February 14, 2012 6:35 PM

Chapman and Cutler Hires Orrick Partners, Opens D.C. Office

Posted by Irene Plagianos

Chapman and Cutler has hired six finance partners from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe and will open a Washington, D.C., office, the firm announced Monday.

Chief executive partner Tim Mohan says Chapman has been eyeing the D.C. market for some time. With Chapman clients in the banking, securities, structured finance, and public finance markets facing increased scrutiny from regulators, Mohan says, the firm wants to have a foothold in the city where policy is set.

"We were very happy when this opportunity came our way," Mohan says of the team arriving from Orrick, which includes structured finance and securitization partners Felicia Graham, Douglas Madsen, Michael Mitchell, Mark Riccardi, Craig Fishman, and Rachel George. "It was the right way to start the office."

Riccardi represents financial institutions and investors in capital markets and debt financing transactions, including secured lending, securitization, and related regulatory matters. He says his decision to join Chapman stems from the firm's continuing commitment to a practice area hit hard by the economic downturn.

"At a time when other firms are pulling back, stopping new investments, Chapman is taking on a strong, forward-looking leadership role," says Riccardi, adding that he and his team are helping clients navigate a thicket of new regulations that includes Dodd-Frank and the Volker Rule in the United States, as well as European financial reforms. Corporate work related to structured products and corporate debt repackaging for clients will also keeping the team busy, he says.

The firm, which has 4 other offices across the country, is also a leader in the muni bond market. Last year, Chapman held the number two spot as bond counsel by volume on our corpate scorecard--it held the number one slot in that category during the previous two years. In 2011, the firm also sat in the top ten for bond counsel by value and underwriters counsel by volume.

Contacted for comment about the departing partners, an Orrick spokesman said, "We wish them well."

 

 

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