Since our Firm's inception, one of our primary areas of focus has been the representation of banks and other public and private lending institutions in all facets of their businesses. Riker Danzig's reputation for expertise in financial services attracts national and international clients, with banks, private lending institutions and other lenders relying on our financial services attorneys for a variety of legal services. Recent clients include Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Bank of America, Peapack Private Bank & Trust, Provident Bank, U.S. Bank N.A., Manasquan Bank, and The Bank of New York Mellon. We also proudly serve as Counsel to the New Jersey Bankers Association, providing lobbying and regulatory work, as well as counseling and litigation.
In 2025, the Firm was honored as "Banking and Financial Firm of the Year" by the New Jersey Law Journal at its annual Legal Awards, an honor we also received in 2024. This distinction is based on our work for our clients in banking litigation; bankruptcy litigation and corporate reorganization; real estate restructurings; securities litigation, arbitration, regulation and investigations; commercial finance; workout of commercial loans; and mortgage and wire fraud claims. The group has received a Tier 1 ranking for Banking and Finance Law in New Jersey by Best Law Firms® since 2010, its inaugural edition. In addition, several of our financial services attorneys have been distinguished by Chambers U.S.A. and Best Lawyers®, as well as receiving recognition from professional organizations and bar associations for their contributions in New Jersey and New York.
Our financial services practice focuses on four primary areas:
Commercial Finance
Our finance attorneys have a rich background representing lenders in virtually every type of financing transaction, including asset-based loans, commercial and industrial secured loans, real estate financing, and construction financing. Our asset-based lending work includes transactions secured by personal property collateral governed by the Uniform Commercial Code and other federal and state regulatory schemes. We have particular expertise in loans secured by developed and undeveloped real estate and in representing banks in taxable and tax-exempt bond financings. Our commercial finance attorneys in New Jersey and New York also draw upon the services of the Firm's fully developed real estate, environmental and creditors' rights/insolvency practice groups, creating value for our clients through our extensive market knowledge, multi-disciplinary approach and carefully nuanced counsel.
Our commercial finance attorneys are sensitive to the legal and practical concerns raised by New Jersey and New York banking laws and are able to counsel lenders to avoid potential risks and pitfalls.
Regulatory and Consumer Finance
In the field of consumer lending, our background is extensive and varied. We have served as counsel to several licensed first and second mortgage lenders, and, in that connection, developed all documentation and procedures necessary to enable these mortgage banking subsidiaries of out-of-state institutions to commence lending operations.
Other involvements in the consumer loan area have included analysis and documentation of reverse annuity mortgage plans, mobile home loan programs and a balloon automobile financing plan.
Trusts and Estates
Our Firm has long represented financial institutions as trustees both under wills and other personal trust documents, as well as under agreements pursuant to which public and private debt and equity are issued. In working with the trust departments of several institutions, we have been involved with the administration of some of the largest and complex individual trusts and estates created in the region. This representation has involved day-to-day counseling as to miscellaneous matters, filing of periodic accountings with the courts and representation of trustees in a variety of litigated matters.
The Firm has counseled several institutions on the regulatory and operational aspects of its common-trust funds.
Litigation, Creditors' Rights and Bankruptcy
Riker Danzig's litigation, creditors' rights and bankruptcy lawyers have extensive experience representing lenders in all types of litigation. Their experience includes lender liability claims, federal racketeering (RICO) cases, banker's blanket bond litigations, defense of class action suits, identity theft cases, and mortgage foreclosures, UCC claims, collection matters, as well as real estate-related litigation.
A significant part of our banking litigation involves consumer class actions and consumer fraud claims. We are able to bring together a deep bench of experienced attorneys across all relevant practice areas to successfully represent our financial services clients in class action litigation and complex commercial litigation in federal and state courts.
Our bankruptcy and creditors' rights lawyers have traditionally represented creditors in bankruptcy and work-out situations, and that trend has continued as the Firm's financing practice has continued to expand. We also represent trustees in Chapter 11 and Chapter 7 proceedings under the Bankruptcy Code, as well as numerous creditors' committees in Chapter 11 and SIPA proceedings. A particular specialty is the representation of corporate trustees in bankruptcy proceedings. The Firm has played a significant role in several well-known national bankruptcy proceedings involving corporate trustees, including FPA Medical Management (Indenture Trustee and Co-Chair of the creditors' committee), Eastern Air Lines, Inc. (Indenture Trustees), New Valley Corp., a/k/a Western Union (Indenture Trustee), and Hillsborough Holdings, Inc. (Indenture Trustees).
Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
