today face an increasingly sophisticated threat environment compounded by aggressive regulatory enforcement, companies need a partner who can help mitigate risk and respond to the unthinkable. Our top ranked Data, Privacy & Cybersecurity practice is one of the longest-standing of any Am Law 50 firm. Our practice is fully integrated and leverages the firm's core strengths, with the group's lawyers coming from our technology, financial institutions, licensing, litigation, regulatory and appellate practices. Our unique approach, focusing on client needs and value, enables us to engage specialists whose experience is framed by a holistic understanding of clients' greatest risks in this threatening environment.

More than 500 public companies trust Goodwin to serve as their counsel in a variety of corporate and litigation matters. We are primary outside counsel to public companies in many different industries, of all different sizes, and listed on both U.S. and non-U.S. exchanges. We help clients achieve their business strategies; meet high standards of transparency in disclosure, corporate governance and executive compensation; manage effective investor relations programs; and build credibility through disciplined interaction with capital markets participants, security holders, regulators, employees, ratings agencies, the media and the public at large. We integrate with experts from our M&A/Corporate Governance, ERISA & Executive Compensation, Securities Litigation and Tax Practices to provide full service representation for our public company clients.

Rising interest rates? Falling tenant demand? “High-yield” or “value-added”? Across the global real estate capital markets, how you position yourself with respect to risk and return is critical for maximizing your investments. Whether assessing demographic trends and capital flows or anticipating geographic shifts, Goodwin’s Real Estate Industry group offers deep market insight and a practical approach to help you make the most of every investment decision – from private fund formation and all types of real estate transactions to REIT and real estate M&A, we excel at what we do.

When a company is faced with a securities class action or shareholder derivative litigation, they need a partner who understands what is at stake and can think outside the box to achieve resolution. Goodwin’s deep experience, creative thinking and tenacity has led to our involvement in precedent-setting securities cases in courts across the country. The results we achieve are best of breed and have helped shape the law nationally, including outright dismissals of billions of dollars in putative class action and shareholder derivative claims. Our cases range from defending high tech and biotech companies in class action securities fraud litigation brought following restatements of earnings or the release of bad business news, to resolving shareholder derivative challenges, to multibillion dollar mergers and acquisitions.