Banking and Finance

Simmons Perrine PLC is widely recognized as having one of the largest and most established banking and finance practices in the state of Iowa.

Banking and Finance

At Simmons Perrine PLC, our banking and finance clients benefit from a standard of excellence that meets and exceeds that of a major metropolitan firm. Our deep bench of experienced attorneys is known for navigating the most complex matters. Our attorneys include a former in-house counsel to a major financial institution, the former Associate General Counsel for the Minnesota Credit Union Network, a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy and a former Chapter 7 Trustee. 

Our Banking and Finance Law Services

We advise lenders and borrowers on commercial transactions, including secured and unsecured lending, asset-based and real estate lending, project and acquisition financing, letters of credit and mortgage enforceability opinions.

Our banking attorneys handle all aspects of foreclosure actions and negotiate loan default workout agreements.

We represent lenders in connection with troubled loans in proceedings before the United States Bankruptcy Court as well as cases pending in state court throughout the State of Iowa.

We have experience in negotiating, structuring and completing mergers, acquisitions and other reorganizations. Our attorneys have accomplished even the most complex transactions of all sizes.

We represent buyers and sellers of financial institutions and provide regulatory and compliance advice to banks and their related holding companies. Members of the practice have also served as in-house counsel for financial institutions, bringing first-hand industry experience to the team.

We advise on private placement offerings, venture capital and counsel regarding angel investors.

Our banking and litigation attorneys represent Iowa and out of state banks, savings and loans, and other financial institutions in banking litigation involving a wide variety of matters.

View the full list

Transactional Matters

  • $47 million refinance and cross‐collateralization of various borrower obligations, including participation agreement.
  • $41 million construction and bridge finance to rehabilitate 180,000 sq. ft. mixed use building. Funding includes city bond issues and historical tax credits from the State.


Regulatory Matters

  • Advised client on recent changes under the Dodd‐Frank Act to the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (“RESPA”) and implemented by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) in 2014. Developed recommended procedures to minimize liability risk under RESPA and the Truth‐in‐Lending Act.
  • Review of an agreement with bank’s central routing unit (CRU) which would govern all transactions for its automated teller machines (“ATM”) and point‐of‐sale (“POS”) transactions conducted by the bank at an estimated amount of $337 million annually. The review identified key changes to the agreements in order to limit the bank’s exposure under the agreements and to protect the bank’s interests in its ongoing relationship with the CRU. Further assisted the bank in negotiating many of the above changes to the agreements with CRU’s counsel.


Litigation Matters

  •  Suit on promissory notes, guarantee and foreclosure of personal property of multiple restaurant franchise locations in Iowa. Matter involved franchise, leasehold and indemnification issues. Negotiated and obtained forbearance agreements with three limited guarantors, thereby reducing the overall obligation by approximately $250k. Successfully litigated matter and garnered an approximate $335,000 judgment for client.
  • Foreclosure and receiver action for 42‐acre multi‐building shopping mall complex. Matter involved the review of numerous bank documents, lease agreements and complex easement and joint tenant real estate documents. Successfully negotiated a settlement wherein the borrower surrendered possession of the real estate through a deed‐in‐lieu foreclosure.

A Full-Service Approach

Our banking and finance practice group comprises one of the largest banking and finance practice in Iowa, representing client transactions of over $400 million annually. We provide counsel on legal issues ranging from regulatory compliance services as well as handling all aspects of foreclosure actions and negotiating loan default workout agreements, to mergers and acquisitions, sales and purchases, creditor’s rights and more.

Presentations

View a list of our presentations. Contact us if you’d like more information on any of these topics or if you have a suggestion for a future topic.

Contact Us

If you have questions regarding our banking and finance practice contact us today.

Banking and Finance

Practicing Attorneys

Member

Eric W. Lam

Attorney

Samuel J. Gray

Attorney

Jacob K. Vetter