Commercial Lending and Borrowing

Structuring

We work closely with lenders in developing a commercial loan structure that will meet the loan customer’s needs (e.g., to maintain multiple entities within its organization) while at the same time addressing collateral coverage and enforcement issues arising from such structures.  We specialize in helping our clients to anticipate and deal with enforceability challenges “up front” that may occur if the loan goes to workout or bankruptcy status.

Documenting

We have extensive experience representing financial institutions in documenting and closing all types of commercial lending transactions, including:

• Traditional loans secured by tangible assets
• Asset-based financings (secured by accounts receivable and/or inventory)
• ESOP financing (whether for acquisition purposes or for the purpose of the owner realizing upon his/her long-term efforts in building a company)
• Loans secured by real estate
• Real estate development loans (construction, interim and permanent)
• Loans for the purpose of making acquisitions
• Euro-based loans
• Securitized financings
• Sale and lease-back financing
• Tax-increment financings (TIF's)

Enforcing

We also have extensive experience in representing financial institutions in workout and bankruptcy situations, as well as enforcement of loan and guarantee obligations.

Experience

The Commercial Lending & Borrowing practice group has represented financial institutions for over 30 years, including general representation of publicly-held bank holding companies and their bank subsidiaries.  We have also represented asset-based lenders for more than 20 years.

Since Gallop, Johnson & Neuman specializes in transactional practice, including merger and acquisition practice and the representation of public companies, the firm presents numerous opportunities for financial institutions to be involved in those transactions.

In connection with mergers and acquisitions and its general representation of clients, we are often in the position of representing the borrower in a commercial finance transaction.  That perspective allows our attorneys to understand the loan terms that are important to the borrower and, when representing lenders, to structure creative ways of meeting those concerns without lessening the strength of the lender-client’s position.

This practice group is headed by John P. Walsh , who has over 30 years experience in representing commercial financial concerns.

Our Real Estate Finance  practice area is headed by Robert H. Epstein , who has over 20 years experience representing commercial lenders and real estate developers, including structuring tax increment financing, HUD-insured mortgage financing and bond issuances.

Meeting the Challenges

The Commercial Lending and Borrowing practice group of Gallop, Johnson & Neuman has the experience, expertise and depth to represent commercial lenders in all aspects of their business.  We are sensitive to the concerns of commercial finance clients for timely and cost-effective performance.  The practice group, and the firm as a whole, also provide a fertile source of commercial lending opportunities from our broad client base of private and public companies.