Banking + Financial Services

Ellis Lawhorne is one of the leading banking and financial services law firms in the state, advising financial institutions on regulatory, litigation and transactional matters. Banks, insurance companies and other lenders and borrowers seek our legal guidance in sophisticated lending and financing transactions.

We assist clients in all aspects of the development, construction, financing, restructuring, and purchase and sale of projects and, likewise, advise developers and financial investors in the sale and acquisition of infrastructure assets.

Clients seek our assistance in structuring and documenting real estate loans, including construction and project financing, revolving credit and term loan facilities, asset-based loans, letters of credit, working capital and acquisition loans, and loan participations. Our attorneys provide thoughtful counsel for clients on uniform commercial code, lender liability and other legal issues relating to banking and lending, and assist clients in loan workouts and debt restructuring transactions. We are also a valued resource for banks, savings associations, and finance companies for dispute resolution.

We assist lenders with troubled loans, workouts and debt restructures and have collected against diverse collateral such as hotels, shopping centers, timeshare projects, office buildings, apartment complexes, golf courses, and other commercial properties. Our bankruptcy practice involves creditor representation in bankruptcy court, workouts, and preference litigation.

Our services for mortgage banking – an area of special emphasis – include litigating disputes with correspondent lenders, pursuing title claims and advancing mortgage fraud liability cases. In addition, our attorneys are well versed in matters related to daily management of accounts and deposit relationships, including altered and forged instruments and account ownership disputes.

We defend banking and finance clients in actions alleging violation of consumer disclosure and protection laws, and lender and general liability matters. In the highly technical legal landscape of privacy and information security, we can fully advise banks and other financial services companies in avenues which offer less risk and greater assurance.