OVERVIEW

BLF Banking Team thoroughly understands the fundamental concepts and interrelationships of the complexity of the Banking and Financial laws and regulations and the nuances necessary to navigate them safely and favorably. With a wealth of experience, a solid technical understanding, and a firm grasp of the issues that financial institutions face, our banking law attorneys formulate practical solutions to address our clients' needs.

BLF Banking Team regularly counsels domestic and foreign banks, thrift associations, and their operating subsidiaries, affiliates, and holding companies on domestic and international activities and relationships.

We frequently advise boards of directors, executive management, and chartered committees in exercising their powers and performing their duties to these institutions, their creditors and shareholders, and the bank regulatory agencies.

From organizing and chartering de novo banks, handling cross-border mergers and acquisitions between local and foreign banks, and developing internal controls and corporate governance procedures to negotiating memoranda of understanding and responding to cease-and-desist orders on behalf of institutions in troubled condition, BLF lawyers operate at the forefront of the banking industry.

OUR TEAM

Our Attorneys have substantial knowledge and experience in the local and international regulatory schemes within which banks and other financial institutions operate.

Our Banking Team includes a former general counsel to the Audi Bank SAL (now the Group Legal Consultant), No. 1 on the list of Banks in Lebanon, a member of the BOD of ODEA (Audi Bank – KSA), Former Head of Legal and Compliance of Citibank Middle East and North Africa, Head of Legal and the Compliance Committees at the Bank Association in Lebanon.

It includes the former Head of Legal and Compliance at Credit Financier Invest (CFI), the No. 1 Financial Institution in Lebanon, a prominent regional FI with a global presence and recognition, and other members who have had extensive expertise in the Banking legal field, especially in M&A, Restructuring, and in litigation.

OUR PRACTICE

Our Banking Practice is diverse in terms of the clients we serve and the range of legal services provided.

We regularly represent banks, building societies, holding companies, and other financial institutions. We have worked extensively with banks in the conduct of their activities. We also represented financial institutions and foreign nationals in cross-border transactions in which they seek to acquire controlling interests in domestic banks, thrifts, and other financial institutions.

Our team has substantial knowledge of the laws and regulations, the various regulations that implement these laws, and any pre-emption issues surrounding those laws and regulations.

In addition to the services noted above, which reflect the potential needs of any business involved in Banking and financing, we advise on tax issues as well as trade, liability, commercial, insolvency, and general finance issues; we provide comprehensive, informed support for our bank, broker-dealer, and financial institution clients.
Our Practice includes:

• Regulatory (Bank and Financial Services Regulations)
• International Financial Regulations
• Bank Products and Services
• Consumer Lending
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Troubled or Failed Banks
• Dispute Resolution and Litigation
• Compliance Protection from Inception Through Ongoing operation
• Anti-money laundering
• Foreign Corrupt Practices Acts
• Data Privacy and Cybersecurity
• GDPR