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Every attorney on the team is excellent, the firm is my go-to for any legal matter.

- Chambers USA 2023

Overview

Stearns Weaver Miller’s Banking & Financial Institutions Industry Group represents federal and state commercial banks, savings banks and other financial institutions ranging in size from local independent banks and thrifts to large "super-regional" banks and holding companies. We represent our bank clients on a wide array of matters including commercial and asset-based financing, commercial real estate lending, mergers and acquisitions and securities and regulation issues.  

We have extensive experience in many types of credit transactions, including asset-based and leveraged lending, multi-borrower and single-borrower secured and unsecured lending, cash flow lending, syndicated lending and acquisition lending. Our clients include domestic and international commercial banks, finance companies, investment banks and REITs, as well as borrowers, guarantors and other credit enhancers. We assist our clients in structuring, negotiating, documenting, closing and managing their credit transactions.

Our experience includes both domestic and cross-border transactions involving borrowers engaged in a wide variety of industries and involving a broad spectrum of collateral.

  • AML-BSA & OFAC
  • Bankruptcy
  • Commercial & Asset-Based FinancingStearns Weaver Miller’s Commercial Lending & Asset-Based Finance practice represents major financial institutions with established lending activities in Florida, as well as borrowers, guarantors and other credit enhancers, and out-of-state lenders, including commercial banks, private equity shops and hedge funds. We assist our lending clients in structuring, negotiating, documenting, closing and managing their credit transactions.

    We are well versed in secured transactions, including all aspects of Articles 8 and 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, as well as bankruptcy-related concepts, securities laws implications of certain lending arrangements, and aircraft, maritime, artwork and cross-border financing transactions.

    Our lawyers have extensive experience in capital markets and mergers & acquisitions and, in particular, in representing lenders to private equity shops, hedge funds and their investors. Our lending clients include major money center banks, local commercial banks and savings institutions, finance companies, and investment banks and REITs. By teaming with the Firm's real estate, bankruptcy, securities, corporate and alternative entity, tax, and intellectual property lawyers, we are able to add value to our financial institution clients by evaluating credit risks that depend on analysis of issues in those substantive areas. We also frequently act as local counsel assisting other lenders’ and borrowers’ counsel in large multi-state credit transactions.

    Our lending & asset-based finance attorneys also assist our credit provider and borrower clients in distressed debt scenarios. We pride ourselves on finding creative ways of structuring workout and turnaround debt and equity transactions in order to avoid the consequences of insolvency to our clients. We are proud to assist our lending institution clients in structuring their credit transactions and in finding imaginative, and sometimes novel, solutions to difficult issues.
  • Commercial Real Estate Lending
  • Corporate
  • Data Security & Breaches
  • Foreclosure
  • Government Affairs – Legislative & Executive/Cabinet & Agency
  • Government Investigations & Audits
  • Labor & Employment
  • Licensure & Discipline
  • Litigation
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Real Estate
  • Regulatory Filings & Compliance
  • Securities
  • Technology
  • Workout and Turnaround Debt & Equity

Publications: CYBER-LENDING: Perfecting Security Interests in the New Frontier of Cryptocurrency-Backed Loans
Blockchain Magazine|July 2018|Craig S. Barnett

In the Media: BBX Defeats Shareholder Lawsuit in Case That Could Trim Merger Litigation
Daily Business Review|March 2018

In the Media: Alan Levan gets back to work
Miami Herald Business Monday |August 2017

In the Media: Epic Battles
South Florida Business and Wealth|July 2017

In the Media: Levan, BBX cleared of SEC charges
South Florida Business Journal |May 2017

In the Media: Federal Jury Clears Levan and BBX on All SEC Claims
Daily Business Review|May 2017

In the Media: Prominent banker, attorney win fights with SEC, class-action attorneys
South Florida Business & Wealth |May 2017

In the Media: Court reverses 2014 judgment against BBX, Alan Levan
SunSentinel|September 2016

In the Media: 11th Circ. Axes SEC Win in BankAtlantic Fraud Case
Law360|September 2016

In the Media: Levan and BBX overturn SEC’s victory on appeal
South Florida Business Journal|September 2016

Events: Please leave a message - I am currently balancing work and life but I will get back to you no later than my next life
The Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce Women's Business Network Luncheon |November 2015|Alison W. Miller

In the Media: Power Leaders in Banking & Finance
South Florida Business Journal|July 2015

In the Media: Women in Law: Women Honored for South Florida Legal Accomplishments
Daily Business Review|October 2014

In the Media: Top 20 Women in Law: DBR Recognizes South Florida Achievers
Daily Business Review|September 2014

In the Media: Power Leaders in Banking
South Florida Business Journal|August 2014

In the Media: Stearns Weaver Trio Helps Close $75M In Refinancing
Daily Business Review|April 2014

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